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25,800 | 0 | Starred Review. Grade 2-6Dahl wrote many delightful poems, some of which are hidden in his splendid novels. This dynamic collection includes The Centipede's Song from James and the Giant Peach and Willy Wonka's Wonka-Vite from Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. The verses are illustrated by an assortment of talented artists, including Chris Wormell, Chris Riddell, Babette Cole, and Tony Ross. Quentin Blake's signature line drawings introduce each thematic section. Playful lines like Veruca Salt, the little brute,/Has just gone down the rubbish chute (Concerning Veruca Salt) and We may see a Creature with forty-nine heads/Who lives in the desolate snow,/And whenever he catches a cold (which he dreads)/He has forty-nine noses to blow (There's No Knowing What We Shall See) are irresistible. Unfortunately, no biographical information is provided for the illustrators. An index lists the titles of the poems under their sources along with their page numbers but no index of first lines is included. This vivacious addition to poetry collections will amuse a broad audience.Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-8. The title is well chosen, and Dahl's particularly viperish, not to say ghoulish, rhymes are full of ill-humor and occasionally delicious nasties. A few of these have never been published before, but most are familiar, made new by a gaggle of well-known illustrators (Lane Smith, Babette Cole, Satoshi Kitamura, William Joyce). The foreword and the images that introduce each section are by the delicious Quentin Blake, and they are very funny. This is a hard collection to take all at once: Augustus Gloop and Veruca Salt get what they deserve, to be sure, but Dahl is vitriolic about Goldilocks. The tone of the witches ("Down Vith Children!") is a little scary, and the sinister sibilance of the Grobes matches what may happen. There's a fair amount of potty humor--but that's typical Dahl. Like the recent D Is for Dahl by Wendy Cooling (2005), this is another way to repackage Dahl. GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Vile Verses | [
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25,801 | 1 | Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California dance band. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings. Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident: he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater. He was introduced to the world of children’s literature when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!" Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear named Corduroy. Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popular books for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low.; Title: Happy New Year, Corduroy | [
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25,802 | 2 | Grade 24Emma desperately wants to be a "winner" to impress her distant father, who has remarried and moved to London. When a sports competition at school is announced, the third-grader sees her chance. Warner deftly captures the mix of emotions that such contests evoke. The children know that they should be good sports and support everyone's efforts, but doing so is hard when they really want to win themselves. Numerous lessons are learned by the time the games have ended, but the instruction is humorous and gentle. Warner is a dead-on observer of playground politics, and has a great ear for dialogue. The scene of Emma and her friend Annie Pat watching the boys as if they were a group of animals in the wild is funny and telling. Small-scale black-and-white watercolors add to the humor of the story. Done in a slightly impressionistic style, the illustrations depict Emma and her friends as well as imaginative items from Emma's musings, such as her teacher getting married while parachuting. Readers do not have to have read earlier books in the series to appreciate this one, but Emma's fans will be the most receptive audience for this installment.Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Sally Warner (www.sallywarner.com) has published more than twenty novels for young readers, including the Emma and EllRay Jakes series. She lives in Altadena, California with her husband and their not-so-miniature dachshund, Rocky.; Title: Excellent Emma | [
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25,803 | 0 | Since the publication of Unreal! in 1985, readers all around the world have devoured Paul Jennings' stories. He has been voted 'favourite author' by Australian children over forty times and has won every children's choice award in Australia. In 1995 Paul was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to children's literature, and in 2001 he was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for services to children's literature. In 2007, Paul Jennings' worldwide sales surpassed 8 million copies.; Title: Paul Jennings' Weirdest Stories | [
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25,804 | 15 | Grade 2-5The astonishing and often repulsive uses of urine by humans and animals are chronicled in this companion to The Truth about Poop (Viking, 2004). Packed with anecdotes and facts, this book about the importance of pee has subtle humor. With clever wordplay for chapter titles, e.g., Urine the Army Now, the author grabs readers' attention and educates them with short, quick bits of information. The cartoon illustrations add humor to a subject that students will already be giggling over. Elementary-aged boys in particular will be drawn to the yucky grossness of the topic but will end up learning from the text. A book full of interesting tidbits that students will remember and love to share.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.With books available about gas and poop, could urine be far behind? Goodman, the author of The Truth about Poop (2004), tells kids everything they wanted to know about pee--and some of it is quite startling. After explaining how urine has saved lives (and yes, drinking is involved), she takes a look at physiology or "pee basics"; the how-tos of urinating (standing up, sitting down); "Peeing through history"; how animals pee; and uses for urine (vitamins, gun powder, and many, many others). As in the previous book, Smith provides jaunty, sometimes silly cartoon-style illustrations, including one of a woman pouring urine through a funnel into her husband's ear (a method pioneers used to treat earaches). The journey from drinking liquids to making urine is amusing, but a little convoluted for clarity. For reasons not readily discernable, some terms in the text are spelled out in bright yellow--among them, neon bright, stinky, no underpants, piddle-paks, and chipped pee off the shuttle. It's a book kids will pore over. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Gee Whiz! It's all About Pee | [
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25,805 | 7 | "Monster Crusheris an exhilarating read with loads of ethical and feminist dilemmas tucked into Lauras adventure from nerdy new girl to proudly nerdy monster-crusher supreme. . . . Highly Recommended." --CM Magazine"[A]n admirable tale of self-acceptance that will show readers of all ages that just because something is considered a flaw, it doesnt mean it is."--Atlantic Books TodayWESLEY KINGis the award-winning author of the Vindico series;The Incredible Space Raiders from Space!;Dragons vs. Drones; andOCDaniel. His first novel,The Vindico, won the Red Maple Award and has been optioned for film and TV. It was also picked as a Junior Library Guild Selection, as was the sequel,The Feros.The Feroswas also shortlisted for the Canadian Libris Award for the Young Readers Book of the Year. He lives in Nova Scotia with his wife.; Title: Laura Monster Crusher | [] | Train |
25,806 | 1 | Graeme Base is one of the world's leading creators of picture books. His alphabet book, Animalia, has achieved classic status with worldwide sales of over three million copies. His other books include The Water Hole, The Eleventh Hour, and The Last King of Angkor Wat.; Title: Monkeys Live in Trees (Little Bug Books) | [
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25,807 | 0 | Decidedly less flat-footed than most introductions to the police, this picture book uses a bit of story to show what officers do and amiable artwork to make them seem more approachable. Four people arrive at the police station one morning, change into their uniforms, and get to work. When a broken traffic light is reported, Sergeant Santole dispatches Officer Mike. A lost child who uses a police call box is rescued by Officer Jan, while Officer Carl apprehends two robbers fleeingon foot! The cheerful, rhyming text concludes: Situation? Under control! / When people need help, we rock and roll! Alleys colorful illustrations will engage children with intriguing details of life in this bustling town. The use of animated facial expressions and body language even for peripheral characters contributes to the sense that this town is full of storiesstories with happy endings for almost everyone. A nice read-aloud pick for community-helper units. Preschool-Grade 1. --Carolyn PhelanThe hilarious cartoon illustrations effectively convey excitement and brisk movement...preschoolers will be reassured that special people are there to assist in a variety of circumstances. --School Library Journal ; Title: Police Officers on Patrol | [
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25,808 | 2 | Gr 5-7Seventh-grader Maya and her family have moved from Idaho to Oregon, where they're all hoping for a "fresh start" after the death of Maya's best friend, Stephanie. Maya, who used to illustrate Stephanie's stories of magic and imaginary worlds, now uses her art to deal with her grief. She is intrigued by the people who live in the apartment building next door, who seem too exotic for Oregon, and strikes up a friendship with those who go to her school. Things go from odd to odder, however, when she is visited by a fairy, which leads to a chance encounter at school and an alien egg attached to her arm. She soon learns that her neighbors are a family of portalkeepersthey monitor portals from other worldsand the egg, called a sissimi, will hatch into a creature that is bonded to her for life. As she learns more about portalkeeping and prepares for the hatching of her egg, she comes to terms with her family's move and starts to see hope for the future. The realistic and fantastical elements don't always blend seamlessly, but the story's premise is intriguing, and, like the rather abrupt ending, hints at a sequel.Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Still haunted by the death of her best friend the previous spring, Maya must now make her way in a new town and, worse, a new middle school. Intrigued by the strangely dressed kids living next door, she finds herself opening up to them after an enigmatic, possibly alien boy at school magically implants a small egg beneath the skin of her wrist, making her the host of a rare, precious sissimi,a protector. Suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite for enjoyment of this inventive novel, which will sweep willing readers along in a strong current of narrative. As characters and events become curiouser and curiouser, the world of school and family becomes increasingly divorced from the fantastic realm Maya discovers. The concluding scenewhich attempts to merge the two worldsis, ironically, less convincing than the purely imaginative ones. Still, fantasy fans will find plenty to enjoy here, from the striking jacket art to Mayas discovery of an alternate, magical reality. Grades 5-7. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Thresholds (Magic Next Door) | [
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25,809 | 16 | Praise for The Book of Awesome:   • "Little things, it turns out, are extremely important to happiness, and The Book of Awesome will remind you of a thousand little things that will make you happier." --Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project"Neil Pasricha is to blogging what Jerry Seinfeld is to standup." --The Globe and Mail    • "Neil Pasricha is the guru of small joys." --The Toronto Star    • "Strangely heartwarming... perfect for rainy days." --The New Yorker Praise for The Book of (Even More) Awesome:   • "This may be the greatest piece of literature on awesome the world has ever seen." --Justin Halpern, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Sh*t My Dad Says    • "This entertaining follow-up collection offers more reflections on life's little pleasures such as "Getting the keys to your first apartment" Pasricha finds fun in frustrations, going from grit to wit." --Publisher's Weekly    • "By showing how daily life is packed with thousands of small, bright moments, Neil Pasricha makes ordinary days light up with awesomeness." --Gretchen Rubin, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Happiness ProjectNEIL PASRICHA is one of the world's leading experts on happiness and the power of positive thinking. He is the #1 International Bestselling Author of The Book of Awesome series with over a million copies sold in a dozen languages. He has given one of the most popular TED Talks of all time called "The 3 A's of Awesome." He wrote this book to teach his son the power of attitude, awareness, and authenticity. Online: https://twitter.com/1000awesome https://www.facebook.com/1000awesomethings http://1000awesomethings.com/; Title: Awesome Is Everywhere | [
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25,810 | 1 | Robert McCloskey (1914-2003) wrote and illustrated some of the most honored and enduring children's books ever published. He grew up in Hamilton, Ohio, and spent time in Boston, New York, and ultimately Maine, where he and his wife raised their two daughters. The first ever two-time Caldecott Medal winner, for Make Way for Ducklings and Time of Wonder, McCloskey was also awarded Caldecott Honors for Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer. He was declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in 2000. You can see some of his best-loved characters immortalized as statues in Boston's Public Garden and Lentil Park in Hamilton, Ohio.; Title: Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man : A Tale of the Sea in Classic Tradition | [
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25,811 | 1 | Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California dance band. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident: he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.He was introduced to the world of childrens literature when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear named Corduroy.Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popular books for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low.; Title: The Guard Mouse | [
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25,812 | 0 | Robert Lawson (1892-1957) received his art training at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. His favorite medium, pen and ink, is used expressively and with detail in his black and white illustrations inThe Story of Ferdinand (by Munro Leaf). In addition to illustrating many children's books, includingMr. Popper's Penguins, Robert Lawson also wrote and illustrated a number of his own books for children. In 1940, he was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his picture book illustrations inThey Were Strong and Goodand in 1944, he was awarded the Newbery Medal for his middle grade novelRabbit Hill.; Title: They Were Strong and Good | [
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25,813 | 2 | K-Gr 2Madeline and her friend Pepito come to the aid of a sad spirit in this offering from Bemelmans's grandson. Ghoulish groans of Woo-hoo from the attic make the orphans and Pepito cry Boohoo, but Madeline heads off to investigate and says, Pooh-pooh when confronted with the apparition of Felix de Lamorte. The former astronomer, who has been waiting 221 years for the return of a comet so he may rest in peace, is devastated because his telescope has been stolen by the head of the school. In ghostly disguise, Madeline and Pepito pay the thief a midnight visit: Awake! Awake! Lord Cucuface!/and save yourself from foul disgrace!/You've crossed a line that's awfully fine/by taking what is rightly mine. Marciano's full-color illustrations faithfully recreate such iconic images as Miss Clavel and twelve little girls in two straight lines. The background scenes feature Parisian chateaus and the Seine. Although the rhyming text lacks the accomplished flair of the original books, Madeline's fans will enjoy her adventures.Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Marciano, the grandson of Madelines creator, gets the look and feel of the Madeline books exactly right in his fourth addition to Madelines adventures. The lives of Miss Clavel and her 12 Parisian orphan-girl charges, who walk, eat, and sleep in two straight lines, are disrupted when the mean-spirited Lord Cucuface makes a surprise inspection visit. Against Miss Clavels protests, he enters the supposedly haunted attic, where he finds an antique telescope, which he instantly claims. Madeline awakes in the middle of the night to hear ghastly moans from the attic, and states, Something is not right. Madeline and the girls soon discover a bewigged eighteenth-century ghost who says he can never rest until he can view the return of the comet that caused his death centuries ago. The action hurtles along, aided by Madelines madcap friend Pepito, ending in a very funny revenge on the headmaster and a wonderful resolution to the ghost story. Fans wont want to miss a beat. Preschool-Grade 2. --Connie Fletcher; Title: Madeline and the Old House in Paris | [
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25,814 | 2 | K-Gr 2-Fish and Snail live in a book. Fish ventures forth to other books daily and brings back stories. When Fish urges a reluctant Snail to come out and experience the adventures firsthand, they have a fight that threatens their friendship, but bravery and fun ultimately prevail. The story is told almost entirely in dialogue, emphasizing emotions. The illustrations, though gently rounded and softly colored, are highly expressive and full of cinematic angles. Especially effective is the page by page "zooming in" as the conflict between Fish and Snail builds. The imaginative power of books is implied, but the concept of self-aware characters that visit other books might be too abstract to be appreciated by some children. This is an odd, sweet little story, appropriate for large collections or where friendship stories are in high demand. Refreshingly, readers never learn the gender of either character, and the book will be especially useful where non-gendered stories are desired.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.The world of books is very real for Fish and Snail; they can move between them. Snail, who clearly appreciates the comfort of a reread, is quite happy where he is and content to wait for Fish to come back and tell him about other books. But when Fish wants Snail to join him in a different book, the two friends argueSnail is defensive about his preferences, and Fish is dismissive of them. Fish splashes away in a huff: Fine, Snail. Good-bye. THE END. Young readers might not absorb the meta construct of the story, but they will certainly understand the horror of a few hastily spoken words and appreciate the amicable resolution. As she did in Blue Chicken (2011), Freedman uses the book as a canvasboth the book in the readers hands and the book of Fish and Snail. The juxtaposition of the muted gray library shelves with the foam green and aquamarine palettes of the books is a nice way to reinforce the idea that stories come to life when readers dive in. In the case of Fish and Snail, that is quite literally the case. Preschool-Grade 1. --Kara Dean; Title: The Story of Fish and Snail | [
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25,815 | 2 | PreS-KFreedman ventures into the realm of metafiction once again with this whimsical friendship tale. Pencil in paw, Mouse starts to create a quiet story about having tea, its gray line drawings becoming "real" la Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon. To Mouse's great consternation, enthusiastic Frog jumps in to help with colorful ideas of its own. Soon, the orderly tea party is overrun by melting ice cream, a king, and even a dragon. Frog's suggestions reach a crescendo in an entire page of amalgamated quotes from children's classics "May I bring a friend? Can I drive the bus? I think I canI think I can," causing the exasperated Mouse to shout "Stop!" and send all the drawing elements exploding all over the page. Two friends then work out a compromise, jointly creating a vibrant magical garden laid out across a spread. Freedman's delicate watercolor, gouache, pastel, and pencil illustrations delight with gentle humor, such as Frog and Mouse wondering, just "Who is Deborah Freedman?" They are, however, oddly out of sync with the story, as when the text says that Mouse is writing the story but the illustrations consistently show Mouse and Frog drawing. David Wiesner's Art and Max (Clarion, 2010) and Susanna Gretz's Riley and Rose in the Picture (Candlewick, 2005) explore the intersection of friendship, art, and breaking the fourth wall with more finesse, but with its timeless message about the importance of sharing and collaboration, this title will be welcome in most larger collections where such books are in demand.Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NYWith metafiction crowding picture-book shelves these days, each new piece needs to earn its place, and this one does.... An elegant, exuberant portrayal of stylistic differences and child-writer passion.; Title: By Mouse and Frog | [
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25,816 | 2 | PreS-K-Tom has a new brother, and everyone keeps threatening to gobble Baby up. They nibble his toes and talk about his plump thighs, fussing over him and leaving the older child feeling invisible. As the family prepares to gather for dinner, it appears to him that "the Blob" is the main course, and he takes action by hiding his sibling. This story has a familiar plot: big brother does not really like the new baby until there is a threat, and then he becomes protective. The twist here is a young boy learning about idioms, or, as his mother explains, "Silly things grown-ups say." Most children begin to understand them around age seven, so it is hard to determine the audience for this book. While the story is funny to those who get it, it may go over the heads of many preschoolers. One-on-one with plenty of time for explanations, it might reassure younger children. The layout is clean and well designed, and lively acrylic illustrations are done in bright colors; Tom wears a red superhero cape. Libraries looking for more "new baby" titles will find this one acceptable.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Spoiler alert: nobody eats the baby. And yet this clever offering does tease out the possibility of cannibalism in a lighthearted way. Tom is a little boy rather bummed out about his new baby brother, Nathaniel. Tom calls him the Blob because he isnt anywhere near as fun as Tom was promisedhe just sits there. Whats the point? Well, the point, he discovers, may be for the adults to eat the child. Just listen to what they say! I could just take a big bite out of him! says Grandma. Dont you just want to eat him up? asks Auntie Lulu. Just look at those plump, juicy thighs! squeals Auntie Mimi. So Tom takes drastic measures, locking himself in a room with Nathaniel to fend off the bloodthirsty beasts. His folks are actually proud of his protective instinctsee, he loves the Blob after all! Young strays a bit from her premise here and there, but it is nonetheless a strong, humorous one. The acrylic illustrations, meanwhile, keep things from getting scary. A yummy little morsel. Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Don't Eat the Baby | [
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25,817 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1While spending a year in Mali, Emanuel decided to write a book that reflected life there. The resulting story follows a young child who observes her surroundings while riding on her mother's back. Connected by the blanket secured tightly around them, mother and child grind grain, greet friends, shop at the market, and enjoy each other's company. While the basic idea is commendable, the narrator's voice sounds more like an adult than a toddler's. For example, the smell of ripe mangoes "draws us onward with the unspoken promise that a treat awaits." The child notes that "my eyes well up and leak tears." Occasionally, a toddler's voice breaks through, such as when Emanuel describes the pair's dance. "Tiptoe. Squat down. Bounce, bounce, bounce." What works consistently are Lewis's paintings, which capture the affection of mother and child, the brightly patterned cloths, the busy market stalls. Emanuel's photos, included with her author statement, reveal similar scenes. Perhaps adults who want to introduce this culture to young children can savor the illustrations and supply their own simplified text.Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato"Lewis’s dappled watercolors both ground the story in the details of its specific setting—fishing boats resting by the shore, vibrant clothing—and reflect the characters’ mutual, unconditional devotion, which stretches across borders." —Publishers Weekly"Commendable. . . Lewis’s paintings. . . capture the affection of mother and child, the brightly patterned cloths, the busy market stalls." —School Library Journal; Title: The Everlasting Embrace | [
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25,818 | 2 | Praise for Max & Ruby at the Warthogs' Wedding:"Hilarious. . . clever. . . this interactive title should be a hit with the pair's many fans." Booklist"Wells' signature illustrations will charm readers as they pore over the lovely patterns that enrich the Hotel Ritz." Kirkus"Max and Rubys many fans will enjoy their latest adventure." School Library JournalRosemary Wells has created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max & Ruby at the Warthogs' Wedding (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,819 | 2 | Praise for Max & Ruby's Preschool Pranks:"The illustrations are as winning as ever . . . Wells concocts a gloriously messy climactic eruption."Kirkus Reviews"So much fun."Publishers WeeklyPraise forMax & Ruby at the Warthogs' Wedding:"Hilarious. . . clever. . . this interactive title should be a hit with the pair's many fans." Booklist"Wells' signature illustrations will charm readers as they pore over the lovely patterns that enrich the Hotel Ritz." Kirkus Reviews"Max and Rubys many fans will enjoy their latest adventure." School Library JournalRosemary Wells has created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max and Ruby's Preschool Pranks | [
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25,820 | 1 | Monkey Ono is so excited for Beach Day. Too bad his little boy left him at home. But Monkey Ono is a resourceful stuffed monkey, and he devises several plans to get himself to the beach: travel by dog, travel by toilet pipes, and travel by hammock slingshot. Despite the fact that the plans seem flawless on paper, they each fail spectacularly. Just when Monkey Ono is ready to resign himself to a beachless day, inspiration strikes. There is so much irrepressible energy in this book, from the Mr. Billesque wail of Oh noooo! each time a plan fails, to the cheery thumbs up Monkey Ono gives before flushing himself down the toilet. Phillipps cut-paper collages are wonderfully expressive and beautifully layered; the flat pages can barely contain them. Visual gags such as Monkey Ono landing in the neighbors underpants hanging from the line and birds taking umbrage at the commandeering of their birdbath, will herald calls for repeat readings. Oh yeah! Preschool-Grade 1. --Kara Dean[Monkey Ono] will have listeners in stitches. They will identify with his enthusiasm and learn a thing or two about creativity and cooperation. -KirkusPhillipps's cut-paper collages - embellished with watercolor, crayon, and stitching - convey energy, movement, and frustration in a way that few artists working in this medium can match.- Publishers Weekly; Title: Monkey Ono | [
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25,821 | 2 | Gr 8-11-In junior high, Maggie Camden was subjected to bullying-vicious taunts that continue to haunt her four years later. Raleigh Barringer, who tormented her, moved away, but as the novel opens, Raleigh returns, stoking Maggie's memories of the harassment. Although Raleigh appears to ignore her now that they're in high school, Maggie can't seem to shake her dread. It's a little hard to believe that anyone so fearful would also be an A student with complementary extracurriculars, the piano and mountain climbing. Maggie's rebuilt confidence relies heavily on Nick Cleary, her hiking buddy and best friend, although the challenges they face on the trail aren't as interesting as their conversations on the ground. Her other worry, besides Raleigh, concerns a recent urge to kiss Nick. Thus the tension of this smart novel is within Maggie, and not between her and the societal problem of bullying.-Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NY(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Compared to the traumas of middle school, high school is a good place for Maggie. Here she has friends, hobbies, and even a possible love interest in Nick, her hiking buddy. Together, they rise to the challenge of rigorous walks in the woods and climbs in the mountains. Yet its a kiss that undoes their blossoming relationship, an ill-timed moment that corresponds with the arrival of Maggies former bully, Raleigh, back from living abroad. Maggies self-esteem plummets, and she loses the courage to let Nick know how she feels. Hubbard demonstrates the intense fear, paranoia, and dread that can paralyze victims of bullying long past the days of actual incidents. Maggie is nothing short of haunted by her past with Raleigh; memories come flooding back to her with the startling clarity and venom of PTSD flashbacks. The stuttering, burgeoning romance between Maggie and Nick becomes the backdrop to a more important love story, that of Maggie and herself. Readers will fall for this thoughtful, expansive, and tender offering. Grades 9-12. --Courtney Jones; Title: Until It Hurts to Stop | [
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25,822 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1A pup named Smick, an ordinary stick, and one adorable chick form an unlikely trio. The first few pages introduce the pup while spare text lists commands for the canine. Next, a stick is introduced into the story line and serves as a tantalizing treat for the pooch. Smick is encouraged to act on his interest in chasing his new toy. "Go, Smick, go!" His ears twitch as the next word introduces the newest arrival: "Chick?" Initially, it appears that Smick and Chick are in a standoff until they realize that there is much joy to be found in their relationship; the final page features Smick and Chick in a moment of slobbery affection. "SidekickSidechickSide lick!" With only a smattering of words and thick dark outlined drawings on the white pages, Smick's telling facial features accentuate his playful charm. Photographs of flower petals and rosemary tree sticks are combined with digital images to achieve an excellent effect. VERDICT This clever and appealing glimpse into the start of some delightful friendships is one doggone good time.Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NCPRAISE FOR SMICK:"Maximum fun." —Booklist, starred review"A great dual-purpose title that will serve both very young picture-book audiences and barely emergent readers, this will be a happy collection workhorse. Workdog?" —BCCB, starred review "Less is definitely more in this fetching, fun-filled mix of dog, chick and stick, guaranteed to tickle all." —Kirkus Reviews; Title: Smick | [
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25,823 | 2 | Praise for THE SATURDAY BOY by David Fleming:The Saturday Boy is funny and poignant, sometimes at the same time, the way life is. Sara Pennypacker, New York Times Bestselling author of the Clementine series and Summer of the Gypsy MothsFleming reminds us of the immeasurable value of a handwritten letter, how this tangible connection becomes something we can hang on to, for as long as we need it. Suzanne LaFleur, author of Love, Aubrey and Eight KeysDebut novelist Fleming ably limns Dereks manic, Joey Pigzastyled interior life with a light hand, capturing the humorous aspects of the boys self-perpetuating problems. BCCB, starred review"[A] tender portrait of a boy under stress." Kirkus ReviewsFleming has done a superb job of not only making the characters believable, but also of keeping an underlying tension in the story. Children with parents who are deployed will find a kindred soul in Derek, and other readers will come to better understand what its like for them. School Library JournalFleming's debut skillfully depicts how the stresses of loss and other forces beyond one's control test the bonds of family and friends. Publishers Weekly"...children whose lives are similar to Dereks will identify with the confusion and isolation of war and find a comrade here." Horn BookDavid Fleming lives in the woods in Weston, Massachusetts, with his wife and two willful, boisterous sons. He graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in English dramatic literature and theater and now works for a landscape designer. When the ground is frozen, he writes. He has been published in Monkeybicycle, Stuff Magazine, andWellesley/Weston Magazine and at beattoapulp.com. The Saturday Boyis his first novel.; Title: Saturday Boy | [
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25,824 | 11 | Praise for The Crimson Skew"A triumphant conclusion to a prodigious feat of storytelling."Kirkus Reviews,starred review "Asharply creative, engrossing trilogy . . . Groves imaginative world building continues to dazzle in this third entry . . . Enormously satisfying"BCCB, starred review"Afantasy series unlike any other . . . [an]exhilarating conclusion to the trilogy."VOYA"Wildly inventive . . .Readers enamored by Sophias travels and Groves uncommonly original fantasy world will be satisfied by this bittersweet conclusion, which leaves plenty of room for further tales."BooklistAccolades for The Glass Sentence(Book #1)ANew York TimesBestsellerAn IndieBound BestsellerAKirkus ReviewsBest Book of the YearA Kids' Indie Next Top Ten BookA Junior Library Guild SelectionA Summer/Fall 2014 Indies Introduce New Voices Selection"Brilliant in concept, breathtaking in scale and stellar in its worldbuilding; this is a world never before seen in fiction . . . Wholly original and marvelous beyond compare."Kirkus Reviews,starred review"A thrilling, time-bending debut . . . It's a cracking adventure, and Grove bolsters the action with commentary on xenophobia and government for hire, as well as a fascinating system of map magic."Publishers Weekly,starred review"Stellar . . with impeccable character development and sophisticated, intricate setting details."BCCB,starred review"I loved it! So imaginative!"Nancy Pearl"Not since Philip Pullman'sThe Golden Compass have I seen such an original and compelling world built inside a book."Megan Whalen Turner,New York Timesbestselling author ofA Conspiracy of Kings"Absolutely marvelous [and] completely original. I love this book."Nancy Farmer, National Book Award-winning author ofThe House of the Scorpion . . . and for The Golden Specific (Book #2)A Kid's Indie Next SelectionA Junior Library Guild SelectionA New England Book Award FinalistAn iBooks Best of the Month Selection"Readers will find a wealth to explore, as the author manages to create memorable characters, an endlessly intriguing world that, even with the provided maps and her uncle's careful explanations, still remains an almost complete mystery, and a plot that merits every single page of this lengthy volume."BCCB, starred review"Brilliantly imagined and full of wonder."Kirkus Reviews"This delicious blend of magic, history, and science will continue to delight fans of intricate world-building and rich storytelling."School Library JournalS. E. Grove is a historian and world traveler. She spends most of her time reading about the early modern Spanish empire, writing about invented empires, and residing in Boston.; Title: The Crimson Skew (The Mapmakers Trilogy) | [
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25,825 | 15 | Praise for When the Earth Shakes: * Powerful writing. . . The visuals, too, are strong. Spectacular photographs are included. . . A must-buy for libraries serving middle school, this title works both as a basic overview of earth science and as a fine example of how to incorporate personal narrative into nonfiction. School Library Journal,starred review Praise for Simon Winchester: Simon Winchester never disappoints . . . Inspiring and engaging. Tom Brokaw onThe Men Who United the States "Elegant and scrupulous." New York Times Book ReviewonThe Professor and the Madman "Winchester once again demonstrates a keen knack for balancing rich and often rigorous historical detail with dramatic tension and storytelling." Publishers Weekly,starred reviewofKrakatoa "Winchester brings a knowledge as vast and deep as his subject to this history of the Atlantic Ocean." Entertainment WeeklyonAtlantic "As with every book he's written and narrated, Winchester makes abstruse subjects available and fascinating for every reader and listener." Publishers Weekly,starred reviewonThe Man Who Loved ChinaSimon Winchester is the New York Times bestselling author of The Professor and the Madman. His recent titles include Atlantic and The Men Who United the States. Winchester was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to journalism and literature.Learn more at simonwinchester.com.; Title: When the Earth Shakes: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis (Smithsonian) | [
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25,826 | 2 | After mastering the art of etiquette in Tea Rex (2013), our tea party host has decided to turn her attention to camping. With a troupe of humongous dinos in tow, the little girl in a giant hat follows a trail, pitches a tent, learns about local flora and fauna, canoes down a quiet river, and builds a perfect fire. Except, not quite. The illustrations reveal that the dinosaurs got distracted on the path, their tents ended up more like handkerchiefs draped across their heads, their rambunctious splashing in the river capsized her canoe, and the T. rex contributes an entire tree trunk that does not fit in the campfire. The delightful mismatch between the dry, reasonable textthe seasoned camper enjoys gathering woodand the madcap mishaps in Idles soft and colorful pencil drawings is sure to elicit giggles from the picture-book set. And for grown-ups worried about a little girl going camping in the woods by herself, never fear: they were in the backyard the whole time. Grades K-2. --Sarah HunterPRAISE FOR CAMP REX:"...this is certain to raise more than a few giggles..."Kirkus"...the deadpan writing and careful compositions work in tandem for maximum comic impact."Publishers Weekly"...sure to elicit giggles from the picture-book set."Booklist"Sweet and subtle with a liberal pinch of silly..."BCCBPRAISE FOR MOLLY'S FIRST BOOK,TEA REX:"Sure to be enjoyed by tea-party enthusiasts, and even dino fans with no use for a teapot will find themselves drawn to this clever tale of a not-entirely-civilized beast of the past." KirkusIdle has a gift for comic composition...Publishers Weekly"The tension between the text and illustrations provides much to amuse the youngest tea-party hosts."School Library Journal"A fine example of how words and pictures can lock horns to charming effect."Booklist; Title: Camp Rex | [
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25,827 | 2 | PreS-Gr 1A high-spirited gang of dinosaurs, first seen in Tea Rex (2013) and Camp Rex (2014, both Viking), accompany their elegant friend Cordelia, her brother, and his ever-present teddy bear to the beach in this new adventure. In concise instructions, the proper young girl offers advice on how to best enjoy a "carefree day of fun in the sun." She recommends sitting near a lifeguard, using plenty of sunscreen, and waiting to go into the water after eating the picnic lunch. In addition to catching the waves, searching for treasures on shore is also an ideal way to spend the afternoon. "Even the smallest shell can contain the ocean's mighty roar." As the sun sinks below the horizon, the most important thing to keep in mind is "When you're surrounded by friends life's a day at the beach." Beginning and ending with clever endpapers, the colored-pencil illustrations jauntily chronicle the memorable day at the seaside. Each precisely drawn picture captures a key moment in the dinosaurs' fun-filled day. On one spread, the T-rex gleefully rides the waves and a few pages later looks on in surprise as a flock of bold sea gulls flies off with the picnic basket. VERDICT Beach lovers will bask in the warmth of this witty homage to summertime.Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MAPRAISE FOR SEA REX: "Idle’s soft, colored-pencil illustrations exude playfulness... A cheery outing and guaranteed good time."—Booklist PRAISE FOR CAMP REX: "...this is certain to raise more than a few giggles..." —Kirkus  "...the deadpan writing and careful compositions work in tandem for maximum comic impact." —Publishers Weekly "...sure to elicit giggles from the picture-book set." —Booklist "Sweet and subtle with a liberal pinch of silly..." —BCCB PRAISE FOR TEA REX: "Sure to be enjoyed by tea-party enthusiasts, and even dino fans with no use for a teapot will find themselves drawn to this clever tale of a not-entirely-civilized beast of the past."  —Kirkus  “…Idle has a gift for comic composition...” —Publishers Weekly "The tension between the text and illustrations provides much to amuse the youngest tea-party hosts." —School Library Journal "A fine example of how words and pictures can lock horns to charming effect." —Booklist; Title: Sea Rex | [
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25,828 | 2 | K-Gr 2Byrd reimagines this classic folktale through a beautifully painted landscape and a story line that begins with Chicken Little heading off to the market to buy honey, flour, and milk with strict instructions not to "dillydally." When a pesky acorn to the noggin leads him to believe the sky is falling, he enlists the help of a hilariously named cast of characters, including the famous Henny Penny, as well as the lesser-known Froggy Wogg and Roly and Poly Moley, to warn the king. They are soon duped by a fox and locked in his cellar. Spurred by the impending doom of being served for dinner, they find an escape route, and Chicken Little saves the day by pelting the fox with apples, turning Foxy Loxy into the fool who believes the sky is falling. His mother finds his return home without any baking supplies puzzling, and Chicken Little falls into bed to dream of "baking cakes, ferocious foxes, majestic kings, giant acorns, and falling apples." While the artwork perfectly fits the timeless nature of this familiar story, Byrd's adaptation adds little nuance or humor, making it hard to imagine much appeal for young readers. Collections with large folktale sections can certainly add it with confidence, but versions like Rebecca and Ed Emberleys' Chicken Little (Roaring Brook, 2009) or Keith Graves's Chicken Big (Chronicle, 2010) are more likely to resonate with a new generation of readers.Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH*Starred Review* There are many versions of Chicken Littlesometimes the main character even has another name, like Henny Pennybut the outline is the same. An acorn hits Chicken Little on the head. His conclusion? The sky is falling, and he had better hurry and tell the king. His friendsincluding Turkey Lurkey and Goosey Lucy, are joined here by Natty Ratty and Piggy Wiggyfollow along until they meet a fox. Byrd (Electric Ben, 2012) says the tales ending has bothered him since childhood (he must have read the version where Foxy Loxy has the troop for dinner), and he sets out to put things right. In the process, he has created a delightful offering that kids will, well, gobble up. This Chicken Little is small but clever, and once he escapes from Foxy Loxys cellar, he turns the tables on Foxy and his family and frees his friends. The story is neatly told, but it is the verdant watercolor-and-ink artwork, featuring intricate cross-hatching, that shines. So much attention and detail has been lavished on each flora-and-fauna-enhanced spread that children will want repeat viewings. That will give them more time to catch the humor that can be broad (Chicken Littles cellar escape) or subtle (the range of expressions on the animals faces). The meeting between Chicken Little et al. and the Fox family is especially delicious: curiosity and anxiety meet hunger and anticipation. Choice! Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Brave Chicken Little | [
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25,829 | 2 | PreS-Gr 2-As she did in last year's sweetly graphic Little Owl's Night (Viking, 2011), Srinivasan again produces a visually appealing story of a young animal finding its way in the big wide world. In this case, a bashful, doe-eyed orange octopus ventures away from home to escape the friendly enthusiasm of three seahorses. Charmingly stylized sea creatures (helpfully labeled in the delightful endpapers) float through an aqua-and-purple waterscape with an occasionally confusing perspective that renders the seahorses tiny on one page and larger than our timid heroine on the next. Reserved or introspective children may sympathize with the octopus, who employs authentic octopus tricks like camouflaging her color and squirting ink at the boisterous trio before escaping to deeper waters; even more readers could benefit from a reminder that not everyone always wants to play. But the narrative does not quite cohere and the paean to shyness gets lost in marine diversions: drifting jellyfish, an attacking eel, a breaching whale that earns a gatefold. After restoring herself with quiet and a solo jig, the octopus wishes for companionship and the text concludes that she is "glad to be back with her friends." Once readers realize that the seahorses she avoided, fled, and squirted are her friends, this final line provides a pleasant resolution as well as gentle encouragement for the bashful among us to dip a toe-or tentacle-into the ocean of sociability.-Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Praise for Divya's first book,LITTLE OWLS NIGHT:"This debut picture book gets it all just right. The story, while familiar, is executed deftly and with heart, and the crisp graphic elements of the artwork juxtapose well against the pretty prose."Booklist,starred review"The story's chief virtue is its graceful, balletic prose... It's a provocative inversion of the classic bedtime story, and a solid first outing. Srinivasan's message is that night is a delightful place, and that's useful knowledge for small children."Publisher's Weekly"A graceful bedtime story celebrates the beauty found in night... Hold on to Little Owl's tail feathers and soar."Kirkus Reviews"This exceptional first book by Srinivasan, a talented illustrator... follows Little Owl during his nighttime explorations... this bedtime tale may even convert children who are afraid of the dark into adventuresome night owls"New York TimesBook Review"This is the most visually and verbally gorgeous picture book of the year... Simple, dazzling - and simply dazzling."The Boston GlobePraise forOCTOPUS ALONE:"Srinivasan follows her debut,Little Owls Night(2011), with a similarly striking rendition of the marine world in this no-place-like-home tale." Kirkus"...every page is stunner."Publishers Weekly"a visually appealing story "School Library JournalSrinivasan, an animator and the author of the luminous Little Owls Night (2011), brings the same distinctive beauty to this story of a glowy orange octopus, hidden in her cozy cave. New York TimesBook Review; Title: Octopus Alone | [
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25,830 | 2 | PreSWhen Sophie "gets up on the wrong side of the crib" on her second birthday, Mama tries to cheer her up with a new pink dress and Daddy tries to chase the blues away with blueberry pancakes. Her rotten mood persists until Granny says, "Let's hit the road!" and they take a wild ride on Sophie's "Push-Me-Pull-You Motorcycle." A ferocious sabre-toothed tiger suit turns out to be just the thing the youngster needs to tame her temper. Sophie, clad in her "terrible tiger" costume, enjoys cake with her family, and when Granny asks her how old she is, the toddler raises two claws in the air and triumphantly announces, "Terrible Two!" Wells's beloved illustrations and her characteristic wit are pitch-perfect for this humorous family drama. Parents and children alike will be able to identify with Sophie's grumpiness and appreciate that sometimes the only one who can make things better is Granny.Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OHWe first met our little mouse protagonist in Time-Out for Sophie (2013) and already know her to be a lovable handful. On the morning of her second birthday, Sophie wakes up on the wrong side of the crib. She rejects her birthday breakfast of blueberry pancakes and dismisses her presents. She is terrible. Gran arrives and takes her on an outing, hoping to tame her savagery, but Sophie persists. She wants nothing to do with the animal sounds and primary colors at the local toy shop. But when Gran suggests a fearsome, fiery sabre-toothed tiger costume, Sophie is delighted and hurries home to terrify her family in style. As she has done before in books like Shy Charles (1988) and Noisy Nora (1997), Wells distills the challenges of the preschool set into a simple, resonant story, with sensitivity and care and a profound understanding of her audience. Sweet scenes on sherbet-colored backgrounds establish a sort of confining cuteness, making Sophies grab for independence all the more palpable. Parents and toddlers alike will respond to Sophies honest-to-goodness antics. Preschool-Grade 2. --Thom Barthelmess; Title: Sophie's Terrible Twos | [
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25,831 | 5 | Kindergarten-Grade 4 On his way home from a party, Daniel O'Rourke becomes the target of the pooka spirit's mischief and is led from one perilous plight to another. McDermott has pared down the 19th-Century T. Crofton Croker version of this Irish folk tale and made it accessible to the young. Remaining faithful to its structure, he plays up the action and plays down the verbosities, retaining just enough of the language to hint at the Irish brand of humor central to the Croker version. He sidesteps altogether the premise that Daniel's woes come from drink, instead noting that Daniel feasted on "green cheese and goose livers until he thought he would burst." McDermott's illustrations are playful and full of momentum, yet every composition, defined in sepia ink, is meticulous, as if the frenzied moments have been captured for close inspection. The watercolors combine deep night blues, rich and evocative, with the dazzling verdure and pale mist of his Irish countryside, his pastel pencil adding texture and depth. Daniel himself is a figure of fun, although there is the slightest echo of St. Patrick's Day greeting-card art about him. The only characterization that seems a bit humorless is the man in the moon; in such a tale one suspects that everyone would look a bit like an Irishmen, not so otherwordly and faceless as this fellow. This, however, is quibbling; the book abounds with merriment and artistry and is perfect for group telling on St. Patrick's Day and all year round. Susan Powers, Berkeley Carroll Street School, BrooklynCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Daniel O'Rourke: An Irish Tale (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) | [
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25,832 | 14 | PreS-Gr 2Sure to become another favorite, this prequel tells the story of how the character Corduroy, created by Don Freeman in the 1960s, found his green overalls and how the button on the overalls got loose. As the tale begins, the little stuffed bear has no name or clothes. Upon hearing that Santa grants Christmas wishes and that one should wear something special when they meet the famous man in red, the little bear goes on his first journey to meet Santa and finds the perfect outfit for the occasion. Readers will have an "A-ha" moment when the little bear finds his outfit as well as when Santa first calls him "Corduroy." Wheeler works her magic in the illustrations, bringing the adorable bear to life. A charming addition to the "Corduroy" series (Viking) and holiday collections.Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library, CAPraise forA Christmas Wish for Corduroy:"A story that can stand next to the original two Corduroy tales without apology. A pleasurable and satisfying back story for the beloved bear named Corduroy. Not too long, not too hardjust right. "--Kirkus Reviews"As they provide a lovely bit of backstory for Corduroy fans, the creators ofCorduroy Lost and Foundagain show their prowess at recreating Freemans inviting narrative and scratchboard art."--Publisher's Weekly; Title: A Christmas Wish for Corduroy | [
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25,833 | 2 | The Herkimer sisters live in their big house on the hillside of Shaker Lane and sell off pieces of their farm whenever they need a little money. Soon a whole community is settled there: Virgil Oates builds his house first; Sam Kulick and Norbert La Rose become his new neighbors. The place is filled with life and activity, large families, a variety of animals, discarded furniture left in yards, stove pipes, bed springs and tin cans left to rust. Old Man Van Sloop's house is open for dogs and other animals to come and go as they like. Then comes the news that the place is going to be flooded when a dam and reservoir are constructedand everyone has to move out. The area is chewed up by a bulldozer, and the dam water of Bosey's Pond slowly covers everything but the Herkimer House on the hill. The suburban setting of Reservoir Road replaces Shaker Lane with tidy houses, lawns and real roads. But one person shows up in a houseboat with his animals and a fine collection of antiques. "I like the water," says Old Man Van Sloop. The Provensens have provided readers with a classic portrait of the very special bond between pride of place and the American psyche. Old Man Van Sloop, no less a hero than Noah, personifies the triumph of hope and innovation over forgetfulness and dislocation. Children playing baseball, a young couple strolling with a baby carriage, the Herkimer sisters standing with clasped hands, watching the floodthese are some of the artfully finished touches in the paintings. The open road of the countryside, the rusty colors of the houses and the cluttered forms of furniture pieces in junkyards make Shaker Lane an unforgettable piece of real estate. All ages. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 1 Up A non-sentimental account of ``social progress,'' a pattern of life common to all parts of this country and probably most Western societies. As the Herkimer sisters, rural inhabitants, grew old, they sold off parts of their land to those with modest incomes and a laid-back lifestyle. Then land developers arrived, created a reservoir, and forced the poor to move out to be replaced by middle-class families. Low key in the telling, with a focus on the people, the double-page spread paintings capture the horizontality of the landscape. Opaque, flat colors define clapboard houses, bare autumn branches, and a motley assortment of pooches with equal conviction. The Provensens show the makings of a rural ``slum,'' and readers feel the sense of community built by the La Roses and the Kulicks and the Whipple twins. Each group is defined as individuals by the details of their lives: the condition of their houses, the variety of junk in the yard, the kind of vehicle parked on the grass. Although there's no doubt about the aura of authenticity of the scenes painted, there's equally no doubt about the Provensens' thoughtfulness of the range of yellow-greens used to depict fallow fields, or the use of a few bright clothes on a clothesline to contrast with the graying landscape or the scruffy clouds that add emotional stature to the scene announcing the building of the reservoir. A beautiful blend of direct telling and subtle showing. Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, ColumbusCopyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Shaker Lane | [
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25,834 | 2 | This book, by the illustrator of David Byrne's Stay Up Late , is one of the more unusual offerings of the season. Alexander has trouble falling asleep and begs his sister Lulu to tell him stories. "How many?" she asks. "A million?" "No." "Five?" "OK, five." Lulu begins her inventive, peculiar tales. Cross-eyed dogs, geniuses and bathing beauties pepper the landscape as Lulu weaves the familiar with the unfamiliar. "Aunt Ida and Uncle Morris had a dog named Max. Max wanted to live in Paris and be a poet. In the evening Max would tiptoe down the hall, with a suitcase, trying to sneak out of the house. Ida would say to Morris, 'Quick, Morris, catch the dog.' " Later the dog sits in a cafe drinking black coffee and writing. "Dig that boy with the box on his head. Is he buying bread? Is his name Fred?" Kalman's unique illustrations are drawn from the far reaches of the imagination. The bizarre and the commonplace are mixed brilliantly, theatrically punctuated by black pages with the dialogue of the sleepy siblings shown in white type. Although this will not suit everyone, the stream-of-consciousness style is one that many will embrace uncritically, assisted by the colorful images and humorous figures that are scattered throughout. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 3 A young boy pleads with his older sister for some bedtime stories, and Lulu obliges with some brief, highly imaginative, tales about ``four very tiny people. . .walking very fast. . .carrying little instruments''; Maishel Shmelkin, who ``forgot to wear his pants''; and Max, a dog who ``wanted to live in Paris and be a poet.'' These are not polished stories, but germs of ideas that are matched to perfection with Kalman's friendly illustrations, electric and eccentric. Child-like, but with a cutting, surreal edge, these pictures are wildly funny. While the book will have limited use in a group setting, there are secrets hidden here to fascinate children. They will happily scrutinize the illustrations, delighting in finding a dog on a unicycle, a tree-person, and exotic dancers. The funkiness of the drawings belies their sophistication. Children can use these pictures as springboards for their own creative artwork or storytelling, as they are involving and lend themselves to interpretation. The book design is distinctive. Scratchy sketches on chartreuse endpapers set the tone of the book, and white type on solid black spreads shows the children's nighttime banter. Lulu's stories generally appear on left-hand pages, facing full-page depictions of the images that she conjures. Hey Willy, See the Pyramids is a free-spirited book that will engage children on many levels. David Gale, ``School Library Journal''Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Hey Willy, See the Pyramids | [
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25,835 | 8 | As with last year's pop-up version of Beatrix Potter's Two Bad Mice, this book seems born to the form. A spread showing "the old house in Paris" has lift-open windows so that the "twelve little girls in two straight lines" can be viewed; Madeline leans forward to "pooh-pooh" the zoo tiger and teeters on the wall "to frighten Miss Clavel." When Miss Clavel turns on her light, readers can pull the tab and banish the darkness. And Madeline's hospital stay, with movable doll carriage and a tossable ball, looks enviable indeed. With all the bustling in these pages and tabs to tug, the book will immerse both old fans and new readers in the joys of knowing Madeline. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-K Horror of horrors! A pop-up book based on an all time favoriteLudwig Bemelman's classic Madeline. Yet admittedly, it is rather fun to pull a tab and see Madeline pooh-pooh the tiger in the zoo, or Miss Clavel turn on her light, or the doctor carry Madeline in his arm in a blanket safe and warm. Madeline herself would be delighted. All of the favorite scenes are here. The only scenes missing are the beginning illustrations of the 12 little girls in 2 straight lines breaking their bread, brushing their teeth, going to bed, and smiling at the good and frowning at the bad. While pop-up books may not withstand extended circulation, librarians who work with the very young in story hours will find this book a wonderful way to introduce children to Madeline and her world. Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Pub . Schools, Va.Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Madeline Pop-up Book | [
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25,836 | 10 | Text: English (translation) Original Language: Swedish; Title: Emil in the Soup Tureen | [
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25,837 | 17 | Grade 6-12-- This interesting biography portrays Disney's life as one of vision, disappointment, and phenomenal success. He built an entertainment empire that began with innovative animation techniques and continued, even after his death, with the construction of Walt Disney World and the Epcot Center. This young man from Missouri had a tendency to push both himself and his staff, which led to serious personnel and financial problems in his rocky road to success. This chronological biography documents his career, concentrating more on the man than his "magic." In contrast, Barbara Ford's book (Walker, 1989), capitalizes on the Disney creations, giving more in-depth information about Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Donald Duck, and gang. Both works present a true-to-life picture of the genius of this talented man. However, the black-and-white photographs are more extensive and interesting in this work, and an additional eight pages of full-color photographs from animated movies further enhance it. --Judie Porter, Media Services Center, Portsmouth School Department, RICopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Man behind the Magic: The Story of Walt Disney | [
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25,838 | 2 | While watching a performance of The Mikado , Alexander suggests to his older sister Lulu that perhaps they should visit Japan. Lulu, eager to avoid her piano lesson and her teacher, the dreaded Mrs. Kackleman, is only too happy to agree. The two arrive in Tokyo (without parents, you understand), and are bundled off in a red taxi driven by a gloved man with "sharp black hair." Images of houses and people, food and customs jumble together in a wild stream-of-consciousness travelogue that springs from the minds and lips of the irrepressible brother and sister. A man sitting on a park bench and a frog in a kimono reciting a haiku are as riveting as a visit to a Japanese school or communal bath house. The book is studded with many gems from the mouths of Lulu and Alexander, like the poem dedicated to their guide: "Hey Hiroko, are you loco? Would you like a cup of cocoa?" The unique and provocative illustrative style evidenced in Hey Willy, See the Pyramids flourishes in this new work, demonstrating a graphic brilliance that is fast becoming Kalman's hallmark. Her carefully orchestrated yet extravagantly kinetic paintings are crammed with details and characters ready to spill off each page. All ages. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.In her own words: "born. bucolic childhood. culture-stuffed adolescence. played piano. stopped. danced. stopped. wrote. discarded writing. drew. reinstated writing. married Tibor Kalman and collaborated at iconoclastic yet successful design studio. wrote and painted children's books. worried. took up Ping-Pong. relaxed. wrote and painted for many magazines. cofounded the Rubber Band Society. amused. children: two. dog: one."; Title: Sayonara, Mrs. Kackleman (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) | [
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25,839 | 1 | In this bohemian celebration, Max the dog, the poet, the dreamer, is back. His struggle for acceptance since Hey Willy, See the Pyramids has not been easy--Max has had to post his poems on a wall at the corner of Pastrami and Salami Streets for his fellow New Yorkers to see. Even as he pines for Paris, Max admits that New York City is fine by him: " . . . a jumping, jazzy city, a shimmering, stimmering triple-decker sandwich kind of city." In this unique blend of reality and fantasy, intermingled words and images seem influenced by such strange sources as Mamie Eisenhower's wardrobe, the Jazz Age and the Theatre of the Absurd. Banter that rings with sophistication is well matched by the esoteric illustrative approach readers have come to expect from Kalman. Although there is much to glean from an unhurried single reading, this fanciful creation yields its greatest treasures through repeated visits. All ages. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.In her own words: "born. bucolic childhood. culture-stuffed adolescence. played piano. stopped. danced. stopped. wrote. discarded writing. drew. reinstated writing. married Tibor Kalman and collaborated at iconoclastic yet successful design studio. wrote and painted children's books. worried. took up Ping-Pong. relaxed. wrote and painted for many magazines. cofounded the Rubber Band Society. amused. children: two. dog: one."; Title: Max Makes a Million | [
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25,840 | 0 | In nursery-like rhymes and sweetly misted but witty illustrations, the sisters Watson (Father Fox's Pennyrhymes) take an old-fashioned look at love across the generations. The rhymes have a pleasing, familiar ring: "Love's a sweet no money can buy/ And a riddle that none can explain;/ More precious, 'tis said, than emeralds or gold/ And yet as common as rain." The animal characters are softly sketched and colored, shown in quaint domestic and country scenes: a rabbit couple strolls contentedly in front of a fiddler; a young skunk pats the hand of his grandmother seated in her rocking chair ("[Let me] hold your hand until you sleep/ As once you held mine"). Quirky details in the art are ballast against sentimentality. "Love, hate, joy, & sorrow/ All rolled into one," begins one verse; the art above shows a beaming chipmunk couple absent-mindedly keeping their reluctant child in tow while two young mice heatedly argue with each other. Even with this degree of activity, the art is serene and soothing. All in all, a calm and quietly confident work. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 3-4-This collection of original rhymes about love in its many forms and stages doesn't seem to have an audience. The poems about courtship and confused, deceptive, and even second-time-around love will not interest most young children, while the accompanying pastel paintings of small fuzzy animals in warm, comforting colors seem to be aimed at them. The rhymes are patterned on Mother Goose and sprinkled with words like "pippin" and "nubbin" and place names like "Ballston Beach," which give them a decidedly old-fashioned flavor. The quality of the writing is uneven. Some verses are delightful and sprightly; others are dull and forced with uneven meter. The modern settings seem to be out of sync with the tone of the verses. This book is not as sweet as the Watsons's Catch Me & Kiss Me & Say It Again (Putnam, 1983; o.p.) and Father Fox's Pennyrhymes (Crowell, 1971; o.p.).Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FLCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Love's a Sweet | [
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25,841 | 14 | Told by a nameless child narrator, this charming and fresh story takes readers to New Year's Day when it is time for the Christmas tree to go out. Feeling a little sad, the family invites friends to an after - Christmas party. They skate on the pond and collect pinecones; once home, they spread the cones with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed, string popcorn and berries, and hang this all on the scraggly tree outdoors. The group retires to enjoy hot chocolate while the birds are treated to the tree's "second season of giving." While Patricia Polacco's Uncle Vova's Tree (Philomel, 1989) suggests remembering the birds at Christmas, this enchanting story tells how to do it. Davis' pastel watercolor illustrations remind readers of how family cheer can warm even the palest months and tint them with a rosy glow.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The After-Christmas Tree | [
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25,842 | 1 | After telling their adopted daughter Cora how they found her in her infancy, washed ashore, Edward and Ophelia-who, unlike Cora, are elephants-promise to pursue their sole clue to her origins: a life-preserver tag labeled "Pier 38, San Francisco." Cora becomes obsessed with discovering where she came from. But after a hard-earned trip from their African watering hole to San Francisco, girl and elephants learn that "Pier 38" is a life-preserver factory. Rovetch (Trigwater Did It) says merely that Cora is "sad and disappointed" before launching into her heroine's pleasure in a protracted stay with the factory owner and his wife. The point of this scattershot story is unclear: why raise the question of Cora's parentage only to drop it? In what seems an effort to allay the anxieties raised by the plot, the illustrations are uniformly sunny and bright, and Edward and Ophelia, rotund, cuddly and thoroughly anthropomorphized, bear more than a passing resemblance to Babar and his friends. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2?Cora leads an idyllic life in Africa until she raises an important question: Why has she been raised by a pair of elephants? Her adoptive parents, Edward and Ophelia, explain how she had been washed ashore with no identification but a life-preserver tag. Determined to find her origins, the little girl devises a scheme to raise money for the three to fly to San Francisco. There they meet disappointment when the tag leads only to a warehouse. The factory owner invites them for an extended stay, but Africa's call proves strong, and they return home wiser and more content. The charming watercolor cartoon illustrations meld with the text to make the fantastic series of events plausible. Indeed, few elephants since Babar have adapted so readily to city life. Together words and illustrations stretch the imaginations of all who have wondered about their origins. Cora, Ophelia, and Edward are characters worth meeting.?Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MNCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Cora and the Elephant | [
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25,843 | 20 | Grade 3-6-- Kimmel gracefully explains the holidays for general readers, and then offers three tales charmingly adapted from traditional sources. Accompanied by Weihs's luminous paintings, each selection is preceded by a brief paragraph that provides some background and insight. In "The Samovar," the wife of a poor glovemaker is visited by the prophet Elijah, who asks that she care for his samovar until his return. The samovar's tarnish, which had not yielded to energetic polishing, brightens after each of her acts of charity. "The Shepherd: A Story about Prayer," which appears in Barbara Cohen's Yussel's Prayer (Lothrop, 1981), illustrates how God values prayers that come from the heart more than those of learned, but less pious, men. "Rabbi Eleazar and the Beggar" demonstrates that "to err is human; to forgive, divine." --Marcia Posner, Federation of New York and the Jewish Book Council, New York CityCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.Three well-crafted retellings focus on the pillars of the Jewish High Holidays: charity, prayer, and repentance. A samovar left with Rivka by the prophet Elijah begins to shine as she performs her ordinary acts of charity; she and her husband realize that their good fortune is a blessing that allows them to help others. A shepherd's simple but heartfelt prayers are silenced by a scholar who deplores their informality, but God sends an angel to show the shepherd that his prayers resound in Heaven. A famed rabbi unthinkingly offends a beggar who then refuses to forgive him; the rabbi's gentle daughter convinces the beggar that forgiveness will lift his burden of bitterness. Weaving these universal tales about approaches to God with just a few, well-chosen words, Kimmel deftly uses wise but humble characters to convey his message and sets them in various locales: a shtetl, Crdoba in Moorish Spain, the Holy Land. The characters' simple lives are effectively depicted in Weihs's folk-inspired art, though there are some discrepancies between the details and text. A fine addition to the body of Jewish folklore. Introduction on the significance of the High Holidays; notes to the stories. (Folklore. 8-12) -- Copyright 1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: Days of Awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur | [
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25,844 | 11 | Grade 4-7-- These books combine fine illustrations, both photographs and drawings, with a clearly written text to cover basic information about the social life and customs of two ancient civilizations. Maps at the beginning of each book provide students with a frame of reference while a list of important dates offers a context in which to place the culture. Rome describes only a brief moment in the history of the Roman Empire, the Augustan era at the height of the early Empire. Aztecs offers more of an overview of that relatively short-lived empire. Both books, however, provide a good, basic grounding in the cultures they describe. The texts are straightforward and descriptive, and relatively free of any judgmental tone. For example, Roman gladiators and the spectators' enjoyment of the competition is described without editorializing. Similarly, the brutality of the Aztecs' sacrificial practices is noted but not commented upon. A number of books offer a similar format--large, bright, and detailed illustrations combined with brief descriptive text. The gimmick here is the presence of clear acetate pages interspersed throughout each book that may be lifted to reveal the inner workings of the structures depicted. Even more useful is the fact that the captions are fully indexed along with the rest of the text. --Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, NYCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Aztecs (See Through History) | [
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25,845 | 1 | Ordinarily, a dog's life isn't characterized by glamour, but Max Stravinsky, canine extraordinaire, runs with the in-crowd. Max, last sighted among the poodles and bulldogs of gay Paree in Ooh-la-la (Max in Love) , here continues his postmodern, exceedingly quirky adventures. This time he's in Tinseltown to pen a "sugar-smackin, rootin-tootin, high-spy, sci-fi . . . madcap musical mystery" script, and he gets star treatment--even coasting around in a limo chauffeured by the fabulously suave Ferrrnando stet Extra Debonnaire. Kalman takes artistic risks even beyond those of her earlier titles, freewheelingly experimenting with different styles, sizes and colors of type, and sometimes substituting cleverly manipulated chunks of text for illustrations. However, the romance and wonderment are absent, replaced by all-out hipness; Kalman doesn't attain the high standards she set in Ooh-la-la . Her oddball wit remains--who else would correlate "Film noir, Mel Blanc"--and Max is still cult-hero material, but this book will ultimately amuse adults more than kids. All ages. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 2 Up-- When readers last saw that debonair dog Max, he had met his true love in Paris and was off to seek fame and fortune in Tinseltown ( Ooh-la-la Max in Love, Viking, 1991). This book recounts his Hollywood adventures with the same irreverence, eccentricities, and sardonic wit that make Kalman's other books so unique and so memorable. Once again, the vivid, surreal illustrations punctuate the zany text, but may also stand alone in their offbeat and on-target commentaries. If possible, Max's cinematic antics meet and surpass his earlier escapades as an outlandish expose on human behavior. Children will be caught up in the frenetic rhythms and rhymes of the text, but the allusions to the mocking of the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as filmdom's contemporary gurus, will be lost on them. Hopefully, this creative masterpiece will find its way into the hands of sophisticated older children and those adults who will appreciate its ingenuity. --Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WICopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Max in Hollywood, Baby | [
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25,846 | 14 | Ages 4-8. Originally published in England and broadcast on the BBC, this old story of an outcast who finds a home expresses abiding images of Christmas. The lame, shaggy old donkey is all alone in the cold of Christmas Eve when Father Christmas arrives bringing kindness and friendship: "There was a kind of shining round him." The donkey carries Father Christmas' sack of gifts for the children of the village. When day breaks, the old man leaves, but he makes sure that the donkey is taken in by a warm, loving family. Ormerod's illustrations combine dramatic silhouettes, iridescent silver, and delicate line-and-watercolor pictures to create a sense of the mystery and wonder of a clear Christmas night. Hazel Rochman; Title: Father Christmas and the Donkey (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) | [
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25,847 | 5 | Laurin, king of the goblins, ensures three boys a Christmas Eve they'll never forget in Sawyer's well-paced story. After their father, a poor widower cobbler travels into the village on Christmas Eve, the boys are visited by an odd, gruff little man. Although he's less than polite to his hesitant hosts, the stranger provides plenty of Christmas goodies for the family before he magically disappears. Cooney's paintings are steeped in old-world charm and her sandy, tow-headed boys are strong portraits of childlike innocence and wonder. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 5-8. First published in 1941, this Tyrolean folktale introduces the legend of King Laurin, who likes to surprise people on Christmas. Fritzl, Franzl, and Hansl, the young sons of a poor cobbler, could use a surprise. There is a war going on, and there is nothing to eat in the cobbler's cottage. On Christmas Eve, their papa is out looking for work when a visitor arrives. The odd little man demands food and a bed. There is no food, but there's a bed, and even though the brothers are sleeping in it, the rude, grumbly man demands the lion's share of the sleeping arrangement. Then he kicks the boys out altogether, but before they can get too cold, he magically sets them doing cartwheels, and, as they twirl, oranges and sweets and gold and silver fall out of their clothes. When their father returns, he tells them that they've been treated to a night of tricks and treasure by King Laurin. Sawyer's involving text is matched by Cooney's art, which not only is filled with charming details of alpine life, but also captures the mystery of the story. Traditional in both text and art, this should will easily find holiday fans. Ilene Cooper; Title: The Remarkable Christmas of the Cobbler's Sons | [
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25,848 | 6 | Ludwig Bemelmans was a painter, illustrator, and writer for both children and adults. His Madeline book rank among the most honored childrens book series. Madeline was named a Caldecott Honor Book, and the first of its five sequels, Madelines Rescue, won the Caldecott Medal and was a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. Mr. Bemelmans died in 1962, after completing Madelines Christmas. Visit penguin.com/madeline.; Title: Madeline Paper Dolls | [
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25,849 | 2 | Did you know that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had an older sister who was another musical genius? Musicologists even speculate that some compositions attributed to Mozart were actually the work of his sister. Nannerl Mozart is just one example of how women and their accomplishments have been ignored or erased entirely from world history. This important book seeks to amend that gaping absence in history books and popular culture by acknowledging the countless women whose contributions have made a difference to modern society. Arranged chronologically, Herstory offers compelling biographies of 120 women from "The Dawn" (prehistory to 1750) to "Revolution to Revolution" (1750-1850) to "The Global Community" (1890 to the present). The famous, not-so-famous, and infamous are here, including Cleopatra, Sacajawea, Qui Jin, and Golda Meir. Showcasing women's achievements in the arts, politics, science, and medicine--and with an inspiring forward by Gloria Steinem--this book serves up a healthy portion of education, enlightenment, and enjoyment, and should be an essential reference for young women and young men alike. (Ages 11 and older) --Brangien DavisRanging from an ancient Egyptian ruler (Queen Hatshepsut) to a contemporary athlete (Billie Jean King), these highly readable thumbnail sketches cover areas from literature to politics, fashion to aviation, music to science. The 120 entries offer concise overviews of specific women's lives and accomplishments, with a thoughtful blend of professional and personal details. In addition to often-profiled figures (Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt), the collection also includes less well known but influential women like the seventh-century Chinese ruler Wu Chao and Vietnamese activist Nguyen Thi Binh. The team of nine women authors (including Ashby and Ohrn) employs a conversational tone that encourages leisurely browsing. Many selections are prefaced with a revealing excerpt from the subject's writings, and each is accompanied by a photograph or artistic likeness. Ages 10-up. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Herstory: Women Who Changed the World | [
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25,850 | 8 | Are you mad about Madeline? This delightful edition folds out into a three-dimensional, five-pointed carousel with five panels that reveal selected scenes from the book based on Ludwig Bemelmans's illustrations and presented diorama-style. Our favorite panel depicts Madeline standing on top of her bed showing her scar to 11 somber little girls, as Miss Clavel smiles in the background. The complete text of the original 1939 Madeline folds out like an accordion on the flip side of the panels. We can't resist this excellently engineered pop-up Parisian carousel, and we can almost guarantee squeals of delight from young Madeline fans. (Ages 4 and older) --Karin Snelson; Title: Madeline : A Pop-Up Carousel | [
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25,851 | 1 | A host of board books helps usher in the holiday fun. Shaped like a pumpkin, Corduroy's Trick-or-Treat, illus. by Lisa McCue, features the titular teddy (based on Don Freeman's series hero) as he enjoys a holiday bash. McCue's Corduroy's Merry Christmas has the cast trimming a tree, singing carols, etc. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California danceband. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident; he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.He was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popularbooks for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and theCaldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low. For more information about Don Freeman, please visit:www.donfreeman.infoB.G. Hennessy is the author of Road Builders and The First Night (both Viking and Puffin). She lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona.; Title: Corduroy's Christmas | [
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25,852 | 5 | Grade 4 Up-Perhaps our overwhelming need for heroes accounts for the countless Arthurian retellings in print, as well as picture-book editions of individual tales. This one does not match the depth and character development found in Rosemary Sutcliff's The Sword & The Circle (Dutton, 1981), among others. In Of Swords and Sorcerers (Scribners, 1993), Margaret Hodges and Margery Evernden provide a storyteller's perspective. However, those titles are for more dedicated readers and are sparsely illustrated, in black and white if at all. Most comparable to Robin Lister's The Legend of King Arthur (Doubleday, 1990), Perham and Heller's effort is more comprehensive, and contains more dramatic artwork. The readable plot moves along, keeping the multitude of characters clear in readers' minds. Honest, yet not offensive, it doesn't cover up or ignore their sins. Stunning, full-page mixed-media illustrations, many in full color, capture the dark and bloody tale and the larger-than-life people who struggled against destiny-the horror of Morgan's curse on Mordred; the poignancy of Elaine's naked rescue; the resolve of Lancelot; and the power of the knights. This will not be a shelf-sitter, even among myriad choices.Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MICopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.Once again the great story is told: Merlin prophesies; Arthur pulls one sword from a stone and receives another from the Lady of the Lake; the knights disperse to seek the Grail; Arthur falls to Mordred's spear and is borne to Avalon. Women's roles are particularly equivocal here: Guinevere is good but weak (``Arthur was a great king...but he was not a great lover as Lancelot was''); Morgan Le Fay is evil but steadfast in carrying out her vow to avenge her father's death; Tristram is killed not by King Mark but by his own wife's jealousy; Elaine's dying wish is that her corpse be used to inflame Lancelot with guilt. Perham's style is formal and distant, emphasizing chivalrous behavior and courtly graces. Grand knights have at one another in Heller's color illustrations, while misty pencil drawings add magic and, sometimes, feeling to other scenes. Browsers may enjoy the dramatic pictures, but the book is uncomfortably designed--heavy in the hand, with tiny type on coated paper. Not a significant improvement on Riordan's Tales of King Arthur (1982) or other standard renditions. (Folklore. 14+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: King Arthur and the Legends of Camelot (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) | [
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25,853 | 2 | With the "Baaap, Bleep, Blaap" of trumpets, the "Whup Whup, Fupa Fup" of flapping flags and the "Klink, Klong, Kalink" of swords, the castle of King Gordo is, indeed, "a noisy place." Such tongue-twisting sound effects are integral parts of Stevenson's pictures, which feature a cast of animated animals, among them, in the role of king, an imposing hippo that wears purple robes and a jeweled crown. But each day the castle clatter stops promptly at one o'clock, the hour of the Royal Nap. When the hiccuping of the king's pot-scrubber (a bedraggled mouse named Gerald) prevents the cranky monarch from sleeping, he banishes the poor fellow to the Cold and Snowy Land. Nevertheless, naptime doesn't improve until the increasingly red-eyed royal discovers a sleep-inducing sound: the singing and lute-playing of Phoebe, the castle's plate-scraper, who is Gerald's daughter. The savvy girl strikes a deal with the king that brings her father home-and ensures the king serene snoozing forevermore. Black makes a promising debut with this perky tale, studded with amusing asides. Well matched with Stevenson's inimitable art, the story will keep any youngster awake and eager for the next syllable. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 3?King Gordo, a hippopotamus who reigns over a castle full of noisy animals, needs complete quiet for his daily nap. When Gerald, a rodent pot-scrubber, gets the hiccups, Gordo banishes him to the "Cold and Snowy Land." Gerald and his hiccups are gone, but still the king cannot sleep. He summons Phoebe, a young plate-scraper, to come and play for him on her lute. Her music puts him to sleep, but one day she refuses to play unless her father, Gerald, is returned to the castle. Gerald comes back, Phoebe resumes her playing, and the King's sleeping pattern is back to normal. Stevenson's unmistakable watercolors are a perfect match for Black's sense of humor. The busy cartoons lend a feeling of activity and motion to this comical story. Plates fall; flags flap in the wind; Twombly, the king's assistant, runs about in stocking feet warning others to be quiet. Gordo's eyes appear progressively redder as his naps become less frequent. After order is restored, the monarch is pictured on the back endpaper dancing in his royal robe and crown. A genuinely funny tale.?Lynn Cockett, Nutley Public Library, NJCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Royal Nap | [
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25,854 | 11 | Three stories about three animals-each creature, says Mohr (In Nueva York), exemplifies one of the three most important cultural groups in Puerto Rico. After the lonely god Huracan rages against silence, he hears the singing of the little coqui (representing the indigenous Tainos) and is soothed. La Guinea, a guinea hen (symbolic of the African people) makes a perilous journey from Africa to the New World on a slave ship. And La Mula, from Spain, flees a cruel master to join a community of cimarrones (escaped slaves) in the hills. The deeper levels of these stories may escape younger children but they are told with drama and humor, their energy enhanced by the bright, fluid colors of Martorelli's (Where the Flame Trees Bloom) paintings. Semi-abstract compositions and patterns nearly kaleidoscopic in their density create a lustrous ambience. Together, stories and art afford an unusually engaging introduction to Puerto Rican culture and history. All ages. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 1-3?A wonderful collection of three Puerto Rican folktales. In the first one, the god Huracan is frustrated because of the silence around him. One day he awakens to the sound of "coqui, coqui"; he sings with the little frog, and soon all the other animals join in, each in its own distinct voice. The second tale involves a guinea hen who ends up on a ship en route to Puerto Rico. When she arrives, the people fear her and try to kill her. She escapes and encounters a mask-maker who is inspired by her beauty and offers her a home. The final story is about a mule that is sold by thieves to a cruel master. At the work camp, she is befriended by Otilio, a slave. Late one night they escape and La Mula carries Otilio safely back to his Cimarron village, which she helps grow and prosper. The three creatures represent individual groups of people in Puerto Rico. El coqui symbolizes the indigenous Tainos, the guinea hen represents the African slaves, and the mule relates the parable of the Spaniards' conquest of the island. The writing gives life to the tales with lovely descriptive phrases. The paintings are full of vibrant colors and light, evoking images of the different cultures in one land. A book that combines storytelling and artistry to convey the richness of a land's people.?Maria Redburn, Collier County Public Library, Immokalee, FLCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Song of El Coqui and Other Tales of Puerto Rico | [
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25,855 | 15 | Grade 2-4?A child muses about the long history of a pebble, from its volcanic origins when the Earth was young to the day she picks it up off the ground. The conceit doesn't quite work, as the narrator sounds like an adult lecturer?"Two great landmasses, like giant plates, are colliding...It is 395 million years ago."?but the idea of using some common object or artifact as a springboard to the past is a tried-and-true one. Coady places an array of familiar, dramatically rendered dinosaurs and other flora and fauna in landscapes characteristic of each passing era. A timeline at the end includes labels for animals not previously named. More conventionally scientific than George Ella Lyon's Who Came Down That Road? (Orchard, 1992), this title makes an appealing alternative or replacement for Bruce Hiscock's The Big Rock (Atheneum, 1988).?John Peters, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 3^-5. A girl finds a pebble on the ground and asks, "Where did you come from, pebble?" The answer unfolds through words and pictures. The first double-page spread shows volcanoes erupting 480 million years ago, bringing molten rock to the surface of the earth; the next illustrates land masses colliding and buckling into mountains 395 million years ago. Page by page, the story goes forward in time, tracing one pebble's history as the face of the earth changes, animals become more complex, and finally a little girl picks up the pebble, "a little piece of the history of our planet." The last two pages feature geological and biological timelines laying out the periods dramatized in the story. Rich with color and shading, the paintings dramatize Earth's history. Considering the vastness of the topic, the text does a good job of balancing the general with the specific. Teachers will find this a good introduction to geology. Carolyn Phelan; Title: The Pebble in my Pocket: A History of Our Earth | [
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25,856 | 2 | Ages 5 & up. This book for beginning readers is a perfect match between a Newbery award-winning author and a Caldecott award-winning illustrator. Told in the first person, the four short chapters depict a warm, funny relationship between a boy and his sweet but sometimes pesky younger brother. Readers will enjoy the dry humor of the narrative, the likeable characters and the expressive and fanciful illustrations. In a starred review, Booklist wrote, "The pictures are achingly affectionate... the economy of line and language will grab new readers."It may not earn Byars (Summer of the Swans) another Newbery Medal or Simont (A Tree Is Nice) another Caldecott, but this volume is tailor-made for kids just beginning to read on their own. For starters, they will immediately take to the admirably tolerant narrator, whose feisty younger brother, Ant (short for Anthony), would test any sibling's patience. In these snippets, the older boy chases a monster from under Ant's bed; copes with an indecipherable picture that someone (guess who?) has drawn on his homework paper; reads Ant a fairy tale; and plays scribe when Ant dictates a letter to Santa . . . in July. Told with brevity, in simply constructed sentences and controlled vocabulary, these four vignettes are full of homespun warmth and easy-going humor. Echoing the good-natured narrative, Simont's straightforward pictures do a commendable job of helping to relay the plots-a big plus in fiction for this audience. Ages 6-9. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: My Brother, Ant (Easy-to-Read,Viking) | [
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25,857 | 11 | Grade 4-6?A historic overview of domestic architecture from the modest to the extravagant. Beginning with prehistoric hunting camps and ending with Biosphere 2, the author presents a good representation of cultures throughout the world, including generic forms of housing (cave dwellings, Roman apartments, a Maori Pa, Zulu homes) as well as specific palaces (Sargon's palace in Assyria, Chambord in France). Two-to-six pages are devoted to each type of abode and examine who lived there, building materials and constructions, special or unique design features, and, in some cases, provide layouts of the surrounding community. Colorful illustrations of the homes and communities, some photographs of domestic artifacts, and cutaways and diagrams further illuminate how people lived. Four overlays add another dimension by presenting both exteriors and interiors of specific dwellings. This is a well-written and well-organized presentation that will fascinate readers. Sylvia White's Welcome Home (Children's Press, 1995), although not as informative, offers a different slant; it is divided into sections dealing with building material, design, social status, and life styles of the inhabitants.?Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, ORCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Houses and Homes (See Through History) | [
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25,858 | 18 | Grade 3-6?Much more than a reference book, this slim volume combines lively retellings of many highlights of the Hebrew Bible (chronologically grouped under "The First People," "Abraham's Family," "The Israelites in Egypt," "The Promised Land," "David's Kingdom," "The Time of the Prophets," and "The Exile") with captioned, information-packed, full-color illustrations; maps; and diagrams. Weddings and burials, food, work, children's games, plants, idols, and many other aspects of ancient times claim readers' attention. The stories are printed on what looks like fragments of parchment; this technique sets them apart from the rest of the material. An index doubles the utility of the book; unfortunately, there is no pronunciation guide. Imaginative reconstruction, careful description, and realistic depiction all make this an attractive precursor to such longer works as Selina Hastings's excellent Children's Illustrated Bible (Dorling Kindersley, 1994).?Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Ancient World of the Bible | [
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25,859 | 0 | Grade 1-3?Two easy-reader renditions of classic tales. This format severely limits the retellings to their bare-bones basics. Similarly, Bolam's illustrations in vibrant blue-greens, red-purples, and oranges tell the story but don't expand upon it. Byron Barton used bright colors in his Little Red Hen (HarperCollins, 1993), but he added unique touches to stimulate readers' imaginations. Paul Galdone's versions of both stories are still the best choices for reading aloud.?Mary Ann Bursk, Bucks County Free Library, Levittown, PACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Little Red Hen: Level 2 (Easy-to-Read,Viking) | [
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25,860 | 2 | Text: Spanish (translation) Original Language: English; Title: Me gusto como soy! (Spanish Edition) | [
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25,861 | 2 | Lawlor's debut, a picture-book collection of pieces culled from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, is visually and emotionally stunning. In 15 carefully chosen excerpts, immigrants from various ethnic backgrounds recount their reasons for coming to America and describe their feelings about leaving their country, about making the trip or about arriving on a foreign shore; all but two of the narrators were under 20, one only six at the time of their voyages. Whatever the circumstances, each vignette reflects a strong sense of hope. Lawlor's handpainted paper collages are equally powerful. Their haunting images are strikingly set against ecru-colored pages that bear faintly printed motifs from the pictures they border. Spare details-a girl floating past Lady Liberty, a figure literally putting down roots in two lands-capture these travelers' turbulent emotions. This selection gives credence to the reminiscences of an Ellis Island inspector: "In those days there were crying and laughing and singing all the time at Ellis Island." Ages 12-up. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 4-6?Begun in 1975, the Ellis Island Oral History Project is an informal collection of interviews with individuals who immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island. Short selections?each 1 or 2 paragraphs long?from 15 of those interviews are reprinted here. The subjects were for the most part children when they arrived in the period 1900-1925. One was future Israeli leader Golda Meir. Many of the selections describe the facility itself; others talk of family and feelings. Opposite each remembrance is a striking, childlike, hand-painted collage; both are superimposed on a beige-toned reproduction of the collage picture. This is an attractive offering, but beyond mere browsing it may lack an audience. Other books geared to specific immigrant groups, such as the Hooblers' The Irish American Family Album (1995) and The Italian American Family Album (1994, both Oxford) contain similar information quoted more extensively.?Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VACopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: I Was Dreaming to Come to America: Memories from the Ellis Island Oral History Project | [
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25,862 | 0 | Bearden's (1911-1988) extraordinary six-panel collage The Block, now housed at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is the raison d'etre of this elegant book, its selection of Hughes's poems notwithstanding. Details of Bearden's multi-layered work, which jazzily recreate the life of a busy Harlem block, are paired with soulful poems about Harlem or the African American experience. The poems are not always Hughes's best, but Bearden's art unmistakably captures the energy and pulsing rhythms of the street. In his collages black angels hover above a coffin; two haunting faces stare from a window; tiny figures dance with abandon in front of a barber shop. Both text and art are shown to advantage by the clean, angular design, which complements the tone and mood of the book as a whole. Page-long biographical sketches of Bearden and Hughes appear at the end, and are implicitly addressed to adult readers. Perhaps more suitable as a coffee table book than a work for children, the volume's strength is in its ability to convey the vitality and inventiveness of Bearden's art. All ages. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Grade 5 Up?These 12 poems coupled with images from a large, six-panel collage convey the complexity of the modern African American urban experience. Some celebrate the commonplace, even things that sometimes seem only glaring and ugly. The collage, created in 1971 and seen in its entirety on the title page, shows an evening street scene in Harlem. Faded black-and-white photographs and colored paper cut in angular shapes create an emotional piece, evoking feelings of struggle and joy, despair and hopefulness. In "Juke Box Love Song," the narrator offers to "Take the neon lights and make a crown" for his beloved. The accompanying image shows a Romeo and Juliet variation, a boy leaning out an apartment window talking to a girl on the street below. To the left of them is a primitive, yet fairly traditional Annunciation scene, an example of the artist's highly original vision. In fact, one of the most compatible things about Hughes and Bearden is their spirituality. Most of the poem/picture pairings are successful, although one or two do not seem as well matched (the two children pictured with "To Be Somebody" look more resigned than aspiring, though that may be exactly the point). Hughes is an accessible poet whose work can be appreciated by adolescents. The art may be more complex and multilayered than the poems, while the book's layout and typefaces are playful, contemporary, and imaginative.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Block | [
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25,863 | 12 | PreS?This slight volume introduces a few basic words as expressed in American Sign Language. Each page is devoted to a single word or concept, e.g., "hello," "cat," and "happy." A pen-and-ink diagram of the ASL gesture or sign appears beside a full-color watercolor illustration of the object or emotion being described. While this title is both attractive and straightforward, much of the same vocabulary is covered in Pamela Baker's My First Book of Sign (Kendall Green, 1986), which is more comprehensive. Also, it lacks the whimsical appeal of more specialized sign language picture books such as Remy Charlip and Mary Beth Miller's "Handtalk" books (Four Winds) or Laura Rankin's Handmade Alphabet (Dial, 1991). Libraries will be better served buying other titles that teach readers more sign language or those that take a more innovative approach to presenting this fascinating form of communication.?Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CACopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 4^-6. Wheeler, who uses American Sign Language to communicate with one of her own children, has chosen 28 simple signs that young children can learn, among them, "cat," "eat," and "happy." Each sign, presented in a crisp black-and-white sketch with dotted lines to show hand movement, is accompanied by an easily recognizable color picture of what is signified. A hint listed below each sign explains in easy-to-understand terms how to place or move the hands ("like pedaling a bike," "like peeling a banana," etc.). Without the hints, the pictures will be a bit tricky to decipher. The end result is broader understanding: children don't simply learn a few words in a new language; they learn that there's a completely different world of communication. Mary Harris Veeder; Title: Simple Signs | [
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25,864 | 1 | Mr. Lunch, the ingenuous canine protagonist of Free Lunch is a bird-chaser by trade. He relies heavily on birdseed provided by a company run by elephants. When it is taken over by an unscrupulous pachyderm, the dog and his friends are forced to find an alternative supply. As it turns out, they discover an unlimited supply of birdseed--for free--in the countryside, where it grows wild. Upset, the evil elephant has Mr. Lunch thrown in jail. Seibold and Walsh wield the story in a whimsical manner, depicting animals in all sorts of ridiculous situations. We hear Mr. Lunch has his own Web site (check out an interview with the author), and if you drop him some e-mail, he promises to respond directly. (Ages 3 to 8)Seibold and Walsh specialize in street-smart art and convoluted story lines, and this addition to the Mr. Lunch series does not disappoint. Mr. Lunch, an entrepreneurial white dog, chases birds professionally. To keep the birds happy, he must order lots of birdseed from the Elephant Brand Bird Seed Company. When a bad elephant takes over the business, however, Mr. Lunch and his feathered friends seek their meals elsewhere. In fact, they get a "free lunch" from a generous bird who "live[s] in the country, surrounded by birdseed trees." This angers the birdseed magnate, who "hatche[s] an evil elephant idea" and sends Mr. Lunch to jail, thus providing another meaning for the title. In contrast to the ridiculous chain of events, Seibold and Walsh maintain a serious, logical tone; this deliberately silly approach complements Seibold's illustration style, a sort of cubism for the '90s. His computer-generated, airbrush-smooth characters resemble digital icons, but their asymmetrical quality lends them a hand-drawn warmth. The spreads are abuzz with comical details (an elephant enjoys free peanuts on an airline; the jailed Mr. Lunch receives a cake frosted with a secret message), and Seibold chooses a one-of-a-kind palette of brassy yellow, pickle green, gunmetal blue and brick red. Consider this a corporate-minded suspense-thriller for the elementary-school set. Ages 3-8. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Free Lunch | [
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25,865 | 18 | Grade 6-9. The finely detailed, full-color illustrations are the most outstanding feature of both of these titles. The clear plastic overlays that allow readers to see inside a typical Chinese house or an Inca temple are an unnecessary gimmick. Each book begins with an introductory double-page chapter and a map. A chronology helps orient readers to the vast sweep of Chinese history. Subsequent chapters cover such topics as farming, religion, clothing, architecture, and many aspects of daily life. The overly ambitious spread devoted to "The World Outside" traces the end of the Manchu Dynasty (1912), the Cultural Revolution, and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in a couple of sentences. This last event is mentioned without any explanation. The Incas devotes the final two chapters to the Spanish conquest, certainly a tale told elsewhere, but rarely with such fine illustrations. Appendixes contain a list of key dates and a brief glossary. These books will be useful for reports or as introductions to the subjects.?David N. Pauli, Missoula Public Library, MTCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.This entry in the See Through History series chronicles major events and periods from 3,500 years of the world's oldest continuous culture. Beginning with the Shang dynasty in the Bronze Age, Williams covers war, daily life, religious beliefs, farming, burial, class structure, civil service, cities, homes, and many other aspects of culture and custom, gradually working forward to the modern era. Interspersed throughout is information about the various dynasties and empires, as well as four spreads with transparent overlays, showing the exteriors and interiors of buildings, etc. These are terrific and readers will wish for more of them, and page back and forth for every detail. Lavishly illustrated and dense with information, this is a noteworthy volume. (map, chronology, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12) -- Copyright 1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: Ancient China (See Through History) | [
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25,866 | 21 | PreSchool-Grade 2?If you're looking to stock up on books about the Olympics as the Summer Games in Atlanta draw near, here's a suitable purchase. The scant text depicts everyone from the athletes to those who manufacture equipment for both the Summer and Winter games. Hennessy gives an overview of what's involved in putting on and participating in the Olympics, rather than factual accounts of various competitions. Still, readers and listeners will be made aware of the opening ceremonies, the myriad events, the medal presentations, and the Olympic village. No athletes or specific sites are mentioned by name. Cartoonlike illustrations provide a suitable complement to the breezy writing style. A basic introduction.?Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WICopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 4^-8. With the upcoming games in Atlanta, there's special excitement about the Olympics, and this informative picture book is a lively introduction. Several small line-and-watercolor pictures per page show the intensity and variety of activities as athletes, workers, and organizers from all over the world prepare for the games and then finally compete in the events. The text begins with a very brief history and then captions the pictures in bouncy prose ("Gymnasts are practicing somersaults and flips . . . teammates are learning to work together" ). In contrast to all the detail, some double-page spreads show the big picture: the opening parade of athletes; one diver alone on the diving board above a page of empty space; a pair of figure skaters in a big white circle. We see the elation of the winners, the disappointment of the losers, the hard work and energy of thousands of athletes, millions of fans. Hazel Rochman; Title: Olympics | [
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25,867 | 13 | Grade 3-5-Retelling portions of the New Testament, this simplified, rhythmic text is printed in a large, elegant typeface and is sumptuously illustrated with an interesting variety of art reproductions. Included are paintings and pictures from books of hours, breviaries, and a choir book, all glowing with rich colors and arranged dynamically in a number of shapes and sizes. Among the artists represented are Giotto, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Breughel, Poussin, and Veronese. The story of Jesus's early life includes the Annunciation, Nativity, Wise Men, Slaughter of the Innocents, Flight into Egypt, and Visit to the Temple. Accounts of Jesus's baptism, temptations by the Devil, and a few of the better-known miracles and parables follow. The book concludes with a succinct version of Holy Week and Jesus's resurrection and ascension. No scripture references are given. All is woven together smoothly into a continuous narrative. A section reproducing the pictures in miniature and identifying them by title, artist, and date appears at the end.Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 4^-7, younger for reading aloud. Osborne tells the story of Jesus with a clear, beautiful narrative of events selectively chosen from the Gospels of the New Testament and with splendid reproductions of paintings by Botticelli, Hieronymus Bosch, Fra Angelico, and other famous Renaissance artists. The words are simple and direct (Joseph wanted "to break his engagement" when he found out that Mary was going to have a baby); at the same time, Osborne retains the reverence and mystery ("Unto you is born a savior, which is Christ the lord," the angel tells the shepherds). The Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's Prayer are quoted in full, woven into the life story. Along with the stirring words are the famous pictures, which children and adults will return to again and again, just as they have done for hundreds of years. The design of the oversize book is great for sharing, with thick paper and large type. On each double-page spread, there is usually one full-page painting opposite a page of text with one or more small inset pictures. At the back of the book, spread over four pages, is the key to the pictures, each small color reproduction captioned with its title, artist, and date. Osborne points out that the pictures date from a time when most people were illiterate, when they learned about the life of Jesus through paintings, sculpture, and stained glass windows. This is a great crossover book, to bring the story to those who don't know it well, and to bring to everyone these masterpieces of narrative art. Hazel Rochman; Title: The Life of Jesus in Masterpieces of Art (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) | [
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] | Train |
25,868 | 1 | PreS. A new title from the creator of Kipper and other popular books for toddlers. As they play a game of hide-and-seek, all of the piglets are found in their various hiding places except for Tiny Pig, who gives the others a merry chase. Derivative of Where's Spot and countless other lift-the-flap books, this story nevertheless may find an audience among unjaded children. Watercolor illustrations of impish pigs have a certain charm. Additional for large collections.?Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NYCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Everyone Hide from Wibbly Pig: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Lift-the-flap Books) | [
11867
] | Validation |
25,869 | 7 | Grade 4-8. This sequel begins some years after A City in Winter (Viking, 1996) ended. The queen, now a young woman, worries over the fate of her missing husband and watches in dismay as her kingdom is distracted and corrupted by the foolish games and amusements of the vulgar Tookisheims, a large and powerful family of Usurper supporters. After his defeat, the Usurper disappeared into the Veil of Snows, the far distant and icy mountains, and now the queen's husband has disappeared while leading an army in the same area. All signs point to the Usurper's return, and this is in fact what happens. Once again, full-page color paintings illustrate pivotal moments in the story but with one jarring note?the text specifically describes how the queen's hair had darkened from its youthful golden to a dark chesnut color, but the illustrations still show her with shimmering golden hair. The Veil of Snows is unremittingly sad, as it is told decades after the events in question by a loyal soldier who loved and guarded the queen until her untimely death at the hands of enemy soldiers. However, it ends with a ray of hope, and a definite need for a sequel, when the narrator, as an old man, sees the queen's husband and son, now fully grown, riding together at the head of a vast army descending at last from the Veil of Snows. This poignant and sophisticated fairy tale will appeal to those who enjoyed A City in Winter, and will create demand for a sequel to complete the story.?Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PACopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.The distinguished collaborators polish off a trilogy that began with Swan Lake (1989) and continued in A City in Winter (1996). Polish is the operative word; Helprin's unnamed narrator illuminates this dark, poignant story with characteristically refulgent prose, to which Van Allsburg's 13 color scenes of theatrically posed, golden-toned figures add sparkling elegance. A troubled peace follows the usurper's flight behind the remote Veil of Snows, and he soon returns to shatter the Queen's army, kill her husband (seemingly), and oppose her and her infant son with two million men. After a bitter siege, the Queen and her last 100,000 loyal followers escape the capital city and disperse into the mountains, where she is pursued and killed. Helprin injects a garishly satiric hue into this tale by filling it with corpulent, venial, opportunistic Tookisheims, a family whose government is headed by the Duke, a media mogul whose papers are relentlessly critical of the Queen, and Branco, who ``makes the talking boxes that take the place of books.'' After 25 years of waiting beside the Veil, the narrator symbolically casts away the last of his hope--just as the Queen's husband and grown son march out of the mists at the head of a new army. As with the previous books, the language, imagery, and wit are aimed at sophisticated sensibilities; Helprin's bottomless imagination and Van Allsburg's monumental visual style create a collaboration that glitters with star quality. (Fiction. 11-14) -- Copyright 1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.; Title: The Veil of Snows | [
15383
] | Test |
25,870 | 11 | PreSchool-Grade 2. Stiff pages in progressively gradated widths, each trimmed with an African design, are used to describe the African-American harvest festival. A double-page spread is devoted to each of the seven days of Kwanzaa. It features a full-page painting on the verso and the date and a symbol on the recto along with a song excerpt, a short verse, or an activity related to the principle of the day. Four recipes are appended. Unfortunately, the presentation is uneven. For example, the text for the Third day, which has the principle of "Ujima" (working together), states: "We sweep the yard./We paint the gate./Everything looks better./We are pulling together." But on the Fifth day, with its principle of "Nia" (purpose), the connection is not so obvious: "Here's how we light the candles./First the black, next a red,/then a green, then another red,/and then another green." The verse is followed by an excerpt from "This Little Light of Mine." Like Harriet Ziefert's Eight Days of Hanukkah (Viking, 1997), this book is bright and accessible. Donna L. Washington's The Story of Kwanzaa (HarperCollins, 1996) and Andrea Pinkney's Seven Candles for Kwanzaa (Dial, 1993) both offer lengthier explanations of the holiday for a slightly older audience. A serviceable addition.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Seven Days of Kwanzaa (Holiday Step Book) | [
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] | Test |
25,871 | 12 | PreSchool-Grade 2?An approachable, easy-to-understand book about sign language. Words such as "play," "yellow," and "girl" are presented on single pages with cheery full-color illustrations as well as smaller black-and-white line drawings of a child demonstrating the sign. Thus, frogs on lily pads appear on the page for "green" and a smiling youngster signs the color. The slim text consists of hints for making and remembering the sign. The sign for "girl," for example, mimics tying the strings of a bonnet, and the sign for "stop" shows hands formed like a barrier. This will be a popular addition for most collections.?Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 1^-4. From the author/illustrator of Simple Signs (1995) comes another introductory picture book about sign language. Each page introduces a new word chosen from vocabulary that young children might actually use, such as sun, play, girl, sit, yellow, apple, yes, stop, monkey, and fish. A watercolor painting illustrates the object, action, or idea, while an ink drawing shows a child demonstrating the hand position and motion for the sign. Simple and pleasant in its design, this book will serve as an attractive resource for beginning students of sign language. Carolyn Phelan; Title: More Simple Signs | [
25863
] | Validation |
25,872 | 1 | Text: Spanish (translation) Original Language: English; Title: La historia de Ping (Spanish Edition) | [
5490,
24379
] | Validation |
25,873 | 10 | Pippi is an irrepressible, irreverent, and irrefutably delightful nine-year-old girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. When she's not dancing with the burglars who were just trying to rob her house, she's attempting to learn the "pluttification" tables at school; fighting Adolf, the strongest man in the world at the circus; or playing tag with police officers. Pippi's high-spirited, good-natured hijinks cause as much trouble as fun, but a more generous child you won't find anywhere. Astrid Lindgren has created a unique and lovable carrot-topped character, inspiring generations of children to want to be Pippi. The first Pippi Longstocking was published in America in 1950, and this fine, newly illustrated collection includes Pippi Goes on Board and Pippi in the South Seas. Pippi makes reading pure pleasure. (Ages 7 to 10)Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) created the character of Pippi Longstocking to entertain her daughter. Lindgren was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her contribution to international childrens literature.; Title: The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking | [
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25,874 | 16 | PreSchool-Grade 1. Froggy wakes from hibernation in the middle of the winter. Despite his mother's urgings to go back to sleep, he is determined to go out and play. He puts on different articles of clothing, each with its own fun sound effect. Each time he ventures out, his mother reminds him that he has forgotten something, prompting him to go back inside, undress, and start again. He becomes so exhausted that he decides it is easier to just stay asleep. This story is just as hilarious in Spanish as it is in English. Storytellers will enjoy making sounds that will encourage young listeners to participate in the telling. The cartoonlike illustrations and funny facial expressions make this a wonderful read-aloud.?Diane Tureski, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.Text: Spanish (translation) Original Language: English; Title: Froggy se viste (Spanish Edition) | [
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25,875 | 2 | Grade 6 Up-As a photographer, Lange specialized in documentary-type portraits, seeking to capture in people's faces the stories of their lives. Through the years of the Great Depression and the Second World War, she recorded the down-and-out, the oppressed, the needy. Her portrait "Migrant Mother" has become a familiar icon of hardship, a symbol of the dislocation and poverty caused by the dust bowl in the 1930s. Her camera recorded the Japanese Americans sent to internment camps in the 1940s, and in later travels she preserved the images of children around the world. As a young girl the author knew Lange and was, through her photographer father, connected with the intimate circle of Lange's family and friends. She uses personal memories; her subject's own written words in diaries, interviews, and letters; and especially a liberal selection of dramatic photographs to show the talent and the complex personality of this extraordinary woman. It was hard for Lange, in the decades in which she lived, to pursue her career while balancing family responsibilities and personal crises. She was independent, even radical, in her political thinking and social philosophy. Her story resonates with issues of gender, social policies, artistic merit, and human interest. This well-constructed, sympathetic biography deserves many readers and is a must for every library.Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 6^-12. Lange's stirring black-and-white photographs, more than 60 of them, exquisitely reproduced, provide the drama in this biography of the famous camera artist. Here are the famous pictures that brought the nation up close to the man on the bread line during the Depression, a migrant mother unable to feed her children, a sharecropper in the South, a homeless child on the road, a Japanese American family interned during World War II. The beautiful, spacious design of this photo-essay, with thick quality paper, clear type, and brief quotes from Lange at the head of each chapter, invites you to come back and look and look at her work. The pictures show how Lang got close to people and that she caught her subjects in relation to harsh, powerful events and to one another. Partridge draws on letters, journals, and oral history to give a strong sense of Lange's personal struggles as a child, a wife, and a mother; her lasting pain at her father's desertion; her shame over the disability caused by a childhood bout with polio; and her awareness as an adult that that vulnerability helped her in her work. The author also provides an insider's viewpoint: as a child, she knew Lange. Partridge's father became Lange's assistant at the age of 17, and he worked with her for years in the field and in the darkroom. Many of the photos of Lange in the book are by him, including some of Lange with the child Elizabeth. Like Freedman's, Martha Graham , this fine photo-essay will interest adults as much as teens. A Junior Library Guild Selection. Hazel Rochman; Title: Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange | [
37524
] | Validation |
25,876 | 5 | Snazzy illustrations energize this Middle Eastern folktale in which a king disguises himself to go among his unsuspecting subjects. King Abbas, a monarch known for his impressive black mustache and accustomed to dining solo, decides to share his abundant food with the needy. Dressed as a pauper, he offers a meal to three unusual men. The first "can whistle a tune that will put anyone to sleep," the second "can see through walls" and the third can sneeze hard enough to "blow a door right off its hinges." When the concealed king says that his mustache is magical too, the three suggest combining forces and robbing the royal palace. This development sorely tests the king's generosity. Balouch, who retold Celtic, Caribbean and Native American folktales in Listen to the Storyteller, writes according to formula. The events happen "long ago in the faraway land of Persia" and conclude on a positive note: "From that day on the king never ate dinner alone." Yet the compositions break tradition. The lively images, based on Iranian pottery designs, are created with illustration software and look like two-dimensional cut-paper collage. Tumbling shapes and a confetti of dots fill the flattened space, and elephants, camels and onion domes set the desert scene. Balouch engages the eye with sparkling patterns and crisp, solid colors, and she gives her stylized characters the dramatic facial expressions of theatrical masks. Ages 3-8. (Oct.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 2-This tale of Old Persia is based on a snippet of history about a real ruler and his curiosity about the common people. Tired of eating alone, King Abbas disguises himself as a poor man and slips out of the palace. He meets three men dressed in ragged clothes who tell him of their plan to rob the treasury by using their unusual skills. The first is able to whistle a tune that will put anyone to sleep, the second can see through walls, and the third can sneeze a door right off its hinges. Not to be outdone, the king tells them that if they are caught, he can free them with a mere twitch of his moustache. The plan goes off without a hitch and the king returns to the palace and has them captured. In the end, he takes wise advice from his trusted vizier and allows them an opportunity to use their abilities for good. In a brief note, Balouch explains that her husband heard this and other stories about King Abbas as a boy in Iran. The collagelike illustrations in bold orange and purple were created with Adobe Illustrator software. The thieves have square heads and exaggerated features that emphasize their magical powers and add a touch of humor to the story. The bright, action-packed pictures and graceful telling make this a good choice for reading out loud.-Doris Gebel, Northport-East Northport Public Library, NYCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The King and the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale | [
15981,
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] | Train |
25,877 | 11 | PreSchool-Grade 3-Evocative language showcases the beginning of spring in this organic view of the natural world. The thaw "begins with a warm wind late at night, sighing through the hemlock trees" and continues through other snapshot images of nature, until finally the farmer and his son collect the buckets of sap from the maples and pause to feel the sunlight upon their faces. Schuett's captivating illustrations are the real stars here, as they shift from the deep blue of winter to the warm golden tones of spring. Various textures are incorporated into the scenes, giving them an almost tactile look. In addition, the art often offers unusual perspectives: a slanted tableau featuring empty boots indoors, a bird's-eye view of the man and the boy as they scatter crumbs for their feathered friends, and, in the end, a human's-eye view of these same people. The text provides a soothing background to this lyrical montage of images, from the raccoon peeking its nose out of its den to the tiny streams of water running from the melting rooftop snow like a "curtain of crystal beads." The book works beautifully as a mood piece and the topic makes it a must for any collection. Pair it with Reeve Lindbergh's North Country Spring (Houghton, 1997) to usher in the season.Kathleen M. Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MD Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.The poetic text of this picture book closely observes changes in a rural setting that point to the coming of spring: a warm wind, dripping icicles, and wagon wheels cutting ruts through snow to the mud beneath. Life quickens, too, with sap running in the maple trees and lambs burrowing in hay beside the barn. A farmer and a young boy, glimpsed earlier in the illustrations, appear at the end of the book to collect the maple syrup buckets and smile because spring has come at last. The concreteness and dignity of the text are reflected in Schuett's illustrations, which use layers of color to create lively effects of light and shadow on snow, at night and through the day. More a lyrical mood piece than a story, this picture book would be a worthwhile addition to story hours focused on the season. Carolyn Phelan; Title: Spring Thaw | [
7305
] | Test |
25,878 | 0 | Do you want to try your hand at drawing Madeline yourself? Feel like wandering through a maze to help Madeline find her dog Genevieve? This playful activity book--packed with crossword puzzles, pictures to color, hidden-object games, and more--folds out on both sides to large, full-color glossy pages that depict spectacular Parisian scenes of a park, the old house, and even the hospital room with the bunny-shaped crack in the ceiling. The most excellent full-color Madeline stickers, all reusable, populate the scenes most magnificently. A must-have for those mad for Madeline. (Ages 3 and older); Title: Madeline Playtime Activity Book | [
18966,
25674
] | Train |
25,879 | 2 | Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California dance band. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident: he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.He was introduced to the world of childrens literature when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear named Corduroy.Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popular books for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low.; Title: Corduroy's Easter Lift-the-Flap | [
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25,880 | 0 | Grade 2-4?Isadora Duncan was famous both for an unconventional, even rebellious, life and for a highly innovative dance career. Her departures from a conventional lifestyle are only hinted at here, but the author offers a few examples of how her subject's young life influenced her approach to dance and contributed to her unwillingness to conform to the ideas of the world in which she lived (1877-1927). The picture-book format is unlikely to appeal to children old enough to appreciate and understand the subject. The realistic illustrations are mainly done in watercolor, with a few black-line drawings that show Duncan's flowing dance style. Some of the watercolors overuse light and shadow, giving the figures an unusual look. The final picture of Duncan is stiff, as is the one on the cover where she is unattractively shown squinting into the sun. The performer's life and contributions to modern dance deserve a fuller treatment for an older audience. Young children may be disturbed by the accounts of the accidental death of Duncan's two children and of her own tragic demise.?Virginia Golodetz, Children's Literature New England, Burlington, VTCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 5^-8. The watercolor paintings are filled with grace and easy movement in this picture-book biography of the famous ballerina Isadora Duncan, but the text is disjointed and reads like a series of theatrical set pieces. What was so special about her kind of dance? How did she suddenly get to Germany? Children into dance may be able to make some connections, but others will need more explanation than what the pictures show. More than in Isadora's book about Young Mozart (1997), the pieces seem random and elliptical. It's the pictures that will hold dance lovers, who will feel the excitement and joyful freedom of Duncan's expressive style. Hazel Rochman; Title: Isadora Dances | [
59873
] | Validation |
25,881 | 16 | PreSchool-A simple counting title in board-book format. Keats's familiar collage technique is used effectively to depict familiar objects from one bright red sun to ten playful dachshunds. The illustrations, first published as a number chart (Scholastic, l968), feature bold colors against contrasting backgrounds. An attractively designed book, perfect for toddlers.Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: One Red Sun: A Counting Book (Classic Board Books) | [
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26708
] | Test |
25,882 | 2 | Rosemary Wellshas created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max's New Suit (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,883 | 2 | PreSchool-Wells's latest story about Max and his sister Ruby is a board book with 14 touch-and-feel surprises, including a terrycloth towel, sandpaper crumbs, and a furry teddy. At bedtime, the toddler's red rubber elephant is thirsty, so Max gives it a glass of water, which promptly spills on his outer-space pajamas. Thus begins a series of events in which the young rabbit needs to change his pajamas three times. He just cannot get to bed, despite Ruby's efforts to quiet his complaints about a fly, the noisy rain, and the bright moon. The touch-and-feel aspects of the book are sturdy with the exception of the lace curtain and blanket, which may tear off easily. A humorous, true-to-life bedtime story with the author's typical minimal sentences and delightful watercolor-and-ink illustrations.Olga R. Barnes, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Rosemary Wells is the highly acclaimed author of more than sixty books for children.; Title: Goodnight Max (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,884 | 2 | Rosemary Wellshas created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max's Toys (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,885 | 2 | Rosemary Wellshas created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max's Bedtime (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,886 | 2 | Rosemary Wells has created her best-loved characters in the popular bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, who are featured in more than forty books and star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She is also the author of many other books for young readers, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Ms. Wells travels widely as a well-known advocate for literacy and for pre-school education. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.rosemarywells.com.; Title: Max's Breakfast (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,887 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade K?Appealing watercolor illustrations, spare text, and lift-the-flap surprises make Corduroy's Halloween a nice laptime selection. Preschoolers will delight in following along as the endearing bear selects the perfect pumpkin; buys decorations, a costume, and treats; and has a Halloween party. There's lots to see on each page, and while the story doesn't hold a candle to Freeman's books, it makes a colorful holiday treat for the youngest patrons.?Denise Furgione, Atlantic County Library, Mays Landing, NJCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California danceband. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident; he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.He was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!"Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popularbooks for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and theCaldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low. For more information about Don Freeman, please visit:www.donfreeman.infoB.G. Hennessy is the author of Road Builders and The First Night (both Viking and Puffin). She lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona.; Title: Corduroy's Halloween (A Lift-the-Flap Book) | [
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25,888 | 0 | Grade 6-8From an author well known for her nonfiction on social and political issues comes a historical novel that explores a frightening yet important event in U.S. history: McCarthyism and the Red Scare. Jamie Morse, 13, lives in the Bronx in 1953. She loves Hollywood movie stars, the Dodgers, and practicing her yo-yo moves. But unlike most kids, she has a big secret. Her father is a member of the Communist Party. She never invites her friends to her apartment, and she lies to the FBI when asked what newspapers her parents read. Jamie's parents are portrayed as political leftists who want economic and social justice. Her father, a high school math teacher, is called before the House Un-American Activities Committee and refuses to reveal the names of other Communists. He is sent to jail. Her mother also loses her job, bullies at school chase her brother, and Jamie is thrown off the school newspaper with no explanation. Levine portrays well Jamie's confusion, fear, anxiety, shame, and anger at her parents, yet her love for them. The times are captured perfectly, from Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the movies to the Rosenbergs' execution and the politics of fear. Jamie is a likable and believable heroine who grows into her own beliefs. Kids may well relate to the pervasive fear of the early 1950s as it resonates in our post-9/11 world.Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 5-8. Levine's excellent nonfiction works--among them, Freedom's Children (1992)--tell social and political history through the experiences of young people. In her first novel, which is set in the early 1950s at the height of the McCarthy witch hunts, she brings the politics up close through the voice of 13-year-old Jamie Morse, whose Dad is fired from his job and tried as a Communist. Jamie is sick of politics. She's furious with her parents, and she hates all the family secrets. She just wants to have fun with her best friend. Yet, she knows that politics is more than rhetoric, especially when it comes to civil rights issues and the hurt caused by the n-word. Some of the plot is purposive (a classroom discussion on freedom of expression), but the characters are drawn without reverence, and the scary history and the crucial debate will grab readers, especially given the sharp dialogue. Tension mounts to the very end: Will Dad name names? What is worse, dissent or betrayal? The warmth, sadness, and anger humanize the issues, which are sure to spark discussion about the meaning of patriotism--then and now. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Catch a Tiger by the Toe | [
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] | Train |
25,889 | 2 | Book by Wells, Rosemary; Title: Max's First Word (Max and Ruby) | [
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25,890 | 6 | Ludwig Bemelmans was the author of the beloved Madeline books, including Madeline, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Madeline's Rescue, winner of the Caldecott Medal.; Title: Madeline Birthday Activity Book | [
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25,891 | 4 | This picture book, about the many kinds of things that get delivered and how they are transported, takes readers on a disorienting ride. The driver of a truck marked "Daily News" stops for gas before dawn in the opening and closing images of the volume, acting as bookends to one day's deliveries. But the variety of items passing through the spreads makes the book feel disjointed. For instance, "Boxes and cans/ come in trucks and vans" shows a delivery man entering a grocery market, but for the next spread, "Unwrap it all/ for shelves on the wall" shows two women in Howe's apparel shop. Suen's spare text lacks the lyrical quality of her previous book, Window Music, also illustrated by Zahares (e.g., "Wheels and wings/ carry many things" and "Containers wait/ at number eight"). Zahares's strongly modeled, geometrically precise paintings set complementary colors together for high contrast, but muddy brownish tones predominate. The artwork seems constrained by the text; the clamor of buildings, cans, shirts or pipes detracts from the fresh interior perspectives and the wavy, willfully distorted landscapes that underpin the compositions. The artist creates a hint of a through line for the narrative: for example, a shopper carries a Howe's clothing bag in the food market; a truck from the florist shop in one spread is pictured traveling down a busy avenue in the next. But these visual connections do not completely compensate for what the text does not deliver. Ages 3-8. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-A brief look at commerce and transportation. Two lines of rhyming text per page explain how trucks, planes, and trains carry and distribute flowers, fuel, food, etc. Pipelines deliver oil, and freighters transport consumer goods. Suen uses a literary frame of 24 hours in the life of a community, from its early morning newspaper shipment to its home delivery again the next day. This book has a nice, understated tone. The text doesn't overwhelm Zahares's stylized artwork. Bold and angular, the illustrations have an almost impressionistic feel. Books such as Claire Llewellyn's Trucks (Watts, 1995), Darlene Stille's Trucks (Children's, 1997), and Gail Gibbons's Flying (Holiday, 1986; o.p.), have a narrower focus, but Suen's title succeeds at delivering the big picture.Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Delivery | [
25163
] | Validation |
25,892 | 1 | In this charming retelling of the "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairy tale, Wibbly the pig searches his garden for his favorite toy, Pigley. Instead, under lift-the-flap leaves, he finds a ladybug, a caterpillar, a snail, "one of these" (a weird little insect), and a bean. Wibbly puts all his things under a flowerpot, and guess what! The bean is "one of those magic ones!" It grows bigger, and--like that curious fellow, Jack--Wibbly is compelled to climb it. What happens at the top is far more pleasant than the traditional account, with nary a "fee-fi-fo-fum" or bloodthirsty giant in sight--only a gentle, perplexed giant who is looking for someone too. What results is a win-win situation for all.Mick Inkpen's understated humor and eminently appealing watercolors have shown up in his many picture books, including Kipper's Playtime and another Wibbly favorite, Everyone Hide from Wibbly Pig. Young readers and grownups alike will delight in the simple, funny story with the (fairly sturdy) flaps. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter; Title: In Wibbly's Garden (Wibbily Pig) | [
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25,893 | 2 | Writing with son Aaron, London (previously paired with Kastner for The Waterfall) delivers a splash-filled account of a river-rafting adventure. The excursion begins in Utah, where the boy narrator and his father join a group of rafters on a weeklong trip down the Green River. At first the boy feels scared, but he takes in the sights wild horses ("you could see their muscles bulging as they grazed") and high canyon walls ("reddish-gold in the setting sun") and thrills to the sound of the roaring white water. As time rolls on, vacationers bond around campfire meals prepared by Wild Man Dennis, the group's assigned cook, and the boy remarks on how much he is enjoying himself. Most successful here are the passages about navigating the rough rapids, which the Londons describe with heart-pounding excitement. But some overlong, snaking sentences and a lack of informational detail detract from the whole story. Kastner's oil paintings capture a spectrum of color and action bright rafts and gear bobbing on the greenish river water, frothy spray and rough waves jumping like "thousands of white rabbits." The shifting light and resultant changing hues of the canyon walls and sky overhead create a sense of river travel likely to leave young readers eager to have a go of their own. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 2-4-As a father and son set off on a rafting trip on the Green River in Utah, the man tells the boy, "-you'll learn to read the river-which way looks safer, which way is more dangerous." During their seven-day wilderness experience, they join eight other rafters crashing through rapids, sitting around the campfire, eating great food, observing wildlife, and sleeping "under a billion bright stars." The thrill of riding rapids is captured on double-page impressionistic oil paintings that accompany the simple narrative. For those who have never been on white water, this combination of text and illustration is a wonderful introduction. For other outdoor family tales, see London's Waterfall (Viking, 1999).Diane Olivo-Posner, Long Beach Public Library, CACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: White Water | [
26857
] | Test |
25,894 | 1 | PreSchool-These board books introduce an endearing little creature with big ears who shares the likes and dislikes of toddlers. Tent describes some of the things the young animal can do, including play with bubbles and make a cushion mountain and a tent. The second book covers the range of emotions the pig feels during one day at the beach. Bananas invites children to interact by asking which foods and toys they think the animal will select as his favorites. The last book opens with a picture of a stack of distinctively shaped, wrapped gifts. One by one, Wibbly Pig unwraps them to reveal what's inside. Simple, colorful drawings outlined in crayon illustrate these titles. An entertaining series that's sure to hold the attention of the toddler set.Joyce Rice, Limestone Creek Elementary School, Jupiter, FL Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Wibbly Pig is Happy | [
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25,895 | 11 | PreS-Gr 2-As a thunderstorm approaches, Jonathan looks out his window and observes a stray cat. Believing that the animal is afraid of the storm, he runs downstairs to let her in. The feline dashes in, deposits a kitten on the rug, and darts back into the rain. While Jonathan and his grandparents worry about caring for the little creature, the mother cat returns twice more with her babies before settling down for the night. The heart of this story is its illustrations, created by the manipulation of oil-paint glazes. Hartung's blotting technique provides contrast between a complex detailed background and the simple drawings of people and animals in the foreground. This contrast and the opposition of the dark night and the well-lit house reduce any fear children might have about the storm. Hutchins combines familiar elements with the mood created by the art to craft a pleasant story that will appeal to young readers. Children will share Jonathan's concern for the cats and will take comfort in the story's resolution. A wonderful read-aloud selection.Shara Alpern, Chappaqua Public Library, NYCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Ages 3-7. A summer storm is approaching, and Jonathan is glad he's inside with his grandparents. But outside, a stray cat seeks shelter for her kittens. One by one she carries them to the house, but when the storm hits, Jonathan must help. Finally, safe and cozy, Jonathan and the feline family sleep, under the reassuring watch of the boy's grandparents. Simple, lyrical prose conveys the intensity and sometimes spookiness of thunderstorms, where "lightning splits the sky with wild, white brightness" and rain "pounds into the grass like something angry." The evocative, textured oil paintings have wonderful depth, effectively playing shadows against light, illuminating details and contrasting moods. Outdoor scenes, awash in dark blue and gray hues, are often framed with silhouettes of recognizable objects; indoors, rooms are warm and glowing. Alternating perspectives add further drama and intimacy. The dark, Gothic-looking book jacket implies mystery, but the story itself is about the welcome comfort of safe havens, for humans and animals alike. Shelle RosenfeldCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: One Dark Night | [
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25,896 | 11 | Ezra Jack Keats (19161983) is the Caldecott Medal winning author ofThe Snowy Day, which broke ground in 1962 as one of the first picture books for young children to portray a realistic, multi-cultural urban setting. Since its initial publication,The Snowy Dayhas come to be regarded as both a childrens classic and one of the most important picture books ever written/illustrated. Ezra Jack Keats legacy lives on in the popularity of his most famous character, Peterthe star ofThe Snowy Day,Whistle for Willie,Peter's Chair,A Letter to Amy,Goggles, and others. Visit the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation online atwww.ezra-jack-keats.org; Title: Hi, Cat (Picture Books) | [
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25,897 | 2 | Grade 4-8-As she has done in past books, Alexander makes blindness clear to readers. Here, she responds to frequently asked questions, including how it feels to be blind and how blind people cope with daily living. She tells how she lost her sight and recounts the fears she experienced at the time. Readers learn how she gets around and how she writes. The author briefly describes the tools she uses, from talking books to machines that transpose the written word into vibrations to be read with the fingers. She spends some time discussing problems related to dating, how she met her husband, and how she was able to raise two children. Her discussion of remembering colors and dimensions will interest sighted readers. Small black-and-white photos appear throughout; most are snapshots from the personal collections of the author and her friends. A list of organizations for additional information is included.Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Sally Hobart Alexander lost her sight to disease at the age of 26. A writer, she also speaks to groups, and especially to young people, about her blindness. One of her goals is to help her audience feel comfortable around disabled people by being respectfully curious. After acknowledging that not everyone is willing to share experiences, she responds to some of the fairly personal questions children and teens have asked her. Her answers reveal what daily life is like for a blind person: how she tells time, dresses and grooms herself (and why she wears sunglasses), works with her guide dog, reads, and writes. She also discusses how she raised two sighted children, how others react to her disability, and how much she remembers of the visual world. Tools for the blind are illustrated, and family photos reveal Sally leading a full and happy life with family and friends. Several activities that illustrate everyday problems encountered by the blind are included, as is a list of organizations. A concluding note by a physician briefly (and reassuringly) discusses Sally's personal experience of going blind and her degrees of vision loss. The information is less objective than students may need for reports; however, this book is sure to interest young people curious about how the blind interact with their world. Catherine Andronik; Title: Do You Remember the Color Blue?: The Questions Children Ask About Blindness | [
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25,898 | 2 | K-Gr 2-A best friend moves away, leaving the narrator to recall all they've shared. From soccer plays to chicken pox, kindergarten to arguments, readers will understand that this is one friend who can't be replaced. Luckily, by list's end, the new next-door neighbor and her dog approach the forlorn girl and her hound, and the foursome begins a friendly game of chase. Carlson uses bold, bright colors to illustrate this friendship in all its moods. The book will be useful for the recently lonely, as well as for sparking discussion of what makes a friendship unique.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Ages 3-5. A little girl recalls the good times and bad times she had with her next-door neighbor before the family moved away. Feeling a little lost and sad, she wonders if she'll ever have a best friend again. Colorful, somewhat stylized illustrations show the two children side by side at school, at play, and even quarreling. The story ends with the arrival of an amiable new girl next door--clearly best-friend material. The neat, optimistic conclusion may seem unrealistic to kids who have just lost a friend, but this cheerful treatment does offer hope of better times ahead. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: My Best Friend Moved Away | [
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25,899 | 1 | reSchool-K-A charming counting book that will appeal especially to the read-aloud set. As a little mouse searches for a new shelter, he visits nine woodland families and tries living in their various homes. Finding each one unsatisfactory (the moles' "diet was wormish,/And that made Mouse squirmish"), he realizes that his own home is just right after all. The text has a comforting cadence that is maintained throughout the book. Readers are introduced to one mouse on the first page, two moles on the second, three meadow frogs on the third, and so on up to 10 opossums. Pham's watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are printed on Arches Cold Press paper and do an excellent job of expressing the adorable mouse's emotions at each home he visits. The spreads each consist of a full-sized color illustration facing easy-to-read text fitted neatly around a smaller, complementary painting depicting the mouse's discomfort. Each text page begins with a number spelled out in colored letters in a larger font. As the story comes to a close, the mouse passes each of the nine other sleeping families on his way back home. Children will delight in searching them out, and will come away from the story with the subtle message that whether it's a tree, hole, or house, there's no place like home.Cathie E. Bashaw, Somers Library, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreS-K. The story of one little mouse looking for a roomier place to live is told in pithy verse. Children will learn to count forward and backward to 10 as the mouse encounters two moles, three frogs, four quail, etc., potential roommates all. Pham's excellent pictures--a full-page painting on one page and spot art facing--are executed in watercolor and gouache, and they bring the meadow setting alive. Looking as though he stepped from one of the best Disney cartoons, this adventurous mouse has personality, and the humor shines through as he reacts to being in the other animals' homes. Even the youngest listeners will enjoy predicting where the little mouse ends up. The book ends with scenes of the meadow at night with all the animals sleeping: "And one little mouse, / One tired little mouse, / One content little mouse, / Sound asleep in his house." Kathy BroderickCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: One Little Mouse | [
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