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25,200 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3The first day of school takes on a surreal aspect as Little Tooth, a long-eared bunny, tries to fall asleep on the eve of the big event. The artwork's unusual perspectives emphasize the wide-eyed rabbit who lies awake in her huge bed. In the morning, she sets off carrying a shoulder bag containing a disproportionately long, sharp-pointed pencil. She walks through a barred gate, follows a stream of bunnies into a building, and hurries through a curving corridor. She enters a crowded room and takes the only empty seat at a tall table. Looking at the expectant faces in front of her, she gathers her courage, and says, I'm your teacher. It's my first day of school as well. While the simple text presents a clever twist on first-day jitters, youngsters might find the acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations unsettling. The distorted visual perspectives, swirling hues, and dreamlike quality create a disturbing, tension-filled atmosphere. The stark depictions of the school and classroom are frightening and off-putting, and Little Tooth's anxious facial expressions add to the uneasy mood. While the story ends on a reassuring note, apprehensive first-timers might come away more worried than comforted.Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: A Very Full Morning | [
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25,201 | 2 | Grade 4-7–Based on the childhood of a Polish immigrant, this accessible novel reveals the hardships of the shtetl and its striking contrast to life in America. The youngest of five children, Fivel, about eight years old, lives with his mother and siblings in a hut. His father left for America years earlier, and the family has been waiting to hear from him ever since. Barely surviving on watery soup and terrorized by the brutal Cossacks, the family depends upon the kindness of neighbors to get by. Only the mail wagon offers the promise of a brighter future. When the long-awaited package finally arrives, it is a framed photograph of Pa, which the boy's mother angrily throws into the fire. âWe're starving…Are you meshuggeneh? We can't eat a picture!' Luckily, Fivel spies the green bills carefully hidden in the frame--enough money to get them to Pa in Minnesota. Though a simple rag peddler, he has a house with electricity, flush toilets, and plenty to eat. While Fivel is eager to be an American, he realizes that he will always be a boy with two worlds inside. An author's note includes photographs of the protagonist, both as a child in Poland and as an adult. Even reluctant readers will enjoy this riveting account and sensitive portrayal of what it means to be an immigrant.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-5. Young Fivel, left behind in his Polish shtetl while his father in America earns passage for the rest of the family, endures extreme hunger and the terrifying threat of Russian pogroms before the money finally arrives. Upon stepping off at Ellis Island, however, Fivel's joy commingles with an uncomfortable sense of having "left . . . easy belonging behind," particularly when kids jeer at his ragged clothing and he must learn to answer to a new, all-American name. Seasoned picture-book author Glaser offers a compelling historical novel here, which an endnote explains was loosely based on the life of a member of her community. The factual and fictional elements don't always seem smoothly braided, but, overall, readers will appreciate Fivel's direct, unaffected perspective on the hardships of the old country and the often-messy process of adjusting to an alien culture. Also included are photos of the real Fivel and his family, a historical note on Poland, and pronunciation guides to the Yiddish vocabulary. Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Bridge to America: Based on a True Story | [
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25,202 | 2 | Grade 9 Up–The poems in this diverse collection range from classic (Shakespeare, Lord Byron) to modern (by the compilers themselves). While some of selections might be too complex and antique for reluctant readers, most of the pieces are powerfully written and easy to understand. Sylvia Plath, Dorothy Parker, and Rumi are among the poets included. Two short introductions explain the inclusion of many of these selections and the significance of each of the book's five sections. A biography section gives interesting summaries of each poet's life. This efficiently organized, concise, and interesting collection is an excellent choice for libraries serving teens. However, as November states in her introduction, This book is for everyone and anyone.–Jessi Platt, Auburn Public Library, AL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 9-12. Rosenberg and her former university student November have both struggled with debilitating depression, and in this personal project, the poets have brought together poems that, as Rosenberg writes, address "various aspects of sanity and madness." The organization is loose and a bit chaotic. Categories include moods, the madness of love, the "deranged" world, and the relief of finding stability. There are works by famous writers, such as Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, and Rumi, as well as contemporary poets, such as Naomi Shihab Nye, whose poem "Kindness" is unforgettable. Many selections extend the dark humor of the collection's title, and there are contributions by young writers who, in the words of a 19-year-old autistic poet, view "the world called normal" with "a mind called abnormal." These raw, honest words from peers may speak most directly to teens. Comprehensive poets'biographies close this deeply affecting, sophisticated collection, which will resonate with readers in all states of mental equilibrium. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: I Just Hope It's Lethal: Poems of Sadness, Madness, and Joy | [
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25,203 | 12 | Contains: *Being a Strategic Reader, *Two-Page Study Guide for Every Lesson in the Textbook, *Reading Support, *Vocabulary Support, *Chapter Reviews, & *Glossary for Every Chapter; Title: World History: Ancient Civilizations Reading Study Guide | [
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25,204 | 0 | Grade 1-4Adapting and expanding an ancient Egyptian story, Hawes has created an original fairy tale about familial love and its power to thwart even the majesty of Pharaoh. Muti cherishes the necklace her father made for her when she was born, associating it with many happy memories. After turning 13, she leaves her beloved family to work as a servant in King Snefru's palace. Pharaoh, impressed by her beauty and grace, makes her the leader of a cohort of female rowers for his pleasure boat. When her necklace breaks and falls into the lake, she refuses to row or to accept a replacement. It is so important to her that she stands up to Pharaoh, who is now even more impressed by her determination. Where the story contrasts sharply with traditional fairy tales is in the climax: when Snefru asks Muti to become his queen, she declines, preferring to be reunited with her family. The writing style favors the more fleshed-out manner of a short story than the leanness of a folktale. Guay's lush watercolor-and-gouache paintings incorporate elements of Egyptian art and culture, including jewelry motifs, decorative geometric patterns in the scenery, and headdresses and hairstyles. The characters' faces and gestures are expressive and dramatic, and the surrounding landscape teems with life.Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. In this folktale categorized as fiction, the author of the YA historical novel The Vanishing Point (2004) tells a story culled from ancient Egyptian papyrus manuscripts. Carved of "turquoise, blue as a dragonfly's wing, and carnelian, red as the inside of a pomegranate," the necklace given to palace servant Muti by her father is a sentimental talisman. When she loses the necklace while rowing the royal barge, Muti risks mortal punishment by pausing to retrieve it. Far from enraging the pharaoh, her courage wins her an offer of marriage that she declines in order to reunite with her family: "I prefer my own life to any other, no matter how fine." Although Guay's figures (especially wild-haired, limpid-eyed Muti) often seem like posed portraits, her lavish paintings will satisfy demand for picture books featuring lovely young women in lush, romantic settings. At the same time, the retelling's feminist angle (which an endnote acknowledges was far less prominent in the original) offers a refreshing change from the typical equation between plucky heroines and lucrative betrothals. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Muti's Necklace: The Oldest Story In The World | [
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25,205 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1Snug in her bed, a youngster hears a distant siren and dreams of firefighters' brave escapades. With the refrain, What happened was this, she relates several imaginary adventures. The squad saves a castle full of princesses after a dragon blows on his food and starts a fire, cools a woman's mouth after she eats a hot pepper, and rescues a boy who bounces off his bed and lands on Pluto. The girl also concocts personalities for the diverse crew members, down to their favorite foods. Finally, the firefighters come to ask for her help in extinguishing the stars from the night sky. Slater's rhythmic, sometimes rhyming prose captures the child's enthusiasm, though unusual phrasings may trip up unpracticed readers while sharing the book aloud. Ceccoli's dreamy, luminescent paintings perfectly suit the story. The heroes' round faces are kind and lovable. Observant youngsters will note that the firefighters' yellow and black boots appear as yellow and blue, but this minor inconsistency will give way to delight at the image of the dragon at the table with fork and knife in hand, or the view up through city buildings of an exuberant boy tumbling through the air. A perfect choice for bedtime reading.Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Firefighters In The Dark | [
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25,206 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2When Charlie and his grandfather plant a watermelon patch together, Charlie hopes that one seed will become a special kind of watermelon that gives one wish. As they enjoy fishing, picnicking, playing basketball, and swimming, Grandpap tries to guess what his grandson would ask for. In the end, Charlie reveals that his wish is for another summer with his grandfather like the one they just had. This sweet story is filled with positive images of shared experiences and cooperation. Schuett's colorful illustrations, most of which are framed with borders of related images, fit well with a book about memories of a special summer. However, the human figures are awkward: some unlikely postures and a recurring look of surprise on Charlie's and Grandpap's faces is distracting. An additional choice for collections in need of intergenerational stories.Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Watermelon Wishes | [
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25,207 | 2 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 5–As in Song of the Water Boatman (Houghton, 2005), Sidman applies her flair with poetry to explore the interactions of creatures and plants in a particular environment. Here, she employs varied poetic forms with simple explanations for a pleasing introduction to meadow ecology. The poems are posed as riddles in facing pairs: We are the ghosts/of those/who have come before/The gray ones/Leaping/Gone/ What are we? The spread following each set answers the questions and describes briefly an aspect of each animal's physiology or behavior. Visual clues complement the poetic suggestions in striking scratchboard scenes that are saturated with color. The busy, patterned views provide readers with much to see in this meadow, including magnified views of the insect denizens. They also incorporate ample white space for the text, nicely highlighting the visual qualities of much of the poetry. Sidman concludes with a brief explanation of how meadows change over time and eventually become forests through the process of succession. This term is defined again in the glossary, which also includes one poetry form, the pantoum. This book is a handsome and versatile compendium, melding art, poetry, and natural history.–Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Sidman follows the Song of the Waterboatman and other Pond Poems (2005) with another picture-book collection of verse that celebrates an ecosystem. Here, the setting is a meadow, and each energetic selection offers another view of a wild, buzzing landscape teeming with animals, from leaping grasshoppers to barely glimpsed deer ("Swift / Still / Here / Gone"). Many poems are more conceptually challenging than those in Waterboatman, and children will have questions about the science references and each poem's riddle, which invites them to guess the poem's subject. Krommes' scratchboard illustrations have a static, decorative quality that lacks the startling vibrancy of Becky Prange's work in Waterboatman. Once again, though, Sidman supports the poetry with fact-filled, prose paragraphs, and an appended glossary further defines concepts. As in Waterboatman, the poetry draws children straight into an awe-inspiring natural world with infectious sounds and beats, inventive images, and a range of poetic styles that make the book, like Sidman's previous titles, an excellent choice for use across the curriculum. Also suggest Maxine Kumin's Mites to Mastodons, reviewed on p.55. Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow | [
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25,208 | 11 | PreSchool-Grade 2–Pug the dog introduces his human friend and their big red truck, describing how they pick up a load and head off to deliver it. Coffelt tells the simply plotted story through short sentences and bold, bright illustrations. The cartoon-style artwork has a grainy texture, and elements within the pictures are outlined in black. While much of the text is appropriate for beginning readers, the trucking vocabulary is a bit tricky. Meanings of terms and phrases like hammer down (go fast), dragon wagon (a tow truck), and keeping the shiny side up and the greasy side down (driving safely and avoiding accidents) will be lost unless readers use the appended Trucker Glossary. However, children familiar with the jargon will breeze through the tale.–Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The author and illustrator Nancy Coffelt loves dogs, and pugs are some of her favorites! She and her two dogs meet up with them on walks and in the park and, yes, have even seen them traveling down the highway in big rigs. Nancy spends her time in Portland, Oregon, having fun with her family, writing books, creating bright oil-pastel artwork for galleries, and, of course, drawing pugs.; Title: Pug in a Truck | [
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25,209 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2This cumulative story, told by a redheaded, doll-like figure, features a stray feline outside a house on a cold wintry day. The woman asks the cat to come inside, but he runs away. The following day, she puts out a bowl of warm milk; the critter laps it up and leaves. Next, she leaves him a bowl of milk and a plate of tuna, but he still refuses to come in. Each day, she leaves more gifts, until the front porch is as comfortable as the inside and the cat invites the woman to come out. The simple text is enhanced dramatically by the three-dimensional-looking illustrations, which are wonderfully detailed photographs of a dollhouse and clay characters. The photos are set against parchment-colored backdrops and framed by scroll borders, giving the pages a cozy, old-fashioned look. While the tale will be fun to share, the photographs are a delight to pore over individually. Endpapers complete with claw scratches round out a package that should please everyone from cat lovers to miniature enthusiasts.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside: Based on A True Story | [
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25,210 | 1 | Kindergarten-Grade 2All the sheep shearers at Shaggy Gully have sheep dogs with names like Brute, Tiny, and Fang. A new shearer, Shaun, arrives with a sheep-sheep named Pete, who rounds up the animals with polite requests and compliments. Soon the sheep will only respond to Pete, and allow only Shaun to shear them. When the other shearers insist that they must go, Shaun opens a salon in town, styling the sheep's wool in innovative ways. When Brute, Tiny, and Fang desert their owners to have their fur styled, the other shearers finally join the salon and spend their time styling animals of all shapes and sizes. The creators of Diary of a Wombat (Clarion, 2003) have produced a bit of harmless, silly fluff that, while mildly amusing, is hardly likely to inspire rereading. Whatley's watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations are clean and crisp and work nicely with the text, but there is simply not much substance here.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 1. In this Australian import, three sheep shearers, Ratso, Big Bob, and Bungo, are proud of their sheepdogs, but their coworker, Shaun, has a new idea about the way to herd. Pete, his sheep, very politely does the work, and then Shaun, an excellent shearer, gives them the cut. All the sheep love the duo, which angers Ratso, Big Bob, and Bungo, who give Shaun and Pete the boot. Shaun spends his time shearing Pete, and comes up with a hairstyle so divine, he opens a barbershop, specializing in sharp haircuts for sheep. Before long, the shop is so busy, Ratso, Big Bob, and Bungo join up as barbers. This is one extended joke, but the text is so jaunty and the artwork so amusing, it's hard to mind. Most of the fun in the ink-and-watercolor drawings comes from the expressions on the sheeps' faces--and, of course, their wild and wacky haircuts. Good for story hours. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Pete the Sheep-Sheep | [
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25,211 | 15 | Gr 1-3Chiru are small, antelope-type animals that live in the mountains of Tibet. Although their wool is prized for its warmth, super-softness, and strength, the animals cannot be sheared like sheep. Obtaining their expensive skins means killing them, a practice that has resulted in the herds becoming endangered. This book takes a potentially horrifying topic and turns it into a heroic adventure tale. George B. Schaller studied wildlife all over the world, but became particularly interested in Tibet. He knew the chiru needed protection and began a quest to find their hidden breeding grounds. In order to save them, he thought that their land should be protected from hunters. Although he was unable to find the right area, four other men took up the cause. Experienced mountain climbers, they set out on a 200-mile journey through rough terrain following the animals. Their success in discovering the calving grounds gave Schaller the information he needed to lobby the Chinese government to protect the area and give the chiru a chance to survive. This story is told in elegant yet conversational language. Set-off boxes provide important factual information without interrupting the artistic flow of the main text. The acrylic paintings and book design are devised for high effect. The opening pictures employ an icy blue palette, introducing the cold atmosphere of the Tibetan plain. Photographs of the treacherous terrain and the men involved in the project are appended.Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.With an urgent conservation message, this picture book about a threatened species is also a true adventure that will hold readers with its action and facts about science. In spare, free verse, Martin describes the chiru, which look like antelope / but are related to wild goats and sheep and are at risk from poachers for their special wool, shahtoosh, the warmest and finest in the world. Conservationist George Schaller knows he has to protect the remote, secret place where chiru females give birth, so he follows them, helped by four mountain-climbing trekkers, who travel 200 miles to the birthing ground. The mixed-media spreads illustrate the wonder of the arduous journey that ends when the trekkers find the calving ground, which is now a protected secret place. The threat to the amazing species will move young readers: Wearing a shahtoosh shawl is the same as wearing three to five dead chiru. A spread of color photos from the expedition and a short bibliography conclude. Grades 1-3. --Hazel Rochman; Title: The Chiru of High Tibet: A True Story | [] | Train |
25,212 | 15 | Grade 57This entry in an exemplary series follows prominent astronomer Alex Filippenko and associates from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii to the Lick Observatory in California on a hunt for supernovae and related large-scale astronomical phenomena. Though portraying astronomers in action isn't easy-mostly they sit and stare at screens the charismatic Filippenko does his best, pouring sand through his fingers to hint at the numbers of stars in one of Bishop's bright color photos and dressing up as a Black Hole in another. Along with depicting the scientists, the images also include massive telescopes and photos or digital simulations of galaxies, exploding stars, and other astronomical phenomena. Gray mottled backgrounds give the blocks of text a smudged look, but that won't diminish the sense of adventure that readers will feel as they join a team of researchers on science's biggest frontier. Multimedia resource lists are appended.John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A potentially crushing moment for aspiring astronomers might be when they learn that, in reality, most of these scientists time is spent looking at a computer screen. Although this entry in the consistently top-notch Scientists in the Field series remains honest about less-than-glamorous aspects of the featured career, its enthusiastic approach will bring even disillusioned stargazers right back into the fold. Focusing onastronomer Alex Filippenkoand his work at some of the worlds most sophisticated astronomical facilities, the book illustrates his contagious excitement about his field. It also focuses on viscerally fascinating celestial subjects: supernovae, dark energy, and black holes.These arefairly complex matters, but Jacksons treatment makes them accessible through reasoned explanations and comparisons, helpful diagrams, and, of course, dazzling photographs of the universes most awesome spectacles. Splitting its attention evenly betweenthe scientist and his field, this handsomely designed volume displays the joys ofbeing fascinated byones work in a way that will encourage students to seek similar professional satisfaction for themselves. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman; Title: Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes (Scientists in the Field Series) | [
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25,213 | 7 | Grade 9 UpHelen died 130 years ago as a young woman. Unable to enter heaven because of a sense of guilt she carried at death, she has been silent and invisible but conscious and sociable across the generations. Her spirit has been sustained by its attachment to one living human host after another, including a poet and, most recently, a high-school English teacher. While she sits through his class one day, she becomes aware of James and heunlike the mortals all around themis aware of her as well. James, who also died years earlier, inhabits the body of a contemporary teen, Billy. James and Helen fall in love, he shows her how to inhabit the body of a person whose spirit has died but who still lives and breathes, and the two begin to unfold the mysteries of their own pasts and those of their adolescent hosts. Jenny, whose body Helen now uses, is the only child of strict religious parents who controlled her beyond what her spirit could endure. Billy's spirit left his body after a string of tragedies resulting from drug abuse and domestic violence. James and Helen court in both modern and old-fashioned ways; here is a novel in which explicit sex is far from gratuitous or formulaic. Whitcomb writes with a grace that befits Helen's more modulated world while depicting contemporary society with sharp insight. In the subgenre of dead-narrator tales, this book shows the engaging possibilities of immortalitycomplete with a twist at the end that wholly satisfies.Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 9-12. In sensuous prose, Helen, who has been dead for 130 years, describes what it's like to live as Light, clinging to a human host, then reentering an empty human body and becoming physically and emotionally attuned to the world. Helen is startled when she realizes that a student in her host's English class can see her. James, too, is Light, but he has taken over the body of Billy, who almost overdosed on drugs. Their joy at finding one another turns quickly to love, and James helps Helen locate an empty body that she can inhabit. Fellow student Jennifer seems the perfect choice, but the unhappiness in her fundamentalist family, as well as the chaos of Billy's household, mix uneasily with the pleasures the spirits are rekindling. Whitcomb writes beautifully, especially when she is describing the physical delights of sexual love and the horror the spirits endure as they fight through their personal hells to reach the other side. Unfortunately, her stereotypical portrayal of a Christian family is so unnuanced that it jars when juxtaposed with the rest of the writing. Still, in many ways this will be irresistible to teens. Watch for more from Whitcomb. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Certain Slant of Light | [
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25,214 | 0 | Grade 6-8-In post-famine Ireland, Jennie's long skirts literally and figuratively hold her back, despite the fact that she is smarter and has more initiative than her brother. She first dons trousers to shepherd for the bishop of Belfast. After their father's death, she and Tom make their way to America. Jennie keeps wearing pants and passes as a boy until jealousy leads Tom to give away her secret. She flees west to Illinois and joins the Union army when the Civil War breaks out. It is during the war that this novel really shines. Based on a true story, Jennie's tale is gripping, with vivid details of the fighting in the Deep South, tense battle scenes, and a pitch-perfect though ultimately tragic love story. One drawback to an otherwise good read is that Jennie's life before the war feels rushed; there is no emotional response when her father dies trying to save a lamb. He kicks Jennie's hands away, distrustful that she is strong enough to hold him, and he falls from the cliff. The emotional center of the book is saved for Jennie's turmoil about passing as a man, and the mutually strong but unspoken feelings she has for fellow soldier Frank Moore. Set before any major strides in the women's movement, My Last Skirt painfully captures Jennie's unique place in history. Her loneliness, longing, and missed opportunities will resonate deeply with readers.-Christina Stenson-Carey, Albany Public Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-8. "How do we know what's been invented out of whole cloth and what is really, truly us?" This unusual historical novel, based largely in fact, ponders the agonies of a split identity from the perspective of "petticoat soldier" Albert Cashier, nee Jennie Hodgers. As a lass in Ireland, Hodgers trades her detested skirts for pants and a higher-paying job--then retains her disguise upon emigrating to America, eventually joining the Union army. Her experiences on the battlefield challenge her decision to live as a man, even as she feels increasingly estranged from her birth identity. "Albert's" heterosexual feelings for a fellow soldier seem too facile, less a convincing subplot than a device to simplify the densely packed issues of sexuality for Durrant's target audience, and the narrative thread founders amid detailed descriptions of war maneuvers. Nonetheless, this sheds welcome light on an obscure but fascinating historical figure--"the only woman on either side of the war known to have received a Civil War pension." An endnote details sources and separates fact from fiction. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier | [
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25,215 | 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: Curious George's Big Book of Curiosity | [
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25,216 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 4 In this wordless follow-up to The Red Book (Houghton, 2004), in which the characters enter the pages of a book, a boy enters a work of art. During a school visit to a museum, he stops to tie his shoe and loses his group. While searching for it, he comes across a display case filled with old mazes that capture his attention. On one spread, he is looking closely at a particular drawing, and the page turn shows him physically inside of it. He enters several different labyrinths; at the center of the last one, he finds a tower with a door and goes inside. Readers view him through a keyhole and see him receiving a medal. Afterward, he locates his classmates, but as they depart, youngsters will note that he still has his medal. The museum director also wears one: they are clearly both part of a special group. The bright, clean cartoons are done in watercolor, gouache, and ink. Single- and double-page paintings alternate with smaller panel illustrations. Close-ups of the protagonist walking through each maze are mixed with pulled-back shots that reveal the entire puzzle, with the boy a small figure inside of it. Children will pore over the cleverly detailed, interactive artwork. Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. Working in the same uncluttered style and wordless format as she did in The Red Book, a 2005 Caldecott Honor Book, Lehman offers another winning picture book that blurs real and imagined worlds. On a class trip to an art museum, a boy lags behind and becomes lost. While searching the galleries (filled with Lehman's skillful reproductions of the masters), he finds a series of labyrinth drawings, and in the following frames, he shrinks to a diminutive size and enters the mazes. Lehman uses inventive, shifting perspectives that combine aerial views with close-ups of the boy in the puzzles. At the completion of the final maze, a set of hands loops a medal around the boy's neck. The boy then pops back into the real world, but he finds the medal tucked into his shirt--a tantalizing suggestion that the adventure wasn't imagined. The sturdiness and clarity of the ink-lined, watercolor-and-gouache art juxtaposes wonderfully with the story's airy world of imagination. Some children may find the labyrinth scenes a bit repetitive, but Lehman's clever celebration of the fun and power found in art and daydreamed departures will easily draw an audience. For other fanciful museum stories suggest Anthony Browne's The Shape Game (2003). Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Museum Trip | [
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25,217 | 12 | Rare book; Title: Houghton Mifflin Math: Student Book Grade K 2007 | [
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25,218 | 17 | Grade 7 UpThe sisters and tennis players extraordinaire give teens advice on everyday living, showing them how to aim high and reach their goals. The 10 rules for success include building a "dream team" (people who support your goals), doing well in school, learning self-respect, valuing friendships, taking care of yourself emotionally and physically, obtaining financial security, and overcoming setbacks. The final chapter discusses the virtues of volunteerism and charity. A color photo appears on every spread. The two women speak candidly about their personal experiences, revealing the values, attitudes, and regimens that worked for them. Never preachy and always practical, this is a welcome addition to most collections.Ajoke' T. I. Kokodoko, Oakland Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-8. Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams take their lessons from the sport and offer them as advice to readers. In a casual tone, the well-organized book tackles topics such as building your dream, respecting yourself, staying in school, picking the right friends, and taking care of your money. Sometimes point-by-point help is offered (to build your dream, get your parents in your corner; to build your knowledge, be your own fan). With the help of cowriter Hilary Beard, the sisters come across as friendly, capable, and interested in their audience. Readers get a look into the girls' personal lives and their relationships with their families and each other. What makes this book so enticing is its attractive layout: lots of crisp, color photographs and design elements such as starbursts and silhouettes in different colors. Information about how to get involved with charitable organizations completes the package. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Venus and Serena: Serving From The Hip: 10 Rules for Living, Loving, and Winning | [
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25,219 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1A sweet story about the simple happiness that comes from staying true to oneself. Big Bear outgrows his old boat and decides to build himself a bigger one. It is perfect: You are just what I dreamed you would be, Big Bear says. But his friends suggest improvements: a mast, a top deck, and a cabin, which turn the boat into a bit of a mess. Big Bear politely thanks his pals for their input, but says, This boat is not my dream, returns the boat to its original form, and happily rows around the lake. This follow-up to Bunting's Little Bear's Little Boat (Clarion, 2003) illustrates life lessons on listening to one's inner voice and respectfully sharing differences of opinion with a light touch. The quiet, straightforward text is in perfect harmony with the peaceful illustrations of the lake on which the animals live. Carpenter's pen, ink, and digital media images have a classic look. The kindness and honesty that Big Bear shows to his friends, even when they don't agree, is a positive example for kids learning how to socialize with peers.Marian McLeod, Darien Library, CT(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Once upon a time, Big Bear was a little bear who outgrew his boat and gave it away (Little Bears Little Boat, 2004). Now Big Bear is building a new vessel just like my little boat, but bigger. When he finishes, its bright blue with a white stripe and just the right size for Big Bear to stretch out in. Over at Huckleberry Lake, when its time to put her on the water, Beaver comes along and suggests Big Bear build a mast for his fine boat; then Otter suggests a top deck; and Heron, a cabin. Soon it looks nothing like the boat Big Bear always imagined. His friends understand that hes unhappy, and after some dismantling, the boat is back to its perfect original state. With spare, gentle text and cozy ink-and-paint illustrations, this picture book is nostalgic in feel and has a simple, timeless message about following ones dreams. We all want a little place to call our own, and kids will feel Big Bears satisfaction as he contentedly spends a day on the lake, listening to the water and watching the stars. Preschool. --Ann Kelley; Title: Big Bear's Big Boat | [
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25,220 | 15 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Beginning with a child exploring the water in a creek, Morrison imagines how a drop on his finger made its journey through the water cycle. Detailed, multicolored illustrations take readers high in the sky as the red-tailed hawk flies and the raindrops fall, providing a view of the marsh and the mountain stream from above. Finally, the pictures zoom back to a close-up of the boy to complete the circle. Readers can appreciate this narration on two levels: first, as a simple story of the hydrologic cycle; and second, as a search to find various types of plants and animals. Three pages of informative facts about each bird, mammal, and plant pictured are appended. Walter Wick's spectacular Drop of Water (Scholastic, 1997) is for slightly older children. Morrison's title will especially resonate with young readers who live near or frequent rural areas, where they can appreciate firsthand the power of a single drop of water.Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. The latest picture book by the writer-illustrator of Nature in the Neighborhood (2004) follows the downhill path of rainwater. "A child's finger is wet with water from a meadow brook." On a nearby mountaintop, rainwater flows into a stream that falls over a cliff, through a mountain pool and an upland bog, past a beavers' dam, through a lowland swamp and a meadow marsh, and past the child who crouches by the brook. Each double-page spread opens on a new scene, deftly illustrated in pencil drawings that are brightened with colors to highlight portions of the picture. The few lines of text per spread point out examples of plants and animals in the illustrations. Though some children will find the quiet, ever-informative text soporific, others may enjoy looking for the specific animals and plants named there. Appended notes with thumbnail pencil illustrations offer help in identifying the species mentioned. Though the large-scale, close-up cover art will appeal to preschoolers, the landscape pictures inside are better suited to an older audience. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Drop of Water | [
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25,221 | 1 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3Set in Iceland, this story is about a community of resourceful women who travel to the city to buy a flock of chickens so that eggs are plentiful in the village. However, the chickens run amok and begin to behave more like ladies than birds. Before long, they stop laying eggs. The resilient women develop a far-fetched plan to solve the problem and the merriment swells to a final, hilarious resolution. The playful text is both silly and joyous, without a wasted word. Gunnella's enchanting oil paintings are full of childlike humor and saturated with appealing primary colors. They convey emotion and absurdity with seemingly simple lines and expressive body language. These spirited, buxom ladies and beguiling chickens will be remembered long after the book has been closed. A funny and inventive choice that is also a charming tribute to Icelandic culture and tradition.Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. McMillan makes a successful departure from his many noted photo-essays, such as Nights of the Pufflings (1995). Sticking to a bird theme, he has created a simple, humorous tale about chickens with pretensions of becoming women. The village ladies are frustrated because they cannot reach the eggs the wild birds lay on the sides of cliffs. Little do they suspect that the chickens they buy will hatch a new set of problems. The hens decide to do everything the ladies do--pick blueberries, go to birthday parties, have tea--until they are too busy to lay eggs. A fine artist and first-time children's book illustrator, Gunnella makes the transition to picture books quite well: the rotund ladies and irrepressible hens, portrayed in flat, colorful, thickly painted folk-art style, aptly complement the tone of the story. Diane FooteCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Problem With Chickens (New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books (Awards)) | [
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25,222 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Robberecht takes a novel approach to the issue of sibling rivalry by telling the tale of a youngster who wishes to return to her mothers womb. As the protagonist explains: Grown-ups like babies in tummies more than they like five-year-old girls. Therefore, she reasons in her truly childlike way, going back into Mommys stomach is the most sensible solution. And besides, that would mean she could live in the adult world (Ill stay up as late as youIll even watch TV through your belly button!) and remain close to her mother. The pregnant mom quickly determines that her daughter is jealous of her not-quite-ready-to-be-born little brother and reassures her that she loves her just as much as the new baby. Through the cartoon-style oil paintings and the easy conversational tone of the text, this imagined view of the world adds humor and lightness to real anxieties that many children encounter but are often unable to express. In this modern age where older siblings are routinely taken to doctors appointments and attend baby showers, this perspective seems timely.Holly T. Sneeringer, University of Maryland, Baltimore Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. In this mischievous take on the elemental sibling rivalry scenario, originally published in Amsterdam, a kid wants to go back into Mommy's tummy, just like the baby that is waiting to be born. "You'll think about me all day long," she tells Mommy, who says she already does that. The words are true to the five-year-old's playful fantasies, and the oil paintings, both wild and affectionate, show the big girl floating around in a dark "tummy." Maybe she will stay there forever. Then the disadvantages become clear-- especially when the child's friends arrive for her birthday party. After the laughter, there is reassurance. Mommy asks directly, "Are you jealous?" The girl says she is, but then she feels her brother move. The silliness and love make this story a great title for opening discussion about something that's often hard to face. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Back into Mommy's Tummy | [
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25,223 | 12 | Scientist, athletes, artist, and health care workers all use math every day - and you will too!; Title: Houghton Mifflin Math, Level 5 Student Textbook | [
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25,224 | 2 | "An engagingly direct way of communicating both the science....and how the science is discovered." -- Kirkus "It is Webb's dual perspective, viewing the world simultaneously through the eyes of researcher and artist, that makes her accounts of nature so appealing." --The Horn Book "Another fascinating expedition:.the you-are-there immediacy of the narrative-and the clear and colorful watercolor-and-gouache landscapes and drawings of the birds form an appealing travelogue that is as exciting as it is informative." --School Library Journal, starred review "A good choice for children intrigued by marine biology."--BooklistSophie Webb is often at sea. Research ships have taken her to many shores, including those of Hawaii, Mexico, Central and South America, Alaska, and the Antarctic. Her ornithological illustrations appear in A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America, of which she is co-author. She lives in Bolinas, California.; Title: Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage | [
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25,225 | 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: The Ghost Children | [
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25,226 | 12 | Unusual book; Title: McDougal Littell Math Course 2: Student Edition 2007 | [
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25,227 | 0 | Grade 36These 29 nonsense poems, written in a variety of rhymed meters, are deliciously loaded with alliterative and assonant sounds and filled with delightful doggerel. Brown's playful verses are foolish (Life is a dream/with a nautical theme/in a barnacle built for two.); preposterous (Light bulbs on a birthday cake./What a difference that would make!); exhilarating (Boogie to the banjo./Bop to the bongo./Freeze like an igloo./Stomp like a buffalo in the Combo Tango); and filled with wordplay (Allicatter Gatorpillar/by and by/my oh my!/Allibutter Gatorfly!). The author's strong command of poetic form and his way with words make creating nonsense rhyme look effortless. Full-page, flat acrylic illustrations, most painted in harmonious jewel tones, face single-toned pages of text in a variety of colors. The style is abstract with a folk-art quality, often cartoonish, and always whimsical. The characters have humorous, stylized features and varied skin tones, ranging from pale blue to light green to burnt umber. Packed with amusing details, the paintings consistently expand upon the text. Read aloud, these poems are sure to delight listeners. They also provide a great impetus for inspiring youngsters to write nonsense poetry of their own.Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-5. Meet Medusa's sister, Sally, bespectacled and toothy. Instead of hair, she has a lazy snake under her proper pink hat. Brown's lively nonsense rhymes blend the mythic and the contemporary, as do his acrylic illustrations, part folk art, part postmodern. The wry mockery of the haikus will appeal to older readers, but even preschoolers will enjoy acting out poems such as "Combo Tango" ("Stomp like a buffalo. / Drop like a yo-yo. / Swing like a golf pro. / Flip like a hairdo . . . "). One of the best poems is "TV Taxi," in which the words say there's nothing much to see, but the pictures show a taxi driver on his cell phone as a volcano, a dinosaur, a flying saucer, and a unicorn vie for attention. Words and pictures manage to be both clear and weird, an enjoyable mix. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Flamingos on the Roof | [
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25,228 | 12 | Book by McDougal Littell; Title: Avancemos, Level 1A | [
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25,229 | 1 | Martha’s family has a little surprise for her—a puppy. Martha’s world is turned topsy-turvy as she attempts to adjust to Skits, the exuberant, unabashed addition to the household.Book Details:Format: PaperbackPublication Date: 3/21/2011Pages: 48Reading Level: Age 4 and Up; Title: Martha and Skits (Martha Speaks) | [
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25,230 | 13 | The characters are charming and the colors are vibrant.Doug Cushman is a veteran mystery writer for children and the illustrator of more than 100 picture books. Among his many popular books are the seven HOLIDAY MICE books, written by Bethany Roberts. He lives in Northern California and Paris.; Title: Thanksgiving Mice! | [
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25,231 | 2 | Marilyn Singer is the author of more than one hundred books for children, including the Tallulah books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, Connecticut. Visit her online at marilynsinger.net.; Title: City Lullaby | [
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25,232 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 58Toussaint, born a slave in the French colony of St. Domingue, led the first successful slave uprising in the Americas in 1793, defeating first the French and then the British and American opportunists who hoped to take advantage of the new country. The Haitian revolution is put in context with those in America and France, and its significance is made clear as Rockwell connects Napoleon's defeat in Haiti with his willingness to sell French Louisiana to the United States. Christie's bold, naive gouache illustrations invoke Haiti's beauty and savage history. The scene of Toussaint preventing a fellow revolutionary from unnecessarily killing a white man and the rendering of the bleak French prison in which the hero died are particularly striking. Altogether, this is a beautiful and captivating portrait of a leader whose story will probably be unfamiliar to most youngsters. Written for an older audience than Walter Dean Myers's Toussaint L'Ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom (S & S, 1996), it is a welcome addition to biography and history collections.Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In this eye-opening biography, Rockwell makes a strong case that Toussaint LOuverture is one of the most overlooked heroes of the eighteenth century. A freed slave of the French colony of St. Domingue (what we now know as Haiti), LOuverture was 48 when he was so inspired by his peoples uprising against the French that he joined them and, through his oratory and strategical skills, became their leader. In 1793, he led historys first triumphant slave rebellion, but the resulting freedom would not last long. Eight years later, Napoleon sent troops to capture the island; the acumen ofSt. Domingues army,combined with the onset of yellow fever, decimated the French troops before LOuvertures eventualand mysterioussurrender.Rockwell biggest revelation: Napoleons onslaught was meant as a precursor to attacking the U.S.; instead, it ended the generals career andled tothe Louisiana Purchase.Evocative paintings in primary colors help tell the story (the rendition of Toussaint in prison is especially poignant), while biographies and source notes make up the excellent back matter. Grades 5-8. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Open the Door to Liberty | [
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25,233 | 12 | Houghton Mifflin English; Title: Houghton Mifflin English, Level 3, Student Edition | [
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25,234 | 2 | Since her parents divorced, when she was an infant,life has been split between them: School days in the city with Mom / weekends on the farm with Dad.Even her names are differentEllen with Mom; Jo with Dad. But as she turns 13, shes determined to be JoEllen, to show her city friends that the country is not hick, and her farm cousin that the city holds more than concrete and crime. Using free verse,Zimmer shows therichness in both places, while black-and-white composite illustrationsbring the bits and pieces togetherfrom the baseball trophies in Dads old roomto the overview ofcity traffic. Casual and open, both the poetry and pictures show the fun: With Dad, one things for certain; / nothing ever is. Grades 4-6. --Hazel Rochman; Title: 42 Miles | [
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25,235 | 1 | Hans and Margret Rey created many books during their lives together, including Curious George, one of the most treasured classics of all time, as well as other favorites like Spotty and Pretzel. 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 original Curious George, the book was published in America in 1941. More than 200 Curious George titles followed, with 75 million books sold worldwide. Curious George has been successfully adapted into a major motion picture and an Emmy-winning television show on PBS.  ; Title: Curious George the Movie: Touch and Feel Book | [
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25,236 | 7 | No Bio; Title: Zathura: The Movie (Junior Novel) | [
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25,237 | 2 | 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 First Day of School | [
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25,238 | 2 | Starred Review. Grade 4-7With the Mississippi River full of magic, and a touch of the Pinocchio effect, a thriving rivery realm spills out into the real world. A human couple has been turned to stone while sitting across from one another in the breakfast nook, and when a few well-meaning people try to help, they too fall under the spell. Only 12-year-old Claire, accompanied by her irascible cousin, Duke, dares to get to the bottom of things. Duke has already been cursed with a horn for not showing an act of kindness, and the girls trust in him backfires when he steers her toward three conniving river trolls. From there, Claire must maneuver a perilous path through troll-river folklore and magical twists. Tongue-in-cheek humor brings a delightful zing to the playfully inventive storytelling and fast-paced plot. Enchanting sketches foreshadow each chapter, adding to the wonder. A new Mississippi River fable has been born.Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Twelve-year-old Claire and other Blue Wing townsfolk know there's something magical about living along the Mississippi River. How else can they explain Claire's bullying cousin Duke suddenly finding a rhino horn growing where his nose was? Or Duke's parents mysteriously turning to stone? Seeking antidotes, Claire, who "can't resist an adventure," joins Duke and a motley trio of river trolls on a quest filled with obstacles, magic, and mayhem that ultimately leads to a showdown with a Rock Troll, who may hold the key to it all. Folksy charm, inventive fantasy, and diverse characters blend in this offbeat river tallish tale. Claire's droll first-person narrative details settings and events with storytelling flair and occasional poetic eloquence, and elegant, shadowy cameo art opens the chapters. Though multiple story lines and back stories--human and troll--occasionally overwhelm, and Claire's narrative sometimes reads older than her years, fantasy fans will still enjoy this humorous, imaginatively rendered story in which trolls wear nylon bicycle suits and bullies get a second chance. Shelle RosenfeldCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Horns and Wrinkles | [
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25,239 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2A girl explains all of the reasons that her dog is anything but ordinary: Lyle knows what W-A-L-K spells, howls at sirens, gets sprayed by skunks, eats grass, chases squirrels, and is afraid of thunder and lightning. The snowballing list of characteristicsfrom snuggly and smart to smooshed-nose and sneakybuilds on each page. The lively text matches perfectly with the vibrant, playful illustrations, done in bold, richly hued acrylics and oils. The expressive paintings of Lyle drinking out of the toilet bowl and running into the glass door will produce laughs and giggles from readers, and the cumulative nature of the narrative will make it a crowd-pleasing read-aloud. Dog lovers will relate to all of the pup's personality traits and will come to love him as much as his owner does.Rachel Kamin, Temple Israel Libraries & Media Center, West Bloomfield, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."My dog Lyle may look like an ordinary dog to some people. But when I was a baby, Lyle was my bed when I napped." So begins a profile of the special and unordinary things about the narrator's pet dog, her best friend. Each spread adds a new descriptor to the litany of characteristics described in previous pages, e.g., "My snuggly, smart, howling, burping dog Lyle gets so thirsty that he drinks out of the toilet. I try to keep the seat down, but sometimes I forget." In the next scene, slurping joins the list of adjectives, 14 in all. The interplay between this cumulative tale and the expressive oil-and-acrylic art works exceptionally well when depicting both dog's and child's personalities. From stinky (skunk encounter) to snuggly (sleeping on the bed together), lovable Lyle is this girl's best buddy. Cummins, Julie; Title: My Dog Lyle | [
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25,240 | 12 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Houghton Mifflin Reading: Student Anthology Grade 3.1 Rewards 2006 | [
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25,241 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 4As a pig family gathers round a table at mealtime, one piglet spills his milk. This seemingly innocuous accident unleashes an unfortunate and elaborate chain of events in this wordless picture book. As the milk seeps through a vent, it drips into a paint tray in the workroom below, causing it to tip over and fall, knocking over some tools on its way to the floor. A few more steps down the chain and a table saw is unleashed, cutting its way through one of the main supports of the house. As the dwelling careens away from the terraced hillside onto which it is built, pipes burst, weakening the roots of the tree bearing the children's tree house. And on it goes. Despite the destruction, humorous touches in Geisert's characteristic colored etchings lighten the tragedy, and there is a happy ending. Children will enjoy poring over the detailed illustrations, figuring out how one thing leads to another, and noticing more and more upon repeated viewings. Although this family might well want to cry over spilt milk, they are intact and smiling at the end, standing together amid the wreckage of their home.Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Geisert gives new meaning to the saying "Don't cry over spilt milk." This wordless tale begins when a pig child spills its milk in the house, which is cantilevered on the edge of a river valley. The milk sets off a complex chain reaction that ultimately destroys the home. Miraculously, no one is hurt, and the final scene shows the family together, surrounded by the shambles of their house, smiling at one another in a way that shows their happiness at just being alive. As in his book Lights Out (2005), Geisert uses his signature colored etchings to create a comfortable pig family and a complex (and outrageous) chain of events. However, this time he uses a much lighter palette to convey the sunny, peaceful valley, and his story has a much different outcome. Some children will make comparisons to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and possibly find comfort in the positive aspects of survival; others will simply enjoy Geisert's clever engineering. Randall EnosCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Oops | [
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25,242 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 3When Hugo, an elephant, finishes his painting of an electrical outlet, he realizes that he has painted everything in Cornville and is fresh out of ideas. His canine friend, Miles, suggests a trip to Paris for inspiration. Days of exploration prompt the artist to consider various possibilities, such as becoming Van Hugo, who paints impressions of his feelings; working in one color as "Hue-Go"; or creating "Hugo-mongous" canvases. But it is his vision of a completely different Paris as he views the city from atop the Eiffel Tower that finally convinces Hugo to return to Cornville where he "can paint everything all over again, only differently." The cartoon illustrations, rendered in pencil and digitally colored, pro-vide an ample supply of visual jokes. Cornville is the home of "Soft's Hardware" and "Munchie's Grocery." "Get There Air" takes Hugo and Miles to Paris and "Been There Air" flies them home. The myriad subjects of Hugo's paintings are quite amusing, and there are disguised works by Raphael, Hals, Van Gogh, and others in the museums. The paintbrushes and wrenches on the endpapers exemplify the two friends' occupations, and the French street map, passport, and guide-book on the title pages foreshadow their trip. This story, along with Michelle Markel's Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall (Holt, 2005), can spark a discussion about new ways to see everyday objects.Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Hugo, a blue elephant, is a creative artist but he's run out of ideas. His best friend, a dog named Milo, convinces him to fly to Paris to see new sights for inspiration. Visits to the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay pose the possibilities of large paintings that could be Hugo-mongous; solid color art could be Hue-Go; a painting with light could be Hu-Glow. However, it's the expansive view from the top of the Eiffel Tower that inspires Hugo to paint everything--but from a new perspective. Pencil and digitally colored illustrations add whimsical details--like an art-stealing raccoon--to the wordplay. However, the naive art style, while charming, seems misaligned with the subtly sophisticated message that will appeal most to an older audience. The title hints of more adventures to come from these two. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Hugo and Miles In I've Painted Everything | [
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25,243 | 0 | Grade 5-8–Twelve-year-old Gussie Davis, the hearing daughter of deaf parents in 1948 Birmingham, AL, is feeling rebellious. She sings out loud during the mass at St. Jude's Church for the Deaf, where her father is the minister; when her parents send her to the hearing church, she skips out of Sunday school and uses her collection money to buy sodas; and she steals an old love letter from Miss Grace, one of her parents' boarders. Because of her actions, her father won't let her take a much-loved trip to her aunt in Texas and instead involves her in his missionary efforts at a black deaf church and with supporting the use of sign language at the Alabama School for the Deaf. Gussie gradually comes to terms with her parents' deafness and her place in the world. An excess of subplots–including her foray into popularity, her relationship with an eccentric boarder, the lost-love tale of a deaf boarder, and befriending a colored deaf boy–renders the story a bit difficult to follow, but the exploration of Gussie's feelings toward her parents and the hearing world, which she is part of and simultaneously at odds with, is heartfelt.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-7. Under typical circumstances, Gussie wouldn't get away with humming loudly in church, but as the daughter of deaf parents (her father is the minister of the deaf congregation), she assumes only her sisters know her misdeed. She is wrong, of course, and a hearing visitor outs her to her parents. Even so, Gussie continues to misbehave in this quietly humorous story, inspired by tales about Ray's mother's childhood with deaf parents. The setting is Birmingham, Alabama, in the summer of 1948, and the hardships and prejudices faced by the hearing impaired are displayed against a backdrop of a pre-civil rights South. The prose doesn't always sing, but Gussie's awakening to the world around her, the chorus of characters, and the family dynamics will keep readers interested. A chart of the manual alphabet will help kids decode the symbols used to finger-spell the chapter titles in the book. Cindy DobrezCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Singing Hands | [] | Validation |
25,244 | 2 | Grade 4-6Unwillingly spending the day mountain climbing with his father in Montana, 12-year-old Sam Flynn would rather be playing with his bandan interest his father refers to as sissy. Mr. Flynn is a successful doctor and avid outdoorsman who is hard on his son, almost to the point of being cruel (he occasionally uses profanity while bullying the boy). While bushwhacking through the brush (no paved highways for the Flynns!), Sam accidentally lets a branch fly into the man's face, causing temporary blindness, and Mr. Flynn is forced to rely on his son and their border collie to get home. During their trek down, they must face the dangers of the open wilderness, which include an injured and hungry cougar. Sam's courage is tested when he is forced to kill the animal, rescuing their dog and protecting his father. The tension between Sam and his dad seems to be resolved rather quickly after such a traumatic event, but readers will be relieved for Sam as he proves his worth to his dad and, more importantly, to himself. An enjoyable read for those who liked Andrew Clements's A Week in the Woods (S & S, 2002) or Michael Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom (Scholastic, 2003).Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Although 12-year-old Sam Flynn would rather be playing his guitar with friends, his father has coerced him into a grueling trek through the mountains near their Montana home. In a careless move, Sam causes a branch to hit Dad in the eye, temporarily blinding him and forcing Sam to guide the two safely back down the mountain. The journey is complicated by Sam's fears, Dad's ceaseless taunting, and an injured cougar hungry for an easy meal. Thomas' wilderness knowledge comes through vividly here, particularly in the survival details, and the subplot involving the cougar will have great appeal. Dad's cruel comments feel a bit heavy-handed, however, though they will probably spark interesting discussions among readers. Give this to fans of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's The Fear Place (1994). Kay WeismanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Blind Mountain | [
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25,245 | 12 | Unusual book; Title: Houghton Mifflin English: Student Edition Non-Consumable Level 2 2006 | [
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25,246 | 15 | Unit 1, The Earth System Unit 2, Earth's Surface Unit 3, The Changing Earth Unit 4, Ecology and Resources; Title: California Science; Focus on Earth Sciences, Grade 6 | [
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25,247 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2This deceptively simple story with a comic-book feel is a paean to creativity and friendship across cultures. When Zuzu smiles at the new boy next door and he doesn't smile back, she thinks that he may need a telescope; she makes one and delivers it to his home. When he doesn't appear outside, she thinks that perhaps he needs sunglasses, and so she makes him a pair. Finally, her wishing cake (bread and jam piled in layers and a dandelion on top) draws him out of the house and overcomes a language barrier, making him smile back. The mixed-media artwork has an almost computer-generated look, with pictures of real bread and photographic negatives worked into the panels. The minimalist text is included either in narrative boxes or dialogue bubbles. Zuzu's large face, square eyes, and red hair bring to mind the Powerpuff girls and other recent cartoons and, as such, may appeal to children despite the message-driven story. Older preschoolers and beginning readers might appreciate the protagonist's persistence and clever ideas.Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Zuzu loves making things with paper bags, boots, bottle caps, and big boxes, and her simple crafts are a delightful part of this friendship story. When a new boy moves next door, she tries to make friends, but he just sits inside and never smiles. Undaunted, she makes him a telescope (from a cardboard roll, paint, and plastic wrap); sunglasses (from camera film); and, finally, a wishing cake (from layers of bread and jam, with a dandelion candle). Eventually he joins her, and on the very last page, he is pictured racing around by himself in a cardboard boxcar he has made. Zuzu does not understand the language his mother speaks, and the cross-cultural connection is a quiet addition to the warm story. Johnson, who wrote and illustrated Henry Hikes to Fitchburg (2000), uses bright, bouncy collage-type pictures to show the fun of making exciting gifts and making a friend. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Zuzu's Wishing Cake (Rise and Shine) | [
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25,248 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Under a hot African sky, Mama Jumbo the elephant walks down Zanzibar Road and finds the perfect spot to build her houseunder the pawpaw tree. Animal neighbors help her build her scrap house, hang a 7-Up sign above her door for her address, and settle in happily. Soon, however, Mama Jumbo is lonely, and she asks the animals if any of them would like to move in. Only Little Chico, a scrappy, uncared for chicken, takes her up on her offer. After she gives him a strawberry-bubblegum-scented bath, snazzy pajamas, and a lullaby, Little Chico and Mama Jumbo are content with their living arrangements. However, the next day the elephant cannot find her friend anywhere and she frets that he has left, but children will be quick to notice that he is on her head. After a day of searching, the two are happily reconnected. Through his warm, expressive watercolors, Daly teaches readers about some of the important things in lifefriendship, family, and how to make a house into a home. Details abound, and the animals' patterned clothing adds texture and variety to the pages. Colorfully painted endpapers further weave Mama Jumbo and her animal friends together. South African culture flows joyfully in this vibrant tale that's sure to be a hit as a read-aloud or as a beginning reader.Michele Shaw, formerly at Yorkshire Academy, Houston, TX Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 3. In this picture-book-size chapter book set in Africa, animals make up the heterogeneous community thriving on a bustling thoroughfare: Louie-Louie the leopard is the shopkeeper; Bro Vusi runs the bookmobile; Baba Jive plays the saxophone. The entire cast of characters is introduced on a spread before the title page, but the star of the book soon emerges: Mama Jumbo, a stately and resourceful elephant with a heart as big as her trunk. She builds a house for herself on Zanzibar Road in the first chapter and finds a little chicken to adopt in the next. The fifth and last chapter unsurprisingly offers up a birthday party for Little Chico, which includes the whole neighborhood. There are no major problems or conflicts resolved amid the bright and airy pages, but Daly's sweetly drawn animals are kind, full of music, and perfectly satisfied with their unhurried lives. These characters may not look as realistic as the animals Daly has created for some of his other children's books set in Africa, but they make fine role models, nonetheless. Abby NolanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Welcome to Zanzibar Road | [
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25,249 | 12 | Book by MCDOUGAL LITTEL; Title: Discovering French, Nouveau!: Activites pour tous with Lesson Review Bookmarks Level 1 | [
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25,250 | 1 | Hans and Margret Rey created many books during their lives together, including Curious George, one of the most treasured classics of all time, as well as other favorites like Spotty and Pretzel. 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 original Curious George, the book was published in America in 1941. More than 200 Curious George titles followed, with 75 million books sold worldwide. Curious George has been successfully adapted into a major motion picture and an Emmy-winning television show on PBS.; Title: Curious George at the Baseball Game | [
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25,251 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2 As a farmer sets off for town in his well-used pickup truck, his barnyard animals decide to go along. The duck Luck climbs onboard and is soon joined by a chicken that goes 'cluck,' two dogs named Nip and Tuck, a burro called Buck, and several other critters. With such a heavy load, it's no surprise that the old truck breaks down upon reaching town. After calling for help from Handyman Hugh and his crew, Chuck is soon reunited with a shiny blue, totally refurbished pickup. Filled with rhyming language, this story will be a boon for beginning readers who will easily identify the rhyming words. One of the book's strongest features is the way the illustrations give visual clues to support the narrative while still adding to the humor of the plot. Anderson uses a crayon-resist technique to great effect, and the pictures are filled with dimension and texture. The bright colors are vibrant and energetic. This title will be a welcome addition to most collections, not only for its appeal to newly independent readers, but also for fun barnyard and vehicle storytimes. Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Chuck's Truck | [
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25,252 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2Bowler-hatted and be-scarfed, Dodsworth leads a rather dull and lazy life of naps, TV, and daily junkyard trips to replenish his thrift-shop stock. The mouse's routines are abruptly altered when he is attracted to a magnet on the front of a rusty pink refrigerator. The mysterious appliance becomes his cornucopia for adventures as it is filled with different supplies each day to help him follow the gentle suggestions written on notes held under the magnet: "Make pictures"; "Read more"; "Play music." His days become so filled with purpose and life that when a last note on the now-empty refrigerator exhorts him to "Keep exploring," Dodsworth finds he has the inner resources to do just that. Egan's masterful handling of the character's growth from lazy lump to a delighted self-starter will engage readers. The ink-and-watercolor art mirrors the laid-back tone of the narrative. In a style slightly reminiscent of James Marshall's work, Egan places his blocky rodent amid an ordered world of muted colors and white-framed spreads. This off-beat tale is perfect for reading aloud, but will also be appreciated as a read-alone and lap-sit. It's never dull.Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Dodsworth the mouse is a stodgy couch potato whose motto is "Try to do as little as possible." The owner of a resale shop, he follows the same daily routine: a trip to the junkyard in search of treasures, naps and cheese, lots of television. At the junkyard, he finds a pink refrigerator filled with paints and a note on the door that reads, "Make Pictures." Dodsworth brings the art supplies home, turns off the TV, and paints a beautiful picture. On return trips, notes on the refrigerator's door offer new commands: "Read More," "Play Music," and "Learn to Cook." Dodsworth is so inspired by his new activities that he follows the refrigerator's final message ("Keep Exploring") and sets off on his bike to see the world. The messages about ditching routine and embracing creative endeavors are heavy and perhaps adult oriented. Still, Egan's smooth storytelling and uncluttered pictures of endearing Dodsworth will easily engage kids, and children who are anxious about change may take encouragement from Dodsworth's delight as he tackles new experiences. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Pink Refrigerator | [
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25,253 | 15 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Houghton Mifflin Science: Student Edition Single Volume Level 6 2007 | [
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25,254 | 15 | 2007 Houghton Mifflin California Science Grade 5 (CA)(H) by William Badders, Douglas Carnine, James Feliciani, Bobby Jeanpierre, Carolyn Sumners, & Catherine Valentino ***ISBN-13: 9780618686193 ***400 Pages; Title: Houghton Mifflin Science: Student Edition Single Volume Level 5 2007 | [
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25,255 | 11 | Daniel Pinkwater lives with his wife, the illustrator and novelist Jill Pinkwater, and several dogs and cats in a very old farmhouse in New Yorks Hudson River Valley.; Title: Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving & Muktuk Story | [
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25,256 | 2 | Written with a light touch and illustrated with winsome line drawings, this is a series for young readers to write home about. Kirkus Reviews"This satisfying, quick-moving story portrays the fun and challenge of camp life and making new friends." School Library Journal; Title: Truly Winnie | [
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25,257 | 15 | Book by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Title: Science: Study Guide Consumable Level K (Houghton Mifflin Science) | [
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25,258 | 1 | Hans and Margret Rey created many books during their lives together, including Curious George, one of the most treasured classics of all time, as well as other favorites like Spotty and Pretzel. 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 original Curious George, the book was published in America in 1941. More than 200 Curious George titles followed, with 75 million books sold worldwide. Curious George has been successfully adapted into a major motion picture and an Emmy-winning television show on PBS.; Title: Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery | [
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25,259 | 15 | Unit A: Looking at Plants and Animals. Unit B: Looking at Earth. Unit C: Weather and Seasons. Unit D: Observing Materials. 74 pages.; Title: Houghton Mifflin Science: Student Edition Single Volume Level K 2007 | [
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25,260 | 12 | Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN; Workbook edition (January 14, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0618698795 ISBN-13: 978-0618698790 Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces; Title: Houghton Mifflin Math: Practice Book Grade 6 | [
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25,261 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 3This rollicking, rhyming, rags-to-riches story begins when Dad loses the keys to his beat-up car. As the young female narrator points out, No car, no work! No work, no pay! and so the day begins quite grimly for the family that is growing poorer day by day. But then the narrator's two-year-old sister suggests that her father should do what she does when she loses something: search down the back of the chair. And then the fun really begins. Dad's first reach into the easy chair's recesses yields a bit of hairy string, and then the first sign of reversed fortunesa diamond ring. From there the seemingly magical armchair produces a seven-inch-long spider, a clown, a string of pearls, two tea-sipping elephants, a pirate with a treasure map,/a dragon trying to take a nap, and other delights. But when Dad pulls out the long lost will of Uncle Bill and his money hoard, the family's financial woes are over. Dunbar's flower-patterned chair is wonderfully ordinary, and its plainness is in perfect contrast to the zany creatures and objects that spring forth from it. The watercolor and cut-paper illustrations are expressively detailed and whimsical, a superb match for the buoyant and breezy verse as it, too, flies this way and that. A delightfully optimistic, entertaining crowd-pleaser.Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Like Shel Silverstein's poetry, Mahy's exuberant rhyme bounces with nonsensical humor and begs for guitar accompaniment. On a bleak day, when money is low and the car keys are lost, a young girl and her siblings console their depressed dad by sharing their own technique for cheering up and finding missing items: see what's under the cushions. Sure enough, a magical storehouse of wonderments emerges from an armchair, and the girl describes the mayhem in infectious rhymes: "Some hairy string and a diamond ring . . . pineapple peel and a conger eel." Children may need help with some of the vocabulary (drake and docket, for example), but the wild assortment of objects, which include a pirate and a "lion with curls," will easily delight, as will the cacophonous, sunny, paint-and-paper collages of tea-drinking creatures, the comically stressed-out dad, and the cheerful kids. Expect lots of chanting along to the marching refrain ("Down the back of the chair") and phrases such as "a skink, a skunk, a skate, a ski." Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Down the Back of the Chair | [
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25,262 | 16 | "This subtly philosophical examination of time, scale, and the mechanics of life is all but certain to leave readers reconsidering the world and their place in it."— Publishers Weekly, starred review "This is a fascinatingly different way to approach natural history as well as time..."— Bulletin"Jenkins renders this package both eye-catching and mind boggling. Teachers will find good jumping-off points here for math, science, and history discussions."— School Library Journal, starred reviewSteve Jenkins has written and illustrated over twenty picture books for young readers, including the Caldecott Honor–winning What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eyepopping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. He lives in Colorado with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their children. To learn more about Steve and his books, visit www.stevejenkinsbooks.com.; Title: Just a Second | [
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25,263 | 0 | ..."an action adventure for reluctant readers, and there is enough historical minutiae to encourage further reading."Jill Rubalcaba, author of A PLACE IN THE SUN, UNCEGILA'S SEVENTH SPOT, and ST. VITUS' DANCE, lives in Haddam, Connecticut.; Title: The Wadjet Eye | [
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25,264 | 3 | PreSchool-Grade 2This rollicking British import takes the format of The Gingerbread Boy and turns it into a cautionary tale. Young Benny has never met a burger he didn't like; in fact, he will eat nothing else. After a steady diet of beef patties on a bun, he becomes one and finds himself being chased across the countryside by a pack of dogs, a herd of cows, and a group of hungry boys. He is finally saved from being a sideshow attraction at a burger franchise by his wise mother, who plies him with fruits and vegetables. The story is saved from a didactic and predictable ending by the warning that Benny should take care not to eat just vegetables, lest he finds himself transformed again. The simple lines and lively colors of the acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations add to the kid appeal. A fun addition to any library collection, Burger Boy perfectly suits a picky-eater-themed storytime that includes Russell Hoban's Bread and Jam for Frances (HarperCollins, 1964) or Mary Ann Hoberman's The Seven Silly Eaters (Harcourt, 1997).Rita Hunt Smith, Hershey Public Library, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Burgers are the only thing Benny will eat. His mom warns him, "If you don't watch out, you'll turn into a burger!" One day he does. Dogs hound him, cows threaten him, and hungry kids chase him--despite his insistence that he is really a boy. When the owner of Bigga Burger picks him up in his van, Benny thinks he is safe--until he is put on display as a "giant, talking burger." Then it's Mom to the rescue; she takes him home and feeds him veggies, which, it turns out, Benny loves. Cartoonlike collage illustrations are the perfect compliment for this cautionary tale; the spread of Benny morphing into a cheeseburger is especially comical. Enticed by the title and cover, kids will giggle over the familiar admonition. They'll certainly have no beef with the spoof; whether they'll be converted to vegetarians is another matter. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Burger Boy | [
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25,265 | 13 | Starred Review. Grade 58Using primary sources, including Catlin's own diaries and letters, Reich helps readers understand the importance of the artist's work and to see him as a man in his own time. The personal documents expose both selfless and selfish sides of his character. At times, he was sensitive to the Native peoples and their cultures, but he also used them for his own gain. Readers also see the artist as a neglectful family man and less-than-successful businessman; however, above all, Catlin is seen as an adventurer. Many of his paintings illustrate the text and add to a sense of excitement. A few of the larger reproductions are in color, giving a clearer view of the artist's palette and style. Other period works are also included. All are well captioned with additional identification and information that ties in to the text. Quotations are carefully documented in chapter footnotes. The author's note explains her choice of terminology and spelling as well as her efforts to avoid cultural bias in writing this book. This is an excellent choice for libraries looking for good biographies, either for reports or pleasure reading.Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Reich's own words (As a white person writing about American Indians, I have tried to be respectful . . . but, like George, I cannot completely erase my cultural biases, no matter how hard I try,) reflect the dominant theme of her handsome biography of nineteenth-century painter George Catlin, famous for his portraits of Native American life. Underlying thelucid, detailed discussion of the artist,which is illustrated with beautiful archival prints and photographs of his work,are the whites conflicting views of Indian peoples, then and nowespecially the image of the noble savage. Quoting extensively from Catlins letters and notes, Reich shows how he was driven to paint authentic cultural rituals and individuals, to champion the Indianscause,and to record their rich, vanishing way of life in all its diversity. At the same time, she never denies that Catlinexploited his subjects,exhibiting theprimitives, in the U.S. and abroad. There are long captions with the paintings, and the extensive back matter includesthorough chapter notes, a bibliography, and a time line. A great introduction to Catlins work as well as an excellent title to use in social studies, history, and art classes. Grades 7-12. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Painting the Wild Frontier: The Art and Adventures of George Catlin | [
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25,266 | 2 | Grade 14A lovingly created, highly unusual book that will appeal to special readers. Inspired by a painting of a giraffe created in 1414 by Shen Du, a calligrapher of the imperial court of China, Rumford researched early-15th-century Chinese voyages of exploration. Finding only brief allusions to the animal, he created this account of the birth and capture of Tweega (Swahili for "giraffe") and his travels from East Africa, to India, to China. Upon his arrival in Nanjing, the animal is greeted as a chee-lin, a mythological horned creature with a deer's body, ox's tail, and horse's hooves that appears only when there is peace and prosperity in the land. Pages of boxed text are set against computer-generated patterns inspired by textiles of the different countries in which the tale is set (African baskets and cloth, Persian tiles, etc.). Richly colored, thick casein paintings on facing pages show people of the East African coast and of Bengal, the courtyard of the emperor's palace, and the woods of the Peking park that was Tweega's final home. A hand-drawn map shows the chronology of the animal's journey. Shen Du's painting appears at the beginning, and his poem about the chee-lin, printed in Chinese and English translation, is appended along with an author's note.Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Linking the Chinese mythological creature, the chee-lin, to a 1414 Chinese portrait of a giraffe, Rumford imagines how a giraffe may have journeyed to China. From his birth and capture in East Africa to a short stay in Bengal and a stay in Nanjing and finally landing in Peking, lonely Tweega (Swahili for giraffe) survives frightening voyages, cruel and tender caretakers, and cramped quarters, ending up in the emperors spacious grounds. Tweega inspires awe everywhere and stirs optimism among the Chinese, who believe the chee-lin to be an omen of good fortune. The narrativemoving, even tender in many placesis accompanied by handsome full-page paintings, beautifully bordered with evocative motifs. Rendered in a casein mixture, the painterly yet lively illustrations capture landscapes and pageantry as well as individual expressions, especially, those of Tweega. Rumford offers a fine note to explain his sources, and a useful map is appended. A rare work, vividly imagined and caringly executed. Grades 1-3. --Linda Perkins; Title: Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey | [
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25,267 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Daly's boldly colored illustrations perfectly match this West African incarnation of the classic story. Pretty Salma is sent to the market by her grandmother and told to come straight home, but she takes a shortcut through the wild part of town and encounters Mr. Dog, who tricks her out of her basket, sandals, ntama, scarf, and beads. Mr. Dog scares Salma off and he goes to Granny's house to trick her. Meanwhile, Salma finds her grandfather in his Anansi costume telling stories in the village square and the two of them quickly set off to rescue Granny. The cartoon-style paintings capture the sights and flavor of the setting and add dimension and humorous details to this modern version of a timeless tale. Enjoyable on its own, this story would be especially fun combined with and compared to the many other "Little Red" stories available.Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In this playful fractured fairy tale set in Ghana, Salma encounters big, bad Mr. Dog while she is shopping on the wild side of town. Ignoring Granny's message ("Don't talk to strangers"), she is tricked into giving him her pretty things. He then tricks Granny into thinking he is Salma. But Salma dresses up with the mask of the bogeyman, and with help from storyteller Grandpa, she sends the bad dog on his way. Daly's line-and-watercolor art, more folkloric than that in his popular Jamela's Dress (1999), shows a mixture of the traditional and the contemporary in a Ghanaian urban setting--a man in a Western-style suit with a briefcase walks next to a woman carrying her shopping on her head. Add this lively version to other comic retellings of the Red Riding Hood story and other beloved tales. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa | [
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25,268 | 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: Curious George Color Fun (CGTV Board Book): Die-cut Board Book | [
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25,269 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 4This is a visually appealing, well-designed, clearly written, but ultimately problematic book. Beccia uses mixed-media digital art to create a tribute to the circus. Although the book jacket states that this book will take readers back to a time when the circus was a primary form of entertainment, no other expository material is provided to indicate when, where, or if this is an accurate statement. The framed, full-page illustrations are intended to resemble circus posters, but the identical retro feel comes across whether the act depicted is from the 1830s or the 1980s. The posters are arranged alphabetically, although the words selected to represent each letter are rarely exclusively circus related, other than the B is for Ballyhoo. There is no chronological order, and while years are sometimes mentioned in the brief sentences underneath the posters, often they are not. Posters feature Siamese twins, a bearded lady, and a contortionist. There is no much-needed introduction or afterword to place things in historical perspective. The book certainly serves as a colorful introduction, but a more balanced view of the circus experience is called for.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.From "A is for awesome, / A show for all ages / Death defying acts / and strange beasts in cages" to Z for a zippy trip to the next town, Beccia celebrates the grand old days of the traveling circus with an alphabet of typical acts and great performers of the past. Each nearly full-page circus-poster-style illustration, with an amplifying caption squeezed beneath, features a stylishly posed figure or group, labeled in ornately lettered text that promises marvels and wonders never before seen. What better way to evoke the Big Top's historical enticements as well as to introduce the likes of Annie Oakley, Harry Houdini, the Flying Wallendas--or, for that matter, Jumbo the elephant, 772-pound "Ravishing Ruth" Pontico, and the bearded "Lady Esau"? Step right up. John PetersCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo? | [
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25,270 | 1 | 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 Finds a Friend (CGTV Lift-the-Flap 8x8) | [
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25,271 | 0 | 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: The Dog Show (Curious George) | [
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25,272 | 1 | Grade 14Presented as a spoof of the old This Is Your Life TV show, this book features Dahlia the dragonfly with mystery guests, including her mom, who tell about the various stages in the insect's life. Although the text (much of it in thought balloons) and the lively watercolor and ink cartoons are anthropomorphized and quite humorous, the information is well conveyed. The egg-laying process is discussed, but there is no explanation of mating per se. A question-and-answer page contributes additional material. This book is similar in tone to Doreen Cronin's Diary of a Worm (2003) and her other Diary books (HarperCollins). Life Cycle, however, gives more information about the featured animal. Children will appreciate the humor, breezy text, and lively illustrations in Miller's book.Lynda Ritterman, formerly at Atco Elementary School, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: This is Your Life Cycle | [
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25,273 | 2 | Product Description From the creators of the Caldecott Honor Book Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems...Ubiquitous (yoo-bik-wi-tuhs): Something that is (or seems to be) everywhere at the same time.Starred Review. Grade 16This volume of beautifully illustrated poems investigates the natural world, from the single-celled bacteria and diatom to the ever-present ant and dandelion. Well-researched science facts are paired with vivid poems to describe how these very special life-forms avoided extinction to become nature's survivors. The book begins 4.6 billion years ago with a newly formed Earth and continues through time as it introduces 14 types of life that are still with us today. Starting with bacteria (3.8 billion years old) and including mollusks (500 million years old), ants (140 million years old), and coyotes (2.3 million years old), the journey continues to the youngest of species, the "wise humans" or homo sapiens, that have inhabited the Earth for only 100,000 years. An illustrated time line helps bring this massive scale into the realm of children's understanding. Each spread includes a poem, amazing facts, and an exquisite, hand-colored linocut. Sidman uses a variety of poetic structures, including diamante, rhyming couplets, and unrhymed verse, and unexpected language choices to create diverse and vivid word pictures of each species. This melding of science and humor makes for enjoyable reading. The stunning illustrations engage readers and encourage questioning and further exploration. From the depiction of ant tunnels to the surprising perspective of blades of grass, the bold and colorful linocuts are incredibly detailed and successfully capture the essence of each creature as part of its larger environment. A delightful feast for the eyes, ears, and mind.Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Ubiquitous: Celebrating Natures Survivors | [
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25,274 | 1 | The young narrator badly wants a pet, but his mom says dogs are loud and snakes are too scary. So the boy reluctantly winds up with a guinea pig. Through short poems and free verse, the boy and readers get to know Theodore ("soft, plump, fuzzy brownlike a teddy bear"). At first, Theodore hides in his cage, but a cautious approach finally results in a pat on the head followed by a purr. Since guinea pigs are not the most interactive of pets, the text sometimes seems stretched; one very short poem notes that Theodore doesn't have a tail. But most of the verses make a clever point, and the action picks up when, not unexpectedly, Theodore gets lost. The Latino mother and son, along with Theodore himself, are attractively portrayed, with the guinea pig's expressive face bordering on anthropomorphic. An oversize format with plenty of white space adds appeal, and the short text can be used with beginning readers. Cooper, Ilene; Title: Oh, Theodore! | [
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25,275 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2A child narrates her experiences with a friendly sea serpent in this quietly quirky book. The creature drops out of the bathtub faucet while the girl is bathing and the two immediately begin playing and splashing. She puts him in the aquarium next to her bed and, as they converse, she discovers how he ended up in her bathtub and that he longs to return to the sea. She is determined to take him back, but the next day it's too rainy to go out. After a few more days of precipitation, the serpent, who has grown too big for the tub, points out, "the rain isn't any wetter than the ocean," and they decide to make the trek. At the shore, the serpent is reluctant to leave his friend, but she gently assures him that his new adventures in the ocean will be spectacular. The lovely watercolor illustrations are lush with vivid blues and greens, and the bathtub and underwater scenes are full of movement and life. The impressionistic paintings allow readers to fill in details. The text flows well and highlights the strong bond between the child and the serpent, a bond that will hold even when they are oceans apart. A great choice for one-on-one sharing, and as a bedtime story.Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Sea Serpent and Me | [
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25,276 | 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: Curious George Before and After (CGTV Lift-the-Flap Board Book) | [
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25,277 | 0 | 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: Curious George and the Kite (CGTV Reader) | [
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25,278 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 2In this offbeat retelling of The Gingerbread Man, an ice cube hops out of a freezer, saying Can't catch me,/I'm off to the sea. Perhaps his dreams of bumping into boats arise from a little boy's crayon drawings of boats (one being hit by an iceberg) on the refrigerator. Although the day is hot, this perky little piece of ice stops for no onenot Boy, for whose lemonade it was intended, or Ant, who wants to get his ice skates, or the (literally) hot dog, or the goose that would like to get goose bumps. This fractured fairy tale is equal in its silliness and whimsical artwork to the Hassetts' The Three Silly Girls Grubb (Houghton, 2002). The warm colors of the illustrations, unusual perspectives, and smiling ice cube add to the visual appeal. The unusual protagonist's repeated refrain and the humorous wordplay make this tale especially suited for sharing aloud.Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Can't Catch Me | [
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25,279 | 2 | Starred Review. Grade 9 UpOn good days, Fanboy is invisible to the students at his high school. On bad ones, he's a target for bullying and violence. When a classmate is cruel to him, Fanboy adds him to The List and moves on. His only real friend, Cal, is a jock who can't be seen with him in public. Their love of comics, though, keeps them close friends outside of school. Reading comics and writing his own graphic novel, Schemata, are the only things that keep him sane. He dreams of showing his work to a famous author at a comic-book convention and being discovered as the next great graphic novelist. When Goth Girl Kyra IMs him with photos of him being beaten up, he's skeptical. Why does she care what happens to him? He learns, though, that she's as much an outsider as he is. The two form a tentative friendship based on hatred of their classmates, particularly jocks, and her interest in Schemata. Fanboy is a rule follower, but Kyra is a rebel with a foul mouth. She teaches him to stand up for himself, and gives him the confidence to do it. Lyga looks at how teens are pushed to their limits by society. Though he toys with such concepts as teen suicide and Columbine-like violence, the novel never turns tragic. His love of comics carries over into all three teen characters, breathing animation into a potentially sad but often funny story. This is a great bridge book for teens who already like graphic novels.Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."I'm a computer geek, a comic book geek, a study geek. Even in the Fast-Track classes, I'm apart." Fifteen-year-old Fanboy is miserable at school, where he is bullied, and at home, with his pregnant mother and her husband, the "step-fascist." His only relief is the late hours spent creating his own comic book. Then he receives an instant message from Kyra, an enigmatic Goth who seems to be the only witness to the violence he endures, and the two form a cagey, charged friendship. Unlike Daniel Ehrenhaft's Drawing a Blank (2006), in which a young comics fan embarks on a wild, fantastical adventure, Lyga's debut novel is a darkly comic, realistic, contemporary story of bullying and a teen's private escape in artistic pursuits. Fanboy entertains plenty of violent thoughts. He carries a bullet, keeps a tally of his abusers ("The List"), and lashes out with sometimes-cruel remarks, which feel sharply authentic. The insider comics details will slow some readers, and the open-ended questions about Kyra's personal story will frustrate others. Yet Fanboy's whip-smart, often hilariously sarcastic voice skillfully captures a teenager's growing self-awareness, and adds a fresh, urgent perspective to age-old questions about how young people cope with bullying and their own feelings of helplessness, rage, and being misunderstood as they try to discover themselves. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl | [
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25,280 | 5 | Eight exciting adventures with the five little monkeys are packed into one beautiful treasury. Each story can be read aloud in just five minutes! There’s plenty of monkey business in this collection of eight funny stories about the five little monkeys by best-selling author-illustrator Eileen Christelow. Come along with the lovable monkeys on their mischievous adventures as they do everything from jump on the bed to bake a cake to tease a hungry crocodile—and much more. With a padded cover, full-color illustrations, and stories that can be read aloud in just five minutes, this is the perfect book for bedtime, storytime, anytime!; Title: Five Little Monkeys | [
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25,281 | 0 | 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 Cleans Up (CGTV Reader) | [
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25,282 | 0 | PreS-Gr 1The epitome of warm and fuzzy, this collection is illustrated with embroidered fabric pictures that have been embellished with small objects like buttons, bells, shells, and bits of driftwood. Some of the items, like Mary's little white lambs, are crocheted, and many of the people appear to have heads made of smooth, round dowels. Old verses like "Elsie Marley" and "Simple Simon" are given a new freshness with this interpretation. With no white space, and familiar text laid out simply, the pictures definitely take center stage. Young children love visual detail and this book will engage and delight. The characters don't look very expressive, but the soft colors and graceful lines are attractive and appealing. An unusual and charming addition to nursery-rhyme shelves.Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.; Title: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes | [
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25,283 | 1 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 4A story based on the actions of Mary Ann Goodnight, a pioneer who made great strides in saving the buffalo from extinction in the late 1800s. Molly's first-person narrative offers alliterative descriptions of the sounds made by animals native to her West Texas home, including the "huff-huff" of buffalo breath and the thunder of their pounding feet. Soon, this everyday music is replaced by the noise of gunfire, as hunters slaughter the creatures for profit. When a cowhand brings her two orphan calves, Molly nurtures them and many more, developing the first captive buffalo herd. She even sends several yearlings to Yellowstone National Park to help reestablish their herd. The story ends with Molly wistfully hoping that the buffalo and their music will return to the plains. Fern's lyrical text and Castillo's folk-style artwork beautifully capture the era and events. Done in warm, earthy hues, the mixed-media illustrations depict a rugged landscape of grays and browns speckled with touches of color-wildflowers or bright blooms on a tree. Outlined in thick black lines, the characters shimmer with vitality and Molly's affection for her fuzzy-coated orphans is tenderly depicted. Buffalo Music is perfectly suited to a young audience, clearly conveying the magnitude of the decimation and the importance of conservation efforts.Lynne Mattern, Robert Seaman School, Jericho, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Like Joseph Bruchacs Buffalo Song (2008), this picture book is based on the life of an early conservationist who helped save the buffalo from extinction. The storyis toldthrough the fictionalized viewpoint of Molly,a character based on Mary Ann Goodnight, who remembers hearing the huge buffalo herds when she and her husband first settled in the lonely Texas Panhandle in 1876. Then the shots of hunters fill the canyon, and within six seasons, the buffalo have nearly vanished.Molly raises two orphancalves. Cowhands bring her more, and she find herself fending off wolves and poachersand caring for hercharges until theybecome one of five foundation herds in the U.S. The mixed-media illustrations, in thick black linesfilled in withcolored pencil, show Mollys hardscrabble daily life; her stubborn resistance as settlers, fences, trains, and cattle crowd in; andher nurturing of calves in a world of slaughter. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Buffalo Music | [
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25,284 | 12 | Book by MCDOUGAL LITTEL; Title: McDougal Littell Math Course 2: Practice Workbook | [
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25,285 | 16 | 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 Discovery Day | [
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25,286 | 2 | Mother keeps her babies clean, and close, and safe from harm. Mothers are like that.Whether the mother is a pig, a duck, an opossum, or a human, she looks after her little ones. Carol Carrick's gentle portrayal of maternal love is paired with her son Paul Carrick's evocative illustrations in this tender and reassuring picture book for the very young.; Title: Mothers are Like That | [
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25,287 | 2 | "A clever extension of a classic American folk song that will be a boon to youngsters' language development."; Title: Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers Book & CD (Read Along Book & CD) | [
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25,288 | 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: Curious George to the Rescue: A Slide and Peek Book | [
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25,289 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1A tender story about the many ways a mother is magic to her daughter. She chases away monsters and clouds, kisses boo-boos and makes them better, and bakes birthday cakes. Suitable for storytimes, times alone with Mommy, and even beginning readers, the story also touches on how the child is magic, tooshe makes her mommy laugh when she sings and dances. The ending looks toward the future, when the little girl will grow up to be just like her mother. Godon's pastel-and-paint, full-bleed spreads in gentle hues exude warmth. They complement the text and the resulting mood is sweet without being cloying.Nancy Kunz, Tuckahoe Public Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In this companion title to My Daddy Is a Giant (2005), a little girl praises her mom's seemingly supernatural greatness. On each double-page spread, the girl lists a new way that her mother is amazing: Mommy can chase monsters from the closet, guess secrets before they are told, swim faster than a dolphin, and make hurts disappear. The brief, simple words pair nicely with uncluttered, bold-lined illustrations that amplify the tenderness between the child and her mother, who is portrayed as a large, strong, capable, and loving presence. Best of all is the girl's realization that she has talents of her own: "When I sing and dance, I always make my mommy laugh." As in the team's previous title, this warm picture book encourages kids to notice and feel the small family moments that add up to love. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: My Mommy is Magic | [
25150
] | Train |
25,290 | 2 | [Signature]Reviewed by Jim McMullanThe magic in Van Allsburg's new book Probuditi! has been domesticated. Instead of supernatural powers sending rhinos charging through the living room, as in Jumanji, or spacemen falling through the ceiling, as in Zathura, Calvin, the protagonist of Probuditi!, employs a simple magician's trick to set the story in motion.Calvin and his buddy Rodney attend a performance by Lomax the Magnificent where the magician, by means of a rotating spiral disc, hypnotizes a woman and convinces her that she is a chicken. At the end of the show, Lomax says, "Probuditi!" and the woman snaps out of her trance. Inspired, Calvin makes his own rotating disc and manages to hypnotize his sister, Trudy, into thinking that she's a dog. Calvin and Rodney thoroughly enjoy Trudy's canine antics until they realize that Calvin's mom will soon be home, and they can't remember the magic word to reverse the spell. After several frantic dehypnotizing tries, it all works out with a little quiet help from Trudy.Although I miss the sense of otherworldly beauty that Van Allsburg achieved in some of his earlier books, particularly The Wreck of the Zephyr, the vaudevillian spirit of Probuditi! gives the artist a chance to make some very funny pictures. The lady Lomax hypnotizes struts around an imaginary barnyard like a crazed hen who happens to be wearing pearls and high heels. Trudy laps water from a bowl on the floor with almost embarrassing relish, and squats expectantly like a goofy golden retriever. All the characters and the scenes they inhabit seem to come from some iconic 1940s smalltown childhood, which is made all the more nostalgic by the artist wrapping them in a haze of luminosity. This typical "Van Allsburg light" is so effective in the way that it leavens the painstaking solidity of his illustrations and connects the details in a convincing atmosphere. So even though he is not using his light to bathe the classic simplicity of a sailboat floating through the sky, the light in these pictures still works to create the glow that we have come to expect in a Van Allsburg book and to give this homespun tale the quality of a remembered dream.The story of Probuditi! may not involve spacemen or exotic transformations, but it's still about the lure of magic and, this time, it's a magic that maybe any kid can make with a spiral disc and a gullible friend. All ages. (Oct.)Jim McMullan, known for his Lincoln Center Theater posters, has most recently illustrated the picture book I'm Dirty! (HarperCollins/Cotler, Sept.), written by his wife, Kate McMullan, and starring a backhoe loader. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 3Van Allsburg's latest story opens with a spider and a scream coming from Trudy (offstage), caused by an older brother's prank. Although Calvin's mother is none too pleased with her son, she honors his birthday with tickets for a magician/hypnotist. When the boy and his friend witness the strutting and clucking of a pearl-clad matron who believes she's a chicken, they can't wait to build their own rotating spiral disk. With Mom at the beauty parlor, the moment is ripe with Van Allsburgian possibility, and the artist delivers with fresh and funny scenes. Under hypnosis, Trudy becomes a dog. The suspense builds as the boys struggle to remember the word that will break the spell. The highly textured pastel and pencil drawings, rendered in a range of warm browns, are offset by creamy, rich backgrounds. The sepia look is well suited to the '40s setting. The masterful compositions display the depth, varied viewpoints, and marvelous mixture of patterns and surfaces that readers have come to expect from the artist. The expressions and postures of the African-American heroine are hilarious. Probuditi! displays a clear sympathy for the thankless role of a younger sibling; however, while Calvin is howling at the memory of his sister barking and drooling, it is she who has the very satisfying last laugh (offstage).Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Probuditi! | [
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25,291 | 13 | Grade 2-4Holbrook the lizard is a misunderstood artist. His happiness depends on his ability to hold a fine paintbrush in hand, to marvel over the vast array of paints, and to let his imagination soar. But the folks in the desert town of Rattler's Bend think his paintings are just squiggles, and that it's time to get a real job. Then an opportunity arises that will really measure his worth as an artist. Leaving the comfort of home, he embarks into the unknown where he enters a painting competition in Golden City. The place is full of renowned animals, and the best of the best have come to view the work of the most talented artists. When he arrives, Holbrook is struck by the strangeness of city culture and the creatures inhabiting this unknown world. When he shows his painting Starry Sky, he encounters a host of unsavory creatures and must rely on newfound friendships and smarts just to stay alive. This delightful marriage of takeoffs of famous personalities (Margot Frogtayne, Enrico Escargot) and storytelling techniques yields an amusing cast of rich characters. This is a fun adventure that will capture the imagination of beginning chapter-book readers.Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Holbrook, a young lizard who longs to prove to the other inhabitants of Rattler's Bend that he's a real artist, sets out for the big city with his best painting under his arm. Though befriended by luminaries such as ballerina Margot Frogtayne and tenor Enrico Escargot, he falls under the sway of a suave crook named Count Rumolde. With quick wits and a little help, Holbrook frees fellow painters' animals imprisoned by the count and stops a famous cook from turning the animal artistes into dinner for the carnivorous count. There are aspects of this fantasy that children will understand right away, such as Holbrook's longing for respect in his community, and others that they probably just won't get. To help with the latter, an appended note offers short introductions to artists referenced in the text, such as Enrico Caruso, Margot Fonteyn, T.S. Eliot, and Andy Warhol. The story moves along quickly, enlivened by dramatic situations, dry wit, and dynamic full-page illustrations. An enjoyable romp. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: HOLBROOK: A Lizard's Tale | [
13475
] | Train |
25,292 | 12 | Rare book; Title: Avancemos: Cuaderno Practica Por Niveles 2, Revised (Spanish Edition) | [
25329
] | Validation |
25,293 | 12 | Workbook.; Title: Avancemos!: Cuaderno para hispanohablantes (Student) Level 2 (Spanish Edition) | [
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25329
] | Validation |
25,294 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2In a mansion by the sea, a lonely boy finds a mysterious key under a chair. Curious to discover what it opens, he tries each lock until finally he succeeds in opening a large trunk with a ladder inside. As he climbs down the ladder, he finds himself in a passageway beneath the sea that eventually leads him to a lighthouse where a group of children and their dog become his instant friends. They have lunch, play ball, fly kites, and play on the beach until it is time for him to retrace his steps. This wordless story is straightforward but not predictable. The mystery of the key, the discovery of the passageway, and the obvious enjoyment of the children at play are all pleasantly depicted in brightly colored, simple watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations that combine full-page images, spreads, and pages of sequential panels. There are nicely done details such as the elaborate dinner service placed on the table at the mansion and the spiral stairway at the lighthouse. This appealing rainy-day tale will stir the imagination of those who have ever looked for something to do on a gloomy day.Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The author of Museum Trip (2006) returns to a wordless format to tell this story of a boy who finds that the house he lives in offers more than he imagines. The book opens to a picture of a boy looking out tall windows as rain spatters the panes. Bored and lonely, the child wanders the house and finds a key and a chest. Opening the chest, he discovers a ladder leading to a basement; then he goes through a door and up a staircase. This Alice in Wonderland-like journey ends on a sunny island, where the boy meets some children to play with. The boy goes home after a thrilling day, but he finds a way to return to see his friends. Once again, Lehman provides purely colored, precisely rendered artwork that capably captures both adventures and emotions. Unfortunately, this rather straightforward story leaves little space for children to use their imaginations. It does, however, beautifully capture the deja vu feeling that comes when reality mingles with the longing of dreams. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Rainstorm | [
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25,295 | 2 | Tallahassee was dumped off to live with Aunt Thelma-and her 'house rules.' It was the worst. Liz, her mother, promised to get her out of there as soon as she got settled in California. But it was Tallahassee, not Liz, who got settled...in a place where finding out about her mother's past helped her figure out her own future.Mary Downing Hahn, a former childrens librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland.Visit her online at www.marydowninghahnbooks.com.; Title: Tallahassee Higgins | [
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25,296 | 2 | Grade 48A combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones, Theo Throckmorton is in big trouble. The 11-year-old lives in London in 1906 and spends most of her time in an antiquities museum headed by her father and filled with objects from her mother's archaeological expeditions to Egypt. Bossy, clever, and learned in the lore of ancient Egypt, the girl constantly worries that the work-obsessed parents who ignore and neglect her will be destroyed by virulent ancient curses that only she can detect. When her mother returns from her latest trip with an amulet inscribed with curses so powerful they could unleash the Serpents of Chaos and destroy the British Empire, Theo finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue and danger. It pits her, along with some unexpected allies, against German operatives trying to use the scarab as a weapon in their political and economic rivalry with England. Theo must draw on all her resources when she confronts her enemies alone, deep in an Egyptian tomb. There, she makes some surprising discoveries, both personal and archaeological. Vivid descriptions of fog-shrouded London and hot, dusty Cairo enhance the palpable gothic atmosphere, while page-turning action and a plucky, determined heroine add to the book's appeal. Unfortunately, Theo's narrative voice lurches between the diction of an Edwardian child and that of a modern teen. The ambiguous ending, with its hints at the approaching World War, seems to promise a sequel. A fine bet for a booktalk to classes studying ancient Egypt.Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* "You'd be surprised by how many things come into the museum loaded with curses--bad ones," says 11-year-old Theodosia, whose parents run London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities. The twentieth century has just begun, and Theodosia's mum, an archaeologist, has recently returned from Egypt with crates of artifacts. Only Theodosia can feel the objects' dark magic, which, after consulting ancient texts, she has learned to remove. Then a sacred amulet disappears, and during her search, Theodosia stumbles into a terrifying battle between international secret societies. Readers won't look to this thrilling adventure for subtle characterizations (most fit squarely into good and evil camps) or neat end-knots in the sprawling plot's many threads. It's the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details (nicely extended in Tanaka's few, stylized illustrations) that will capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia's curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of "disgruntled dead things." Kids who feel overlooked by their own distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia yearns for attention, and those interested in archaeology will be drawn to the story's questions about the ownership and responsible treatment of ancient artifacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans as well as Joan Aiken's and Eva Ibbotson's readers. This imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth popularity. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos | [
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25,297 | 14 | 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: Curious George the Complete Adventures Deluxe Book and Cd Gift Set | [
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25,298 | 7 | "Anderson ... construct[s] a satisfying story while poking fun at all genre traditions. Fantasy fans are ensured a good laugh." Booklist, ALA, Starred ReviewA light tone overlays serious undercurrents in this leisurely but entertaining fantasy.Kirkus Reviews; Title: Standard Hero Behavior | [
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25,299 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2—Meserve's story treats the classic theme of a younger sister struggling to keep up with her older sibling. Small is always in the shadow of Big, both literally and figuratively. At the beginning of the tale, Small is depicted as a fleshed-out character, while readers see only Big's shadow, always looming larger than her sister's body. One day the teasing goes too far, and Small lashes out by letting Big's prized parrot out of its cage. She soon regrets her actions and runs away, but she doesn't go far—just out to the meadow where she sees the parrot in a tall tree, with Big—now fully depicted as a person—sitting underneath it. She is too frightened to climb the tree. Predictably, Small is unafraid and quickly rescues the bird. That feat makes her bigger in her sister's eyes, and the two walk off together. Done in digital media, the illustrations are large and crisp. The details in the backdrops-a bright patchwork quilt, a textured braided rug, a dainty white tea set—are vividly depicted, and the outdoor scenes are colorful and soft. The girls are a little stiff, more obviously computer generated. This is a pleasant book, but there's nothing special or original about it.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."[A] poignant tale of finding one's strengths and establishing relationships based on empathy and understanding." Kirkus Reviews; Title: Small Sister | [
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