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27,700 | 0 | Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett was born in Seattle, Washington. He wanted to grow up to be either an artist or a secret agent, but became an animator instead. He moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to direct the Penny cartoons for PeeWee's Playhouse. Craig stayed to write and direct on the first season of Rugrats, which introduced him to his friends at Nickelodeon. He premiered his first episode of Hey Arnold! on Nick in 1996, and has since made 100 episodes. He lives with his wife, Lisa, and kids, Matt and Katie, in Glendale, California, and enjoys painting, snorkeling and reading the New Yorker magazine, preferably in Hawaii.; Title: Arnold for President (Hey Arnold) | [
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27,701 | 1 | Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938) was a talented cartoonist, illustrator, and storyteller. He began writing stories about Raggedy Ann in the early part of the century as a way to entertain his ailing daughter, Marcella. Over the years he wrote and illustrated more than forty books about the popular rag doll and her brother, Raggedy Andy.; Title: Raggedy Ann and Rags | [
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27,702 | 2 | Manzano, who plays "Maria" on Sesame Street,follows up her first picture book, No Dogs Allowed (2004), with another story centered on a Puerto Rican neighborhood in the Bronx. This time, the setting is the 1950s, and little Ruthie is obsessed with the TV character of Superman, hoping to become a superhero herself. Opportunity arrives when she is sent to sit with her very pregnant, near-delivery aunt. Her aunt's cravings for sweets send Ruthie leaping and bounding up and down stairs, like the superhero of her dreams. But on her the last trip to the bodega, Ruthie discovers three kittens and becomes completely entranced, ignoring her aunt's calls, the cop on the radio, and the siren, until she realizes an ambulance has come for her aunt, who is in labor. Ruthie feels like a failure until her aunt honors her at the baby's welcoming party. Phelan's watercolors give verve and bounce to this charming story. Connie FletcherCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedSonia Manzano is best known as Maria, one of the first Hispanic characters on Sesame Street, a role she has delighted in for more than twenty years. She has earned fifteen Emmy Awards as a member of the Sesame Street writing staff, and is the author of the picture books No Dogs Allowed!, A Box Full of Kittens, and the Pura Belpr Award honored The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano. Sonia Manzano lives in New York City with her husband.; Title: A Box Full of Kittens | [
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27,703 | 2 | Using an oblong format, brief text and simple hands-on activities, Seymour Simon and daughter-in-law Nicole Fauteux launch the Let's Try It Out series and teach basic science concepts with Let's Try It Out in the Air and Let's Try It Out in the Water, both illus. by Doug Cushman. In the first title, an illustration of a boy dangling a limp balloon in front of puzzled pets begs the question: "What happens when you fill a balloon with air?" A suggested activity blowing up a balloon and using it "to play volleyball with your friends" explains why the balloon stays aloft then floats to the ground. The second title asks kids to imagine a day at the beach but features activities they can try in a wading pool or bathtub.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-These series titles offer fun-filled activities to use as introductions to basic scientific principles. Each book contains notes to parents, teachers, and child-care providers about the types of activities incorporated, readily available materials needed, and working with children to help them make observations with their "bodies and senses." Typically, the titles ask readers to imagine a particular scene, such as being at the beach or outside on a windy day. A series of questions then follows along with some clearly written information and suggestions for simple experiments. For instance, Air challenges readers to see how long they can keep a balloon moving by blowing underneath it. In Water, after imagining they are at the ocean and spot a ship, children are encouraged to make a boat out of foil and place objects on it that previously did not float and report their observations. Cheerful drawings of ethnically diverse youngsters complement the texts by effectively illustrating the concepts and activities. These titles for the youngest scientists will work well in conjunction with the "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science" series (HarperCollins).Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Let's Try It Out in the Air | [
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27,704 | 15 | The author of Goodnight Moon wrote scores of poems for children in her short lifetime, many of which were left unpublished until now. In this collection of 24 poems, Margaret Wise Brown's virtuosity shines through with verses about simple childhood pleasures and sorrows. Days later, readers young and old will find themselves muttering: "Hark to the sound / Of the sea-slung gong / Ding Dong Dong / Ding Dong Dong" or "Jig Big / jig little / jig little / Jig Big / Jig like a big PIG / dancing a jig." Some poems are clearly more refined than others; if Brown were alive, she undoubtedly would have smoothed the rougher edges in "Pussycat and the Pumpkin," for example. Teri L. Weidner's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations in "Spring Madness" and "Colors" are sweet and natural, although "The Monkey Man" and "Christmas Song" are less appealing. When all is said and done, though, fans of the legendary Margaret Wise Brown will be pleased at another glimpse into her talented, imaginative world. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie CoulterAlthough many of the previously unpublished poems in this posthumous collection demonstrate the lyricism of Brown's best work, others seem clunky, as if the poems needed further polishing to find the quiet rhythms and grace of language hidden inside. Marcus, Brown's biographer, provides an eloquent foreword and relates how Brown scribbled poems on the backs of envelopes, but was a "consummate craftsperson [who] might fiddle with a single line for years." Some verses in this padded volume could have used a bit more fiddling. On the other hand, Brown consistently conveys universal childhood experiences in clear language without complexity. She describes a first snowstorm as "White/ And quiet in the night," and dandelions as "Bright yellow/ Constellations/ Brave little lions/ Suns in the grass." The poems vary from the impish surprise of "Pussycat and the Pumpkin" to the wistful longing in "The Sound of the Wind Is a Wild Sound" to the raucous singsong sounds of "Pig Jig." Even with some static watercolor and pencil illustrations, Weidner (Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny) for the most part utilizes subtle textures and sensitively reflects the tone of the poems. While the painting for "In the Sugar Egg" does not quite match details in the poem, for instance, the illustration accompanying "Colors" interweaves selective images from the text to make a seek-and-find landscape of flowers and insects. A somewhat disappointing but nonetheless welcome collection for fans of Brown's Goodnight Moon. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Give Yourself to the Rain: Poems for the Very Young | [
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27,705 | 13 | The team behind The Remarkable Farkle McBride returns with another high-spirited tale celebrating the arts. While young Farkle found joy in orchestral music, Micawber the squirrel is a lover of the fine art of painting. The refined New York City rodent makes a weekly scamper from his Central Park nest to the nearby "palace on Fifth Avenue" (the Metropolitan Museum of Art), where he can "feast... his eyes and his heart" on countless masterworks. On one such museum visit Micawber stows away among an art student's supplies and winds up in the woman's apartment, where he clandestinely uses her equipment to paint his own canvases, substituting his bushy tail for a brush. As months pass, the benign bandit assembles his own colorful gallery in his home atop the park's carousel. In a tighter, more linear text than Farkle, Lithgow conveys the sense of discovery and emotional enjoyment one can experience while observing or creating art. The vast majority of lines here have a musical rhythm, though young readers may need to puzzle out the meaning of words like "peregrination." Payne's mixed-media compositions capture an area of Manhattan at its clean, sunny best. His varying perspectives and occasionally paint-splattered backgrounds embrace all the exhilaration of Lithgow's words. Ages 5-8. FYI: Included is a CD recording of Lithgow reading his text. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc."Another high-spirited tale celebrating the arts."-- "Publishers Weekly""Lithgow's love of language and wordplay shines throughout his work."-- "USA TODAY"; Title: Micawber | [
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27,706 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 3This quiet, gentle story pays tribute to the many unnamed children who participated in the African-American struggle for civil rights. It opens: "After a night of soft rain there is a sweet smell of roses as my sister, Minnie, and I slip past Mama's door and out of the house down Charlotte Street." They head toward the curb market where folks, mostly adults, are gathering to listen to and march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Large, powerful charcoal images dominate the pages with particular attention paid to facial expressions. The artist shows the strength and resolve of the marchers in the face of "people who scream, shout, and say, 'You are not right. Equality can't be yours.'" Once the speeches are over, the sisters race home and are met at the door by their worried mother, "And as we tell her about the march, the curtains flow apart, and there is a sweet smell of roses all through our house." The only color that appears in this book is the deep red of the ribbon around the neck of Minnie's teddy bear, the U.S. flag, and the roses. Without going into much detail, this book nonetheless drives home the fact that children were involved in the movement and makes the experience more real for those just learning about this chapter of American history.Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OHK-Gr. 2. History and politics get personal for young readers in this dramatic, large-size picture book about an African American child and her younger sister who steal out of the house to join the Civil Rights marchers and listen to Dr. King speak. The child's clear, first-person narrative draws on the language of the struggle ("we look farther down the road"), and Velasquez' realistic charcoal pictures, in black and white with an occasional touch of red, evoke the news footage of the time. The protestors confront the glowering police, and there are children among the racists who yell, "You are not right. Equality can't be yours." But this book is not only about segregation; it's also about the crowds of people "walking our way toward freedom," the thrilling portrait of Dr. King, and the two brave kids who cross the line. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Sweet Smell of Roses | [
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27,707 | 2 | Plourde and Couch pick up where they left off with the autumnal Wild Child, this time featuring a boy who personifies winter. The fantasy is more complex and abstract than the previous title and may well puzzle more than challenge or entertain youngest readers. When small Winter in his Wee Willie Winkle hat wants his father's attention, Father Time answers, "Just a minute, big guy./ My work's not done." His father ignores him until Winter presents him with a spectacular snowflake, at which point Father Time, with a "tear in his eye," agrees to play. As he gives Winter a goodnight kiss, he acknowledges the lesson he's learned about making time for his son. Couch's frosty paintings are both dazzling and inventive. Wheels and clock parts surround Father Time's cubist moon face; stars and planets encircle his head like a halo. But the arresting images and sophisticated artwork may be as confusing to youngsters as the text. Unfortunately, Plourde's problematic story seems to suggest that the only surefire way a child can get his father's attention is to impress him. Despite the use of playful nonsense words that fill out the rhythm (father and son "wristle and wrestle" and they "rizzle and romp"), the book's message seems addressed more to workaholic fathers than to children. Ages 4-8. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-Gr 2-When Mother Earth sees Winter bouncing on the bed, she sends him off to find Father Time, who says that he is too busy to play. Winter finds ways to pass the time: painting the grass with frost, carving ice sculptures, and cutting out snowflakes. When Father Time's work is done, the two wrestle in the sky, causing a blizzard below. As father and son settle in for a cozy nap, Mother Earth tiptoes past, on her way to wake up Spring. Plourde's rhyming text flows well and the language trips off the tongue: "He snizzes and snips/lacy designs./Sprools and sprinkles them/on meadows and pines." However, Couch's sumptuous illustrations are the real attention-grabbers here. Using acrylic paint and colored pencils, the artist creates a beautiful frosty landscape out of deep blues, purples, and whites. Each small touch, from Father Time's half-night/half-day face to Winter's impishly pointed icicle of a nose, adds to the otherworldly feel of the artwork. Anyone who has ever recognized the quiet magic of a snowy day will feel right at home with these atmospheric paintings. A lovely mood piece about a perennially popular topic.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MDCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Winter Waits | [
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27,708 | 2 | PreSLinocut illustrations in soft, appealing colors depict fathers returning home to their children at day's end. Animals, including a rabbit, ladybug, dog, and bird, are reunited with their offspring in their homes in a hollow tree, under a log, in a birdhouse. One child is also reunited with his sailor father returning from the sea. Mothers are never shown or mentioned. Though the bug flies, the rabbit hops, and the fish swims, there's no movement in the static pictures. Each shows the dad on one page, with one or two sentences of minimal text, facing his youngster on the other. There's not much child appeal here, but the book may reassure some children that their fathers will return home.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.As the sun sets, a ship moves across the water. Meanwhile, the fathers are coming home. The fish father swims back to his little fish; the bug father flies back to his little bugs. Words and pictures show the rabbit, daddy longlegs, dog, bird, snail, and pig returning as well. Lion lives alone, so he comes home to himself. When the ship docks, a sailor father returns to his little boy. In an age when picture books for young children too often drip with I-love-you treacle, Browns text treats a childs love with the dignity it deserves. The story establishes a comfortable pattern, then breaks it just a bit before bringing the simple tale to a happy conclusion. With bold lines and mainly flat colors, the striking illustrations, rendered as linocuts in the publishers words, use line, form, color, and texture effectively to create a series of compelling images with a retro look. A fine choice for reading aloud. Preschool-Grade 1. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: The Fathers Are Coming Home | [
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27,709 | 2 | Are there really things that moms can't do? Apparently, actually, quite a few. At least as far as dinosaur moms are concerned. Then again, human kids and moms might find some interspecies similarities in this playful picture book authored and illustrated by the same team that brought us--what else?--What Dads Can't Do (which writer Douglas Wood called "a much easier book to write than Moms"). The list of maternal "failings"--energetically demonstrated by a cute mom-and-son team of Dinosauria suburbis--covers an entire day, from wake-up to tuck-in: Moms are limited in their breakfast choices (they can't have "Yummos with purple marshmallows... Only coffee, or tea, or yogurt, or bran flakes. Yuck."), moms can't push grocery carts fast enough, and "Moms don't know how to keep salamanders in their shirts." To top it off, "Sometimes moms can't hear themselves think (whatever that means)."But there's one thing that moms can do "better than almost anyone... and that's love you." Sweetly drawn and written, What Moms Can't Do should make for fun snuggled-up reading, because, of course, moms "feel much better with someone on their lap." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul HughesFollowing closely on the heels of What Dads Can't Do and starring the same irresistible dinos, What Moms Can't Do by Douglas Wood, illus. by Doug Cushman, once again injects humor into every scenario. The spread "Moms can't wait... to wake up kids in the morning. They can't make the bed without lots of help," for instance, shows only a set of reptilian toes on a pillow, then jumping on the bed to "help" make it. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: What Moms Can't Do | [
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27,710 | 11 | Two inspiring tales of paradox from the Middle Kingdom captivate Caldecott winner Provensen (The Glorious Flight; A Visit to William Blake's Inn). In the first, the Master, who maintains that he no longer teaches, trains his apprentice Little Chu in an unorthodox way to develop the lightning instincts that will make the boy an extraordinary swordsman. In exquisitely timed painted panels, Provensen chronicles the boy's improving skills until one day Little Chu successfully dodges the Master's sword and the man bequeaths to him the weapon and releases him from service ("You will never need to draw it. No enemy can touch you. Use the sword to chop cabbage"). In the second tale, a greedy emperor commissions a great wall painting by Mu Chi, then plots to behead him so that the artist can never top his work for the emperor. But the painter outsmarts the ruler. Taken together, the tales contrast the outcome of generosity versus parsimony. Both the action-packed panels in the first story and the spreads in the second contain traditional Chinese motifs; the paintings never lose their simplicity of line and narrative clarity. Oil painting on cream-colored vellum and calligraphy-like type add to the feeling of ageless calm. These magic tales with impeccable visual pacing prove once again that Provensen is a master storyteller and a consummate artist. Ages 5-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 3-A distinguished illustrator uses the China she imagines as a setting for two philosophical fantasies. Though the stories are described as "legends from ancient China- retold," the CIP information is more accurate, categorizing the book as fiction rather than folklore. In the first story, a small boy from a village beset by bandits travels far to apprentice himself to a master swordsman. After two years of dodging talking objects like jugs and teapots, Little Chu learns to be attentive and alert, to anticipate danger. Master Li then presents him with his great sword and tells him to use it to chop cabbage. The bandits are so daunted by his skillful chopping of vegetables that they leave the village in peace. The second story concerns the conflict between a great painter and a greedy, cruel emperor. Commissioned to fill a huge, blank wall, the artist spends years painting a mural, knowing that the jealous emperor will kill him when he is finished. His solution to the problem, while echoing many Chinese stories about a picture coming to life, is not a traditional one. Although Provensen tells a good story in crisp, dramatic sentences, her stock characters engage in overly formal dialogue and have been placed in whimsical situations that exist only in the Western imagination. Her art pays respectful homage to Chinese narrative hand scrolls, and her sense of composition, color, and narrative flow are products of her distinguished career. Nonetheless, Emily Arnold McCully's Beautiful Warrior (Scholastic, 1998) and Molly Bang's Tye May and the Magic Brush (Morrow, 1992) are more authentic and accurate depictions of China.Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North AdamsCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Master Swordsman & the Magic Doorway: Two Legends from Ancient China | [
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27,711 | 0 | Set in Mississippi during the summer of 1964, Wiles's affecting debut children's book about two boysAone white and the other African-AmericanAunderscores the bittersweet aftermath of the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Rather than opening public pools, roller rinks and shops to African-Americans, many towns and private owners boarded up the doors. Wiles delivers her message incisively through the credible voices of her young characters, narrator Joe and his best friend, John Henry, whose mother works as housekeeper for Joe's family. Joe and John spend many hours swimming together in the creek because John is not allowed in the public pool, so on the day the Civil Rights Act is enacted, they visit the town pool together, excited about diving for nickels in the clear water. Instead they find a work crewAincluding John Henry's older brotherAfilling in the pool with asphalt. "John Henry's voice shakes. 'White folks don't want colored folks in their pool.' " The tale ends on an upbeat if tenuous note, as the boys walk together through the front door of a once-segregated shop to buy ice pops. Lagarrigue's (My Man Blue) softly focused, impressionistic paintings capture the lazy feel of summer days and affirm the bond between the two boys. The artist's close-up portraits of the boys' faces, as well as the body language of other characters, reinforce the narrative's powerful emotional pitch. Ages 4-8. (Jan.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 5-8. "John Henry Waddell is my best friend," begins the narrator of this story, set during a summer of desegregation in the South. John Henry is black and the narrator is white, so the boys swim together at the creek, rather than at the whites-only town pool, and the narrator buys the ice-cream at the segregated store. When new laws mandate that the pool, and everything else, must desegregate, the boys rejoice, until the town fills the pool with tar in protest and the narrator tries to see this town, "through John Henry's eyes." The boy's voice, presented in punchy, almost poetic sentences, feels overly romanticized, even contrived in places. It's the illustrations that stun. In vibrantly colored, broad strokes, Lagarrigue, who illustrated Nikki Grimes' My Man Blue (1999), paints riveting portraits of the boys, particularly of John Henry, that greatly increase the story's emotional power. Beautiful work by an illustrator to watch. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Freedom Summer | [
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27,712 | 2 | Long a legend to fans of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, Tony DiTerlizzi is finally getting his due with a broader audience. The gifted, prankish artist (and now writer, too) debuted in 2000 with the delightfully deranged Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-This-World Moon Pie Adventure and shows no signs of letting up with the equally weird and wonderful Ted.As the story goes, Ted--the "big, raspberry-colored oaf" who was DiTerlizzi's imaginary childhood pal--was a little jealous about the Moon Pie Adventure and wanted in on the next book. So with a little help from this towering, pink, floppy-eared fluff ball, DiTerlizzi recounts how he and Ted first met over bowls of raspberry cereal and games of Monopoly-Twister. But, of course, Father will have nothing to do with this, so an elaborate campaign begins to convince him of Ted's existence, involving wall murals, impromptu indoor swimming pools, and all other sorts of mischief.DiTerlizzi's dense, signature style is back--bordering on '50s-traditional but with a healthy touch of dementia--and his imaginative use of color and shadow makes every spread a treat. Though it might not have quite the zip of Jimmy Zangwow, this sophomore effort solidifies the start of DiTerlizzi's promising new career. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul HughesWhen Ted, an enormous creature with basset-hound ears, twinkly little eyes and a big sewn-in belly-button, shows up at the door of a suburban home and offers to amuse the boy who lives there, the two of them get into all kinds of exuberant trouble. The boy's father, a harried businessman with no time for fun, decides that his son's spluttering attempts to introduce Ted are merely clever alibis and bans imaginary friends from the house. Ted eventually reveals that he knew the boy's father when he was a youngster; once reminded, the father finds his old Atomic Blaster and joins the pair for a rousing game of "space pirates-Monopoly-Twister." DiTerlizzi (Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure) conjures up the boy's 1950s-style bungalow faithfully, right down to the cloth-covered TV cabinet speaker and the clunky old plugs in their brown outlets. He has particular fun with a scene in which Ted, armed with a lot of lather and a folding ruler, gives the little boy his first shave ("Ted tied a towel around me and snippy-snap! I looked like a million bucks!"). The nostalgia in the book plays to adult readers, but the text has plenty of zip, and there is something gratifying about a story that ends with a parent growing down instead of a child growing up. Ages 5-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Ted | [
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27,713 | 2 | Although they have rice flour enough for only one nin-go--the Chinese New Year's rice cake--the Chang family is determined to make the best of their holiday treat. But when Momma takes the cake out of the steamer, "something incredible happened--the rice cake came alive!" Stunned, the Changs watch as it pops out of the pan and rolls right out of their kitchen, crying, "Ai yo! I don't think so!" Much like the family in the traditional classic, The Gingerbread Boy, the Changs chase that pastry all through the village, but it eludes them every step--until it runs smack into an old woman. Generous Da, the youngest son, upon discovering that this woman is hungry, too, offers to share the nin-go. This leaves nothing for the Chang family's New Year's feast, but their kind-hearted deed reaps them benefits they never imagined from the approving Kitchen God.Ying Chang Compestine's tale of compassion and generosity teaches a valuable, perennially fresh message. Tungwai Chau's acrylic paintings of the family celebrating their most important holiday are rich with details of traditional Chinese life. A note about the Chinese New Year includes recipes for nin-go, the good-luck cake that is said to bring safety and fortune to the entire family all year long. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie CoulterK-Gr 4-A tale of tenderness and sharing. It is Chinese New Year's Eve, and the Chang family is preparing to celebrate the holiday. Although they have very little food, they have enough rice flour to make one New Year's rice cake. However, when the nin-gao is cooked, it comes to life, pops out of the pan, and leads the Changs on a merry chase through the village. The errant cake is finally caught after it collides with an old woman and knocks her to the ground. When the family discovers that she hasn't eaten for several days, the youngest son suggests that they share the cake with her. Their generosity is later rewarded, as several villagers bearing gifts of food arrive at the Chang house. Magically, more and more food appears on the table, until there is enough for everyone to eat. Figurative drawings, while reminiscent of the art in various retellings of "The Gingerbread Boy," have a softer and more whimsical nature. Each page combines a vibrancy of color with more muted background tones. A brief pronunciation guide, along with information about the New Year and two recipes, extends the story. A welcome addition to stories such as Karen Chinn's Sam and the Lucky Money (Lee & Low, 1995) and Leo Politi's classic Moy Moy (Scribner, 1960; o.p.), which highlight other aspects of this holiday.-Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MDCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Runaway Rice Cake | [
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27,714 | 2 | Carefully applied colored pencil suggests the fog that causes three gophers to lose their way in the woods, and--like Goldilocks--enter an empty but comfortable house. More timid than their fairy-tale counterpart, the gophers are hesitant, but they are so tired, they finally tuck themselves into the large bed. Their sleep is not sound, however, because they are soon joined by two bunnies and three raccoons also seeking shelter. The various saws hanging on the wall make the animals a bit apprehensive: Have they stumbled upon the house of a witch? And hearts beat faster when a huge figure enters and looms over the quaking critters. Fortunately, though, Mr. Bear is a welcoming host, who serves his guests hot stew, then climbs into bed with them to sleep until the fog-free morning. The pictures hint at the identity of the home owner; the Japanese printing on pot labels and book titles reveals the story's origin. The cozy interiors, appealingly drawn animals, and familiar themes transcend cultural borders. Ellen MandelA comforting bedtime tale is this reissue of a picture book first published in 1982 (only its jacket has been revised). With low-key color-penciled illustrations in soft pastel shades, artist Yasuko Koide perfectly complements his wife Tan's spare and mildly suspenseful tale about three gophers, two bunny rabbits, and a trio of raccoons who take shelter in a mysteriously unoccupied house when they lose their way in the fog as night falls. When "something huge and dark" walks in on them, all snuggled comfortably in a big four-poster bed, listeners/viewers will fear the worst. But the bear in this tale, unlike the ursine threesome in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, turns out to be a perfect host. He treats his small trespassers to some hot stew before joining them in bed to sleep soundly till the morning. A simple tale, simply told and illustrated, May We Sleep Here Tonight? is sure to please as many toddlers today as it did 20 years ago during the last millennium.Reviewed by Selma G. Lanes, Parents' Choice 2000 -- From Parents' ChoiceRoger Sutton Horn Book Magazine "Great!...My hands-down favorite to close a story hour." -- Review; Title: May We Sleep Here Tonight | [
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27,715 | 2 | Grade 3-5-This book's gentle but direct approach to creative writing may not appeal to all youngsters, but it may help some students to address some common struggles and to find their own voices. Through free-verse poetry, Wong targets a group of youngsters looking for good topics for a writing assignment. "You want it to be good, to make us cry or bust up laughing when the room is quiet." They are encouraged to look around, and not to be discouraged by the worldliness or experiences of others. "Wait. Did you forget who you are? Who else can say what you have seen? Who else can tell your stories-." A photo albumlike page shows a variety of pets, holidays, hobbies, vacations, and family outings that could be possible topics. "Reach inside. Write about the dark times. -Write about the bright times. -Take your mind for a walk back to this morning, back to yesterday-." Examples are given of parents fighting, a wet library book growing mildew, childhood fears of storms, and taking out the trash. For "Weave them together- half of Draft 1, a word from Draft 4, a whole line from number 5. Try. Because you have to write, and you want it to be good," the illustration shows each child laying out stretches of many drafts on the floor. The simple realistic gouache paintings are rather ordinary but appropriate for the "writing from life" philosophy that is espoused.Adele Greenlee, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 2-4. It's the dreaded class task: write something! "You have to write. You hate to write." Wong's poetic text, which encourages kids to use their own experiences, is practical and also sometimes amusing. The with-it rhymes set the tone while gouache illustrations depict four diverse kids as they sift through the advice, thinking and envisioning. One scene shows the students at their desks picturing different locations they might write about. A variety of page compositions effectively exemplify various choices by using overlapping scenes and albumlike framed images. "Take your mind for a walk" and "think about the plain, the everyday." The direct, you-can-do-it approach will stimulate kids to write and also help them with that dismaying assignment. Lots of classroom teachers will find this a great motivator. Julie CumminsCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: You Have to Write | [
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27,716 | 4 | Book by Lukas, Catherine; Title: Rosie The Riveter (Lionel Trains) | [
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27,717 | 13 | This slim, posthumously published rhyme occasions lighthearted oil paintings from Andreasen (By the Dawn's Early Light), who trades his customarily solemn, realistic style for something closer to cartoon. Giving new meaning to the phrase "sea dog," the main character is portrayed by Andreasen as a fully bipedal, chunky blue dog wearing sailor shirt and cap. Spending the day at sea, he enacts Brown's simple rhyme: "With a yo ho ho/ and a bucket of fun,/ here comes a sailor / the jig has begun." The "jig" centers around crescendos and decrescendos, e.g., "Dance Big/ dance little/ [here the type shrinks several point sizes] dance little/ Dance Big." Eventually readers are tapped: "Now you are a sailor dancing a jig." Andreasen renders the main action in velvety, marine-hued oils and large rounded shapes; in the background, grinning suns and smiling buoys confer a nostalgic touch. Diminutive navy-blue line drawings in the margins show the dog's dance moves. In addition to his jigging, the pup is a skilled multi-tasker as he steps and jumps, he also hooks a cheerful, plump fish and adopts it for a pet, then feeds it dinner. The pup's presence and charisma fuels the modest text and issues an invitation to readers to get up and dance. Ages 2-5. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.reSchool-K-An exuberant canine wearing a sailor shirt and cap and carrying a fishing pole and bucket full of worms enacts this jaunty rhyme. Sailor Boy bounds on board his little ship, steers the wheel, lets out his hook, and reels in a smiling fish. He then places it in a bowl, cooks supper, dons his pajamas, and, along with the fish, goes to sleep. A refrain with variations begs to be chanted aloud, and changes in font size provide visual clues to the loudness and the softness of the presentation. Andreasen's cheerful oil paintings are uncluttered and allow the dog to be the center of attention. Use as a read-aloud and as a bedtime story.Susan Pine, New York Public LibraryCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Sailor Boy Jig | [
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27,718 | 7 | In this first novel, an orphaned 11-year-old, freed from a torturous life with her aunt, discovers a wishing well when she moves in with her grandfather but quickly learns the danger of getting what you ask for. Ages 8-12. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Leonid Gore moved to the US from his native Belarus in 1991. He has illustrated many beloved books for children and is also the author and illustrator of Dannys First Snow. Mr. Gore lives in Oakland, New Jersey. Visit him online at LeonidGore.com.; Title: Well Wished | [
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27,719 | 11 | Michael Burgan has written numerous books for children and young adults. Many of his books have focused on US history, geography, and the lives of world leaders. He has also written fiction and adapted classic novels. Michael has won several awards for his writing, and his graphic novel version of the classic tale Frankenstein (Stone Arch Books) was a Junior Library Guild selection. Michael graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelors degree in history. When not writing for kids, he enjoys writing plays, and his works have been staged across the United States. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his cat, Callie.; Title: John Glenn: Young Astronaut (Childhood of Famous Americans) | [
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27,720 | 13 | Star of 3rd Rock from the Sun, actor John Lithgow is less well known as a music enthusiast, but in his comical verse story The Remarkable Farkle McBride, he has created the musical prodigy he would perhaps like to have been. Farkle is a little boy with astounding talents (he's playing violin with the orchestra by the age of 3) but little perseverance. Each year he gets bored with his instrument, takes up and masters a new one, and then gets bored with that. Of his recently beloved trombone, he says, "The racket is more than my eardrums can bear! So return it or throw it away! I don't care!" In the end, Farkle realizes that the whole orchestra is his instrument: he finds satisfaction as a conductor, and the book ends with a gatefold of him triumphantly leading all the other musicians. C.F. Payne's illustrations combine a Norman Rockwell realism with a caricaturist's sense of humor. (Ages 5 and older) --Richard FarrNo stranger to music (he released a CD for children titled "Singin' in the Bathtub"), actor Lithgow pens a romp of a tale about a prodigy whose quest for the perfect instrument leads him through virtually every section of the orchestra. "When Farkle McBride was a three-year-old tyke,/ All freckle-y, bony, and thin,/ He astonished his friends and his family alike/ By playing superb violin." After his debut, the easily dissatisfied diminutive genius trades in his fiddle for a flute ("He went Rootle-ee/ Tootle-ee/ Tootle-ee Too/ With all of the winds at his side"), then a trombone and subsequently percussion, all to no avail. Not until he steps in for an ill conductor does he finds his niche; a gatefold spread shows him ("satisfied!") in front of "all the instruments he ever tried." Lithgow's nimble verse with a limerick's beat sparkles as he introduces readers to the various instruments and their sounds. Payne's outrageously droll mixed media illustrations, with their blend of caricature and realism, recall Kathryn Hewitt's work in Lives of the Musicians. Although Farkle is remarkably difficult to please, his tale may well strike a chord with anyone who's ever made overtures at musicianship. Ages 4-8. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Remarkable Farkle Mcbride | [
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27,721 | 5 | "Blessed" by the god Dionysus with the ability to turn everything he touches to gold, greedy and ignorant King Midas quickly learns that one must be careful what one wishes for. When his food and drink turn to gold, as well as his servants and every other living thing in the palace, Midas is immediately penitent. "Why did I ever ask for such a stupid gift?" he cries, as his teardrops turn to gold.This classic Greek myth may be familiar to many readers, but few will deny that it has ever been presented so spectacularly. Award-winning artist Demi's paintings are shot through with gold, against Mediterranean backdrops of sea blue and purple. Each page of this gorgeous picture book is bordered with golden patterns, and a four-page fold-out depicts Midas transforming his many-columned palace into solid, immobilized gold. Here is a perfect introduction to Greek mythology for young readers who will be as mesmerized as Midas by the allure of the golden touch--Demi's in this case! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie CoulterKing Midas: The Golden Touch by Demi retells the classic Greek myth about the greedy king. Gold-leaf accents fittingly embellish illustrations reminiscent of those found on a Grecian urn.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: King Midas: The Golden Touch | [
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27,722 | 7 | It's always nice to keep a scrapbook of important events in your life... even if you've already died twice. In this sinister scrapbook, the protagonist wants to preserve this year's happy birthday memories, which he celebrates with all his relatives (dead or alive): Nephew Frankie, Uncle Hunch, Granddaddy Bones, the Witch aunts, even Uncle Drac, in from Transylvania. The decidedly pointy-fanged birthday boy sends out invitations, opens presents ("real poltergeist slime from Cousin Spook!"), and delights in a ghastly gourmet meal of soup with eyes and worm spaghetti. After dinner the revelers play music and dance till dawn.What a fabulous Halloween treat! Here is a pop-up book filled with gruesome horrors and spine-chilling creepy-crawlies, all presented in a downright cheerful tone by the vampire boy. Lift the flaps, pull the tabs, open the drawers and coffins, and unfold the fantastic paper art created by the talented Kees Moerbeek, author of Jungle King Open Sesame and many other novelty pop-up books. The scrapbook is more of a box in a false-book format, allowing for plenty of expanding surprises. Our favorite is the spread with ghouls dancing the cancan: pull the tab and watch them kick! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter; Title: The Spooky Scrapbook | [
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27,723 | 2 | Reynolds's (The North Star) snappy pictures and breezy narrative contribute equally to the humor of this tale introducing a spunky young mouse. Inspired by a star in the night sky, clever Sydney (who "made brilliant birdhouses, charming cheesecakes, and all sorts of wonderful inventions") decides to build her very own remote-controlled star. The crowd cheers when she launches her creation at the school science fair, where she hopes to land the prize of a telescope, but "suddenly the remote control made a rude burping sound, and the star started floating away." Crestfallen, star-less Sydney makes her way home, walking along a beach in the rain. Meanwhile, out at sea, her star comes to the rescue of a lost boat captained by a woman scientist, guiding it through the storm to the safety of shore. Rendered in watercolor, gouache and tea, the artwork captures the comically mercurial moods of this endearing heroine, quite the shimmering star herself. Ages 4-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.reS-Gr 1-Sydney is a mouse who enjoys designing and building things. Her newest and best invention is a remote-control star that she enters in a science fair, hoping to win first prize: a blue ribbon and the telescope she covets. During a demonstration of its capabilities, the remote control appears to fail and her star drifts away. Embarrassed and dejected, she slinks home in the rain. Unbeknownst to Sydney, her creation has picked up a distress signal and gone to guide Captain Stella Stilton's boat to safety in a storm. As a thank-you to Sydney, the captain awards the young inventor the ship's telescope. So, even though she lost the science fair, the large-eared, long-tailed rodent attains her heart's desire, which readers learn about from the last illustration showing the cover story of the Seaport News. Watercolor-and-gouache (and tea) illustrations show the determined mouse hard at work with her drawings, plans, and prototypes. A mildly entertaining tale starring a perky, self-confident character.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Sydney's Star | [
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27,724 | 2 | Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he has been nominated for a multitude of state awards,including two Christopher Awards and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He is also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. He lives with his wife in Maine and has four grown children. Visit him at AndrewClements.com.; Title: Brave Norman : A True Story | [
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27,725 | 0 | In a starred review, PW called this a "moving, evocative and thought-provoking" account of a woman revisiting her childhood relationship with her family's black housekeeper in the Jim Crow South--and wishing it could have been different. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc."Fiore's richly colored oil paintings express love and sorrow, and the faces are full of character".-- Booklist; Title: Dear Willie Rudd | [
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27,726 | 2 | Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Summer Party | [
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27,727 | 11 | Grade 2-4--A picture-book biography of Marshall Taylor, an African American who became a great bicycle racer. Taylor grew up in Indianapolis, taught himself stunts on his bicycle, and won the first race he entered, in 1891, at age 13. He went on to achieve international fame in a segregated sport. (In this country, he was allowed to compete only because he'd been admitted to the League of American Wheelmen before they voted to bar blacks from membership.) He found a greater level of acceptance in France, and the account of his victory over the French champion Edmond Jacquelin provides the book with its climax. An afterword is frank about the difficulties the athlete encountered after retiring from racing; he died at the age of 53 and was buried in a pauper's grave near Chicago. Overall, the text is smoothly written and greatly enhanced by Ransome's vivid and accomplished paintings. Not quite as long as Cline-Ransome and Ransome's Satchel Paige (S & S, 2000), this book hits only a few high notes in Taylor's life. Mary Scioscia's Bicycle Rider(Harper & Row, 1983; o.p.), illustrated by Ed Young, is a wonderful book for slightly older readers, but focuses only on Taylor's first victory. Useful for reports as well as enjoyable for leisure reading, this attractive book should find a home in most collections.--Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. African American cyclist Major Taylor, 1899 World Cycling champion, was as famous for the color of his skin as he was for his indomitability on the racetrack. This account covers Taylor's transformation from a kid who loved to ride, "aware only of the wind against his face and the road he left behind," into an internationally known athlete. His story bears all the elements of a traditional sports tale, complete with a climactic showdown between rivals and a triumphant ending. Yet the theme of racism looms large, from the white bike-shop owner who treats 13-year-old Taylor as a publicity gimmick to the white competitors who "boxed him out" during races. Cline-Ransome's storytelling is less smooth and sprightly than it was in Satchel Paige (2000), but her husband's arresting oil paintings capture the beauty of an athlete in peak condition, and, like the similarly stark compositions of Edward Hopper, express bitter emotions simmering under the surface. A thoughtful afterword puts Taylor's career into grim perspective: he died a pauper, his former glory all but forgotten. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist | [
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27,728 | 0 | Deborah Hopkinson is the author of numerous award-winning children's books, including Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, winner of the International Reading Association Award, Girl Wonder, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award, and Apples to Oregon, a Junior Library Guild Selection. She received the 2003 Washington State Book Award for Under the Quilt for the Night. She lives in Oregon. Visit her on the Web at www.deborahhopkinson.com.; Title: Billy and the Rebel: Based on a True Civil War Story (Ready-to-Reads) | [
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27,729 | 0 | A 12-year-old orphaned slave leaves South Carolina in search of a Freedmen's Bureau during Reconstruction to claim the "40 acres and a mule" promised by General Sherman. "A stirring story of self-determination," said PW. Ages 8-12. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc."A stirring story of self-determination".-- School Library Journal; Title: Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule | [
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27,730 | 0 | In the spirit of Catch-22 and The Butter Battle Book, Radunsky (Table Manners; Howdi Do) tactically plays the fool to address the ugly issue of war. His inspiration is Brussels, Belgium's famous statue of a peeing boy, which appears as a photo-collage element in this cheeky revision. He begins in fairy-tale style: "A long, long time ago, there was a small, beautiful town behind a tall stone wall." An anonymous boy, with peach-tone skin and orange-red curls, lives there happily with his parents. "But then something happened. The War. Enemies came to destroy the beautiful town." In the flamboyant spreads, dollops of sunny yellow, aqua and pale green paint give way to smears of smoldering black and red. The townsfolk, wearing breeches and ruffed collars, engage in swordplay with green-faced, black-helmeted men, who bare their teeth and stick their tongues out. (Notably, there is no talk of retaliation, just self-defense, and three Christian crosses the only religious symbols to be seen decorate the town's towers.) "Poor little boy, he was scared. He needed his mother and father. But more than that he needed... to pee." When the boy lets loose, from high atop the town wall, the soldiers start laughing uncontrollably and cannot continue fighting. Although this book's title and theme may give pause at read-aloud time, the only real obscenity here is the war itself. Ages 3-7. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-Inspired by a statue in Brussels, Radunsky's story begins with a happy boy and his family. Inexplicably, a war begins as green-faced enemies cloaked in black attack their beautiful town. Orange townspeople valiantly fight back in their cheerily colored outfits. When the child's parents disappear, he searches for them and comes to the heart of the fighting at the town wall. In the midst of all of this chaos and confusion, he suddenly really needs- to go. And he does-all over the people fighting below. Somehow this need to relieve himself suspends the conflict as people begin to laugh and laugh. Everyone then falls asleep. When they awaken, happiness is restored, the boy is reunited with his parents, and the residents erect a statue in tribute to the "little boy who peed on a war." The art is reminiscent of how a young child might paint a war scene. It features lots of raised swords, hunched over casualties, and creatures charging the enemy, many with their tongues hanging out. The text seems to bounce around the pages and adds to the unsettled feeling. This light treatment of a serious topic may elicit amusement in some but indignation in others.Melissa Yurechko, Hartford Public Library, CTCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Manneken Pis: A Simple Story of a Boy Who Peed on a War | [
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27,731 | 2 | Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Wedding Flowers | [
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27,732 | 18 | Lillian Schlissel provides exciting coverage of black frontiersmen, a group neglected by many historians. Photographs and pictures dating from 1852 to 1948 show black men prospecting for gold, riding bucking broncos, and serving in the military. The author also covers three courageous black women: Stagecoach Mary, Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Biddy Mason. Snakes, sports, and storms are just a few of the many interesting details included in this history book. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Recommended winner.Reviewed by Mary Nix, Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice®; Title: Black Frontiers: A History of African American Heroes in the Old West | [
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27,733 | 2 | K-Gr 4-All of the kids in Riverside Elementary School are excited about Tuesday, October 10th because that is the day when a real author is coming. Nobody is more excited than Eddie Lewis, whose teacher has done an excellent job of preparing her third graders for the visit. Mrs. Morrow "loved how real authors made the words flow, and how the words sounded just right, and went with pictures in their own way." Eddie thinks about what he wants to ask the guest and finally decides on: "How do you write books that have parts meant for me?" Anticipation builds, the big day arrives, the author speaks and asks for questions, but time runs out before Eddie gets his turn. The problem is resolved, however, when the guest gives him special attention and responds to him: "Eddie, if you write about parts of yourself, I bet your reader will have some of those parts, too." Borden draws upon her vast experience as a visiting author to create a story that is both enjoyable to read but also gently instructive about how to prepare for such a visit. Gustavson's watercolor illustrations capture the boy's emotions well and offer varied perspectives. The double-page spread of individual children asking their questions is particularly well done. Whether or not a school is able to sponsor a visiting author, this book conveys the value of those who write for children.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WICopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr. 2-4. The title says it all. Third-grader Eddie and the rest of the school are expecting a visit from an author, Ms. Morrow, and Eddie has a special question he is anxious to ask: "How do you write books that have parts meant for me?" Ms. Morrow talks about what it is like to be a writer, and she answers all sorts of questions: How old are you? Where do you get your ideas? But to his great disappointment, Eddie doesn't get called on. Later, clutching his question, Eddie almost bumps into Ms. Morrow, who has recognized him from the audience and knows he has something to ask. Ms. Morrow's thoughtful reply is this: if you write about parts of yourself, your reader will have some of those parts, too. Adam Gustavson's watercolor illustrations bring an enjoyable reality to a text that is also rooted in what kids feel. This honesty and appreciation for the power of writing will resonate even with children who don't have authors come to speak. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Day Eddie Met the Author | [
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27,734 | 7 | In this friendly little fantasy, three different seekers pursue a lost dragon. And this isnt just any dragon--her name is Wycca, and shes a wyvern, the most catlike of the species. Wycca belongs to Gideon, a busy twelfth-century wizard. When he finds that she has wandered through a bolt-hole into the future, he sighs, packs up his magic implements and his familiars--Ignus the flame and the two-headed snake he calls Ouroboros--and steps into the mysterious opening to emerge in twenty-first century Boston. There he meets Iain Merlin OShea, the Wizard of Harvard Square, who takes him home and explains the magic of technology while they search for the lost wyvern. Other seekers are also abroad: Kobold, Gideons half-brother and arch enemy, wants to capture Wycca to turn her against her master; he has brought along an assistant demon, Febrys, who in her uncomfortable disguise as a human woman finds that cloven hooves are not compatible with high heels. Caught between these two magical forces is twelve-year-old Theodora, or Dodo, who yearns for the black wyvern card to complete her set and gain her admittance to the Wyvernkeepers Circle that meets in the local bookstore. To complicate matters, Wycca is with egg, and when she has nested and hatched her chick, there are two wyverns on the loose in Boston in this fast-moving tale that will entertain younger fantasy readers. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty CampbellGrade 4-7-Wycca, a small dragon called a wyvern, is looking for the perfect place to lay her egg when she stumbles into a bolt-hole that transports her from 13th-century England to 21st-century Boston. Although she is quite unbothered by this change in locale and proceeds to lay her egg, her wizard Gideon needs to find her fast, before the evil wizard Kobold and his demon can locate her and use her against him. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Theodora, an avid fan of a game called Wizards & Wyverns, finds a magical card and unwittingly summons Wycca's hatchling, which draws all the other magical folk to her, as well. The delight of this fantasy lies in the interactions of the well-drawn characters and in the fluid, skillful writing. The attempts of Gideon and his 21st-century wizard ally, the pompous but good-hearted Professor Merlin of Harvard University, to work traditional magic using modern materials are entertaining, as is Wycca's preoccupation with obtaining chocolate, her newfound addiction. Theodora's part in the plot is a bit forced, as are some of the circumstances and characters surrounding her, and there are a great many coincidences, including a plethora of modern-day wizards who are always right where they need to be. Those quibbles aside, this is a charming fantasy that will appeal to fans of Diana Wynne Jones. An extra bonus is Rayyan's artwork that heads each chapter, depicting the wyvern egg and the hatchling that emerges from it.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Hatching Magic | [
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27,735 | 2 | Like the lyrics to The Sound of Music's "My Favorite Things," Rylant's picture-book list of what is wonderful in the world includes both raindrops and roses. The sweet, rhythmic text is both cheery and unabashedly sentimental. It begins with basic bread: "In a little kitchen/ someone butters bread,/ wonderful bread./ the earth grew wheat,/ the wheat made flour,/ and the wonderful happened:/ bread." Rylant sets up a premise that conveys nature's cause and effect: bread comes from flour, birds from eggs, roses from seeds. Dowley frames her illustrations with homey, quiltlike borders in simple flowered or geometric patterns. Branches of a peach tree teem with bees, a butterfly and a clone of the bright bluebird seen in Disney's Cinderella. Then abruptly, in the middle of a full-bleed spread of a blue sky dotted with a single yellow star, the text asks, "Did you know/ there was a time/ when you weren't anywhere?" Setting aside how puzzling this question might be to a child and that her answer goes against the simple logic of the first three-quarters of the book, Rylant suggests that children just happen ("you happened/ like bread, like a bird, like rain,/.../ the wonderful happened,/ the wonderful is you/ growing like a red red rose." Unfortunately, despite its feel-good appeal and images, the book lacks a coherent vision. All ages. (Nov.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc."Horn Book" Appealingly poetic"Publishers Weekly" The sweet, rhythmic text is both cheery and unabashedly sentimental."Kirkus Reviews" This gracious tale gently encourages children to savor the wonders of all life.; Title: The Wonderful Happens | [
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27,736 | 0 | "Kirkus Reviews" Warm, loving, and gently philosophical, these stories...deserve a place in every library collection."School Library Journal" Bravo Henry and Mudge. May they go on forever!Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry And Mudge And Annie's Perfect Pet : Read-to-read Level 2 | [
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27,737 | 11 | Schlein's (Billions of Bats) informative and engaging foray into the animal kingdom offers readers a glimpse of the ways in which various creatures greet each other. When two lions meet, how do they say hello? asks the opening spread. Executed on textured paper, Kirk's (Snow Family) full-bleed oil paintings provide lush accompaniment with a variety of raised textures. The artist pays close attention to the lion's features, capturing the patterns of fur, the wisp of whiskers, then uses crackling paint to simulate craggy shrubs and rakes the skyline with horizontal lines, apparently formed with the end of a paintbrush. The creatures appear close up on the next spread, with dramatic emphasis on the male's flowing mane. They rub their foreheads together, and make a humming noise... like this... HMMMM... That's how two lions say hello. Mmmmmm. Hello.Some meet-and-greets, such as the penguins who sing a duet, occur on a single spread. In another, beavers touch noses on the right side of the spread, their bodies partially submerged in the greenish blue water rippling out around them in concentric circles. Schlein wraps up the volume by relating the subject to readers: How do you say hello? With a smile? With a wave? In a break from Kirk's otherwise natural depictions, the animals smile in many of the paintings and, on the closing spread, they assemble in a circle; in the center, a human child and adult embrace. All in all, an excellent introduction to animal behavior. Ages 2-5. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-The manner in which creatures great and small greet one another is the subject of this informative picture book. Rubbing foreheads or noses, twining trunks, or grabbing jaws are just a few of the ways animals communicate their pleasure upon meeting. Wolves, beavers, polar bears, lions, and chimpanzees, among others, are shown saying "hello" in Kirk's large oil paintings on textured paper. Arresting spreads reveal the friendly acknowledgments. The book concludes with a child greeting an adult with a smile, a wave, a hug, and a kiss while a circle of animals watches. This title is a potential storytime selection that educates while presenting the opportunity to participate in the action.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Hello, Hello! | [
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27,738 | 0 | Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he has been nominated for a multitude of state awards, including two Christopher Awards and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He is also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. He lives with his wife in Maine and has four grown children. Visit him at AndrewClements.com.; Title: Dolores and the Big Fire : A True Story | [
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27,739 | 14 | In the long-ago world of Evans's (The Christmas Box) message-driven tale, the high point of Christmas is not a visit from Santa, but the lighting of the Christmas flame in the mountain "Christmas town" of Noel. This particular year, the aging Keeper of the Flame (who looks a lot like St. Nick) turns over his duty to a pure-hearted boy who performs a selfless act of kindness. Craig marks his children's book debut with a series of dimly lit, opulent computer-generated scenes that often have the appearance of acrylic or oil paintings. Realistic in their details and Old World in their mood, they reinforce the old-fashioned, homily-like quality of the text. All ages.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 3-In the town of Noel, the Keeper of the Flame rekindles the torch each Christmas Eve. This year he will choose "whoever gives the truest gift" to light it. Young Alexander wishes he had something special to offer and, of course, he does; he helps an old man who turns out to be the Keeper of the Flame and is chosen over all of the other hopeful (but not helpful) gift-givers. A predictable "true meaning of Christmas" story, with equally predictable faux-classical illustrations.-S. P.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Light of Christmas | [
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27,740 | 2 | This Far Eastern-flavored tale from Christian writer Richard Paul Evans (The Christmas Box) teaches a simple lesson of humility: in the words of a wise, old woman, "To be great is not to be higher than another, but to lift another higher."Evans's storytelling pluck and homespun wisdom are in ample evidence here, as a young villager decides ( la Yertle the Turtle) that if he can only look down on enough people, he will become truly great. So the man constructs a platform and eventually the eponymous tower, only to find that--as with all time-honored stories about reaching too high--it doesn't work.As befits the Evans ethic, the story ends with a shot at redemption, and Jonathan Linton's vivid, photorealistic illustrations (though jarring at first) ably convey the young man's subtle transformation. (A sequel of sorts to The Christmas Candle, a story of charity, and The Spyglass, a story of faith.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul HughesThis leaden title in the Richard Paul Evans Virtues Collection spotlights humility. Determining that greatness means having everyone look up to him literally a proud young man in long-ago China builds a tower and isolates himself from his fellow villagers. Loneliness is a small price to pay, and anyway, "Why would he want to associate with those so much lower than himself?" When a bird questions his choices and tells him of an old woman "even we birds look up to," the young man sets off to find her. Ultimately her counsel moves him: "Being seen and being great are not the same thing.... To be great is not to be seen by, but to truly see, others." Didactic and clichd, Evans's (The Christmas Box) text does little to engage young readers. The illustrations fare better. The Chinese setting affords an exotic flavor in Linton's realistic oil paintings, and the character studies are a deft mix of light and shadow played out with strong brush strokes and vivid color. All ages. (Nov.)Christmas Box House, a facility for abused and neglected children.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Tower: A Story of Humility | [
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27,741 | 12 | In this delectable combination of practical math and generosity, 13 picnickers amass a true feast. The event starts small, with a chat between a pink rabbit and a green-freckled frog. "I'll make sandwiches if you bring bug juice," says the rabbit. After they assemble 12 bologna sandwiches and a drink jug, a rope-skipping monkey asks to come along: "My mom just made cookies. I could take a dozen." "Four sandwiches each and four cookies each," the rabbit figures, to which the frog says, "Yum." The three soon meet a blackbird who offers 12 rice puddings, twin turtles who share their gum and six more celebrants who contribute a watermelon. But when a fox (number 13) arrives empty-handed, Napoli and Tchen (previously paired for Spinners) show that sharing gets complicated. The animals argue before realizing they have enough for everybody: "Everyone gets half of each thing. Then we can see who's still hungry." Walrod, who created a cut-paper smorgasbord in The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza), keeps track of the buffet in fastidious collages. She deftly handles the script-style dialogue by placing a circular icon next to each spoken line; readers match the rebus portraits to the partygoers. The illustrator also labels food jars to advertise their tasty contents, and selects textured papers for concrete, grass and whole-wheat bread. Even the toughest economists will note the surplus of food and friendship at this potluck. Ages 5-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 3-While this is a charming story of friendship, it also serves as an introduction to simple division. A rabbit and a frog decide to have a picnic. They plan to take along 12 sandwiches and some bug juice-just enough for the two hungry friends. Along the way, they meet up with a variety of other creatures all interested in tagging along, sharing in the food and the fun. This means redividing the already prepared items, and adding more contributions to the fare. The entire story is told through the dialogue of the various characters, identified only by a very small head-shot icon at the beginning of each sentence. The animals speaking appear in the art that accompanies the dialogue on each page. This technique could be great fun for reader's theater or one-on-one sharing, but it precludes using the book with a large group as the icons are too small to see from any distance. However, the conversations are humorous and realistic, and this book will be a hit with a small group or with independent readers. Walrod's large, striking, cut-paper illustrations capture the action, the animals' personalities, and the preparations for the festivities.Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: How Hungry Are You? | [
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27,742 | 0 | John Frank is an accomplished poet as well as an author of humorous stories. His 2001 picture book The Tomb of the Boy King was proclaimed "a mesmerizing epic poem" by Publishers Weekly, and his most recent title, A Chill in the Air, was published by Simon & Schuster in fall 2003. He hangs his hat in Kirkland, Washington.; Title: The Toughest Cowboy: or How the Wild West Was Tamed | [
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27,743 | 0 | "School Library Journal" Bravo, Henry and Mudge. May they go on forever!Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch Level 2 Reader (Henry and Mudge Ready-to-Read) | [
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27,744 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 2In short, free-verse compositions, Harness takes readers not just month by month through a year, but also through the 13 colonies (there is an additional spread for New Year's). Each of the simple but pithy poems is set in a different locale and focuses on children's chores and pastimes. Youngsters are depicted doing typical activities of the day, such as stitching samplers, carding wool, collecting maple sap, and playing marbles. The upcoming revolution is not mentioned until the last two lines (The colonial year is fast away./And tomorrow is an American day), but suggestions of what is to come are cleverly woven into the illustrations. For example, the entry for July features a woman in a red-and-white striped dress reading a newspaper with the headline Unite or Die standing next to a child wearing a white bonnet with blue stars. The historically accurate pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures have been carefully composed. They have a folk-art quality and feature calico prints on almost every surface, including fields, apple trees, and the flames in a fireplace, as well as the different colonies on the appended map. This book is a treat for the eye and an excellent introduction to this period in American history.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-3. This unusual book introduces the 13 colonies through a series of double-page spreads, each showing one colony during a particular month of the year (plus one for New Year's Day). For example, on the left-hand page of the August spread are four lines of bland text: "Girls lead cows from the meadow / into the barn at twilight. / They sing softly as they milk and churn / in the summer mornings." On the facing page, a painting shows two African American girls, one milking a cow and the other churning, while cats and chickens mill about. In the illustrations, nearly everything, from cow to tree to wheat sheaf, is overlaid with a different pattern reminiscent of printed wallpaper or cloth. Close up, this profusion of pattern is disconcerting, and the effect is decidedly more reminiscent of nursery rhymes than history. From a distance, though, the patterns add a certain richness and originality to the scenes, some of which are quite handsome. By presenting the months in colonial settings, the book provides a calendar of teaching opportunities for the primary grades. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Our Colonial Year | [
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27,745 | 0 | Kirkus Reviews Ann Turner recreates a quintessential American experience -- a pioneer trek to the Dakota Territory and the tragic loss of a harvest. A beautifully written book.Horn Book Both a family story and an account of pioneer living, the book is accessible as well as informative.School Library Journal A good realistic novel of frontier life.Ann Turner is an award-winning screenwriter and director, avid reader, and history lover. She is drawn to salt-sprayed coasts, luminous landscapes, and the people who inhabit them all over the world. She is a passion­ate gardener. Her films include the historical feature Celia, starring Rebecca Smart—which Time Out listed as one of the fifty greatest direc­torial debuts of all time; Hammers Over the Anvil, starring Russell Crowe and Charlotte Rampling; and the psychological thriller Irresistible starring Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, and Emily Blunt. Ann has lectured in film at the Victorian College of the Arts. Returning to her first love, the written word, in her debut novel The Lost Swimmer, Ann explores themes of love, trust, and the dark side of relationships. Her second novel, Out of the Ice, a mystery thriller set in Antarctica, was published to great acclaim in Australia and will be available in the United States in 2018. Ann was born in Adelaide and lives in Victoria. Visit Ann’s website at AnnTurnerAuthor.com.; Title: Grasshopper Summer | [
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27,746 | 2 | Parker always has his finger up his nose. Family portraits of him as a baby, a baseball player and a Cub Scout prove that "Parker's been picking as long as he can remember." When his teacher scowls and his classmates whisper about him, he thinks "they don't know what they're missing." The unabashed protagonist, with his appealingly floppy hair and habitually crooked index finger, gets lots of attention for his gross habit. But just when readers might feel inclined to emulate him, his finger gets stuck. He smiles impishly as his condition excuses him from piano lessons, but he wishes he could bowl. After a baseball-game crowd laughs at him, he goes to bed in tears and awakens with a freed digit. Levine, editorial director for Nickelodeon TV's Web site, chooses a can't-miss subject for the junior crowd, even though she does not mention boogers directly. She leaves the disgusting stuff to Martin (Don't Know Much About the Presidents), who digitally illustrates the toxic-green mucous and then, once Parker quits, pictures the proud boy displaying his clean finger to his critics. Levine and Martin create a cautionary variation on the myth that if you make a face, it will freeze that way. They aim as much for humor as deterrence and end the story with the incorrigible hero picking something else "his scabs." Ages 5-8. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Deborah A. Levine is the editorial director at nick.com, the Web site for the Nickelodeon TV network. This is her first picture book. She lives with her husband, Ian, and her cat, Monkey, in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Parker Picks | [
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27,747 | 3 | If you grew up with Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight's Eloise books, some of her eccentricity probably rubbed off on you whether you realize it or not. Frankly, it's difficult to remain unaffected by a 6-year-old girl who lives in New York City's Plaza Hotel, braids her turtle's ears, talks to Mars through a paper cup, and pours water down the mail chute. Eloise's Guide to Life pieces together snippets from Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise at Christmastime in the interest of instructing its readers on "how to eat, dress, travel, behave, and stay six forever." Of course, if everyone took this advice, people would put large cabbage leaves on their heads when they had headaches, throw occasional temper tantrums, comb their hair with forks, and pretend they were orphans to get food from strangers. Like the wee Seuss-isms, this whimsical sampling of Eloise-isms is sure to renew a sense of rebellion and joie de vivre in nostalgic Eloise fans. This small book is perfect for new graduates or for anyone who has forgotten how much fun it can be to wear toe shoes on their ears. For adults who want absolutely everything Eloise, The Absolutely Essential Eloise includes the text and illustrations of the original title, along with a historical scrapbook detailing the making of Eloise. (Grownups) --Karin SnelsonHilary Knight, son of artist-writers Clayton Knight and Katharine Sturges, was educated at the Art Students League, where he studied with Reginald Marsh. Besides the Eloise books, Hilary Knight has illustrated more than fifty books for children, six of which he wrote himself. He lives and works in New York City, not far from The Plaza Hotel.; Title: Eloise's Guide to Life | [
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27,748 | 0 | K-Gr 5-This original fable offers a lesson about faith through the fall and rise of a kingdom. A once-great realm has declined into poverty, both of wealth and of spirit, until a passing stranger loans a magical spyglass to the king. Through it, the ruler and his subjects can see "what might be." A barren pasture appears as a fertile field and a crumbling cathedral looks magnificent when viewed through the spyglass. These images restore faith to the people, who then work together to restore the land to its past prosperity. The stately tone of the narrative keeps readers at a distance, inviting observation rather than true involvement. Children and adults will grasp the obvious message without difficulty, so when the stranger returns to explain the power of faith to the monarch, the revelation lacks impact. Handsome full-page oil paintings accompany the tale, though some figures appear posed and sterile, which adds to the artificiality of the story. Despite these limitations, The Spyglass does succeed as a discussion starter. Those who are looking for substantial storytelling will need to look elsewhere.-Steven Engelfried, Deschutes County Library, Bend, ORCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Richard Paul Evans is the author of The Christmas Box, The Locket, and other novels, as well as of the best-selling children's books The Christmas Candle, which was awarded the American Mothers 1998 Book of the Year Award, and The Dance. The Spyglass is the first book in his Virtues Collection. All of his children's book proceeds are donated to The Christmas Box House International.; Title: The Spyglass : A Book About Faith | [
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27,749 | 0 | "Kirkus Reviews" "Warm, loving, and gently philosophical, these stories...deserve a place in every library collection."Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry And Mudge And The Snowman Plan | [
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27,750 | 18 | Grade 5-9-In her introduction, Fleming says that she set out to write a straightforward biography of one of America's most forward-thinking and inventive statesmen but found the form to be too restrictive and not true to Franklin's wide-ranging interests and accomplishments. She has written instead a compendium of "-bits and pieces by subject" put into eight chapters with headings such as "Boyhood Memories" and "Tokens of a Well-Lived Life." In scrapbook style, the chapters are centered around excellent-quality visuals-portraits, etchings, cartoons, and sketches-linked together with engrossing text and numerous nuggets of Franklin's prose, which include his reminiscences and observations. The result is an authoritative work of depth, humor, and interest, presenting Franklin in all his complexity, ranging from the heroic to the vulgar, the saintly to the callous. Read cover to cover, the book gives a three-dimensional picture of a life, but it is equally good for dipping into and turning up the interesting anecdote or bit of wisdom, thus appealing to both serious readers and browsers. Beginning with a year-by-year chronology, the volume also includes lengthy bibliographies, a list of picture sources, Web sites, and a thorough index. Reminiscent of Franklin's own Poor Richard's Almanack, this book is a superlative example of the biographer's craft and a fitting tribute to the gentleman himself.Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 6-9. There's no shortage of books on Franklin, but this biography, which springs from Fleming's lifelong fascination with the multitalented man, is unlike anything that has come before, and it bears no resemblance to Fleming's picture-book work. Designed more like a scrapbook than an almanac, it's a visually rich but densely packed amalgamation of anecdotal narrative, boxed insets, black-and-white reproductions of period documents and artwork, and material obtained from Franklin's personal papers--all organized into topical chapters on Franklin's family life, writings, scientific pursuits, and political involvement. The whole gives an excellent sense of the time in which Franklin lived, but the thematic organization here sacrifices continuity and leaves occasional gaps. The science section is perhaps the best as it falls neatly into invention-specific discussions. Lively anecdotes greatly expand the main text, and numerous quotes by and about Franklin give the man a truly human face, even as they raise questions that continue to puzzle historians. A fitting tribute to a "good gentleman" whose life was well and energetically lived. Web sites and further readings are appended. Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life | [
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27,751 | 0 | "Bravo, Henry and Mudge. May they go on forever!"-- "School Library Journal""Bravo, Henry and Mudge. May they go on forever!"-- "School Library Journal"Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip (Henry & Mudge) | [
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27,752 | 2 | The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A picture-book winner.Boston Herald [A] slam-dunk effort.Chicago magazine An inspiring piece of Jordaniana.Kirkus Reviews Soul-satisfying.Miami Herald The power of myth-in-the-making.Deloris Jordan is Michael Jordans mother and the coauthor of Salt in His Shoes, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, which Booklist called inspirational; Did I Tell You I Love You Today?, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, which was called a tender read-aloud by Kirkus Reviews; and Dream Big. She is also the author of Family First: Winning the Parenting Game, a book highlighting the seven principles of parenting. Through her work with the James Jordan Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the Jordan Institute for Families at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mrs. Jordan is widely regarded as an advocate for children and families. The mother of five children and the grandmother of eleven, Mrs. Jordan lives in Chicago.; Title: Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream | [
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27,753 | 1 | One spooky night when the moon was bright, Mouse crept around, and this is what he found.... "Flit! Flit! Flit!" Something flying. "Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!" Something moving. "Creep! Creep! Creep!" Something sneaking. What can all these things be? Mouse finds out that first impressions can be misleading as, one by one, his fears are assuaged by the appearance of some not-so-scary things: swooping, smiling bats; pretty, tumbling leaves; and scampering kittens. Rich, autumnal colors, full of giant shadows and adorable critters, and rhythmic, repetitive, reassuring text by the creators of Mouse's First Christmas, add up to a gentle Halloween tale ideal for the very youngest trick-or-treater. With just the right balance of creepiness and lighthearted fun, Mouse's First Halloween is ideal for children who are not quite ready for the horrors and gore of some of the more bloodthirsty Halloween stories. Buket Erdogan's endearing illustrations are sure to put anyone in the right mood for the spookiest night of the year. (Ages 2 to 6) --Emilie CoulterPreSchool-Inquisitive Mouse steps out again on a holiday eve. This time it's Halloween night. He hears something flying. "Flit! Flit! Flit! What could it be?" The bright, autumn-hued double-spread answers the question with shadows of bats and just enough black wings to suggest them, thus creating a guessing game for young children. Leaves rustle and tumble, scarecrows flap and wave, apples plop, and trick-or-treaters thump. At each eerie encounter, Mouse asks, "What could it be?" and a visual clue is incorporated into the spread. The answers are printed in shaped text on the following page with a refrain, "That's all. Not so scary after all." The brilliant Halloween tones and sounds of autumn create a chance for spooky language interaction and encourage participation. This author and illustrator make a superb team, and children who liked Mouse's First Christmas (S & S, 1999) will adore Mouse's First Halloween. Karen Land, Greenport Public School, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Mouse's First Halloween | [
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27,754 | 2 | A lift-the-flap format invites toddlers to join in a game of hide-and-seek in Where Is Baby's Mommy? by Karen Katz. A child clad in red overalls leads a search for Mommy behind a green closet door and under a checked tablecloth in the kitchen before discovering her under a blanket in the bedroom.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Karen Katz has written and illustrated more than fifty picture books and novelty books including the bestselling Where Is Babys Belly Button? After graduating from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, she attended the Yale Graduate School of Art and Architecture where she became interested in folk art, Indian miniatures, Shaker art, and Mexican art. Her book, Counting Kisses, was named one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids by Scholastic Parent & Child and was a Childrens Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Karen, her husband Gary Richards, and their daughter Lena divide their time between New York City and Saugerties, New York. Learn more about Karen Katz at KarenKatz.com.; Title: Where is Baby's Mommy? | [
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27,755 | 2 | Actor and playwright Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy) turns a gimlet eye to Hans Christian Andersen in this ducky tale. Elmer, crowned by a wispy comb of feathers and wearing a pink backpack with daisies on it, is "one happy duckling doing all the things he loved to do," such as baking cookies and staging puppet shows. When Papa Duck, an imposing mallard, forces him to try baseball, Elmer promptly strikes out and heads for home, unfazed. Later, he hears his father complaining ("They all called him sissy! Now I'm the laughingstock of the whole flock") and endures threats from a school bully with a feathery flat-top and muscular chest. Elmer runs away and sets up housekeeping in a hollow tree, but comes to the rescue when his father gets shot by hunters and cannot fly south for the winter. Cole (Moosetache), assigned the daunting task of capturing Elmer's sensitive nature and the other ducks' bewilderment or scorn, keeps his zaniness in check. He makes a sympathetic hero of the skinny yellow nonconformist and suggests Elmer's wit in antic images of the duck kidding around with his convalescing dad. Fierstein handles serious and silly moments with aplomb, and shows Elmer staying true to his identity. In a campy, triumphant ending, the resourceful duckling loudly proclaims, "I am a big sissy and proud of it!" Ages 5-8.Kindergarten-Grade 3-Elmer is not like the other male ducklings. "They boxed while Elmer baked. When they built forts, Elmer made sand castles. They had a football game, and Elmer put on a puppet show." When they call him a sissy, his mother insists that he is simply special, and "being special sometimes scares those who are not." Eventually, he is threatened by the local bully, Drake, and when he runs instead of fighting, his embarrassed father declares, "He's no son of mine!" Heartbroken, Elmer runs away and sets up house deep in the forest. As the air turns cooler, he sneaks to the great pond to view his parents one last time before they fly south and sees his father shot by hunters. He takes him home and nurses him back to health, and when the flock returns in the spring, Elmer's father boasts about his son's bravery and loyalty. Fierstein's book, based on his award-winning animated HBO special, sends out a positive message about differences and acceptance. The cartoon images are bright and colorful. The characters are engaging, and their faces and body language are wonderfully expressive. Snappy dialogue and enhancing details abound, from Elmer's flowered backpack, to the framed picture of his parents he packs in his pillowcase before his departure. With its universal message, upbeat conclusion, and snappy illustrations, this book is sure to be a hit with children.Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, ALCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Sissy Duckling | [
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27,756 | 2 | "Bravo, Henry and Mudge. May they go on forever!" -- School Library JournalCynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover (Henry & Mudge) | [
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27,757 | 1 | Frank Asch, a graduate of Cooper Union, has written more than eighty childrens books, among them the bestselling classics featuring Moonbear and Baby Bear; Russian National Book Award recipientHere Comes the Cat; and Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Golden Award winnerLike a Windy Day. Mr. Asch lives in Hawaii.; Title: Mooncake (Moonbear Books) | [] | Validation |
27,758 | 0 | A companion to Steal Away Home, this book alternates between a present-day mystery set in a bed-and-breakfast and a historical adventure about a 13-year-old-boy who aids four runaway slaves in 1857. Ages 8-12.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Lois Ruby is the author of several novels, including Steal Away Home, which was named an IRA Young Adults' Choice and a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (NCSS/CBC). Before she turned to writing, she was a young adult librarian for the Dallas Public Library. In her spare time she serves on the board of Inter-Faith Inn, a homeless shelter in Wichita, Kansas, and sometimes teaches minicourses to seventh and eighth graders. The place I feel most comfortable, she says, is among teenagers, laughing. The mother of three sons, she lives in Wichita with her husband, Thomas.; Title: Soon Be Free | [
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27,759 | 16 | A companion to the Reading Together series, Math Together offers young children and their parents an integrated approach to mathematical concepts. Each of the two boxed setsAthe Yellow Set is for children ages three and up, the Green Set for children ages five and upAcontains six paperback books by as many different illustrators and authors (among them Cynthia Jabar and Russell Ayto). Many of the books have been previously published, but here each appears with endnotes directed to parents, identifying the mathematical concepts introduced in the story and suggesting ways to reinforce those concepts with children. For example, Jez Alborough's lift-the-flap tale Clothesline, in which readers are asked to guess the animal owners of different items hanging out to dry, is said to introduce the idea of probability; parents are given tips to help children articulate their reasoning as they make choices and decisions. (Candlewick, $19.99 each Yellow Set ISBN 0-7636-0947-1; Green Set -0954-4; Aug.) ~ The author and one of the illustrators who served up The Cheerios Counting Book, Barbara Barbieri McGrath and Frank Mazzola Jr., now perform a similar service for another cereal and its fans in Kellogg's Froot Loops! Counting Fun Book. The diecut board book features Toucan Sam in a tropical setting; rhymed text focuses on numbers one through 10. Cutouts on right-hand pages invite children to place the called-for number of Froot Loops right in the book. (HarperFestival, $5.99 16p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-694-01506-7; Aug.) ~ Another number book with a grocery store tie-in, the diecut board book The Oreo Cookie Counting Book by Sarah Albee, illus. by Victoria Raymond, begins with 10 Oreos all in a line ("Dunk one in a glass of milk, And now there are... 9") and continues until "there are... none!" The art, made of molded clays, prominently features the cookies; the final spread also displays an Oreo package. A coupon for Mini Oreos is included. (S&S/Little Simon, $5.99 22p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-689-83489-6; Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Oreo Cookie Counting Book | [
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27,760 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 1-A new series about two appealing animal friends. In the first book, an energetic tiger-striped cat that loves to play tries to interest Happy, a brown-and-white dog that loves to sleep, in a variety of activities. Honey offers the dog a toy, gives a kiss, and then tries to wash the pooch's tail and nose, but is ignored. Finally, Happy wakes up and runs after the cat and the two companions play together. In the second title, Honey watches Happy chew on a bone and wants to help. However, the dog does not want to share the treat. When Happy digs a big hole, Honey digs a little one. After the bone is buried, the cat retrieves it and gives it back to Happy: "Happy Happy. Happy Honey!" Both books have simple story lines, with only two or three short sentences on each two-page spread. The acrylic paintings are bright and cheerful. The clean white backgrounds help to keep readers' attention focused on the antics of the two characters and on the large-print text. Good choices for youngsters just learning to read.Wendy S. Carroll, Montclair Cooperative School, NJ Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Laura Godwin, who also writes under the pen name Nola Buck, is the author of several books for children, including Oh, Cats!, Sid and Sam, and Creepy Crawly Critters. Ms. Godwin was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, and currently lives in New York City.; Title: Honey Helps | [
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27,761 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2--Baby Lily is inconsolable. One by one, each member of her family tries to stop her tears with lullabies, tickles, a diaper change, food, and toys. However, the refrain points up each one's failure to comfort the tot: "But Lily keeps on crying. Waa! Waa! Waa! Lily keeps on crying. Oh, who knows what to do?" Finally her brother smiles his biggest smile and in the cozy ending, Lily grins back at him. The bouncy, rhythmic text begs to be read aloud, and the artwork is a perfect match. Done in oils, pencil, and collage, the illustrations are filled with Heo's familiar bright colors, and the playful shapes, forms, and details leap off the pages. Each spread plays with perspective and offers surprising views of the action and characters. Frieda Wishinsky's Oonga Boonga (Dutton, 1999) portrays a similar situation but lacks the verve of Smile, Lily! This satisfying, buoyant picture book will appeal to beginning readers as well as to storytime groups or during one-on-one sharing.--Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 1. "Lily wakes up crying. . . .Who knows what to do?" Mommy says, "I do," but her crooning and soothing have no effect on fussy baby Lily, so Daddy tries, then Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle--all to no avail. Heo creatively applies her strong graphic sense to convey the tyrannical force of a baby's vocal chords: Lily often appears as a wide-mouthed giant dwarfing the adults around her, and the compositions, unmoored from basic rules of perspective, suggest a household in infant-assisted disarray. Children will respond to the saturated nursery colors and stylized figures as well as Fleming's simple, rhythmic text with its repeated wails, "Waa! Waa! Waa!" in successively larger type, which invites children to ham it up. Older siblings will enjoy the empowering ending, in which Lily's big brother confidently intervenes, cracks a grin, and elicits a smile from his little sis. Pair it with Frieda Wishinsky's Oonga Boonga (1999), another tale about an older sibling's special touch with a seemingly inconsolable baby. Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Smile, Lily! (Anne Schwartz Books) | [
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27,762 | 2 | Grade 2-4-This beginning chapter book is creative and filled with zany humor. Even the chapter numbers are funny-beginning with "Minus Three." Chapter one is a mere 16 words long and none of the 38 chapters has more than two pages of text. Norman Gnormal is not your average fourth grader. He was raised as a dog because (he thinks) his parents really wanted a dog instead of a boy. Due to his strange behavior (growling, drooling, threatening to bite other students), the school principal signs him up for the new Werewolf Club started by one of the teachers. It turns out that the odd instructor is stuck between being a man and a werewolf because of a supposed curse from his half-brother. Norman and his three real werewolf schoolmates locate the half-brother and get the magic pretzel that can allegedly reverse the curse. Although this book is not quite as engaging as Pinkwater's slightly longer works, it may lead readers to them and is certainly howling good fun.Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Daniel Pinkwater is the author of several bestselling children's books as well as a popular commentator on National Public Radio. He writes regular reviews on Contentville.com. Daniel lives in Hyde Park, New York.; Title: The Magic Pretzel : Ready For Chapters 1 | [
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27,763 | 6 | Susannah Hill has worked as an educational therapist with dyslexic children for many years. She lives with her family in New York. Ken wilson-Max is a well known British illustrator, author and paper engineer. He began his career as a book designer and has since won awards for his work in publishing and film. He lives in London.; Title: The House That Mack Built | [
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27,764 | 2 | Chapter 1"'Take my hand, we'll have to jump!'" Grandpa yelled, waving his arms and crouching down as if pretending to jump himself. "The poison-tipped arrows rained around your mom and dad as they looked down from the top of the three-hundred-foot waterfall!" Grandpa jumped from Arnold's bed to the floor. "Together, they took a flying leap into the churning foam below! Fortunately, they were both expert divers and swimmers, so surviving the jump was a piece of cake."Arnold, sitting up in his bed, nodded and smiled. "And then they made it to their plane, and took off....""And that's how your parents escaped the forbidden jungle with the rare orchid serum, and saved the remote village from the horrible sleeping sickness," Grandpa finished.Arnold settled back into his pillow. "That's my favorite part of the story -- when they get out just in time.""To be continued tomorrow night," Grandpa said as he tucked him in. "Same time, same place."Arnold smiled. "Aww, just one more story.""Nope -- always leave 'em askin' for more, Short Man. Now go to sleep, you got school tomorrow." The next day at school, Mr. Simmons stood at the front of the fourth-grade class with an exasperated look on his face. "Attention, boys and girls. Listening ears! Attention! This is really important to me!"Everyone finally looked his way. "Now, I'm passing out another flyer to remind you about Parents Tournament Weekend. That's this weekend." Mr. Simmons held up one of the flyers. "Come one, come all. Games, food, and prizes.""What prizes?" Stinky asked.Mr. Simmons pretended not to hear the question. "Parents Tournament Weekend will be a heartfelt celebration of your parents -- those special people, your moms and dads -- who take the responsibility to raise you, to teach and protect you, and to prepare you for that big, wonderfully complicated world out there.""Cut to the chase, Simmons." Helga scowled. "What are the prizes?"Mr. Simmons reached under his desk and pulled up a large, gleaming, golden trophy cup. "The team with the highest score will win this handsome trophy! And the second and third place winners will receive these attractive ribbons."The room buzzed with excitement. Stinky leaned over to Arnold."Are you competin' too, Arnold? I mean, by bringin' your grandma and grandpa as parents? Since you don't got no -- "Gerald quickly jabbed Stinky in the side."OWW! What'd ya poke me for, Gerald?""Stink-yyy!" Gerald rolled his eyes in the direction of Arnold, who looked down at his flyer, embarrassed.The bell rang. "So tell your parents you need a good night's sleep, boys and girls!" Mr. Simmons exclaimed. "The festivities start first thing tomorrow morning!"The kids all rushed for the door. Arnold got up and wadded his flyer into a ball."Ready to go, Arnold?" Gerald was waiting for him in the hall."Yeah, I'm coming," Arnold said sadly as he tossed his crumpled flyer into a garbage can and followed Gerald down the hall.Copyright 2001 by Viacom International Inc.; Title: Parents Day (Hey Arnold! Chapter Book, 4) | [
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27,765 | 0 | PW said, "This wrenching WWII novel traces the relationship between two 13-year-old American boys and a German-born Expressionist painter reputed to be a spy. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level." Ages 10-14. (May) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Janet Taylor Lisles books for young readers have received the Newbery Honor Award (Afternoon of the Elves), the Scott ODell Award for Historical Fiction (The Art of Keeping Cool), Hollands Zilveren Griffel, and Italys Premio Andersen Award, among other honors. A graduate of Smith College and former journalist, Janet lives in Rhode Island and often draws on Rhode Island history in her work. Visit her online at JanetTaylorLisle.com.; Title: The Art of Keeping Cool (Aladdin Historical Fiction) | [
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27,766 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 3-A well-written, charmingly illustrated story with a satisfying, happy ending. Sam wants a dog so much that he eats his vegetables, cleans his room, and otherwise proves that he is a worthy young dog-owner-to-be. On his ninth birthday, his wish comes true. Unfortunately, Dodger is afflicted with puppy fever and accordingly wreaks havoc at home and on the Little League field, so he might have to be sent to a family who can give him the attention he craves. Determined, Sam arises early each morning to spend time training him, ultimately saves the day and his dog, and hits a home run for his team, which accepts Dodger as its mascot. The clean, simple writing is without a superfluous or false word, and the well-worn story line emerges fresh and crisp. Furthermore, it works both as a picture book for preschoolers and as a beginning reader. The color illustrations in oils are realistic, warmhearted renderings of a white, middle-class American family. Dodger is especially well depicted as a quirky but lovable puppy that dog lovers of all ages will find irresistible.Dorian Chong, San Jose State University, CACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Ages 6-8. Sam wants a dog. When he finally gets a gangly black puppy for his ninth birthday, he names it Dodger and soon discovers that, in typical puppy fashion, it leaves destruction and a surfeit of chewed objects in its wake. When Dodger disrupts Sam's Little League game, Sam's mom suggests that Dodger may just be too much dog for the family to handle. Sam takes matters into his own hands by giving Dodger obedience lessons every morning. After a month of training, Dodger shows up at another game, where he behaves himself to the astonishment of everyone. Tales of a puppy's first disobedience and ultimate redemption abound. Yet, Abercrombie's text will be great for beginning readers, and Adam Gustavson's illustrations enliven what would otherwise be a mundane story. Painting in vigorous oils with broad, visible brush strokes, Gustavson nicely captures Dodger's look of wide-eyed innocence after each manic outburst. Todd MorningCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Bad Dog, Dodger! | [
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27,767 | 0 | Grade 1-5--This colorfully illustrated compilation presents 15 poems that show the power of words. The authors include Eve Merriam, Pat Mora, David McCord, Nikki Grimes, and Carl Sandburg. All of the selections are excellent, and provide examples of different types of poetry. The gouache illustrations are unusual, combining folk art with more abstract images. The colors are bold and bright, and used in unique and unexpected ways (e.g., skin is blue, palm trees are pink). The simple page designs nicely incorporate the text into each picture. The paintings reflect the content and messages of the poems they accompany, and will enhance their meaning. With some adult encouragement, this book would be appealing to most children, and could be used for poetry lessons.--Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 3-6. Barbour's bright, rhythmic double-page-spread paintings are gorgeous, packed with images in vivid color and collage, but they nearly overwhelm the 15 short poems in this picture-book anthology about the joy of language. The poems have a lot to say, and they do so with lyricism and fun. David McCord's "How to Say a Long Hard Word" and Pat Mora's "Words Free as Confetti" show and tell how sound is part of sense. Karla Kuskin talks about writing in "Finding a Poem" ("Dig deep in you. Keep everything you find"). Tom Robert Shields celebrates reading ("I am the book / You are needing"). The collection will work best if an adult reads the poems aloud, giving listeners an opportunity to imagine all the places the words may take them; then children can look at the pictures and see the great connections Barbour has made. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening | [
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27,768 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-Brown's mellifluous prose tells of a mother sheep trying to lull her little lamb to sleep. Awakened by a ladybug flying by, a horse jumping, and a grasshopper hopping, the lamb asks his mother how he can fall asleep with all these distractions. Mother sheep advises him to, "Count butterflies fluttering past your closed eyes till you fall asleep,- little sleepy sheep." The stylized illustrations rendered in watercolor and colored pencil are large and appealing. Green, purple, and orange hues dominate the landscape. The story opens and closes with a melodious lullaby composed especially for Brown's lyrics. The musical score is printed on the last page. Use this one along with Mem Fox's Time for Bed (Harcourt, 1993) and Brown's Goodnight Moon (HarperCollins, 1947) for a perfect pajama storytime.Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FLCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS. In this picture book, a little lamb lies down with his mother and tries to sleep, but the activity in the meadow around him keeps him awake. After his mother advises him to close his eyes and count butterflies, he dozes off. The rhythmic, rhyming six-line verse that begins and ends the book works well, but when the text lapses into prose in the middle, the transition is awkward. The writing is not vintage Brown, though it has echoes of her better works. Simple piano music for the poem "Sleep, Little Lamb" appears at the end of the book. Huang contributes beautiful double-page spreads composed with cozy forms and harmonious colors, making this an eye-catching bedtime book. For larger libraries or those who want their Brown collections complete. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Sheep Don't Count Sheep | [
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27,769 | 0 | Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he has been nominated for a multitude of state awards,including two Christopher Awards and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He is also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. He lives with his wife in Maine and has four grown children. Visit him at AndrewClements.com.; Title: Ringo Saves The Day! : A True Story | [
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27,770 | 0 | Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he has been nominated for a multitude of state awards,including two Christopher Awards and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He is also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. He lives with his wife in Maine and has four grown children. Visit him at AndrewClements.com.; Title: Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends : A True Story | [
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27,771 | 5 | From the collaborators behind Greek Myths and Greek Gods and Goddesses, Roman Myths retold by Geraldine McCaughrean, illus. by Emma Chichester Clark, offers 15 stories including "Dreams of Destiny: Aeneas sets out to found an empire" and "Burning the Books: The Sibyl and her prophecies." Many prominent gods and goddesses (e.g, Jupiter, Venus and Diana, the goddess of hunting) and some lesser known are featured throughout. Watercolor illustrations play up the drama in each, and an icon appears as a motif that unifies each tale.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Grade 3-5-This companion to McCaughrean and Clark's Greek Myths (McElderry, 1993) is equally enjoyable. Fifteen tales introducing the Olympians and telling of Romulus and Remus, Philemon and Baucis, or the Sibylline prophecies lead nicely from one to the next, explaining Roman beliefs of fate and destiny in the telling. McCaughrean does this in her short, dramatized text by posing questions or suggesting motivation in a way that almost oversimplifies, or treats the subject casually. But she has accomplished an appealing and approachable introduction to Roman mythology that will make readers want to seek out more. Clark's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations also lend a light touch to the stories, suffusing every page with color in spot or full-page art. On the title page of each story, she imitates Roman art in an illustrated bar, and gives similar stylistic effects in page-number borders, but the bulk of her pictures are in her own appealing style that matches McCaughrean's tone beautifully. Brief notes on the myths make cultural references and hint at the wealth of more stories to be found, though, as there is no bibliography, readers will have to find them on their own. This attractive introduction should whet their appetites.Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Roman Myths | [
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27,772 | 1 | Readers can sing along to Hilary Knight's edition of The Twelve Days of Christmas (1981). A bear courts his beloved with a bevy of woodland gifts (the 12 frog "lords a-leaping" are especially noteworthy); a surprise awaits in a concluding foldout spread.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Hilary Knight began his career as a book illustrator in collaboration with Kay Thompson, producing in quick succession Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow, and then with Lee Bennett Hopkins, Side by Side and Happy Birthday. His own books include Where's Wallace? and the recent reissue of Hilary Knight's The Owl and the Pussy-cat, based on the poem by Edward Lear. He is a contributing artist for Vanity Fair magazine, living and working in New York City and Long Island, not far from Roslyn, where it all began.; Title: Hilary Knight's The Twelve Days of Christmas | [
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27,773 | 2 | When a carefree, nature-loving wolf named Rufus is sent to boarding school boot camp to learn the ways of the big and the bad, the results are expectedly comical. Hoping to toughen up their young free spirit, Rufus's parents send him to the Big Bad Wolf Academy. Much of the humor is found in Sneed's (The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians) whimsical watercolors of Rufus's days there. At the huffing and puffing range, he lazily blows dandelion seeds instead of blowing over wooden cut-outs of the Three Little Pigs in their houses, labeled respectively as Breezy, Gusty and Gale! Study questions include Which is easier to weara nightgown or pajamas?; in an especially hilarious spread, the wolves line up in their best grandmotherly disguises, adorned with matronly wigs, bedclothes and fuzzy slippers. Readers familiar with wolf fables will best appreciate the story's comedy, but all will cheer when Rufus's innate Canis lupus traits save the day. While the shaggy-headed wolf may appear to be a bored slacker in classin one scene he has a pencil up his nosethe reason for his seemingly impertinent behavior rests in misunderstandings and mismatched priorities. Krensky's (Too Many Leprechauns) message seems to be that results are best when wolves are allowed to be themselves. Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Kindergarten-Grade 3When his parents fear that Rufus will not make it in the cold, cruel world, they enroll him in the Big Bad Wolf Academy to learn huffing and puffing, the art of disguise, and sheep as a foreign language. Poor Rufus doesn't fit in with the other students, who practice being wolves in sheep's clothing and debate the best way to enter a henhouse. On moonlit nights and sunny days, he finds better things to do than prepare for exams. Yet when the hunters come, he saves everyone by doing what wolves do best and graduates with a special medal. Sneed's watercolors of lean, lanky, yellow-eyed creatures give the story a slightly sinister dimension, and the contrast between the posturing wolves at the academy and Rufus's more naturalistic poses is striking. While they walk on two feet, Rufus is usually shown on all four and looks out of his element at his desk or in costume. Krensky's tale cleverly points out the limitations of storybook wolves and the advantages of being true to one's own nature. This story pairs well with the many fairy tales that feature wolves as villains.Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Big Bad Wolves at School | [
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27,774 | 13 | Catalanotto (The Painter; Dylan's Day Out) subtly conveys the value of creating art for art's sake in this tender picture book. When Emily's first grade teacher announces an art contest for which a judge will choose the best entry, Emily is skeptical: "Does the judge know which is better?" she asks. Nevertheless, each day Emily paints a new piece of art and, near the end of the week, she chooses to display "her new favorite," a watercolor of her dog, Thor, with his rather large ears at attention. When the judge first chooses Emily's piece because she mistakes Thor for a rabbit then rejects Emily's painting when she learns he's a dog (because of the judge's fear of dogs), Emily buries her painting (" `I'll never paint again,' she whispers"). But a reassuring exchange with her best friend rekindles Emily's passion to paint. Catalanotto creates visually arresting scenes; in several spreads, he places Emily's and other students' art in the forefront, while his own fluid, more defined watercolor-and-acrylic compositions carry the narrative forward in smaller panels elsewhere on the page. He carefully crafts each scene to depict a new step in Emily's emotional journey (she appears to be nearly transparent when she's feeling blue, for example), which gives the text a satisfying resonance. Aspiring Picassos everywhere will find much to contemplate and cheer about here. Ages 5-8.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.K-Gr 3-As with all inspired artists, Emily's paintings reflect her unique perceptions. The child paints her beloved teacher with golden wings and her dog with exceptionally large ears, "Because Thor hears everything." The story, however, really begins before the title page with a provocative classroom discussion of the upcoming art contest-and the process of singling out an entry as the best. When the judge dismisses Emily's picture of Thor (because she was once bitten by a dog) in favor of a butterfly painted by Emily's best friend (under her tutelage), the child's pain is palpable. Throughout the book, Catalanotto voices the concerns and reactions of children quite convincingly. Like his protagonist, he conveys a heightened reality in his watercolor, gouache, and acrylic spreads. His backgrounds resemble the richness of Rothko canvases (albeit with more light); this choice simultaneously focuses more attention on the children in the foreground and subtly supports the central theme regarding the qualities of "fine" art. Insets allow for sequential messages and multiple perspectives. Many of the illustrations superimpose images on silhouettes or transparent figures on visible backgrounds, pulling readers into the character's interior world. Whether viewed from afar or up close, this creative and heartfelt book is a masterpiece.Wendy Lukehart, Harrisburg School District, PACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Emily's Art (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)) | [
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27,775 | 2 | In PW's words, these child-friendly poems "skim the surface, breaking no new ground, but children will be entertained by their breezy simplicity and humor." Ages 7-10. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.Judith Viorst was born and brought up in New Jersey and has lived in Washington, DC, since 1960, when she married Milton Viorst, a political writer. A graduate in 1981 of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Viorst writes in many different areas: science books, childrens chapter and picture booksincluding the belovedAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,which has sold some four million copies; adult fiction and nonfiction including theNew York Timesbestseller,Necessary Losses; poetry for children and adults; and four musicals. Her most recent books of poetry includeWhat Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About?and Nearing Ninety.; Title: Sad Underwear and Other Complications: More Poems for Children and Their Parents | [
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27,776 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-Mr. and Mrs. Scaredy Cat wake up shivering, but closing the window means taking the risk of smashing their fingers, so they stay cold. Their fears escalate with each everyday activity-they skip breakfast because cooking might lead to burns, and they can't drive to town because the car goes so fast. They won't let Baby Scaredy Cat wear her new dress ("it might get a stain that will not come out"), and they even refuse to open the package they get in the mail, for fear of its contents. The miserable day continues into night, until finally Baby Scaredy Cat asks: "-if all kinds of things can happen, can good things happen too?" And so the three go to bed and dream of being braver the next day. Bottner's serious tone is a perfect counterpoint to the increasing ridiculousness of the Scaredy Cats' fears, and Chess pushes the story from funny to hilarious with her watercolor depictions of the wide-eyed, terrified felines. This delightful tale humorously makes the point that the greatest risk in life may be in not taking one.Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, ColumbiaCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Barbara Bottner is the author and illustrator of more than twenty books for children, including Bootsie Barker Bites, illustrated by Peggy Rathmann, and the early reader books, Marsha Makes Me Sick and Marsha Is Only a Flower, illustrated by Denise Brunkus. Ms. Bottner resides with her husband, Gerald Kruglik, in south Florida.; Title: The Scaredy Cats | [
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27,777 | 0 | Zany food rhymes and humorous portraits of bagels and bananas are the special of the day in this new collaboration from Aylesworth and Gammell (previously teamed for Old Black Fly). The 23 catchy verses feature personality-packed edible stars, dilemmas that turn on the food's trademark characteristics and loads of goofy puns. " `You're pretty!' said an orange/ To a lemon who seemed pleased./ `In fact, my dear, so pretty,/ You're at risk of getting squeezed!' " Gammell's fruits and vegetables resemble the California Raisins (to whom the book is dedicated), with tiny arms and legs and squished-together facial features particularly well-suited for registering surprise. He has even more fun rendering the personal crises of his subjects, painting rowdy cookies who disintegrate when they attack a bagel and gooey sticky cinnamon buns who cannot enjoy even the simplest pleasures of social interaction: " `We can't shake hands!' `No, never!'/ `Simple hugs just can't be done!'/ `And should we bump together,/ Oh, my, no, that's never fun!' " The chunky blocks of text share center stage with the smoothly paced images, enhancing the book's visual punch; brushstroked poem titles seem to drip along with the ketchup and mustard. Youngsters will enjoy finding out what the denizens of your neighborhood diner do after the waitresses turn out the lights and go home for the night. Ages 5-8. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 2 Up-An uneven collection of humorous poems featuring foods such as a lemon so pretty she is in danger of getting squeezed, and a shy hard-boiled egg named Betty who is having difficulty coming out of her shell. Lines like "Two pickles went out dancing:/She a gherkin, he a dill" resound with a cadence reminiscent of Jack Prelutsky, but many others are awkwardly constructed. Take the case of an angel cake in Kansas who calls up her boyfriend, "`Come take me out to dinner,'/Is, in short, just what she said." There is some clever wordplay-the slogan of a band comprised of vegetables is: "The Band with a Beet," but a punch line relying on a reference to wax bananas will go over the heads of the intended audience. The exaggerated heads and distorted bodies give a Mr. Potatohead look to the food caricatures. The colored-pencil, watercolor, and pastel illustrations are effective in depicting various dripping and melting dishes, but the scatter-paint effect lends a frenetic feel to the art. This book may elicit chuckles and inspire some creative-writing efforts, but classic collections, such as William Cole's Poem Stew (Lippincott, 1981), contain better poetry.Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CTCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Burger and the Hot Dog | [
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27,778 | 2 | On Grandma's birthday, she makes this pronouncement: Now listen up, / don't make a fuss, you hear? / Land sakes! I swear your cakes are / getting bigger every year. But Grandpa has an itchin' . . . to traumatize the kitchenand a vision too big to be contained by spousal directives, kitchen, pan, or oven. Writing in bouncy verses, the author of Bear Snores On (2003) and others chronicles the ensuing, supersize baking project as Grandpa swaps spoon for oar and blends his batter in a pickup truck. The story isn't as layered as its enormous, sun-baked dessert, but the tall-tale premise provides lots of grist for Hillenbrand's oversize paintings, which capture the messy, experimental energy of a baker gone berserk and cast everything in a decorator's sugary hues. A closing message about cleanup is well placed, especially given the impetus to traumatize the kitchen provided by the appended recipefor a normal-size chocolate cake, alas. Mattson, JenniferKarma Wilson is the bestselling author of several picture books, including the Bear Books series, Where Is Home, Little Pip?, and A Dog Named Doug. Karma lives in Montana.; Title: Whopper Cake | [
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27,779 | 15 | Karen Katz has written and illustrated more than fifty picture books and novelty books including the bestselling Where Is Babys Belly Button? After graduating from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, she attended the Yale Graduate School of Art and Architecture where she became interested in folk art, Indian miniatures, Shaker art, and Mexican art. Her book, Counting Kisses, was named one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids by Scholastic Parent & Child and was a Childrens Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Karen, her husband Gary Richards, and their daughter Lena divide their time between New York City and Saugerties, New York. Learn more about Karen Katz at KarenKatz.com.; Title: Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book | [
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27,780 | 0 | Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House (Henry & Mudge) | [
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27,781 | 1 | Kindergarten-Grade 2-A narrator whose identity is not revealed until story's end describes a none-too-clean house and yard, and is puzzled by the vast number of moose tracks covering almost every surface. Other messes are easy to attribute to various visitors. A bear left hair on the lawn chair, a chipmunk scattered shells on the counter, and a beaver sprayed wood chips from the bedpost all over the guest room after a midnight snack. The moose prints remain a mystery until the final spread reveals who the culprit is. Wilson's rhyming text will keep youngsters laughing at the animal friends and their antics. Davis's goggle-eyed cartoon style adds fun to the tale, highlighting the house's eclectic appearance, cozy untidiness, and the noise and energy of its inhabitants. The creatures are packed with personality: a ram wears tortoiseshell glasses and a polka-dot bow tie, a goose with a pearl necklace delicately sips tea, and a smiling mouse maid scurries around trying to keep up with the clutter. An enjoyable choice for storytime, this book will hold children's interest right up to the amusing-and appropriately predictable-ending.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Who left the moose tracks all around the house? The narrator-home owner is determined to find out in this humorous, rhyming, animal-character mystery. The home owner remembers and can trace his other visitors. The hair on the chair came from a bear, the nutshells on the counter were left by a visiting chipmunk, and the feathers on the carpet fell from a goose during a lively rendition of the Hokey Pokey--"But who left all these moose tracks?" It may take a moment to realize what animal is narrating the story, but, ultimately, kids will get the joke--though the home owner remains baffled. Viewers will like the witty, colorful art, with its expressive cartoonlike animal character, riotously engaged in familiar activities. Kids will also appreciate the bouncing who-left-the-moose-tracksrefrain, which deepens both the mystery and the anticipation. Shelle RosenfeldCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Moose Tracks! | [
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27,782 | 0 | Down-home storytelling and comic pictures of silly giants enliven Johnson's (Fearless Jack) newest tale of the Appalachian boy-hero Jack. Trapped by a two-headed giant who threatens to fry him for breakfast, Jack outwits the foolish behemoth and his wife with a series of tricks, from squeezing milk from a stone (he has concealed a milkweed pod in his hand) to fibbing about a sheriff's posse that is coming to search for them ("I told you we shouldn't of eat them two deputies," the giant's wife wails. "Now we're in for it!"). Johnson's paintings make hay with the warts and snaggle-teeth of the giant's two faces ("both of 'em mud-fence ugly") as he licks his lips and tries to best the visitor introduced as "tender young Jack." The boy's trusty hound hovers in the background, his expressive face a lively barometer of the mood. The climactic illustrations show Jack convincing the two giants to hide down in the well, then kicking up "the awfullest ruckus you ever heard" to imitate the sound of the approaching posse; in the end, Jack cuts the bucket rope with a handy ax. This snappy story delivers a giant-size good time. Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.Kindergarten-Grade 2-One stormy day, young Jack takes shelter at the cabin of a pair of giants and uses his wits to escape with his hide. The giantess and her two-headed husband want him for a snack in the worst way but after he cleverly survives their first dastardly plan, they're afraid he might be "witched," so they set him some tasks to prove himself unfit for consumption. By "milking" a rock (really a milkweed pod) and ingenuously offering to move a stream, he astonishes his captors. Then Jack convinces them to hide in the well while the sheriff and posse investigate his disappearance. And, as "a giant's well hasn't got a bottom to it," that pair of giants "is still falling, like as not." Jack, in his cap and britches, is an ordinary lad, especially in contrast to the towering giantess and to her hirsute husband. The acrylic illustrations firmly ground this tall tale in Appalachia and capture its folksy feel-from Jack's bemused hound-dog companion to the giant's checkerboard pants. The liberal use of similes and metaphors, as well as the moderate but humorous dialect, assure a fun read-aloud. From the eye-catching cover of the two-headed giant licking his lips as he contemplates Jack to the author's note briefly tracing the "Jack Tale" tradition, this down-home yarn is a fine sequel to Fearless Jack (McElderry, 2001) and a solid stand-alone addition to trickster-tale storytimes.Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Jack Outwits the Giants | [
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27,783 | 2 | Gr 2-4-Fourth-grader Jake Drake looks back on his third-grade science-fair project. Sure, he learned a lot about electromagnets, but he learned even more about the pitfalls of being a know-it-all. It all started when his principal announced the school's first-ever science fair. The plot thickened when a local businessman announced that a computer would be the grand prize. A self-described computer nut, Jake refused to work with his best friend because he didn't want to share the prize. Finally, it came to him that his single-mindedness was turning him into a person he didn't like, and his project wasn't fun. Even though he and his partner took second prize, and thus no computer, Jake valued the experience. He sounds like a regular fourth grader as he describes his teachers and classmates. But he also digs deep to reveal the character-building lessons in everyday events. Full-page, black-and-white drawings show the competitive classmates as they work toward winning the great prize. A cut above the usual beginning chapter book because of its depth, this realistic plot and Jake's personality will seal the deal with transitional readers.Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NECopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: Jake Drake, Know-It-All #2 | [
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27,784 | 14 | Avi is the author of more than seventy books for children and young adults, including the 2003 Newbery medal winnerCrispin: The Cross of Lead. He has won two Newbery Honors and many other awards for his fiction. He lives with his family in Denver, Colorado. Visit him at Avi-Writer.com.; Title: The Christmas Rat (Aladdin Fantasy) | [
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27,785 | 0 | Grade 1-4In this stirring historical story, a heroic and determined horse refuses to be put out to pasture after his firefighting days come to an end. Magnus, a mighty gray stallion, and his companions have been trained to pull the heavy steam pumper to fires. One day, the captain returns to the station with a motorized fire engine, and Magnus is put in a nearby field. At the sound of the alarm, he is over the fence and following the truck down the street. The captain considers him a dangerous nuisance until the new engine breaks down and Magnus has the chance to fight one more blaze. Afterward, a retired fireman takes the hero to his farm where he becomes a beloved companion to the man's grandchildren. Impressive oil paintings in vibrant colors capture the drama of firefighting in the 1800s. The horses, particularly Magnus, are striking, especially in their resemblance to the powerful war horses of Renaissance art. Tension is etched on the faces of the men as they hasten to a burning building, but there are also moments of empathy between them and the animals. The exciting spreads will pull readers into the action. This is a fine tribute to the four-legged "smoke eaters" that bravely served their communities. Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Strong, gray Magnus has been a fire horse his whole life; he pulls the giant steam pumper to each site, knows how to "handle himself around calamity and chaos," and understands that he must stand "rock steady" while the firemen work. Then the captain brings in a motorized fire engine. Magnus and his team are put out to pasture, but when the fire bell rings, Magnus can't keep from leaping the fence and racing to the scene to help. The firemen scoff at the old-timer--until the fire engine breaks down en route to a blaze, and Magnus is called into duty and celebrated as a hero. Armstrong's pacing lags a bit, but her vivid, colloquial language (the new engine is a "burping, belching, oil-smelling newfangled contraption") will capture children's attention, as will the lustrous oil illustrations, reminiscent of WPA paintings of laborers that show magnificent horses in action. An author's note gives more information about fire horses in American history. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Magnus at the Fire | [
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27,786 | 0 | Daniel Pinkwater is the author of several bestselling children's books as well as a popular commentator on National Public Radio. He writes regular reviews on Contentville.com. Daniel lives in Hyde Park, New York.; Title: The Lunchroom of Doom : Ready-for-Chapters #2 | [
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27,787 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-As in Goodbye Mousie (McElderry, 2001), a book about the loss of a pet, Harris and Ormerod successfully combine simplicity with sensitivity to take on another emotionally stressful situation-facing the first day of school. After packing his knapsack and choosing his clothes for the next morning, a young boy feels ready for just about anything. However, once the lights are out, he clutches Hank, his stuffed monkey, and begins to worry. Before breakfast, he declares that he intends to stay home, "Because on the very first day of school, you don't know anything!" His parents patiently address his concerns, which include not being familiar with the routine and a reluctance to leave Hank behind, and Mom comes up with the idea of taking the monkey along. Once the child is settled in Mr. Chase's classroom, all of his questions are answered and his fears are put to rest. Told from the youngster's point of view, this story is filled with details that will strike a chord with children. The vivid illustrations done in black pencil line and watercolor washes feature simple yet elegantly drawn characters. The bright colors of their clothing contrast neatly with the white backgrounds. The artwork extends the text, as the pictures show the narrator meeting another equally tentative child who is holding on just as tightly to his teddy bear; by day's end, the two are fast friends. A reassuring anecdote for those beginning-of-the-year jitters.Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library JournalCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.PreS-K. The first day of school is a daunting prospect, best avoided. For starters, how's a kid supposed to know the names of the other kids, where the crayons are, or what kind of juice might be available? And how could a person possibly leave his or her favorite toy monkey at home all by itself? The boy protagonist in Harris' winning first-day-of-school tale decides the night before class that he will not go to school but will instead wait until the second day, when there aren't so many unanswered questions. With a bit of gentle prodding, however, his parents finally get him to school--but not without the company of his sidekick monkey, Hank. Once there, of course, the experience is happily demystified, and he learns everything there is to know about kids, crayons, juice, and more. Children with first-day jitters will take comfort in this story, which shows that the first day of school can actually be fun. Ormerod's colorful, expressive illustrations capture a child's anxiety and the warmth of family with equal success. Karin SnelsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: I Am NOT Going to School Today! | [
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12640
] | Test |
27,788 | 11 | Themes reminiscent of Jack London's The Call of the Wild ring throughout this vividly imagined animal story. From a canine perspective, Avi (Poppy) relates how a malamute named McKinley's life changes after he encounters a wolf. Head dog in Steamboat Springs, McKinley leads a busy life, protecting his family (including his "human pup," Jack) and keeping order among his canine compatriots in the mountain town. While trying to aid a runaway the forlorn greyhound, Duchess, whose owner offers a reward for her return McKinley encounters Lupin, a wolf who hopes to recruit dogs for her dwindling pack. Lupin's indictment of dogs ("tongue-lapping, tail-wagging slaves who take their food from bowls!") both stirs and shames McKinley; he soon finds his loyalties torn as he simultaneously tries to foil Jack's misguided plan to join the wolves, keep a wounded Lupin safe from those hunting her and fend off Redburn, a conniving Irish setter bent on usurping the hero's place as head dog. The action moves along at a crackling pace, reaching a crescendo in a dramatic moonlight confrontation. The dog's-eye point of view allows for some creative touches, including insights into animal behavior and the vocabulary McKinley uses for various human objects ("eating sticks" for utensils; "a block of staring papers" for book; "glow box" for television), but most compelling of all is the transformation of McKinley's happy-go-lucky character into a truly majestic leader. Ages 8-12.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Gr 3-6-A story with a decidedly canine point of view that will delight dog lovers. Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the top dog in Steamboat Springs, CO. His enemy is not a cat but a sad excuse for an Irish setter, Redburn. Sedate small-town life is interrupted by the appearance of Lupin, a she-wolf that urges dogs to free themselves from the tyranny of domesticated life. The noble McKinley tries to help her, and save a mistreated greyhound, but is misunderstood and relegated to the "dog house" by rather dim-witted humans. Communication between dogs and humans is awkward at best. There is a lot of dialogue among the dogs, among the humans, and between humans and dogs. The people come off as pretty stupid and McKinley is rather tolerant of the limitations of his "human pup" owner. It is confusing that sometimes McKinley seems to understand exactly what humans think and say and at other times professes ignorance. Still, fans of the film version of The Incredible Journey and Beethoven will lap this up as it has a very cinematic feel. Many scenes seem almost written directly for film. Readers will have no problem following the rapid, almost relentless action. John Erickson's "Hank the Cowdog" series (Viking) and James Howe's "Bunnicula" series (Atheneum) are similar in tone.Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MOCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Good Dog | [
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27,789 | 0 | James Howeis the author of more than ninety books for young readers.Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of childrens literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff seriesTales from the House of BunniculaandBunnicula and Friends.Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Doloresand beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers.The Misfits,published in 2001, inspired the antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels,Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside,andAlso Known asElvis.A common theme in James Howes books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.; Title: Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6! | [
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27,790 | 7 | Kathleen Duey has written more than forty books for children. The Unicorn's Secret is based on a dream she had when she was at school. She lives in southern California.; Title: Beyond the Sunset (Unicorn's Secret) | [
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27,791 | 11 | Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous acclaimed books for children, including Martin Rising; In Your Hands; On the Ball; The Faithful Friend; Duke Ellington; and In the Time of the Drums. His many awards include two Caldecott Honors, a Coretta Scott King Illustration Award, four Coretta Scott King Illustration Honors, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Brian lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and frequent collaborator, Andrea Davis Pinkney. Visit him at BrianPinkney.net.; Title: The Adventures Of Sparrowboy | [
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27,792 | 0 | Deborah Hopkinson is the author of numerous award-winning children's books, including Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, winner of the International Reading Association Award, Girl Wonder, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award, and Apples to Oregon, a Junior Library Guild Selection. She received the 2003 Washington State Book Award for Under the Quilt for the Night. She lives in Oregon. Visit her on the Web at www.deborahhopkinson.com.; Title: From Slave to Soldier: Based on a True Civil War Story (Ready-to-Reads) | [
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27,793 | 0 | James Howeis the author of more than ninety books for young readers.Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of childrens literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff seriesTales from the House of BunniculaandBunnicula and Friends.Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Doloresand beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers.The Misfits,published in 2001, inspired the antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels,Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside,andAlso Known asElvis.A common theme in James Howes books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.; Title: Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom (Tales From the House of Bunnicula) | [
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27,794 | 1 | Deborah Reber is an accomplished author for tweens and teens. A former children's television executive, Deborah uses her writing, speaking, and volunteering to empower and inspire girls everywhere to live their best life. Deborah is the author of two Simon Pulse non-fiction books: In Their Shoes and Chill. She lives in Seattle. Please visit Deborah at www.deborahreber.com or www.smartgirlsknow.com.; Title: Blue's Egg Hunt (Blue's Clues) | [
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] | Train |
27,795 | 0 | Daniel Pinkwater is the author of several bestselling children's books as well as a popular commentator on National Public Radio. He writes regular reviews on Contentville.com. Daniel lives in Hyde Park, New York.; Title: The Werewolf Club Meets Dorkula #3 | [
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] | Train |
27,796 | 2 | A pragmatic cat and her wildly imaginative owner highlight the give-and-take of friendship in this delectable tale of compromise and companionship. Audrey, a diminutive and determined pigtailed girl reading a book about India, and her orange cat, Barbara, are at odds from the start: " `Barbara,' asked Audrey, `how would you like to ride an elephant?' `Will I have to get off my pillow?' " When the girl seriously suggests that they travel to India, the feline triumphantly reports that an ocean stands in their way. Audrey then announces they'll swim (and promptly appears, head wrapped in a turban, wearing an innertube and flippers), while her pet suggests various obstacles and a preference for napping thus continuing the comically curt repartee. Debut author/illustrator Lawson extends the humor with watercolor illustrations, in which sunny pastels serve as backdrops for entertaining cartoon-like images. When Audrey turns a clawfoot tub into a boat and whips the quilt off her bed to use as a sail, she sends an apoplectic, bushy-tailed Barbara sailing through the air. A fine black line helps define such details as Audrey's pencil-thin legs and overly large head and Barbara's droll expressions. Lawson deftly nails down cat moves and behavior: the pet seeks refuge in a bureau drawer and her ears flatten at the mention of a snake charmer. The quaintly sentimental ending gently reminds readers that although friends can infuriate and stymie, they are best at restoring hope. Ages 4-7. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.PreSchool-Grade 2-Imagination, ingenuity, inertia, and inseparable friends are all featured in this quirky picture book. Audrey, a ponytailed little girl with a round, outsized head and stick-thin body, is attempting to convince her big, fluffy cat that they should travel to India and ride on an elephant. Content to nap on her pillow, Barbara is doubtful about the wisdom of such a venture. A low-key sense of humor and a keen understanding of feline personality inform the friends' dialogue. Audrey overcomes all of Barbara's objections as they convert the bathtub into a sailboat, equip it with baby-carriage wheels, cut a sail from a quilt, and prepare to set off. When the child's exuberance starts to flag ("We'll be stuck in the middle of the ocean"), Barbara catches the spirit of adventure and suggests, "We could ask a whale for a tow." The understated humor is also obvious in Lawson's illustrations. Barbara exhibits typical cat behavior (climbing into a drawer, flattening her ears in alarm) even though she can talk, and she has a firm grasp of geography. The focus of the artwork is always tightly on the action while also conveying the affection between the characters. -Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Audrey and Barbara | [
2753
] | Train |
27,797 | 0 | The author's memories of childhood in a tenement on Manhattan's Lower East Side inspired this atmospheric picture book, of which PW said, "Both art and text celebrate the secure feelings of a close-knit community." Ages 5-8. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street (Aladdin Picture Books) | [
27338
] | Validation |
27,798 | 0 | Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novelMissing Mayreceived the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.; Title: Henry and Mudge and the Wild Goose Chase (Henry & Mudge) | [
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27593,
27... | Test |
27,799 | 15 | Kindergarten-Grade 3-In this evocative collection, children are invited on a delightfully chilly journey through fall and winter. It begins with the familiar signs of a northern fall season: "Fall sets fire/To the tips of trees,/And fans the flames/With an icy breeze," and moves into winter: "dead leaves/frost heaves/icy eaves/long sleeves." The darkest days of that season follow: "The earth grows stingy/in the winter wild/when the wind blows cold/and the snow lies deep-/her creatures scour/for bits of food/or still their hunger/with weeks of sleep." Each poem reveals fresh images, such as "The mushrooms pop up, wearing hats." Reed's amazing, windswept paintings capture the exhilaration and challenge of the two seasons. There is motion on each spread-the wind rushing, children skating, a witch flying, leaves blowing, and storms roaring-except for the final, calm picture of gently approaching spring. Well designed with large print and full color, this book has definite child appeal.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. John Frank is the author of several books for children, and his poetry has frequently appeared in Cricket and Spider magazines. His previous book, Tomb of the Boy King: A True Story in Verse, was hailed as "a mesmerizing epic poem" in a starred review in Publishers Weely, and as "perfectly honed" in a starred review in The Horn Book. He lives in Kirkland, Washington.; Title: A Chill in the Air: Nature Poems for Fall and Winter | [
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