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28,100 | 2 | Grade 4-6-Eldearth is a land in need of a new Imperial Wizard. The forces of evil are rapidly encroaching, and the Keeper of the Light is growing too old and weak to hold them off. Princess Arenelle has shown unusual gifts in the magical arts and would dearly love to embark on the quest to identify a new apprentice wizard, but, because she is a girl, the best she can hope for is to study at the Academy of Witchcraft. But Nell is clever as well as talented, and finds an unsuspecting substitute-a poor boy named Owen-to masquerade in her place at the Academy, while she secretly undertakes the journey. Along the way, she learns more than she expects about the trials of the common folk of Eldearth, proving her courage and kind heart several times over. This is a fast-moving and easy-to-read choice for fantasy fans. Witches, wizards, and humans coexist in Eldearth, although the magical folk have a higher status and better standard of living. There are vanishrouds and speaking stars reminiscent of Harry Potter's magical devices, but the general populace lives in a preindustrial culture. Nell is a steadfast and admirable heroine while Owen has depth and interest and becomes more than just a stand-in. Both girls and boys will identify with the engaging protagonists. This is the first book in a forthcoming trilogy, so it isn't too surprising when it ends with Nell only just about to gain permission to become apprentice Wizard. Readers will eagerly await the sequels.Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Gr. 2-5. The Imperial Wizard, who keeps the powers of Darkness at bay, is growing weak. A prophecy states that the new Imperial Wizard must be royally born, tragedy torn, and bearing the mark of the Dove, and the impetuous Princess Nell, whose mother has died, decides that she fits the first two requirements. The King forbids her to go, but Nell sets off secretly on her quest, having found an urchin boy named Owen to go off to the Wizard University in her place. The trials she faces during the three-day journey are fairly tame and in standard fairy-tale form; it is Nell's bravery, generosity, fortitude, and kindness that allow her to prevail. Although the story lacks depth, the fast pace of Nell's adventures, the presence of dragons, and the simple, albeit occasionally choppy writing style make this a good choice for young or reluctant readers. At the conclusion, the reader still doesn't know if Nell is the Chosen One, raising anticipation for a sequel. Eva MitnickCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Wizard Named Nell (The Keepers, Book 1) | [
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28,101 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1Little Red returns, along with her friends Little Blue, Roany the Pony, and Gino the Dog. Their expedition to Christmas Tree Wood is interrupted when they encounter Santa Claus with a sick reindeer. Little Red saves the day by sprinkling magic dust on Roany so that he can fly and help to pull the sleigh. Young children may be drawn to the cutesy illustrations, but the treacly story is far from compelling. The overly long narrative is sprinkled with such awkward neologisms as "yippeedoodledan" and "fantabuloso." This is only for the most avid Anglophiles or hard-core fans of the Duchess of York.V. W. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, is the author of several childrens books, including Ballerina Rosie; Tea for Ruby, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser; and the Little Red series as well as a memoir, Finding Sarah. The Duchess is a devoted spokesperson for many charitable organizations, including Changes for Children. She has two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.; Title: Little Red's Christmas Story | [
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28,102 | 2 | Jackie French Koller has been a storyteller since the sixth grade, when she amused her friends by spinning tales on the playground. She has also edited a childrens newspaper, taught writing in public schools, and studied art. Ms. Koller lives in Groton, Massachusetts, with her husband.; Title: The Wizard's Apprentice | [
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28,103 | 2 | Bella is a moody, obsessed poet: Bonnets, daisies, windows, toes/ Secrets hide in sky, in rose, she writes. Her best friend (and fellow mouse), Bean, is an impulsive bundle of energy, eager to show off her new striped stocking cap embellished with two daisies, and annoying Bella with her interruptions. What starts off looking like a tale of mismatched friends turns out to be, instead, a splendidly accessible exploration of the poetic process as Bella finds Bean's words seeping into her work. Leitjen (Hugging Hour!, reviewed above) draws readers in immediately with her offbeat whimsy. Bella, for example, is first glimpsed through the window of her house, a fairytale concoction of tiny bricks, shingles and turrets nestled among the roots of a tree, with paper lanterns festooned just beyond. Letters, words and images dance about the final pages as the two friends together compose a poem that proclaims their eternal bond. Ages 48. (Feb.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Little Bella is a poetry-writing rat. Bean is a fashion-conscious rat. Its hard to see how they can be best friends when one wants to think about rivers and moons, and the other wants to think about hats.Words like flow, gurgle, and silver are put down on Bellaspages of poems, buteven as she demands peace and quiet to write, she knows shes missing out onfun with her friend.But Beansnot one to hold a grudge, and when invited by Bella to sit under the stars and listen to poems, shes happy to obligeand thrilled when one of the verses is about her. The story could be a tad shorter and the art might have had a few more amusing details, but this rodent duo is agood example of how opposites attract and can improve each others lives. The artwork uses rich shades of gold, teal, and sea green as backgrounds for the very personable rats. A nice starting point for a discussion of friendship.; Title: Bella & Bean | [
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28,104 | 2 | PreS-K-As a father mouse calls his young son inside for bed, the little one decides to make a game of it and seemingly eludes his dad at every turn. Sporting a pince-nez and a tolerant demeanor, the older mouse patiently follows his scampering child and is never far behind. Beautifully rendered illustrations in pen and ink, colored pencils, and acrylics are shown on a variety of spreads, single pages, and small vignettes, which create interest. The mischievous, large-eared mouseling leads his father on a merry adventure beginning outdoors, hiding under plants then slipping through the mouse-door of a large house. The small gray creature, with his large blue eyes and expressive face, has a great time sliding down a leaf, sitting on the minute hand of a large clock, and cannonballing gleefully into a bubble bath. When the father exultantly lifts his child up for a kiss and hug, both mice exhibit much joy at being together again. As baby is tucked in for the night, the two exchange a mutually loving look, reinforcing the strong bond they share.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Warm, funny, and playful, this rhyming story is just right for sharing with toddlers at bedtime or for acting out all day long. Large spreads show a little mouse hiding from bespectacled Daddy mouse, first outside the house behind a big tree and around the garden, then back inside (Chase him past the sofa / Chase him round the lamp. / Chase him up the curtains / What a plucky little scamp) until the little rascal scrambles down the hall, splashes into the bathtub, and is finally caught when Daddy swings him high for a kiss / Swings him low for a hug, then tucks him in; time for an end to hide and squeak. In warm shades of brown and red, the mixed-media pictures in ink, acrylics, and colored pencil will have preschoolers pointing at the silly fun as the affectionate adult acts as if he cannot find the kid, and both parent and child know that he is pretending. Preschool. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Hide-and-Squeak | [
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28,105 | 2 | Grade 58The cast of The Mother-Daughter Book Club (S & S, 2007) is back. Now the girls are in seventh grade, each responding to the social and academic challenges of middle school and impending teen years. This year, the club is reading books by Lucy Montgomery, starting with Anne of Green Gables. Each member and her mother find something to relate to in the books, even the snarky Becca Chadwick who, with her dictatorial parent, joins the club. Different perspectives are provided as each chapter is told in the alternating voices of Emma (writer), Jess (farm girl), Cassidy (athletic tomboy), and Megan (fashion diva). The pace is fast, the concerns and emotions real. The girls are gutsy problem-solvers, with plausibly presented emotions. Adult characterizations, however, are almost clichd (Emma's mother, for example, is especially bright as she's a librarian, and the patience of Cassidy's mom's love interest doesn't falter until the final pages). The resolution is a bit romanticized but satisfying. As in the first book, Frederick connects a classic title to contemporary problems.Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Heather Vogel Frederick is the award-winning author of the Mother-Daughter Book Club series, Absolutely Truly, the Patience Goodspeed books, the Spy Mice series, and Once Upon a Toad. An avid fan of all things maple, Heather and her husband have recently been transplanted from Portland, Oregon, back to New England, close to where Heather grew up. You can learn more about the author and her books at HeatherVogelFrederick.com.; Title: Much Ado About Anne (The Mother-Daughter Book Club) | [
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28,106 | 0 | Patricia Lakin, a former elementary school teacher and an award-winning author, has written more than fifty published works. Her books, both fiction and nonfiction, span multiple age groups—from toddlers to middle graders. Patricia lives in New York City with her husband, Lee Koenigsberg. They have two grown sons, Aaron and Benjahmin. When not reading, writing, or researching, she can be found traveling with Lee to far-off places in the world.; Title: Amelia Earhart: More Than a Flier (Ready to Read, Level 3) | [
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28,107 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 2Children who are tired of staid concept books will welcome this oneit literally turns the alphabet on its ear. Each page contains a large block letter enclosed in a square that, when viewed from a different directionleft, right, or upside-down (hence the title)transforms into an entirely different object. For example, when "J" is rotated clockwise, it becomes, in turn, "an elephant's trunk," "a candy cane," and "a monkey's tail." Some designs, like "O," are easy to spot (bagel, owl's eye, fried egg); others, like "K" (picnic table, a mama duck with two ducklings, Martian's antennae) and "W" (two fish, a cat casting a shadow, a mountain stream), present more of a challenge. With touches of humor and a great deal of creativity, Ernst fashioned this book out of cut paper and surrounded each block with a thick black border that sets off white words. Children will enjoy tilting the pages to see the transformations and will be motivated to come up with ideas of their own.Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. Like Laura Vaccaro Seeger's The Hidden Alphabet [BKL F 1 04], this ABC title combines clean, bold graphics with an optical game. Each brightly hued block letter appears on its own page within a box of artfully contrasting color, while a black background pops the complementary colors even more. The visual exercise comes with the lines of text that ring each page, forcing the reader to turn the book in a full counter-clockwise circle to follow the words. When viewed from the side or upside down, each letter forms abstract shapes in which the accompanying text tries to find something recognizable: a sideways Y becomes "a mermaid's tail," for example. The majority of what Ernst sees in the upended letters will be a far stretch for most kids (and even some adults). But preschoolers may use the book to learn their letters and find their own objects within the designs, while older children, including high-school art students, will enjoy the whimsy and optical challenge of finding new forms in the familiar shapes. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book (ALA Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) | [
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28,108 | 2 | Margaret McNamara is the author of the Robin Hill School series, and she gets many ideas from her daughters own school experiences. She lives in New York City.; Title: The Counting Race | [
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28,109 | 6 | Joan Holub is the award-winning author of more than eightybooks for children. She lives in Seattle, Washington.; Title: Fourth of July, Sparkly Sky (Sparkle 'n' Twinkle Books) | [
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28,110 | 2 | Lauren Thompson is the author of several picture books, including the popular Mouses First series, Little Quack series, and the Wee Little series. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Apple Pie That Papa Baked as well as Leap Back Home to Me; Chew, Chew, Gulp!; and Hop, Hop, Jump! She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Little Quack's Hide and Seek | [
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28,111 | 2 | 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: The Color of Absence : 12 Stories About Loss and Hope | [
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28,112 | 2 | Jackie French Koller has been a storyteller since the sixth grade, when she amused her friends by spinning tales on the playground. She has also edited a childrens newspaper, taught writing in public schools, and studied art. Ms. Koller lives in Groton, Massachusetts, with her husband.; Title: The Wizard's Scepter (The Keepers, Book 3) | [
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28,113 | 0 | Grade 5-8As 11-year-old Nathaniel rushes to bring in hay ahead of an approaching thunderstorm, his leg is crushed beneath a wagon when the team of horses, spooked by lightning, lurches out of control. His father brings one more conflict to their late-19th-century Nebraska homestead in the person of John Worth, a boy taken off the orphan train to help take up the slack. The family is already tense about previous financial failures and the loss of a daughter. Now fence cutters exacerbate the land-use conflict between ranchers and farmers by freeing cattle to trample the crops on which the farmers' survival depends. The author convincingly conveys the boys' gradual realization of the value of one another's friendship. Other themes include the importance of reading and education, meeting challenges head on, relying on and playing a responsible role in your community, and recovering from loss. A special strength of the book is the characterization of Nathaniel's mom, whose fierce anger is emotionally balanced by her dedication to her family's well-being. Although she works as a tinker, she lets her husband take credit in deference to the mores of the time. A satisfying piece of historical fiction.Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 3-7. LaFaye's novel is one of the first to tell the Orphan Train story from the viewpoint of a kid displaced by a newcomer. Even worse than the pain that 11-year-old Nate felt when his leg was crushed in an accident is rejection by his pa, who takes in young John Worth to pick up Nate's work on their small farm. Nate's angry first-person narrative is brutally honest, and, at first, he is bitterly resentful of John, an orphan who lost his family in a New York City tenement fire: "Just 'cause he lost his father didn't mean he had a right to mine." Through Nate's narrative comes a sense of the grueling daily work, the family struggle to try to hold on to the land and avoid failure. In addition, there's some late-nineteenth-century history about the local wars between cattle ranchers (who want grazing land) and farmers (who need room for crops), and in an exciting climax, Nate and John ride together to warn the farmers and prevent the fence-cutters from causing a cattle stampede. Only an awkward metaphor about the Greek myths seems patched on. The short, spare novel doesn't need the heavy heroic parallels; it tells its own story of darkness and courage. A great choice for American history classes. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Worth | [
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28,114 | 0 | Grade 6-10 -War has changed everything in Farsala. The ruling Deghans, with few exceptions, are dead and the conquering Hrum are in charge. The three young people around whom the first novel revolved must now decide how they can take back Farsala. Perhaps the most interesting turn of events for this book is the decision to change the name of the trilogy and rename the first novel. Originally, the trilogy was to have been called "The Book of Sorahb" and the first installment was Flame (now titled Fall of a Kingdom). This makes it all a bit confusing for readers who looked forward to the continuing saga. This second book begins immediately after the first, but there is no attempt to recap information central to the story, making the motivations of the three main characters-Soraya, Jiaan, and Kavi-difficult to discern. The first book was closely interwoven with a retelling of the epic Persian poem about Rostam and Sorahb and, while the name of Sorahb is heavily invoked in this novel, it's impossible to know who he is without having read Flame. Important details about the Hrum are also found only in the first novel and this makes them little more than cardboard conquerors here. Standing alone, Hero is not as successful or satisfying as the first book, but those who have been waiting to find out the fate of the Farsalans will want to read it.-Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Gr. 7-10. The dynamic follow-up to Fall of a Kingdom (entitled Flame in its 2003 original hardcover edition) is a strong middle book in the Farsala trilogy. Separated after Farsala falls to the invading Hrum, the three young protagonists work to defeat and expel the enemy: Soraya, daughter of the slain high commander of the Farsalan army, gets a lowly kitchen job in the Hrum army camp, where she searches for information about her mother and younger brother; Jiaan, bastard son of the high commander, reluctantly becomes high commander of what little is left of the Farsalan army and begins recruiting and training peasants and farmers; itinerant peddler Kavi, a double agent, works for both the Hrum and the Farsalans, though his heart is with the Farsalans. Despite the brave endeavors of the young people, what Farsala needs is a champion. According to legend, the hero Sorahb, slain centuries before, will return when Farsala most needs a leader; it seems the time is now. The characters maintain their distinctive identities here, class differences in the societies are indelibly rendered, and the importance of preserving values and making good choices comes across clearly. With a palpable sense of danger and an ending that promises much to be revealed, this is a sequel that will fly off the shelf. Sally EstesCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Rise of a Hero (The Farsala Trilogy) | [
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28,115 | 13 | Grade 1-4--Wheeler and Siegel do many things well in their comic-book-style story, but an unnecessarily convoluted plot ultimately sinks this lighthearted adventure. The opening illustrations show an excited pup arriving at the theater and the canine cast members getting ready backstage. Once the curtain rises, the tale is related through funny songs and verses. Old Seadog (the captain), Brave Beagle, and her love (a cowardly dachshund) set sail on the Beauty. They soon encounter a "Mongrel Horde" led by Captain Jacques Fifi. As the three friends hide, the pirates board their ship, loot it, and then, surprisingly, return to their own vessel. During the raid, Captain Fifi accidentally drops a treasure map and a stowaway sneaks aboard. This chubby little pup soon wins Old Seadog's heart. The heroes sail to the treasure isle and find the hoard, only to lose it again, but in the end, they realize that their true treasure is adventure and love. The text contains a good deal of whimsical humor and wordplay. The catchy verses milk the canine puns for all they're worth, but this slows the pace considerably. The cartoons add detail and comic twists; they often belie the words they accompany to ironic effect. Ultimately, the story feels a bit forced and drawn out; the pirates lack bite and adults will best appreciate much of the humor. With not enough action and too much verse, this venture comes up short.--Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. A little Victorian girl dog goes to see a performance of Seadogs, an operetta, in this bouncy, colorful picture book that unfolds in detailed, comics-like panels. Children experience the event from the eager pup's largely silent perspective, getting a few backstage peeks as well as views of the audience and orchestra--and of the performance itself. The operetta concerns an old seadog who gathers a crew for one last adventure--among them, a good-hearted bar mistress and a young pup of dubious ancestry. The lyrics to the songs, usually boxed, tell about what's going on in the present (the daily chores, the unexpected appearance of pirates) and about the life each old dog left to come aboard. The little girl pup loves the show and remembers lively scenes from it in her memory as the hansom cab carries her away. A delightful book to share with pre-readers, who can return to the pictures on their own and relive the tandem stories of a grown-up night out and an epic voyage. Melodies for the songs would have made this graphic novel for the picture-book set even better. Francisca GoldsmithCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta | [
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28,116 | 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: Rabbit-cadabra! (Bunnicula and Friends) | [
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28,117 | 18 | George Stanley was a Professor of African and Middle-Eastern Languages and Linguistics at Cameron University. In between prepping class lectures and grading papers, he found the time to write for children. He was also the author of Night Fires and the Third-Grade Detectives series.; Title: Crazy Horse: Young War Chief (Childhood of Famous Americans) | [
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28,118 | 0 | "Paced like a medical thriller, "Deadly" is the rare Y.A. novel in which a girl's intellectual interests trump adolescent romance. A 16-year-old Jewish tenement dweller in 1906 New York pines away days at a finishing school on scholarship and nights helping midwife young mothers. When she quits school to assist the Department of Health and Sanitation in its pursuit of "Typhoid Mary," she is awakened to nascent opportunities for women in science."--"New York Times Book Review", March 13, 2011From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL"There's plenty to think about and discuss in this diary-format novel based on the notorious case of Mary Mallon, also known as "Typhoid Mary." It's 1906 and 16-year-old Prudence is in her final year at a school for girls... but, unlike most of her classmates, Prudence isn't interested in being an ornamental "Gibson Girl." Instead, she craves a job where she can actually make a difference. She's always been scientifically curious, particularly regarding the nature of infection and disease.... When she lands a position as assistant to an epidemiologist working for the Department of Health and Sanitation, she quits school completely to help investigate the microbial mystery of Mary Mallon, an immigrant cook and suspected "healthy carrier" of typhus, who adamantly denies she's been unwittingly infecting a series of employers' families and instead insists she's the victim of anti-Irish discrimination. A deeply personal coming-of-age story set in an era of tumultuous social change, this is top-notch historical fiction that highlights the struggle between rational science and popular opinion as shaped by a sensational, reactionary press."From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL"There's plenty to think about and discuss in this diary-format novel based on the notorious case of Mary Mallon, also known as "Typhoid Mary." It's 1906 and 16-year-old Prudence is in her final year at a school for girls... but, unlike most of her classmates, Prudence isn't interested in being an ornamental "Gibson Girl." Instead, she craves a job where she can actually make a difference. She's always been scientifically curious, particularly regarding the nature of infection and disease.... When she lands a position as assistant to an epidemiologist working for the Department of Health and Sanitation, she quits school completely to help investigate the microbial mystery of Mary Mallon, an immigrant cook and suspected "healthy carrier" of typhus, who adamantly denies she's been unwittingly infecting a series of employers' families and instead insists she's the victim of anti-Irish discrimination. A deeply personal coming-of-age story set in an era of tumultuous social change, this is top-notch historical fiction that highlights the struggle between rational science and popular opinion as shaped by a sensational, reactionary press."Julie Chibbaro grew up in New York City wondering how so many people could live together without infecting each other with mortal diseases. After attending Performing Arts High School for theater, she ran away to Mexico, where she survived an earthquake and a motorcycle crash and learned a little something about death. Returning to New York, she decided to create her own fictional characters instead of playing one. Julie Chibbaro is the author of Redemption, which won the 2005 American Book Award. Julie teaches fiction and creative writing in New York. You can also visit her at juliechibbaro.com.; Title: Deadly | [
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28,119 | 0 | Bruce Coville has published more than one hundred books, which have sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are My Teacher Is an Alien, Into the Land of the Unicorns, and The Monster’s Ring. Bruce also founded Full Cast Audio, a company that creates recordings of the best in children’s and young adult literature. He lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, Katherine.; Title: The Weeping Werewolf (Moongobble and Me) | [
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28,120 | 2 | Little Vampire has decided that despite his ability to fly, freedom to turn himself into a rat, a wolf, or a bat--even his unquestioned right to "bite little girls till they bleed, without ever getting into trouble"--that what he really wants to do is go to school. The kind with teachers, other kids, and math homework. Unfortunately for Little Vampire, teachers and other kids dont hang out at school in the dead of night, but math homework abounds, and when Little Vampire starts completing a little boys assignments for him, the two get to be friends.Little Vampire Goes to School sounds like it should be a Halloween book for 5-year-olds, but with its comic-book illustrations, occasional toilet humor, and rambling story that touches on everything from the legend of the Flying Dutchman to whether an orphaned child ought to believe in God, its probably more appropriate for 8- to 10-year-olds. Joann Sfars illustrations are an interesting mix of creepy and cartoony comic-book styles, and the motley assortment of monsters who live in Little Vampires castle provide plenty of background chatter and jokes. This book is just right for a kid who likes monsters but doesnt actually want to be scared. (Ages 6 to 10) --Jennifer Lindsay. . . will keep preteen comic-book fans amused. -- Kirkus Reviews. . .gloriously childish fun. . . [Kids]will relish Sfar's wit, then spend hours taking in the intricately rendered details of his otherworld. -- Time Out New York, July 3-10, 2003; Title: Little Vampire Goes to School | [
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28,121 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Gladys, a purple and blue gorilla, loves bananas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but one day she smells something delicious and leaves the zoo to find out what it is. As she follows her nose to a pizzeria, a French caf, and an ice-cream stand, she samples various foods, but none of them matches the tantalizing aroma. Finally, she discovers that it is coming from a cart at the zoo that is selling banana bread. Done in bright acrylics, the vibrant cartoon illustrations show Gladys's progress out of her enclosure, past the zoo's front gate, through the restaurants and city streets, and back home by way of the zoo's rear entrance. She creates havoc all along the way, remaining totally oblivious to the two keepers undergoing various adventures as they chase after her. Large yellow bananas decorate the endpapers and add to the fun. This humorous book will tickle children and could also fit well into a unit on the five senses. A recipe for banana bread is appended.Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Derek Anderson is the bestselling artist and cocreator of the Little Quack series. He is also the talent behind Gladys Goes Out to Lunch and Over the River: A Turkeys Tale. He and his wife Cheryl reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit him at DerekAnderson.net.; Title: Gladys Goes Out to Lunch | [
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28,122 | 2 | Ellen Weiss is the author of many books for children, includingWhatever You Do, I Love You, for Little Simon. She has also written extensively for children's television, and she lives in New York.; Title: Twins in the Park (Ready-to-Reads) | [
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28,123 | 0 | "A treasure waiting to be found." -- Kirkus Reviews"Authentic historical details enrich the already fine writing." -- Kirkus Reviews"The . . . message of triumph over adversity is . . . uplifting." -- School Library Journal"Limned with just the right amount of detail." -- BooklistLea Wait made her mystery debut with Shadows at the Fair, which was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Shadows on the Ivy, the third novel in her acclaimed series featuring Maggie Summer, is forthcoming in hardcover from Scribner. Lea comes from a long line of antiques dealers, and has owned an antique print business for more than twenty-five years. The single adoptive mother of four Asian girls who are now grown, she lives in Edgecomb, Maine. In addition to the Antique Print mysteries, Lea Wait writes historical fiction for young readers. Her first children's book, Stopping to Home, was named a Notable Book for Children in 2001 by Smithsonian magazine.Visit her website at www.leawait.com.; Title: Wintering Well (Aladdin Historical Fiction) | [
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28,124 | 0 | Grade 5-9–In this final entry in a trilogy about a boy coming of age during World War II, Mazer shows how his hero handles actual military service. The book brings a sense of completion to Adam Pelko's story, which began in Honolulu just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Determined to fight as a Marine, Adam, now 17, talks his grandfather into letting him enlist, although he knows his mother will be furious. Boot camp, with its indignities and hardships, is vividly portrayed, and when Adam arrives in the Pacific arena as a full-fledged soldier, Mazer does a good job of depicting the mind-numbing slog of war. More realistic than many novels about combat for this audience, violence is present without being glorified or unrealistically softened. Adam's first-person narrative brings immediacy to his experiences, but most of the other soldiers and civilians lack focus. Characters who were important in previous titles stay mostly offstage, making it possible to appreciate this offering without reading the others. A historical note covers the basic facts for those wanting to know more. A quick, action-packed read.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 7-10. In the final part of Adam Pelko's story, which began with A Boy at War (2001) and continued in A Boy No More (2004), Adam, now 17, lies about his age so that he can join the marines in 1944. Mazer did the same thing (though he served in Europe), and much of the power of this novel lies in the factual details, first of rough boot-camp training and then of battle. This novel stands alone, but readers familiar with the previous books can't help but recognize Adam's haunting sorrow about his dad, killed at Pearl Harbor, and his longing for his distant Japanese American friend. The climax is the brutal battle with the Japanese on Okinawa ("We had to kill every one of them"), where Adam is wounded and sees comrades killed. A note fills in some background history. The clear first-person narrative is terse and gripping, graphic about the slaughter and heartfelt about the loss. Readers older than the target audience may also want to read this hard-hitting, heroic story. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Heroes Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War | [
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28,125 | 17 | Starred Review. Grade 2-5This sparkling picture-book biography is a worthy tribute to an individual whose greatness extended beyond the baseball field and whose stature continues to grow. The lively text highlights the achievements of his incredible career: his extraordinary fielding, his leadership in guiding the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series wins, and the accomplishment of recording 3000 hits. The author also imbues his subject with character: Clemente was notable for his generosity and as a trailblazer for Latino ballplayers. He struggled throughout his career with a condescending press, but after his performance in the 1971 World Series, no one could deny his greatness. The book ends with Clemente's tragic death in a plane crash as he was attempting to bring aid to victims of an earthquake in Central America. The illustrations, with their trademark swirls and detailed cross-hatchings, are perfectly suited to the text. Coln alternates between full-color and black-and-white drawings: they add detail and drama, and the book's overall design is striking. Both author and illustrator are at the top of their game here. A delight for sports lovers as well as general readers.Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Roberto Clemente played most of his major-league baseball career in the shadow of the slightly older Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron, emerging only in the early 1970s as the premier player in the game. Then tragedy struck. In 1972, Clemente's plane, carrying aid to earthquake victims in Central America, crashed off the shores of his native Puerto Rico. Winter tells the unabashedly inspirational story of how Clemente's passionate love of the game and unrivaled work ethic took him from poverty in Puerto Rico (his first baseball glove was made from a coffee-bean sack) to World Series triumph with the Pittsburgh Pirates and, later, after his death, to near-mythic status as a role model for young Latino ballplayers. Soaked in pastoral greens and browns, Colon's evocatively grainy, soft-focus illustrations, rendered with a mix of watercolors, colored pencils, and litho pencils, capture perfectly the worlds in which Clemente was most at home: the tropics and the baseball diamond. Baseball history brought vividly to life for a younger audience. Bill OttCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates | [
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28,126 | 0 | "Kids who are too young for Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings series can cut their teeth on this fantasy." -- Children's LiteratureBruce Coville has published more than one hundred books, which have sold more thansixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are My Teacher Is an Alien, Into the Land of the Unicorns, and The Monsters Ring. Bruce also founded Full Cast Audio, a company that creates recordings of the best in childrens and young adult literature. He lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, Katherine.; Title: The Evil Elves (Moongobble and Me) | [
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28,127 | 18 | Kathleen Kudlinski was born in Pennsylvania. When she grew up, she studied art and biology at the University of Maine. She became a science teacher, but when she stopped teaching, she tried writing. She is the author of books about Rosa Parks, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dr. Seuss, and many more.; Title: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom (Childhood of Famous Americans) | [
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28,128 | 5 | Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938) was an extremely talented cartoonist, illustrator, and storyteller. He had already written and illustrated a book of original fairy tales before creating the first two Raggedy books, Raggedy Ann Stories and Raggedy Andy Stories. Raggedy Ann, heroine of the first, was the favorite doll of his daughter, Marcella, who died at the age of thirteen after a long illness. It was from Marcella that Johnny drew the inspiration to eventually create more than forty Raggedy Ann and Andy books, all capturing his unique vision of childhood. Many of the stories, illustrations, and adventures in the Raggedy Ann storybooks were based on Marcella's childhood adventures. Raggedy Ann's Lucky Pennies has become one of Johnny's most treasured adventure storybooks.; Title: Raggedy Ann's Lucky Pennies | [
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28,129 | 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: Maria's Comet | [
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28,130 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2An African-American mother describes the many ways that she expresses her love to her son throughout the day. From the rising of the sun until the moon comes out, her feelings are revealed through routine tasks, such as helping the boy get dressed and clean his room, sending him off to school, and spending time with him at the park. After dinner, she cuddles the youngster and reads him a story, reassuring him that he is safe and cherished. Just as the book opens, it ends with the mother praying, hoping that "in all I've done and was moved to say,/I've done my best in telling you, child,/that 'I love you' every day." The vibrant oil paintings assist in capturing the playful, affectionate relationship between mother and child. Set against bright background scenes, the characters take center stage in each appealing spread. This is a useful book for family storytimes because it offers adults a pattern for building good parenting skills.Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Deloris Jordan is Michael Jordan's mother and the coauthor of Salt in His Shoes, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, which Booklist called "inspirational," and Did I Tell You I Love You Today?, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, which was called "a tender read-aloud" by Kirkus Reviews. 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.Roslyn M. Jordan is Michael Jordan's sister and the coauthor, with Deloris Jordan, of Salt in His Shoes and Did I Tell You I Love You Today? She lives in Chicago.Shane W. Evans is the award-winning illustrator of many children's books, including No More! by Doreen Rappaport, Bintou's Braids by Sylviane A. Diouf, and Homemade Love by Bell Hooks. Mr. Evans lives in Kansas City, Missouri.; Title: Did I Tell You I Love You Today? | [
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28,131 | 0 | James Howe is 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 children’s literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series Tales from the House of Bunnicula and Bunnicula and Friends. Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores and 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, and Also Known as Elvis. A common theme in James Howe’s books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.; Title: Scared Silly (Bunnicula and Friends) | [
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28,132 | 6 | Grade 2-4-First published in 1924, the full-length story is still in print, but this version features large- and small-scale pop-ups. Textually, many of the talkier, precious passages have been excised, but the notably episodic plot is left intact. When the French doll Babette is snatched, Raggedy Ann and Andy give up thinking "nice, kindly thoughts," and take off in pursuit. Having gathered up a worn toy camel and other helpers, taken a side trip into "Loonie Land," and effected several rescues, the button-eyed band battle a pirate crew that turns out to be a group of girls in disguise, who had stolen Babette because they just wanted a nice doll. The illustrations are taken or adapted from the originals; on each of the six spreads, a large central tableau springs up, flanked by narrow, folded-over leaves of text with smaller 3-D effects. With no strings, slides, or pull tabs, the format lends itself to static display-but despite a superficial resemblance to Robert Sabuda's pop-up reinterpretations of classic tales, it's still a period piece, more a gift item for collectors than a necessary addition to library collections.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Johnny Gruelle was an extremely talented cartoonist, illustrator, and storyteller. He had already written and illustrated a book of original fairy tales before creating the Raggedy Ann and Andy stories. Raggedy Ann, heroine of the first book, was a favorite doll of his daughter, Marcella, who died after a long illness at the age of thirteen. Johnny Gruelle eventually created over forty Raggedy Ann and Andy books, all capturing his unique version of childhood.; Title: Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees | [
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28,133 | 2 | Gr. 4-7. Sfar is a French cartoonist whose comics offer easy-to-love characters, preadolescent body humor, fillips of Jewish folklore, and plot lines that move as swiftly as gray-faced Little Vampire, his red cat, and the human boy Michael can travel through space. In this oversize comic book, Michael is being bullied, so Little Vampire takes him home to an alternative world of monsters with oddly varied anatomies and varying degrees of kind hearts. Their first stop is a visit to Rabbi Solomon, who sends the friends off to learn kung fu from a book, which opens into a world of monkeys and a kung fu dragon. After numerous mix-ups and Pow, Slam, and Bang confrontations with and among the various monsters, the bully gets a book bag on his head and Michael has a new protector--pretty Sabrina. Richly colored and hand lettered, this Little Vampire story is a wonderful starting place for American kids to discover the fantastic possibilities of contemporary French comics. The humor is a bonus that makes the tale even more attractive. Francisca GoldsmithCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Little Vampire Does Kung Fu! | [
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28,134 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1-Mama elephant and her baby spend the day cavorting together in this gentle picture book. They traipse across the dry and dusty plains, splish and splash in the cool river, and play in the tall green grass. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, set against warm washes of yellows and blues, complement the soft, comforting tone of the rhyming text. The bright sunny day gives way to an azure, star-filled night, and the elephants arrive in a field of dewy grass to sleep. "Last thing at night we curl in a hug,/safe and happy, cozy and snug./And we sink into sleep and dream of new days./My mama's love surrounds me always." Pair this book with Mem Fox's Time for Bed (Harcourt, 1993) for a soothing bedtime ritual.Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.Jane Chapman is the illustrator of several books for children, including Dilly Duckling by Claire Freedman and I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh, as well as Karma Wilsons Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and Mortimers Christmas Manger. She lives with her family in Dorset, England. Visit Jane at ChapmanandWarnes.com.; Title: I Love My Mama | [
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28,135 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 6 UpArmstrong chronicles the Civil War from Lincoln's election to his death with both a storylike narrative of events and a photo-essay. Unlike the war images we see today, Brady's pictures were either posed or they were of still objects. Since exposure in the brightest daylight in the 1860s took up to 10 seconds, even the slightest movement resulted in blurred images. Readers see soldiers, military camps, civilians, farms, battlefields: these same pictures were the first visual representations of war for America's nonmilitary folks. This book is also a look at early photographic techniques and offers a description of Brady's rare collection. The section titles use early photography terminology, referencing the series of steps that the photographer would have followed. All images are greyscale and by today's standards, the pictures are fuzzy and clouded with indistinct lines; when readers remember that the pictures are more than 100 years old, they should recognize their exquisiteness, grandeur, and genius.Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OHGr. 6-9. Readers may need some background to fully appreciate this, but Armstrong doesn't disappoint in a slice of Civil War history that uses photographer Matthew Brady as its touchstone. As the book opens, Brady mortgages his thriving business to fund, train, and equip a stable of photographers to document Union troops in Virginia and the East. The text smoothly juxtaposes the complex decisions Lincoln faced as commander in chief and the devastation at places such as Fredericksburg and Gettysburg against the task of taking photographs in the field. The bloody charges and the daily grind are vividly evoked in both words and carefully selected and labeled photos--some familiar, many unsettling. Intriguing, if unnecessary, text insets ("Photos Not Taken") challenge readers to imagine pictures they might have taken had they been part of the history. Packed with well-documented quotes, this truly absorbing account, written with both honesty and surprising grace, will sear the conflict in memory in the same way the photos did--and still do. Stephanie ZvirinCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War | [
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28,136 | 5 | Grade 4-7A year after her magical adventures with wyverns and time-traveling wizards in Hatching Magic (S & S, 2003), life is more or less back to normal for 12-year-old Theodora. She's taking drawing lessons, missing her friend Mikko, and trying to put the Events of Last Summer behind her. When her scientist father is invited to study an unusual scale found on a small island near Scotland, he takes her along, and uncanny things begin to happen. Theodora and her new friends, siblings Colin and Catriona, encounter an evil wizard who craves dominion over the Wizard Underworld known as Never-Was. A strange man who might be something more than human; a ghost dog; Theodora's old friends Professor Iain Merlin O'Shea and Vyrna, the wyvern hatchling born addicted to chocolate; and the mysterious Book of the New Adept, which contains a prophecy about a young wizard who just might be Theodora, also appear. Readers find out more about the girl's magical heritage and about the inner workings, educational system, and politics of the magical world. Once again, Downer displays her remarkable talent for creating realistic characters and a totally believable universe where magic exists just beyond plain sight. Familiarity with the first book isn't imperative, but will definitely add to the experience.Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 4-7. Following a fast-paced prologue set in a British wizard academy, the scene shifts to modern-day Boston, where 12-year-old Theodora discovers that she is to accompany her father to Scotland, where he will examine a large, mysterious scale from an unknown creature. Based on her previous experience in Hatching Magic (2003), Theodora suspects a dragon. In the Hebrides, Theodora befriends a local boy, stumbles on mysterious clues, and begins to recognize, explore, and harness her latent but considerable magical powers. For all the story's magical elements, the narrative remains emotionally grounded in Theodora's sadness over the departure of her longtime nanny, who looked after the girl since her mother's death. Smart, observant, and self-aware, Theodora makes a sympathetic character, convincing even in the most supernatural circumstances. Readers new to the series may not pick up every reference to the previous book, but they will soon find themselves swept up in Theodora's story. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Dragon of Never-Was | [
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28,137 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Zoe has a glorious bright red mane. In fact, her "wild and beautiful" hair seems to have a mind of its own, performing various tasks (it can "turn on the TV, pour a glass of juice, pet the cat, and play the computerall at the same time") and even allowing her to fly. While this isn't a problem in kindergarten, things change in first grade. Ms. Trisk bluntly states, "School has rules. No wild hair in my class!" She tries to rein in Zoe's unruly tresses with disciplinary measures, a stretchy hat, and even a meeting with the principal. Finally, Zoe's locks are contained with scrunchies, barrettes, bobby pins, and duct tape, an arrangement that also weighs down the girl's spirits. However, when Zoe's locks break free to lend a hand with a demonstration about orbiting planets, it's Ms. Trisk who learns a lesson. Anderson's narrative sparkles with exuberant language and exaggerated humor. Hoyt's buoyant cartoons, done in pen and ink and watercolors, are filled with flowing lines and comical touches. While the plot specifics are a bit far-fetched, the tale touches upon pertinent themes, such as the challenges of transitioning between kindergarten and first grade, the importance of looking for solutions to problems, and the fact that teachers often learn from their students. An imaginative and appealing back-to-school choice.Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This one instantly grabs youthe opening two-page spread overflows with Zoes wild red hair, with its many tendrils that brush her teeth, grab her clothes, and pack her lunch. Then Anderson takes a step back for a history lesson: Zoes hair learned to open the cookie jar at age two and could fly by age four. Her kindergarten class loved it for furry snuggling at nap time . . . but then came first grade and Ms. Trisk. School has rules, she snaps as she disciplines Zoe, who frowns in despair as her hair continues to misbehave, even transforming into a hair-dragon to chase the teacher away. Hoyts wacky depiction of the hairs every Seussian undulation is flecked with jokey details (theres an ongoing visual gag about some hamsters that have apparently taken up residence inside). The ending, in which Zoes hair proves itself worthy of helping Ms. Trisk with school lessons, is a tad awkward, but this should find fans with anyone whos ever threatened their mop with a barrette or scrunchie. Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School | [
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28,138 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2-With the same tender charm that has made other books about Mouse's first experiences popular, Thompson and Erdogan explore the joy that comes with a first encounter with snow. Mouse gets to sled, skate, and build a grand snow house with his father's unswerving support. Good for you! exclaims Poppa after Mouse swishes down a hill. Other efforts are encouraged with Hooray!, Good work!, and Wonderful! Finally the two build A frosty little snow mouse just like you! and the book concludes with wishes for a Happy winter. In the sweet acrylic paintings, the snow is cool and luminous, yet the scenes remain warm. Child-friendly language, complete with some simple sound effects and repeated phrases, make this title a solid winter read-aloud.-Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-K. The creators of books such as Mouse's First Halloween (2000) and Mouse's First Spring (2005) offer a new picture book in which the familiar little mouse encounters snow for the first time. Poppa shows Mouse the many ways of enjoying winter: sledding, skating, and making snow angels, a snow house, and even a large-scale snow mouse. Suitably brief, the text uses plenty of sound words to accompany activities, such as "Swish, wish!" as the father sweeps large angel wings in the snow and "Flap, flop!" for Mouse's first attempt at making wings. "Wonderful!" exclaims Poppa. In the paintings, simple, rounded forms predominate, and dabs of white brighten the scenes as light reflects off the cool blue snow. For all the ice and snow depicted, this picture book continually radiates warmth as this happy little mouse and loving father enjoy a day together. Preschool teachers will want to have this pleasing picture book on hand for reading aloud as the snowflakes start to fall. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mouse's First Snow | [
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28,139 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1As in the other books in the series, Thompson and Erdogan again draw readers into the joys of a simple frolic. Done in jewel-toned acrylics, the double-page paintings create a sumptuous backdrop for this sensory-rich adventure as Mouse and Minka go on a picnic and sample watermelon, roll in the grass, fly a kite, spill lemonade, and feast on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The poetic, spare text dabbles in alliteration, describing "Marching, munching, bold, black ants..." and "Tipsy-tumbly, tickly, green grass." A final proclamation"Hooray for summer!"tops off this delicious taste of the season for young listeners.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Lauren Thompson is the author of several picture books, including the popular Mouses First series, Little Quack series, and the Wee Little series. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Apple Pie That Papa Baked as well as Leap Back Home to Me; Chew, Chew, Gulp!; and Hop, Hop, Jump! She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Mouse's First Summer | [
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28,140 | 2 | PreSOn a breezy spring day, Mouse discovers various creatures. He wonders what each one is, and his mother patiently identifies a butterfly, bird, snail, frog, and worm. Each animal departs on a gust of wind, and, in the end, Mouse himself is carried away, but lands safely in his mother's loving arms. This gentle story is just right for toddlers who, like Mouse, are encountering new things every day. The brief text is full of wonderfully descriptive phrases, such as "fluttery buttery," "hidey insidey," and "squiggly squeeze." The simple, double-page illustrations are done in bright, colorful acrylics, just right for holding the attention of the youngest storytime attendee. A surefire hit in any season.Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. When Mouse and his momma venture out on a spring day, they discover a butterfly, a snail, a bird, a frog, a worm, and a flower. Each new discovery mystifies the little mouse: "There on a stem, Mouse found something sweet and petally." Or is he bluffing? In any case, young children will be glad to help him identify each one with help from the rounded, simplified forms in Erdogan's painterly illustrations. The wind blows through at intervals, creating a pattern in the story line, while the rhythmic and sometimes rhyming text creates patterns as well. Finally, Mouse discovers his own mother, in a conventionally sweet, hug-and-kiss ending. Though lacking the freshness of the earlier books in the series, such as Mouse's First Christmas (1999) and Mouse's First Halloween (2000), this fills the bill for preschool teachers seeking seasonal read-aloud choices. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mouse's First Spring | [
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28,141 | 2 | Soldiers, scientists, performers, writers, entrepreneurs, politicians, quilt makers, pilots... as author Lynne Cheney writes, "Americas amazing women have much to teach our children--and much inspiration to offer us, as well." Coming on the heels of America: A Patriotic Primer (Cheneys previous collaboration with illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser), A Is for Abigail celebrates the achievements of women in American history, with a special emphasis on the individuals who helped win equal rights for women. As with America, Cheney uses an alphabet book format to introduce hundreds of remarkable real women: "O is for SANDRA DAY OCONNOR and others who were first." In addition to the first woman Supreme Court Justice, the "O" page includes Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation; Jeannette Rankin, first female member of Congress; and Nellie Tayloe Ross, first woman governor. Glassers playful illustrations are lively and busy, inviting readers to explore Abigail Adams's farm or the crowded city block that houses "V is for VARIETY," with its DNA lab, dance studio, dentist office, and "PERSONS at WORK" sign. Snippets of information about each featured woman give a taste; ideally, readers will seek more in-depth biographies about the historical figures who pique their interests. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie CoulterGrade 2-4-Similar in design and concept to America (S & S, 2002), this alphabet book is attractive and fun to read. Through it, Cheney hopes to educate children about a number of strong individuals who contributed to American society, and, in many cases, helped women to gain their civil rights. With rare exceptions, the profiled women were born before 1950. For each letter, a page features a person or a concept. The "E" page, for example, discusses six educators. The letter "J" is associated with Anna Jarvis, advocate of the Mother's Day holiday. Information about each figure is given in a phrase or one-sentence reference to her major achievement. The colorful, cartoonlike illustrations make this book particularly engaging, and the detail and varied design of the pages are additional enhancements. Some of the pages have borders containing the names of the women who fit the letter category, such as the authors listed in the borders on the "W" page, which cameos Edith Wharton and lauds women as writers. All of the people are shown in active postures. A double gatefold producing the effect of an opening theater curtain reveals an array of performers ranging from Mary Martin as a flying Peter Pan to Mahalia Jackson singing. While the information is limited, the overall effect creates an awareness of the totality of American women's achievements.Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women | [
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28,142 | 2 | Grade 6-9-In rural Rich Square, NC, the 1947 arrest, trial, escape, and eventual acquittal of African-American Buddy Bush rocked a community and sparked international interest. This fictionalized account is narrated by Pattie Mae, Buddy's 12-year-old niece, a perceptive "ease dropper" who discovers the depths of prejudice and the strength of family. The child adores Uncle Buddy, who has unexpectedly returned home from Harlem. Waiting one evening with his niece for his girlfriend to get off work, Buddy has a brief sidewalk encounter with a white woman who later accuses him of attempted rape. Although Pattie Mae witnesses the whole incident and knows that he is innocent, the efforts of her grandparents and single mother to bail him out of jail are futile. When seven armed Ku Klux Klansmen unlock his cell, planning to exercise their own brand of justice, Buddy escapes into the swamp where the white men fear to follow and heads north into legend. Pattie Mae's coming-of-age story re-creates the racial segregation and tension of a small Southern community, demonstrates the loyalty of family, and exposes the heartbreak of injustice. The child's voice is candid, reflective, humorous, dialectic, and full of colloquialisms and superstitions. Her family and neighbors are well-drawn, idiosyncratic characters bound together by their distrust of the white community. Readers will discover universal truths about fairness, dignity, and compassion, and gain an understanding of the older generation as Pattie Mae realizes that home is where the heart is.--Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 6-9. Although it's 1947, folks in Rich Square, North Carolina, still use the sun to tell time, work in the cotton fields, and step aside when a white person passes. Twelve-year-old Pattie Mae dreams of going north, inspired by her urbane uncle Buddy's condemnation of "post slaves stuff." Their shared indignation is grimly justified when Buddy offends a white woman for a breach of etiquette, and she falsely accuses him of attempted rape. As Pattie Mae bears witness to Buddy's dire situation, she also worries about her grandfather's deteriorating health and chafes under her mother's strictness. An endnote with photos explains that Moses blended her own family stories with those of Buddy, an actual historical figure. The result is not always smooth, and the device of relaying information through overheard snippets of "grown folks talk" wears a bit thin. But Patti Mae's first-person voice, steeped in the inflections of the South, rings true, and her observations richly evoke a time, place, and a resilient African American community. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Legend of Buddy Bush (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books) | [
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28,143 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 3The creators of Earthquack! (S & S, 2002) tackle The Three Billy Goats Gruff with gusto. On the way to the beach, the Three Silly Billies are stopped at a small wooden bridge by a rude troll sporting oversize boots and a hard hat marked Trollgate Plaza. The goats can't scrape together the toll so they pool their funds with those of the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and a skateboarding Jack returning to his mother with some beans. Painted in cheery watercolors, Moser's figures are in contemporary dress and pop out from the white backgrounds. There is plenty of visual humor: the contents of Red's basket are a hoot (e.g., Wulfbanex cream, makeup, and a cell phone) and Baby Bear's T-shirt reads Jus Rite. In the end, a hungry green giant gives the troll his comeuppance and the final picture shows an Under new management. sign on the bridge. Palatini's hip and punny text is fun to read aloud, and listeners will silently total the dimes and pennies as they mount toward the required dollar. For an enjoyable storytime, pair this offering with Alma Flor Ada's Yours Truly, Goldilocks (S & S, l998) or Diane Stanley's The Giant and the Beanstalk (HarperCollins, 2004) and invite children to recall even more folktale and nursery-rhyme connections.Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. The pair who created Earthquack! (2002) reunite for riotous fun as several fairy tales fracture in a wild picture-book disaster. A grumpy, stumpy, hideous toll-bridge troll demanding money stops not only the three silly billy goats but also the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and a furious Jack from crossing the river. To best the monster, the travelers must join together to pool their resources. The sounds of the words and the puns ("Hey, Red, don't be blue") are as much fun as the quarrels, and Moser's big watercolor portraits show angry standoffs between characters that put a contemporary spin on a tale about a monster: the troll wears a hard hat; the goats sport cool sunglasses; and Red Riding Hood has painted toenails and a hammer, as well as a makeup brush, in her basket. Great for storytelling, especially for kids familiar with the original tales. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Three Silly Billies | [
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28,144 | 0 | "The story is fast paced, and cliff-hanger endings will keep youngsters turning the pages....Purchase this title for those fans of Harry Potter who need something easier, shorter, and less complicated to read on their own." -- School Library JournalBruce Coville has published more than one hundred books, which have sold more thansixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are My Teacher Is an Alien, Into the Land of the Unicorns, and The Monsters Ring. Bruce also founded Full Cast Audio, a company that creates recordings of the best in childrens and young adult literature. He lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, Katherine.; Title: The Dragon of Doom (Moongobble and Me) | [
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28,145 | 2 | Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.; Title: Passport to Danger (The Hardy Boys #179) | [
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28,146 | 2 | "Fans of the series won't be disappointed." -- School Library JournalMargaret Peterson Haddix is the author of many critically and popularly acclaimed YA and middle grade novels, including the Children of Exile series, The Missing series, the Under Their Skin series, and the Shadow Children series. A graduate of Miami University (of Ohio), she worked for several years as a reporter forThe Indianapolis News. She also taught at the Danville (Illinois) Area Community College. She lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio. Visit her at HaddixBooks.com.; Title: Among the Free (Shadow Children) | [
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28,147 | 16 | PreSAnother entry in a sweet series. It is autumn and Mouse, accompanied by Minka, a larger rodent wearing a pink jacket, go out to play. As they enjoy the day, Mouse learns about leaves, their colors and shapes, and the fun that comes from piling them up and jumping in them. When Minka hides in the heap, Mouse is confused, but readers will quickly see her tail curling above the fallen foliage. Bright hues evoke the season and realistically show the leaves in all their variety. Swirling brushstrokes and texture add interest to the paintings. Each spread has one or two simple sentences, and additional comments (Pretty! Yippee! Whee!) are spread throughout to add to the fun. This is a pleasant read-aloud for introducing autumn, and it will certainly be enjoyed where the other titles are popular.Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A welcome addition to the series that includes Mouse's First Halloween (2000) and Mouse's First Spring (2005), this playful picture book celebrates fall. Going out on an autumn day, Mouse and Minka, evidently Mouse's big sister, discover leaves falling through the air and lying on the ground. Minka leads and Mouse happily follows as they run through the leaves, look at their shapes, pile them up, and play hide-and-seek. Reds and yellows shine out jewel-bright against darker shades of blue, brown, and green. With warm colors and rounded forms, the large-scale illustrations are fine for sharing with groups of young children. A solid choice for preschool teachers seeking simple, childlike books on the season to share with their classes. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mouse's First Fall | [
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28,148 | 2 | Margaret McNamara is the author of the Robin Hill School series, and she gets many ideas from her daughters own school experiences. She lives in New York City.; Title: Pumpkin Patch (Robin Hill School) | [
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28,149 | 2 | K-Gr. 2. Like Jacqueline Woodson's picture book The Other Side (2001), Patrick's quiet story, part of the Ready-to-Read Childhood of Famous Americans series, tells of childhood friendship threatened by adult prejudice at the time of segregation. This happens to be a true story--about a boy who grew up to be the great civil rights leader. The spare text tells how Martin's white friend says they can't play together anymore: "Papa says colored and white can't mix." True to the period, Pate's realistic pastel illustrations show Martin's loneliness when his friend turns away from him. In contrast is the warm support in Martin's family. They talk about segregation, his dad says that "friendship has no color," and Martin decides that he will change the rules and change people's minds. The spare text and moving pictures bring home the hard lesson, the hurt of the child, and the strength Martin found. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. (Ready-To-Read) | [
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28,150 | 0 | James Howe is 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 children’s literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series Tales from the House of Bunnicula and Bunnicula and Friends. Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores and 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, and Also Known as Elvis. A common theme in James Howe’s books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.; Title: Creepy-Crawly Birthday (Bunnicula and Friends) | [
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28,151 | 2 | *Eversoles spare narrative mixes tongue-in-cheek exaggeration, childhood fears and adventure, inspiring Campbell to contrast the rough and the refined, designing detailed watercolor worlds brimming with humor and beauty. This primer on friendship wrapped in hijinks is paced for maximum pleasure. --Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2011, *STAR"Watercolor visions of both dragon realms combine traditional folk art and contemporary originality with cross-sectioned full-page images. Far-eastern architecture contrasts with European medieval castles, while modern technology, toys, and conveniences add a twist of the unexpected. Readers can search the pages for humorous scenes of modern comfortsa celebration with rock bands, karaoke, soccer for tin men and pizza for all. With an underlying message of the ills of prejudgment, this title should find a place in all libraries." School Library Journal, March 2012Dr. Robyn Eversole is originally from Clarksburg, West Virginia, and now lives in Tasmania with her husband, Wayne; their daughter, Rebekkah; and various household members with fur, feathers, and fins. As an anthropologist, she has worked in South America and in universities across Australia. She has published six books for children.; Title: East Dragon, West Dragon | [
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28,152 | 20 | PreSchool-Grade 4 - Reinhart bases his retelling of Noah's story on the Genesis account. He expands a bit on the original by including folkloric elements such as the jeering neighbors who later beg for a place onboard as the waters rise. What sets this version apart is the use of intricate pop-ups, not only on each spread but also in smaller fold-outs located along the sides. For example, next to the large ark under construction, a smaller scene shows Noah and one of his sons applying tar. The storm scene includes people climbing a mountain while lightning flashes and the ark tosses on roiling waves. The impressive paper engineering is both the book's strength and its weakness. Readers of almost any age will be impressed by the colorful, complex, three-dimensional scenes. However, their fragility limits the book's usefulness for libraries. The smaller pop-ups are particularly difficult to secure under their corner flaps. Librarians might consider whether they would have occasion to include this tale in storyhour and purchase accordingly. - Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Matthew Reinhart, a graduate of the Pratt Institute, is the highly acclamied author of Animal Popposites, TheArk, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book forLittle Simon.His pop-up career began while working withRobert Sabuda on books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Movable Mother Goose, beforebreaking into the world of pop-ups on his own.Matthew lives in New York City.; Title: The Ark: A Pop-up by Matthew Reinhart | [
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28,153 | 13 | PreSchool-Grade 4Fans of the national pastime will love this book. It opens to a view of the outside of Howler Stadium, where the home team is about to play the Growlers. Opening the flaps exposes a press-box view of the field, while the flaps themselves tell the story and give the lesser-known verses. Turning the pages leads to one delight after another, such as the octopi taking tickets, the shark advertising "Eat at Fang's," and the lion blatantly ignoring the warning "Do Not Chew On Wall." The paper engineering is well planned with the catcher flying up to grab a pop fly and the Growler batter spinning around and around as he strikes out. Looking at the pages from the back (or top) is fun as well, since all the parts are printed on both sides. The menagerie of fanged, furred, feathered, and ferocious beasts is detailed, colorful, and amusing. For libraries that can keep pop-up books, this one is a great addition. Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Take Me Out to the Ball Game: A Pop-up Book | [
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28,154 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1After a long night of gift giving, Santa tries to snooze at the beachbut the animals all have new toys, such as a drum and a water gun, and keep disturbing his slumber. Finally, Otto the robot uses his own present to rescue Santa and let him nap at last. The short sentences and simple words make this a good choice for early beginning readers, and the illustrations of Santa trying to relax in a lounge chair with a tropical drink will tickle their fancies.E. M. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Milgrim is still on a roll with his clever early reader series featuring Otto the robot and his group of animal buddies. In this fifth entry in the series, Otto and friends are all on an island vacation with Santa, who just wants to kick back and enjoy some rest after passing out all those gifts. As Santa tries to nap, each character uses a new Christmas gift to interrupt the poor tired fellow. Otto finally uses his new fishing rod to save Santa by hooking him by his candy-cane-printed swimsuit and flinging him up into the robot's tree house for a well-deserved rest. Though Milgrim uses the stereotypical short sentence structures found in lesser beginning readers, in his hands the short strings of repetitive words are hilarious. He also has a deft touch with his humorous illustrations full of quirky characters and slapstick comedy. Though beginning readers will love this latest Otto story, preschoolers and older kids will enjoy it too (as will the grown-ups, who know what it's like to need a nap after Christmas). (Easy reader. 5-7) (Kirkus Reviews); Title: See Santa Nap (Adventures of Otto) | [
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28,155 | 12 | Grade 1-4Enormous numbers are often difficult for children to conceptualize, but Clements makes the process enjoyable. The book begins and ends with a single dot. In between, readers not only view the other 999,998, but also pick up some fascinating tidbits of information. Each page features an array of dots arranged in a rectangular shape with an illustration superimposed on top, all set against a warm-hued background. One or two boxed facts help readers visualize particular amounts, and the spreads have arrows pointing out how many dots have been presented so far. The examples bring the concept home while reflecting kids' interests: There are 525,600 minutes from one birthday to the next one or To eat 675,000 Hershey's bars, you would have to eat one bar every two minutes, nonstop, for more than 234 days! Reed's humorous and eye-catching digital artwork adds to the appeal. The phrase It's 238,857 miles from the Earth to the moon is illustrated with a cow in space gear making its famous jump, while the fact that an arctic tern will fly more than 650,000 miles in its lifetime shows a camera-toting bird complete with Panama hat, suitcases, and passport clutched in wing. Pair this imaginative title with David M. Schwartz's classic How Much Is a Million? (HarperCollins, 1985) for a tremendous math lesson.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 3. With one million dots printed on its pages, this large-format picture book shows how big a million really is. Along the way, the text and illustrations offer plenty to look at and think about besides the rows and rows of tiny dots. On each page, Clements selects one number and connects it to a numerical fact--for example, "The sooty tern can fly nonstop for 87,600 hours after it leaves the nest--that's ten years on the wing!" A picture related to the idea is superimposed on the dots, giving the colorful images a distinctive, pixilated look. While the pictures are often well conceived, and the varied how-much, how-far, how-long, how-many factoids are diverting, the gee-whiz quality of the numerical information loses some oomph along the way. Still, teachers will appreciate the visual interpretation of the numerical concept. While this is not a replacement for David Schwartz's How Much Is a Million (1985), it offers an alternate interpretation of the subject. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Million Dots | [
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28,156 | 0 | Grade 6-9--Abby, a 13-year-old slave, is living on Hammond Plantation in Virginia when the Civil War ends. She wants to go to "freedom," although she is not sure where that is. Mamie, who raised her, and Pap, feel that they are too old to start elsewhere. Abby is desperate to find out about her mother, who disappeared when Abby was a baby, and wonders why no one will answer her questions about her. Eventually the teen learns the truth about her parents and prepares to be reunited with her mother. Hart gives readers a glimpse into the tragic state of the South at the close of the war and the plight of the freed slaves. Although it has a slow start and the ending is a bit too neat, this novel offers an interesting look at a sad time in this nation's history. The characters are depicted as real people with faults as well as good points. The book will give some readers a better grasp of the effects of the war on everyone.--Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 5-7. At the end of the Civil War, 13-year-old Abby Joyner, who lives on an isolated plantation in Virginia, suddenly finds that she is free from slavery. She has only one obsession: to find her mother. Where is Mama? Why did she leave when Abby was a baby? And why will no one, including Abby's grandmother and the white Mistress, talk about the secrets? The solution to the mystery is both convoluted and contrived. More interesting is Abby's search for her mother, which dramatizes blacks' struggle for freedom and dignity, the ongoing racism, and also the changes for whites, rich and poor. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Fires of Jubilee (Aladdin Historical Fiction) | [
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28,157 | 3 | David Lewman has written more than sixty-five books starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron, the Fairly OddParents, G.I. Joe, the Wild Thornberrys, and other popular characters. He has also written scripts for many acclaimed television shows. David lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Donna, and their dog, Pirkle.; Title: SpongeBob SquarePants: Hands Off! | [
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28,158 | 5 | Grade 4-6-In this slipshod follow-up to The Troll King (Aladdin, 2002), Rollo has disappeared and his girlfriend, Ludicra, is desperate to find him, mainly because she wants to be Queen of the Trolls. So begins the journey of trolls, ogres, and gnomes. Rollo, in the meantime, is trying to return the body of his dead fairy friend Clipper to her people. He's also hoping to use a magic knife to bring her back to life, but needs to find someone who can show him how. The two story lines finally meet, with fairly predictable results. The plot moves at such a breakneck pace that there's no sense of time passing. Characters never get beyond the one-dimensional and the dialogue is annoyingly stiff. Instead of buying The Troll Queen, consider filling your shelves with more offbeat visions of fantasy by Patricia Wrede, Jon Scieszka, Vivian Vande Velde, and Bruce Coville.Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: The Troll Queen | [
28159
] | Test |
28,159 | 5 | School Library Journal on The Troll King This fantasy should be a popular addition to collections in which the genre is in demand. -- Review; Title: The Troll Treasure (Ready-For-Chapters) | [
28158
] | Validation |
28,160 | 0 | Grade 4-6 - This fast-paced story chronicles the life of the enslaved man best known for his lawsuit to win his freedom. While Scott is mentioned in most elementary American history textbooks, the details of his 11-year legal struggle are largely ignored. While acknowledging that he was fairly well treated by his owners, the book reinforces the fact that slaves were forced to work against their will, with no pay, and often separated from family members. The extent to which they were considered property is evident in this novel as Scott is moved about the country and hired out to others at the whim of his owners. The narrative is written in the dialect Scott would have spoken, which may make it difficult reading for some children. Also, Moses fails to give a real sense of her subject; Scott never expresses emotion inwardly or outwardly. Still, fans of historical fiction written in journal format, made popular by the "Dear America" series (Scholastic), will enjoy this story, which will reach even more students if read aloud. The book contains a foreword written by Dred Scott's great-grandson. - Anne L. Tormohlen, Deerfield Elementary School, Lawrence, KS Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 8-11. Few people know why the Dred Scott decision is considered one of the causes of the Civil War. This fictionalized slave narrative humanizes the struggle of brave Dred Scott and supplies extensive historical notes that explain the complex legal facts. Scott, born a slave, traveled with his master to several northern states. Sixteen years later he discovered that, according to the Missouri Compromise, his slavery ended when he "stepped foot in free territory." Abolitionist lawyers helped him sue for freedom, and although he triumphed at first, his owners appealed and won, with the Supreme Court eventually deciding that slaves like Scott were not free--a notorious decision that polarized the country. The legal stuff is dense, but it's balanced somewhat by the personal anguish of slave family separation. The small, beautifully designed book, with spacious type, is illustrated with stirring full-page wood engravings, and the commentary and eloquent foreword by Scott's great-grandson are part of the story. An excellent curriculum addition, this book will resonate with adults as well as teens. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: I, Dred Scott: A Fictional Slave Narrative Based on the Life and Legal Precedent of Dred Scott | [
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28,161 | 0 | Jane Kurtzwas born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents decided to move to Ethiopia, where she spent most of her childhood. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferencesin all but eleven of the United States, so far, and such places as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, France, Germany, Romania, England, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Japan. She helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that is planting the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children.; Title: Mister Bones: Dinosaur Hunter (Ready-to-Reads) | [
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28,162 | 2 | Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.; Title: Typhoon Island (The Hardy Boys #180) | [
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28,163 | 14 | Leonid Gore moved to the U.S. from his native Russia in 1991. He has illustrated The Sugar Child, The Malachite Palace, Sleeping Boy, Who Was Born This Special Day?, The Secret of the Great Houdini, The Princess Mouse, and, most recently, Saints Among the Animals for Atheneum. He is also the author and illustrator of Danny's First Snow. Mr. Gore lives with his wife and daughter in Oakland, New Jersey, where monarchs are occasionally sighted.; Title: Who Was Born This Special Day? | [
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28,164 | 0 | Jane Kurtzwas born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents decided to move to Ethiopia, where she spent most of her childhood. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferencesin all but eleven of the United States, so far, and such places as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, France, Germany, Romania, England, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Japan. She helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that is planting the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children.; Title: Johnny Appleseed (Ready-to-Reads) | [
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28,165 | 18 | Gr. 3-5. As the book opens, in 1962, Chavez is knocking on the doors of California farm workers and explaining how a union would help them. The narrative turns back to Chavez's Depression-era childhood and follows his life chronologically, focusing on his struggle to organize and carry out a nonviolent movement to improve the lot of farm workers. Soto clearly shows how Chavez's outlook and determination were rooted in his boyhood experiences with poverty, injustice, and prejudice against Mexican Americans; he was later influenced by his meetings with activists and his admiration for pacifists. Readers who know little of Chavez will come away with a basic understanding of who he was and what he accomplished. Like other books in the Milestone Books series, this is designed for easy reading, with fairly large type and well-spaced lines, though the vocabulary is not oversimplified. Black-and-white illustrations appear throughout the book, and a bibliography is appended. A good, short biography of Chavez to pair with Kathleen Krull's picture book Harvesting Hope [BKL Je 1 03]. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Cesar Chavez: A Hero for Everyone (Milestone) | [
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28,166 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1This likable character and his animal friends are back in one of their best outings since Bear Snores On (S & S, 2002). While walking in the woods, Bear gets lost, and the other critters begin to worry about him. They form a search party, find their friend, and return to the lair to cuddle up and fall asleep, and finally, "the bear feels safe." Wilson's rhyming text moves along at a steady clip, with only the smallest missteps in meter, and the repeated refrain begs for audience participation. Chapman's acrylic illustrations perfectly mesh realism with emotional expression; the characters show their concern for Bear, whose fear is almost palpable. The combination of full-bleed spreads, single-page paintings, and smaller insets keeps the story flowing and encourages page turns. Bear's cozy den, painted in warm oranges and browns, contrasts effectively with the outdoor scenes, done in blacks, blues, and grays. The reassuring story is simple, but speaks to children's fears and the safety they find with the people who care about them, creating a comforting and accessible forum for discussion. With its large, richly colored illustrations, this book will work equally well one-on-one or in storytime, and listeners are sure to request repeated readings.Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Karma Wilson is the bestselling author of several picture books, including the Bear Books series,Where Is Home, Little Pip?, andA Dog Named Doug.Karma lives in Montana.; Title: Bear Feels Scared (The Bear Books) | [
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28,167 | 7 | Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi pull off an impressive five for five with Wrath of Mulgarath, the satisfyingly dramatic conclusion to their series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. After the gory conclusion of the The Ironwood Tree, we don't get even a moment's reprieve before the action picks up again, in a starting chapter entitled, fittingly, "IN WHICH the World Is Turned Upside Down." Thirteen-year-old Mallory and nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon return to the Spiderwick Estate only to find their home in shambles, with trash and broken furniture scattered across the lawn and Simon's griffin chasing a "goblin" across the roof. The faerie world that the Grace kids have so slowly probed in this series has finally come home to roost. Black and DiTerlizzi pack a lot into the finale of this beautifully produced series, with dragons and goblins and elves--and even a magical cameo by Arthur Spiderwick (the long-lost author of the disappearing-reappearing Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You). We get a dramatic rescue, a clever end to a fearsome foe (with some thanks to Hogsqueal from book two), and a long denouement that leads to a final cryptic note from the author and illustrator: "Are there more ogres / and dragons to slay? / Is there more mayhem, / perhaps, on the way? / Ask Tony and Holly. / They'll swear that it's true. / But you still won't believe / what's coming for you!" (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes"Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers...Youngsters may well find themselves glancing over their shoulders."-- "Publishers Weekly, " starred review"The books wallow in their dusty Olde Worlde charm: Faeries! Dumbwaiters! Attics! But then, reading has an old-fashioned charm too."-- "Time" magazine"With their evocative gothic-style pencil drawings and color illustrations, rhyming riddles, supernatural lore, and well-drawn characters, these books read like old-fashioned ripping yarns."-- "New York Times Book Review"; Title: The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles) | [
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28,168 | 2 | Gail Giles has written two other acclaimed YA novels: Shattering Glass and Dead Girls Don't Write Letters. A native Texan, Gail has lived in Chicago and Alaska. She is now living back in Texas with her husband, two dogs, and three cats.; Title: Shattering Glass | [
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28,169 | 17 | Gr. 3-6. It's a classic Cinderella story. Stuck at home in Clarksville, Tennessee, in the 1940s, Wilma Rudolph couldn't attend school. Her leg was in a brace, twisted from polio. The kids called her cripple. But she grew up to become a runner who broke world records. This title in the popular Childhood of Famous Americans series is fictionalized, but it works because it never pretends to be documented biography. The made-up details and conversations seem true to the time, as is the picture of the African American girl who fought not only illness but also poverty, racism (including the n-word), and gender barriers. Sports fans will enjoy the details of training and technique as well as the honesty about Rudolph's close, and sometimes tense, relationships with her coaches and teammates. Occasional black-and-white pictures capture the drama, from the kid in the hospital to the Olympic winner to the handshake with President Kennedy. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner (Childhood of Famous Americans) | [
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28,170 | 2 | Marion Dane Bauer is the author of many books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor book On My Honor and the New York Times bestseller My Mother Is Mine. Her other titles include A Mama for Owen, If You Were Born a Kitten, Grandmother's Song, and Thank You for Me! She has recently retired from the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults where she was the first Faculty Chair. She lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and can be reached at mariondanebauer.com. ; Title: A Recipe for Valentine's Day: A Rebus Lift-the-Flap Story | [
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28,171 | 16 | PreS-This simple book, which is similar to the author's Counting Kisses (S & S, 2001), introduces the parts of the body. Mother begins the day by giving her baby "one little tickle on a lovely, sleepy head." As the morning progresses, the child is fed, bathed, diapered, and dressed for an outing. Each activity is accompanied by the gentle touch of her parents, siblings, and grandmother, who take turns tickling her hands, chin, arms, and tummy. In clear pastel and primary colors, the collage, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations depict loving family members with round faces, happy smiles, and rosy cheeks. Usually the text is placed on the left with the picture on the right, but there are a few double-page paintings. Large numerals appear alongside the words, accompanied by an appropriate number of daisies, which are the only items that coincide with the counting theme. Children will be drawn to the cheerful, sunny artwork and the anticipation of being tickled all the way to the end.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS. The author-illustrator of Counting Kisses (2001) offers another winsome book about babies, which also functions as a counting book: Mother gives "one little tickle on a lovely, sleepy head"; kitty gets into the act, tickling ears; and brother and sister offer "five tapping tickles on a tiny, tender tummy." The little baby even gets seven tickles on her "tush" from Grandma. The numbers appear in words and figures, on their own pages or bordering ebullient two-page spreads. Katz uses a bright, cheerful mix of collage, gouache, and colored pencils to produce artwork that has great visual appeal for the intended audience. Rounded shapes predominate. Even the background objects have curves, and the characters have a soft, huggable look--especially that cute baby. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Ten Tiny Tickles | [
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28,172 | 2 | Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.; Title: The Secret of the Soldier's Gold (Hardy Boys, No. 182) | [
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28,173 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1The true story of the African baby hippo that was separated from his mother during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and then bonded with a giant tortoise is one that has endeared itself to many. This version is a bit too endearing. Bauer's symmetrical text gives the basic facts, compressing details in order to draw clear parallels between the hippo's activities with his mother and then with the tortoise. The author uses repetitive phrasing to convey the severity of the situation: "The rain fell and it fell and it fell. The Sabaki River rose and it rose and it rose." While this is a time-honored narrative device, when combined with Butler's soft-focus, anthropomorphic artwork, the effect is cloying and monotonous. The scenes, rendered in acrylic paint and colored pencils in a gray/brown/pale-lavender palette, feature animals that smile continuously, even during the storm. For strong visuals and a conceptually satisfying account, stick with the striking photographs and sensitive narrative provided in Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Paula Kahumbu's Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship (2006) and its sequel, Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship (2007, both Scholastic), reviewed in this issue.Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Worlds away from Jeanette Winter's retelling, Mama (2006), in which the nearly wordless text and stark design offered youngsters little buffer against Owen's terrifying separation from his mother, Bauer's picture-book version closely matches its narrative and visual tones to its target audience. A rhythmic, lulling narrative smooths the barbed edges of the disaster ("The rain fell and it fell and it fell. The Sabaki River rose and it rose and it rose"), and Butler's feathery illustrations, featuring smiling, doe-eyed animals rendered in soft tones of butter, rose, and lavender, hint at the sunny outcome even during the story's troubling opening scenes. Composition choices, too, spin the trauma appropriately for the very young; for instance, even as Bauer acknowledges, post-tsunami, that Owen's mother was "lost" and Owen himself was "alone in the sea," Butler's close-up picture avoids the overwhelming, long-distance perspective of a tiny figure dwarfed by the vast ocean. Apart from a font cluttered with ornamentation, the book's large format and attractive presentation invites sharing--even with sensitive young listeners. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Mama for Owen (Rise and Shine) | [
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28,174 | 14 | Grade 3 Up–Snow's clever and ever-so-slightly subversive exposé will answer all the FAQs, and some new ones. Intricately detailed pen-and-ink, computer-colorized illustrations will keep viewers endlessly amused. The text is aimed toward sophisticated readers, and actually offers a nice overview of the steps that companies take to produce a product–brainstorming, research and development of prototypes, etc. There's a subtle British feel to the language and illustrations. Large quantities of homely little elves swarm over the last two-thirds of the book; they are young and old, with diverse skin tones; some use wheelchairs, and a few seem to be aliens from another galaxy. They talk to one another via speech bubbles, which, along with the crowded (sometimes chaotic) layouts, make this a book much more suited to personal perusal than sharing with a group. Even youngsters who don't believe in Santa or Father Christmas will find much to admire in Snow's creative take on a beloved holiday icon.–M. A. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 2-4. The author of the wacky pseudo-engineering books How Dogs Really Work (1993) and The Truth about Cats (1996) now turns his attention northward to Santa's home. In this imaginative picture book, Santa oversees a vast operation with elves as toy designers, testers, makers, wrappers, and packers, not to mention spies (naughty or nice? asleep or awake?). The text is long and the design is too complicated for the true Santa set, but Snow's amusing take on the subject and the many comments and text balloons in small type will entertain older kids, as will the lively, detailed ink drawings with colorful washes. The large-scale, eye-catching jacket illustration features a Santa diagram, with his cap labeled "thermal noggin protection," his beard called a "soup filtering system," and his buttons styled "suit control knobs." Even nonbelievers will enjoy the fun. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: How Santa Really Works | [
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28,175 | 1 | PreSchool-Grade 1-Downard presents a new rendition of the classic story in which the lazy duck, pig, and cat refuse to help the resourceful hen. This version elaborates a bit on how the bread is a "delicious golden brown color" and in the end the hen eats it all by herself, not with her chicks as in some retellings. However, what really sets this book apart is its modern and witty artwork. The collage photographs are generated with the assistance of a computer with delightful results. In one scene, the three animals are playing pool; another shows the little red hen riding a bicycle and wearing a helmet, glasses, and red rain boots; and in another illustration, the cat has headphones. The creative pictures are fun to pore over and will catch the interest of kids slightly older than the traditional audience for this tale.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. The tale of the hard-working hen and her lazy friends (a duck, a pig, and a cat) gets a traditional retelling in terms of text, but the pictures are something else! South African photographer Downard has created a series of ingenious, sometimes quite funny full-color photo-collages that breathe new life into the familiar tale. From the cover image of the hen, dressed to the giblets for gardening, to the feckless friends sunbathing, playing pool, or glued to a TV version of "Hairy Trotter," the pictures are unfailingly eye-tickling and full of details that repay careful examination. Who can resist their witty charms? "Not I," said the reviewer. Michael CartCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Little Red Hen | [
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28,176 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Young Pecorino makes his first trip to a city concert with his mother and is fascinated with instruments of the orchestra. Entranced by the siren call of unmanned instruments on the empty stage, Pecorino explores the workings of the tuba a bit too deeply. Despite his attempts to wiggle, wossle, and wamboodle himself out, he is trapped. This entertainingly silly tale is further enhanced by a larger-than-life guest conductor and a perplexed and furmuzzled tubistcapable of a Brobdingnagian blow on his instrument. Cantone's mixed-media pen-and-paint illustrations of large-nosed, expansive cartoon figures add whimsy to descriptive text filled with nonsensical words and the thoughtful logic of a child. This quirky musical adventure will be a hit with young audiences.Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Sure, Pecorino Sasquatch is silly. He has a silly name and he does traditionally silly things, such as wearing shorts in the cold. And sure, the storyline is silly: It stars a boy who attends his first concert with his mother, crawls into a tuba and gets stuck there until he's blasted out by a long-mustached musician he's just insulted on the bus. The language and character names are silly, too, and will delight readers who revel in wordplay-the indignant long-mustached man "fumphers," and then becomes "furmuzzled." Flutes sound like "Whistle, wassle, woooooo." Perhaps the silliest and best twist of all is that in every spread, the reader can see a large raccoon accompanying Pecorino in his adventures, but the creature is never, ever mentioned, even as both of them are clearly flying out of the tuba. Cantone's scritchy collage illustrations, accented with bits of cotton and small photographs, perfectly fun-mirror the eccentric, googly-eyed, huge-nosed, projectile-breasted characters that inhabit Pecorino's silly, silly world. (Picture book. 6-8) (Kirkus Reviews); Title: Pecorino's First Concert (Anne Schwartz Books) | [
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28,177 | 0 | Stephen Krensky is the author of more than a hundred books for children, including How Santa Got His Job (an ALA Notable Book) and Big Bad Wolves at School. He and his wife, Joan, live in Lexington, Massachusetts. You can visit him at StephenKrensky.com.People said that when Davy was born he weighed more than two hundred pounds! They also said he saved the world from a comet by grabbing its tail, twirling it around, and sending it back into the sky. These stories are just myths, but Davy did have an amazing life. Here is the real story of Davy Crockett, fearless soldier and leader who always stood up for what he believed in.; Title: Davy Crockett: A Life on the Frontier (Ready-to-read SOFA) | [
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28,178 | 2 | "An outstanding addition to the large body of World War II/Holocaust fiction." -- School Library Journal"No book stages Kristallnacht more chillingly." -- The Horn Book >David Chotjewitz is a teacher and playwright. He lives with his daughter in Hamburg, Germany, where, in 2000, this book was published to acclaim.; Title: Daniel Half Human | [
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52043
] | Validation |
28,179 | 13 | Patricia C. McKissack is the author of many highly acclaimed books for children, including Goin' Someplace Special, a Coretta Scott King Award winner; The Honest-to-Goodness Truth; Let My People Go, written with her husband, Fredrick, and recipient of the NAACP Image Award; The Dark-Thirty, a Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award winner; and Mirandy and Brother Wind, recipient of the Caldecott Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.; Title: Loved Best (Ready-For-Chapters) | [
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28,180 | 15 | PreSchool-Grade 3Orphaned polar bears are the darlings of this engaging book that chronicles their growth and development at the San Diego Zoo. Only three months old when they first arrived there, Kalluk and Tatqiq are shown adjusting to their new home in large, full-color photographs. Playful and inquisitive, they explore the new exhibit by sniffing and investigating. Kalluk, the braver of the two, is quick to act, while his sister thinks before responding. As in Little Panda (S & S, 2001), Ryder provides two lines of textone for very young children that consists of short exclamatory sentences in large type, and the second for older readers interested in scientific and developmental information, and set in a smaller, italicized font. Valuable for both curriculum support and recreational reading, this book will win the hearts of many children.Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. Like Ryder's Little Panda (2004), this photo-essay introduces children to an engaging, true story from the San Diego Zoo (often cumbersomely referred to here as the "World-Famous San Diego Zoo"). The stars are rescued polar bear twins Tatqiq and Kalluk, who progress through the photo-rich pages from needy, quarantined cubs to fully acclimated adults with mastery over their outdoor habitat. The images, all provided by the zoo and most sharply focused and close-up, will elicit coos from readers as they see the cubs taking their first tentative dip in an indoor pool, or emerging brown as grizzlies from a roll in the dirt. However, fact-hoarding youngsters may feel disappointed by a text that favors impressionistic responses to the photos ("Moving outside, white bears look up, gazing at the sky--so big, so blue") and confines more straightforward information to passages printed in tiny, italicized type. This can't replace more thorough nonfiction explorations of these popular beasts, but the immediate view of a poignant zoo drama offers rewarding browsing for animal enthusiasts. Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: A Pair of Polar Bears: Twin Cubs Find a Home at the San Diego Zoo | [
4788
] | Test |
28,181 | 2 | Carolyn Keene is the author of the ever-popular Nancy Drew books.; Title: A Taste of Danger (Nancy Drew 174) | [
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28,182 | 18 | Starred Review. Grade 7 Up -A fascinating look at the birth, growth, stagnation, and final emergence of Title IX. While acknowledging the controversy surrounding this law, the author is unwaveringly supportive of its passage and implementation. Interesting and easy-to-follow chapters highlight the process of creating, revising, fighting for, and ultimately passing this legislation that gave girls and women equal access to physical-education classes, gymnasiums, universities, and graduate schools. Human-interest stories personalize the issues, and photographs of congresswomen fighting for equal opportunities for girls, women demonstrating, and the ultimate victory-a woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated-show how challenging, yet ultimately rewarding, the battle has been. Charts depict amazing statistics about the increase in athletic participation by females from 1970 to 2001. Cartoons show the humorous but painfully true attitudes of our culture toward women as they have strived to achieve equality in this country. The book closes with a "Then and Now" section highlighting the changes Title IX has brought about. Lynn M. Messina's Sports in America (H. W. Wilson, 2001) and Victoria Sherrow's Encyclopedia of Women and Sports (ABC-CLIO, 1996) both offer bits of information, but nothing out there comes close to Blumenthal's portrait of the emergence of women athletes in our society.-Julie Webb, Shelby County High School, Shelbyville, KY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 6-9. As in Six Days in October (2002), a compelling overview of the 1929 stock market crash and a financial primer, Wall Street Journal editor Blumenthal uses specific facts and fascinating personal stories to give readers a wide view of history. Here, the author looks at American women's evolving rights by focusing on the history and future of Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in U.S. education. Profiles of groundbreaking female athletes and legislators deftly alternate with highlights of the women's movement, from the early twentieth century through today. The dull paper stock diminishes the many black-and-white photos, but the images are still gripping, and relevant political cartoons and fact boxes add further interest. Few books cover the last few decades of American women's history with such clarity and detail, and this comprehensive title draws attention to the hard-won battles, the struggles that remain, and the chilling possibility that rights, if not fiercely protected, can easily be lost. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America | [
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28,183 | 12 | PreSchool-Grade 3Three puppets enjoy a nighttime adventure in a library after hours. Amiable and amusing full-page illustrations, done in oils on paper, capture a sense of being alone in a big space and convey the warmth of wood tables and shelves full of books, but the text provides only an impressionistic and sketchy plot. Hermit Crab is missing from the puppet box after the librarian leaves, and Rabbit, who has been steeped in fairy tales, decides that she has been taken by a giant. Lion, more stolid and practical, finds a map that seems to point to landmarks within the building, but it tears as the friends pull at it. Lion folds the pieces into a boat, a sail, a captain's hat. Endearing as these puppets are to look at, they are frustrating to read about. The story reads, even aloud, like one improvised with puppets in hand: long on action and dialogue but with too many moments that pull against the center. Some of the magical elements seem inconsistent as well: Lion and Rabbit can sail the paper boat across the floor in the moonlight (the clock), but then dine on the remains of a real baloney sandwich and toast marshmallows over a lit match (in the library!!!). Overall, an appealing concept that doesn't quite live up to its magical promise.Kathie Meizner, Montgomery County Public Libraries, Chevy Chase, MD Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. After the library closes for the evening, story hour puppets Rabbit and Lion search for their puppet-friend Hermit Crab. Armed with a map, a flashlight, and a picnic salvaged from the "ucky-blucky" trash can, they explore the dark library, afraid that giants may have eaten their friend. When they become lost, Lion makes a paper boat, and they sail across the library--into a rock that talks, which turns out to be Hermit Crab, on his own adventure. Then the three friends share a late-night snack "and read themselves to sleep under the stars." Softly colored illustrations show the puppets enjoying their after-hours freedom but apprehensive about what might be hiding in the library's dark corners. A charming story, with special appeal for children who are convinced their own toys come to life in their absence. Karen HuttCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: When the Library Lights Go Out (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)) | [
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28,184 | 2 | Grade 25This soothing exploration of sunrise asks readers to consider the exact origin of the daily event. The text suggests many locations as the spot where the sunrise first appears (mountain, lake, the Middle East), but concludes, "The sunrise begins in you." The pacing evokes the early-morning glow of first light, alternating between poetic blocks of text and repetitive prompts ("But Africa is not where the sunrise begins."). The collaboration of author and illustrator is near perfection as the text and artwork build on one another. The alternating pattern of the narrative is reflected in images that often show a close perspective and then draw back on the following page. Colors go beyond the expected rose hues, and each misty scene is like a jewel. Clever details such as the similarity of a rooster's eye to a planet in space and the silhouette of a family shown in a butterfly's wing add to the continuity. Like a treasure for those with the patience to find it, this beautiful story will capture the attention of thoughtful children.Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Radiant pastel artwork and simple, stirring poetry celebrate nature, from the great oceans that enfold and encircle all the earth to a single exquisite butterfly. The poetic lines raise questions about where the sunrise begins, drawing in global geography and cultural history: does the sun rise in Africa, where life first arose and later walked on two legs? The Middle East, where the light of many great religions first shone? In the Far East? The texts final switch to a metaphor feels heavy-handed: The sunrise begins in you. But the messages of hope will resonate with many readers, and even those who know the basic fact that the earth turns will feel freshly inspired by the books reminder that every moment brings the sunrise to someone somewhere in the world. Preschool-Grade 3. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Where the Sunrise Begins | [
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28,185 | 1 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2The creative team behind Old Cricket (2003) and Sailor Moo (2002, both S & S) has come up with another winner. The action begins on the front cover as 15 soggy moggies are tossed from their sinking ship. By the time the story starts, they have reached the safety and uncertainty of a deserted island. The cats are of varying ages, breeds, and personalities and must overcome their differences as they attempt to build a boat and return to civilization. However, by story's end, the castaways are no longer strangers; through their adversity, they have become a family, and they choose to stay on the island. This delightful book is told in verses that become smoother as the cats cooperate and find their groove. The cast of characters includes a wisecracking marmalade tom, an angora diva, and a tough alley cat with a heart of gold. Goembel's illustrations, done in acrylic and ink, are fantastic and provide wonderful insight into the side stories developing as the book progresses. This animated, witty book is a wonderful selection to read aloud or for one-on-one appreciation of the marvelous art.Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.K-Gr. 2. This rhyming tale of a briny bevy of 15 felines washed ashore on a deserted island is nimbly told and depicted. Seven kittens and eight full-grown cats, each with a distinct personality (the bobtail wears a kerchief; the Angora a pink shawl, etc.), drink coconut milk, use broken shells for dishes, and watch for a ship to rescue them. With no boat in sight, they decide to build their own--but their efforts deteriorate into disputes. Bruised and sore, they take stock of their situation and decide to stay--because they have become a family. With a dash of Gilligan's Island and pinch of Survivor minus a million dollars, of course), this is a cat-egorically clever yarn, with humorous details in the acrylics-and-ink scenes and puns in the text adding even more fun. A feline frolic sure to amuse cat fanciers. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Castaway Cats (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)) | [
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28,186 | 0 | Publishers Weekly Starred review Thought-provoking, imbued with powerful emotion, and conveying a timeless theme, this is historical fiction at its best.; Title: Bigger (Aladdin Historical Fiction) | [
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28,187 | 2 | 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: Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores | [
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28,188 | 11 | Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of many books for children, includingMy Story, My Dance: Robert Battle & Journey to Alvin Ailey, which was an ALA Notable Book, an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, and an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended title for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children;Satchel Paige, an ALA Notable Book and a Top 10 Sports Book for Youth; andWords Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass, whichThe New York Times Book Reviewcalled, visceral, intimate, and plainly told, this story is sure to move young children, and also motivate them to read more.Her books were all illustrated by her husband, James E. Ransome. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, she holds a mastersdegree in early childhood and elementary education from NYU. She lives with her family in upstate New York. Visit her at LesaClineRansome.com.; Title: Satchel Paige | [
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28,189 | 2 | During a sunny day together, a parent bear (the gender is never specified) tells its cub all the ways in which the little one is "the bear of my heart, dear,/ and I am the one who loves you." These include telling many stories, seeing wonderful places together, racing in the sun and splashing in the stream. Ryder's (My Mother's Voice) singsong meter elevates these simple pleasures into a lullaby anthem: "Let's sit nose to nose and share secrets./ Let's wish on a star, eyes shut tight./ Let's whisper our dreams in the darkness./ Let's snuggle together at night." For her part, Moore (Bartholomew's Blessing) suggests an intimacy between parent and child that's reassuring but never suffocating; in one scene, the cub sits on the parent's back, blending into the curve of the older animal yet retaining its own individuality. The watercolors' velvety textures and soft hues convey an idyllic life, and the animals' comfortingly bulky shapes are embellished with just enough wispy brushstrokes to let readers know just how snuggly soft their coats are. There will always be a need for books like this one: unabashedly emotional while successfully skirting treacle. Ages 3-6. (Dec.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreSA simple tale of a mother's love for her child. The story, in one-line rhyming verse, is told from the point of view of a mother bear. She promises her cub all of life's simple pleasures (splashing in streams, gazing at stars, snuggling and hugging) that they can share. And of course, there is the reassurance that no matter how old the cub gets, or how far it wanders, the mother's love will last "forever and ever,/for YOU are the bear of my heart." This book covers ground already well trod by Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I Love You (Candlewick, 1995), Nancy Tafuri's I Love You, Little One (Scholastic, 1998), and Margaret Wise Brown's The Runaway Bunny (HarperCollins, 1942). Moore's illustrations, rendered in watercolor, are dominated by the bears, which helps to reinforce the all-encompassing relationship between the two. This book will appeal to new mothers and is suitable for lap-time sharing.Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Bear of My Heart | [
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28,190 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 2Reissued from the collection Four Stories for Four Seasons (S & S, 1980), this vignette deals with a winsome animal foursome. Seasonal details provide a backdrop for the narrative, which concerns Mistress Pig's dinner party. After encouraging her guests to enjoy the simple delights of fall, their hostess excuses herself to put the finishing touches on the meal. Missy Cat, Master Dog, and Mister Frog wait patiently at the table until an inordinate amount of time has passed. Hungry and concerned, they venture into the kitchen to see what might be amiss. It seems that Mistress Pig took her "finishing touches" rather too literally and in the course of taste testing the dishes, gobbled up the entire repast. Gracious and true friends even in the face of adversity, they console their distraught if sated hostess. Master Dog suggests they go to a restaurant where Mistress Pig begins her dinner with dessert. Signature dePaola illustrations, featuring cartoon characters with expressive faces, highlight this simple yet very funny story. Borders made from acorns and brown and gold leaves evoke the season.Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Tomie dePaola is one of the most popular childrens book authors and illustrators of our time and the winner of the 2011 Childrens Literature Legacy Award for significant and lasting contribution to childrens literature, among other lifetime achievement awards.A Newbery Honor winner, he has written and illustrated a number of books, including Caldecott Honor bookStrega Nona and its companions, as well asOliver Button Is a Sissy;The Legend of Old Befana; The Clown of God;Michael Bird-Boy; Andy, Thats My Name; and Quiet. A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and now lives in New London, New Hampshire. Visit him online at Tomie.com and TomiesBlog.Blogspot.com.; Title: Four Friends in Autumn | [
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28,191 | 2 | Dan Gutman hated to read when he was a kid. Then he grew up. Now he writes cool books like The Kid Who Ran for President; Honus & Me; The Million Dollar Shot; Race for the Sky; and The Edison Mystery: Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time. If you want to learn more about Dan or his books, stop by his website at DanGutman.com.; Title: Jackie Robinson and the Big Game (Ready-to-read COFA) | [
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28,192 | 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.The Turtle ; Title: The Turtle (Lighthouse Family) | [
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28,193 | 2 | PreS-Gr. 3. Four-year-old Alex loves chess until his neighbor's uncle, "moldy old" Uncle Hooya, dramatically trounces him. Traumatized, Alex stops playing until elementary school, when an injury on the football field leads him back to the game, and he joins his school chess club. Then, in his first tournament, he faces Uncle Hooya once again--when he plays against the older man's nephew. Wong's rhythmic, colloquial free verse combines the thrill of finding a talent with a child's anxieties, conveying the feelings in an age-appropriate voice: sometimes in a tournament "you do the first thing that pops into your mind, / which is really, really dumb, / but you really, really, really have to pee." Schuett's gouache-and-ink illustrations show a close-up cast of likable, multicultural kids supporting one another and facing off across the board. For young chess enthusiasts, this makes a good companion to David Birch's The King's Chessboard (1988), but all kids working hard to develop a passion will recognize Alex's excitement and his struggle to overcome disappointments. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedMichelle Anderson Executive Director, America's Foundation for Chess Wong takes a game perceived as something only the brainy kids would want to play and brings it to life -- so much so that kids and adults alike will read her book and be left wanting more. More chess, more time to think through a problem, more problems to solve, and definitely more Wong. Put a copy in every classroom!Elena Akhmilovskaya Donaldson Women's Grandmaster, three-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion and two-time Olympic Chess Champion This book will inspire kids and parents to learn and play chess.; Title: Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club | [
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28,194 | 17 | Grade 1–4—This well-intentioned picture book tribute is marred by a disjointed narrative. While double-page paintings capture the intense excitement of the play as the Hall of Famer steals home, a few lines of free verse detail the action. Meanwhile, along with each painting and verse, a box of text introduces an aspect of Robinson's life and career. One, for example, briefly limns the segregated nature of baseball in 1946; others focus on the athlete's base-running skills, his family, his rookie season, his best season, the Brooklyn Dodgers' rivalry with the Yankees, and his early life. These snippets of information (two to three paragraphs each) are superimposed on facsimiles of old baseball cards; in small-sized font against a slate-colored background, they are frustratingly hard to read. Some of the factoids are interesting and Wimmer's oils are attractive and well done, but with its lack of a cohesive narrative, this effort falls short. Baseball fans will welcome the book despite its flaws; but for straightforward introductions, steer readers to Carin T. Ford's Jackie Robinson: Hero of Baseball (Enslow, 2006) or Sharon Robinson's Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By (Scholastic, 2001).—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Burleigh's text features vivid, sharp images ("number 42 dances his odd pigeon-toed dance off third base") that describe Jackie Robinson stealing home during a game in the 1955 World Series. In addition to the main story line, each two-page spread includes biographical and historical snippets, boxed and in smaller type, about Robinson's complicated and often difficult life--his years as a multisport star at UCLA, his role as the first African American in major league baseball. This pairing of the poetic main story and the expository backstory is potentially awkward for adults presenting the book to kids, but even the biographical segments are written with muscular energy. Wimmer's oil paintings are simply gorgeous--rich, thickly painted close-ups of pitcher, runner, batter, crowd (he chooses to focus mostly on black faces in the stands, which adds a powerful effect). GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds | [
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28,195 | 2 | Grade 2-4This third installment in the series features Pandora, the cat who has been the keeper of the lighthouse for many years; Seabold, a canine sailor; and three mouse orphans, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny. Seabold teaches Whistler and Lila how to use his compass so they can explore the autumn woods. Lila looks for fairy rings, and Whistler looks for bugs. When he misplaces the instrument and the two mice lose their way, they are rescued by a wise eagle. Graphite drawings expand on the nostalgic, quaint tone of the text and capture the charming characters' expressions. This book is similar in mood, voice, and quality to Joanna Hurwitz's "Park Pals Adventure" series (SeaStar). A solid early chapter book that is suitable for most collections.Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In a lighthouse by the ocean, Seabold, a dog, and Pandora, a cat, raise three little mice children, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny. When Whistler and Lila venture into the forest one day, they find mossy logs and a fairy ring of mushrooms, but they lose their way and their compass. Help comes in the surprising form of a gentlemanly eagle that returns their compass, takes them to his treetop nest, and returns them to the lighthouse just in time for lunch. With at least one ink drawing on every double-page spread and two-page illustrations introducing each chapter, the graceful artwork helps define both settings and characters. The details in both the story and the illustrations make the tale more involving and endearing. The little mice are self-reliant, their parents are sensible, and even their natural predator becomes a trusted family friend. The third volume in the Lighthouse Family series, this short chapter book will appeal to children who like their fantasy stories on the cozy side. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Eagle (The Lighthouse Family) | [
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28,196 | 2 | Carolyn Keene is the author of the ever-popular Nancy Drew books.; Title: Danger on the Great Lakes (Nancy Drew Digest, Book 173) | [
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28,197 | 0 | Grade 1-4-This recently discovered work by the renowned African-American artist is not to be missed. It is the story of Li'l Dan, a slave on the Hollis plantation, who listens nightly to Mr. Ned play his drum from faraway Africa. As he learns more, he makes his own drum, practicing all of the sounds he hears. When black Union soldiers tell him that he's free, he follows them. A short time later, he uses his drum to save his new friends from enemy attack and is congratulated by General Sherman. Although the story is worthy in its own right, the 21 mixed-media paintings are the outstanding element here. With rich colors and bold black outlines, the dramatic art shows the influence of abstract expressionism. Brilliant blue Union uniforms and dark skin stand out against the white spaces, and text and art are in perfect balance. Beginning letters on many pages also reflect the illustrations in color, shape, and style. The simplicity of primary colors and abstract figures express so much more than the text alone. There is no doubt about Dan's intensity as he listens to the sounds of the woods and taps out the song with his fingertips. Li'l Dan is small-seemingly insignificant against the large soldiers in their striking uniforms. Yet his strength and self-assurance fill the page when he confidently strikes out the cannon fire. On the accompanying CD, Maya Angelou's mellow voice and easy pace complement this beautiful, creative work.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OHCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.K-Gr. 3. Renowned African American artist Bearden, who died in 1988, wrote and illustrated this story about a slave boy who lives on a Southern plantation. Li'l Dan makes himself a drum and uses it to imitate the sounds around him: singing people, cawing birds, clacking leaves, and crashing thunder. After the Union army liberates him, Dan follows the soldiers of Company E, becomes their "mascot," and saves them from a Confederate cavalry unit with his remarkable drumming. Bearden's illustrations are expressive, and some are quite wonderful, but children may find it odd that Dan looks different from page to page, partly because the artist's style varies and partly because Dan's size and proportions seem to fluctuate. Still, children will enjoy the book as a Civil War story featuring a courageous African American boy, and adults will appreciate it as the only picture book Bearden left behind. Maya Angelou reads the story aloud quite effectively on the accompanying CD. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Li'l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story | [
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28,198 | 12 | Grade 6 UpChopra presents inspirational life lessons spoken in parables by a mysterious teacher who leads an unnamed narrator through a four-day retreat of self-discovery. With the guidance of Baba, the 15-year-old comes to know his true self by generating answers to four major questions: "Do I have a soul? How do wishes come true? What is the supreme force in the universe? How can I change the world?" The teen and Baba spend a day discussing each question; these four sections are divided into smaller lessons or chapters that end with the young man describing what he learned and how he has applied Baba's wisdom to his life. The didactic text demonstrates a cosmic connection between the soul and all things in deliberate, forced dialogue between the teen and his teacher, and the narrator's internal conversation. The prominent themes are consistent with those common to the genre: finding order in chaos, looking for the missing "something" in life, meaningful communication, and understanding and belief in what one cannot see. The book is rather like Antoine de Saint Exupry's Le Petit Prince meets Chicken Soup for the Soul. The final section, "A Soul Alphabet," contains inspirational words and motivational prose: appreciation, beyond, communicate. This nondenominational offering could serve as a textbook for a course on self-exploration, faith, or spiritual discovery.Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 8-12. Chopra, who has been very successful writing self-help books for adults, now turns to a teenage audience. The messages about one's spiritual self and enlightenment he presents here are not noticeably different from those that he gives to older readers. To deliver the information, he uses a literary device (which the book presents as true, not metaphorical): a wise old man, Baba, comes out of the mist to pass on knowledge to a young Deepak. Older teens will probably smirk, but younger ones may find the interaction both accessible and inviting. Baba's teachings revolve around the questions that most people ask, beginning in young adulthood. "Why am I here?" "Do I have a soul?" "Do wishes come true?" "What is the supreme force in the universe?" Along with answers, Chopra offers words of encouragement and simple suggestions to improve relationships and make the world a better place. Familiar philosophy youthfully repackaged. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Fire in the Heart: A Spiritual Guide for Teens (Chopra, Deepak) | [
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28,199 | 2 | John Manders uses an old master's technique of layering colored glazes over a monochromatic underpainting and does extensive research for many of his projects. He and his wife, Lisa, live with two dogs and a parrot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.; Title: The Case of the Smiling Shark: Secret File #2 (The Freaky Joe Club) | [
28210
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