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31,500 | 1 | Grade 1-4-A peek into the daily life of the ring-tailed lemur, told by young Mew. Readers follow the little animal as he and his troop find food, watch for predators, take time for play and naps, and survive a cyclone. The language is a bit too sophisticated for beginning readers, but the simple story can serve as a read-aloud for a younger audience. The neat weaving of facts into the story provides readers with a good, basic overview of lemur life, although not a lot of detail is included. Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations that have the look of field sketches add visual appeal and help to bring Mew and his family to life. The concluding page of "Lemur Facts" might give enough information for brief reports, but the first-person narration and attribution of thoughts and motives make the book questionable as nonfiction. It's better suited to children looking for a different kind of nature-adventure story or for teachers needing supplemental material for natural-history units.Arwen Marshall, Minneapolis Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.; Title: Little Lemur Named Mew, A | [
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31,501 | 2 | "Grandma Rose loves to sew and has over the years brought joy into the lives of many people in her community. With a needle, some thread, and a piece of cloth she makes magic in the form of dresses for girls, slacks for boys, curtains and quilts, dolls for grandchildren, tablecloths, and much more. Her dream is to save enough money so that one day she can purchase a set of beautiful dishes with pink and red roses and blue trim. As we were reading this heart-warming story written by Linda Elovitz Marshall for children ages 3 to 8 years old, we thought of all the love that goes into the craft of sewing and how it creates connections between people. For Grandma Rose it is a major part of her day and provides a source of personal renewal and service to others." --Spirituality & Practice "Can sewing make magic? Yes, if it's done by kind-hearted Grandma Rose. Every day she sews, and every day she saves to buy a beautiful set of dishes, just like the ones her grandmother used on Shabbos. She sews for everyone: a skirt for Mrs. Feldman, a blue tablecloth for Mrs. Cooper, a hat for Mrs. Segal and a shirt for Mr. Cohen. For each item, she stitches something extra (rose-shaped buttons for the skirt, a set of napkins for the tablecloth and so on), as if by magic. When her jar of coins reaches $200, she goes to the store to buy the pretty pink-and-red-rose dishes with blue-and-gold trim. Oh no, the department store does not have them! Sadly, she uses her money to buy food for a special meal and returns home. Surprise! Each of the people for whom she sewed is there, holding a piece of her beloved china. The attractive illustrations (reminiscent of Emma Chichester Clark) add Jewish references to situate the story firmly within its community. A well-stitched tale about generosity for people of all faiths." --Kirkus Reviews "What goes around comes around arrives in a sweet way in the form of a sewing grandmother who always does something extra. Her mitzvot (good deeds) do not go unnoticed, supporting the surprise ending. Grandma Rose sews for young and old: clothes, blankets, table cloths, dolls. She saves her money to buy a set of Shabbat china dishes, just like the ones she used at her grandmother's as a girl. Her coin jar fills, the bank converts the coins to dollars, but alas, when she arrives at the department store, all the dishes have been sold. On the way home, Grandma Rose markets to prepare a banquet meal to ease her sadness. When she enters her home, there are all her family, friends and customers each--drum roll!--with a piece of the long sought china purposely purchased to say 'thank you.' Ah that the world were so full of innocent gratitude and memory. But why not let a youngster relish this idea as a spur to good deeds? The magic of the sewing is more than the product; it is the joy of that extra kindness. The dialogue is sprightly if a little too 'by gosh, by golly'; the illustrations deliver pert, pleased, happy people. There is bare bones overt Jewish content: customers with Jewish names, mention of 'Shabbos, ' and one picture of a Shabbat dinner. However, the value of tikkun olam (repairing the world) jumps off every page. If this is what magical sewing can accomplish, hooray for that stitch in time!"--Association of Jewish Libraries "A group of four- and five-year olds loved this magical story of a special Grandma who adds a little extra something to whatever she sews. When she sews the bank teller's wedding dress, Grandma Rose surprises her by adding a lacy bridal veil. She adds beautiful pink and red buttons shaped like roses to a skirt she is hemming for Mrs. Feldman, and twelve beautiful napkins (with blue and gold borders) magically appear with the blue tablecloth Mrs. Cooper has ordered for her daughter who is getting married. Grandma Rose tells her granddaughter that she is saving all her earnings so she can buy the dishes she saw in the department store. They have pink and red roses and blue and gold trim, and look like the dishes her grandmother used for Shabbos meals. But when the bank teller converts the coins in Grandma Rose's jar to the $200 she has earned and she goes to purchase the dishes, Grandma Rose is very disappointed. All of the dishes are gone! She is sad, but decides to get a lot of delicious food with which to fill her old dishes. Surprise! When she opens the doors to her house, all of her customers, friends and family are gathered there, each holding a piece of the dish set to thank her for all her wonderful surprises! The story ends with her saying 'must be magic' when Mr. Cohen asks how she knew to have all that delicious food for them (which is, of course, being served on those new dishes.) Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations with sprightly smiling people are the perfect complement to the text. Marshall, who also wrote Talia and the Rude Vegetables, has written a hopeful story brimming with the joys of generosity and emphasizing the message of tikkun olam (fixing the world) without being didactic. Highly recommended for ages 4-6.." --Jewish Book World Linda Elovitz Marshall has, in addition to writing and farming, taught early childhood and parenting education, and owned a bookstore. She is the author of Talia and the Rude Vegetables and Talia and the Very YUM Kippur.; Title: Grandma Rose's Magic (Shabbat) | [
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31,502 | 12 | Breezy is a good word for the newest book in the Words Are CATegorical series. Like its predecessors, it presents a quick grammar lesson through a fast-paced, rhyming text and witty, cartoon-style illustrations. The introductory page defines (in prose) the terms comparatives and superlatives. An appended page tells (in prose) how to form comparative and superlative adjectives. And in between come the rhyming verses, briefly explaining these parts of speech and providing the many examples that make the book relatively fun for students. Clearys verse sets the tone, which seems intended to offer entertainment as well as instruction. A political cartoonist for The Globe and Mail, Gable creates energetic, comical scenes based on a few words; a cast of madcap, dressed-animal characters; and some unusual color combinations. A useful, amusing introduction. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan"Cleary and Gable, those relatively cool cats, continue their Words are CATegorical series with this entry about comparative and superlatives.Taking comparatives and superlatives in turn, Cleary walks readers through the basic rule of adding -er/-est, then branches out to state that sometimes 'more' or 'most' is added at the front instead, and there are some words that have no set rules (good, bad, far). 'Try taking a / describing word, / like bright. / Now add e-r. / You've made it a comparative / to name the brighter star.' Gable's illustrations are the true stars here, his feline characters brimming with personality. The 'brighter' spread features a sunglasses-clad, red-carpet star preening for a camera. The facing page shows the spotlights and cameras trained on a flashier diva, the original looking on in consternation. Bright backgrounds provide contrast for the cats' hues, while the comparatives and superlatives are printed in color, contrasting with the black text. While Cleary nails his rhythms and rhymes for the most part, the sheer implausibility and craziness of some of his choices (the 'longest curl' on a cat?) may give readers pause and interrupt the flow. Too, readers will want to savor the zaniness introduced by Gable's pictures: 'quietest' and 'queasiest' sit side by side on a ride, the one a mime with a finger to his lips, the other a shocking shade of green.Perhaps not the best, but better than many grammar books--definitely one to check out." --Kirkus Reviews "Breezy is a good word for the newest book in the Words Are CATegorical series. Like its predecessors, it presents a quick grammar lesson through a fast-paced, rhyming text and witty, cartoon-style illustrations. The introductory page defines (in prose) the terms comparatives and superlatives. An appended page tells (in prose) how to form comparative and superlative adjectives. And in between come the rhyming verses, briefly explaining these parts of speech and providing the many examples that make the book relatively fun for students. Cleary's verse sets the tone, clearly setting out to offer entertainment as well as instruction. A political cartoonist for The Globe and Mail, Gable creates energetic, comical scenes based on a few words; a cast of madcap, dressed-animal characters; and some unusual color combinations. A useful, amusing introduction." --Booklist; Title: Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest: What Are Comparatives and Superlatives? (Words Are Categorical) | [
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31,503 | 0 | Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Robins (First Step Nonfiction) | [
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31,504 | 0 | Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Constitution Day (First Step Nonfiction) | [
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31,505 | 11 | Jennifer A. Miller has been a children's book editor for several years. She authored Mother Teresa for the History Maker Biographies series and South Korea for the Country Explorers series.; Title: South Korea (Country Explorers) | [
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31,506 | 20 | "Rhyming text recounts the Maccabees' stand for religious freedom; clever moments balance out some preachy ones. The text works better to reinforce the story for celebrants than to introduce it to readers of other faiths. Appropriately for the Festival of Lights, Harrington's use of light is the illustrations' greatest strength." --The Horn Book Guide"From the comic book superhero-like illustrations to the heartfelt repeated chorus of 'Sometimes it only takes a few/Who know what's right, and do it, too, ' this wonderful rhyming retelling of the Chanukah story is sure to be a favourite of adventure-loving little girls and boys."--Noodlenuts"With its 'little engine that could' vibe and comic book-style illustrations, Maccabee! is sure to entertain young readers as well as inform them on the origins of Hanukkah. Harrington's bold art creates a sense of energy and determination while Balsley's rhyming text urges the story on. An author's note provides additional information on Hanukkah traditions."--School Library Journal, Extra Helping"As the story goes, after the Jews refused to worship the Greek Gods, King Antiochus took over Jerusalem and ruined the sacred land. Judah and his followers fought back, and as they rebuilt their homeland, they found the legendary oil that burned for eight days. With its superhero-like cartoon drawings and rhyming text, this book makes the story behind Hanukkah not only easy to understand, but enjoyable to listen to as well. The history of the Maccabees becomes memorable with a text that flows without being a forced rhyme. Bold, double page color illustrations reflect the strength of character of the Maccabees. Brief descriptions at the end of the book more fully explain the legend. This book is an enjoyable read-aloud and will appeal to students looking for Hanukkah material. The illustrations and text meld together very well to make this an appealing book with an engaging story that will captivate the reader. Recommended." --Library Media Connection"The story behind Hanukkah gets the action-figure treatment, with Judah Maccabee as a chiseled hottie. The rhyming text is only serviceable ('So Judah led the scrappy band/ To fight for freedom through the land'), but it hardly matters: the real draw is the high drama of Harrington's sculptural illustrations and their superhero cartoon vibe, as the Maccabees fend off armored elephants and labor to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem." --Publishers Weekly"Maccabee tells the Hanukkah story, focusing on the actions of the famed heroic family that led the fight in Jerusalem against the idol-loving Greeks and their leader King Antiochus in ancient times (165 B.C.E.). The action in the picture book focuses on the small group of Jews who struggled long ago against the oppression and injustice inflicted by the invading Greeks as well as their resistance to assimilation. Forced idol worshipping and the invading army's desecration of the Temple enrage the Maccabees. They steal away and regroup in the Judean Hills to plan their winning attack on the well-armed invaders. The epilogue jumps to modern day asking the question "What would Judah do?" making the leap to question our modern day observances of the events. The account is told in an accessible rhyme with a refrain "Sometimes it only takes a few, /who know what's right and do it, too." Children will relate to the bright, stylized, cartoon-like illustrations and the characters' dramatic expressions. The compositions are dynamic and bold. For ages 4-8." --Jewish Book World Tilda Balsley has written many books for Kar-Ben, bringing her stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Tilda lives with her husband and their rescue Shih Tzu in Reidsville, North Carolina.; Title: Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah | [
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31,507 | 15 | Gr. 2-5. This inviting volume from Gateway biography series features Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Aimed at a younger audience than Jemison's autobiographical Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life (2001), the book concisely presents information about Jemison's youth, education, medical career, Peace Corps experience, NASA training, space flight, college teaching, and public lectures. Illustrated feature sections introduce topics such as space suits, the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. With fairly large type and a photograph on nearly every other page, the presentation looks both readable and colorful. The book ends with short lists of books and Web sites recommended for children as well as a source bibliography. Carolyn PhelanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mae Jeminson: Out of This World (Gateway Biographies) | [
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31,508 | 0 | "Zack is recalled to duty when his boss, Sorn, goes missing. With his parents' blessing, along with the support of a flying alien cat and a new human friend, Zack must evade enemy aliens and Homeland Security, find Sorn, and keep humanity from realizing aliens exist. The author manages to keep Zack's fast-paced adventures relatively fresh in this fifth installment." --The Horn Book GuideSo much for a relaxing weekend with humans. Zack, Earth's Alien Agent, must ditch movie night to take on a surprise mission for the Galactic Union. Agent Sorn--Zack's boss has been kidnapped by these alien thugs. Now it's up to Zack, a flying alien cat, and a cool human friend to rescue her. But can they avoid energy beams, Homeland Security, and falling lava rocks as they follow Sorn's trail into a dangerous cave? The real life of an Alien Agent is nothing like the movies.; Title: Alien Contact (Alien Agent) | [
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31,509 | 11 | Robin Lim lives with her family in Bali, Indonesia. She has written several articles and books of prose and poetry and is founder and executive director for the Yayasan Ibu Bumi Sehat Birth Center in Bali. Lim is also the recipient of the Alexander Langer International Peace Award.; Title: Indonesia (Country Explorers) | [
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31,510 | 0 | "Izzy the whiz kid has created the perfect invention, just in time for Passover. Izzy is no ordinary kid; he is an amateur inventor. His mother is experiencing Passover blues as she is trying to tidy the house for Passover and rid it of any hametz. Izzy has just the solution to help ease his mother's stress. He decides to invent a machine that can clean the house and make it neat just in time for Passover. His new invention is called Super- McDuper Passover McClean. Izzy is ready to test Mr. McClean. He hits the red button and cranks the green handle, and Mr. McClean comes to life, belching and purring and ready for work. He whirls around Izzy's bedroom, eating all the crumbs in his room as well as the bed, the rug, the books on his shelf and his toys and much more, and then, Mr. McClean does an about-face and spits each item out and puts them back in place. Izzy checks his room and there is not a crumb or a thing out of place. Mr. McClean is a success. Now it is time to surprise his mother while she is sleeping and do the living room. Izzy turns on Mr. McClean and he sucks up the cordless phone, the desk, a computer, but wait, Izzy smells smoke, and sees a spark. Poor Mr. McClean has gone dark and even worse; all the items in the living room are stuck inside him. Thank goodness Izzy is so handy. He pulls out his tools and begins to work on Mr. McClean. Soon he comes back to life and spews all the items out, but Izzy is confused, everything is upside down. So he hits the reverse button and saves the day. Everything is returned to its proper order. When it's time for the seder on Passover night, the house is spotless and Izzy's mom is thrilled with how everything turned out. This is an adorable rhyming story that children will love. It is cheery and entertaining and filled with bright and beautiful illustrations to capture kids' imagination. There is also a glossary in the back of the book to teach children about this important Jewish holiday. Perfect for ages 3-8." --The Jewish Journal "Eager to help his overworked, stressed mother during the pre-Passover spring cleaning, a little boy invents a super vacuum-type machine that does more than a clean sweep.Wearing a baseball cap and circle-shaped glasses, the round-faced, google-eyed Izzy is a whiz at creating all things science in his room, which is filled with cookie crumbs and other leftover foods. While Mom takes a nap, Izzy promises to have everything neat, clean and free of hametz (foods unacceptable during Passover) by using his 'Super-McDuper Passover McClean' machine. It works like a charm in his bedroom, where everything is eaten by McClean, whirled and swirled, washed and dried and then spit out and put back in place. But cleaning the living room becomes more complicated with a McClean malfunction that first swallows everything in sight and then, with Izzy's tinkering, spits everything out upside down. 'Izzy jammed on REVERSE. / And reverse did the trick! That McClean was so slick, / Turned the whole room right over and did it real quick.' Subdued watercolors create nevertheless zany illustrations to accompany the Prelutsky-style rhymes, presenting a confident and seriously earnest youngster working out his experimental mishaps to achieve a sparkling success."Izzy is an inventor. To help his mother clean the house for Passover, Izzy invents a machine called Passover McClean which swallows rooms of soiled furniture and spits out the furniture completely clean for Passover. There is a glitch in the machine which Izzy repairs. Thanks to Izzy and Passover McClean, Izzy and his parents sit down for the seder in a sparkling and gleaming house. Carrie Hartman's illustrations are charming: Izzy is a wide-eyed young boy who wears large circular glasses and a multicolored baseball cap. He looks like an inventor. Passover McClean is a whimsically drawn, gray metal machine with a very large mouth. The fanciful full-page illustrations add fun and whimsy to the rhyming text. Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean is recommended for synagogue and school libraries." --AJL Newsletter "Forget the candle and the feather--here is a charming book for children that tackles the topic of chametz cleaning through a feat of magical engineering. It's a funny, rhymed tale of a whiz kid, named Izzy, who wants to give his harried mother a break from Passover cleaning. He invents a robot-like Passover cleaning machine that he names 'Passover McClean' and then tells her to go rest while the machine does its work. (She complains she has a bit of a 'bread-ache.') With somewhat of a nod to Sylvester McMonkey McBean, Dr. Seuss' 'Fix-It-Up-Chappie' who invents a 'star-off' machine, the author imagines young Izzy as the same sort of mechanical genius. At first his machine performs admirably, but by the time he lets it loose on the living room, Izzy finds it necessary to locate the emergency hatch and press the red button to set things right for Passover McClean. It's an entertaining story with clever rhythm and wordplay, and appealing cartoonish illustrations. A simple author's note at the end explains the concept of searching for chametz before Passover." --Jewish Journal"Izzy the Whiz has invented a gadget that every mom preparing for Passover would love to have: a wacky vacuum-washer thingamajig that will swallow everything in a room, spin it clean, remove the hametz and spit it out. But what if the Super-McDuper Passover McClean machine goes on the fritz and everything comes out upside down? Futuristic and whimsical illustrations make this a blast." --Hadassah Magazine"Pre-Passover cleaning gets a fun twist in this rhyming tale. Izzy, an amateur inventor, has created a mother's ultimate dream: a house-cleaning machine, and just in time for Passover. Izzy knows that all the crumbs in his home must be removed before the holiday, and his invention will do just that. 'All were blown, all were thrown into Izzy's machine/A pre-holiday feast for Passover McClean.' McClean hits a snag, however, when the machine malfunctions right after it has inhaled the entire living room for cleaning, but before it has spit it back out, dirt free. Izzy must then use his inventor's mind to make things right hours before the holiday begins. Kids will appreciate the easy rhyming scheme and bold pictures, and wish that they could invent their own Passover cleaning machine." --Publishers Weekly"Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean (Kar-Ben, $7.95) is written for slightly older children, ages 3-8, but also has an infectious energy and sense of fun. Written in rhyme, it celebrates the ingenuity of Izzy, an amateur inventor, who creates a machine to clean the house for Passover. Though the machine goes a little haywire, ingenious Izzy knows what to do and everything comes out fine in the end. This entertaining tale was written by Israeli Yael Mermelstein and illustrated by Carrie Hartman." --Jewish Woman "If you got rid of your sister and the fish in the pot, gave your mom a migraine, and invited the Cat in the Hat to clean up the house for Passover, you just might get this book. When Izzy the Whiz is admonished by his stressed-out mother for a bedroom crammed with Passover contraband 'hametz' (anything made with leavened flour) right before the holidays, this bespectacled boy-inventor creates a machine that scrubs the whole house clean leaving 'Not a flake! Not a cake! Not a cookie or crumb!' Not without mishap, of course. Children will enjoy the topsy-turvy illustrations that show furniture and household bric-a-brac being gobbled, spat up, and put to rights by a multi-armed, fanged contraption on wheels. Although its plotline and audience may be limited, the rhyming text does a good job explaining a tenet of the Torah through a humorous and accessible story."--Bayviews "In this delightful rhyming tale, Izzy invents a cleaning machine to help his mother in the ritual house cleaning before the start of Passover. Mom takes a rest and leaves Izzy in charge. Think Dr. Seuss meets robot vacuum cleaner: 'Izzy pressed the red button, McClean lurched and whirred, he cranked the green handle, it belched and it purred. The hungry machine chomped ten books for its lunch. Gobbled the rug, and continued to munch.'" --New Jersey Jewish Standard Carrie Hartman grew up knowing she would illustrate picture books some day. Her school and local library were her favorite places to be when she was young. She graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with her degree in Illustration. Carrie's illustration work can be seen nationally and internationally in: picture books, editorial publications, animated projects, advertising, greeting cards, and much more. Carrie finds that working on picture books is very special. Having children tell her that one of her picture books is the book they have their parents read it to them every night before bed is the biggest honor that she could hope for. Carrie teaches in the illustration department at MCAD. She freelances from her studio and is currently writing her own picture books.; Title: Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean | [
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31,511 | 1 | PreS-Gr 2Rocky and Blossom are serious troublemakers. These sheep have been known to skateboard without helmets, sunbathe on train tracks, and even run with scissors. Murphy the sheepdog doesn't trust them a bit, and, when he hears of their interest in the forbidden high meadow, he begins to watch them like, well, a sheepdog. Then one day while he is distracted, they make a successful break. They hide themselves in the company of a hungry wolf and are suddenly in mortal danger. Trusty Murphy shows up to save them, of course, and all is well for the fluffy, fast-moving, not-so-forward-thinking pair. Monroe's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are entertaining; kids will enjoy following Rocky and Blossom's antics both in and out of panels. And who knew that sheep eyes, simply circles and dots, could say so much? Even though they can't be trusted to stay where they belong, be sure to make a place on the library shelves for these rebels.Heather Acerro, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.For Rocky and Blossom, living among 147 other sheep in their lowland meadow is like torture. Especially when, high up the mountain, there appears to be a patch of choice clover. That meadow up there SURE looks sweet! says Rocky (or Blossomthey look pretty much the same). The one problem is Murphy, the kindly cattle dog who recalls that the troublesome two had been known to make some bad decisions over the years. Monroes squiggly, mischievous illustrations hit a high point here, using a two-page spread to show the sheeps past foibles: skating a half-pipe (without helmets!), suntanning on train tracks (while listening to iPods!), running with scissors (scissors!), and so forth. The irascible duo is tons of fun to follow across the pages; Monroe even blasts them through panel borders to illustrate just how incredibly sneaky they are. Ultimately, a dark forest, a hungry wolf, and a steep cliff figure into their comeuppancethough a final page suggests this wont be their last dubious deed. Monroes comic timing is positively Mo Willemsesque. Preschool-Grade 1. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Sneaky Sheep | [
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31,512 | 2 | "A little apple tree wants to be like the other trees in the oak forest. It particularly longs to have stars, since the other trees have stars that dangle and shimmer on their branches at night. The tree asks God for stars, and in response, God tries to let the tree know how many other gifts it has alreadyincluding the ability to bear apples and provide shade. As the seasons pass, the tree discovers that it DOES have starsjust not the kind that other trees have. The ending is a surprise twist and the book includes a practical activity, which will appeal to the reader. Like many young children, the apple tree covets the gifts that the other trees have been given. Based on a Jewish folktale, this lovely story encourages readers to believe in their unique gifts and strengths, rather than long to have someone elses abilities or assets. The message is well delivered in an age-appropriate fashion. This book is beautifully written by famed storyteller and teacher, Peninnah Schram, and Rachayl Davis, also a storyteller and educator. The authors thank Rabbi Avi Weiss for having exposed them to this story in a Midrash workshop. Watercolor illustrations are whimsical and colorful and support the story perfectly. The Apple Trees Discovery can be used as a Tu BShvat or Earth Day resource. Highly recommended for children ages 5-8 as a read-to and as an independent read." --Jewish Book World "Storytellers Schram and Davis team up to tell a tale about how unfulfilled wishes can make one dissatisfied with ones lot in life. Way down on the forest floor, a little apple tree looks up at the night sky and sees stars which, from its viewpoint, seem to be hanging off the branches of the tall oak trees surrounding it. Tapping into the universal desire to fit in and be like those around it, the apple tree cries out to God to give it stars, too, for only then will it feel special. God reminds the little tree of its own unique gifts which manifest themselves with the turn of every season: having fragrant blossoms, being a resting place for birds, offering shade for nature lovers, and, by autumn, bearing beautiful apples. Even after hearing these gentle reminders, the apple tree remains adamant in its desire for stars. Only then does God show the little arboreal dreamer that it possessed all along the object of its hearts desire. Lee uses a palette of greens, browns, blues, and reds in her watercolor illustrations to bring this nature story to life. A simple emoticon-type smile makes up the little apple trees primary expression. This story was previously published in the anthology Chosen Tales: Stories Told by Jewish Storytellers edited by Peninnah Schram. A version of the story was also included in Apples and Pomegranates by Rahel Musleah. Recommended." --AJL Newsletter "Well-known author and storyteller Peninnah Schram reminds us in her afterword to this charming fable: 'To find the star in the apple, you must turn it on its side and cut it in half. We must look hard to find the beautiful star in each of us, and sometimes it just takes a change of direction.' When a little apple tree notices that stars in the sky appear to be hanging from branches of the taller oak trees, she asks God to grant her wish to also have stars. Although God notes that her 'fragrant blossoms fill the air' and her 'branches offer a resting place for birds' she covets only what others have. But when God causes a wind to blow and suddenly her delicious apples hit the ground, they split open, exposing the beautiful star within. This sweet parable about appreciating Gods gifts and understanding our own uniqueness is a universal tale. It will be particularly memorable if you remember to read it before you slice those Rosh Hashanah apples by turning them on their sides and finding that elusive star."--Jewish Journal Peninnah Schram is a storyteller, teacher, author, a recording artist, and a professor at Stern College of Yeshiva University. She is the author of many books of Jewish folktales and has recorded a CD of folktales, The Minstrel and the Storyteller. She has received many awards for her work including the Covenant Award for Outstanding Jewish Educator, The Circle of Excellence Award, and the National Storytellers Network Lifetime Achievement Award.; Title: The Apple Tree's Discovery | [
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31,513 | 1 | K-Gr 2-Cookie is no ordinary dog. She discovers that if she walks on her hind legs, she can reach the candy dish, turn on the TV, and get lots of attention not bestowed on ordinary quadrupedal canines. All is well until Cookie gets noticed, first by a dog trainer, then a circus director, and finally by a Hollywood producer. They offer her snacks in exchange for increasingly complicated performances-she even gets her own TV show. Exhausted by the demands of fame, the pup realizes, with some help from a friend, that perhaps being a regular dog is best...unless she wants to reach that candy dish when no one's watching. Part picture book with full-page illustrations, part comic book with speech balloons and panels, the story is illustrated in a cartoonish two-dimensional cartoon style. Funny antics abound-Cookie walking on top of a lion statue, across a flaming board over a pond filled with snapping turtles, or saying "Mall Moo Mitt!" ("I'll do it!") through a mouthful of snacks. Cookie is not quite on a par with Susan Meddaugh's Martha, but her fans may enjoy this spunky talking (and walking) dog.-Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Oh, fame. How it messes with ones head. In this case, the head belongs to a dog named Cookie. Cookie can expertly walk on her hind legs, which people think is cute. So cute, in fact, that Cookie is booked for a dog show where she walks on a ball across a flaming board over a kiddie pool. This gets her a circus gig and then a TV show. Whenever her friend Kevin comes to visit, Cookie says she is happy. She likes the treats and the fanny pack that come with the job. But as the pressure on her grows, she wavers. And her legs hurt. Can she give it all up? Some of the humor might go past the intended audience (like the way the bigwigs are always, literally, kicking Kevin out the way), but theres so much for them to look at and like, particularly the funny, deadpan moments that occur throughout. Executed in ink and wash, the cartoonish pictures take up full pages, some sprinkled with vignettes, others in panels. This is for more than one readingall the better to get the message across. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Cookie, the Walker (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,514 | 1 | Gr 1-3-The bar-tailed godwit is an interesting bird. Born in June near the Cape Avinoff mud flats on Alaska's southwestern mainland, the long-legged chicks are quickly able to catch worms, spiders, beetles, larvae, and tiny crabs and to walk and swim-all on their own. Throughout the summer, adult birds and their young spend much of each day eating, and, as autumn approaches, first the adult females, then the males, gather into flocks and begin their long migration to New Zealand. The mature young godwits follow in mid-October, instinctively flying more than 7000 miles over water (about eight days) without stopping. Two predators of the godwit-the Arctic fox and the peregrine falcon-are mentioned. Posada's watercolor and paper collage illustrations show flocks of the wading shorebirds on the beach; in shallow water; in flight-close-ups and side views; overhead and head-on perspectives. They show brightly colored green and brown grasses; fluffy yellow pin-feathered chicks; and a predominance of grays, browns, and blues of birds, skies, and ocean. Appended are a page of additional facts; a simple map showing the birds' flight path; and a brief list of book and website references. The book is well presented and fascinating and could be used as part of a geography lesson or to teach about animals' unusual lifestyles. The large print, simple, straightforward vocabulary, and appealing format make it a good choice for a report or a simple research project for young nature lovers.-Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Heights Public Library, OH(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Most children have never heard of the bar-tailed godwit, a migratory bird that is indigenous to Alaska. Yet Markle uses the epic yearly journey of the godwit to capture young imaginations and present an important fable about perseverance, courage, and family. Each year the godwits leave the Alaskan mudflats where they are born and fly nonstop more than 7,000 miles to overwinter on the New Zealand coast. Delicate and ethereal illustrations by Posada bring their voyage to life, from the birth of a tiny godwit female to the dangers she faces during the flight, including driving rain and hail and an attack from a peregrine falcon that is only prevented by the intervention of her flock. This story has special significance to Markle, a former resident of New Zealand, as the arrival of the godwit each year is celebrated with cheering crowds and ringing church bells. An obscure yet fascinating topic is the basis of this stylized nonfiction storybook. Grades K-3. --Erin Anderson; Title: The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit's Amazing Migration | [
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31,515 | 0 | "Meltzer (Mezuzah on the Door) illuminates the concept of hiddur mitzvah, the idea that using objects of beauty during religious observances enhances religious practice. Young Rosie wants to make her family's weekly observance of Shabbat extra special by doing more than just eating from their best dishes. She invites 'the Shabbat Princess, ' along with the Shabbat Queen, and she enjoins her parents to help make their dinner more fitting for a princess. Bringing out the crystal candlesticks and shining the silver Kiddush cup reminds Rosie's parents that their weekly celebration deserves a little sprucing up, that the return of Shabbat every Friday evening is like a regular visit from an honored guest and 'deserves extra special treatment.' Illustrations by Avils (Fiesta Dress: A Quinceaera Tale)--in muted earth tones, pinks and purples, featuring lush textiles--bring alive the preparation of the evening meal. This appealing enactment of a Talmudic principle will appeal to early grade readers." --Publishers Weekly "The Shabbat Queen, a Talmudic metaphor for the importance of a welcoming, regal atmosphere for family and guests each week, inspires a little girl and her parents to set their table with a few special items. Rosie wonders whether, since a Shabbat Queen exists, there can also be a Shabbat Princess? Neither her mother nor her father has ever heard of one, but they invite Rosie to be their princess for the evening. Rosie dresses up for the occasion, while her parents add crystal candlesticks and the just-polished silver goblet to the customary best dishes. Rosie's addition of a golden sequined scarf for a challah cover completes a Shabbat table fit for royalty. Pink- and lavender-shaded scenes of a modern home setting (often flanked by a side border of flowered vines) alternate with Rosie's imagined majestic view. A panorama of rolling meadows beyond a castle filled with lords, ladies and court jesters surrounds a tall, bejeweled Shabbat Queen wearing a flowing rose-pink gown and golden crown. Following the three blessings and the banquetlike meal, Rosie wonders aloud about the appropriateness of creating such extravagance and is assured by her parents: 'When an honored guest visits our house, she deserves extra-special treatment.' Meltzer's child-oriented tale presents a lovely way to honor the Sabbath with a bit of respectful festivity." --Kirkus Reviews"The Shabbat Princess, by Amy Meltzer, illustrated by Martha Aviles (Kar-Ben). You know it happens: A little girl turns 3 and becomes a princess-obsessed, tiara-wearing, trilling little loon. Thankfully, the phase generally passes by age 6. But if you're in the thick of it, my prescription is to buy Peggy Orenstein's Cinderella Ate My Daughter for yourself and The Shabbat Princess for your wee Sleeping Beauty. The tale of a little girl who wants to welcome the Shabbat Princess instead of the Sabbath Queen, it's charming, spiritual, nonmaterialistic, and right in the wheelhouse of the princess-crazed. The illustrations are wince-inducingly saccharine for my taste, but I am not the demo. My in-house focus group--aka my 7-year-old daughter, Maxie--loved everything about this book."--Tablet"This isn't your typical spoiled princess book; you know the contemporary fairy tale versions in which Cinderella becomes a princess without paying any dues first. Contemporary princess just stamps her little feet and gets what she wants. Nope, this book shows a family working/playing together to make Shabbat even more special by inviting not only the Queen of Shabbat (Shabbat itself is the Queen) but also the princess, none other than the little girl who loves Shabbat but wonders why there's no princess. She and her parents all contribute to making their little girl the princess by finding dress-up clothes, taking out their best candlesticks, polishing the silver, and having the first of some very special Friday nights. The little girl might wish for diamond decorations but is very happy with what the family can provide. This lovely story is enhanced by warm, colorful illustrations, notably depicting not fair-skinned Ashkenazi Jews but brown-tone Mexican Jews, reminding us all of the geographical and cultural reach of Judaism."--National Center for the Study of Children's Literature "If your reading group includes pink-loving girls who are perennially clothed in princess dresses, this book will be an immediate winner. From its rose-colored cover to its costume box full of gowns, this book will instantly appeal to fans of Aurora, Belle, and Cinderella while delivering a message about Sabbath observation that should be well-received by Jewish families. This sweet story integrates the observance of the Shabbat dinner and the welcoming of the 'Shabbat Queen' with a contemporary tale. Thankfully, the term 'Jewish princess' never appears in its pages. Rather the main character, a girl named Rosie thinks that if we celebrate the arrival of Shabbat as a queen, there must be room for a princess, as well. This makes perfect sense if you are a four- or five-year-old girl, as Rosie appears to be. Dressed in her costume box finest--Rosie appears to be an only child with very doting parents--Rosie wants diamonds but settles for the crystal candlesticks her mother produces. A goblet is the Shabbat cup that her father retrieves; clearly, it hasn't been unwrapped since mom and dad's wedding day. Finally, the challah needs an appropriate 'garment, ' so Rosie retrieves a glittery scarf. Bit by bit, Rosie's small family observes the Sabbath meal with ceremony and finery. Pictures by Martha Aviles portray a loving home and highlight Rosie's excitement at creating her own version of Shabbat. Mom and Dad may have fallen down on previous preparations, but it's clear that their weekly dinner will now be infused with a different feel and spirit thanks to Rosie. All in all, this is a delightful book that will be scooped up by princess-obsessed girls looking for an excuse to 'dress' for dinner."The Shabbat Princess is a fun, colorful book perfect for the three-to-five year old crowd, girls, in particular. For many in this age group, there is nothing more special than dressing up for an occasion. In The Shabbat Princess, Rosie starts asking questions about Shabbat and learns that her mother's preparations are to welcome the Shabbat Queen. 'Princesses are much more exciting than queens, ' Rosie says, figuring she, herself, will dress up as the princess. She dresses to the nines and encourages her parents to go the extra mile to make their Shabbat experience more special, digging out their crystal candlesticks and shining their silver goblets. She creates a Shabbat table fit for a princess and enjoys a royal banquet with her parents. This is a fun book with great illustrations. It conveys the spunkiness of a young girl and her enthusiasm to truly celebrate the Sabbath in style. It's a fun read for under-five crowd and a story they will enjoy."--Jewish Book World "Candles, latkes, gifts-- Chanukah traditions bring light and joy to the dark days of winter. As you select presents for your children, we urge you to give them books. Each year, publishers offer new Chanukah titles, and this year there are some great choices. We gathered recently to discuss the new crop of Chanukah books: Little girls love The Shabbat Princess by Amy Meltzer. This is a cute story about a little girl who loves princesses, and wants her family to welcome not just the Shabbat Queen, but a Shabbat Princess, too. She dresses in her finest princess grown, and her parents get into the spirit by bringing little used but treasured objects to the table. The Jewish value of hiddur mitzvah--the enhancement of mitzvot and observances with objects of beauty--is explained in an endnote." --Interfaith Family "The Talmud compares the Jewish Sabbath to a queen whose arrival changes a home into a palace. When Rosie's mother explains this concept to her, the girl decides that she wants to be the Shabbat Princess. She puts on her fanciest dress, finest jewelry, and sparkly tiara and persuades her parents to polish the silver wine goblet, replace the plain brass candlesticks with shiny crystal ones, and trade the ordinary napkin covering the challah for a glittery, sequined scarf. After reciting the blessings and enjoying a delicious meal, the family agrees that the Shabbat Princess has transformed their dinner into a royal banquet. The detailed illustrations, with a heavy dose of pink and purple, depict the warmth and love of this cheerful, contemporary family. Jewish girls who love all things related to princesses, especially fans of Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy, will delight in this endearing story. It also gives parents and educators the opportunity to discuss the important Jewish values of welcoming guests and using beautiful objects to enhance observances, explained briefly in an author's note."-School Library JournalMartha Avils was born and raised in Mexico City. She has illustrated many children's books including Say Hello, Lily; The Shabbat Princess; and Stones for Grandpa.; Title: Shabbat Princess, the PB | [
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31,516 | 2 | Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: What Do We Buy?: A Look at Goods and Services (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,517 | 1 | "These small volumes pair one short, declarative statement per page ('You see the first light from the sun at dawn') with color photos of outdoor scenes, city skylines, animals, or children. The concepts are clearly presented and certainly worthy of study, but an error of fact--a picture of fog incorrectly used in conjunction with a discussion of evaporation in Earth's Water Cycle--and such potentially confusing instances of oversimplification as a wakeful skunk in Hibernation and a statement in Seasons that 'near the middle of the Earth, it is warm all year, ' mar an otherwise useful and appealing series." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Hibernation (First Step Nonfiction) | [
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31,518 | 11 | Deborah Kopka has been a teacher, writer, and editor for more than twenty-five years. After living on the West Coast for twenty years, she and her husband have returned to her native state of Ohio, where she continues to paint (a relatively new calling), write, and teach.; Title: Norway (Country Explorers) | [
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31,519 | 0 | "Our AJL colleague, Diane Rauchwerger, has charmed children with stories featuring a dinosaur who celebrates Judaism. In this, her fourth book illustrated by Jason Wolff, Dino joins his human friend on a visit to Israel. The book does more than tell the story of a wonderful trip around the Holy Land. Using simple and evocative rhymes and a visual sense of the country, the words and pictures show the characters in action as they experience the country in surprising detail. In Tel Aviv, Dino and his friend see the Agam Fountain in Dizengoff Square, visit the beach, and eat falafel at a vendor's cart. In Jerusalem, they place their prayers in the Wall. They travel to Eilat for snorkeling in the Red Sea and see camels. They climb Masada (called 'Mount Masada' here) and swim in the Dead Sea. Finally, they shop at a shuk and buy something to use at home and remember their fabulous journey. Over the generations, beginning with Mamie Gamoran's Hillel's Happy Holidays, there have been memorable books that bring the Jewish festivals--and the state of Israel--to joyous and meaningful life for young children. In recent years we have seen several collections--by Sylvia Rouss, Deborah Miller and others--that kindle the joy of Judaism in preschoolers. This sweet and meaningful book should secure Diane Rauchwerger's dinosaur among those series. It is highly recommended for all children's libraries, and is enthusiastically recommended for pre-K through second grade (and for the young at heart of any age). It should be in constant demand; buy multiple copies." --Association of Jewish Libraries"This is Dinosaur's fourth adventure, having celebrated Jewish holidays and Shabbat in Dinosaur on Passover, Dinosaur on Hanukkah, and Dinosaur on Shabbat. This one takes him to Israel as a tourist. He digs in the sand on the beautiful beach in Tel Aviv, eats a falafel for lunch, puts a message high up in the Western Wall, climbs Masada, takes a mud bath in the Dead Sea, and goes snorkeling in Eilat. Throughout, he is enthusiastic about his experiences and at the end cannot wait to go back. Told in rhyme, this is a lovely, joyful story, highlighting important sites in Israel. Several simple Hebrew words are incorporated into the text, without needing explanation, such as Shalom, Eretz Yisrael, Todah Rabah and Shofar. Double-page illustrations are colorful and humorous, work well with the text, and are perfectly age-appropriate. Familiarity with the main character will definitely increase the appreciation of the young readers. Recommended as a read-to for ages 3-6." --Jewish Book World "Dinosaur-loving Middle-Eastern tourists may be a small demographic, but this book targets them perfectly. There's a theory that any book can be improved by putting a dinosaur in it. You may have a child in your family who believes that 'Hansel and Gretel and Stegosaurus' would be ten times better than the original. And so we have a travel guide about a dinosaur who goes to the Holy Land. Sample verse: 'I ride up Mt. Masada. / Dino hikes the snakey path. / We cool off at the Dead Sea. / He enjoys a warm mud bath.' The other verses don't scan any better. The book does provide an authentic Israeli experience, of sorts: falafel, the Western Wall, souvenir shopping at a shuk. Readers will learn half-a-dozen Hebrew words and find out that a shuk is a marketplace. But there's a very inauthentic dinosaur on every page. This may be a test of character. If you have to ask why a dinosaur has taken a plane to Israel, this isn't the book for you. If your child points to the cover and tells you the name of the dinosaur on the front, you may need to purchase this book. Otherwise, you can buy a dinosaur toy and a travel book and safely keep them separate." --Kirkus ReviewsDiane Levin Rauchwerger (The Dinosaur on Hanukkah) is a children's librarian as well as a synagogue librarian, where she runs a Jewish Mother Goose program using many of her own original songs and rhymes. She enjoys reading, hiking, quilting, photography, singing, and knitting. She and her husband have two grown children and live in Sunnyvale, CA.; Title: Dinosaur Goes to Israel | [
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31,520 | 1 | "Mixed-up, lovable Mr. Venezi has hired an assistant for his pet shop. Viola seems to be efficient, but Sasspants the guinea pig suspects something isn't quite right. When Mr. V doesn't come to the shop the next morning, and Viola ignores the animals (except for the chinchillas) to watch a show on her computer, Sasspants and her hamster sidekick investigate the situation. Young readers will enjoy the wacky detective interviews and, if they pay attention to Hans, the new fish, they may solve the mystery before Sasspants does. Venable and Yue have concocted another winning entry in the cute Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye series." --Booklist"Will the Help Wanted sign in the window of Mr. Venezi's Pets & Stuff Shop bring good or ill? Befuddled but lovable Mr. Venezi's still advertising for an assistant to help him in his pet shop. With questions like 'on a scale of 1 to 10, have you ever ridden a llama?' interviews are not going well. When ninth-grader Viola arrives, she seems the perfect employee. She turns a light on the lizards. She gives the ferrets tons of toys and tubes. She even puts the correct animal names on the cages; Mr. Venezi had labeled the chinchillas, 'gorillas, ' among other misnomers. She does so well that guinea pig detective Sasspants becomes suspicious, and Mr. Venezi feels unneeded. When Mr. Venezi turns up missing and Viola, without supervision, starts slacking, Detective Sasspants is on the case. With careful deduction and a cunning plan, Sasspants and her junior partner Hamisher the hamster save the day again! Venable and Yue's Pet Shop Private Eye graphic series continues to charm. Yue's adorable pet-shop fur (and scale) people are just as expressive as their human counterparts, and Venable's gentle mystery and delightful, dry humor will extend Sasspant's fanbase. Includes information on goldfish and plecos, as well as a list of animal-related jobs at the back. Great graphic tales for young readers and animal lovers; long may Sasspants detect!" --Kirkus ReviewsColleen AF Venable grew up in the trees of Walden, New York....well, not very high up the trees, since she always got scared, but she did carve her name in a lot of low hanging boughs. Colleen had an older sister, a dog, a cat, a million fish, and an imaginary pet hamster named, yup you guessed it, Hamisher. Why have an imaginary friend when you can have an imaginary friend that can fit in your pocket! Colleen went to Wagner College and double majored in English and Studio Art, winning the award of "biggest dork" (aka first in her class) and writing plays which went on to be produced Off-Off-Broadway. Her whole life she always loved reading comics--Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, and she wore out her copy of the Muppets: Short, Green and Handsome--but it wasn't until she started to get into webcomics that she also fell in love with the idea of writing comics. Now Colleen lives in New York City and her day job is designing graphic novels for First Second Books while her night job is writing graphic novels about a not-so-imaginary-anymore hyperactive hamster named Hamisher. She thinks the world is a very lovely place.; Title: Fish You Were Here: Book 4 (Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye) | [
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31,521 | 0 | "The hardship many Ethiopian Jews faced to successfully reach Israel is recounted in the voice of a 5-year-old girl who escapes with her grandmother, determined to reach their destination. Yuvi's trip begins on a donkey at night with her grandmother's strong religious conviction that angels will help them join mother and baby brother in their real home. 'We are going to Jerusalem. We have angels with us. We'll fly home.' The long, arduous and dangerous journey is made bearable through role-playing familiar family Shabbat rituals. Several encounters with robbers take almost all their money, except for the small amount Yuvi cleverly hides within her hair curls. Starved and parched from the endless days and nights of traveling, mostly on foot, Grandmother's new promise of unlimited candy, clothes, games and bread is a wonder to Yuvi. Finally when they reach Jerusalem aboard a big plane, Yuvi sees her first orange tree and learns that after picking and eating one, so juicy and sweet, another will grow back--the candy tree she imagined. Large, mostly double-page paintings in soft yellow, tan and blue hues on a textured canvas reflect the intrigue, emotion and difficulty of the journey. Uncomplicated language expressed in a direct and honest voice plus vibrant illustrations make Israel's Operation Moses easily accessible for early-elementary children." --Kirkus Reviews"Five-year-old Yuvi narrates her tense exodus from Ethiopia to Israel in this story based on the real-life journey made by Yuvi Tashome, who was among thousands of Ethiopian Jews relocated, secretly at first, to Israel during the 1980s and '90s as part of Operations Moses and Solomon. Simpson (The Purim Surprise) and Porter (Blackberry Stew) convey the hardships faced by Yuvi, her relatives, and the other refugees (they are robbed three times), while providing reassurance in the form of references to the group's unshakable faith in their escape, and swooping, tableau-like paintings rendered in a comforting palette of desert yellows and cool blues. 'We have angels with us. We'll fly home, ' Yuvi's grandmother repeatedly tells her. The eponymous candy tree represents the confidence instilled in Yuvi that a better life awaits (she comes to believe that the orange trees that line the road in Israel are indeed the candy trees she has dreamed of). Though neither the story nor the author's note explicitly state why the refugees are fleeing Ethiopia (mostly famine), readers should finish the book with a strong sense of their strength, faith, and determination." --Publishers Weekly"This beautiful story is based on the true account of a young Jewish girl, Yuvi Tashome, who escaped Ethiopia to live in Israel.Yuvi is only five years old when she travels with family members to escape a harsh life in Ethiopia and meet up pwith her mother and younger brother in Jerusalem. During daylight hours they hide under trees, and sleep and travel in the dark of night.Yuvi encounters many difficulties on her long journey to the Promised Land. They are robbed several times, there is little food, and the weather is unpredictable. However Yuvi dreams of a better life in Israel, where she believes there are candy trees. Her dream comes true when she arrives in Israel and is given a hand-picked orange from a grove. She rejoices as she realizes she has found her candy trees!The bright and beautiful illustrations help depict this true story, designed for children aged 5 to 9. Readers young and old will be moved by this endearing tale." --The Jewish Journal Lesley Simpson is a Canadian journalist and picture book writer. Her previous books include The Shabbat Box and The Purim Surprise. Lesley has taught journalism and creative writing at Canadian universities. She lives in Toronto, Canada.; Title: Yuvi's Candy Tree (Israel) | [
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31,522 | 1 | "These small volumes pair one short, declarative statement per page ('You see the first light from the sun at dawn') with color photos of outdoor scenes, city skylines, animals, or children. The concepts are clearly presented and certainly worthy of study, but an error of fact--a picture of fog incorrectly used in conjunction with a discussion of evaporation in Earth's Water Cycle--and such potentially confusing instances of oversimplification as a wakeful skunk in Hibernation and a statement in Seasons that 'near the middle of the Earth, it is warm all year, ' mar an otherwise useful and appealing series." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Migration (First Step Nonfiction) | [
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31,523 | 2 | "These books offer easy-to-read introductions to the world of economics. Addressing readers as 'you, ' Larson asks questions such as, 'Did you ever get money for your birthday?' and 'How do you decide what to do with your money?' (Do I Need It?). The everyday-life examples will demonstrate to children that they can play a vital role in the economic world. Clear, age-appropriate language explains new concepts well: 'When someone works at a paid job, he or she earns money. This money is called income.' Simple paragraphs of two to four short sentences appear in large colored fonts against bright backgrounds that change color with every page. Each title includes an activity such as making a spend-or-save list to help decide what to do with birthday money. The books' layout is interesting and fresh, and each page features a large, well-chosen photograph with a boxed caption. A caption in What Is Money, Anyway? states that 'People trade goods at swap meets, ' which may confuse readers who only know swap meets as a place to buy merchandise. Margaret Hall's 'Earning, Saving, Spending' series (Heinemann, 2008) covers similar topics of money, banks, allowance, credit cards, and checks, but is for first through third graders. Report writers will value her longer paragraphs with detailed coverage including history and global issues. Larson's books will help ease younger readers into the world of economics." --School Library Journal"Perhaps if the people who signed for loans they really couldn't afford had more books like these, we would be in a better economic state. Each book in the series covers a different area of economics. The titles reviewed deal with budgets, the value of money, and consumers and producers. Written for primary elementary students, the books are broken into chapters that describe in simple terms an element of finance. What is a budget, a consumer, how is money made, and what is the difference between a want and a need are some of the topics explained. Each book includes a related activity, glossary, and bibliography. If you are looking for a simple series to explain the basics of our economic system, these would be a good place to start. Index.Recommended."--Library Media Connection"Where does money come from? What are the differences between goods and services? Such questions are answered in these series entries. Each volume presents a logical and accessible sequence of basic economic concepts. Bright, colorful photographs and simple text teach children skills such as how to create a budget and how to be responsible buyers and/or sellers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Exploring Economics titles: Do I Need It? Or Do I Want It?, What Is Money Anyway?, and Who's Buying? Who's Selling?" --The Horn Book GuideJennifer S. Larson has written many nonfiction books for young readers.; Title: Who's Buying? Who's Selling?: Understanding Consumers and Producers (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,524 | 2 | *Starred Review* This beautifully painted and sweetly told talethe first in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox seriestells how two different families meet, overcome suspicion of each other, and work to combine resources. Mr. Badger has his paws full caring for a baby girl and her two older brothers, one of whom is a Peter Rabbitlike mischief maker. Mrs. Fox and her daughter happen into the badger burrow when their own is invaded by scary dogs. Rendered as a beginning graphic novel, the story and characters are presented with plenty of heart and soul: expressive anthropomorphic faces and postures and rich dialogue require and reward engagement. Watercolor panels vary in size on folio pages, and balloons contain an easy-to-read font. Although the story is self-contained in this book, this promising start of a series translated from the French will leave American readers wanting the next story. Quality translation and art production, along with a hardcover binding that lies flat, are details that suggest this book can be a popular mainstay in collections for a long time. A delight on many levels, it is also big enough to share with small groups and detailed enough to make for a leisurely individual reading experience. Grades K-3. --Francisca Goldsmith"This beautifully painted and sweetly told tale - the first in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series - tells how two different families meet, overcome suspicion of each other, and work to combine resources. Mr. Badger has his paws full caring for a baby girl and her two older brothers, one of whom is a Peter Rabbit-like mischief maker. Mrs. Fox and her daughter happen into the badger burrow when their own is invaded by scary dogs. Rendered as a beginning graphic novel, the story and characters are presented with plenty of heart and soul: expressive anthropomorphic faces and postures and rich dialogue require and reward engagement. Watercolor panels vary in size on folio pages, and balloons contain an easy-to-read font. Although the story is self-contained in this book, this promising start of a series translated from the French will leave American readers wanting the next story. Quality translation and art production, along with a hardcover binding that lies flat, are details that suggest this book can be a popular mainstay in collections for a long time. A delight on many levels, it is also big enough to share with small groups and detailed enough to make for a leisurely individual reading experience." --Booklist--Journal"Wooden dialogue weighs down this woodsy graphic tale of two single-parent families getting together. Routed out of their den by hunters, Mrs. Fox and her daughter, Ginger, wangle an invitation to stay the night with Mr. Badger and his kits, Grub, Bristle and the baby. The grown-ups click immediately; the young folk--particularly hostile, unsocialized only-child Ginger--start off, at least, at war. Arranged in squared-off graphic panels, several to a page, Tharlet's uncluttered, fluidly brushed watercolor scenes are easy to follow as the young folk squabble about games and other issues but eventually come together over plans for a big moving-in party. Unfortunately the conversation as translated by Burrell too often runs to blocky lines--"We cannot return to our burrow. It is all destroyed"--and there is little suspense about the eventual outcome, giving this purposeful but promising series an uneven start. Still, it's hard not to warm up to characters named Bristle and Grub; here's hoping things smooth out in future entries."--Kirkus Reviews"This picture-book-size graphic novel involves two single-parent animal families--Mr. Badger, his two sons Bristle and Grub, and baby daughter Berry; and Mrs. Fox and her daughter Ginger. After hunters destroy the Foxes' home, the adults meet and decide to share a burrow. Not happy with this arrangement, Bristle, Grub, and Ginger organize an open-house party to convince their parents that badgers and foxes should not live together. The story has enough action to keep readers' interest and a dramatic resolution. The theme of children in blended families is well developed without being didactic. With some help from adults, beginning-level readers will be able to read the comic-style text balloons and follow the panels. The soft watercolor illustrations evoke the summer forest setting and move the story along. A good start to a new series."--School Library Journal; Title: The Meeting (Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox) | [
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31,525 | 0 | Gr 2-5Hey, Charleston! Give us some rag! yelled the street corner crowd some 100 years ago when Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins, former slave and orphan himself, founded the Jenkins Orphanage Band. It all began one night in Charleston, South Carolina, when he discovered several hungry, homeless children near the railroad tracks. He fed them and let them sleep in his church. Word traveled fast and soon more orphans came knocking. The Reverend asked city officials for an empty warehouse, which they granted along with $100, but it was unexpectedly noisyinmates at the neighboring prison banged on the windows and swore all day. Singing with the boys helped mask the unholy racket, but Jenkins thought to collect old Civil War band instruments and hire music teachers, and soon the orphans were playing rag to raise money to fund the pastor's dream: a farm where they could grow their own food and be self-sufficient. The boys were descendants of the Gullah people from West Africa, brought to South Carolina as slaves. They played old band songs African style, twisting, twirling, tapping, knocking their knees, and flapping their arms. They became famous enough to play at Teddy Roosevelt's inauguration and were invited to London to perform. When war broke out in 1914, they secured tickets to return to the States in safety and even paid for other stranded Americans' safe return. Rockwell's informative text is lively and accessible, and Bootman's realistic, full-spread paintings capture the era and energy of the musicians and onlookers dancing and clapping to the beat. Use this inspiring tale for jazz units or African American History Month.Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.This is the little-known story of how Charleston, South Carolina, orphans formed a band and gave America rag music. When Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins discovered orphans huddled by train tracks in the late 1800s, he took them in, understanding their lives better than most, as he had been an orphan himself. More and more orphans showed up at his church, and soon the Reverend had plenty of mouths to feed. A hundred dollars from city officials led to the purchase of a warehouse, but the prisoners next door made a racket. Thats when Jenkins had an idea: collect old Civil War musical instruments, once used by marching bands, to form the Jenkins Orphanage Band and raise money to buy a farm for the orphans. Soon the band was playing on street corners; many of the kids descended from Geechee or Gullah (the islands around Charleston) and played a style of music called rag. Over the course of the picture book, which covers a lot of territory quickly, the band travels, even to Europe. A fascinating piece of history, complemented by Bootmans hazy full-bleed paintings. Grades 1-4. --Ann Kelley; Title: Hey, Charleston!: The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band | [
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31,526 | 2 | "These books offer easy-to-read introductions to the world of economics. Addressing readers as 'you, ' Larson asks questions such as, 'Did you ever get money for your birthday?' and 'How do you decide what to do with your money?' (Do I Need It?). The everyday-life examples will demonstrate to children that they can play a vital role in the economic world. Clear, age-appropriate language explains new concepts well: 'When someone works at a paid job, he or she earns money. This money is called income.' Simple paragraphs of two to four short sentences appear in large colored fonts against bright backgrounds that change color with every page. Each title includes an activity such as making a spend-or-save list to help decide what to do with birthday money. The books' layout is interesting and fresh, and each page features a large, well-chosen photograph with a boxed caption. A caption in What Is Money, Anyway? states that 'People trade goods at swap meets, ' which may confuse readers who only know swap meets as a place to buy merchandise. Margaret Hall's 'Earning, Saving, Spending' series (Heinemann, 2008) covers similar topics of money, banks, allowance, credit cards, and checks, but is for first through third graders. Report writers will value her longer paragraphs with detailed coverage including history and global issues. Larson's books will help ease younger readers into the world of economics." --School Library Journal"Perhaps if the people who signed for loans they really couldn't afford had more books like these, we would be in a better economic state. Each book in the series covers a different area of economics. The titles reviewed deal with budgets, the value of money, and consumers and producers. Written for primary elementary students, the books are broken into chapters that describe in simple terms an element of finance. What is a budget, a consumer, how is money made, and what is the difference between a want and a need are some of the topics explained. Each book includes a related activity, glossary, and bibliography. If you are looking for a simple series to explain the basics of our economic system, these would be a good place to start. Index.Recommended."--Library Media Connection"Where does money come from? What are the differences between goods and services? Such questions are answered in these series entries. Each volume presents a logical and accessible sequence of basic economic concepts. Bright, colorful photographs and simple text teach children skills such as how to create a budget and how to be responsible buyers and/or sellers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Exploring Economics titles: Do I Need It? Or Do I Want It?, What Is Money Anyway?, and Who's Buying? Who's Selling?" --The Horn Book Guide"Few books about money issues aim for a very young audience, and this title in the new Exploring Economics series does it well in a friendly, interactive, question-and answer format about getting money, spending it, and saving it. How do kids choose what to do with their earnings, from an allowance, a gift, or being paid to do chores? Should they spend it all right away on impulse buys, like candy; save up for a camera, a toy, or a video game; or donate to a worthy cause? Larson discusses the options and includes a quick view of how grown-ups make money, spend, and save; essentials and choices in families; and, on a larger scale, budgets in cities, schools, and businesses. A final activity about how to make a personal budget shows a kid's simple computer printout with dates, income, and expenses. The tone is nonjudgmental about children's choices, and the practical options and the hands-on examples will open up discussion. Numerous color photos, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading complete this useful title."--BooklistJennifer S. Larson has written many nonfiction books for young readers.; Title: Do I Need It? or Do I Want It?: Making Budget Choices (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,527 | 2 | Jennifer S. Larson has written many nonfiction books for young readers.; Title: Where Do We Keep Money?: How Banks Work (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,528 | 18 | Lisa Bullard is the award-winning author of more than 60 books for children, including You Can Write a Story: A Story-Writing Recipe for Kids. She teaches writing classes at the Loft Literary Center and regularly visits schools to talk with students about story-writing.; Title: The Erie Canal (Lightning Bolt Books) | [] | Train |
31,529 | 0 | Eileen (O'Donnell) Lucas grew up in Chicago, spent a semester in college in Ireland, and graduated from Western Illinois University. She lived near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for over 20 years, where her sons Travis and Brendan were born. She worked as a freelance writer and an elementary and middle school teacher during these years. She now lives in Florida, where she loves to go to the beach and listen to Jimmy Buffett music. She also loves to visit her trailer in the woods in central Wisconsin, where she takes care of her garden and hikes in the pines. Besides nonfiction children's books, she writes for an educational software publishing company in Wisconsin.; Title: The Little Rock Nine Stand Up for Their Rights (History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater) | [
61542
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31,530 | 2 | " 'This class needs some fashion. This class needs some fun. I'll find a hairdo to impress everyone.' Annabelle doesn't want to be like everyone else at school and her desire gives rise to, among other things, some really tall hair. Unsurprisingly, it becomes a big hit and before long the other girls (and even a boy) are styling the same 'unique' dos. Annabelle, however, is not a one-trick pony, and thus a series of antics ensue, all designed to establish her independence. This book deals with a serious issuedefining one's place among one's peersin the most entertaining way imaginable." --ForeWord Magazine"Annabelle has her own sense of style. On her first day of school, she finds her classmates' ponytails and braids a tad too ordinary for her taste. She becomes intrigued with a photo of her grandmother with a bouffant hairdo and decides that this is just what she needs to liven things up. 'A big bouffant is all I really want!' Her mother repeatedly tries to persuade her to try other styles, but Annabelle wants no part of them. Eventually, all the girls and even a few of the boys jump on the big-hair bandwagon. But Annabelle's individual flare won't allow her to be like everyone else so she sets off once again to make a fashion statement. Warm tones and colorful patterns result in rich illustrations that carry Annabelle's exuberance and determination through the pages. Shadow and texture layer the story, and panels help readers move along visually. This rhyming text will delight fans of Robert Munsch's Stephanie's Ponytail (Firefly, 1996) and will make a good addition for hair-themed storytimes." --School Library JournalKate Hosford is the author of several picture books, including Infinity and Me which won the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book award and was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. She lives in Brooklyn.; Title: Big Bouffant (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,531 | 0 | "Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, has released three delightful books for young readers who want to learn more about the upcoming High Holidays. Both Rosh Hashana and Sukkot are represented in the offerings, and they will brighten up and holiday gathering.Whats the Buzz? Honey for a Sweet New YearTake a trip to an Israeli bee farm in the third book in Allison Ofananky and Eilyahu Alperns 'Nature in Israel' series on Jewish holidays. In this latest book, author Ofanansky and photographer Alpern travel to the Dvorat Hatavor Bee Farm and Education Center at Moshav Shadmot Dvora in Lower Galilee to see how honey is made for Rosh Hashana.Readers accompany a group of children for a tour led by a guide named Yigal, who explains how the bees create the honeycomb, why beekeepers put hives in orchards and how bees carry 'kisses' from flower to flower. The children are also given the opportunity to taste the honey and to make candles from beeswax.Ofanansky writes the book from the point of view of one of the children on tour, and each highlight is documented with one of Alperns vivid photographs.The only downside to the book is that it ends far too quickly. It leaves you wanting more information about the process of making honey and how such small bees can produce so much. Perhaps to compensate, Ofanansky includes Fun facts at the end of the book. Among those is the fact that there are 90,000 beehives in more than 6,000 locations around Israel, and most of the honey they produce is sold around Rosh Hashana.The other two books in the 'Nature in Israel' series are Harvest of Light and Sukkot Treasure Hunt. This book is intended for ages 3-8.Talia and the Rude VegetablesTalia is a city girl who is visiting her grandmother in the country for Rosh Hashana. And she is very confused when she mishears her grandmothers request to collect 'rude' vegetables from the gardensuch as onions, garlic, turnips and potatoes (root vegetables).And so begins Talias quest to find the rudest vegetables in Grandmas garden that will make a holiday stew.Author Linda Elovitz Marshall has crafted a cute story that starts with Talias initial confusion, but ends with her performing a holiday mitzvah. Along the way, the reader is introduced to seven root vegetables that Talia describes in her own special way.The character of Talia has her own unique brand of reasoning. She is a good-hearted girl who is trying her best to find the vegetables that her grandmother most wants. Full-page, colorful illustrations by Francesca Assirelli bring this delightful young girl to life.Of course, when her grandmother finds out how she chose the 'rude' vegetables and what she did with the rest, she is very proud of her independent and resourceful granddaughter. In the end, Talia teaches all of us that the rudest vegetables can often make the tastiest stew.This book is intended for ages 3-8.Sadies Sukkah BreakfastSadies Sukkah Breakfast is the first in the new 'Sadie and Ori' series that catches up with the younger brother and sister on each Jewish holiday. And this lovely first installment is a wonderful introduction to Sukkot.Author Jamie Korngold, a rabbi, has crafted a simple story about Sadie and Oris unioque interpretation of the traditions of Sukkot. Together with their family, the pair has erected a sukka in their backyard, complete with paper chains, strings of popcorn and fruit mosaics they had made in Sunday school.When they want to serve an 'elegant breakfast' in their sukka, they realize that they will need guests. But no one is awake, so whom can they invite?Whimsical watercolor illustrations by Julie Fortenberry seem to move with the story, creating a special world for Sadie and Ori. As the story progresses, its difficult to refrain from smiling and from loving these well-intentioned childrenand those with whom they share their Sukkot traditions.Up next for Sadie and Ori will be Sadie and the Big Mountain (Shavuot) and Sadiess Almost Marvelous Menorah (Hanukkah). This book is intended for ages 2-6."Sadie smiled as she reached for her glasses and looked over at her little sister, Ori, as she snuggled up in her bed with her teddy bear. It was very early in the morning, too early for little children to be up and about, but it was a very special day. It was the first day of Sukkot and they were both anxious to see if their sukkah decorations had lasted through the night. Sadie slipped on her fluffy pink slippers and led Ori to the back door to take a look at their sukkah out the window. The checkered table cloth was still on the table, their paper chains and popcorn strings still hung from the vined trellis. Their sukkah was beautiful and as perfect as it had been the day before when they set it up. The table and chairs in the sukkah were very inviting and Ori suggested they have breakfast there. Together they began to gather supplies in the kitchen and place them on a tray in preparation for their feast. Cereal, spoons, bowls and milk. Juice, cups, challah rolls and napkins made their way onto the tray, but when Sadie tried to lift it . . . 'Whoopstoo heavy!' Sadie and Ori began to take things out a little at a time to put on the sukkah table, but once they were settled they discovered that something was missing. 'Daddy says that when we eat in the sukkah we are supposed to invite guests so that we can share our yummy food.' Sadie was right, but would they be able to find some friends to share their breakfast so early in the morning? This is a charming tale of how two young sisters celebrate their sukkah breakfast during Sukkot. When I read this story I could almost feel the excitement Sadie and Ori felt as they prepared to celebrate breakfast in their sukkah. I especially enjoyed the two-page spread when they were 'trying' to be quiet as they set up their breakfast supplies on the tray. The artwork is bold, colorful and meshes well with the story. There is a lovely, little ingenious twist at the end that made me smile as they solved the dilemma of finding friends to share their special breakfast. This is an excellent story that any parent or caretaker can use to begin a childs religious education or simply read for enjoyment." --InCulture Parent"Charming and focused, this fresh holiday tale brings delight and information by showing young children in the sukkah in the morning when it is daylight; fears of the dark do not enter the story. Already, you have to smile. Two tots, older sister, Sadie, and younger brother, Ori, are very excited about Sukkot. They cannot wait to use the sukkah decorated with their creations, made at Sunday school (neat plug). Rising super early, they come up with the idea to eat breakfast in the booth on their own. Having achieved the task, Sadie remembers Daddy explaining the mitzvah of inviting guests to eat in the sukkah with them but the hour is too early for the real people they know. Sadie saves the day with her great idea of inviting special friends, their stuffed animals. Its a delicious happy-to-teary ending as the children and toy guests enjoy the sukkah together. Illustrations and page layout add to the message with lovely warmth. The paintings depict the childrens personalities, supporting the text and underlining the innocence. The scenes of finding food and utensils and then porting them to the back yard burst with energy and determination. Highly recommended for readers aged 4-6" --Jewish Book World"During the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot, families build temporary huts in which to dine and visit with friends. Sadie and her little brother, Ori, are excited about the sukkah in their backyard and decide to have breakfast there on the first morning of the festival. The youngsters struggle a little with arrangements but ultimately create a successful celebration with food and stuffed-animal friends. This is a sweet and low-key story, with gentle, sunny illustrations. It is as much about its young protagonists independence and initiative as it is about Sukkot. A brief authors note describes the holiday, but the book will be most appreciated by those already familiar with it. A solid purchase for Judaica collections and an additional purchase elsewhere." -Heidi Estrin, Feldman Childrens Library at Congregation Bnai Israel, Boca Raton, FL (School Library Journal)"Sadie and her little brother Ori awaken early the morning of Sukkot, the Jewish holiday celebrating the fall harvest. The two have decorated an outdoor sukkah, or harvest booth, and decide to eat breakfast there, a meal the pajama-ed siblings slowly assemble. Then they invite some faithful friends who dont mind waking up early to share their feast. Korngold, a rabbi with an eclectic career, writes her first childrens book, and it has a playful sensibility and nice pacing. Fortenberrys soft colors and lines include details that visually pop. The book charmingly teaches a lesson about a holiday and its observance, and is appropriate for religious education as well as family reading time." --Publishers Weekly "A resourceful big sister and helpful little brother set up breakfast in the family's newly decorated Sukkah and figure out a way to quietly enjoy it with some good friends while parents sleep. Early risers on this Sukkot morning, Sadie and Ori are very excited, but they know they must not wake their parents. Admiring their decorative handiwork on the Sukkah they built last night, the siblings decide to bring breakfast out to the festive hut. Working together, they prepare a tray'Sadie got the cereal. / Ori got the spoons. / Ori got the bowls. / Sadie got the milk.' And when juice, challah rolls, cups and napkins make the tray too heavy, then'Sadie got the juice. / Ori got the cups. / Ori got the napkins. / Sadie got the challah rolls,' each bringing an item out to the Sukkah table, setting up 'an elegant breakfast.' Seeking to complete the experience with the required invited guests for this holiday meal, Sadie and Ori fill seats at their Sukkah table with a menagerie of favorite stuffed animal friends. Lively, colorful illustrations depict these independently capable preschoolers performing tasks with active joy, care and assurance, deftly matching the unadorned, sprightly text. Blessings abound for the autumnal holiday, with these happy kids and (behind the scenes) grateful parents." (note) (Picture book. 3-6) -- Kirkus Reviews; Title: Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast | [
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31,532 | 20 | Shoshana Silberman is a published author and an editor of children's books. Some of the published credits of Shoshana Silberman include A Family Haggadah II.; Title: A Family Haggadah (English and Hebrew Edition) | [
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31,533 | 0 | "Retold by a master storyteller, this new version of a classic tale is an all-around delight. Woven together with the joys of Sabbath celebrations are themes of generosity, hospitality, and the true meaning of wealth. The engaging prose and vibrant, colorful illustrations create a perfect picture book for home or library" --Dayton Jewish Observer "Award-winner Kimmel retells a Jewish fable of greed and generosity. At Joseph's weekly Sabbath table, all are welcomed--rich or poor, young or old. Joseph's neighbor, Judah, also sets a bountiful table each week, but he prefers to invite only important people to his Sabbath meal; he gives his charity to the beggars in the street. Judah chastises Joseph for his excessive hospitality and correctly predicts that he will soon lose all his wealth. A foreboding dream warns Judah that he, too, might lose his fortune and that Joseph will one day count Judah's money for himself. Judah, shaken, sells his property, buys a large ruby and leaves Tiberias by sea--and loses the jewel, the last of his wealth, in a strong storm. Returning to Tiberias, he approaches the always kind and benevolent Joseph for help. Joseph's luck has once again changed with a fish he received at market: Cutting it open revealed the ruby Judah lost. As in Marilyn Hirsh's Joseph Who Loved the Sabbath, illustrated by Devis Grebu (1986), Kimmel reconciles the differing attitudes through a conclusion about the importance of celebrating the Sabbath 'with an open door and an open heart.' Blended shades of blues, purples and greens done in watercolor, pen and pastel illuminate the old Israeli scenes integral to the narration. Heartwarming for Jewish collections and religious-school settings." --Kirkus Reviews"Kimmel brings satisfyingly warm detail to a well-known folktale, in an elegant picture book set long ago on the shores of Galilee. Joseph of Tiberius loves to celebrate the Sabbath by selecting choice ingredients when preparing food and inviting all to share dinner with him. When his neighbor, Judah, scoffs that Joseph needs to be more selective, Joseph insists that the honor he gives to the Sabbath by keeping his house open is returned 'a thousandfold.' When Joseph's fortunes turn and he becomes poor, those he has helped now share in providing food so that the Sabbath table is still filled with people. Judah, however, dreams that Joseph is in possession of his wealth and he sells all that he owns, buys a ruby and sets sail. A storm whips the cap with the jewel from Judah's head and flings it into the sea. The ruby reappears inside a large fish, which Joseph's wife is preparing, changing Joseph's fortunes once again. When Judah returns, now poorer, he turns down Joseph's offer to give him the ruby's value. He would rather have Joseph's friendship and the opportunity to share the Sabbath with him. Peluso's two-page spreads fill pages to the edge, intense with jewel pastel and ink detail, blues and purples and the green of the fish. She draws solid, stately figures with stylized beards and a mysterious spark of animation in their eyes. It is true teamwork. Is the woman who later shows up as Joseph's wife one of the neighbors whom Joseph welcomed when he was no longer wealthy? Like Joseph, Kimmel has taken care to honor tradition while adding his own inimitable storytelling touches."--Jewish Book Council Eric A. Kimmel has been writing for children for over 40 years. His more than 100 titles include such classics as Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock and The Chanukkah Guest. He lives in Portland, Oregon.; Title: Joseph and the Sabbath Fish (Shabbat) | [
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31,534 | 1 | Janet Piehl lives in Evanston, Illinois, and is a children's librarian. She grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and attended Macalester College. Janet has lived, among other places, in the Twin Cities and France. She got her start as a writer working in the editorial department of Lerner. Janet liked the research aspect of writing and editing so much that she became a librarian. Now she helps kids find and use books just like the ones she writes!; Title: Let's Look at Sloths (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,535 | 15 | Gr 6 UpBeginning with the earliest ideas about the stars and their relationship to Earth, Miller chronicles how scientists challenged prevailing beliefs that the Earth was the center of the universe. For example, Copernicus's 1514 publication of his Commentariolus, a six-page essay he distributed to his friends, proposed six new scientific cosmological explanations, including that All the planets orbit the sun. Miller objectively explains the existing belief system upheld by the powerful Catholic Church and its resistance to change. Reproductions of ancient texts by Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and Brahe are featured. Text boxes amplify the main text nicely. A two-page glossary provides helpful definitions of such terms as parallax, cosmology, and retrograde motion. Some of these terms are included in the two-page index. This is a useful, first purchase for astronomy report writers and those seeking biographical information about important scientists.Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.This informative book traces the gradual shift from an earth-centered view of the universe to the realizations that the planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun and that the solar system is not the center of the universe. Beginning in the early 1500s, when Copernicus published his ideas, these sometimes dangerous concepts gained traction over the next two centuries through the work and publications of Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. After an intriguing chapter on modern geocentrism, Miller briefly considers the roles of religion and science in peoples lives. He explains concepts clearly and places each scientists work within the context of generally held beliefs in his society. Readers could glean much of this information by reading the biographies of the scientists discussed, but the books focus on the ideas, their controversial nature, and their gradual acceptance is very useful. The books illustrations are well chosen and include archival images of the universe as well as photos of sites and artifacts. A solid discussion of a pivotal time in science history. Grades 6-9. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Recentering the Universe: The Radical Theories of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton | [
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31,536 | 2 | "These books offer easy-to-read introductions to the world of economics. Addressing readers as 'you, ' Larson asks questions such as, 'Did you ever get money for your birthday?' and 'How do you decide what to do with your money?' (Do I Need It?). The everyday-life examples will demonstrate to children that they can play a vital role in the economic world. Clear, age-appropriate language explains new concepts well: 'When someone works at a paid job, he or she earns money. This money is called income.' Simple paragraphs of two to four short sentences appear in large colored fonts against bright backgrounds that change color with every page. Each title includes an activity such as making a spend-or-save list to help decide what to do with birthday money. The books' layout is interesting and fresh, and each page features a large, well-chosen photograph with a boxed caption. A caption in What Is Money, Anyway? states that 'People trade goods at swap meets, ' which may confuse readers who only know swap meets as a place to buy merchandise. Margaret Hall's 'Earning, Saving, Spending' series (Heinemann, 2008) covers similar topics of money, banks, allowance, credit cards, and checks, but is for first through third graders. Report writers will value her longer paragraphs with detailed coverage including history and global issues. Larson's books will help ease younger readers into the world of economics." --School Library JournalJennifer S. Larson has written many nonfiction books for young readers.; Title: What Can You Do With Money?: Earning, Spending, and Saving (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,537 | 14 | Jacqueline Jules is an award-winning author and poet. Her many children's books include The Hardest Word (National Jewish Book Award finalist), Happy Hanukkah Lights, and Picnic at Camp Shalom. She lives in northern Virginia.; Title: Happy Hanukkah Lights | [
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31,538 | 22 | "The Chicagoland Detective Agency returns with another pseudoscientific, near-mystery graphic adventure. Self-absorbed but enthusiastic poet-cum-detective Megan has won tickets to a press conference held by goth-rocker Sun D'Arc; she's written hundreds of haiku dedicated to him and his dark, dreamy, depressing dirges. She asks Raf, self-described boy genius, to go with her, but he gets the flu. Since Bradley, their other partner, is an experimentally enhanced dog, Megan takes Raf's friend William. When Sun and his oddly familiar manager express interest in William and Megan catches Egyptian exchange student Jazmin lurking about the concert hall, she realizes something odd is definitely going on...then William disappears! Does this have anything to do with the mummy exhibit at the museum? Can the CDA solve the case in time to save their friend? Robbins' sophomore preteen detective effort (The Drained Brains Caper, 2010) is a tale that's light on mystery but makes up for it with age-appropriate edgy, sarcastic humor and pop-culture jibes. Page's black-and-white cartoon panels are full of pulpy action and visually exciting cinematography and include several 'screen shots' from MyBlogFace. Readers of book one will spot the villain long before the heroes do, making them feel extra smart. Good graphic fun." --Kirkus Reviews"If Rob Reger's Emily the Strange accessorized, swept her bangs to the side, and got an extra-strength dose of perkiness, she would be very much like Megan Yamamura, one of the partners in the Chicagoland Detective Agency. Megan's adventures with Raf and his talking dog, Bradley, continue in this installment when a teen rock idol has a suspicious connection to a mummy at the museum's ancient Egyptian exhibition. While the characters are in high school and the black-and-white artwork at first glance seems to lean toward edgier fare, the Goth look is actually cheerful and supports the juvenile humor quite well. Examples of tween-centric touches include Bradley collapsing a dinosaur skeleton because he cannot resist a bone, riffs on Humphrey Bogart-inspired film noir, obvious red herrings, and an easily recognizable villain from the previous book. Those who want plots that are more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew will enjoy this silly romp of a mystery." --School Library Journal"In this second volume in the Chicagoland Detective Agency graphic-novel series, teen sleuths Megan and Raf and their talking-dog partner, Bradley, get caught up in two seemingly unrelated happenings: the arrival of a rock idol and the disappearance of a mummy from the Art Institute. The story is a bit light on the detective front (the investigating primarily consists of always being where the villains are concocting their nefarious plans) but heavy on goofy-edged action and manga-inflected artwork. Another goodnatured adventure with a few nods to classic detective stories." --BooklistWriter and feminist herstorian Trina Robbins has been writing books, comics, and graphic novels for over 30 years. Her most recent books are The Brinkley Girls (Fantagraphics) and Forbidden City: the Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs (Hampton Press). Her newest graphic novel is the three-part YA series Chicagoland Detective Agency for Graphic Universe(TM).; Title: The Maltese Mummy: Book 2 (Chicagoland Detective Agency) | [
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31,539 | 18 | Writer and feminist herstorian Trina Robbins has been writing books, comics, and graphic novels for over 30 years. Her most recent books are The Brinkley Girls (Fantagraphics) and Forbidden City: the Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs (Hampton Press). Her newest graphic novel is the three-part YA series Chicagoland Detective Agency for Graphic Universe(tm).; Title: Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer | [
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31,540 | 15 | "Jellybean-bright backgrounds, large photographs, and brief texts will draw readers to this series. The use of questions and image choices help to make the topics relevant and interesting. Scientific terminology is accurate and understandable although at times the examples, such as 'Stepping on the gas makes a car give off pollution, ' are over-simplified. Occasional photos miss the mark. Attract and Repel implies that coins are magnetic. Captions closely follow the text, missing opportunities to extend content. The concluding activity is simple and clear, but the suggested websites are often too advanced for the audience." --School Library Journal, Series Made SimpleA former elementary school teacher, Jennifer Boothroyd has written many nonfiction books for children.; Title: Attract and Repel: A Look at Magnets (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,541 | 1 | "Chico Bon Bon is a cheerful monkey who likes to fix things. In this entry, elephant Clark invites him to fix things (and go surfing) at his uncle's beach resort. The resourceful monkey patches, repairs, and adjusts; solves the mystery of the source of the damage (a klutzy duck); then wraps up the day with some surfing. This quirky, over-the-top tale will amuse children with its random silliness and fun seaside setting. Chico's repair jobs range from plausible to ridiculous, as do the contents of his tool box (he has glue, but he also has a rubber-duck extractor). Detailed full-color line drawings invite readers to pore over the scenes for humorous touches. There's not much point to the story, but the style is entertaining." --School Library Journal"Chico fixes a whole bunch of stuff at the beach and solves a mystery, too. On a hot summer day, clever monkey Chico Bon Bon, armed with his trusty tool belt, sets about repairing the lawn sprinkler, which has been spraying too much water. Just as he's finishing up, Kitty pedals up on her mail bicycle with a postcard for Chico. It's from Clark, his elephant friend, inviting him to his uncle's beach resort for a vacation. Chico loves surfing, so it's off to the beach. The resort looks 'amazing, ' but, mysteriously, many things have suddenly broken there. In short order, Clark and his uncle Bill (who happens to be an alligator) put Chico to work making repairs. He uses seaweed to fix a hole in a cabana roof, patches a leaky boat and repairs ropes on a whole row of hammock. But his biggest challenge by far is the water slide, which is going crazy, spraying water in a whoosh like a giant fire hose. The door to the pump room is locked, but that doesn't stop Chico. He easily breaks in (in an eight-panel operation that includes eating a banana) and finds the surprising culprit. There's only one thing left to do: 'Let's go surfing!' Monroe's breezy, detailed illustrations match the energy and enthusiasm of her tale. Fact-filled fun for the curious fixer-in-training." --Kirkus Reviews"For his third adventure, handy monkey Chico Bon Bon joins his friend Clark at his uncle's sprawling seaside resort, where things are mysteriously breaking. Clark, a surf-loving elephant, and Uncle Bill, an alligator, show Chico the items that need fixing, including a hole in a cabana roof, a leaky boat, and a busted waterslide. In a story brimming with goofy humor, Monroe fills her watercolor pages with intricate ink details, zeroing in on each of Chico's meticulous repairs. A sort of Bob the Builder meets Sherlock Holmes, Chico combines smarts with an upbeat can-do attitude." --Publishers WeeklyChris Monroe's humor and intricate illustrations draw high praise from reviewers and bloggers alike. Chris is also the author and illustrator of Totally Uncool and the long-running comic strip Violet Days. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.; Title: Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Seaside Shenanigans | [
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31,542 | 1 | Who is stealing Mr. Venezis sandwiches? The befuddled pet-shop owner misidentifies the stores animals, leading the hamsters to think theyre koalas. In this first book in the Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye graphic-novel series, Hamisher the koala-hamster thinks Sasspants the guinea pig is a private investigator because the second G on her cages sign has fallen off, so he asks her to investigate. They travel through the pet shop, questioning the various animal suspects (rabbits, a snake, a parrot), and Sasspants decides to set a trap for the thief by disguising the shops turtle as a sandwich. Grumpy Sasspants, hyper Hamisher, creepy Gerry the snake, the goldfish (whom Mr. Venezi calls kangaroos), and the other animals all have distinctive personalities. Young readers will appreciate the zaniness of the pet shop and the fun mystery, and Yues colorful art uses a straightforward panel design thats easy to follow. The book includes fun facts about snakes and other animals Mr. Venezi thinks he has. Grades 1-3. --Kat Kan"Children will love Sasspants, a guinea pig who reads in her pet-shop cage using a thimble recycled as a reading lamp. She is the only animal properly identified because she's made her own sign using tiles. When the 'G' at the end of 'PIG' falls off, Hamisher the hamster mistakes Sasspants for a private investigator ('PI'), and enlists her help to find who's stealing Mr. Venezi's sandwiches. So begins this humorous mystery. Children who are just beginning to read graphic novels independently will enjoy solving the case with Sasspants. The full-color cartoons enhance the comic appeal. Two funny informational pages about the pet store denizens follow the story."--School Library Journal"Colleen A.F. Venable's electrically charged comic-book story features Mr. Venezi, a pet-store owner who can't tell a llama from a finch. But he does know his sandwich goes missing every day, and he will banish the koalas if it happens again. The koalas are actually hamsters, and they recruit a guinea pig to investigate (the 'G' has fallen off her nameplate, ergo 'PI'--private investigator). Sasspants the PI solves the mystery but not without much zany, motor-mouthed 'assistance' from the resident camels, walruses and sloths--or whatever. 'While classmates create imaginary friends, I created an imaginary hamster, ' says Venable. 'If anything went wrong, it wasn't my fault--it was his. The book-version hamster is me in third grade; obsessed with mysteries, superoutgoing and over-the-top hyperactive. Mom believed my hyperness was a gift not a problem, especially if you gave me pen and paper.'"--Kirkus Reviews"This promising new series opens in a pet store where a smart guinea pig named Sasspants spends her time reading the many books she keeps around her. Her smarts--in addition to the fact her cage accidentally says GUINEA PI instead of PIG--gets her tapped as a crime solver. When sandwiches go missing, a hamster becomes convinced the local pet private investigator will be the one to solve the case. While initially against getting involved, Sasspants nevertheless starts an investigation. Children can look and guess for themselves about the clues and red herrings the book presents. The humor in the characters' personalities and dialogue makes this a lively and entertaining book."--Publishers Weekly"Who is stealing Mr. Venezi's sandwiches? The befuddled pet-shop owner misidentifies the store's animals, leading the hamsters to think they're koalas. In this first book in the Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye graphic-novel series, Hamisher the koala-hamster thinks Sasspants the guinea pig is a private investigator because the second G on her cage's sign has fallen off, so he asks her to investigate. They travel through the pet shop, questioning the various animal suspects (rabbits, a snake, a parrot), and Sasspants decides to set a trap for the thief by disguising the shop's turtle as a sandwich. Grumpy Sasspants, hyper Hamisher, creepy Gerry the snake, the goldfish (whom Mr. Venezi calls kangaroos), and the other animals all have distinctive personalities. Young readers will appreciate the zaniness of the pet shop and the fun mystery, and Yue's colorful art uses a straightforward panel design that's easy to follow. The book includes fun facts about snakes and other animals Mr. Venezi thinks he has."--Booklist"There is skullduggery afoot at Mr. Venezi's Pets & Stuff: Someone keeps stealing his sandwich, which he puts outside the koala cage every day. No, he doesn't sell koalas; they're really hamsters, but Mr. Venezi is both shortsighted and incompetent (though very kind). The only cage that's correctly labeled is the one holding the guinea pig--but someone has stolen the G, so little Hamisher the koala, er, hamster has decided that guinea pig Sasspants must be a P.I. and therefore can crack the case. Venable's series opener just gets loonier. The irascible Sasspants would rather be reading, but, seeing that Hamisher won't leave her alone, she swings into action. The actual mystery plays second fiddle to the over-the-top characterizations and snappy dialogue: The goldfish are thoroughly brainless, Gerry the corn snake is inscrutable, the chinchillas are prima donnas (one of them has a pet white mouse). Yue's graphic panels, colored by Hi-Fi Design, make the most of the comic potential and extend it with plenty of visual slapstick. Middle graders will close this and ask right away for Detective Pants's next caper."--Kirkus Reviews; Title: Hamster and Cheese: Book 1 (Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye) | [
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31,543 | 17 | Jeff Savage has written dozens of books for young readers. He lives in California and frequently visits schools around the country to talk to kids about his work.; Title: Kobe Bryant, 2nd Edition (Amazing Athletes) | [
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31,544 | 11 | Mary Oluonye is the author of Madagascar, South Africa, and Nigeria for the Globe-trotters Club series and A Ticket to series.; Title: Madagascar (Country Explorers) | [
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31,545 | 2 | "The engaging Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox graphic-novel series, about a blended forest family and four stepsiblings' efforts to get along, continues to provide both age-appropriate complexity and sweet watercolor artwork. Although the lesson in this episode is the importance of working together over going it alone, the involving plot is not overshadowed by its moral: Bristle and his stepsister Ginger can't agree on the best boat to build, so they compete--while Grub joins with friends in a group effort. Be sure to pick up the earlier volumes (The Meeting and A Hubbub, both 2010), as all will be popular." --BooklistBrigitte Luciani is the author of many French titles for children. Born in Hanover, Germany, she received a Masters degree in literature and worked in journalism, editing, and photo research before moving to France, where she began writing books for kids and adults. Around the same time, she discovered graphic novels and began looking for an illustrator to collaborate with on a comic of her own. She teamed up with with Eve Tharlet for the Monsieur Blaireau et Madame Renarde series, which has been translated into English as Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox.; Title: What a Team!: Book 3 (Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox) | [
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31,546 | 0 | "Finding the afikomen (the hidden matzah) is a favorite custom during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Black's playful song 'Afikomen Mambo' is presented here as an illustrated book-and-CD combo. The music uses a Latin beat to add to the fun of the search, and listeners will want to get up and dance. The bright watercolor illustrations of a multiracial family are lively and a good match for the upbeat song. It must be noted, however, that the lyrics scan awkwardly and do not stand alone without the music. In addition, the pictures confuse the order of events somewhat by showing one child having found the afikomen and then all of the youngsters returning to the hunt; this coincides with the repetition of the chorus at the end of the song ('I'm gonna find it') but makes for a somewhat anticlimactic ending. Despite these quibbles, this kid-friendly book and CD will be popular with children, parents, and educators who are familiar with Passover vocabulary and customs." --School Library Journal"Singer/songwriter Rabbi Joe Black's second picture book focuses on the search for the afikomen after the Passover meal. 'I'm gonna find it/ I'm gonna find it/ Gonna find the afikomen, ' reads the chorus, as family members search high and low for the hidden piece of matzo. Painted in warm, bright colors, Black's multiethnic cast exudes familial tenderness and cheer. A few rhymes are a bit of a stretch ('And when I find it I'll articulate/ the terms on which we shall negotiate'), but don't diminish the overall sense of fun." --Publishers Weekly"A newcomer to the Passover scene is the colorfully appealing Afikomen Mambo, by Joe Black and illustrated by Linda Prater. Sold together with the book is a CD with performance by Black, who is well known for his music. Geared to the 3-7 set, this playful combination of illustration and song, do exactly what the Afikomen is meant to do--pique the interest and engagement of the younger set so they stay awake until the end of the Seder. Somewhat puzzling is the plethora of children and the paucity of adults seated around the table. From the looks of it, one set of parents has invited a whole brood of young ones to join in the Passover fun. But at least everyone looks happy doing the Afiokmen Mambo." --Forward.com "Even the youngest children can (and should) be involved in Passover, and Kar-Ben Publishing has three new holiday titles. For kids ages 1-4: A lively book and CD is available from the well-known singer and songwriter Rabbi Joe Black, Afikomen Mambo, illustrated by Linda Prater ($17.95). Kids are sure to sing and/or dance along to the CD, and will love the chaos illustrated in the book's pages as the search for the afikoman goes on." -- Chicago Jewish Star Magazine"Rabbi Black, a congregational rabbi, singer, songwriter and guitarist, tells the enlivening story pf children finding the afikomen at a Passover seder. As they sit through the seder, they are anxious to look for the afikomen and negotiate terms for its return. Everyone knows the seder cannot end until it is found and tasted by all.Young children under four will be entertained by the simple rhyming story. The illustrations are cheery and colorful, and will keep youngsters engaged. The book includes a sing-along CD." -- The Jewish Journal"Rabbi Joe Black's infectious energy and solid musicianship have made him a popular performer for Jewish children--and their parents. His latest project is Afikomen Mambo (Kar-Ben; $17.95 hardcover, $8.95 paperback), a book with lively pictures by Linda Prater and an accompanying CD. The catchy rhymes will get children singing along in the days leading up to the holiday and as they look for the hidden matzo. Suitable for ages 4-8." --Jewish Woman; Title: Afikomen Mambo [with CD (Audio)] (Passover) | [
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31,547 | 17 | Katherine Krohn is the author of several biographies for young readers, including Vera Wang, Princess Diana (Biography), and Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song (Lerner Biographies). Ms. Krohn is also a journalist and a fiction writer.; Title: Michael Jackson: Ultimate Music Legend (Gateway Biographies) | [
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31,548 | 0 | "With Yom Ha'atzmaut just several weeks away, a timely little book for very young children is Ella's Trip to Israel by Vivian Newman, illustrated by Akemi Guiterrez ($8.95 pb) in which Ella takes her stuffed toy monkey on all her adventures while visiting Israel. The illustrations are simply delightful!" --Chicago Jewish Star Magazine"Preschooler Ella and her parents travel to Israel accompanied by her stuffed monkey, Koofi, who endures much abuse along the way. Mango juice spills onto his face, a young boy accidentally rips his tail, lunchtime tahini drips on his fur, Ella covers him with Dead Sea mud, and milk from a kibbutz cow sprays into his eyes. As each disaster occurs, Ella is told, 'Eyn ba'aya. No p roblem, ' and an adult does his or her best to remedy the situation. Back home, Mom wryly notes that Koofi's fur is like a photo album, with each spot recalling a portion of their trip, but Ella still loves Koofi just the way he is. Newman's simple story (with its frequent 'Eyn ba'aya' refrain) will appeal to young listeners, and Gutierrez's pastel, cartoon-style illustrations are well suited to the laid-back, yet upbeat, story. Although the book's audience may be somewhat limited (preschoolers traveling to Israel), Newman does a good job pointing out travel highlights (the Wailing Wall, the Dead Sea, a kibbutz) infused with cultural details and simple Hebrew." --Booklist"Ella, along with her parents and her stuffed animal Koofi the Kof (monkey), fly to Israel. On the plane Ella spills mango juice on Koofi. As the smiling stewardess wipes the juice off Koofi she says, 'Eyn ba'aya. No problem, ' which becomes a refrain throughout this delightful book. Ella and her family visit the Kotel where a boy accidentally rips Koofi's tail to which Ella's mother says, 'Eyn ba'aya, ' as she sews the tail back on Koofi. When the family visits an outdoor market in Tel Aviv, Ella drips tahini on Koofi to which her mother exclaims, 'Eyn ba'aya, ' as she cleans Koofi's fur. At the Dead Sea, Koofi, along with the other tourists, gets covered in mud and in the Gallil, Ella squirts Koofi with milk as she milks a cow. After each incident the phrase 'Eyn ba'aya' is repeated. When the family returns home and looks at their picture album they realize that Koofi's stained fur is a reminder of the places they visited in Israel. Akemi Gutierrez's pastel watercolor drawings of happy people compliment the text. There is one small inaccuracy in the drawings. Ella's mother wears a green sleeveless blouse and yellow skirt throught the book. She would not have been permitted to approach the kotel without covering her arms. This once inaccuracy does not detract from the enjoyment of the book. It is also curious that there is never a depiction of an Israeli flag at any point. Ella's Trip to Israel is a simple travelogue of Israel for the very youngest readers." --Jewish Book WorldVivian Newman has an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education and a certificate in Jewish Early Childhood Education from Hebrew College. In addition to writing, she is an Educational Consultant for PJ Library, an initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Her previous chldren s books include Ella sTrip to Israel and Tikkun Olam Ted.; Title: Ella's Trip to Israel | [
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31,549 | 2 | K-Gr 3The day after Mighty Casey's infamous strikeout, the Mudville Nine has fallen to second place and in the late innings of the game struggles to hold onto its lead. Rookie Joy Armstrong is brought in to save the game as the startled fans boo. Lanky, pink bubble-blowing Joy is unfazed by the fans' reaction: "She'd show them soon enough that girls/excel in many sports." Joy faces Jackson, a lumbering giant, and surprises him with a football snap thrown between her legs and a high tennis lob. With Jackson behind in the count, Joy's last pitch is a basketball jump shot that the batter bunts, but she uses her soccer skills to make the play at the plate. Sometimes the rhymes sound forced and awkward, but the appealing broad humor wins out. Cartoon illustrations complement and add to the silly goings-on. For example, the umpire's attire changes to a football referee, a tennis line judge, and as he calls the runner out at home, he's wearing soccer shorts and waving a red card. There's a not-so-subtle message here, but it's delivered with pitch-perfect tone. This playful retelling wins a place for itself alongside the many iterations of Casey's tale.Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CAWe all know how Casey at the Bat ended: there was no joy in Mudville. Raczka picks up the story here, with Joy referring to an actual person: lanky relief pitcher Joy Armstrong. One game after the mighty Casey struck out, the fortunes of the team rest upon the shoulders of young Joy. Not only does she save the day for her team, she does so unconventionally, pitching balls in ways more akin to the signature moves of other sports: hiking it, serving it, lobbing it, and so on. The pointthat she is an all-around athleteis stretched a bit far, but this does make for a good addition to the slim number of picture books about girls who excel at sports. Dibleys illustrations feature lumpy-faced characters with similar laconic expressions, but readers will pick up on the way the umpires clothes change with Joys choice of plays. For collections that can always use another good-natured sports book. Grades K-2. --Karen Cruze; Title: Joy in Mudville | [
17127,
63170
] | Train |
31,550 | 15 | "These small volumes pair one short, declarative statement per page ('You see the first light from the sun at dawn') with color photos of outdoor scenes, city skylines, animals, or children. The concepts are clearly presented and certainly worthy of study, but an error of fact--a picture of fog incorrectly used in conjunction with a discussion of evaporation in Earth's Water Cycle--and such potentially confusing instances of oversimplification as a wakeful skunk in Hibernation and a statement in Seasons that 'near the middle of the Earth, it is warm all year, ' mar an otherwise useful and appealing series." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple "Using stock photographs and a simple text, this small, square book aims to explain Earth's rotation cycle to beginning readers. Information is very brief and basic, appropriate for first report writers. 'Day and night facts' and an illustrated diagram provide more information." --The Horn Book GuideRobin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Day and Night (First Step Nonfiction) | [
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... | Train |
31,551 | 13 | After entering a kids fashion design contest, Mallory wins a trip for four to New York City, where she will model her outfit on her favorite TV show. Yes, she is ecstatic, but she is also worried. How can she possibly keep her pinky swear promise to her best friend Mary Ann that theyll both appear on Fashion Fran? From the girls success when they work together to their discord when one pressures the other, this high-energy chapter book hits both the high and the low notes of friendship. Many grayscale drawings illustrate the action in this lively addition to the Mallory McDonald series. Grades 3-5. --Carolyn Phelan"After entering a kids' fashion design contest, Mallory wins a trip for four to New York City, where she will model her outfit on her favorite TV show. Yes, she is ecstatic, but she is also worried. How can she possibly keep her 'pinky swear' promise to her best friend Mary Ann that they'll both appear on Fashion Fran? From the girls' success when they work together to their discord when one pressures the other, this high-energy chapter book hits both the high and the low notes of friendship. Many grayscale drawings illustrate the action in this lively addition to the Mallory McDonald series." --Booklist; Title: Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York | [
10226,
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29620,
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38898,
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38915,
38937,
38979,
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] | Validation |
31,552 | 17 | Jeff Savage has written dozens of books for young readers. He lives in California and frequently visits schools around the country to talk to kids about his work.; Title: Adrian Peterson (Amazing Athletes) | [
31543,
31619,
53680
] | Validation |
31,553 | 2 | PreS-Gr 2-Gabriel's overzealous wand-waving gets him into trouble when he plays magician: he knocks things over and pokes his sister in the tummy. Mom helps him redefine the role of magician. "Good magicians do things that make people happy, not sad. They do mitzvot-that's a Jewish word for good deeds." Mulling it over in time out, Gabriel comes up with new magic words, "One-wish! Two-wish! Jew-wish!" and acts quickly to magically surprise his family with a clean house and yummy treat. While not all readers may agree that a magician's role is to do good deeds, in this context the "magic" angle makes it fun to do good. The simplified definition of "mitzvot" (technically, biblical commandments) is appropriate for young readers, especially the non-Orthodox Jews represented in the bright and blocky paintings. Jewish families and educators will welcome this title for its reinforcement of the mitzvah concept.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.In this sweetly energetic story with brightly colored pictures to match, Marshall simplifies the Jewish concept of mitzvah (giving back as a moral and religious obligation), making the idea more accessible to preschoolers by linking it to a childs everyday world. When Gabriel dons his cap and swishes his magic wand, things happen. Unfortunately, what happens gets him into trouble. While trying to make milk disapear from a glass, he causes a messy spill; instead of making his sister disappear, he makes her cry. His mother intervenes, sending him away for a time-out. If he is to be a great magician, she tells him, he must do things that make people happy. So Gabriel cleans up the milk, picks up his toys, and sets the table. When his mother reappears, he waves his magic wand, One-wish! Two-wish! Jew-wish! and surprises her with all the good deeds he has done. Now he is the Mitzvah Magician! Preschool-Grade 1. --Stephanie Zvirin; Title: The Mitzvah Magician (Kar-Ben Favorites) | [
62208
] | Test |
31,554 | 15 | "Filled with large, engaging photos, each book is divided into subtopics that contain definitions, explanations, and several examples of the physical science principle. The end of each volume includes directions for completing an activity that illustrates the concept and prompts further thinking. Though content is slight, these books could serve as adequate introductions to their respective subjects." --The Horn Book Guide"A primary teacher might reach for this book when introducing the physics of force and motion. The definitions are simple and supported by clear photographs. There is an explanation box consisting of one sentence, and an arrow indicates the part of the photo that is involved. This is just enough to catch a young student's interest if he or she is reading independently, or for a teacher to allow some student input at the turn of each page. The photographs reflect common experiences of young children in most communities. One of my favorites, the photo of the special olympics, may stretch their imaginations and sense of inclusion. Most children have access to media to catch some of these popular events. There is a wrap-up activity at the end of the text that will help students to understand the concept of force and how it works in their everyday life. The activity includes simple materials that are easy enough to obtain so that a few stations could be set up for small-group activity. The last page of the book contains two questions that students should answer after the activity. However, I did not feel that questions such as "Which ball needed the most force to move?" and "Which toss needed the most force?" were as clear as they might have been. The ideas are presented so simply that a second-grade teacher could use them easily. Students might try them out on the playground as well. This is a good book to use if you feel reluctant to start teaching young students physical science. What can be better than getting students outside, teaching science, and get students moving at the same time?" --NSTA"Jellybean-bright backgrounds, large photographs, and brief texts will draw readers to this series. The use of questions and image choices help to make the topics relevant and interesting. Scientific terminology is accurate and understandable although at times the examples, such as 'Stepping on the gas makes a car give off pollution, ' are over-simplified. Occasional photos miss the mark. Attract and Repel implies that coins are magnetic. Captions closely follow the text, missing opportunities to extend content. The concluding activity is simple and clear, but the suggested websites are often too advanced for the audience." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple"With simplistic text accompanied by vivid photographs, each title explains an area of physical science, such as force, motion, and density. Using real life examples, the author explains the topic in a meaningful way for young readers. Each title is organized into five sections, followed by a hands-on activity that demonstrates the book's subject. This series would be a welcome addition to school libraries' science section as well as elementary science classrooms. Recommended." --Library Media ConnectionA former elementary school teacher, Jennifer Boothroyd has written many nonfiction books for children.; Title: Give It a Push! Give It a Pull!: A Look at Forces (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
3736,
3791,
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35207,
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39437,
41854,
43904,
46612... | Test |
31,555 | 2 | K-Gr 2In this sequel to The Meeting (Lerner, 2010), in which Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox met and blended their families, Ginger Fox is having some trouble adjusting to her new life, which includes two badger stepbrothers. In the end she realizes that having a bigger family can only bring more rewards and is happy with her situation. Luciani uses animal characters to bring to life the feelings and frustrations that can develop when children are faced with family changes. The pros and cons that Ginger experiences suggest a realistic view of modern families instead of an idealistic Happily ever after. The watercolor illustrations help set the mood and provide a great deal of depth to each panel. Each strip depicts Ginger's feelings and makes the text come alive. A good choice for the youngest graphic-novel fans.Catherine Brenner, Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, NY(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.This second volume in the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox graphic-novel series for the youngest readers continues to succeed in offering age-appropriate insight on real-life complexities in the form of an appealing animal tale. The two families have successfully combined, bringing together Mrs. Foxs daughter and Mr. Badgers two boys and baby. The older three kids adjust to the expectations and roles played by their new parent, while baby Ginger copes with her envy over how the others have so quickly adapted to the new blended family. With excellent artwork and nicely handled developmental psychology, this series belongs in any collection serving young readers. Grades K-3. --Francisca Goldsmith; Title: A Hubbub (Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox) | [
31524,
31545
] | Train |
31,556 | 17 | Jeff Savage has written dozens of books for young readers. He lives in California and frequently visits schools around the country to talk to kids about his work.; Title: Danica Patrick, 2nd Edition (Amazing Athletes) | [
10689,
53680,
53806
] | Train |
31,557 | 2 | "A multi-hued crew of cartoon cats presents the various food groups and the practices of a healthy lifestyle. Each book reports which foods are in the titled group and provides simple explanations of how they affect the body. Cleary's consistent reminders to children to help the adults in their lives eat better are helpful, too. The books also provide servings guides, recommended intake levels, and a 'MyPyramid' chart. Overall, the scientific material in these books is slim, and their attempts to be informative are overshadowed by their simplicity. Also, like the titles, the narratives are written in goofy verse. The meter is often uneven and the rhymes forced." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple"Developed in conjunction with a dietician, Brian Cleary's new series makes learning about nutrition and exercise both fun and easy with full-color cartoon-like illustrations and rhyming verse. Amusing creatures animate each page, demonstrating the major points of the text with a humorous approach. Each title begins with a definition, examples, recommendations on amounts, health benefits, etc. Ending with a reference to the food pyramid and concrete examples of quantities, each book also references activities, teacher materials, etc. available on the author's website. Although this new series is clearly designed to entertain and make learning enjoyable, the text of each volume is carefully chosen to convey an abundance of detailed information about nutrition and exercise. The series is a perfect complement to a science or physical education curriculum making a sometimes dreary topic both entertaining and memorable. Recommended." --Library Media ConnectionBrian P. Cleary is the author of the Words Are CATegorical(R), Math Is CATegorical(R), Food Is CATegorical(TM), and Animal Groups Are CATegorical(TM) series, as well as several picture books. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.; Title: Black Beans and Lamb, Poached Eggs and Ham: What Is in the Meat and Beans Group? (Food Is Categorical) | [
31472,
31562,
31563,
31565,
31612,
32376,
38958,
44691,
46680,
47885,
50347,
63612,
66966
] | Test |
31,558 | 14 | PreSchool-Grade 1After an especially wonderful birthday, Little Princess decides that only one per year just won't do. She speaks with the Prime Minister, who puts a second birthday on the royal calendar. But, though two are definitely better than one, this still won't do. Gradually, Little Princess celebrates her birthday every day. The parties begin with special cakes and presents galore. However, the need to stay clean and to dress up each day becomes tedious, as do the smaller cakes, the insignificant presents, and the dearth of people who can attend daily parties and afford daily gifts. Thus is born the brilliant idea of having one "special" day each year that is different from all the resta day in which the child can get dirty and play whatever she wants. It's declared her "unbirthday" and falls on the day she was born. Ross's bright, cheerful trademark watercolor illustrations add much humor to this already funny tale about having too much of a good thing. Children love birthday celebrations and will be delighted with this newest "Little Princess" story.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."After an especially wonderful birthday, Little Princess decides that only one per year just won't do. She speaks with the Prime Minister, who puts a second birthday on the royal calendar. But, though two are definitely better than one, this still won't do. Gradually, Little Princess celebrates her birthday every day. The parties begin with special cakes and presents galore. However, the need to stay clean and to dress up each day becomes tedious, as do the smaller cakes, the insignificant presents, and the dearth of people who can attend daily parties and afford daily gifts. Thus is born the brilliant idea of having one 'special' day each year that is different from all the resta day in which the child can get dirty and play whatever she wants. It's declared her 'unbirthday' and falls on the day she was born. Ross's bright, cheerful trademark watercolor illustrations add much humor to this already funny tale about having too much of a good thing. Children love birthday celebrations and will be delighted with this newest 'Little Princess' story."--School Library Journal"Little Princess stars again in a book about a popular subject. The greedy royal girl wants to know why her mother has two birthdays and then demands to have two for herself. At her insistence, the Prime Minister plans a birthday every day, but her wise father the king finds a clever solution. Filled with satirical moments, the watercolor illustrations add to the madcap comedy." --The Horn Book Guide; Title: I Want Two Birthdays! (Little Princess Story) | [
31621,
31702,
33252
] | Test |
31,559 | 1 | Judith Jango-Cohen's career began in the classroom, where she created lessons to excite her students' interest in science. Eleven years later, after the birth of her two children, she turned to writing full time. Her adventures as a naturalist and photographer have inspired her forty-two books, which cover an assortment of subjects from Bionics to Ben Franklin and from ladybugs to librarians. Besides researching and writing books, Judith also writes science news stories for Scholastic classroom magazines.As a former teacher, Judith loves visiting classrooms and libraries to share her stories as a writer/photographer and to help children learn to express themselves through poetry and prose. She also enjoys meeting teachers and librarians when she presents programs at conferences.Judith's titles have been selected for the Children's Choices Reading List by the IRA/CBC, recommended by the National Science Teacher's Association, chosen for the Children's Literature Choice List, named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the NCSS/CBC, and selected as Best Children's Books of the Year by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College.; Title: Let's Look at Armadillos (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
13380
] | Test |
31,560 | 15 | "Filled with large, engaging photos, each book is divided into subtopics that contain definitions, explanations, and several examples of the physical science principle. The end of each volume includes directions for completing an activity that illustrates the concept and prompts further thinking. Though content is slight, these books could serve as adequate introductions to their respective subjects." --The Horn Book Guide"Jellybean-bright backgrounds, large photographs, and brief texts will draw readers to this series. The use of questions and image choices help to make the topics relevant and interesting. Scientific terminology is accurate and understandable although at times the examples, such as 'Stepping on the gas makes a car give off pollution, ' are over-simplified. Occasional photos miss the mark. Attract and Repel implies that coins are magnetic. Captions closely follow the text, missing opportunities to extend content. The concluding activity is simple and clear, but the suggested websites are often too advanced for the audience." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple"With simplistic text accompanied by vivid photographs, each title explains an area of physical science, such as force, motion, and density. Using real life examples, the author explains the topic in a meaningful way for young readers. Each title is organized into five sections, followed by a hands-on activity that demonstrates the book's subject. This series would be a welcome addition to school libraries' science section as well as elementary science classrooms. Recommended." --Library Media ConnectionA former elementary school teacher, Jennifer Boothroyd has written many nonfiction books for children.; Title: What Floats? What Sinks?: A Look at Density (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
1369,
3791,
3995,
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46851,
46872,
483... | Train |
31,561 | 2 | "This story focuses on the back-to-school rules of Percy Isaac Gifford. Percy advises the reader of what NOT to do when starting a new school year. Rules include not showing up late, not contradicting your teacher, not being impolite, and ends with the most important rule--not forgetting to have lots of fun. The story's rhyme makes it fast-paced, and the colorful illustrations are fun to look at. Younger students will enjoy the humor, and teachers can use the story as a review of classroom rules." --Library Media Connection"Percy, the self-assured host from Thanksgiving Rules, returns with some guidelines for starting school on the right foot. Unlike the previous book, though, these rules are all about 'what not to do.' Thus, Percy explains rules like don't be late, don't be impolite, no running, and no contradicting the teacher, culminating in a laundry list of 'don'ts' listed on a chalkboard. Murfin creates a playfully skewed school environment with her wobbly collages and rosy-cheeked students, but after this litany of don'ts and nos, readers may have trouble taking the final rule--'Don't forget to have lots of fun!'--to heart." --Publishers WeeklyLaurie Friedman is the author of many award-winning books for children. She writes the popular Mallory books, a series of chapter books for 7-10 year olds. Critics have praised the Mallory books, saying that Mallory deserves a place beside Judy Moody, Amber Brown, and Junie B. Jones. Laurie is also the author of numerous picture books including Love, Ruby Valentine; Ruby Valentine Saves the Day; I'm Not Afraid of this Haunted House; and Thanksgiving Rules. Laurie lives in Miami with her family and her dog, Ollie.; Title: Back-to-School Rules | [
1079,
1695,
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22409,
22984,
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24710,
27773,
28790,
31398,
31862,
31931,
32304,
33656,
33... | Train |
31,562 | 2 | "Developed in conjunction with a dietician, Brian Cleary's new series makes learning about nutrition and exercise both fun and easy with full-color cartoon-like illustrations and rhyming verse. Amusing creatures animate each page, demonstrating the major points of the text with a humorous approach. Each title begins with a definition, examples, recommendations on amounts, health benefits, etc. Ending with a reference to the food pyramid and concrete examples of quantities, each book also references activities, teacher materials, etc. available on the author's website. Although this new series is clearly designed to entertain and make learning enjoyable, the text of each volume is carefully chosen to convey an abundance of detailed information about nutrition and exercise. The series is a perfect complement to a science or physical education curriculum making a sometimes dreary topic both entertaining and memorable. Recommended." --Library Media Connection"A multi-hued crew of cartoon cats presents the various food groups and the practices of a healthy lifestyle. Each book reports which foods are in the titled group and provides simple explanations of how they affect the body. Cleary's consistent reminders to children to help the adults in their lives eat better are helpful, too. The books also provide servings guides, recommended intake levels, and a 'MyPyramid' chart. Overall, the scientific material in these books is slim, and their attempts to be informative are overshadowed by their simplicity. Also, like the titles, the narratives are written in goofy verse. The meter is often uneven and the rhymes forced." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple"Cleary and Goneau make learning about nutrition fun with silly rhymes and goofy illustrations. Food prep, portion size, vitamin values, and vegetable colors and textures are presented at just the right level for little ones, and they will delight in the antics of the brightly colored cats that romp across the page. Match this up with a show and tell with real vegetables to help kids understand groups like leafy greens, starches, and legumes" --School Library Journal's Extra Helping "With highly readable bits and pieces about which yummy foods have which nutrients and vitamins, these books in the Food Is CATegorical series are just right for sharing with young kids, introducing the value of healthy foods and exercise through silly rhymes, puns, and zany color cartoons of cats in wild action. The scenarios in Apples, Cherries, Red Raspberries range from cat characters picking apples in an orchard to a big cat that triumphs in a boxing ring after eating 'cool' bananas ('Whether on cereal / or with your lunch, / this fruit's / sure to pack / a potassium punch!'). Green Beans, Potatoes, and Even Tomatoes shows that, though often a side dish, the veg is key: 'It's a great source of vitamins A, C, and E.' Sweet potatoes, carrots, and more are portrayed as both wholesome and tasty, and green is cool, too, especially when spinach helps a cat show off its skateboarding skills. Then there is what vitamins do: 'Vitamin A helps our eyes and our skin.' Both books play with words: fruits are 'peachy'; potatoes have eyes; corn grows in ears; cabbage and lettuce are sold in heads. The back matter, featuring the food pyramid and a guide to recommended daily quantities, is part of the fun." --BooklistBrian P. Cleary is the author of the Words Are CATegorical(R), Math Is CATegorical(R), Food Is CATegorical(TM), and Animal Groups Are CATegorical(TM) series, as well as several picture books. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.; Title: Green Beans, Potatoes, and Even Tomatoes: What is in the Vegetables Group? (Food Is Categorical) | [
4913,
31429,
31472,
31557,
31563,
31565,
31612,
34098,
39425,
39584,
44691,
47885,
50379,
53571,
63612,
66966
] | Test |
31,563 | 2 | "With highly readable bits and pieces about which yummy foods have which nutrients and vitamins, these books in the Food Is CATegorical series are just right for sharing with young kids, introducing the value of healthy foods and exercise through silly rhymes, puns, and zany color cartoons of cats in wild action. The scenarios in Apples, Cherries, Red Raspberries range from cat characters picking apples in an orchard to a big cat that triumphs in a boxing ring after eating 'cool' bananas ('Whether on cereal / or with your lunch, / this fruit's / sure to pack / a potassium punch!'). Green Beans, Potatoes, and Even Tomatoes shows that, though often a side dish, the veg is key: 'It's a great source of vitamins A, C, and E.' Sweet potatoes, carrots, and more are portrayed as both wholesome and tasty, and green is cool, too, especially when spinach helps a cat show off its skateboarding skills. Then there is what vitamins do: 'Vitamin A helps our eyes and our skin.' Both books play with words: fruits are 'peachy'; potatoes have eyes; corn grows in ears; cabbage and lettuce are sold in heads. The back matter, featuring the food pyramid and a guide to recommended daily quantities, is part of the fun." --Booklist"A multi-hued crew of cartoon cats presents the various food groups and the practices of a healthy lifestyle. Each book reports which foods are in the titled group and provides simple explanations of how they affect the body. Cleary's consistent reminders to children to help the adults in their lives eat better are helpful, too. The books also provide servings guides, recommended intake levels, and a 'MyPyramid' chart. Overall, the scientific material in these books is slim, and their attempts to be informative are overshadowed by their simplicity. Also, like the titles, the narratives are written in goofy verse. The meter is often uneven and the rhymes forced." --School Library Journal, Series Made SimpleBrian P. Cleary is the author of the Words Are CATegorical(R), Math Is CATegorical(R), Food Is CATegorical(TM), and Animal Groups Are CATegorical(TM) series, as well as several picture books. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.; Title: Apples, Cherries, Red Raspberries: What Is in the Fruits Group? (Food Is CATegorical) | [
4828,
10495,
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12701,
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22961,
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31565,
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44250,
44691,
46680,
46699,
47885,
48518,
50347,
50379,
63612,
66853,
66966,
71783
] | Test |
31,564 | 22 | "Adapting Holmes stories into comics is very challenging, which makes these books all the more impressive. Very little happens in a typical Holmes story: something goes wrong, the detectives interview a series of people, the hero sits around thinking, and eventually he confronts the culprit. Comics are a visual medium, and in the same way that readers of novels--in which it's perfectly all right to describe at length the thought processes of a brilliant detective--tend to enjoy detective stories better than moviegoers do, comics readers tend to want to see things moving...not smart people sitting in chairs and thinking deeply. Sophie Rohrbach's illustrations are cunningly designed to address this challenge. She moves the point of view around dramatically, zooming in on Watson, for example, when he finally figures out something Holmes realized an hour ago, or swiveling the perspective so that we fail to see the face of a suspect whose identity would eliminate the mystery. The creators also interject short bits of narration on Watson's notepad to maintain the sense that Watson is writing down these adventures shortly after he has experienced them. The result is a mystery that is always engaging, even when the action is mild." --Teacher Librarian"These graphic novel-style adaptations of Holmes's adventures are well suited to middle graders. The dialogue is reminiscent of Conan Doyle's writing yet easier to follow. The illustrations' cartoon characters are appealing, but the heavy black lines and dark palette are sometimes intrusive." --The Horn Book GuideSir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859. He became a doctor in 1882. When this career did not prove successful, Doyle started writing stories. In addition to the popular Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels, Doyle also wrote historical novels, romances, and plays.; Title: Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure at the Abbey Grange: Case 2 (On the Case With Holmes and Watson) | [
31595,
31598,
31602,
31605
] | Test |
31,565 | 2 | "Developed in conjunction with a dietician, Brian Cleary's new series makes learning about nutrition and exercise both fun and easy with full-color cartoon-like illustrations and rhyming verse. Amusing creatures animate each page, demonstrating the major points of the text with a humorous approach. Each title begins with a definition, examples, recommendations on amounts, health benefits, etc. Ending with a reference to the food pyramid and concrete examples of quantities, each book also references activities, teacher materials, etc. available on the author's website. Although this new series is clearly designed to entertain and make learning enjoyable, the text of each volume is carefully chosen to convey an abundance of detailed information about nutrition and exercise. The series is a perfect complement to a science or physical education curriculum making a sometimes dreary topic both entertaining and memorable. Recommended." --Library Media ConnectionBrian P. Cleary is the author of the Words Are CATegorical(R), Math Is CATegorical(R), Food Is CATegorical(TM), and Animal Groups Are CATegorical(TM) series, as well as several picture books. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.; Title: Macaroni and Rice and Bread by the Slice: What Is in the Grains Group? (Food Is Categorical) | [
1403,
4789,
15068,
31429,
31434,
31435,
31443,
31460,
31472,
31557,
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31563,
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31723,
34043,
34098,
38908,
43967,
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47885,
53546,
53571,
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31,566 | 1 | PreS-Gr 2-It's Mega Bowl Sunday in the Lava Dome, and a crowd of excited dinosaurs are watching the Greenblade Snackers play against the Redscales. The rhyming running commentary contains the terminology and all the play-by-play excitement of a televised game. "Kentro gets the takeaway!/This Snacker rookie saved the day." After the "Dino Halftime Show," the score is close, but the last play allows small, young Mussaurus to score the winning touchdown. Gott's illustrations of the tackles are more humorous than brutal, and he draws examples of good sportsmanship on and off the field. A detailed scoreboard and color-coded naming system in the text (the dinos' names are in green or red depending on their team) make this game easy to follow.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted."The sporty dinosaurs that have played soccer, hockey, baseball, and basketball in previous outings take on football on 'Mega Bowl Sunday.' With eager dinosaur fans in the stadium bleachers, the herbivorous Redscales battle the meat-eating Snackers in rhyming couplets, laced with game lingo: 'T. rex is the quarterback./ He calls the play. The ball is snapped./ The Redscale linemen make a pocket./ T. rex fires like a rocket.' Gott's high-energy cartoons place readers right in the football action, with dinosaur tackles, touchdowns, and a rousing halftime show." --Publishers Weekly"It's Mega Bowl Sunday in the Lava Dome, and a crowd of excited dinosaurs are watching the Greenblade Snackers play against the Redscales. The rhyming running commentary contains the terminology and all the play-by-play excitement of a televised game. 'Kentro gets the takeaway!/This Snacker rookie saved the day.' After the 'Dino-Halftime Show, ' the score is close, but the last play allows small, young Mussaurus to score the winning touchdown. Gott's illustrations of the tackles are more humorous than brutal, and he draws examples of good sportsmanship on and off the field. A detailed scoreboard and color-coded naming system in the text (the dinos' names are in green or red depending on their team) make this game easy to follow." --School Library Journal; Title: Dino-Football (Carolrhoda Picture Books) (Dino-Sports) | [
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31,567 | 15 | Gr 4-6-The author begins with an alien alter ego named Yllek (Kelly spelled backwards) who is planning a possible journey through space. His perspective is sprinkled throughout this historical survey of UFO and extraterrestrial sightings, providing a humorous touch to the information. Beginning with a 1947 incident over Washington State, the narrative succinctly describes similar incidents in such places as Florida, Iran, Arizona, China, and New Mexico. One-page interviews with the witnesses of UFO/ET sightings inject personal details into the description. Possible terrestrial explanations follow each incident. Jaunty full-color illustrations flash off every page and provide a good contrast between what people claim to have seen and what the experts think they may have seen-clouds, lightning, and other weather phenomena; secret U.S. planes; weather balloons, etc. A double-page world map pinpoints modern sightings. A bibliography of books and websites and lists of UFO organizations and festivals might lead readers further into the field. While not as comprehensive as Eric Elfman's Almanac of Alien Encounters (Random, 2001) or as skeptical as Judith Herbst's UFOs (Lerner, 2005), this attractive, balanced view will update collections.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Halls takes a three-pronged approach to the perennially fascinating topic of UFOs, with looks at famous (and not-so-famous) incidents of sightings, landings, and alien bodies; interviews with people who are convinced they have had alien encounters; and a fictional story about aliens visiting earth (with trepidation, the way astronauts might visit Mars). The latter, illustrated with neon-colored, computer-generated artwork, probably could have been eliminated. But the rest of the materialwith stories of alien visits since 1947 from all parts of the world and interviews with experts and ordinary citizensis intriguing and presented in a way sure to capture kids imaginations. The organization is a bit lacking, but all the important points about UFOs are covered (including hoaxes), and the lively format, with plenty of art and graphic elements, will hold attention. Several times, Halls invites readers to come to their own conclusions, and she provides plenty of information to let them do just that. A glossary and source notes are appended. Grades 5-8. --Ilene Cooper; Title: Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth About Ufos and Aliens | [
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31,568 | 6 | *Starred Review* Theres no denying it, and little use trying to stop it. Kids love mud, and heres a picture book that positively revels in all its gleefully gloppy glory. A young girl marches out after a rainstorm with her toys, demanding a good bit of playtime. Out of the ground springs a little creature that looks kind of like a cross between an onion and, well, a friendly turd (he even has a cute little mud-butt). He introduces himself as Mudkin and asks the girl to be his queen. Shes more than happy to oblige, naturally, and theyre off on a sludge-filled adventure. Mudpies? Please. Try a mud carriage that carries our beaming mud queen up to a dazzlingly goopy castle where she looks out over a throng of adoring mudkins. Gammell tells the whole story with hardly any words. The girl has a few lines of dialogue, but Mudkins responses are all a scrawl of indecipherable brown smears, offering a neat chance for kids to engage and fill in their own ideas for what hes saying. But what will really bring on the squeals is the joyfully messy watercolors that look composed of thick, overhand tosses of mud splatters and heartily ground-in grass stains. Just about the perfect book to cozy up to and relive fond memories of pre-bathtime muckfests. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ian Chipman"An imaginative little girl goes outside to play after a rainstorm. She meets a brown, blobby creature named Mudkin, who takes her, in a mud-constructed coach, to his home and asks her to be his people's queen. Another rain shower washes the creatures--but not her memories--away. Spare text, all from the girl's side of the conversation, makes room for Gammell's trademark spattery illustrations." --The Horn Book Guide"There's no denying it, and little use trying to stop it. Kids love mud, and here's a picture book that positively revels in all its gleefully gloppy glory. A young girl marches out after a rainstorm with her toys, demanding a good bit of playtime. Out of the ground springs a little creature that looks kind of like a cross between an onion and, well, a friendly turd (he even has a cute little mud-butt). He introduces himself as Mudkin and asks the girl to be his queen. She's more than happy to oblige, naturally, and they're off on a sludge-filled adventure. Mudpies? Please. Try a mud carriage that carries our beaming mud queen up to a dazzlingly goopy castle where she looks out over a throng of adoring mudkins. Gammell tells the whole story with hardly any words. The girl has a few lines of dialogue, but Mudkin's responses are all a scrawl of indecipherable brown smears, offering a neat chance for kids to engage and fill in their own ideas for what he's saying. But what will really bring on the squeals is the joyfully messy watercolors that look composed of thick, overhand tosses of mud-splatters and heartily ground-in grass-stains. Just about the perfect book to cozy up to and for reliving fond memories of pre-bathtime muckfests." --Booklist, starred review"Sure, rain showers bring flowers, but they also bring plenty of mud--the star of Gammell's (How the Nobble Was Finally Found) exuberant picture book romp. Post-rain, a girl heads out to play, queen of her stuffed animals and all that she surveys. When a mud creature with a turnip-shaped head splashes up out of a puddle, the girl gains a new pal and a new subject who provides her with a grand robe, crown, carriage, and even a castle, all made out of the brown muck. As another thunderstorm blows in, Mudkin and his fantastic kingdom wash away--leaving only the girl's crown. In this nearly wordless volume, readers see Mudkin's communiqus as splotches of mud, while the girl's speech is one side of a conversation that makes perfect sense to her. ('Hi... what's your name?' [Muddy smudges.] 'Mudkin... it's nice to meet you'). Gammell's signature style--wispy, loose lines with paint splatter accents--flows freely like a muddy daydream over the spreads. No doubt that kids will be checking puddles for impish, fun-loving Mudkins of their own come spring." --Publishers Weekly"Mud holds a natural attraction for children it seems, and Gammell imaginatively plays off that premise with pages full of swirls and drips of brownish colors set against grays and blues of showery skies. As the story begins, a young unnamed heroine commandeers her stuffed animal playmates to come outside for a post-rainstorm romp. Before long, a splotch of mud catapults skyward, announcing the arrival of Mudkin, a brown, babylike creature whose head resembles a Hershey's chocolate kiss. Naming the child his Queen, Mudkin invites her to play; soon she, too, is reveling in the wet dirt, wearing a mud cape and a crownlike pointy hat. What a day they have-complete with a carriage ride to a castle (mud-built, of course) and a welcome by a bevy of little Mudkins. When the returning rain washes Mudkin and her earthy costume away, the youngster gathers up her toy friends, the left-behind hat, and, with happy memories of a magical day, heads home. For Mudkin's few phrases, Gammell cleverly places mud splats for dialogue, nudging children into supplying their own interpretations. There's little text; the artist's energetic style and rain-splashed colors carry the story forward." --School Library Journal; Title: Mudkin (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,569 | 18 | Gr 1-3-In 1891, a teacher named James Naismith invented a game that was destined to become a national sensation. The boys' gym class at his school was particularly rowdy. He needed to find an indoor activity for the energetic lads that was fun, but not too rough. Inspired by a favorite childhood game, he stayed up late one night typing the rules of his new game. With a soccer ball, two peach baskets, and the rules tacked to the bulletin board, Naismith introduced his idea to the unruly class the next day. In that first game, only one basket was scored, but the boys were captivated. During Christmas vacation, they taught their friends how to play basketball and soon its popularity spread across the country. Even women formed a team. By 1936, basketball became a recognized Olympic sport and Naismith was honored at the opening ceremonies. Morse's energetic illustrations add an old-fashioned charm to the narrative. Readers will also want to examine the endpapers, a reproduction of the original rules of the game typed by Naismith. This entertaining and informative story will delight young sports fans.-Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.In December 1891, James Naismith, a physical education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts, was looking for a way to channel the energy, impatience, and eagerness of his male students. Recalling a game he knew as a child, called Duck on a Rock, he invented a lesson using an old soccer ball and two peach baskets to minimize contact injuries and emphasize finesse and accuracy over brute strength. Pretty quickly, Naismith knew he was onto something: though only one basket was scored the entire first game, his students didnt want to leave gym class. Over Christmas vacation, the kids taught the game to friends, and soon, a group of women teachers from a nearby school dropped by to learn the new sport. By 1936, Naismiths game had become an Olympic event. Well researched with material artifacts and primary sources, this historical account is boosted significantly by blocky, muscular illustrations in muted tones that effortlessly mix tongue-in-cheek whimsy with serious action. Anybody who plays the game or watches it ought to find this pretty engrossing. Grades 2-4. --Anderson, Erin; Title: Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,570 | 1 | "The basketball game between the herbivores and the carnivores has attracted a huge crowd of dinosaurs at Mastadon Square Garden. The Grass Clippers are the first to score, the Meat the first to steal and block. The crowd cheers as the points increase. Triceratops scores an easy deuce for the Clippers, and Raptor scores for the Meat with a slam dunk. Teamwork is demonstrated with an 'alley-oop' by T. rex and Raptor and an assist by Apatosaurus. When Stego and Pterodactyl collide on the court, the Dodo referee blows his whistle to call a foul. During halftime, the players disappear off the page, but readers will be entertained by a show that features cheerleaders, mascots, and an Elvis impersonator. After halftime, Jobaria (who was on the bench) works hard to tie up the game. Both coed teams have talented players of all shapes and sizes. Rhyming couplets contain basketball terminology and a mention of the next book in this dinosaur-centric series, Dino-Football. Although there is a lot of action on the court, this game is easy to follow. Visible lines allow readers to see the path of the ball, and colored text helps to identify players and teams. The commentary is fast paced and exciting, the illustrations highlight basketball tradition and culture (cutting down the net, an audience showing team spirit), and the end is inspiring." --School Library Journal"The team that brought us Dino-Baseball, -Soccer and -Hockey (2010, 2009, 2007) this time delivers nothing but net. Once again divided by food preference, the Grassclippers take on the Meat, pitting some of the better-known dinosaurs against each other in a high-stakes game for the championship trophy. Wheeler's staccato rhyming verse mimics both the play-by-play announcement and the action of a basketball game, making readers feel a part of the excitement. 'Allo answers off the dribble. / Diplo takes it up the middle-- / --T. rex charges from behind. / Steals the ball. It's Meaty time!' (Dino and team names are in bold and color-coded: red for carnivores, green for herbivores.) The off-court goings-on are just as accurately portrayed--cheerleaders, agitated coaches, famous spectators and some typical half-time events. Gott's vividly colored illustrations are filled with energy--almost like sitting courtside. And just as in real life, observers may lose track of who's who in the melee, especially if they are not up on their species. Gott does a very good job of matching his artwork to the text, making it relatively easy for those unfamiliar with basketball to guess what 'free throw, ' 'dunk' and 'taking it to the hole' might mean. Still, this is not a basketball primer. Likely to be a slam dunk with both basketball and dinosaur fans...and football enthusiasts can look forward to the teams' next match." --Kirkus Reviews"Continuing their sports rivalry (Dino-Baseball, Dino-Hockey), the plant-eating dinosaurs and their carnivorous counterparts meet in a championship basketball game. Captured in the energetic illustrations are both teams' on-the-court mad skills, making it a tight match. Though the rhymes occasionally lumber, play-by-play commentary laced with basketball lingo will score points with fans of both basketball and dinosaurs." --The Horn Book Guide"The fourth book in Wheeler and Gott's picture-book series that mashes up the athletic with the extinct brings readers courtside as the carnivorous Meat face off against the herbivorous Grassclippers. This duo has a good thing going, and they don't mess with their formula, offering the breathless rhymes, fouls and fast breaks, and down-to-the-final-second twists readers have come to expect ('Raptor takes an outside shot./ En fuego! Ouch! The Meat is hot!'). And as in the previous books, they use the final scene to tease the next installment: 'Tickets go on sale at noon--/ Dino-Football's coming soon!'" --Publishers WeeklyLisa Wheeler is the award-winning author of the Dino-Sports books. When she isn't running around the country visiting schools, standing at podiums, and eating airport snacks, she resides in Michigan.; Title: Dino-basketball (Dino-Sports) | [
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31,571 | 2 | "Inspired by Marcus Garvey and the drive to make a difference, Lewis Michaux opened the National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem at the end of the Great Depression with an inventory of five books and a strong faith that black people were hungry for knowledge. Over the next thirty-five years, his store became a central gathering place for African American writers, artists, intellectuals, and political figures, including Malcolm X, who frequently gave his speeches in front of the bookstore. But Michaux also sought to reach ordinary citizens, believing that pride and self-knowledge would grow naturally from an understanding of global black history and current events. He didn't just sell books; he surrounded his customers with ideas and provocative discussion. He also drew people in with pithy window signs that used humor and clever rhymes. When Sugar Ray Robinson stopped by in 1958, for example, Michaux communicated his disapproval of the hair-straightening products the boxer used: 'Ray what you put on your head will rub off in your bed. It's what you put in your head that will last 'til you're dead.' Short chapters--some just a paragraph or two--are written in thirty-six different voices, mostly those of Michaux himself, family members, and close associates. Some of the voices are those of fictitious characters based on composites--customers, a newspaper reporter, a street vendor--but most are real people whose statements have been documented by the author in her meticulous research. The voices are interspersed with documents such as articles from the New York Amsterdam News and Jet magazine and with excerpts from Michaux's FBI file. As Michaux's grandniece, the author also had access to family papers and photographs. Given the author's close relationship with the subject, she manages to remain remarkably objective about him, largely due to her honest portrayal of the lifelong conflict between him and many of his family members, most notably his evangelist brother, who didn't approve of his radical politics. Sophisticated expressionistic line drawings illustrate key events. An extraordinary, inspiring book to put into the hands of scholars and skeptics alike. Appended are a family tree, source notes, a bibliography, further reading, and an index of historical characters." --starred, The Horn Book Magazine"Lewis Michaux provided a venue for his fellow African-Americans to have access to their own history and philosophy at a time when the very idea was revolutionary. Michaux's family despaired of him, as he engaged in petty crime and was obviously headed in the wrong direction. He began to read, however, and discovered a connection to the writings of Marcus Garvey and others, and he determined that knowledge of black thinkers and writers was the way to freedom and dignity. With an inventory of five books, he started his National Memorial African Bookstore as 'the home of proper propaganda' and built it into a Harlem landmark, where he encouraged his neighbors to read, discuss and learn, whether or not they could afford to buy. His clients included Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni. Nelson, Michaux's great-niece, makes use of an exhaustive collection of interviews, articles, books, transcripts and FBI files, filling in the gaps with 'informed speculation.' Brief entries arranged in mostly chronological order read seamlessly so that fact and fiction meld in a cohesive whole. Michaux's voice blends with those of the people in his life, providing a full portrait of a remarkable man. Copious illustrations in the form of photographs, copies of appropriate ephemera and Christie's powerfully emotional free-form line drawings add depth and focus. A stirring and thought-provoking account of an unsung figure in 20th-century American history." --starred, Kirkus Reviews"Nelson and Christie, the team behind Bad News for Outlaws, blend photographs, original artwork, and archival materials with fictionalized first-person narratives to tell the story of Nelson's great-uncle, Lewis Michaux, who opened a Harlem bookstore that served as a meeting place and symbol of black empowerment for 35 years. Tracing Lewis's roots to a childhood filled with questioning and rebellion, Nelson alternates between Lewis's voice and those of his parents, brothers, and others--characters who, like Lewis, spring to life on page. After rejecting a life in service of the church, Lewis leaves Virginia for Harlem, where in 1939 he opens the National Memorial African Bookstore, 'by and about black people, ' earning the nickname 'the Professor.' The narrative expands to include the voices of Harlem business owners, residents, and store visitors over the decades, their stories and perspectives revealing how one man's vision helped galvanize his community. Nelson and Christie deliver an engrossing blend of history, art, and storytelling in this deeply moving tribute to a singular individual." --starred, Publishers Weekly"This book illuminates the choices, obstacles, and triumphant moments of Nelson's great-uncle Lewis Michaux's path to becoming one of the Civil Rights movement's most influential leaders. The subtitle, A Novel in Documents, Based on the Life and Works of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller, indicates a work of fiction, but Nelson creates a beautifully entertaining and enlightening biography through focused and thorough research and first-person narratives. Short accounts from a variety of voices move the book along quickly and provide a seemingly unbiased picture of a man who mattered to many of the Civil Right movement's elite. Including personal and historical photos adds to the biography feel, and having drawings interspersed creates a sense that the book was written as Michaux's legacy grew. A storytelling quality, as well as short pieces of history on each page, will make this appealing to anyone looking to know more about the Civil Rights era." --Library Media Connection"Author-librarian Nelson has written a fictionalized but carefully researched life of her great-uncle Lewis Michaux, the celebrated Harlem bookseller. Born in 1895, Michaux started selling books in Harlem in the mid-1930s with a strapping supply of five books. After opening his National Memorial African Bookstore in the late '30s, he built his inventory until, by the early 1970s, it boasted some 225,000 volumes and had become America's premier bookstore specializing in books by and about African Americans. Michaux seems to have known virtually everyone who was a figure in the Harlem Renaissance and, later, the black liberation movement, and, accordingly, Nelson tells his story from multiple points of view. While most of the voices she includes are those of real people familiar with her uncle and his bookstore, some belong to fictional characters who are also the product of research. The resulting work is not only a compelling biography but also a useful addition to the literature of black history and culture. Source notes and an extensive bibliography are appended." --Booklist"This well-documented biographical novel presents the life and work of a man whose Harlem bookstore became an intellectual, literary haven for African Americans from 1939 until 1975. Through alternating voices of actual family members, acquaintances, journalists, and the subject himself, Michaux's independent spirit, determination, and perseverance are revealed. Despite family pressure to conform to a religious life, he was restless, controversial, and questioning. Influenced by the nationalism of Marcus Garvey and the intellect of Frederick Douglass, he believed that black people needed to educate themselves as to who they were in order to improve their lives. He opened the National Memorial African Bookstore with 'five books, a building, and one hundred dollars.' He accumulated works by black writers and talked to customers and passersby about cultural awareness and self-improvement. His bookstore attracted Harlem residents; civil-rights activists, including Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali; and political attention. But in 1968, this renowned Harlem landmark fell victim to a new state office building complex. Michaux moved his bookstore once, but facing age and another forced move in 1974, he sold his massive collection. Black-and-white photos add depth to the fictionalized biography. Detailed source and bibliographic notes depict the research process, while the text reflects Nelson's skill of blending fact and fiction. Using extensive interviews, magazine and newspaper articles, church publications, books, and FBI files (tracking Michaux's political activities), Nelson recounts her great-uncle's enterprising and unflinching efforts to enrich and empower fellow African Americans. The storytelling format, candid perspectives, supplemental images, and historic connections bring to life an unheralded individualist whose story will engage readers." --starred, School Library Journal"Opened at the end of the Great Depression, Michaux's National Memorial African Bookstore became a central gathering place for African American writers, artists, intellectuals, and political figures. In this extraordinary, inspiring book, short chapters are written in thirty-six different voices--mostly of Michaux himself and other historical people." --The Horn Book GuideVaunda Micheaux Nelson is the author of many books for young readers, including Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, which won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2010, and Almost to Freedom, which won a Coretta Scott King Honor for Colin Bootman's illustrations in 2007. Vaunda is a youth services librarian at the public library in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, where she lives with her husband. To write No Crystal Stair, Vaunda spent years researching Lewis Michaux's life. She conducted interviews, sifted through library collections, examined family archives, and interviewed those who knew Michaux. In the end though, the man's full story (and even his date of birth) remained elusive. Only the tools of fiction could make a complete portrait.; Title: No Crystal Stair (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books) | [
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31,572 | 2 | Annie Hoot likes to knit, and like most knitters, she enjoys giving her creations away. But the other owls are particular about what they wear and decline her kind gifts. So Annie decides to find creatures who appreciate her skills. She knits herself a hot-air balloon and blows over to a rain forest, but her knit umbrellas sag in storms. Then she knits herself a sail and boats over to Africa, where long scarves and caps keep the animals toasty in the desert night. Alas, the days are hot. Finally she parachutes to the Arctic, where her warm and wonderful items are a hit. The story, with its repetition, is cute, but its the terrific artwork that sets this apart. Annie, a squat little owl, appears on well-designed spreads that get a lively lift from the colorful yarn projects that drape the pages. Young children will giggle at the birds in booties and elephants in ponchos but may wonder why the other owls reject Annies wares. She really is a very good knitter. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper"After learning to knit, owl Annie Hoot travels the world in search of animals that might benefit from her skill. Eventually, she returns home to newly appreciative neighbors who board the handicraft bandwagon and knit right alongside her. The exuberant and joyful tale about finding one's bliss is accompanied by watercolor illustrations full of whimsical details (knitted tennis racquet, anyone?)." --The Horn Book Guide (Journal)"Annie Hoot is a creative owl who knits everything from striped sweaters to polka dotted pullovers. She lovingly knits for all her friends who suggest Annie take her talents to the animals of the rain forest. Though appreciative of her efforts, the animals of the rain forest suggest Annie carry her craft to the African plains, and so on. Back home, Annie finds that her friends missed her, and also had a change of heart about their knitted outerwear. The watercolor illustrations are vibrant and detailed, especially the patterned needlework. The story moves slowly, but could be used to teacher character education. It would also fit well into a unit about animals in various biomes or climate. Additional Selection." --Library Media Connection (Journal); Title: Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza | [
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31,573 | 18 | In1936, Joe DiMaggio was an untried baseball player. The New York Yankees wanted to sign him, but how could they be sure hed live up to his hype? Enter Satchel Paige, a world-class pitcher who was unable to play in the big leagues because he was black. A game was arranged between Paige and his team of African Americans and an off-season team of Major Leaguers to see if DiMaggio could hold his own against Paige. This picture books account of this little-known incident gets off to a good start but becomes long and windy. In addition, Coopers illustrations are watery and thin, though they do capture the game-time rivalry, especially in the expressions on the vets and the rookies faces. Still, this centers on a fascinating event, one that points up the racial injustice at the time; at the same time, it makes readers care about both players, and may leave kids wanting to learn more about Paige, DiMaggio, the Negro Leagues, and the integration of baseball. Grades 2-4. --Cooper, Ilene"A little-known episode in the careers of two baseball giants highlights the racial divide in the game.In 1936, pitcher Satchel Paige was already a veteran hero in Negro League baseball, while Joe DiMaggio was a hot, young prospect under consideration by the New York Yankees. Yankee management's plan was to have DiMaggio bat against Paige in a game between white and black barnstorming teams as a test of his ability to hit the best of the best. DiMaggio managed only an infield hit off Paige, but it was enough to prove himself to the Yankees. Skead details the events of the game with an air of excitement and expectancy, keying in on both men's strategies and thoughts; Joe tells himself to keep his eye on the ball, and Satchel decides to throw his 'wobbly ball' or his 'whipsey dipsey do.' Underlying the narrative is sadness that DiMaggio would go on to an enormous career with the Yankees, while Satchel Paige, who had proven himself one of the greatest pitchers of all time, would not play for a major league team until he was over 40 years old. Cooper's soft-edged brown, amber and green illustrations lovingly depict the action and emotions called forth in the text. A loving tribute to Satchel Paige, who never looked back in anger." starred, Kirkus Reviews (Journal)"Paige, a black baseball player who was a renowned pitcher well before the days of Jackie Robinson, wasn't permitted to play in the major leagues. But his reputation was such that when the Yankees wanted to test the mettle of a rookie named Joe DiMaggio, they arranged for him to play against the Satchel Paige All-Stars. Cooper's grainy illustrations look as though they are filtered through sunlight, striking a nostalgic chord, while Skead's play-by-play ('This was DiMaggio's last chance to past the test. His heart raced as he looked for Satchel's release point and the ball coming like a bullet on fire') provides a riveting, baseball story about two players seeking recognition of their worth." Publishers WeeklySkead, Robert. Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggioIn 1936, the New York Yankees asked Negro Leagues pitcher Satchel Paige to test a rookie player, Joe DiMaggio. The contest, which resulted in DiMaggio being brought up to the majors, demonstrated Paige's consummate skill and the underlying unfairness of separate Negro Leagues."This book recreates the drama when rookie Joe DiMaggio and legendary pitcher Satchel Paige faced off at the ballpark in Oakland, California. While baseball fans will know the names of these two famous players, the concepts of segregated baseball teams and Negro Leagues may be unfamiliar to young readers. The detailed illustrations mirror Skead's play-by-play description. Each page builds anticipation as Skead leads readers through an exciting afternoon of baseball using vivid adjectives and descriptive language while also addressing some of the nation's more troubling history. The layout offers a nice balance between text and illustration. All readers will be mesmerized by the detail and expression of Cooper's images that capture the period of the 1930s and the figures. The author's note and selected bibliography provide an extension to the text; discussion questions and lesson plan ideas are available from the publisher's website." Library Media Connection"In 1936, the Yankee's general manager wanted to test a new prospect named Joe DiMaggio. During the era of segregated baseball, Satchel Paige, the best pitcher in the Negro Leagues, was asked to face off against a team of white major leaguers, which included DiMaggio. The author builds suspense with dazzling descriptions of Paige's 'wobbly ball' and 'windmill wind-up' that even nonbaseball fans will appreciate. Cooper's signature artistic style is grainy in appearance and is more muted than that in Willie and the All-Stars (Philomel, 2008). The brown palette is similar to his art in Heather Lang's Queen of the Track (Boyds Mills, 2012), the action-filled poses are consistently dramatic, and the portraiture is outstanding. Use this memorable title for fans of the game, for Black History month, or for any discussion on segregated life in the United States." School Library Journal"In 1936, Joe DiMaggio was an untried baseball player. The New York Yankees wanted to sign him, but how could they be sure he'd live up to his hype? Enter Satchel Paige, a world-class pitcher who was unable to play in the big leagues because he was black. A game was arranged between Paige and his team of African Americans and an off-season team of Major Leaguers to see if DiMaggio could hold his own against Paige. This picture book's account of this little-known incident gets off to a good start but becomes long and windy. In addition, Cooper's illustrations are watery and thin, though they do capture the game-time rivalry, especially in the expressions on the vet's and the rookie's faces. Still, this centers on a fascinating event, one that points up the racial injustice at the time; at the same time, it makes readers care about both players, and may leave kids wanting to learn more about Paige, DiMaggio, the Negro Leagues, and the integration of baseball." Booklist"In 1936, two baseball players had something to prove. Was twenty-one-year-old Joe DiMaggio ready for the Major Leagues? Should Satchel Paige, pitching great in the Negro Leagues, be playing in the Majors? After all, Paige 'threw fire,' and baffled batters said that 'the balls he pitched looked like marbles or bullets.' As a test, a game was set up between the barnstorming team Dick Bartell's All Stars (a group of major league players plus DiMaggio) and the Satchel Paige All-Stars. The first time up, DiMaggio nervously faced the great Satchel, and was hit by a pitch. In his second at-bat, he grounded out, as he did the third time up. In his fourth at-bat, he smacked a shot over Satch's head that was caught by the center fielder. The game went to extra innings, and both players did indeed prove themselves worthy. DiMaggio joined the Yankees right away, but it was twelve years before Satchel Paige broke the color barrier, a year after Jackie Robinson. Skead effectively uses a little-known baseball episode to portray larger issues of race and justice in America, while superbly developing the game's tension inning by inning. Grainy brown-toned illustrations nicely evoke the dreamy reminiscences of baseball legend, and frequent changes of perspective keep the story from becoming static. An engaging look at two baseball greats who eventually made it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. An author's note and brief bibliography are included." The Horn Book Magazine; Title: Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige Vs. Rookie Joe Dimaggio (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,574 | 2 | " Cliff McNish's first trilogy, which includes The Doomspell, The Scent of Magic, and The Wizard's Promise, won him an instant and avid readership and was published in 19 languages around the world. He was hailed as a "great new voice in writing for children" (The Bookseller). For Carolrhoda Books he has written The Silver Child, Silver City, Silver World, and Breathe. Mr. McNish was born in northeastern England. He enjoys playing golf, walking up mountains, and eating as much hot and spicy food as possible. He is married and has a teenage daughter, for whose entertainment he made up his first stories. "; Title: Breathe: A Ghost Story | [] | Validation |
31,575 | 4 | "These titles not only offer big, high-energy color photos of various sorts of vehicles at work or play, but also informative glimpses of car and truck controls, engines, and interiors. Introducing distinctive vocabulary ('sheepsfoot roller' in Earthmovers, for instance, or 'wheelie' in Monster Trucks) and running to just two or three sentences per page, the texts provide lively commentary in a mix of declarative statements and non-rhetorical questions. The pictures show both men and women as operators, firefighters, or members of crews. Each volume closes with a labeled diagram, a page of 'fun facts, ' and a short list of print and web resources. Aside from a debatable claim that big rigs 'travel slower than regular cars, ' the series will make a worthwhile and popular addition." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple"Each book describes the features and functions of a specific vehicle. The accessible texts are simple but informative; each page features a few sentences, a photo, and often a caption or label. Use of different typefaces may be frustrating for new readers, but the engaging texts and back matter (e.g., 'fun facts') should draw readers." --The Horn Book GuideKristin L. Nelson loves writing books for children. She has written several titles on animals, famous places, and other topics of interest to young readers.; Title: Monster Trucks on the Move (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,576 | 0 | Graphic memoirs are a cornerstone of the graphic-novel format, but rarely are they written with children as the primary audience. In eight short stories, Liu has done just that, giving younger readers a glimpse into her life growing up in China just after the death of Chairman Mao. By linking her stories to a teaching by Confucius that says one learns in three waysby studying history, by imitating others, and through ones own experienceLiu shows how her parents survived the famine during Chinas Great Leap Forward, how the death of soldier Lei Feng influenced the behavior of Liu and her sister, and how a trip to the countryside to visit her relations helped Liu realize just how privileged her life in the city was. The stories are vivid even without Martinzs bold artwork that evokes both traditional Chinese scrolls and midcentury propaganda posters. The result is a memoir that reads like a fable, a good story with a moral that resonates. Grades 4-7. --Eva Volin"Graphic memoirs are a cornerstone of the graphic-novel format, but rarely are they written with children as the primary audience. In eight short stories, Liu has done just that, giving younger readers a glimpse into her life growing up in China just after the death of Chairman Mao. By linking her stories to a teaching by Confucius that says one learns in three ways--by studying history, by imitating others, and through one's own experience--Liu shows how her parents survived the famine during China's Great Leap Forward, how the death of soldier Lei Feng influenced the behavior of Liu and her sister, and how a trip to the countryside to visit her relations helped Liu realize just how privileged her life in the city was. The stories are vivid even without Martinz's bold artwork that evokes both traditional Chinese scrolls and midcentury propaganda posters. The result is a memoir that reads like a fable, a good story with a moral that resonates." --Booklist Online"Wife-and-husband team Na Liu and Andrs Vera Martnez use a graphic-novel format to bring Liu's childhood in 1970s Wuhan, China, to life for contemporary children. Much will seem the same--family life with a younger sister, school, a visit with a semi-scary grandmother--but the particulars in the eight vignettes included here make all the difference. Liu recalls her uncontrollable (and uncomprehending) sobbing at the death of a 'grandpa' she did not really know, Chairman Mao; creativity and finally subterfuge is required when her teacher commands each student to bring in four rat tails as evidence of participation in the government campaign to rid the country of vermin. Illustrator Martnez gleefully pictures the sisters' elaborate fantasies for rat-trapping (like putting a soybean up the butt of one rat, sending it into a frenzy that will cause it to kill the rest of the pack) as well as their eventual mutual admittance that they can't even touch a rat to sever the required tail ('EEEYuu! GROSS!'). Author and illustrator together give us an unvarnished and intimate account of a real childhood: plain-speaking, rough-hewn, and very much down-to-earth. While the time and place the book depicts are very different from our own, there's not a hint of sentimentality or exoticism: the scene where the mother shames the girls into cleaning their plates by telling them the real story about starving children in China is simultaneously horrifying and hilarious. A glossary, a chronology, and an author's note provide context." --starred, The Horn Book Magazine "This title travels through the childhood of Na Liu in Wuhan, China in eight delightful stories. The book is illustrated by her husband with colorful pen and ink drawings. The stories take Na and her sister from the death of Chairman Mao to a visit to her grandmother and relatives who live in the countryside. One of the stories explains the various symbols used during Chinese New Year. The China of her childhood is a different country from her parents'. This is a beautiful introduction to a China that few of us will ever understand. The book also contains a glossary of Mandarin Chinese words used as well as translations of Chinese characters in the various chapters." --starred, Library Media Connection"Americans today are used to a particular narrative when it comes to Communist China. In the beginning, Maoist ideals provide the Chinese protagonists with comfort and hope. Eventually, though, ideals give way to suffering."A striking glimpse into Chinese girlhood during the 1970s and '80s. Beginning with a breathtaking dream of riding a golden crane over the city of Wuhan, China, Liu Na, recounts her subsequent waking only to discover that Chairman Mao has passed away. The 3-year-old finds this difficult to process and understand, although she is soon caught up in the somber mood of the event. From there, her life unfolds in short sketches. With this intimate look at her childhood memories, Liu skillfully weaves factual tidbits into the rich tapestry of her life. In the section titled 'The Four Pests, ' she explains about the four pests that plague China--the rat, the fly, the mosquito and the cockroach (with an additional explanation of how the sparrow once made this list, and why it is no longer on it)--and her stomach-turning school assignment to catch rats and deliver the severed tails to her teacher. In 'Happy New Year! The Story of Nian the Monster, ' she explains the origins of Chinese New Year, her favorite holiday, and her own vivid, visceral reflections of it: the sights, sounds and smells. Extraordinary and visually haunting, there will be easy comparisons to Allen Say's Drawing from Memory (2011); think of this as the female counterpart to that work. Beautifully drawn and quietly evocative." --starred, Kirkus Reviews"Based on her childhood experiences, Na Liu and her husband have created a rich, multilayered memoir, incorporating history, geography, language, culture, and mythology into eight short stories; then weaving them together to create an exquisite tapestry of life in China during the 1970s. The work follows a logical progression, capturing youthful experiences against a broad Chinese landscape. Background information establishes each story and seamlessly segues into personal reminiscence, with excellent interweaving of each section. For example, the introductory dream sequence features Na Liu and her sister flying on a crane's back over panoramic China. The first narrative panel depicts the girls' awakening, with a painting of a white crane visible behind their bed. Mythological origins of New Year transition into an account of the family's celebration, with red banners and a dragon puppet echoing the colors and patterns from the previous holiday description. Scenes of daily life are juxtapostioned against the political climate, retelling simple stories through comic panels that can be enjoyed by young readers, but also delivering interesting perspectives and biting commentary on social issues. The grim realities of government propaganda, social class, and family dynamics make the memoir even more poignant. Humor, as well as the plays on words, enlivens many of the sections. The children's expressive faces provide a personal reaction to these contrasting points of view. This picturesque treasure introduces Chinese culture through a personal perspective that is both delightful and thought-provoking." --starred, School Library Journal"A doctor of oncology and hematology, author Liu was born in China in 1973, and her life there for more than 20 years provides plenty of odd autobiographical tidbits for this graphic novel inspired by her experiences. Aimed toward kids, Liu's story captures life in China in the experience of one child, showing how even the broadest governmental policies and cultural standards affect an individual's smallest moments. These darker corners give Liu's reminiscence its power: strict Chinese one-child laws, the graphic misfortune of animals in China, the poverty and surliness of Liu's rural relatives. Yet while the landscape is different, the children's escapades are the same as those of kids today. This is the result of a husband-and-wife collaboration, and the emotional bond of the partnership is clear on every page. Liu is a calm storyteller whose words are enlivened by Martinez's enthusiastic and energetic art, and their respective tones complement each other fluidly. Martinez's work is a loving depiction of his wife in childhood, providing atmosphere through not only his period details in the stories, but also the between-story spreads that broaden the reader's scope in understanding life in China at that time." --Publishers Weekly; Title: White Duck: A Childhood in China (Single Titles) (Graphic Universe) | [
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31,577 | 0 | "A new Hanukkah board book, told in simple rhyme, Eight is Great shares a family cel-ebrating with a multitude of holiday customs. Each page has two sentences, each with a con-nection to the number eight and the holiday, such as 'two dreidels with four sides--that's eight, ' and 'we'll give eight presents--I can't wait' while 'dad serves eight latkes from the plate.' The reader clearly feels an apprecia-tion of close and loving family relationships. Illustrations are colorful, reader-friendly, and age-appropriate. This is the newest entry in the 'Very First Board Book' series from Kar-Ben, joining others which teach about Jewish holidays and customs. Eight is Great is appropriate for the young-est listener, as a read-to. It is recommended for children ages one to four and would be valuable in pre-school classrooms." -- Jewish Book WorldTilda Balsley has written many books for Kar-Ben, bringing her stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Tilda lives with her husband and their rescue Shih Tzu in Reidsville, North Carolina.; Title: Eight Is Great | [
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31,578 | 0 | "Appealing board books can sell anything to tots, if the adorable works. This new one is a good one. The topic is a piece of Passover tradition: matzah. In quick order author Tilda Balsley describes matzah, explains how it got that way, shows what it means to Jews and how it fits into the Seder service including hunting for the afikomen (note: for fun, not prizes) and, of course, mentions eating matzah endlessly for a week. This breathless rush of information (no bored listeners here) arrives in couplets that stay in meter; only one struggles with its rhyme. Except for the last page, the text is not up to Balsley's usual clever rhyming; however, the rhymes suffice for the age group. The warm, joyous illustrations rush all over, tirelessly, just like the targeted audience. Perfect for greasy hands and teeth tempted to chew, this latest addition to the board book pile has 'lotsa' pluses: more content than most, well told, well organized, well thought-out, well drawn. It contains sound information in a captivating way and is recommended for ages 2-4" -- Jewish Book World"Just when you thought there couldn't be another Passover board book, author Tilda Balsley makes a charming contribution to the category with Lotsa Matzah. Told in rhyming couplets, Balsley does a remarkable job covering the basics of why we eat matzah to hiding the afikomen to culinary variations on the "lotsa matzah" we eat throughout the eight days of Passover. 'So Moses drew his people near. / Good news! We're getting out of here. / Hurry take the dough for bread. / No time to let it rise, he said.' The colloquial language is easy and inviting. The watercolor and pencil illustrations are lovely. This is a recommended purchase for home, school, and synagogue libraries with a preschool population." --Association of Jewish LibrariesTilda Balsley has written many books for Kar-Ben, bringing her stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Tilda lives with her husband and their rescue Shih Tzu in Reidsville, North Carolina.; Title: Lotsa Matzah (Passover) (Very First Board Books) | [
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31,579 | 18 | "Each book in this high interest series has short sentences with large pictures to make it easy to comprehend for young readers. The use of color in contemporary photos and b&w for archival photos will help readers to see which photo is from which era. Caption boxes add a bit more information to each topic. The 'names to know' page and further reading page in each book makes them more valuable to older readers. This series is a great beginning social studies unit for young learners." --Library Media Connection"This visually dynamic series engages kids from the covers all the way through to the end with its vibrant colors and striking images. Each page has brilliant photographs from the past opposite present-day images for comparison. In addition to contrasting then and now, each book concludes with how things have also stayed the same. The 'Names to Know' section, short bios of people who made significant or interesting contributions to the covered field, is an excellent addition. The further-reading sections include a mix of websites and print resources." --School Library Journal, Series Made SimpleA former elementary school teacher, Jennifer Boothroyd has written many nonfiction books for children.; Title: From the Model T to Hybrid Cars: How Transportation Has Changed (Lightning Bolt Books Comparing Past and Present) | [
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31,580 | 2 | "By now, young fans of the Sammy Spider series are well acquainted with the formula that makes these warm, sweetly spun tales so endearing. Whether discovering the true meaning of the Jewish holidays or, as in his latest adventure, observing the Shapiro family bake a cake to welcome their new neighbors from Israel, Sammy, the overly ambitious arachnid, never quite grasps his limitations. 'Can we bake a cake, too?' Sammy asks his mother. When the story is read aloud, children will gleefully anticipate his mother's gentle rebuke, 'Silly little Sammy. Spiders don't bake cakes. Spiders spin webs.' And spin he does. When Sammy finds the new neighbor boy in tears, he presents him with the gift of a newly created web. Later, Sammy observes the families sharing a meal and becoming fast friends. Colorfully illustrated with Kahn's familiar collages, the book presents young readers with a simply told lesson about the mitzvah of hospitality. The Hebrew words shalom (hello, good-bye, peace), haver (friend), and akavish (spider) are woven into the story. The book also includes a recipe for hummus. Recommended." --AJL Newsletter "Friendly and curious, Sammy Spider learns about the Jewish custom of welcoming new neighbors in this successful addition to the well-loved series. Josh is helping Mrs. Shapiro bake a cake for the Israeli family moving in next door and Mr. Shapiro suggests that they also take over some pita bread and hummus, in keeping with the tradition of bringing new neighbors bread and salt so they will 'enjoy many happy meals together.' Sammy is eager to welcome the neighbors too and, when a sudden breeze carries him to a tree next door, he lowers himself down to find the new boy crying. Sammy spins a web to cheer the boy up and then watches as the Shapiros arrive and the families get acquainted. What seems simple here is still a lesson worth teaching, as kindness and openness toward others is always a mitzvah, particularly for someone who is feeling lonely and out of place. Though somewhat formulaic by now, the text reads comfortably and includes a few Hebrew words such as akvish (spider), which Rouss cleverly places in a context that allows even very young children familiar with Sammy Spider to figure out on their own. As always, the colorful cut-paper illustrations on two-page spreads are cheerfully integrated into the story. Another welcome title from a team who clearly understand how to create books for very young children. Recommended for ages 2-8."--Jewish Book World "In this addition to the Sammy Spider series, bright colors and an easy-to-follow plot work together to teach children the importance of the Jewish custom of hospitality. When a new family moves to town, Josh Shapiro and his parents immediately set to work preparing homemade food for the newcomers. Sammy Spider, who watches from above, learns all about the concept of making the neighbors feel welcomed and yearns to be a part of this mitzvah. Despite his mother's refrain that 'Spiders don't bake cakes. Spiders spin webs, ' Sammy takes an active role in making Moti, the boy who has just moved from Israel, smile. Collage illustrations by award-winning illustrator Kahn are colorful and strikingly simple. A glossary with a few Hebrew words and a hummus recipe round out a pleasant, simple story for young learners."--Publishers Weekly Sylvia A. Rouss is an award-winning author and early childhood educator, and the creator of the popular Sammy Spider series, celebrating its 25th anniversary with over half a million Sammy Spider books sold. She lives in California.; Title: Sammy Spider's New Friend (Kar-Ben Favorites) | [
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31,581 | 15 | Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: From Flower to Honey (Start to Finish: Nature's Cycles) (Start to Finish, Second) | [
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31,582 | 0 | Gr 1-3-This story, set in an 18th-century whaling community in Massachusetts, successfully blends a fascinating bit of Jewish American history with the cherished notion of religious freedom celebrated during the eight nights of Hanukkah. Nine-year-old Emanuel helps his Portuguese immigrant father sell the supplies to whalers. His father is a crypto-Jew, a descendant of Jews who were coerced into converting to Catholicism during the Spanish Inquisition, but who secretly practice Jewish rituals in their home. Having only known life in America, Emanuel cannot understand his father's reluctance to display the family menorah and thinks he is ruled by fear, unlike brave Captain Henshaw, whose whaling ship is set to sail the next day. Deciding he will run off with the captain, Emanuel leaves his father a note: "I need to know what it's like to be free. I hope someday you can be free, too." But when a sudden storm forces the ship to return to port, it is the Hanukkah lights shining in the windows that guide the ship safely home. Full-page chalk pastel illustrations in tones of deep blue and sepia focus on large shapes and characters, giving them a bold graphic feel, while the dark palette provides a dramatic backdrop for the golden candlelight.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.With softly lit pastel artwork and a clear, exciting narrative, this picture book blends the history of Jewish persecution with a young boys role in a gripping rescue story. In eighteenth-century New Bedford, Massachusetts, nine-year-old Emanuels father owns a whaling supply shop, and Akibs images show the young boy on the bustling wharf, entranced by the ships that set out in search of whales, whose oil is used for lamps and candles. Emanuels family fled persecution in Portugal, and even now, Emanuels father warns his son to keep their religion a secret. During one Hanukkah, when Emanuels family and their Jewish neighbors do not light the menorah candles, Emanuel decides to stow away on a ship, after leaving a note for his father. During a bad storm, the local lighthouse is damaged, but the Jewish community, inspired by Emanuels note, does light its Hanukkah candles after all, and the glow brings the ship home. Parents and teachers will find many discussion opportunities here, while kids will enjoy the action of the boy who leads the way. Grades K-3. --Hazel Rochman; Title: Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue | [
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31,583 | 0 | Gr 24Elizabeth Freeman, known as "Mumbet," was an African American slave in 18th-century Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 included the provision, "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights." Using that document as a basis, Mumbet, with the support of a young lawyer named Theodore Sedgwick, challenged the legality of slavery. As a result of their efforts, in 1783 slavery was declared unconstitutional and 5000 slaves in the state gained freedom. Vividly colored illustrations reflect the generally hopeful tone of the story, while bold compositions and thickly layered paint suggest folk art. Freeman's strength of character is reflected in her determined facial expressions and strong stance. While her story is highly inspiring, details about her life are sketchy; information comes primarily from an account written by Catharine Maria Sedgwick, the daughter of Theodore. While this picture book is presented as nonfiction, the story itself is highly fictionalized. An author's note explains what is known about Mumbet and reminds readers that "History is fluid."Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VAMumbet is owned by Colonel John Ashley, but she longs to be free. As the Founding Fathers work on the Declaration of Independence, Mumbet overhears the men discussing the phrase, free and independent. Seven years later, when Mumbet slips into the back of a town hall meeting about the Massachusetts Constitution, she hears, All men are born free and equaland she decides to test the new law. So she visits a young lawyer who is so impressed with her determination that he decides to take her case. Surprisingly, Mumbet won freedom for herself and her daughter, and her case led to slavery being declared unconstitutional in Massachusetts in 1783. Mumbets still largely unknown story came to light through letters and journal entries written by her lawyers daughter. Delinois minimalist but highly evocative acrylic illustrations add depth to the sensitive, inspiring text. A great addition to picture-book collections of American history. Grades 1-4. --J. B. Petty; Title: Mumbet's Declaration of Independence (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,584 | 7 | "Graphic novel format--check! High school stereotypes--check! Girl meets boy--check! Horror, suspense, romance--check! Humor--check! Girl saves boy--wait, what?! If the remaining four volumes in this series are as well-written and illustrated and as much fun as these first two titles, purchasing multiple copies is a must. Think 'fractured fairy tales' goes 'horror.' The first volume is a riff on zombies; the second on Frankenstein. These titles can be used as tie-ins for classic monster novels and TV/movies. They will appeal to broad range of readers. Consider suggesting them to some of your advanced placement students who could use a fun, fast read to break the stress. Be prepared for these titles to fly off the shelves." --Library Media Connection "Made for Each Other is the second book in this new graphic novel series from Lerner Publishing's Graphic Universe. Maria McBride lives with her blind aunt in Persephone Falls, Alaska, where she attends Seward High and plays in a string quartet. She meets new student Tom Stone and just knows they were made for each other. He likes her a lot, too, but he always has to work after school and on weekends at the funeral home his father took over. Dr. Franklin Stone and his creepy assistant, Graves, don't like Maria hanging around and business is booming for the funeral home, with plenty of accidental deaths. When Maria tries to find out why Dr. Stone keeps tom working at the funeral home all the time, she discovers Tom's secret: Dr. Stone made him out of different body parts. Dr. Stone has also made a girl using the body parts from three seniors who died in an accident. Hedy doesn't like Maria at all, and she has decided she wants to make her own friends. This graphic novel is basically a modern-day version of the Frankenstein story with a romantic twist. Maria really does love Tom and wants to help him stop Hedy. The horror and violence remain fairly mild and not too graphic for most middle school readers. Anyone who knows the Frankenstein story will quickly realize what's happening, although there are still some plot twists to shake things up and keep them from being too familiar. The black-and-white art is sharp and clear despite the book's small size and number of panels per page, making it more readable than one might expect. Teens who want horror with some romance (or romance with a little horror) will have fun with this book." --VOYA"Frankenstein's Monster, aka Franklin Stone runs a funeral home where he harvests organs from bodies to create kinder, more humane versions of himself. Maria is thrilled with her new boyfriend, Tom B. Stone, who is Franklin's heartthrob 'son.' But can Tom explain the recent series of fatal accidents that have been giving the funeral home so much business? Written with humor and a fast pace, this book should have wide appeal, especially among fans of 'Twilight' and other supernatural romances. The bold, black-and-white illustrations resemble classic comics such as 'Archie' and reflect the story's romantic but irreverent tone." --School Library Journal"Maria falls for the new guy in school, Tom, and he likes her, too. The problem is that the recent mysterious rash of deaths in their town might have something to do with his strange family. Will Maria be able to save the guy she loves, or will monstrous history repeat itself? The books in the My Boyfriend Is a Monster paranormal-romance graphic-novel series are only connected by theme, with each having a different writer and artist, but so far share the same slightly quirky sense of humor. Storrie especially likes to play with names, featuring characters such as Byron, Shelley, and Tom B. Stone. His story is fun and holds together well, even though the page count makes for a somewhat hurried romance. However, as Cowgur is careful to make Tom a hunk, readers will forgive Maria's speedy fall, and the black-and-white art brings the wilds of both high school and Alaska to life. As in the first book (I Love Him to Pieces, 2011), the romance and scares are real, but light, and make for a thoroughly enjoyable read." --Booklist"The road to true love is never easy, whether you're a jock, a nerd, or the new guy. But throw in zombies and Frankenstein's monster and things get really difficult! Terrific art and sweet romances make these fun stories winners for fans of the paranormal. Every volume in the series (more are planned for the fall) features different characters, paranormal creatures, writers, and artists, giving readers a chance to enjoy the variety." --School Library JournalPaul D. Storrie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and despite time spent in Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Los Angeles, has returned to Metro-Detroit time and again. He attended Grand Valley State University and received a B.A. in English Language and Literature, knowing that he wanted to tell stories for a living. His first published work was the comic book series Robyn of Sherwood in 1998. Since then he has written for numerous publishers, including a story for Marvel's Captain America: Red, White & Blue anthology, the mini-series Gotham Girls for DC Comics, Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Andorians for IDW, and several tales for Graphic Universe, including Junior Library Guild selection Hercules: The Twelve Labors with artist Steve Kurth and Children's Choice Book Awards finalist Beowulf: Monster Slayer with artist Ron Randall.; Title: My Boyfriend Is a Monster 2: Made for Each Other | [
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31,585 | 2 | "Jacob loves Hanukkah, but is frustrated with the way it's celebrated at his house. His brother Nathan, a boy on the autism spectrum, obsesses about the holiday and ruins the night by blowing out the candles as if they were on a birthday cake. When a new friend, Steven, moves into the neighborhood, Jacob is happy to have someone to play with but Steven is not tolerant of Nathan's differences. When Steven and Jacob try to spin dreidls, Nathan fixates on the whirling motion and Steven proclaims Nathan 'weird, ' and Jacob must deal with the conflicts and embarrassment felt by many siblings of kids with special needs. This is an important book on many levels. Not only does it address how family's deal with a child's differences in the home, but it validates Jacob's exasperation of making allowances for Nathan. Jacob is not chastised or told that his emotions are wrong, but his parents do expect him to be understanding which is hard for any youngster. When Jacob prays for a Hanukkah miracle that Nathan could be like other kids, we learn how deeply sensitive he is to the situation. Jacob tries to explain Nathan's 'faulty wiring' to Steven, but Steven isn't an automatic convert. Only Jacob's construction of an edible menorah, 'Nathan-style, ' convinces Steven that different is sometimes okay. This Hanukkah book has heart and an important message, both for families that share the experience of raising a child with autism and those who wish they could make their children kinder to children with disabilities."--Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"The traditional family Hanukkah celebration is here adjusted to include an autistic boy's interpretation. Jacob's brother, Nathan, can be quite vexing, especially when he repeats himself constantly. Jacob's mother has explained that Nathan's 'mind is wired differently' and that he 'just looks at things in his own way.' On the first two nights of Hanukkah, Jacob is excited to welcome new neighbors Steven and parents to their candle-lighting ceremony. He quickly regrets it when, to his acute embarrassment, Nathan blows out the candles despite being told they are not like birthday ones. Playing dreidel also proves to be less than enjoyable when Nathan fixates on the spinning and ignores the rest of the game. Yet when confronted by Steven--'your brother is weird'--Jacob counters with the defiant response that Nathan's autistic (not, as Steven mishears, 'artistic') behavior helps his family see the world just a bit differently. Softly outlined illustrations offer snapshot views of family gatherings while also capturing emotional expressions of surprise, chagrin and enjoyment, as reflected in the arc of the story line. A creative final scene encompasses both the traditional menorah lighting as well as a birthdaylike candle celebration atop a tray of jelly doughnuts. This inclusive holiday story offers a realistic perspective on one family's ability to embrace an autistic individual with respect and compassion." --Kirkus Reviews"Jacob narrates the story of his family's holiday celebration as his autistic older brother blows out the candles on the menorah. Nathan displays other behaviors associated with autism such as repeating himself and staring intently at a spinning dreidel. Jacob finds him annoying, and happily escapes in to a friendship with the new boy next door, yet when Steven makes fun of Nathan's penchant for blowing out candles, both families come together to craft a satisfying solution. The well-constructed text rings true, particularly when describing the parents' efforts to help their son focus on the festivities. Watercolor and charcoal illustrations nicely convey both Jacob's mixed emotions and his family's obvious love. Shining a light on an experience shared by many contemporary families, this book is a worthy addition for all collections." --School Library Journal"Siblings - at times we love them; at times we can't stand them. Jacob's older brother, Nathan, often irritated him. Nathan constantly repeated words: 'Is it Hanukkah? Is it Hanukkah?' 'Tonight is Hanukkah.' 'Tonight is Hanukkah.' Nathan's actions were confusing. And Nathan's incessant chatter caused other children to ridicule him embarrassing Jacob. Jacob's mother tried to explain to him that Nathan's brain was 'wired differently' but as much as Jacob tried to understand, it was difficult. And on the first night of Hanukkah, it was very difficult to understand. The first candle of Hanukkah was to be lit and Nathan, Jacob and their parents gathered around the menorah. Jacob and Nathan's father used the shamash to light the candle, then the blessings and 'Ma/oz Tzur' were sung. They were just about to eat the fresh jelly donuts when Nathan blew out the candle! It was supposed to remain lit throughout the full eight nights of Hanukkah. But Nathan didn't understand that. He saw a lit candle and thought it was a birthday candle and so he blew it out. Nathan was autistic and didn't understand the way his younger brother and parents understood. The next day, a new family moved in next door and that evening, as Jacob and his family were about to light the second candle of Hanukkah, the doorbell rang. It was their new neighbours. Jacob's mom invited them to join in the Hanukkah celebrations and lighting of the second candle. Jacob was worried. Would Nathan blow out the candle again? Quill says: Lessons come in many guises and this charming book gently and lovingly introduces readers and their parents to autism and the family issues it can raise. " --Feathered Quill"Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles, by Tami-Lehman-Wilzig with Nicole Katzman, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau (Karben: $7.95), offers a different take on a Chanukah story, dedicated to those 'who have learned to cope with and embrace children with special needs.' Designed to introduce young children to autism and other developmental disorders, the story is based on co-author Nicole Katzman's son Nathan, a high-functioning autistic child whose brain is 'wired differently, ' and who used to enjoy blowing out the family's Chanukah candles. It is the first night of Chanukah when Jacob, who has an autistic brother named Nathan, notices that a new family with a boy his age has moved in across the street. Nathan's behavior, such as blowing out the candles and staring nonstop at spinning dreidels, embarrasses his brother in front of his new playmate, who calls Nathan 'weird, ' until the two families come up with a creative solution to allow Nathan to be himself and everyone to enjoy the celebrations. The authors use the story to reinforce two important messages of Judaism: "acceptance of every person as a reflection of God's image, and the importance of both compassion and inclusion into the community." --Jewish Journal"Based on a true story, Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig with Nicole Katzman, illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau is a truly beautiful way of introducing young children ages 5 to 9 to a family with a special needs child. The story is told by Jacob, whose older brother Nathan is autistic--'Nathan's mind is wired differently, ' says Jacob, with both the understanding and exasperation of a younger brother. It's Hanukkah, and each night the family lights the candles in their menorah, and each night, Nathan blows them out. How his family, together with their new neighbors, turn that into an unusual eighth night of Hanukkah, where respect, acceptance and acknowledgement replace any embarrassment, criticism or anger, will move an adult reading to a young child. This gentle story is instructive without being heavy-handed, told with a natural style that rings true. It is an excellent introduction to a child with any type of special needs, whether as a sibling or a member of another family."--Chicago Jewish Star "Jacob's older brother, Nathan, celebrates the lighting of the menorah in his own unique way, as he does everything else, by blowing out the candles as soon as they are lit. Nathan exhibits behavior that we associate with autism, but Jacob just finds it annoying. He is thrilled when a new boy moves in next door that he can play with, until his new friend makes fun of Nathan's behavior and calls him weird. His new friend, Steven, is just not nice when faced with Nathan's behavior. Relationships between the boys are strained, until the parents, patient with this special child and described as being extremely sensitive, plan a solution that works well and is satisfying to everyone's needs, both acknowledging Nathan's uniqueness and celebrating the holiday together in a special way. There is a realistic description of Jacob working through his conflicting emotions about his brother while attempting to fit his new friend into his life. There is also a lot of love in this book, written by an author who has written many children's books of Jewish interest. Lovely watercolor illustrations add to the story. The description of life with an autistic child in the family makes the book's message universal and not limited to Jewish collections, but it is certainly worthwhile for any Judaica library. Based on a real child, a real 'Nathan, ' this tale can provide a wonderful way to introduce autism and indeed any kind of special children to young children and their families. It will allow both parents and teachers to trigger discussion of special children, as well." --Association of Jewish Libraries"Jacob's brother, Nathan, is autistic. Sometimes his repetition of phrases drives Jacob crazy, but Jacob's mother explains that Nathan's brain is just wired differently. A new boy moves in next door, and Jacob is happy to have a friend to play basketball with him. Jacob's mother invites his new friend, Steven, for the first night of Hanukkah, but Jacob is mortified when Nathan blows out the Hanukkah candles. Every day, when Steven sees Jacob, Steven teases Jacob by pretending to blow out candles. On the last night of Hanukkah, Jacob's mother invites Steven and his family to celebrate Hanukkah Nathan's way. After lighting the menorah in the window, everyone is given a jelly doughnut with a candle in it and they all blow out their candles. The story is based on a real 'Nathan, ' a high-functioning autistic child. The book is designed to introduce young children and families to autism and other developmental disorders. It helps reinforce the Jewish teaching of acceptance of every person as having been created in God's image. The illustrations are colorful and portray the characters' feelings in a sensitive manner."--Jewish Book World "Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles (ages 5-9) is, refreshingly, more about life than about Hanukkah. There is mention of various aspects of the holiday, but it is really about the relationship between the narrator, Jacob, and his autistic brother, Nathan. Jacob worries that Nathan will embarrass him in front of a new friend, and Nathan indeed does so by blowing out the candles in the menorah, something not part of the Hanukkah ritual. Blowing out the candles is then made into a new tradition. My favorite part is that the story is based on a real Nathan, the child of one of the authors, who did indeed blow the Hanukkah candles out. The creation of new traditions should be particularly appropriate for interfaith families, and the theme of accepting everyone is always welcome." --Interfaith FamilyBorn in the United States, Tami Lehman-Wilzig now lives in Israel. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and an M.A. in Communications from Boston University. She is one of Israel's leading English language copywriters. Her children's books include Tasty Bible Stories, Keeping the Promise, Passover Around the World, Hanukkah Around the World and Zvuvi's Israel. She lives in Kfar Saba, Israel.; Title: Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles | [
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31,586 | 0 | Marsha Amstel has practiced psychotherapy and family therapy in the Putnam County area for the past 30 years. Her office is in Putnam Valley, New York, and her favorite activities include walking, snowshoeing, and kayaking--very near the route that Sybil Ludington rode so long ago.; Title: The Horse-riding Adventure of Sybil Ludington, Revolutionary War Messenger (History's Kid Heroes) | [
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31,587 | 17 | Jeff Savage has written dozens of books for young readers. He lives in California and frequently visits schools around the country to talk to kids about his work.; Title: Drew Brees (Amazing Athletes) | [
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31,588 | 11 | Robin Nelson's careers have always kept her surrounded by books--as an elementary teacher, working at a publishing company, and now working as a school library media specialist. But her favorite job is writing books for kids. She has written many nonfiction books for children. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.; Title: Germany (Country Explorers) | [
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31,589 | 18 | Reviewed by Lori M for Readers FavoriteThis book was a wonderful, fun, informative source for children (and adults) to learn more about our history. If you ever wanted to know what events led up to the Boston Tea Party, you'll find out a detailed account of the tax problems in Britain, the Americans' fight for independence, and more.Linda Gondosch has written eleven books for children, including a picture book, early chapter books, and middle grade fiction. Gondosch has raised four children and now lives with her husband in Hebron, Kentucky, near the Ohio River. She has taught in college and high school, and she also substitute taught in elementary school. She toured Italy in 2008 and loves to visit historic sites.; Title: How Did Tea and Taxes Spark a Revolution?: And Other Questions About the Boston Tea Party (Six Questions of American History) | [
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31,590 | 4 | Laura Hamilton Waxman lives in Minnesota and has written many nonfiction books for young readers.; Title: Ambulances on the Move (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,591 | 15 | A former elementary school teacher, Jennifer Boothroyd has written many nonfiction books for children.; Title: Many Kinds of Matter: A Look at Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Lightning Bolt Books) | [
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31,592 | 15 | K-Gr 5-This unusual, philosophical picture book makes this seemingly difficult concept approachable and interesting. Young Uma ponders the concept of infinity with the help of friends and family. She finds that the idea can be mind-boggling, but seems less scary when considered in loving company. The story effortlessly combines the enormity of the universe with the frankly personal, as represented by Uma's pride in her new red shoes. Characters define infinity with charming and age-appropriate examples, from a family tree that goes on forever to a never-ending ice-cream cone. A fascinating endnote lets youngsters hear the voices of real children explaining infinity and challenges readers to define it for themselves. Swiatkowska's whimsical, surreal, old-fashioned paintings are well suited to the subject matter. Her art also graces Ilene Cooper's The Golden Rule (Abrams, 2007), another thoughtful picture book, which would combine well with this one. This quiet jewel is sure to spark contemplation and conversation among readers.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Considering that adults have trouble grappling with the concept of infinity, you have to admire Hosford for trying to wrap young brains around it. There is only the scantest sense of character, place, and story here, but we do meet a young girl named Uma, who stares up at the stars. I started to feel very, very small. She asks a number of people how they imagine infinity, and each has his or her own creative take. Her friend Sam envisions infinity as a figure 8 racetrack. Grandma sees it as an ever-enlarging family tree. This compels Uma to tackle a few old philosophical saws, including the one about cutting something in half and then cutting that half in half, ad infinitum. Swiatkowska was the right choice of illustrator for the spiraling subject matter. Her big-eyed Victorian-looking characters embark upon various flights of fancy: driving along an infinity sign, becoming a Vitruvian Man, and standing beneath an ice-cream cone that would take forever to lick. Oddball for sure, but good fun to puzzle over. Grades K-3. --Daniel Kraus; Title: Infinity and Me (Carolrhoda Picture Books) | [
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31,593 | 3 | "A clever princess and a simple man solve a measurement problem and find true love in this fairy-tale-like math story.When King Balbazar and his subjects have trouble making doors and drapes and robes fit, the king decides to hold a contest to find a standard unit of measurement, a husband for his daughter and his successor--he wants to retire. Princess Star judges the contest, dressed as a peasant, her basket hiding a crown for the winner. But things look glum when the men begin measuring with nuts, swords (of different sizes), goats and even pickles. It takes a simple man with no belongings--and no shoes--to come up with the foot as a unit of measure. And the rest is history...although an author's 'foot note' explains what is really known about the origins of a foot. Harris' ABCB rhyming verses have a nice rhythm to them and some interesting pairings--sickles with pickles. But the speech-bubble asides that are integral to the tale do not rhyme, and this detracts from the flow of the text. Stevanovic's cartoonish illustrations are filled with detail, but his characters steal the show, their pointy and/or pendulous noses and appendages lending each a distinct personality.Though it is regrettable that in neither story nor note the metric system, the international standard, is mentioned, still, save about half an inch (or roughly 1 cm) on your shelves for this one. (Math picture book. 4-8)" --Kirkus Reviews"Long ago, in a kingdom far away, the people were plagued by the lack of a standard measure. They used spoons and sausages and candles to quantify the length of objects. As a result, drapes were too long, robes were too short, and roofs did not properly cover houses. King Balbazar was at his wit's end so he decided to hold a contest. The one who could devise a sensible unit of measurement would become king and win the hand of the princess. Men came from far and near with all kinds of ideas, but it was a simple man named Arzo who--for lack of anything else--used his feet. He became king, and the official unit of measurement became the size of his foot. This clever account, told in rhyme, alludes to the basis for most of today's standard measurement: the human body. Youngsters will enjoy the failed attempts of using walnuts, swords, rowboats, goats, and even pickles to measure distance. The exaggerated, colorful cartoon illustrations are humorous and appealing. Fans of the author's other math concept books will be delighted with this offering, too." --School Library JournalTrudy Harris is the author of many successful math concept books, including Jenny Found a Penny, Splitting the Herd, The Clock Struck One, and Tally Cat Keeps Track. Trudy has a B.S. in elementary education with a minor in art from Brigham Young University. She and her husband, Jay, live in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Trudy teaches kindergarten.; Title: The Royal Treasure Measure (Math Is Fun!) | [
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31,594 | 15 | "Patchwork elephant Elmer is back and concerned about a pale 'rainbow without colors.' Planning to donate his own colors, Elmer seeks out the rainbow's end, along with several jungle animals that wonder what will happen to Elmer's colors if he gives them away. Elmer succeeds in giving the rainbow a boost of color, and happily his trademark checkerboard hide remains intact. The message'Some things you can give and give and not lose any. Things like happiness or love or my colors'lands with a bit of a thud, but ensures that Elmer will continue to brighten his friends' lives." --Publishers WeeklyDavid McKee's first book was published in 1964. His books--including Elmer and Rose, Elmer's Special Day, and Elmer and the Hippos--are published in numerous languages throughout the world, and many of them have been adapted for television. He divides his time between London and the south of France.; Title: Elmer and the Rainbow (Elmer Books) | [
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31,595 | 22 | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859. He became a doctor in 1882. When this career did not prove successful, Doyle started writing stories. In addition to the popular Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels, Doyle also wrote historical novels, romances, and plays.; Title: Sherlock Holmes and the Redheaded League: Case 7 (On the Case With Holmes and Watson) | [
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31,596 | 7 | "Bethany is intrigued by the new guy in school, especially when his pointy-eared relatives show up and start trying to kill people. Croall's addition to the humorous paranormal-romance series My Boyfriend Is a Monster has trouble fully developing Bethany and Allein's relationship, but fans of the series won't be deterred. They will enjoy the premise of pitting fairies against mortals, the artwork's Wizard of Oz switch from black-and-white to color upon Bethany's entrance into the fairy realm, and, of course, the middle-school appropriate romance, with the jock girl getting the cute monster boy in the end." --BooklistMarie P. Croall lives in Cary, North Carolina. She has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Moonstone Books, Devils Due, and Harris Comics, and has completed a self-published graphic novel and a short film. Marie has spent much of her life reading fables and legends, and enjoys discovering new things about different cultures.; Title: Under His Spell (My Boyfriend Is a Monster) | [
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31,597 | 15 | Marianne Berkes is the author of ten picture books, all inspired by her love of nature. A former teacher, librarian and children's theater director, Marianne brings her experiences to good use, as she combines fact and fiction. Berkes is a favorite presenter at schools, conferences, and literary festivals. She lives in Hobe Sound, Florida, with her husband, Roger.; Title: Marsh Morning | [] | Train |
31,598 | 22 | "Adapting Holmes stories into comics is very challenging, which makes these books all the more impressive. Very little happens in a typical Holmes story: something goes wrong, the detectives interview a series of people, the hero sits around thinking, and eventually he confronts the culprit. Comics are a visual medium, and in the same way that readers of novels--in which it's perfectly all right to describe at length the thought processes of a brilliant detective--tend to enjoy detective stories better than moviegoers do, comics readers tend to want to see things moving...not smart people sitting in chairs and thinking deeply. Sophie Rohrbach's illustrations are cunningly designed to address this challenge. She moves the point of view around dramatically, zooming in on Watson, for example, when he finally figures out something Holmes realized an hour ago, or swiveling the perspective so that we fail to see the face of a suspect whose identity would eliminate the mystery. The creators also interject short bits of narration on Watson's notepad to maintain the sense that Watson is writing down these adventures shortly after he has experienced them. The result is a mystery that is always engaging, even when the action is mild." --Teacher Librarian"These graphic novel-style adaptations of Holmes's adventures are well suited to middle graders. The dialogue is reminiscent of Conan Doyle's writing yet easier to follow. The illustrations' cartoon characters are appealing, but the heavy black lines and dark palette are sometimes intrusive." --The Horn Book GuideSir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859. He became a doctor in 1882. When this career did not prove successful, Doyle started writing stories. In addition to the popular Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels, Doyle also wrote historical novels, romances, and plays. French artist Sophie Rohrbach began her career after graduating in display design at the Chambre des Commerce. She went on to design displays in many top department stores including Galeries Lafayette. She also studied illustration at the Emile Cohl school in Lyon, France, where she now lives with her daughter. Rohrbach has illustrated many children's books.; Title: #3 Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Blue Gem (On the Case with Holmes & Watson) (On the Case With Holmes and Watson) | [
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31605
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31,599 | 0 | "With a shtetl setting, this picture-book version of an old Jewish folktale brings home the message of doing a 'mitzvah, ' a good deed. Bim is a carpenter; she builds wonderful homes for the mayor, the grocer, and the rabbi, and the bright, uncluttered artwork shows her at work at the drawing board and on-site with her tools. Her brother, Bom, isn't a skilled builder, but he loves to bake, and everyone in town buys his bread, especially his delicious challah on Friday. On one Friday, Bim builds homes and Bom bakes challah for those who cannot afford to pay, each performing a mitzvah. Then, as evening comes, sister and brother run across town to celebrate Shabbat together in Bim's house with Bom's delicious bread. Great for sharing on Shabbat, this title concludes with the musical notation and lyrics for 'Shabbat Shalom.' Kids will appreciate the reversal of the traditional gender roles as well as the enduring message." --Booklist"Bim and Bom: A Shabbat Tale is a picture book about the experience of preparing for and observing Shabbat. Both the text and illustrations effectively convey the spiritual uniqueness of Shabbat. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations, which show challah baking and candle lighting. I also like that the book communicates that people can use their different talents and strengths to help make Shabbat a rich and spiritually rewarding experience. Additionally, I appreciate the ethical message conveyed through both the text and illustrations. On Fridays, Bim, who works as a carpenter, builds homes for needy people. On Fridays, Bom, who works as a baker, bakes challah to give to needy people. The book gave me a greater appreciation for the role of chesed in Judaism. Bim and Bom: A Shabbat Tale is a fun way of introducing children to Shabbat observance. The book also teaches that preparing for Shabbat and observing Shabbat can be, and frequently are, spiritually rewarding." --Jewish Book WorldMelissa Iwai received her BFA in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. She now lives in Brooklyn and has illustrated many award winning picture books.; Title: Bim and Bom, 2nd Edition: A Shabbat Tale | [
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