Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Circus Ship by Chris van Dusen; Crow Call by Lois Lowry

Circus Ship by Chris van Dusen

Today, (ok, this evening. whatever) I'm looking at two books I really didn't expect to like or be interested in at all. But I was surprised and delighted by their awesomeness. First, Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen. Now, I know you are saying, "what? how can you not be a fan of the brilliance which is Dusen?" but my only exposure to this exuberant artist was through the one Mercy Watson book, which I read and reviewed for Cybils. You can probably sense a little "these pictures are cool, but what are they doing in a chapter book?" vibe going on there. Anyways. So, several people raved about Circus Ship, and it was on the front of the publisher's catalog and all, but somehow the cover just didn't really grab me. Plus, I had found out it rhymed. I am always suspicious of picture books that rhyme. So I waited until another library in our consortium had bought it and I borrowed it....and was wowed. The text has the perfect cadence and rhythm for reading aloud. Not too long, not too short. The rhymes are natural and unforced and skillfully weave dialogue and narrative together. The illustrations....ooooh. Van Dusen's glorious colors are all here, gleaming, sparkling, exploding off the page, even when dimmed by storms and menaced by evil villains. The slightly retro feel of the art skilfully gives the illustrations a realistic historical feel while the exuberant animals and bemused villagers place this fictionalized account of a real event firmly in fantasy land.

Verdict: Highly recommended, added to my order list, and onto the storytime roster!


ISBN: 978-0763630904; Published September 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library
Crow Call by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

The second story is a complete change of pace. I glanced at a few reviews for this and thought scornfully "we don't need any more memoir picture books, let the adults buy them for themselves. I buy books for kids". Plus, although I loved and read often Lowry's Number the Stars, I was deeply scarred by the forcible reading and truly puerile discussion of Lowry's Giver in an unbelievably boring and infantile "children's literature class" in college. Let me simply say that the professor had previously taught third grade and leave it at that. At least it gave me an idea of what high school students suffer in literature classes *shudder*. Anyways.

But the more positive reviews I saw, the more I thought "well, I should at least look at it." So I looked at it and was entranced. This picture book is definitely for older readers and listeners. The lengthy text and nuanced narrative will be difficult for preschoolers or even kindergarteners to follow. But older children who have the patience for a longer story and an appreciation of language will be a rapt audience for this book. The story is evocative and emotional, although the language is plain and almost stark. A small girl tries to reconcile her memories of her father with the stranger who has returned from war. Together, she and her father rebuild their relationship and reconnect. Simple and yet deeply moving, capturing the pain of separation, the fragility of family relationships, and the wonder of the natural world. The pervasive browns, greys, and strong earth tones of the illustrations recreate the somber landscape of early winter but manage to thread the hope of returning life and joy throughout the story.

Verdict: Beautiful and moving, highly recommended

ISBN: 978-0545030359; Published October 2009 by Scholastic; Borrowed from the library

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Spells by Emily Gravett



Emily Gravett always manages to surprise me. I couldn't wait any longer to see her newest picture book, Spells, and requested it from another library. It's just....fascinating! Let's see, how can I describe this without giving anything anyway?

A little green frog with a big imagination finds a magical surprise. The reader gets an even bigger surprise after choosing the best ending for the.....frog?
Another marvelous Emily Gravett masterpiece, complete with sly puns, unique construction, clever illustrations (take a close look at the black background in the light) and final delicious touch.

Verdict: If your library is firmly against any kind of flaps or "novelty", this won't be wanted, but try to get it anyways. Delightful fun!

ISBN: 1416982701; Published October 2009 by Simon & Schuster; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Monday, December 28, 2009

Fairy Tales: Persephone, Thumbelina, Snow White and The Snow Queen

In addition to re-reading all the Hardy Boys mysteries, I am reading with rapidity through the piles of accumulated library books stacked about my shelves. Here's a collection of fairy tales and myths I've been saving up to read and review.

This new version of Persephone, retold by Sally Pomme Clayton and illustrated by Virginia Lee has gorgeous illustrations but the text felt a little thin to me. It's a fairly simplified version of the myth with no reconstructions or additions. There's a short epilogue about how the myth - and pomegranates - figure in Greek society today.

Persephone retold by Sally Pomme Clayton, illustrated by Virginia Lee
ISBN: 978-0802853493; Published January 2009 by Eerdmans; Borrowed from the library
I scooped up this version of Thumbelina retold by Brian Alderson and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline because I enjoyed the illustrations in Lowry's Crow Call. The retelling is excellent, keeping the flavor of Andersen's original story while using updated and accessible language, but I was disappointed by the illustrations. Thumbelina, for some reason, made me think continously of Alice in Wonderland. Lisbeth Zwerger's illustrations remain my favorite.

Thumbelina retold by Brian Alderson, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
ISBN: 978-0763620790; Published October 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library


I've been looking for the "right" version of Three Billy Goats Gruff, the story I remember from when I was a child, and I'm pretty sure I've found it! It's the original story, complete with gory threats and troll-destruction at the end and full of Marcia Brown's colorful and vivid illustrations.

Sensitive parents may be horrified by the terrifying troll and his even more terrible fate, but if you choose to tell this story instead of reading it, you can soften the ending, depending on your audience. There's a reason this is a classic folk tale; it has a wonderful cadence and this is a great retelling.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown
ISBN: 978-0156901505; This edition published February 1991 by Sandpiper; Borrowed from the library; Added to my personal wishlist
I don't remember where I heard about this new version of Snow White but it's a lovely one. I love North South publisher's works (except for Pfister, but that's a whole 'nother issue) and this lovely fairy tale is no exception. Greban's illustration are lively and warm, perfectly complementing the original tale. Which, I am pleased to say, is included in its entirety, from Snow White's begging the huntsman for her life to the wicked queen's gruesome end.

I realized we had almost nothing on Snow White, so I'm looking forward to adding this deliciously weird tale (come on, if you really think about Snow White, it's seriously WEIRD)

Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Quentin Greban
ISBN: 978-0735822573; Published October 2009 by NorthSouth; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library
Finally, I have an old tale illustrated by Bernadette Watts. The Snow Queen was gorgeous; I am putting this on my wishlist of books I want for myself. Some parts of the story have been changed; I missed the full explanation of Kay's challenge with the ice blocks and felt that most of the flavor and personality of the little robber girl had been smoothed away, but the splendid beauty of the illustrations more than makes up for any minor deficiencies in the text. For those not familiar with the Snow Queen, it's a long and somewhat complicated quest tale, similar to East of the Sun, but full of Andersen's characteristic storytelling genius.

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, retold and illustrated by Bernadette Watts
ISBN: 978-1558587793; Published September 1997 by NorthSouth (out of print); Borrowed from the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Friday, December 18, 2009

Good Dog, Aggie by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank Dormer

Good Dog, Aggie is the sequel to Aggie and Ben: Three Stories, in which we meet a little boy and his cute - and often confused - pup Aggie.

In Aggie and Ben's three new chapter stories, Ben is struggling to teach Aggie to obey simple commands; sit and stay. Sometimes she gets it; more often she doesn't. Ben's patience and determination is matched only by Aggie's lovable stubborness. There are plenty of laughs but ultimately this is a story of love and perseverance.

Frank Dormer's pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations are full of unexpected shapes and colors, from an outragedely orange teacher to Ben's vibrant purple friend Mr. Thomas.

Verdict: Equally charming as a read-aloud, this quiet little series has staying power - I hope we'll be seeing more Aggie and Ben for a long time!

ISBN: 978-1570916458; Published February 2009 by Charlesbridge; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Elephant and Piggie (series) by Mo Willems

Well, here we are. Mo Willems. Three Elephant and Piggie books nominated for Cybils. What can I say? I mean, have you ever seen a bad review of Mo Willems? I didn't think so. And this first one here, Are You Ready to Play Outside? Geisel winner. I may not pay much attention to Newberys and stuff like that, but Geisels never go on our shelves....because they're always checked out. Well, I will try.

Just in case you thought Elephant was always uptight and Piggie was always flexible and fun....here's Piggie in a rage because of the rain while Elephant knows just how to adapt. Lovely clean lines, humor in each little squiggly eyebrow, and spot-on child voices.


Now in this story, Piggie is ready to teach Elephant a new skill. Elephant is not sure this is a good idea; but he's willing to try. And try. And try. Until it just doesn't work! Or does it?

Um...I need to say something else. Let's see.....well, on top of recommending Elephant and Piggie to rabid comic fans who want to start their kids out early, kids who want funny easy readers, kids who love Mo Willems picturebooks, parents who love Mo Willem's picturebooks....Elephant and Piggie make great duologues! They're my go-to books when teachers or kids need something simple that two kids can do. The dialogue is all there - all you need to add is expression!

Ah, now my favorite. Still my favorite despite having read it twenty or more times at my summer reading promotions last May. I have the whole thing memorized. I can do it in my sleep. Funny voices and all. That delicious moment when the ball plops and the kids shriek with laughter...beautiful. Just beautiful.

Verdict: Haven't read Elephant and Piggie? Your life is a barren waste and verging on pointless. These are the rare easy readers that aren't just for beginning readers, they're perfect for all ages. Read them aloud as picturebooks, hand them to an older child on a bad day, use them in your high school theater class, or curl up with a big stack to relax and recapture the wonder, despair, and hilarity of childhood.


Watch me throw the ball!
ISBN: 978-1423113485; Published March 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Are you ready to play outside?
ISBN: 978-1423113478; Published October 2008 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Elephants cannot dance!
ISBN: 978-1423114109; Published June 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Puzzle King by Nina Cordelia Craft, illustrated by Hillie Dijk

There are some good bones to this story, but it needs some work. The basic story is a sweet fairy tale. A king, obsessed with puzzles, sets his sorcerer the task of finding a bride for him. The sorcerer discovers a magical puzzle and once the king and his subjects have put it together, it frees the princess from a spell and the king has his bride.

There are only a few illustrations; the cover has a kind of watercolor effect and there are small black and white illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.

The story is written in a high fantasy style, which means that some of the vocabulary is going to be too difficult for beginning readers. The descriptions are a bit long-winded and elaborate and many feel cliched. The sections about the sorcerer don't quite fit in with the rest of the plot and there are several loose ends; why is the sorcerer sad? How does the kingdom run if everyone sits around putting together puzzles all day?

But, as I said, there are possibilities in this story! The basic plot of a king finding his princess by putting a puzzle together is intriguing and the side plots of the sorcerer's books are fun and light-hearted. Although the language is a bit convoluted and lengthy, the author has some good turns of description and and plenty of imaginative sparks. I can see the puzzle king plot making an excellent picture book, once the story has been pared down and with a good illustrator. The sorcerer and his books might be a fun middle grade fantasy with some additions to the plot and more character development.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this book as is, but I suggest keeping an eye on the author; she has possibilities!

ISBN: 978-1608601493; Published June 2009 by Eloquent Books; Review copy provided by author for Cybils

Monday, December 14, 2009

Chasing George Washington, Based on the play by Karen Zacarias and Deborah Wicks La Puma, adapted by Ronald Kidd, illustrated by Ard Hoyt

This book has a worthwhile motive, making the history of the White House live for contemporary kids. Unfortunately, it tries to do this by giving historical characters contemporary speech and behaviors and tacking a string of historical facts onto an extremely thin plot.

Three students are on a White House tour; Dee from the suburbs who enjoys and flaunts her family's new wealth, Jose who lives in a crowded apartment building with his loving family and relatives, and Annie, a recent immigrant from Poland. The tour guide is giving the most boring tour of all time, telling the children about antique furniture and dishes and the security guard, Mr. Flower is on the lookout for any breaking of rules.

When the three children accidentally knock the portrait of George Washington off the wall, a wild chase ensues with Mr. Flower trying to get him back in his frame as they race through history and meet some of the children who have lived in the White House. They end up helping Lincoln sign the Emancipation Proclamation and seeing the portrait being saved by Dolley Madison. George Washington ends up back in his protrait and the students now have a better understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of White House.

This story is based on a play and while I can see it working well as a school play, as a beginning chapter book it's weak and pounds in its moral with a two-ton hammer. Also, this book hits on one of my rant-buttons for books - putting contemporary language into the mouths of historical characters and giving them contemporary motives and behaviors. Yes, George Washington was a real person; a good biography can give you plenty of information about his life that shows him as a human, not just a hero of the American Revolution. But he'd never say "Hey, I like smiling...It feels good." Sheesh.

Verdict: I'd suggest Ron Roy's Capital Mysteries for kids who like historical facts and information mixed into their stories. There are also many, many excellent historical fiction and nonfiction picture books that are a suitable reading level for beginning readers.

ISBN: 978-1416948582; Published September 2009 by Simon and Schuster; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Friday, December 11, 2009

Harley Quinn's Shocking Surprise by Blake Hoena, illustrated by Dan Schoening

This is the newest installment in a chapter book series of Batman and Robin's adventures. In this story, Robin is bored at home, procrastinating on his homework while Batman's out on a call, when the alarm goes off. Robin answers the alarm, falls into a trap, and becomes the main event at Harley Quinn's surprise birthday party for the Joker. With a little help from Batman, Robin escapes and they're ready for another adventure!

There's a little more character development and interaction in this story than in, say Zac Power, but it's basically the same structure - plenty of fast-paced action, a few jokes, and some familiar characters to entice reluctant readers. Readers will need to know some basic information about the Batman story to follow the plot, but there's a quick bio in the back about Harley Quinn, whom not all readers are likely to know. The illustrations are colored full-page spreads highlighting some of the high-action moments of the story.

These are, by the way, NOT graphic novels. I've had multiple people tell me they're comics and they're NOT. They're illustrated beginning chapter books. Just because they're about superheroes and contain colored illustrations doesn't make them a comic or graphic novel.

Verdict: These are fun filler reading for superhero fans and reluctant readers. You can also hand them out to parents who don't want their superhero-fan kids to read comics.

ISBN: 978-1434215628; Published August 2009 by Capstone; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Gruffen by Chris D'Lacey, illustrated by Adam Stower

The Dragons of Wayward Crescent are set in the same quasi-magical world as the popular Last Dragon Chronicles but are aimed at a younger audience.

Nine-year-old Lucy and her mother Mrs. Pennykettle live in a mostly ordinary house - except for the dragons. Mrs. Pennykettle is a potter and sculptor and, among other things, creates marvelous dragon sculptures. What no one but Lucy and Mrs. Pennykettle knows is that some are special; some are alive. When Lucy is scared by a mysterious shadow flitting about her room, her mom makes her a special guard dragon. After some initial mishaps, Gruffen catches the mysterious shadow, which turns out to be a bat. With the help of a bat expert and after a few more Gruffen-mishaps, the bats are given a safe home and Gruffen has fulfilled his mission to protect.

This beginning chapter book is on the older end of the spectrum, sprinkled with small black and white, slightly cartoonish illustrations, and focusing mainly on the text. Previous fans of D'Lacey may be interested in reading this short stories, but a reader who isn't familiar with D'Lacey's world may become bored by the lengthy explanations of the mechanics. There's a lot of foreshadowing, we'll get to it in another story-ing, and the frightening monster turns out to be another wildlife rescue project for Lucy and her mom.

Verdict: Kids who like gentle fantasy reads and animals with a little touch of humor and don't mind wading through a couple slow chapters will enjoy this, but it's not going to grab reluctant or easily discouraged readers. Kids who enjoy this series will probably also eventually like the series for older readers, which is more of the same with a little more drama thrown in.

ISBN: 978-0545168151; Published September 2009 by Orchard; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

City of Fire by Laurence Yep

I was just going to read a few chapters before I went to bed.....yawn. Pardon me, but I'm not used to staying up reading until 2am! However, I couldn't resist finishing this fast-paced and exciting middle grade fantasy.

Bayang is pursuing a centuries-old bloody mission. Koko and Leech just want to survive. Scirye, in a moment of grief, has made a rash vow to her goddess. Wherever Scirye goes, her griffin Kles goes also. If they want to achieve their goals and destroy the evil dragon Badik and his mysterious master, they must put aside their differences and learn to work together.

There's no lengthy world-building or description to slow down the reader; we're plunged immediately into a world similar and yet vastly different from our own, full of magic and strange creatures, from griffins to shapechangers, trolls to walking shark-people. Laurence Yep skillfully weaves his world-building into the adventure and as the reader is pulled along by the action we're fed fascinating bits of information about history, magic, and seemingly mythical creatures.

Following the trail of the thief Badik, the group of friends end up near Hawaii, where they will meet a powerful and unpredictable goddess and her allies. Each member of the group has prejudices and fears to set aside; each character must overcome their shortcomings and fear if they are going to survive and be successful in their mission.

An afterword and bibliography directs readers to the historical sources of many of the people, events, and geographies included in the story and eager readers will be on tenterhooks waiting for the next book in the series!

There's a nice mixture of high fantasy romance and adventure fantasy action which will please a variety of readers. I did feel that the "Cloud Folk" were a bit Oz-ish for the story, but that's a minor quibble.

Verdict: Fantasy fans, especially those who like the emphasis on adventure and action, will love this story as will fans of magical creatures and those who like complex world-building that's not too overpowering.

ISBN: 978-0765319241; Published September 2009 by Starscape; Review copy provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Nana Cracks the Case by Kathleen Lane, concept by Cabell Harris, illustrated by Sarah Horne

Nana, not content to decay into old-lady-hood as her daughter Elaine would like, has found another job - this time as a detective. With the help of her grandchildren, Eufala and Bog, she sets out to solve the case of the candy stealer.

This rollicking and rather wandering story includes lots of candy, naughty children, stupid adults, unhappy policemen, and a tough old Nana who's intent on experiencing everything she can. But she's also elderly; she forgets things, gets lost, makes mistakes, and often acts in an extremely childlike way, which means she fits right in with....

Her grandchildren Eufala and Bog. They have some genuinely funny moments, such as when forbidden by their worrywart mother to open the front door "Never in a million years would they have so much as touched the doorknob of the front door. Anyhow, why open the front door when the kitchen window worked just as well--and, they had found, was much less likely to draw the attention of neighbors." Their mischievous naughtiness quickly degenerates into a series of unpleasant and greedy misbehaviors.

The illustrations are full of maps, odd items, and caricatured characters. The best and most humorous part of the illustrations are the end-papers, designed to look like want ads. Once you've read the book, you'll realize that some of them are jobs Nana has had which haven't worked out exactly as she planned!

Verdict: This book isn't really a mystery. It's a nonsense of irresponsibility. Nana, Eufala and Bog, the policeman, even the children's mother, all act in the most outrageous and insane ways, clearly showing the reader they're not meant to be taken seriously. If you like the weird and wacky with plenty of humor, you may enjoy this quick and kooky read. Hand this out to fans of Horrid Henry and incipient Series of Unfortunate Events readers.

ISBN: 978-0811862585; Published April 2009 by Chronicle; Borrowed from the library

Friday, December 4, 2009

Runaway Princess; Runaway Dragon by Kate Coombs


Finally! I've been promising a review of Kate Coombs' delightfully fractured fairy tales, Runaway Princess and the new sequel, Runaway Dragon, which I nominated for Cybils. The time has come - seems just right to write about these now that Charlotte's Library is introducing a Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy roundup.

To recap, because it's been a while since the first story.....Princess Margaret (Meg to her friends) is horrified when her father and the prime minster cook up a scheme to improve the country's economic status; offer her in marriage to whoever will destroy the dragon, witch, and bandits! Meg decides to rescue herself - and then rescue the "scourges" of the country. She takes old friends along with her, meets new friends, and discovers that the world isn't as simple as she thought. But her courage and practical thinking pay off and with her friends' help, all ends well.

Now, Meg has a new problem. Her baby dragon is growing up. And like all not-so-young creatures, he wants to try his wings. Meg decides finding Laddy is the perfect excuse for a quest! She's been feeling cooped up in the castle and she's ready for adventure! But how can she have an adventure with her best friends, guardsmen, and her parents all determined to keep her safe? Well, toss in an Enchanted Forest, a suitably malevalent villainess, a few new friends, and a giant, and things get complicated fast! Will Meg ever find Laddy? And what will happen when she does?
These stories are, to me, some of the best examples of middle grade fantasy.

First, you need to hop over and read Laurel Snyder's post on the difference between YA and MG fiction. These stories fit perfectly into that model. Meg is not just going on hilarious and exciting adventures, she's learning about the world and her place in it. I love the humor and craft that goes into Coomb's excellent plots, but the characters are even more fun. Each one learns about themselves, but not in an egotistical I-am-discovering-myself way (um, yeah, I don't really like YA in general. Too self-absorbed). Plus, Coombs has managed to create a believeable and independent fantasy heroine. Too many fantasy heroines are either completely useless wusses, waiting to be rescued, romanced, or guided OR they're unbelievable super girls who never put a foot wrong and get themselves out of every predicament. Meg is just perfectly in-between. She courageous and determined and has lots of skills and good qualities; but she also knows when she needs help and that she has a lot to learn.

Verdict: Fantasy fans who like plenty of humor and strong heroines will fall in love with Meg and her friends. Talk these up to fans of Patricia C. Wrede, Jessica Day George, Sarah Beth Durst, and Gail Carson Levine. These aren't just for girls either; there are plenty of diverse characters of both genders to enjoy and Runaway Dragon in particular divides the story between Meg's adventures and her friends' struggle to escape. Highly recommended!

Runaway Princess
ISBN: 0374355460; Published August 2006 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Runaway Dragon
ISBN: 0374363617; Published September 2009 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris van Dusen

This is the first Mercy Watson book I've read. I admit it. I'm not a huge fan of Kate DiCamillo. Hey, she has lots of fans, she doesn't need little me. I do, of course, recommend her to appropriate readers. (Although I nearly wacked that one patron over the head, when she explained to me that she was reading her eleven-year-old son all of Kate DiCamillo's books. Even though he hated them. Because she liked them.)

Anyways. If you, like me, have not previously encountered Mercy Watson, here's her basic story. Mercy Watson is a pig. She lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson in a charmingly old-fashioned town. Mercy Watson is slightly anthropomorphized and her owners treat her almost like a human, but she remains completely and always a pig. And in this story....what happens when you take a butter-loving pig to the movies? The movies where they serve real butter on their popcorn? Chaos, that's what happens.

This series is on the young side of beginning chapter books with limited text that's very bold and easy to read. There's plenty of quirky turns of phrase and kooky humor for kids to enjoy, but the overall effect of these books is sweet family fun.

The main draw, to my mind, is the luciously colored illustration by Chris Van Dusen. They somehow manage to create a 50s style without looking outdated and they just...glow. Really.

Verdict: Kids who like the slightly wacky with plenty of sweet and don't want to give up their favorite illustrated picturebooks will enjoy this laid-back beginning chapter book.



ISBN: 978-0763636449; Published July 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Come to the fairies' ball by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Gary Lippincott

A sweet story with plenty of verve and humor, fairy fans will be delighted with this gorgeously illustrated story of a fairy ball.

In rollicking rhyme, Jane Yolen tells the story of an invitation to a grand fairy ball; and the one fairy who doesn't have anything to wear. But hard work makes all the difference and she makes it to the ball in the end!

Gary Lippincott's illustrations are an elaborate concoction of colors and details both grotesque and beautiful. The pictures are full of woodland greens and browns and fairies both odd and unusual. From the fun of preparing for a giant celebration, unique modes of travel, dancing at the ball, and a highly detailed full spread of the ball itself, there's enough gorgeous detail here to keep any fairy fan busy for several hours.

I'm usually not a proponent of rhyming stories, as they have a distinct tendency to be "cute" if not "twee" but Yolen's rhythm is impeccable and her cheerful story is perfectly fitted to the intricate world of Lippincott's fairies.

Verdict: I can think of a wide range of audiences for this story; adult fans of fairy art and illustration will love the pictures, preschool and elementary fans of fairy stories will enjoy the sweet story, and I think fans of Spiderwick Chronicles will be grabbed by the illustrations. A recommended addition to your library if you have anyone at all interested in fairies. And, of course, you do!


ISBN: 978-1590784648; Published December 2009 by Wordsong; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills, illustrated by Heather Malone

Okay, I cannot put this off any longer. I am really torn on this book. You see, I want to like it. I really do. I should like it. It's all about being independent, about parents letting their kids try new things without hovering, something I am majorly in favor of. It takes a strong whack at parents who do their kids' homework, something else that drives me nuts (you've seen them, o long-suffering librarians, dragging a bored child through the library "we need such and such a book and it has to have this and this because it's worth so many points"). I am no more in favor of smother mothers or helicopter parents than any other intelligent person. Everybody else likes it. Fuse #8 likes it.

But I am all about teh honesty here, and it just didn't work for me. So, first things first; the plot. Oliver has majorly over-protective parents. They never let him do anything even remotely dangerous -- or independent and even do his homework for him, right down to the last detail. Oliver hates it. He wants to be like all the other kids in his class, he wants to do his solar system diorama on his own, he doesn't want to use his mom's idea for a change-the-world suggestion for the upcoming contest, and he really, really wants to go to the school sleepover. It takes some help from an unexpected friend and some tough love for Oliver to start breaking free and growing up.

So, why didn't I like this? It just doesn't feel realistic to me. Oliver's parents' overprotectiveness is explained because "he had been sickly as a little boy". That just felt...cliched. The ending felt too pat - Oliver's friend sending in his neglected suggestion and his unexpected victory just didn't feel real to me. And I can't decide if Oliver's mother is an overly exaggerated irritating twit, or she's so well-written that she's supposed to be an irritating twit, especially in the part at the end where's she's fussing over Oliver and finally agrees to let him go. Finally, I'd really like to think kids like Oliver whose parents do every little thing for them really do want to be responsible; but I've just seen too many of them perfectly content to let their parents do all the talking, research, homework, and thinking for every moment of their lives. Or maybe they've just given up.

I'm not sure how I feel about the cover and interior illustrations. On the one hand, they really seem to fit the book. On the other hand, they just don't grab the casual browser and the cover feels a little...childish? I don't know. The boy on the cover doesn't look 9 to me, but I'm awful at judging ages.

Why should I like this, asides from the aforementioned reasons at the beginning? The characters are well-drawn and I especially enjoyed the spunky, independent Crystal. There's plenty of nonfiction nuggets woven into the story, and Oliver is a good picture of the kid who doesn't think there's anything special about him but wishes there was.

Verdict: What I'm really unsure about, and what I'd really like to test, is will kids like this book? Will the cover attract them or turn them off? Will they sympathize with the character and maybe think about doing more things on their own? I'd love to hear from anyone who's managed to kid-test this - did they love it? Hate it? No strong feelings either way?

ISBN: 978-0374334871; Published March 2009 by Farrar Straus and Giroux; Borrowed from the library


Friday, November 27, 2009

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear by David Bruins; Delicious Bug by Janet Perlman

Today, we have two stories with a lesson. In our first story, three friends learn an important lesson; everyone has different strengths. In the second story, two chameleons learn to share.

Ninja, Cowboy and Bear are good friends and do everything together...until one day they start arguing about who is better. The bear can build bigger rockpiles than the nina. The ninja can catch more bunnies than the cowboy. And so it goes until they all feel awful and their friendship is broken. Finally, each one finds a quiet way to think about things; and they realize that each one is important and different in a unique way. The story ends with a version of "rock, paper, scissors."

Although the unexplained disintegration of the characters' friendship is a realistic part of childhood - who hasn't seen kids playing in perfect harmony one moment and fighting the next? -- it doesn't make for a good story. The problem with this narrative is that there's not really any plot, it's just a series of events and platitudes. The language is mostly simplistic but sprinkled with unexpectedly complex words. Like most heavily didactic picture books, this is aimed at teachers and parents desperate to calm down competitive and constantly fighting children. The kids won't care, but it will make the adults feel better.

However, I did really like Hilary Leung's illustrations! They make me think of the Japanese kawaii culture (correct me if I'm wrong, this is just my impression). There's the rounded and somehow perky characters with their fingerless hands and bright cheerful colors. The illustrations include small insets of games the characters are playing and bigger, bright landscapes as the characters compete.

So, if the previous book is an example of how not to write a didactic picture book, this book is an example of a good picturebook that teaches a lesson. Although the main point of the story is the importance of sharing, there's a definite plot and characters outside the lesson. Two chameleons are good friends and always share the bugs they catch. But one day, they unexpectedly catch a delicious bumblebug simultaneously. Chaos ensues as the two selfish chameleons fight over who's going to get the bug until their selfishness nearly gets them eaten. Reconciled, the two friends repair the damages and settle back into their shared friendship.

There's no need to emphasize the lesson in this story, since it's seamlessly blended into the plot of the two bickering chameleons. It's full of hilarious little asides from the other animals and the funniest part is the two chameleons sparring away with their tongues sticking out, which leads to much silly dialogue "back off shlobberface! back off dragonlipsh!". It's natural that the sheepish chameleons should clean up the mess, after seeing the chaos they've caused and the friends they've irritated. It's no surprise that this book is based on an animated short by the author, "Dinner for Two". The illustrations are delightfully splodgy with side panels showing parallel stories and reactions from the other creatures - I can easily see this being quite a funny cartoon!

The best didactic picturebooks are those whose plots can stand alone with their accompanying "lesson." Remove the lesson from Ninja Cowboy Bear, and there's nothing left but some cute illustrations. Remove the lesson from Delicious Bug, and you still have a fun and silly story about sparring chameleons.

Verdict: If you have enough extra in your budget, Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear is worth buying for the illustrations and to hand to those aforementioned harried teachers and parents. I'd strongly recommend Delicious Bug - perfect for small storytimes and recommended to readers who like a good story with a lesson.

P. S. Some bloggers liked Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear much better than I (I am notoriously picky about didactic books of any kind). If you want another opinion, check out BookMoot's review.

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear
ISBN: 978-1554534869; Published September 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Delicious Bug
ISBN: 978-1553379966; Published September 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Mozart in the future by Tania Rodrigues-Peters, illustrated by Pedro Caraca, translated by Paula Vaz-Carreiro

In the interests of full disclosure, I will first say that I don't like Mozart. In fact, I don't really like any of the Classical composers. (In case you are wondering, I like J. S. Bach, Alan Rawsthorne, Henry Purcell, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, and Poulenc, to give a few examples). I did not listen to Mozart while reading this, as suggested by the author. I was/am listening to Live! At the Concertgebouw but they're playing Bartok, which I like in small doses. Anyways.

This is a very...strange story. An ambitious mother, constantly pushing her son to improve his music, holds Mozart up as a role model. Max has a nervous breakdown and has to stay home, stop playing the piano, and rest. Um...and then a beautiful sort of fairy shows up who turns out to be the Spirit of Music. Max explains that he really wants to play, but he just can't and she asks who he'd like to help him. He calls Mozart. He...gets Mozart. Mozart doesn't get the modern world at all, but enjoys it anyways. Eventually, the spirit explains to Max that he does have talent even if he's not a genius, Mozart goes back to his own time and Max's parents and the doctor try to convince him it was all a dream but he knows it wasn't.

The illustrations are a kind of mixture of fantasy and cartoon and are rather attractive with long, flowing lines.

Asides from the plot, the major problems with this book are the length, format, and syntax. Although the book is only 100 pages long, the text is very dense, much too lengthy for a beginning chapter book. There are no quotation marks, instead, dialogue is marked with a music note at the beginning - but not at the end, so it's difficult to tell when the dialogue ends. The syntax is very odd. I couldn't figure out from the biographical information at the back what language this was translated from; the author appears to have come from Sao Paulo, although she now lives in Austria. Some examples:

"Max is a boy who loves music and who has been studying the piano for years because it has always been his favourite instrument. But the problem is his mother who demands too much of him and does not give the time to play with other boys."

"[music note] I don't know but, personally, I don't miss it at all -- Mozart says showing little interest in the so-called Internet."

I'm guessing translated from German (Austrian German is a standard variety of "regular" German. Your interesting fact of the day) but I may be wrong.

Verdict: Not recommended because of the length of the text, odd syntax, difficult punctuation, and unappealing plot. If you happen to have any young fans of Classical music (I don't at my library) they're going to be more interested in actual biographies of their favorite composers or possibly general histories or historical fiction set in the time period.

ISBN: 978-3950280401; Published August 2009 by the author; Review copy provided by the author for Cybils

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Hand-Off by Michael Teitelbaum, illustrated by Ron Zalme

The plot of this story is extremely thin; all-around excellent athlete Pablo decides to try his hand at flag football. He does ok the first day, skims some plays that night, then fails miserably in the game the next day. And the next day. And so on. He religiously studies the playbook, practises constantly, and when the quarterback gets a sprained wrist stands in and wins the game.

The above-described plot takes up about as much space as the actual text of the plot in the story. What really makes up this book is a detailed description of the plays, how to play them, where everybody goes, and what they do.

The book is apparently based on a sports video game and the illustrations look like renderings of animated characters. Some illustrations of the various plays would help readers who have trouble visualizing all the different moves.

Verdict: This isn't really a story so much as a sports manual with a little plot thrown in for fun. The descriptions and explanations are clear and simple, so even a beginner can figure out what's happening. This book won't have much general appeal, but kids who are serious about sports - or interested in starting - will enjoy it.

ISBN: 978-0448449005; Published October 2008 by Grosset and Dunlap; Borrowed from the library

Monday, November 23, 2009

Nonfiction Monday: How-To Books from Kids Can Press

My first encounter with Kids Can Press was as a teenager; browsing through the library, looking for craft books, I found the Kids Can Do It series...and I was in love. A huge variety of projects, simple, easy instructions, helpful photographs....they're the epitome of craft books. Now, I am delighted to review two very unusual "how to do it" books from Kids Can Press. They've retained all the best of the Kids Can Do It series, but used it on some unusual topics!

Want to freak out your family and gross out your friends? Does fake blood sound like the perfect birthday present? Do you like gross and icky projects? Then 100% Pure Fake is the book for you! With clear, step-by-step instructions (plenty of warnings and safety precautions to reassure parents) and ingredients you can probably find in your own kitchen, you'll learn how to make different types of fake blood, scars, rotting flesh, eyeballs, the classic spill, broken glass, shrunken heads, and more! This book is genius, pure genius. What other gross craft book can you think of that not only tells you how to make fake blood....it differentiates between arterial blood, "basic" blood, and scabs? Perfect for craft programs around Halloween, even parents who don't like gross crafts will be resigned to the fool-proof projects which include cleaning-up instructions as needed!

How countries are formed on the global scale isn't something you often see in children's books - still less how governments work. At least, you don't see it in books kids will want to check out! At my library I have a tidy shelf of how-the-government-works books. I dust them every week. Booooring. But what if you weren't just reading about it....what if you were starting your own country? With step-by-step instructions, plenty of humor, fascinating facts about other country builders, large and small, and quirky illustrations, Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix have created the perfect book for showing kids how governments are formed and stabilized (or not). And the how-to part isn't just a gimmick - the information and history is built around actual instructions on forming your own micronation and there's plenty of stories of people who did just that! This book is part of the CitizenKid series by Kids Can Press and I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of this series! Hand this book out to kids looking for something to do, researching governments, kids interested in virtual worlds, kids interested in politics and history...the list is endless. I, myself, am already planning a program based on this excellent guide.

Verdict: Highly recommended


100% Pure Fake by Lyn Thomas
ISBN: 978-1554532902; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

How to build your own country by Valerie Wyatt, illustrated by Fred Rix
ISBN: 978-1554533107; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Last week of programming before Thanksgiving!

Our main important thing at programming this week is to remind everyone there are no programs next week. Last year we neglected to do this and it was a disaster!

For Tuesday preschool storytime we read Gobble Gobble Crash a Barnyard Counting Bash (much excitement over counting the different animals), we made turkey masks, using leftover butterfly masks I'd cut for Halloween and feathers. Thanksgiving storytimes always struck me as kinda weird - you read all these stories about turkeys escaping from being eaten, sing cute turkey songs, make yourself look like a turkey....and then you eat turkeys. Whatever.

My same group showed up for Wii gaming. Argh, these kids should be outside running around. They are soooo antsy, bickering, roughhousing, etc. I am going to have to do something really structured next year for this, I think. Probably have to stay in the room and watch them too. Gah, where are my earplugs?

Saturday we had our Make it and Shake it toddler birthday party. This is mainly the brainchild of Miss Pattie, I just threw in some extra supplies and reserved the space. We had a nice big group and the kids had as much fun running around and jumping as they did making shakers and sparkly water bottles.

Time for the holidays! I have lots of reviews to post soon, including the last of my Cybils easy reader reviews....

Friday, November 20, 2009

Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley

It took me a long time to get over my expectations for this story. You see, I am a firm Victoria Hanley fan. I discovered Seer and the Sword when I was a teenager, caught by Trina Schart Hyman's stunning cover. I loved Hanley's rich and romantic world. I'm not talking about love-romantic, but romantic in the sense of visionary, idealistic, and to quote the dictionary, "marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious or idealized." I love the way she can blend relationships and a little love-romance into her stories without it dominating the whole plot, as so many YA novels seem to do. (No, I'm not talking about Twilight. I'm talking about how the majority of YA fiction is focused on romantic relationships. It irritated me when I was a teenager and it irritates me now). Anyways.

I was soooo excited when I heard she had a new story coming out! One for tweens! But it's taking me some time to sort out how I feel about it. First, the story seemed completely different than anything she'd written or what I'd expected. It's non-stop action with minimal character development. A young fairy, Zaria, is shocked to discover there is something very unique about her. Suddenly, everything completely changes and she's battling spells she doesn't understand, enemies she can't find, and even her own friends. Her unique powers help her free the world of TirFeyne from an evil villain and she learns a startling secret at the very end. I know that's not a very good plot summary, but I don't want to spoil it.

At first, I didn't like it. It's divided into very short chapters, each one prefaced by a lengthy excerpt from a history of TirFeyne. Some of the excerpts are as long as the chapters! All the fairies have names derived from jewels and every time I thought I had figured out how their world worked, another part of it showed up. Their system of magic was based on complicated mathematical calculations (well, complicated to me!) and involved an odd and seemingly cliched trope of magical-education fantasies, those with more magic despise those without. The nasty human Zaria encounters is unbelievably horrible.

But then I thought about it a little more. And you know what? It works. It really, really does. The action grabs the reader, pulling you along until suddenly you realize "I know these characters!" Every new facet of the world is a like a marvelous surprise. The drama, the confusion, the exaggeration, it all perfectly fits the characters of the twelve-year-old fairies, suddenly encountering completely new circumstances and power they have no idea how to handle. Even the jewel names, which seem to have bugged quite a few readers, fit into Hanley's strangely beautiful world, a world both barren and vibrant. I want to know what happens next!

This book is not going to please fans of YA faerie novels. It's probably not going to work for those who want only the quasi-high fantasy adventure of Hanley's previous stories. But this book is perfect, absolutely perfect, for that in-between stage. Tweens who love romantic and thrilling fantasy but aren't ready for the more edgy YA titles will fall in love with Hanley's elaborately imagined and tensely plotted story.

Verdict: This is the absolutely flawless recommendation for the vast squadrons of little girls (and boys!) who are huge fans of Rainbow Magic but want to move on to something more challenging. Victoria Hanley has a massive and ready-made audience waiting for her newest creation; all we need to do is put it in their hands!


ISBN: 978-1606840115; Published August 2009 by Egmont; ARC received from the publisher at ALA; Purchased for the library (purchased again after it was stolen); Added to my personal wishlist

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Monday at the library; or, this is your life in reference

8:30 - 9:00. Arrive. Lug in book bags. Take a quick look at shelving carts to see what's checking out. Login computers. Fix computers with errors. Try to get crashed computer to boot. Give up. Talk to circ about computers. Straighten displays. Check suggestion boxes. Tidy teen area and remove inappropriate rhymes from magnetic poetry board. Straighten children's area.
9:00 - 10:00. On the reference desk (we only staff one reference desk at a time. When I'm on the children's desk, it's also THE reference desk) Questions: "can you renew my books over the phone" (yes but I won't like it). "Do you have a fax machine?" (yes it's a dollar a page, outgoing faxes only). DVDs on Tai Chi (yes, once I realized I was spelling it wrong but they're checked out so I put a hold on them). "Books or magazines on renovating bathrooms?" (no specific magazines, but lots of books. include a quick lesson on the dewey decimal system). "food for fines" (transfer to circulation). Renew. Question about book club (transfer to circulation). "Do you have books on starting a business on audio?" (patron thrilled with playaways. I also put several audio cds on hold and directed him to the business books). guest card for person who forgot their library card. "I can't type in my library card number to use the computer" (number lock off). Renew.
10:00 - 1:00 Still on reference desk. More of same. Why do people calling to renew tell us everything we DON'T need to know first? When their book is due, what their book is, why they need to renew it...Just give us your name or library card number please!
In between questions, work on adding to order lists all the stuff I went through over the weekend. Tweak order lists. Look through Oni Press' new books online and join their mailing list. What? Mutant, Texas is out of print? Argh. That's the one problem with reviewing books from other libraries - you want them for your library and then discover you can't have them. Sniff. Check in books from Bookmooch, some are replacements, some are for the summer reading program. Fiddle around with tentative book/AV budget for next year. Do some ILLs.
1:00-1:30 Run to grocery store up the street to get lunch b/c there was nothing but a pear and a banana in my refrigerator this morning. Read a couple chapters of my current lunch reading, Before Columbus. Put cart of movies to be shelved out so patrons can grab them before they have to be shelved. Take flyer on beading to colleague and talk about possible adult or teen beading program next year.
1:30-2:00 Check in massive piles of books I went through this weekend (mostly from other libraries so they have to have fiddly bits of paper - when I bring back big stacks I do it for the circ. staff)
2:00-3:00 Go through stacks of new, repairs, etc. on my desk. Work on organizing ILL information. Check in more books. More ILL fiddling. Talk to colleagues about where to put new encyclopedias.
3:00-4:00 Pack books we are sending on Bookmooch. Take them and ILLs to post office. More ILL fiddling (no, I am not "officially" in charge of ILLs. Our regular ILL librarian is going out on maternity leave soon and I am training. Plus, I like to organize things and we are looking for ways to simplify the process). Fill in teen displays. Lay out stuff for storytime tomorrow. Punch holes in masks for storytime.
4:00-5:00 Fill in displays in children's area. Tell boys at computer to tone it down. Fill in new displays. Remind boys at computer again. Fill in displays in juvenile. Kick out one of the boys and glare at others. Fiddle with order lists. Go through stack of misc. paperwork on desk. Print and annotate BOB lists. Put stuff on hold from other libraries that I want to see before I buy.
And that is a Monday at the library!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Nonfiction Monday: Upon Secrecy; By the Sword by Selene Castrovilla

Over the last year or so, I've been moving away from buying picture book nonfiction, specifically history and biography. I've found it just doesn't circulate well and it's too short for the kids who have homework in those areas. And, sadly, kids just don't seem to be very interested in history anymore. Sigh.

But there's one part of history that I still get quite a few requests for: war history. Now, you can discuss whatever societal impacts this has etc., but I'm here to hand out books. Preferably, good books. I've got lots of war history for middle school and older elementary ages, lots of books on weapons and about soldiers (or I will when I get those sets in January) but I have very few really strong books on major wars in history for younger kids. And yes, they do ask - and their parents, especially homeschooling parents, also ask.

These two books fill in a gap not just by telling the stories of some rather obscure but major players in the American Revolution, but by being springboards for further historical research and an amazing example of a thoroughly researched historical retelling.

By the Sword is the story of Benjamin Tallmadge and his introduction to war at the Battle of Long Island. It's a tense, emotionally packed story studded with historical facts and details. At the beginning of the story, Benjamin is a scared schoolteacher who's never killed a man. At the end, he's a determined and seasoned soldier, aware of the sacrifices he's making and the horrors of war, but firm in his resolve to fight for liberty. Bill Farnsworth's lush oil paintings (at least, they look like oil paintings to me) bring to life the fear and misery of the soldiers and the tedium and terror of battle. The endpapers include a detailed map of the battle area with details of the soldiers' positions and historical points. Included in the book is an author's note on the life of Benjamin Tallmadge, detailed timeline, and notes on the author's research and reconstruction of the battle. There's also a list of historical places to visit and a bibliography of resources.

The companion story, Upon Secrecy, isolates one incident in the history of the Culper Spy Ring, organized by Major Benjamin Tallmadge later in the war. In this snippet of history, Washington desperately needs to know whether or not the British know that the French are landing - and if so, what they are doing about it. In tense, concise prose, highlighting each link of the information chain, Castrovilla tracks the passage of the important information from British headquarters in New York to Washington in New Jersey, showing how a seemingly minor scrap of information was a major turning point of the war. The two illustrators for this story, Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson, focus on the faces and characters of all the persons involving, bringing to life the many different personalities.

This story also includes copious amounts of research; endpaper maps of Long Island Sound, an introduction describing the Culper Spy Ring, afterwords explaning the rival British spy network, "sympathetic stain" used to pass messages, detailed snapshots of each major character's life, an author's note on reconstructing the historical events, timeline, places to visit, and bibliography.

Verdict: These may not be what kids grab off the shelf first when looking for a book, but parents and teachers who introduce these to their students should have no problem catching their interest. Excellent read-alouds as well as starting points for older students to do their own interest, these action-packed stories with their wealth of background research and information are the perfect books to introduce budding historians to the American Revolution and the fascination of history.

By the Sword
ISBN: 978-1590784273; Published April 2007 by Boyds Mills; Review copies provided by author

Upon Secrecy
ISBN: 978-1590785737; Published September 2009 by Boyds Mills; Review copies provided by author

Saturday, November 14, 2009

This week at the library; or, gray November days

Our lovely sunny weekend seems to have drifted away and patrons and librarians alike are suffering. We seem to have had an unusual number of grumpy, irritable, and just plain....odd people in this week. Come forth, oh snow, and barricade these people in their homes! I am in a vengeful mood.

Just a small group for preschool storytime on Tuesday. A small child who is regularly left unattended in the children's area has discovered that he can join us for storytime and since he's quite independent and I've given up talking to his guardian (on the computer of course) we just welcome him in with a little sigh. He's very enthusiastic and well-behaved. We read Rubin's Those Darn Squirrels, Jack Kent's Round Robin (one of my patrons has a tattoo of Round Robin! Only time I have ever wanted a tattoo...) and Leaf Man by Ehlert. I'm always fascinated by kids' reaction to this. My first thought on seeing it was "it's gorgeous, but kids will think it's boring" but they don't - they always, always love it and it never ceases to intrigue me.

More restless kids at Wii. Finally told the whiniest boy there's nothing worse than a whiny boy and basically to shut up. Phew! Starting in January, I'm going to do a sign-in so there will be no more complaining about turns.

Friday, November 13, 2009

How do dinosaurs say I love you? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mike Teague

Recently, I confessed that I was a recent convert to Mo Willems. Now I have another confession to make. I've never read a Dinosaur book by Jane Yolen. Sure, I knew where they were and they're on the dinosaur reading list and all, but I'd just never read one. I thought they sounded sappy.

So, now that I have the newest one before me....I have to revise my opinion. The text on its own is very simple; just a list of bad dinosaur behaviors, corresponding dinosaurs being nice, and parents reiterating their love.

It's the illustrations that turn this into a classic that's going to be around for a long, long time. But first, a digression. There was recently an article somewhere on the rise of misbehavior in children's books. I've forgotten what it was titled, where it was printed, and whose blog I saw it on first, but it's out there somewhere. Anybody remember? Anyways, this series was mentioned so I went through and did a little checklist.
  • Dinosaur wakes up fussy and won't eat breakfast; Dinosaur waves and blows kisses as it leaves
  • Dinosaur doesn't play nicely; Dinosaur smiles
  • Dinosaur won't take nap and floods house; Dinosaur cleans up
  • Dinosaur misbehaves in car; Dinosaur holds hands in store
  • Dinosaur makes mess at dinner and won't go to bed; Dinosaur calms down, smiles, kisses and hugs
Hmmm....you know what I see? A toddler. Well, duh, you say, the dinosaurs are obviously toddlers. No, what I'm saying is I'm seeing a toddler who's learning how the world works. That you can't have everything you want. Some mistakes you can fix, sometimes all you can do is say sorry. Also, toddlers have a short attention span - they aren't going to remember something bad they did a couple hours later. Exasperating but true. So the text here is a reassuring model for toddlers, showing them how to clean up and calm down after making mistakes and reminding parents that no matter how exhausting and problematic kids can be, there are sweet rewards as well.

Ok, back to the illustrations. Teague's style reminds me a little of some of William Joyce's work; they both have that retro feel while keeping their art completely contemporary (I'm very proud of that sentence, me not knowing much about art). What I really like in the artwork, and what I think has held toddlers' attention in the past and will continue to grab them, is the gorgeous dinosaurs. Lots of color, movement, and unique shapes and decorations; kids will have fun matching up all the different dinosaurs with the ones on the endpapers and giggling over their silly behavior. Teague manages to make giant prehistoric creatures act believably as small children. Parents will laugh and nod their heads - it seems silly to picture toddlers as humongous dinosaurs, but when you're dealing with an angry/fussy/stubborn/upset toddler, they certainly feel as big as whatever space you're in!

Verdict: I don't usually put an age range on my reviews, but I think this one has two definite audiences; toddlers and parents of toddlers. Hand these over to dinosaur-loving, perpetually wiggling kids and their harried parents, sit back and watch them bond.

Update: Thanks Anamaria! The article I was thinking of is from the New Yorker, "Children's books, parents, and discipline," Zalewski, 10/19/2009

ISBN: 978-0545143141; Published October 2009 by Blue Sky Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Poison Island by H. I. Larry, illustrated by Ash Oswald

In Zac Power's latest adventure, he must save his nerdy brother, rescue a secret formula, escape from a volcano - and all in time to get home and walk the dog.

Starting with his jump out of an airplane in the first chapter, twelve-year-old Zac's adventures are pure action. The story reads like the script of a adventure/thriller movie - Zac is hardly still for a moment, dashing from adventure to adventure. One minute he's escaping through the jungle, the next he's swimming through a barracuda-infested pool. There's no time for character development, description, or even much plot development, but that's not the point of the story. It's all about action!

These won't appeal to kids who like realistic fiction or the more family and school oriented stories that are usual for beginning chapter books, but reluctant readers, especially those who like action-packed movies and cartoons, will really enjoy this series. I'm happy to discover another good series for reluctant readers.

Oh, I almost forgot the illustrations - they're all pretty small, mainly pictures of gadgets, or highlighted parts of the story - clocks, exclamations, etc. They give the story a nice spy feel.

Verdict: Light, but fun!


ISBN: 978-0312346591; Published October 2008 by Feiwel and Friends; Borrowed from the library

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Alice's Shooting Star by Tim Kennemore, illustrated by Mike Spoor

I've given this a brief review before, but a good book deserves another look!
In Alice's Birthday Pig, Alice triumphs over teasing and gets her dream pet. In Alice's World Record, she wins out over her perfect(ly irritating) older brother and sees a whole new side of him.

In her third adventure, we get a good look at her relationship with her little sister Rosie. In the past, Alice has kind of resented Rosie getting away with all the things nobody else would even dream of doing. Rosie is the star, the cute one, the little sister who shines. But now that she's growing older, Alice is starting to see her as a person and maybe as a friend. Alice especially loves Rosie's wild imagination and the magical stories and language she brings home from nursery school. But their parents are worried about Rosie's "lies." Oliver tries to logically explain the difference between fact and fiction; their parents make her a truth-telling chart. Alice privately thinks they should just enjoy Rosie's silly stories and leave her alone. Especially when she gets stuck coaching Rosie in her part in the upcoming school production. In a final wild whirl of hilarious events, Alice is, for the first time her life, in the spotlight.

There's a lot packed into this little story. The illustrations catch the various characters' expressions and personalities perfectly and blend smoothly to enhance the text, the function of every beginning chapter book illustration. There's Alice's struggles as a middle child trying to find what makes her unique and where she belongs, especially when she's sandwiched between two very outgoing and assertive siblings. Alice's relationship with her sister Rosie is a perfect mixture of older sibling exasperation and growing friendship as she begins to see Rosie as a person. And the story is just plain funny. From Rosie's insane stories, to Oliver's ridiculous sulks, to the final laugh-out-loud catastrophe, this book will keep the reader giggling all the way through.

Verdict: Kids who love realistic and funny stories and anyone who's ever wished they could do something out of the ordinary will gulp down the Alice stories and ask for more!



ISBN: 0802853374; Published March 2009 by Eerdmans; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal collection

Monday, November 9, 2009

My Name Is Phillis Wheatley; My Name is Henry Bibb by Afua Cooper

These two fictionalized biographies are both subtitled "a story of slavery and freedom". Each follows an historical personality from their early childhood through the horror of slavery until they finally arrive at freedom. The original Canadian titles are The Young -- instead of My Name Is-- and I think those are more appropriate, as these are really about the persons' childhood and young adulthood.

Phillis Wheatley's early childhood was idyllic. She is being trained as a Griot, a singer and important personage in her village; she is schooled at the mosque and is learning to read. She has a loving family and friends. Until one horrible night her village is attacked by slavers and she is taken away on a horrific journey. When they arrive in the Colonies, she is left to die; too ill to be sold. Mrs. Wheatley buys her and nurses her back to health. The Wheatleys are unusual for slave owners and when they see she is willing and interested in learning, they teach her all they can and supply her with tutors. They consider her a miracle and promote her poetry to their friends and neighbors. Eventually, Phillis travels to England to find patrons who are willing to print her poems. She is successful, but chooses to return to America and slavery when Mrs. Wheatley falls ill. While she is nursing her mistress, she is given her freedom. After her mistress dies, she chooses to stay with Mr. Wheatley and care for him also. Only after his death does she set out on her own, marrying John Peters, who is also free and educated. A brief afterword tells us that she eventually died in childbirth and most of the poems from her unpublished second manuscript have been lost.

The second story is far more harrowing. Henry Bibb's father was a white man and his mother was "an enslaved mulatto woman" i.e. mostly white but "black enough" to keep her in bondage. He suffered horribly at the hands of various masters, but never abandoned his dream of freedom and his desire for education. Eventually, after his own daughter is born, he follows his dream and escapes. The epilogue tells us that although Bibb was able to free his mother and was reunited with some of his siblings, he failed to rescue his wife and child, despite repeated attempts. His memoirs were widely read and he was greatly influential in the abolitionist movement, eventually founding a newspaper in Canada.


The reader is not surprised to learn that Afua Cooper is a poet, for these stories are full of rich and deeply emotional language. They are beautifully written and excellently balance the characters' reflections with the action of the story. I was fascinated by these historical characters' lives and devoured their stories as fast as possible. Historical fiction can be a difficult sell, but readers who enjoy the Dear America series (which I would guess influenced the change of title) will devour these with enjoyment and pause for reflection on the often overlooked aspects of early United States history.

However, despite how much I enjoyed these stories and the excellence of the writing, I am also...well, disturbed isn't quite the right word. Dissatisfied perhaps? My two pet peeves in historical fiction is first; behavior, language, and thoughts that are not consistent with the historical context (I could mention, for example, a certain highly popular series which includes expensive accessories....) second, the fictionalization of historical characters and events. In regard to this second, I was very uncomfortable with these characters. After I'd devoured the books, I found myself wondering "Is that really the way Phillis Wheatley grew up? what are her "childhood memories" based on? Do we know where she came from? Would her master's son actually have come into her ship cabin and held her hand to comfort her? That last sounds particularly unlikely." I was happier with the Henry Bibb narrative, perhaps because I am more familiar with this time period in history and have enjoyed reading personal narratives and literature similar to his memoirs, and the story had a definite flavor of a classic capture-and-redemption narrative of the time period.

However, I'm not saying that all historical fiction is wrong, or that historical characters should not be fictionalized. What I'm dissatisfied with (argh, should have chosen a different word, that one is hard to spell!) is the lack of context. Being the somewhat obsessive person that I am, I want to know which parts are true and which are guesses. In two historical fiction narratives I reviewed recently, Selene Castrovilla's works, there was extensive bibliography, sources, and author's notes on which parts of the story were guesswork and which were based on fact. I would have liked something similar in these books so I could get a better understanding of how much of the story was from the author and how much was based on historical facts. Afua Cooper appears to be a well-known authority on this time period and I am disappointed that she didn't share more with the reader.

Verdict: I'm interested in hearing what you, O Faceless Internet Readers, think. Is a good story a good story no matter what? Do you demand context, bibliographies, and sources in your historical fiction? Are you uncomfortable with fictionalized biographies, a genre which used to be standard in children's literature?


My name is Phillis Wheatley
ISBN: 978-1553378129; Published September 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

My name is Henry Bibb
ISBN: 978-1553378136; Published September 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates