Review Machine : Books / Music / Film : 4 Kids

Savvy

2011-01-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

Author: Ingrid Law
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Puffin, 2010, 368 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 9+

Loved this coming-of-age story about a Mibs, a girl turning 13 and trying to figure herself out. She's caught in that tension between childhood and young adulthood, yearning for confidence and know-how, and at the same time feeling beat down by the taunts and jeers of her peers. On her birthday, she's hoping to quickly identify her "savvy", her own special talent. Savvy is a genetic trait passed down from her mom's side of the family. Her brother has electric savvy, able to jump start cars on his own and cause electrical outages when he's not in control. Her other brother has a kind of weather savvy, with which he can manipulate winds and storms. Mibs believes her savvy is something that can bring her father home from his terrible car accident. But she gets herself in a world of trouble as she attempts to set everything in her world just right.

Law writes descriptive prose with a tender understanding of what it's like to be a tween. She creates characters you can quickly latch onto and root for; even the ornery ones win you over in the end. Readers who enjoy realistic fiction will not be off-put by the element of the fantastical in each character's "savvy".

The Cow Loves Cookies

2010-11-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

Author: Karma Wilson
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 1+

Totally delightful, super cute rhyming story about a cookie-loving cow. Children will love the repetitive nature of the text and the silliness of the cow juxtaposed against the other farm animals who eat their normal food like grain and hay. A corny line on the final page seals the deal for me...this is a perfect book for storytimes.

Art & Max

2010-10-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

Author: David Wiesner
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Clarion Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Wiesner is a genius. 'Nuff said.

A Balloon for Isabel

2010-10-31T23:29:00.000-07:00

Author: Deborah Underwood
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Greenwillow Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

The porcupines have worked hard all year and they're excited for their upcoming graduation. But life isn't fair! All the other little animals will receive colorful balloons, but not the porcupines. Balloons aren't safe for porcupines, they're told. Prickly Isabel and Walter are determined to come up with a plan that will allow them to receive balloons. They invent a variety of "pop-stoppers", but nothing seems to work. In the end, they discover a colorful, delicious way to solve their problem.

This is a delightful story, well-told, with totally precious illustrations by Laura Renkin.

LMNO Peas

2010-10-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

Author: Keith Baker
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Beach Lane Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 2+

ADORABLE! I love this whimsical, rhyming alphabet book. Little peas are scattered across every page, sliding off each big letter and calling out their jobs and hobbies that begin with said letter. Read it out loud to discover a wonderful rhythm (just be sure to read the peas' words, too; the font and size are different, but they ARE part of the rhyme.) The illustrations contain enough detail to keep adults just as entertained during repeated readings. I recommend this primarily for family reading times. The illustrations are too small and detailed for storytimes with large groups.

Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy

2010-10-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Denise Fleming

Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Henry Holt, 2010

Format and/or Genre: Picture Book

Intended Audience or Age: 0+

Darling, colorful images of baby animals going to sleep accompany rhythmic text that repeats the gentle phrase, "Sleepy, oh so sleepy." Young children will enjoy "reading along" as they share this repeated phrase and delight in the fuzzy lion cub, the ostrich, the elephant, and more, all described with one tiny word: tiny. Last, of course, we find the baby human, who is also sleepy and tiny.

The Pirate of Kindergarten

2010-10-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

Author: George Ella Lyon
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Just wanted to post this new picture book because I haven't seen anything like it before.

Little Ginny has always been a little clumsy and a little squinty. But she found ways to live with the double images she saw wherever she looked, and she didn't know that other people saw the world any differently. One day at school, all the children go through a vision screening, and Ginny's vision problem is identified. She visits an optometrist with her mother and gets glasses, exercises, and a pirate patch for her eye. No more seeing double! I think this informative story will help children with good eyesight understand what poor vision is like, and perhaps reduce the teasing that children with glasses endure. One can hope, anyway. :)

Farm

2010-10-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Author: Elisha Cooper
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Orchard Books / Scholastic, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

This new book by Elisha Cooper is a beautiful tribute to the American farm. Cooper examines the real life workings of a typical farm and the citizens there. Each animal is given fair tribute, and each month of the farming season is explained in careful detail. Great for one-on-one reading, especially with older children who will engage with the details the most.

The Bickleby's Birdbath

2010-10-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Andrea Perry
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 1+

In the spirit of "The House That Jack Built", the story of the Bickleby's birdbath builds upon itself page by page. The rhythm and rhyme of the text flows well and is balanced by colorful illustrations. A winner for storytimes and one-on-one readings. Repeated readings can include a conversation with your child about what happens next before turning the page.

Who's in Charge?

2010-05-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

First, I've just gotta say this: In real life, I'm totally against a family dynamic that parentifies the child. So I'm only recommending the following books to healthy families whose members know their roles loud and clear! :) Read these stories to hear funny twists on very familiar situations.

In "Bedtime for Mommy", the little girl keeps mom on task for mommy's bedtime. The guidance comes complete with toothbrushing, a story, a glass of water, and a willingness to keep the door cracked open, just a little.

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3+

_______________________________________________

In "Mommy, It's Time to Go Pee!", mother bird keeps delaying a trip to the bathroom, until her little stork insists it's time to go. He waits in the hall and listens to make sure she finishes her business.

Author: Miechel Barksdale
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: AuthorHouse, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3+

A Book About Color: A Clear and Simple Guide for Young Artists

2010-05-27T15:33:00.003-07:00

I've always struggled to understand the difference between saturation and value, but this book explained it in a way that I can almost understand. :) For the budding young artist, I'm sure it will make perfect sense. This simple book begins with an introduction to primary colors, goes on to show how secondary colors are generated, and makes more advanced concepts like analogous colors totally accessible. The writer wraps it up with a final presentation on the color wheel and asks the reader, "Where on Color Street will you go?"

Author: Mark Gonyea
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: 2010
Format and/or Genre: Non-Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 6+

Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (And the Country)

2010-05-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Biographies for children keep getting better and better! This beautifully illustrated book reveals a side of Abraham Lincoln that not everyone is aware of, given the somber portraits we find in textbooks. As Krull tells Lincoln's life story, she highlights significant events with specific examples of how Lincoln inserted humor. For example, revealing his opinion about his disapproving in-laws, he once said, "One d is enough for God, but the Todds need two." This book would be great in the classroom during a study on Lincoln and the Civil War, as it makes him seem more like a real person and not just some stoic figure from history.

Author: Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Harcourt Children's Books, 2010
Format and/or Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 7+

The Tree House

2010-05-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

In this slightly over-sized wordless picture book, the Tolmans tell a story about a couple of bears who make a home for themselves in a treehouse which sits in a tree rising up from the middle of the ocean. The bears read, eat toast, and enjoy the view. Birds fly in to join them. The water recedes, and other animals come rushing in. Eventually, a bear in a hot air balloon boat flies in, picks up a peacock and sails away, leading all the other creatures to follow.

I appreciate how this story maintains a constant with the tree always standing strong on the far right side of every two-page spread. As the background colors change, and animals come and go, the tree remains. It provides sense of comfort every time you turn the page and look for what has changed. When I saw the first page with the polar bear swimming in the water, I felt sad about the current state of affairs for polar bears. But the story itself is not sad, and it doesn't appear to be a commentary on global warming or anything like that. It's a fantastical story, full of magic and possibility.

Author: Marije Tolman and Ronald Tolman
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Lemniscaat, 2010 US Edition
Format and/or Genre: Wordless Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Birth+

The Black Book of Colors

2010-05-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

Every once awhile, a picture book comes along that is so unique it leaves me speechless.

The Black Book of Colors is beautiful in its simplicity, and incredibly moving as it reveals how a blind person might think about the concept of color. Every single page is pitch black, and each two-page spread is devoted to describing a color. On the left page, braille at the top and white text at the bottom describe a color: "Thomas says that yellow tastes like mustard, but is as soft as a baby chick's feathers." On the opposing page, the same upraised technique which is used to create the braille letters now forms pictures you can feel. Close your eyes and feel the color as you draw on the sensation of your fingers passing over feathers.

The story nears its end as the writer recognizes "...black is the king of all colors. It is as soft as silk when his mother hugs him and her hair falls in his face." I could see this beautiful story serving as a bridge between the blind and the sighted. It describes the colors for someone who's never seen them, and it reveals a new way to think about color and sight to someone who may have always taken them for granted before. Highly recommended.

Author: Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Groundwood Books, English translation 2008
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Fartiste: An Explosively Funny, Mostly True Story

2010-05-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

In clever rhyme, this book tells the TRUE story of Joseph Pujol, who made a living performing a comedy act in France in the late 1890s...with his farts! The rollicking verses reveal how he learned to control his flatulence as a boy swimming in the ocean near his home. As he grew up, he honed his skill while serving in the military, and later as a baker: "Fashioning music out of the air, blasting out tunes from his own derriere." Eventually, Pujol presented his unusual act in Paris. Deemed "The Fartiste", he wowed audiences and drew even presidents and royalty to see his curious talent. His act brought on uncontrollable laughter: "Nurses were stationed in the aisles to scout, For those laughing so hard they completely passed out."

I highly recommend this entertaining tale to school-aged kids looking for a good laugh. Especially fun as a read-aloud, Krull's masterful rhymes remind me of John Lithgow's clever style.

Author: Kathleen Krull
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Simon & Schuster, 2008, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 7+

How to Win Friends and Influence Creatures

2010-05-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

This adorable little book would make a great gift for a friend on her birthday, graduation or any special day. It's filled with basic, sound advice tucked in clever phrasing and complemented by simple, thin-lined pen and ink drawings of animals demonstrating those words of wisdom. A picture of an octopus with tentacles tangled up in himself says, "Keep your tentacles to yourself...even when others don't." In another scene, one tiger is blowing away the other tigers with his loud call, and the text says, "Don't open your mouth...just to hear yourself roar."
The vignettes remind me of email forwards I sometimes receive, with cliches superimposed over silly pictures. However, I find those emails slightly annoying, whereas this book is just all cuteness.

Author: Deborah Zemke
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Blue Apple Books, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Adults if you ask me... :)

All the World

2010-01-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

A heartwarming rhyme which demonstrates the interconnectedness of humans with each other and the world. This would be a comforting read-aloud each night before bed.

Author: Liz Garton Scanlon
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Beach Lane Books, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Two Gripping Stories

2010-01-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

These two accounts of famous moments in the civil rights movement are equally compelling.

The first title recognizes Claudette Colvin, a teenage girl who refused to give up her seat on the bus months before Rosa Parks did. Through a series of interviews with Claudette, the author brings together the true story of her stand against injustice.

The second title tells of the Freedom March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Through photographs and first-hand accounts, readers see the brutality suffered by the peaceful protesters. Their hope for equality shines through every page.

Both titles are highly recommended for readers of non-fiction, for middle school civil rights curriculum, and for any students interested in our nation's history.

Title: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Author: Phillip M. Hoose
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Farrar Strous Giroux, 2009, 133 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 13+

Title:Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary
Author: Elizabeth Partridge
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Viking Children's Books, 2009, 72 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 10+

Bubble Trouble

2010-01-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

You will never find a more tongue-twisting rhyme than within the pages of this book. The baby in the bubble bibble-bobbles into trouble! He rises above the town as his sister and mother chase after. With each turn of the page, more townspeople join the pursuit and the baby keeps rising higher. Will they devise a plan to bring the baby down gently and save the day? Or will a young boy with a slingshot bring the baby down in a deadly fall? Keep your tongue in shape for this outlandish story of suspense told in silly rhyme.

Author: Margaret Mahy
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Clarion Books, 2009, 37 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

The Christmas Magic

2010-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

Santa is a normal man, living in his home in the North and preparing for Christmas. He readies the sleigh, he calls to the reindeer, and he waits for the magic. He trims his beard, he checks his book of children's name, and he waits for the magic. And then, with a tingling, he senses the magic is near. Christmas is near.

Gentle illustrations created with watercolors and pastels show a sweet-spirited old man in his humble, comfortable home. As night falls and the magic nears, Santa transforms into that man all children dream about and wait for. He, the sleigh, and his reindeer glow as they fly off the last page.

Author: Lauren Thompson, www.laurenthompson.net
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Scholastic Press, 2009, 40 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

The Lion of the Mouse

2010-01-19T16:43:00.001-08:00

Excitement has been buzzing about this book for months! Yesterday, Pinkney received the Caldecott Award for this gorgeous, wordless rendition of the famous fable. Pinkney masterfully captures the dynamic between the lion and the mouse, so different and yet so in need of one another's grace. The warmth in the colors conveys the beauty of the Serengeti. Don't miss this one!

Author: Jerry Pinkney
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Little, Brown Young Readers, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3+

Acorns Everywhere!

2010-01-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

Squirrel maniacally searches for acorns for winter, chanting his mantra: "Gather! Dig! Bury!" He's not ashamed to pull them right out of other animals' paws, and he won't be stopped, UNTIL! a great bear lumbers near to eat some berries. Later, when squirrel can't find his hidden loot, he opts for berries as well. Young children may not understand the wordplay on bury and berries, but they will love squirrel and his goofy grin.

Author: Kevin Sherry, www.kevinsherryonline.com
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3-5 years

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka

2010-01-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hilarious true tales of childhood from the master of humor for kids. Scieszka relates the highs and lows of growing up in a big family with a LOT of brothers. Pictures from his past bring these tales to life. Boys, especially, will love hearing about the antics of the Scieszka boys, as it reveals that sometimes, mischief comes naturally. Reminiscent of Chris Crutcher's "King of the Mild Frontier" for teens.

Author: Jon Scieszka
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Viking Children's Books, 2008, 108 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Biography
Intended Audience or Age: 9-11 years

Phineas L. MacGuire...ERUPTS!

2010-01-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

Phineas L. MacGuire, a science-loving 4th grader, navigates a budding friendship with the strange, new kid at school while trying to figure out how to win the science fair. First in a series.

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Atheneum Books, 2006, 167 pages. Republished in paperback (as shown above) by Aladdin Paperbacks, 2007
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 8-12 years

Lunch Lady series

2010-01-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

There's no better hero-in-disguise than your very own lunch lady! She fights evil then makes your lunch. Krosoczka's creativity, previously demonstrated in characters like the rockin' animals in "Punk Farm", comes to full fruition in this new lunch lady series. Illustrations predominantly in yellow emphasize the fighting force of those yellow rubber gloves. Highly recommended.

Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009, 96 pages
Format and/or Genre: Graphic Novel
Intended Audience or Age: 7-10 years

Higher! Higher!

2010-01-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

A little girl calls to her grown-up: "Higher! Higher!" She swings so high that as you turn each page, you see her going above her city, her country, her world, and beyond. This book captures what we've all felt on the swing when we were young...with just one more push, maybe we will fly!

Author: Leslie Patricelli
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick Press, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Books
Intended Audience or Age: 2-5 years

My Elephant

2010-01-16T19:06:00.005-08:00

A young boy, full of energy, wreaks some havoc in the peaceful house of Grandma and Grandpa. Of course, it isn't his fault! It's the elephant! Grandma and Grandpa patiently wait for the boy to run out of steam, and when he does, they lovingly deposit him in bed for a nap.

Author: Peter Horacek
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick Press, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3+

The Bog Baby

2010-01-16T19:06:00.003-08:00

Two young girls go exploring in the bog near their house and find an adorable bog baby: small, blue, with innocent eyes and little wings. They take him home with them, and though they keep him a secret and care for him very well, the bog baby eventually grows sickly. When Mom learns about the bog baby, she tenderly helps the girls return him to his natural home, where he thrives again.

This story, far from being didactic, conveys a heartfelt message that is so hard to learn: When you love someone, let them go. The delicate drawings of the bog baby and his home are rendered in a classic style. This is one of those books that you get for your daughter, and she will treasure it 'til the day she can pass it on to hers.

Author: Jeanne Willis
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4-7 years

The Magician's Elephant

2010-01-16T19:05:00.002-08:00

DiCamillo, author of the Newbery award-winning book "The Tale of Despereaux", produces another compelling story that encourages you to root for the underdog against all odds. This mysterious tale sets its foundation on the prediction of a fortune teller, a prediction that weaves a young orphan boy and his presumed-to-be-dead sister, a magician who secretly calls for an elephant to appear from thin air instead of a bouquet of flowers, and the elephant herself who has become the spectacle of the town. This story gives you reason to believe that there is still room for the magic of the "what ifs" in life.

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick, 2009, 208 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 8-13 years

The Unfinished Angel

2010-01-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Creech tells the story of an angel who isn't quite sure what he's supposed to be doing. He lives in a tower in Switzerland and has been watching over a family there for many years, occasionally pinching someone when they misbehave. He keeps waiting and hoping someone will tell him what his mission is. When a new family moves into town the angel is surprised that the daughter can see him! She prods him to do his angelic duties by helping some local orphans, but he continues to struggle with his place in the world.

Most endearing about the angel are his word choices and his observations of humans. From the publisher marketing: "Peoples are strange! The things they are doing and saying--sometimes they make no sense. Did their brains fall out of their heads? And why so much saying, so much talking all the time day and night, all those words spilling out of those mouths? Why so much? Why don't they be quiet?"

This unusual story comes to us from a seasoned writer for children. Creech never disappoints.

Author: Sharon Creech
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: HarperCollins, 2009, 164 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 8-12 years

Pouch!

2009-11-21T12:04:00.001-08:00

A baby kangaroo ventures beyond the safety of his mother's pouch. When he encounters a new thing he's never seen before, he cries, "POUCH!" and jumps back into his safe place. This pattern continues until he finds himself face-to-face with another baby kangaroo. This story is sure to bring laughs and repeated readings for toddlers and preschoolers who can relate to the kangaroo's courageous explorations along with his need for the protection of his mother.

Author: David Ezra Stein
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3-5 years

Ivy + Bean

2009-11-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

This is a fun story (first in a series) about a couple of young girls who are just getting to know one another. Bean is a bit of a tomboy and from what she's seen of Ivy, the girl across the street who just reads all the time, she doesn't want to become friends. Circumstances bring them together, however, and Bean discovers that first impressions are not always accurate. This story has just the right amount of silliness mixed with realistic characters and scenarios to make it believable. Sure to be a hit with readers who enjoy Junie B., Judy Moody, and the like.

Author: Annie Barrows
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Chronicle Books, 2006, 113 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction / First Chapter Book
Intended Audience or Age: 6-10 years

The Storm in the Barn

2009-11-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

This story, set in America during the Dust Bowl, features an underdog named Jack who is stuck in that awkward age between childhood and manhood. As his family struggles, he wants to contribute in some way, but he's only given the duty of watching out for his younger sister. Jack takes the future into his own hands, and one more step toward adulthood, when he discovers a secret in the barn that could change their lives forever.

Author: Matt Phelan
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick Press, 2009, 201 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Graphic Novel
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 9+

Finn Throws a Fit!

2009-10-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

Young Finn is unhappy, and his emotions rage through the house like a tornado. Then just as suddenly, the storm is gone and Finn needs some love and attention. This book, though presented in a children's book format, will be a comfort to parents more than anybody, to know they aren't alone in dealing with their child's unpredictable emotional nature.

Author: David Elliott
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick Press, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 2-5 years

Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg

2009-10-10T10:53:00.003-07:00

This guessing game presents different eggs, coupled with a four-verse rhyming riddle which offers clues about what might be inside. Young children can make a guess based on the rhyme and pictures. Older children will quickly guess, but will be interested on the following page to see the baby creatures hatched out of the eggs, and to read in detail about them. This book can be used as an effective non-fiction title at storytimes, just emphasize the rhymes and the guessing. Pick and choose the factual information you'll read, as you'll lose young one's interest if you read the entire text. The accurate, well-drawn illustrations will capture an audience of any size.

Author: Mia Posada
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Millbrook Press, 2007, 28 pages
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Emma's Turtle

2009-10-10T10:53:00.001-07:00

Emma's turtle escapes from his outdoor pen and begins a trek around the world. As he encounters plants and animals in Emma's backyard, he believes he is in foreign countries. The day is long, and near the end of it, Emma's turtle rejoices to hear her voice calling out to him. She carefully returns him to his pen, he enjoys a tasty dinner, and he speculates where tomorrow's travels will lead him. This story is great for reading aloud to a group.

Author: Eve Bunting
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Boyds Mills Press, 2007, 28 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4-8 years

Little Boat

2009-10-10T10:52:00.004-07:00

Over the years, there have been many stories about brave little boats. What captivates me about this particular story is the illustrations. Docherty quickly establishes the little boat's brave personality, and his desire to interact with friends from the ocean. As he faces troubles and fears, he maintains a courage that sees him through. The ocean is drawn expertly, and the illustrations perfectly complement the text. Forget science! In this story, there is an edge to the world. But since we know that's pure imagination, we can completely embrace the idea of it.

Author: Thomas Docherty
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Templar, 2009, 40 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3-6

Creature ABC

2009-10-10T10:52:00.003-07:00

We've seen Zuckerman's stunning photography in "Creature." Now he offers his work to children in "Creater ABC". Children will associate the letters of the alphabet with a variety of familiar and unusual animals. Zuckerman has a unique ability to show fine details on large creatures...the wrinkles and hairs on an elephant, for example. This book encourages a respect for the "wild" in wildlife, while at the same time making the animals seem very approachable. Young readers will return to the photographs again and again.

Author: Andrew Zuckerman
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Chronicle Books, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture books
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Birds

2009-10-10T10:52:00.001-07:00

Through spare text, Henkes presents a thoughtful observation about birds, their colors, types, and habits. Dronzek's bold lines and strong colors make for great storytime artwork. Toddlers and preschoolers will certainly admire this lovely book with wide-eyes.

Author: Kevin Henkes
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Greenwillow Books, 2009, 32 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 2-5 years

Sergio Saves the Game!

2009-10-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

What It's About: A clumsy penguin struggles to find his place on the soccer team.

Review: I really enjoyed reading about Sergio, who loves soccer so much that he just won't give up despite his own clumsiness. Sergio and his team face a frighteningly large opponent when they play the seagulls, but Sergio manages to find his role and become a star...in his own way.

Author: Edel Rodriguez
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Little, Brown and Company, 2009
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 5+

Machines Go to Work

2009-10-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Every day, different machines get to work, fulfilling their specific duties. Readers see what each machine is about to do (the firetruck putting out a fire in the tree), then lift the flap to find that the duty is slightly different (the fireman using the truck ladder to reach a kitten). Any machine-loving child will delight in reading this story over and over, especially because of the flaps. Have tape on hand when pages tear from repeated use!

Author: William Low
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Henry Holt and Company, 2009
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 3+

Cowlick!

2009-10-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Who's responsible for your child's messy hair each morning when they rise from sleep? It's that sneaky cow who creeps into the room in the middle of the night and gives your child's head a big sluuuuurp!

Author: Christin Ditchfield
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Random House, 2007
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Age 3+

One World, One Day

2009-10-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Kids from all over the world have much in common as they go about their daily routines.

Review: Wow. The full-color photographs in this book speak volumes. Though we may notice differences in the way kids from around the world look, many of their actions are quite similar. They rise from sleep, have their morning routines, school, chores, games, and bedtime. "Around the world kids dream of tomorrow and all the possibilities of just one day." This beautiful book will certainly keep kids dreaming of their life and the lives of kids on the other side of the globe. Detailed descriptions of each photo and a world map showing where the photos were taken increase the reader's opportunity to connect with the subjects captured.

Author: Barbara Kerley
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: National Geographic Society, 2009,
Format and/or Genre:
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

All of Baby Nose to Toes

2009-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Baby has lots of adorable parts, from her eyes to her tummy to her toes. Family members claim their love for every part of baby.

Review: I love the rhythm of the text in this book: "Baby's got eyes, bright little eyes. Round as pies eyes. Just the right size eyes. Like an owl-wise eyes. Peea-peeka-boo. Who loves baby's eyes? Me! I do." And who can resist playing out the story with their own baby? Parents will delight in reading the story with their baby and kissing each of baby's wonderful parts. The illustrator balances the text well, celebrating baby with a pleasing palette of blues, yellows, greens and pinks done with watercolor and gouache.

Author: Victoria Adler
Illustrator: Hiroe Nakata
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2009,
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 0+

OK Go

2009-08-12T01:01:00.001-07:00

What It's About: Driving vehicles has polluted our earth. There are other options for getting from here to there.

Review: This is one of those books that looks deceptively simple. If you just flip through the pages, there are very few words, and so you might assume this book is intended for toddlers. However, conceptually, the book is more appropriate for older preschoolers and school-age children. The first half of the story is filled with people driving their vehicles. They know how to go, go, go! Each page reveals an increase in the number of people driving. Midway through the story, the clouds go dark, indicating the pollution in the world as a result of all that driving. The characters consider options and come up with a solution at the end. The last two-page spread is filled with other ways to travel, set to rhyme, such as, "Take a bus, Gus!"

Initially, I thought this book was too didactic and too conceptual to connect with children. Upon sharing it with my school-age nephews, though, I realized it could provide a great platform for discussing how our actions impact the environment. I explained why the clouds had darkened, and then they really enjoyed reading the rhyming solutions to the very real problem humans have created.

Author: Carin Berger
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: HarperCollins, 2009, 32 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 4-8 years

Bad Frogs

2009-08-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Very bad frogs cause trouble with their antics each day.

Review: These frogs are so bad. They're burping at the dinner table, skateboarding, and being rascally. Follow their silly behavior through lively, colorful illustrations. Join in the repeated phrase, "Bad frogs. Very bad frogs." This one is fun for one-on-one readings with a child, especially a school-age boy. Watch his face when you read, "Bad frogs. Very bad frogs. Staying up late. Kissing their girlfriends."

Author: Thacher Hurd
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Candlewick Press, 2009, 40 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 3-7 years

Loose Leashes

2009-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Book of poetry about different dogs and their favorite pastimes.

Review: Two thumbs up from my 8- and 9-year-old nephews! Full-page color photographs of various dogs enjoying their hobbies complements well-written poetry describing their antics. For example, a pug sits by the pool with goggles on. The poem describes how he learned to swim. In another, two chihuahuas cling to one large bone, vying for it, and the poem humorously explains how the bone wins when the two tired dogs fall asleep. This is a fun book to read over and over again, returning to your favorite poems and laughing at the silly photographs.

Author: Amy and Ron Schmidt
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2009, 40 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 5+

Darwin: With Glimpses into His Private Journal & Letters

2009-07-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

What It's About: A colorful, approachable biography of the life of Charles Darwin.

Review: Charles Darwin didn't know what he would be when he grew up. As a boy, he got in trouble at school for doing experiments instead of schoolwork. As a young man, he tried medical school, but he didn't like it. He then went to school to become a pastor, but he found science much more interesting. Under a mentor, he developed his skills as a naturalist and received a chance to travel abroad to study nature in South America. What he learned there became the foundation of his theory on the evolution.

This is an outstanding biography, full of colorful illustrations and direct quotes from Darwin's journals. The author succeeds in telling the story of Darwin's life in a way that is interesting and engaging. Most impressive, McGinty respectfully relates the internal struggle Darwin felt about his own theory. He believed in God as Creator, as did many people in his community, so his suggestion that species could evolve was subersive to say the least. McGinty's sensitive treatment of Darwin's life and controversial theories makes this an outstanding book for public and school libraries.

Author: McGinty, Alice B.
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages:
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Biography
Intended Audience or Age: 6+

Our Children Can Soar

2009-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

What It's About: As the subtitle indicates, this book celebrates African American pioneers of change who acted bravely in the face of racism and mistreatment.

Review: "Our ancestors fought...so George could invent. George invented...so Jesse could sprint." And so continues the spare text that relates how one courageous person succeeds on the back of the previous heroes. Hattie, Ella, Jackie, Rosa, Ruby, Martin, Thurgood and Barack all receive treatment through full-page spreads. Though each person is presented by a different illustrator, the book maintains a clear cohesiveness. And though the text is sparing, the concept is not simple, so this book can be shared with older children as well. It's inspiring in a way that gives you goosebumps when you reach the final page. Even though it focuses on the African American struggle for equality, we realize that the dream is the same for all of us...we all want our children to have the opportunity to soar.

Author: Michelle Cook
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Bloomsbury, 2009, 32 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book, Biography sort of
Intended Audience or Age: 4+

Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes

2009-06-23T09:19:00.001-07:00

What It's About: All around the world, babies are born with their ten little fingers and ten little toes. Even though our cultures are so different, we still have much in common.

Review: This rhyming picture book, filled with illustrations of happy babies from around the world, is sure to appeal to children and grown-ups alike. The rhythm moves steadily and the rhymes are pleasing. Children will enjoy the repetition of the phrase "ten little fingers and ten little toes", and parents can point out their child's own fingers and toes as they read along. This lovely picture book is a perfect celebration of the beauty of babies and life.

Author: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Harcourt Children's Books, 2008, 40 pages
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Birth and up!

Jellaby: Monster in the City

2009-06-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

What It's About: In this sequel, Portia and Jason take Jellaby to the city to find a way to get him home.

Review: Jellaby, a loveable and friendly monster, has grown attached to Portia, the girl who discovered him in the woods next to her house. He follows her into the city, as she seeks a way to get him home. The sequel is a balanced complement to the first book, and children will enjoy the soothing pastel lavender tones brightened with small touches of yellow-orange. More than a simple rescue story about a little monster, this book delves deep into Portia's issues of abandonment by her father and her efforts to rescue Jellaby mirror her efforts to rescue herself from her loneliness.

Author: Kean Soo
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Hyperion Books, 2009, 172 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Intended Audience or Age: 6 years and up

No Talking

2009-06-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

What It's About: In this Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee, a rowdy class of 5th graders decides to compete, boys against girls, to see who can talk the least for two days straight.

Review: Loved it! This would be a great story for a class to read and try themselves. It's about a boy who reads about Ghandi, and his nonviolent resistance movement, and how he had one day a week when he didn't speak. So the boy decides to try it himself, and it quickly turns into a competition between all the boys in his class against all the girls in his class. No talking, for two days. If a adult asks you a question, you have 3 words to answer. Every word after that counts as a point against your team.
The bitter rivalry eventually becomes a united front when the kids' actions disturb the principal. Even though she has been asking them to be quiet for years, their sudden silence troubles her and she commands them to speak. The kids work together to keep their competition alive, and learn about the value of listening and teamwork in the process.

Author: Andrew Clements
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Simon and Schuster, 2007, 146 pages
Format and/or Genre: Realistic Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: 8-12 years

Wintergirls

2009-05-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

What It's About: In a short period of time, Lia's world falls apart. Her grandma dies. Her parents get divorced. Her dad remarries. To cope, Lia finds stability in her ability to control what she eats, when she eats it, and how much she intakes. Lia's world continues to crumble when she receives terrible news about her best friend. How she handles the pressure sends her to the brink of sanity and life.

Review: Phew. This intense story of a girl in crisis kept me on the edge of my seat. Anderson effectively tours the inner mind of an anorexic girl, and helps us readers understand how a girl can reach the point of self-destruction through starvation. Amazing and disturbing, Wintergirl deserves our attention. Could be a great tool for families with a child suffering from eating disorders, high school-aged and above reading groups, and possibly recovery groups. Heads-up: Mature themes also include drinking, cutting.

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Viking, 2009, 278 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Teen
Intended Audience or Age: 12+

Shooting the Moon

2009-05-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Jamie, 12-year-old daughter of an Army colonel, loves everything about Army life and is fascinated by the glory of soldiers in war. When her older brother, TJ, enlists and goes to Vietnam, Jamie is proud and excited, until she begins to learn about the darker sides of battle.

Review: In this small book, Dowell presents us with a main character who sees things in black and white (dad is in the army, so the army and war must be good), but begins to transition her viewpoint when faced with a situation that is full of grays (brother goes to war, but dad doesn't want him to go). Dowell's apt use of the photography theme, with the girl developing her brother's photos from the front line in Vietnam, lends itself well to helping the girl see her world in a new way.

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008, 163 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Historical Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 10+

Madam President

2009-04-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Katy is obsessed with the office of the presidency and humorously shares what is involved in holding such an important position.

Review: There are two things about this book that I just loved: the spunk of the main character, Katy, and the illustrations, which are packed with extras. I first fell in love with Lane Smith's work when I read The Happy Hocky Family years ago. He never fails to disappoint. Katy marches through the pages, her head held high, her face beaming the confidence that only the person holding the highest office in the land can have. She negotiates peace (between a cat and a dog), she holds a press conference and says all the right things, and her toy shelves are full of her faithful cabinet members. This is a really fun read and one that you can return to multiple times.

Author: Lane Smith
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Hyperion, 2008, 40 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 4-8

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes

2009-04-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

What It's About: In this sequel to "Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little", Moxy must write twelve thank-you notes in order to visit her dad, who lives in Hollywood.

Review: Readers of the first Moxy book will enjoy her antics as she tries to get those pesky thank-you notes written. The drama unfolds as Moxy can't seem to do anything by herself; instead, she convinces her siblings and a friend from the neighborhood to do the hard work for her. She uses the copy machine that she's not supposed to touch, and she adds a fancy touch with gold spray paint, even though she's been told never to touch spray paint until she's 21 years old. When everything backfires on Moxy and havoc abounds, she must face her mother and that single terrifying word: consequences.
As an adult reader, I found the short chapter lengths (sometimes only a few sentences long) too choppy. However, I think young readers will love it, especially kids who are reluctant to jump into chapter books. The accompanying photographs, supplied by Moxy's brother, make you feel like the story really happened. While the character development doesn't advance much, we do learn a little more about Moxy's absent father, and we see some realization dawn on Moxy that perhaps her father is not the hero she has always made him out to be. Overall, a fun story. I look forward to seeing more Moxy Maxwell books come out in the future.

Author: Peggy Gifford
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Yearling, 2008, 192 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 9-12

The Name of This Book is Secret

2009-04-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

What It's About:
While investigating the mysterious death of a local magician, Cass and Max-Ernest encounter a strange box with vials containing different scents, a journal written in code, and a Secret wanted by the world's worst villians.

Review:
In the snarky style of Lemony Snicket, Bosch tells the story of a couple of outcast kids who courageously face evil villians and save the day. Cass is being raised by her single mother. She always carries an emergency kit in her backpack, just in case. She is quick to alert parents and teachers about possible emergencies, creating a "boy who cried wolf" effect, so that they don't listen when a real emergency occurs. Max-Ernest wants nothing more than to be a comedian, so he tells jokes all day long. The kids at school find his jokes annoying, and so he is tagged an outcast. Cass and Max-Ernest become friends when they collaborate to solve the mystery of a local magician's death. In the process, they grow and begin to understand themselves in a whole new way.
What makes this story especially unique is how the author regularly talks to the reader, telling him/her how the story ought to go, if it were a proper story, then going on to explain how it didn't go that way at all. Much is kept secret, including the book's title, so that readers are intrigued to read on and become privy. More fun can be had at the official website, and by catching the sequel, "If You're Reading This, It's Too Late."

Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Publisher, Year, and Number of Pages: Little, Brown Young Readers, 2008, 384 pgs.
Format and/or Genre: Juvenile Fiction - Mystery / Adventure
Intended Audience or Age: Ages 9-12

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

2009-04-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

What It's About: All naked mole rats prefer to be naked...all except one. Meet Wilbur, a fully clothed naked mole rat. Can he convince the colony that getting dressed really is a good thing to do?

Mo Willems, the genius behind popular picture book characters Knuffle Bunny and the pigeon, creates hilarity again with Wilbur, the naked mole rat. Older children will enjoy the irony of a naked mole rat who wants to get dressed, and they will laugh as the naked mole rats in the colony shout, "Eeeeew!" when Wilbur wears clothes.
I appreciate the messaged delivered on the final pages. Whereas most children's picture book would end with everyone putting on clothes and deciding it was best after all, Willems shows some naked mole rats deciding to wear clothing, and some prefering to remain naked. Either way, it's okay.
Fans of Willems previous books will not be disappointed.

Author: Mo Willems
Publisher, Date, and Number of Pages: Hyperion Book, 2009, unpaged
Format and/or Genre: Picture Book
Intended Audience or Age: 7-12

On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!

2008-11-12T14:11:00.001-08:00

In this work for younger boys, Madaras addresses the primary questions most boys have as they approach and enter puberty. Madaras' frank, caring tone can quickly win over even the shyest of readers, and it establishes trust with the skeptical ones. The layout is visually attractive, with comical drawings of boys in different situations and with respectful drawings of male anatomy. Madaras covers all the basics: growth spurts in height, hair growth, body odor, voice changes, and changes to the penis and testicles. She provides a wealth of accurate information, without overwhelming younger boys with too much information; parents can feel confident that the info is appropriate for the intended audience.

* Full Title: On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow! : A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Boys
* Author or Creator: Lynda Madaras
* Publisher and number of pages: Newmarket Press, 123 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
* Intended audience or age: Boys ages 8-12

Children of the Great Depression

2008-10-13T19:55:00.003-07:00

With moving narrative and photographs on every page, Freedman reveals the difficult times of the Great Depression as experienced by children. Children suffered; Freedman shows how they were pulled in and out of schools, how they performed manual labor in the fields with their parents, how their health was affected by illness and lack of nourishment, and how they had to deal with the change of mobility, looking for a hopeful future. This thorough account shows the great strength of will and character that many children displayed while witnessing their parents struggle to survive and provide.
Older children who prefer true stories will become enveloped by the moving accounts and direct quotations from people now grown, recalling their childhood experience. The outstanding photographs tell stories of their own, and readers can spend hours interpreting the scenes. An index aides young researchers in tracking down particular aspects of the Great Depression. Highly recommended for all public and school libraries.

* Author: Russell Freedman
* Publisher and number of pages: Clarion Books, 118 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
* Intended audience or age: 10-12

Kids Make History: A New Look at America's Story

2008-10-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

Buckley and Leacock bring American history to life in this compact account of 20 different events. Sure to have appeal with young history fans, this book focuses on the roles that children have played in making history. Each two-page spread is devoted to a different story, and though the text is compact, the in-text citations referring readers to different scenes in the illustrations keep them from losing interest. Stories range from a girl named Pocahontas visiting the newcomers to a boy named Jukay helping rescue workers on 9/11. The stories are moving; even though each entry is primarily focused on a major event, the details about daily, "normal" life are communicated subtly and respectfully.

* Authors: Susan Buckley and Elspeth Leacock
* Publisher and number of pages: Houghton Mifflin, 48 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Juvenile Non-Fiction
* Intended audience or age: Ages 9-12

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums

2008-10-13T19:54:00.002-07:00

In such a short amount of pages, this book actually contains a wealth of information about teeth! It begins with general knowledge about teeth, explaining the different kinds. From there, it builds to teaching children about why teeth fall out normally (typical development), and why they might fall out accidentally (not caring for them correctly or through injury). The book is thorough and packed and useful information for kids. It might be helpful for parents whose children argue about the usefulness of brushing twice a day. Additionally interesting are the fun facts from history inserted to help kids compare tooth care today to tooth care in the past.
The computer-generated illustrations are colorful and positive, creating a feel-good vibe about the topic. While it could be read all in one sitting, I suspect there is so much information that parents and kids will need to revisit it a couple of times.
Near the end, a page of "don'ts" with your teeth seems a bit overwhelming, especially compared to the opposing page of "do's". In all, though, the book is informative and visually appealing, sure to make the most reticent of tooth brushers think twice before skipping their daily ritual.
As a small sidenote, I'm not sure why the list of recommended websites at the end includes Colgate, and not any other major toothpaste manufacturer.

* Author: Edward Miller
* Publisher and number of pages: Holiday House, 32 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Non-fiction work on a single topic
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

Isaac Newton

2008-10-13T19:54:00.001-07:00

Most children learn only a few things about the famous Isaac Newton: they know he got hit on the head by an apple and that helped him develop the theory of gravity, and they know he came up with some other really important theories about math. This fantastic book goes into greater depth, revealing Newton's struggle as an abandoned child, his anti-social ways, his rise to scholarship despite having little means, and his eventual acceptance as the one individual who has contributed the most to science.

Krull writes in a language that children will find accessible; she often relates things from Newton's day to things the modern child would be familiar with. She paints a portrait of a very interesting individual, and she unsparingly notes both his best qualities and his worst. A short bibliography and list of websites at the end will entice readers to learn even more.

* Author or Creator: Kathleen Krull
* Publisher and number of pages: Viking Books, 126 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Biography
* Intended audience or age: Ages 10-14

The Brothers' War: Civil War Voices in Verse

2008-10-13T19:53:00.001-07:00

This amazing collection of poetry brings to life the people who lived during the time of the Civil War in the United States. In each poem, Lewis takes on a new voice, sometimes a slave, sometimes a soldier or family member, sometimes a famous leader. The poems are printed in black on a background of gold, and each opposing page depicts an actual black and white photograph from the time period. These colors establish the overall tone of the book: serious, somber. Readers will need to progress slowly through the pages, as they reflect on the meaning of the poems and as they read the accompanying description of the particular battle or person with which the poem is associated. The verses are compelling, and since each poem stands alone, the book is something that can be put down and returned to, and the heavy subject matter may require that the reader do just that.
Not for younger children, this book shows images of dead soldiers on the field and survivors posing with their wounds or amputations. The final pages support the poems by providing a timeline of events for the Civil War and the author's explanation for each of his poems.
This is a compelling book, appealing for adults as well, and would be useful in the classroom, in any public or school library, and in the hands of independent learners with a special interest in the Civil War.

* Author: J. Patrick Lewis
* Publisher and number of pages: National Geographic Society, 48 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Non-fiction, poetry
* Intended audience or age: 10-14 yrs.

Eggs

2008-10-13T19:52:00.001-07:00

In this story, Spinelli spins the tale of two unlikely friends, kids who help themselves grow up a little bit, because neither has much in the way of parental supervision. David is a cautious, rule-following nine-year-old boy who is grieving for his recently deceased mother and whose father works far away in the city, and Primrose is a free-thinking 13-year-old girl who has never known her father whose mother is self-absorbed. The two of them meet randomly, begin to hang out, and from the platonic friendship they find comfort, as well as a place to take out their frustrations.
I think Spinelli's strengths lie in creating believable characters that you want to root for. In this story, young readers will be able to relate to David and Primrose's feelings of isolation from other schoolchildren, and to feeling misunderstood by adults. Spinelli identifies that place in adolescence where you're caught between acting like a child and acting like an adult; David and Primrose waffle back and forth, taking turns being the more responsible "adult figure" for the other.
Spinelli masterfully places adults all around the children whose level of commitment and caring varies from the children's perspectives. In Refrigerator John, they find an adult friend from outside their families who enjoys their company. As the story progresses, David eventually warms up to the grandmother who has been trying to care for him all along, and Primrose finds a way to make amends with her mother and move back in her house.
The plot is primarily character-driven, so there are a few instances where it seems to stall momentarily, but Spinelli brings in something new and rescues it each time. The end is satisfying and the overall message an encouraging one.

* Author: Jerry Spinelli
* Publisher and number of pages: Little, Brown, 220 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Tween Realistic Fiction
* Intended audience or age: 8-12

Skeleton Man

2008-10-13T19:50:00.002-07:00

* What It's About:
One night, Molly's parents don't come home on time. After waiting for them for days, authorities give her to a creepy uncle she never knew existed. But Molly keeps having dreams...and these dreams just might lead her to find her parents and learn the truth about her captor.

Skeleton Man received the Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Readers Choice Award in 2004. It's a suspenseful story about a girl named Molly whose parents have been abducted, and their abductor then poses as her uncle in order to take custody of her. Molly doesn't know for sure what has happened to her parents, but she can definitely tell that something isn't right about this "uncle", even when the adults in her life tell her everything is fine. Molly has one human friend in this story, her teacher, whose reassuring presence helps readers believe that things will be alright for Molly in the end. Still, Molly must solve the mystery of her parents' disappearance and free herself from her captor on her own, and she does it with the help of her dreams. She comes to rely on her dreams to lead her to the answers. This story is a real page-turner with lots of suspense. I would recommend it for kids who are tired of the Goosebumps series but still want to be scared. It's right up there with Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Skeleton Man is loosely based on a Native American story that the author grew up hearing; he wrote it to fit a modern-day scenario. Kids will be staying up late into the night to finish the story and make sure Molly is okay in the end.

* Author: Joseph Bruchac
* Publisher and number of pages: HarperCollins,
* Format and/or genre: Fiction
* Intended audience or age: 10+

Rowan of Rin

2008-10-13T19:50:00.001-07:00

*spoiler alert*
Overall, I think this book serves as a great introduction to the fantasy genre. It reminded me a little bit of The Hobbit, with a group that must go on a dangerous journey on a mountain, a dragon that must be faced at the end, several magical moments along the way, and a character that is perceived as weak but ultimately proves to be the strongest. Sometimes the dialogue lags as the group journeys, but then another perilous moment occurs and keeps the story moving. As an adult reading this story, I found a couple of scenarios kind of corny. For example, the author chose not to kill off any characters, so they were frightened away from their journey by phobias to spiders, enclosed spaces, etc.
The character of Rowan is established as meak and fearful, but he does prove to be the bravest in the end, and the reader learns that having fear doesn't automatically make you weak. For Rowan, a healthy dose of fear kept him cautious and ultimately successful. Kids who feel out of control in their lives or unable to accomplish something may be inspired by Rowan's success and the accolades he receives from the village when he saves the day.

* Author: Emily Rodda
* Publisher and number of pages: Harper Trophy, 176 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Fantasy
* Intended audience or age: 8-12 years

Cam Jansen: The Tennis Trophy Mystery

2008-10-13T19:49:00.001-07:00

This book could be considered a first chapter book for kids, or perhaps just one step past a first chapter book, since the lines of text are tighter together. It's part of series about a girl named Cam (short for Camera), who has a photographic memory and likes to solve mysteries. The mystery in this particular story is laid out pretty quickly, and Cam and her friends don't waste any time as they try to track down the thief of the tennis trophy. The setting takes place entirely at school, in one afternoon. While Cam is the focus of the story, her two friends and a few teachers play strong roles as well. There is never much fear about the thieves; the author focuses on finding the solution rather than on playing on the suspense of their being a bad guy out there somewhere.
While the plot moved along well enough, I thought it still seemed pretty boring and predictable. I didn't find Cam's teacher, Ms. Benson, to be all that believable: she didn't really reprimand them for passing notes in class, and she stayed after school to help them solve the mystery, offering to drive them home herself afterward. Most teachers don't have that kind of time. Also, at the end of the story, two teachers compete in a spontaneous game of tennis to determine who really deserves the trophy, and somehow half the town comes to watch, even though it was last minute and unadvertised. But that's my adult mind trying to make sense of a simple mystery for kids.
Overall, it was well-written and the main character is likeable, so young readers who like mysteries will probably enjoy it.

* Author: David A. Adler
* Publisher and number of pages: Viking Books, 57 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Juvenile fiction, mystery
* Intended audience or age: Ages 7-10

Princess Ellie's Mystery (Pony-Crazed Princess Series)

2008-10-13T19:48:00.001-07:00

What It's About:
Princess Ellie is determined to solve the mystery of the ghost in the dark woods, but when a Prince visits from afar and her parents insist she entertain him for a week, Ellie fears she won't solve the mystery or get to ride her ponies until he leaves!

*spoiler alert*
It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. How's that for a review? :) Obviously, this series is aimed primarily at little girls who love all things pony and all things princess. The writing style wasn't too bad, though. Structurally, the story held together and flowed well. Readers will relate to Princess Ellie's problem: wanting to do one thing but being told to do another by one's parents. Horse lovers will enjoy the details about horse riding that are weaved into the story. I think my only big critique of the book is that it ended too abruptly. They solved the mystery in the last chapter, but then it felt to me like it needed one more chapter to fully resolve and send the Prince on his way back home. In all, I think it will encourage horse-loving readers to keep reading, and that's a good thing.

* Author: Diana Kimpton
* Publisher and number of pages: Hyperion, 83 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Series book for kids
* Intended audience or age: 6-9 years

Tabby Cat's Scarf

2008-10-13T19:47:00.001-07:00

What It's About:
Silly Tabby Cat! No matter how hard he tries, twisting and pulling the yarn, he can't make a scarf that looks the same as Mommy's!

This is a great book for beginning readers. The bright, colorful illustrations are so inviting, and each illustration supports the one line of text on its page very well. Root uses repetitive phrases to describe Tabby Cat's actions, and the only part that changes is the verb. "Tabby Cat finds the yard. Tabby Cat grabs the yarn. Tabby Cat pulls the yarn." And so on. With that kind of controlled vocabulary, a new reader will gain confidence to finish the story in one sitting, and again, the illustrations will have them giggling as Tabby Cat gets all tangled up.
Also helpful are the instructional portions on the front and back inside covers, aimed at parents who are helping their child learn to read.

* Author or Creator: Phyllis Root
* Publisher and number of pages: Candlewick Press, 9 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Early Reader, part of the Brand New Readers series
* Intended audience or age: 4-6 years

Frank and the Balloon

2008-10-13T19:46:00.004-07:00

What It's About:
Parent and child share the joy of reading by taking turns reading to each other, as they enjoy the story of Frank the Frog and his exciting ride on a balloon.

I really like the concept of the parent and child taking turns reading. There are illustrations on every page, and below each illustration, the text. The left page is for the parent, so there is more text and that's what keeps the story moving along. The right page is for the child to read, and since this particular title in the "We Both Read" series is for K-1, there are only one or two words per page for the child. I think this format encourages the parent to role model for the child and for both parties to be very involved in the process of reading the story. I like how the text for the parents has bolded words that later show up in the child's text, alerting the parent that it's a word they can emphasize and even point to while they read. As for the story itself? It was kind of lacking in plot. The frog finds a helium balloon, grabs the string, and takes a flying ride while his friend looks on and shouts for him to come down. Frog rescues a kitten stuck in a tree and floats back down. The colorful illustrations are attractive enough and the story is short enough that it doesn't need an intense plot. Young children will probably enjoy the frog's antics enough to to read to the end.

* Author or Creator: Dev Ross
* Publisher and number of pages: Treasure Bay, 44 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: We Both Read series, where the left page is for the adult to read and the right side is for the child to read
* Intended audience or age: 4-7 years

Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole

2008-10-13T19:46:00.003-07:00

What It's About: After Mole discovers that the traveling magician is a fraud, Mouse puts on her own magic show for him, to prove that magic is real.

This early chapter book is best for readers that feel pretty comfortable reading independently, are looking for a good story, but still needing more space between the lines and plenty of illustrations. Yee does a fabulous job of presenting two characters that you'll fall in love with right away. Mole and Mouse are utterly adorable and their friendship warms the heart. Yee's illustrations are perfectly fitting and serve to enhance the story rather than detract from it. He captures the same heartwarming tone as the Frog and Toad series, and introduces some enriching vocabular to boot. Last, I must comment on the quality of the book itself...the pages are smooth and the white space is crisp. This is a book that is just plain pleasurable to hold, touch, read, and share together.

* Author: Wong Herbert Yee
* Publisher and number of pages: Houghton Mifflin, 48 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Early chapter book for beginning readers
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach

2008-10-13T17:02:00.001-07:00

What It's About:
Scaredy Squirrel bravely takes a trip to a dangerous beach to acquire a seashell, so that he can re-create his own, safe beach at home.

This is the third book in which Scaredy Squirrel has made an appearance. He's friendly and full of smiles, but also full of fear...of everything! Kids will be able to relate to being afraid, but will also find his extreme methods of self-protection quite funny. Pastel illustrations don't compete with the sometimes busy spreads, demonstrating and labeling Scaredy's safety measures. The plot moves along quickly enough, and Scaredy's travels to the beach are satisfying, as he discovers that the real beach isn't so bad after all. This book is able to stand alone without requiring that the reader have read the other Scaredy Squirrel books. In fact, it may be more enjoyable for someone who isn't familiar with his antics. Returning readers might find the plot too similar to previous stories to be engaging.

* Author: Melanie Watt
* Publisher and number of pages: Kids Can Press, 32 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Picture Book, talking animal
* Intended audience or age: 4-8 yrs

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County

2008-10-13T17:00:00.002-07:00

What It's About: A farm girl can't resist chasing the chickens, until she discovers her favorite one nesting with eggs and chicks, and she changes her mind.

What a delight! The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County is a girl who just can't help herself, even when Big Mama tells her no. She sneaks out into the farmyard, hiding behind wheel barrows and stalking the chickens. Readers immediately connect with her vivacious spirit and root for her to catch those chickens. Her smile is wide and the collage-style of the illustrations makes for some really beautiful chickens, worth catching! Readers will get a kick out of the girl's original voice and as the plot moves along, they will agree with her decision to stop chasing chickens when she comes upon a hen on a nest with eggs and chicks all around. Finally, our wild chicken-chasing queen settles down to watch and gains the trust of the chicken. This joyful story deserves to be read many times over. Harrington's colorful paintings combined with collage make the girl dance across the page and totally bring her character to life.

* Author: Janice N. Harrington
* Publisher and number of pages: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 40 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Realistic picture book, an ALA Notable Book for children
* Intended audience or age: 4-8 years

Flotsam

2008-10-13T17:00:00.001-07:00

What It's About: A boy playing on the beach finds an underwater camera and discovers a whole world of life beneath the water, and a history of flotsam finders is revealed.

Wow. Wiesner is a genius. This Caldecott winner happens to be a wordless story as well, and rightfully so, because the illustrations need no text. The reader is drawn in immediately to the bright, sunny day on the beach, and when the boy finds an underwater camera washed ashore, the plot moves quickly as he develops the film and looks at the pictures. Each page reveals one of the developed photographs, sharing an unknown, magical world undersea. The plot continues to intrigue when the boy finds a photograph of a person, holding a photograph of a person, holding a photograph of a person, and so on. A true flotsam explorer, the boy uses a magnifying glass and then a microscope to delve deeper into the photographs. The plot reaches a satisfying conclusion when the boy drops in a new roll of film and adds his photo (holding the last photo) to the history of the camera and then a sneaker wave takes it all. Wiesner uses his signature techniques (known to us especially from his other Caldecott-winning book, The Three Pigs) and offers a stunning story. This is one picture book that can be viewed over and over again, as new details emerge each time.

* Publisher and number of pages: Clarion Books, 40 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Caldecott winning picture book
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

Carnival of Animals

2008-10-13T16:58:00.001-07:00

What It's About:
Based on a new ballet by the New York City Ballet, this rhyming book tells the story of a boy who takes a field trip to the museum with his class, falls asleep and is left behind to dream of all the animals coming alive.

Perhaps two main things prevented me from enjoying this picture book very much: I never flew to New York to see the ballet by the same title, and I wasn't able to listen to the accompanying CD because it was missing from the library's copy of the book. Because I think rhyming books are best read aloud, I did speak the words to myself, but still, I couldn't grasp the story very well or see where it was headed. A boy lags behind at the museum during a class field trip, he falls asleep, and he dreams of all the creatures in the museum coming alive, and taking on partial forms of people he knows: his schoolmates, teacher, nurse, librarian, mother, and so on. In the end, the boy is found and returned to his mother and the beasts have been "released" thanks to him. I can appreciate the nonsensical silliness of it, much like Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, or Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes. And the format of the poem and the rhymes is superb. However, the vocabulary and many of the references are beyond most children, and some even beyond most adults. Just what is Folies Bergere? (Google, tell me!) I'm all for the introduction of new vocabulary, but too many new words, in a fast-paced rhyming format, and I'm lost. All that to say, I love Lithgow's other children's books, and I think this is just a special tribute to his work with the New York City Ballet. Anyone connected with the production and anyone who attended the show will probably delight in this book.

* Author: John Lithgow
* Publisher and number of pages: Simon and Schuster, 40 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Rhyming story
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding

2008-10-13T16:52:00.002-07:00

What It's About: Jenny's favorite uncle is getting married, and she's not ready to give him up. This story tells about the day of his wedding and how Jenny copes.

Lenore Look and Yumi Heo have created an outstanding work depicting a wedding day in a modern Chinese family. Readers will learn about many of the traditions that have carried forward to today, as well as some that have not. Look's narration, through the eyes of a young girl, make it easy to sympathize with her plight of feeling left out. There are moments where the illustrations convey it so well: Jenny is painting as a small, sad figure in the bottom corner and her uncle and future aunt are happy, covering an entire two-page spread. There are many details in the text that could be distracting, like the name of a band they danced to at the wedding, but altogether these very details create a unique picture of the day and help readers outside of this culture to feel more connected. My only critique is that the entire story shows how much Jenny feels left out of the day, but then in the last two pages the author brings her into the story and she decides to be happy. I felt that moved too fast and could have been spread out over a couple more pages.

* Author: Lenore Look
* Publisher and number of pages: Atheneum Books, 40 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Realistic picture book
* Intended audience or age: 4-8 years

Captain Raptor and the Space Pirates

2008-10-13T16:52:00.001-07:00

What It's About: Captain Raptor is called on to save the planet Jurassica from evil space pirates.

*spoiler alert* For readers who love this genre, I'm sure this is an exciting and fun picture book to read. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but neither do I watch Star Wars or Star Trek or anything of that nature. But I can appreciate it as an excellent story for kids who love the genre. It has some complex vocabulary, so it's intended for older children, or for adults to read to younger kids. Also, there are some intense action sequences, so parents should use caution before reading it to very young children. There are many common elements of an action/suspense story with one hero saving his people from the bad guys: It begins with an "all is well on planet Jurassica" page, until "Boom!" the enemy attacks. Havoc reigns in this dinosaur civilization until they remember who they nee to call...Captain Raptor! He sets out with his "fearless crew" to defeat the evil pirates who have stolen the planet's gold. A repeated phrase throughout the story is, "Could this be the end of Captain Raptor?" The high quality illustrations toggle between full page spreads and a comic book layout. Text is set apart in solid square bubbles. All text is in capital letters.
I think fans of this genre will absolutely enjoy O'Malley and O'Brien's collaboration. It's exciting, fast-moving, and the hero wins in the end, and sets off on other space adventures. The vocabulary is frequently difficult, but a motivated reader will follow the storyline by the illustrations and stumble through the big words. On a sidenote, the book is enjoyable to hold. The pages shine and have a very slight grainy feel to them. The paper is firm, the binding tight, so this book will surely stand up to multiple readings upon readings.

* Author: Kevin O'Malley and Patrick O'Brien
* Publisher and number of pages: Walker and Company, 32 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

The Neighborhood Mother Goose

2008-10-13T16:51:00.004-07:00

What It's About: Mother Goose rhymes have entertained and educated young readers for years. Now join Nina Crews as she sets these familiar rhymes to an urban spin that brings Mother Goose alive for today.* Author or Creator: Nina Crews

In only 64 pages, Crews manages to pack dozens of Mother Goose rhymes, some familiar favorites and some lesser known rhymes. She sets each rhyme against a photographic backdrop where the reader sees children acting it out. The book has an other-worldly nature, as often the children appear to be spliced into the picture; they are part of it and yet, they are coming off the page from somewhere else.
Young readers will be drawn to those photos of real children just like them. They will relate to the the modern images, like the cupcake with a single candle on top as the setting for "Jack be Nimble".

* Publisher and number of pages: Amistad Press, 64 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Mother Goose picture book
* Intended audience or age: 3+

Time Flies

2008-10-13T16:51:00.003-07:00

What It's About:
As the title suggests, this pictorial work reflects on the nature of time, as a bird seamlessly swoops from a museum filled with dinosaur skeletons into a world in which dinosaurs once lived.

I have never paid close attention to a wordless book before, and I am stunned by how much can be said without the text. Rohmann leaves viewers/readers breathless as they follow the graceful movements of a simple bird, flying through an old museum and into a world of living dinosaurs. The illustrations, though dealing with the harsh subject of huge, voracious dinosaurs, are soft and comforting. The story has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with enough suspense to tempt you to turn the pages too quickly in an effort to find a resolution and make sure the beautiful, simple bird survives its tour of the ancient world.

* Author: Eric Rohmann
* Publisher and number of pages: Crown Publishers, 32 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Wordless picture book
* Intended audience or age: 5-8 years

Count and See

2008-10-13T16:51:00.001-07:00

What It's About: Look all around you and you'll find all kinds of things to count and see. They're all a part of your everyday world!

Tana Hoban's books are considered classics of concept books. Even though her photographs are in black and white, they will still appeal to kids today. In this particular picture book, Hoban arranged photographs that represent numbers. One fire hydrant, two children, three school buses, and so on. Her success lies in her ability to depict items that children are already familiar with, and to photograph them plainly, without much else in the photo to distract. Each photo takes up the right side of the book, while the opposing page on the left is all black, with the number printed in white. Below the number is its name, spelled out. And on the far right of the black page, near the crease, the number is represented in dots. The book progresses from one through fifteen, at which point it jumps to twenty, and then by tens to fifty, and the final page shows one hundred peas in pods. My only critique of this book is that I wish it just went one through ten, or one through twenty. I think the way she jumped numbers is a bit confusing. Overall, though, I highly recommend this title for any public library.

* Author: Tana Hoban
* Publisher and number of pages: Simon and Schuster, 40 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Picture book (concept book)
* Intended audience or age: 3-7 years

The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z!

2008-10-13T16:50:00.001-07:00

What It's About:The ever-funny Steve Martin produces a hilarious rhyming look at every letter in the alphabet.

When celebrities publish children's picture books, I often scoff and look the other way. It's my way of making myself feel superior. But seriously, they are often poorly written stories that only get published because of the celebrity's name and the potential to make money off of it. I think that's NOT the case with Steve Martin's alphabet book. It is clear that he has painstakingly revised and edited each entry to create the most succinct two lines of poetry containing the most words beginning with the given letter as humanly possible. Take, for example, the letter O: "Old Ollie the owl owed Owen an oboe, but instead bought him oysters at Osgood's in Soho." Each letter's poem is then illustrated in a Far Side-esque manner by Roz Chast. Adults and older kids alike will enjoy the extra jokes thrown into the illustrations. In the illustration for the letter O, we see Owen standing in the store, hands on his hips, saying, "That owl better have my oboe." Meanwhile, in the foreground, the owl is picking out the oysters and saying, "He'll never know the difference." Additionally, each illustration is packed full of things that begin with the given letter.
I think this zany alphabet book is best read in the hands of a child who is already comfortable with letter knowledge. It's a great "next step" book for the older child; it adds in the element of rhyme and multiple sounds from one letter.

* Author: Steve Martin
* Publisher and number of pages: Flying Dolphin Press, 52 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Picture book (alphabet book)
* Intended audience or age: 4-8 years

Weedflower

2008-10-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

What It's About: When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Sumiko and her family are forced to abandon their flower farm and live in an internment camp.

This second novel by Kadohata is a beautiful and moving coming-of-age story of a young girl from a Japanese family, living in America at the onset of World War II. Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Sumiko is not necessarily widely accepted at her American public school, but she has the security of her extended family and the work to be done on their flower farm to keep her busy and happy. After the bombing, her life drastically changes and she must learn to cope with these changes while trying to understand why they are happening.
Kadohata does a beautiful job of describing the setting during this time period, and the mentality of a Japanese family undergoing terrible prejudice within the society they love and embrace. It is easy to become quickly connected to Sumiko and the members of her family, and it's fascinating to watch how they change throughout the story. Kadohata helps the reader understand the mentality of someone in their position: the fear of the unknown, the desire to be trusted by your government, the shame of any misbehavior that is ingrained in Japanese culture. Due to its length and subject matter, this is a novel for older children, and one that would be great to read with an adult so that parents and children could explore the topic together and talk about the major themes.

* Author: Cynthia Kadohata
* Publisher and number of pages: Athenuem Books, 260 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Historical Fiction
* Intended audience or age: 10ish

Bumperboy Loses His Marbles!

2008-10-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

What It's About: In this graphic novel for young readers, Bumperboy really has lost his marbles, and he and Bumperpup set off to find them before the big marble tournament.

Debbie Huey's design format for Bumberboy is clean and easy to follow. She introduces a number of characters in quick succession, but readers can clearly tell the difference between them. The story moves along at a quick clip, with Bumperboy traveling to several different worlds to find his marbles, and this keeps things interesting for young readers. Children will enjoy Huey's made-up words, like Onomatoland, borp, and Peevo. The ending is satisfying, as is the bonus comic for readers who want just a little more.
My only major critique of the work is that I'm not sure how many children today can relate to playing marbles. Maybe Huey will inspire a new generation to try out the game.
- Author: Debbie Huey
- Publisher and number of pages: AdHouse Books, 96 pgs.
- Format and/or genre: Graphic novel
- Intended audience or age: Ages 7-9

Donuthead

2008-10-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a boy obsessed with being as safe as statistically possible, is required to rethink his approach to life when the new girl at school, a girl with a truly troubled life, develops a friendship with his mother.

The story of Donuthead revolves around the character development of one eleven-year-old boy, Franklin Delano Donuthead. The hilarity of his name is not beyond him, but the bizarre nature of his extreme need to be as safe as possible, is. Franklin is considered odd by adults and children alike, and is a loner at school. However, he is unaware of how his own actions have led him to that place. I think a lot of children will be able to relate to his being left out at school, and they will be rooting for him to figure out why.
The plot moves along well enough, as Donuthead's opposing character, Sarah Kervick , shows up as the new girl at school from a troubled home. Though she seems like just a bully at first, we learn that she's from a trouble home and can be a "normal" kid (according to Donuthead and herself) with a little attention and love. Since there isn't a huge, action-filled plot to capture the reader's attention, it's essential that we become attached to Donuthead early on in the story, and feel connected enough with him to want to see how he changes and grows. Stauffacher does a great job and proves herself worthy of writing a sequel.

* Author: Sue Stauffacher
* Publisher and number of pages: Alfred Knopf, 160 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Fiction
* Intended audience or age: 8-12 years

Jellaby

2008-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

* What It's About: Portia doesn't have many friends at school, but she has made a new friend in the woods behind her house: Jellaby! He's a friendly monster, and he's following her everywhere!

The story of Jellaby has a very warm tone to it. Most kids can relate to feeling left out at school, at one time or another, and they will understand how the main character, Portia, feels. When Portia meets some kind of friendly monster/dinosaur in the woods behind her house, she invites him inside, and they become friends. There are other themes in this storyline that many kids will relate to: Portia decides to hide her friend from her mother, she finds herself in the principal's office at school, she ends up in a situation where she is surrounded by bullies at school, and her parents have split up. This story is told from Portia's perspective, and as such it reveals some of the hidden thoughts that children have in these situations.
The tone of this story is also warm because the artist primarily uses varying shades of lavender in all the drawings, with only distinct moments of a warm orange to highlight a friend Portia made at school. I think the storyline moves along very cleanly. Each page is easy to follow and cleanly drawn, so young children can easily trace what is going on. Though Jellaby seems to be some kind of monster, his face is drawn in a friendly, vulnerable manner, so kids will warm up to him quickly. This volume ends with Portia trying to return Jellaby to safety, and the suspense will have kids asking for the next volume right away!

* Author: Kean Soo
* Publisher and number of pages: Hyperion Books for Children, 143 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Graphic novel
* Intended audience or age: Ages 10+

I Can...Me Too!

2008-10-10T23:32:00.001-07:00

* What It's About: This colorful board book is full of photographs of children showing what they can do. Children will enjoy responding to what each child can do by saying, "Me too!"

There are a number of qualities that I really like about this board book. I think the full color photographs are great, each one showing children and what they can do. Each page has one line of large text, located in the same place every time, that describes what they can do. "I can work hard", "I can be silly", I can help clean up", and "I can create" are but a few examples of their skills. The lower right hand corner of each page encourages the reader to respond with, "Me too!" This is great repetition, and I think a kind of early learning of narrative skills. The last page sports a small mirror so the child can see that he/she is just like the children in the book. It clearly conveys a very positive outlook on life.
Interestingly, the back cover contains a note to parents about the development of early literacy skills. Again, the color, the text, the repetition, the mirror...all lend themselves to creating a book that young children will want to return to again and again.

* Author: none listed
* Publisher and number of pages: School Specialty Publishing, 22 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Board Book
* Intended audience or age: Infants, toddlers, and their caregivers

Global Babies

2008-10-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

* What It's About: Global babies introduces young children to full color photographs of babies from all over the world, and teaches them that no matter where babies come from, they are all beautiful, special, and loved.

This amazing board book combines the work of over ten different photographers to create a beautiful presentation of babies from all over the world. Sixteen countries are represented, everywhere from the USA, to India, from Afghanistan, to Peru. Readers get to see not only what the babies themselves look like, but also the typical clothing from the featured countries. I appreciate how almost every picture shows the baby looking right out at you from the page. The text is minimal, so as not to distract from the photographs. In fact, the entire book is only one sentence, a small portion of which is written on each two-page spread! And at 6"x6", I think this is a perfect size for small hands.

* Author or Creator: Global Fund for Children
* Publisher and number of pages: Charlesbridge, 18 pgs.
* Format and/or genre: Board book
* Intended audience or age: Infants and toddlers and their caregivers

Wiggles Dance Party DVD

2008-10-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Get ready to dance joyfully as the Wiggles lead in some traditional and new songs for young children! This 40-minute DVD will entertain with songs about the family dog, driving in the car, and more!

The Wiggles Dance Party combines a number of popular Wiggles songs with some traditional tunes, adds magic tricks and a little bit of storytelling, to create a music-filled dance album for young children. The Wiggles have a background in early childhood development; they use their knowledge base to craft developmentally appropriate songs and skits. The use of primary colored shirts--a different color for each Wiggle--helps children distinguish between each man. The simple songs with repetitive choruses encourage young children to learn to sing along. And since this is a dance party, The Wiggles frequently encourage the children to interact with them and dance along. There are kids on the screen singing and dancing with them. For these reasons, the Wiggles Dance Party is a great album for children 4 and under.

However, as an adult, I found the DVD to be very difficult to watch all in one sitting. I grew annoyed by the pasted-on smiles that The Wiggles wear. As a music lover, it bothered me that they were obviously not playing the instruments that they held for the songs. The electric guitar and the electric keyboard weren't plugged in anywhere, and in most songs you could tell they were lip-syncing. If I were a parent with a Wiggles-loving child, I would probably have my child wear headphones to watch this DVD, so I didn't have to listen to it.

Publisher: Lyons / Hit Ent.

Format and/or genre: DVD

Intended audience or age: Early childhood (probably mostly up to age 4-5).

The Bottle Let Me Down: Songs for the Bumpy Wagon Ride

2008-10-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

What It's About: This high-quality compilation album presents traditional children's songs and newly written renditions by various artists playing in the style of American folk/country/bluegrass.

Children's music has changed a lot since the days of Raffi! Not that I have anything against Raffi per se, but I am pleased to see that music for children has grown in complexity, exposing kids to more involved instrumentation and lyrics.

A quick perusal of the liner notes will not immediately tip you off that this is a bluegrass/folk album. That being said, I will now state the obvious: If you don't appreciate folk/bluegrass, then you most likely will NOT enjoy this album. It's produced very well, though, so if you're interested in exposing your children to different kinds of music, in spite of your own dislike of folk/bluegrass, then this would be a great album to do it with. Just prepare yourself for that hokey element, made complete with the use of a variety of instruments: cowbells, banjos, tubas, saws, and more. :)

Families can sing along to familiar traditional songs like "On Top of Spaghetti" and "Turkey in the Straw". Learn some new songs, like "Sad and Dreamy (The Big 1-0)" and "Godfrey", a song about a "sickly, unemployed, amateur children's musician", rounded out with kids and young teens pitching in to sing the fast-paced, tongue-twisting chorus.

This album packs in a surprising total of 26 songs, all of which can probably not be tolerated by adults all in one sitting, but will certainly make it worth your money, and will be a CD you can return to on multiple occasions. Some of the selections are traditional stories set to music!

For those interested in the production details, this album was produced and mastered with high quality and care by sassy Bloodshot Records.

Author or Creator: Various artists
- Publisher: Bloodshot Records
- Format and/or genre: Music CD
- Intended audience or age: From the liner notes, "...for the amusement of children and arrested adolescents everywhere."

Putumyo Caribbean Playground

2008-10-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

What It's About: This joy-filled music from the Caribbean will inspire children of all ages to get up and dance!

I have yet to listen to a Putumayo CD that I don't like, and Caribbean Playground is no exception. Part of the award-winning Playground series, Caribbean Playground features lively, joyful music by a variety of artists from Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica, the USA, and more. Song titles point to interests of children, like "All Aboard", "Little Anancy", and "Great Big Boat", but adults would never know the difference, as the arrangements and album production have been mastered in the highest quality. :) This is the kind of relaxing, pleasing, carefree music that can be played in the background while you do housework, while the kids play, or while running errands in the car. Set it to repeat and enjoy the beat! Many of the songs on this album will expose children to the sounds of multiple languages. Listen as singers share in English, Spanish, and French. I particularly enjoyed the cover of "Three Little Birds" by Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band.

Author or Creator: Various artists

Publisher: Putumayo Kids

Format and/or genre: Music CD

Intended audience or age: Kids of many ages

Daddy Cuddles

2008-10-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

What It's About: Who can resist cuddling with endearing animal babies? Not their moms and dads! This reflection on how animals cuddle with one another will encourage human moms and dads to cuddle with their own little ones again and again.

The ever-successful team of Gutman and Hallensleben here provide a bright and colorful celebration of the love between parents and their children, with a particular focus on daddies. Whether they be furry or feathery, animal daddies love their children all the same and express their love through different kinds of cuddles. Monkeys playfully wrestle, tigers gently bump heads, and koalas babies ride on their father's backs. The final double-page spread of a son riding on his dad's back shows the similarity between human relationships and the animals here featured. It also recognizes and supports the active way that many fathers show love and cuddle with their children.
Young children will enjoy the highly visible, up-close paintings of different animals, as well as the repetition of the text. This book is sure to inspire much cuddling between human parents and children, and will provide an opportunity to act out the story, as they mimic the different ways that animals cuddle.

Author or Creator: Anne Gutman, ill. by Georg Hallensleben

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Number of pages: 14 pgs.

Format and/or genre: Board book

Intended audience or age: Infants, toddlers, and their caregivers

Your Personal Penguin

2008-10-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Brief Annotation: A whimsical book about a penguin who requests, through song, that a hippo be his friend. Accompanying MP3 file available for free download.

Boynton has won the hearts of many readers with her playful drawings and imaginative songs. In this title, she does not disappoint. The book can be read or sung. It revolves around a simple concept, that a penguin wants to be friends with a hippo, and he respectfully but persistently presents his best qualities, including his loyalty, his willingness to travel anywhere, and his earnest plea, "Look at these wings, so perfect to hold you." Rhyming text promotes phonological awareness. Boynton's simple line drawings keep the pages clean and easy to understand for young eyes and is perfectly appropriate for babies and toddlers. Readers will especially enjoy the opportunity to hear "Your Personal Penguin" sung by none other than Davy Jones of The Monkees. Check it out!

Author: Sandra Boynton
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Number of pages: 24 pgs.
Format and/or genre: Board book
Intended audience or age: Infants, toddlers, and their caregivers