Librarians' Choices

Librarians' Choices 2011

2012-02-27T15:46:00.000-06:00

Librarians' Choices 2011
Master List

1. Almond, David. 2011. MY NAME IS MINA. New York: Delacorte. ISBN 9780385740739 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-8]

2. Blumenthal, Karen. 2011. BOOTLEG: MURDER, MOONSHINE, AND THE LAWLESS YEARS OF PROHIBITION. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-1596434493 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

3. Blundell, Judy. 2011. STRINGS ATTACHED. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978054221269 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

4. Boyer, Cecile. 2011. WOOF MEOW TWEET-TWEET. New York: Seven Footer Press. ISBN 9781934734605 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

5. Bragg, Georgia. 2011. HOW THEY CROAKED: THE AWFUL ENDS OF THE AWFULLY FAMOUS. Ill. by Kevin O’Malley. New York: Walker. ISBN 9780802798176 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-12]

6. Bray, Libba. 2011. BEAUTY QUEENS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439895972 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

7. Brosgol, Vera. 2011. ANYA’S GHOST. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596437135 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

8. Burleigh, Robert. 2011. NIGHT FLIGHT: AMELIA EARHART CROSSES THE ATLANTIC. Ill. by Wendell Minor. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978141697330 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

9. Cardillo, Margaret. 2011. JUST BEING AUDREY. Ill. by Julia Denos. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061852831 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-3]

10. Carson, Rae. 2011. THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS. New York: Greenwillow. ISBN 9780062025484 [Suggest Grade Levels 9-12]

11. Casanova, Mary. 2011. THE DAY DIRK YELLER CAME TO TOWN. Ill. by Ard Hoyt. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. ISBN 9780374317423 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

12. Castellucci, Cecil. 2011. FIRST DAY ON EARTH. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780545060820 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–12]

13. Cerrito, Angela. THE END OF THE LINE. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823422876 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

14. Chayll, Eishes. 2011. HUSH. New York: Walker. ISBN 9780802720887 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

15. Christensen, Bonnie. 2011. FABULOUS! A PORTRAIT OF ANDY WARHOL. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805087536 [Suggested Grade Levels 3–6]

16. Clement-Moore, Rosemary. 2011. TEXAS GOTHIC. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780385736930 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

17. Cofer, Judith Ortiz. 2011. IF I COULD FLY. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. ISBN 9870374335175 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

18. Couloumbis, Audrey. 2011. LEXIE. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375856327 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

19. Deedy, Caarmen Agra and Wright, Randall. 2011. THE CHESHIRE CHEESE CAT: A DICKENS OF A TALE. Ill. by Barry Moser. Atlanta: Peachtree. ISBN 9781561455959 [Suggested Grade Levels 3–6]

20. DiPucchio, Kelly. 2011. CLINK. Ill. by Matthew Myers. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061929281 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK–2]

21. Evans, Shane W. 2011. UNDERGROUND. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596435384 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-4]

22. Frazier, Craig. 2011. BEE & BIRD. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436602 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

23. Frost, Helen. 2011. HIDDEN. New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. ISBN 9780374382216 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

24. Gal, Susan. 2011. INTO THE OUTDOORS. New York: Knopf. ISBN 978-0375869587 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

25. Galbraith, Kathryn O. 2011. PLANTING THE WILD GARDEN. Ill. by Wendy Anderson Halperin. Atlanta: Peachtree. ISBN 9781561455638 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

26. Gantos, Jack. DEAD END IN NORVELT. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 978-0374379933 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-10]

27. George, Kristine O’Connell. EMMA DILEMMA: BIG SISTER POEMS. Ill. by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0618428427 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

28. Gier, Kerstin. 2011. RUBY RED. Translated by Anthea Bell. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805092523 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-10]

29. Goodrich, Carter. 2011. SAY HELLO TO ZORRO! New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416938934 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

30. Greenwald, Tommy. 2011. CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING. Ill by J. P. Coovert. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436916 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

31. Hall, Michael. 2011. PERFECT SQUARE. New York: Greenwillow. ISBN 9780061915130 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK–2]

32. Handler, Daniel. 2011. WHY WE BROKE UP. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316127257 [Suggested Grades Levels 9-12]

33. Helquist, Brett. 2011. BEDTIME FOR BEAR. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060502058 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

34. Henderson, Kathy. HUSH, BABY, HUSH!: LULLABIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. New York: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-1845079673 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

35. Herrera, Nicholas. 2011. HIGH RIDERS, SAINTS, AND DEATH CARS A LIFE SAVED BY ART. Photos by John T. Denne. Toronto: Groundwood Press. ISBN 0780888998545 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

36. Hopkins, Lee Bennett (Ed.) I AM THE BOOK. Ill. by Yayo. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0823421190 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-5]

37. Humphrey, Anna. 2011. MISSION (UN)POPULAR. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9781423123019 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

38. Janeczko, Paul B. 2011. REQUIEM: POEMS OF THE TEREZIN GHETTO. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763647278 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

39. Johnson, Maureen. 2011. THE NAME OF THE STAR. New York: Putnam. ISBN 9780399256608 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

40. Juster, Norton. 2011. NEVILLE. Ill. by G. Brian Karas. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375867051 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

41. Klassen, Jon. 2011. I WANT MY HAT BACK. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763655983 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

42. Lai, Thanhha. 2011. INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0061962783 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]

43. Lamb, Albert. 2011. TELL ME THE DAY BACKWARDS. Ill. by David McPhail. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763650551 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

44. Lee, Dora. 2011. BIOMIMICRY. Ill. by Margot Thompson. Toronto: Kids Can Press. ISBN 9781554534678 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

45. Macy, Sue. 2011. BASKETBALL BELLES: HOW TWO TEAMS AND ONE SCRAPPY PLAYER PUT WOMEN’S HOOPS ON THE MAP. Ill. by Matt Collins. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421633 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

46. Maloney, Peter and Zekauskas, Felicia. 2011. ONE FOOT, TWO FEET: AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNTING BOOK. New York: Putnam. ISBN 978-0399254468 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

47. Manna, Anthony L. & Mitakidou, S. 2011. THE ORPHAN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM GREECE. Ill. by Giselle Potter. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375866913 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-6]

48. Marcus, Kimberly. 2011. EXPOSED. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375966934 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

49. Marrin, Albert. 2011. FLESH AND BLOOD SO CHEAP: THE TRIANGLE FIRE AND ITS LEGACY. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375868894 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

50. McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. 2011. UNDER THE MESQUITE. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN 978-1600604294 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

51. McClafferty, Carla Killough. 2011. THE MANY FACES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: REMAKING A PRESIDENTIAL ICON. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. ISBN 9780761356080 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-6]

52. McDonnell, Patrick. 2011. ME... JANE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316045469 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

53. McKissack, Patricia C. 2011. NEVER FORGOTTEN. Ill. by Leo & Diane Dillon. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375843846 [Suggested Grade Levels K-8]

54. Meloy, Colin. 2011. WILDWOOD. Ill by Carson Ellis. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062024688 [Suggested Grade Levels 4–8]

55. Metzger, Steve. 2011. DETECTIVE BLUE. Ill. by Tedd Arnold. New York: Orchard. ISBN 9780545172868 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

56. Moss, Marissa. 2011. NURSE, SOLDIER, SPY: THE STORY OF SARAH EDMONDS, A CIVIL WAR HERO. Ill by John Hendrix. ISBN 9780810997356 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-5]

57. Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. New York: Collins. ISBN 978-0060523084 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-10]

58. Nelson, Kadir. 2011. HEART AND SOUL. THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 978-0061730740 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

59. Ness, Patrick. 2011. A MONSTER CALLS. Ill. by Jim Kay. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763655594 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

60. Okorafor, Nnedi. 2011. AKATA WITCH. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780670011964 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-8]

61. Ostlere, Cathy. 2011. KARMA. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9781595143389 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-11]

62. Ottaviani, Jim. 2011. FEYNMAN. Ill by Leland Myrick. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596432598 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–12]

63. Perez, Ashley Hope. 2011. WHAT CAN(T) WAIT. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda. ISBN 9780761361558 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

64. Raczka, Bob. 2011. LEMONADE AND OTHER POEMS SQUEEZED FROM A SINGLE WORD. Ill. by Nancy Doniger. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9721596435414 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-10]

65. Raschka, Chris. A BALL FOR DAISY. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 978-0375858611 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

66. Rocco, John. 2011. BLACKOUT. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9781423121909 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

67. Roth, Veronica. 2011. DIVERGENT. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062024022 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–12]

68. Russo, Marisabina. 2011. I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU: A FAMILY IN HIDING DURING WORLD WAR II. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 978-0375866951 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

69. Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. BOOKSPEAK!: POEMS ABOUT BOOKS. Ill. by Josee Bisaillon. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0547223001 [Suggested Grade Levels K-6]

70. Santat, Dan. 2011. SIDEKICKS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439298193 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-6]

71. Savage, Stephen. 2011. WHERE’S WALRUS? New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439700498 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

72. Say, Allen. 2011. DRAWING FROM MEMORY. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780545176866 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]

73. Schmidt, Gary D. 2011. OKAY FOR NOW. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0547152608 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

74. Selznick, Brian. 2011. WONDERSTRUCK. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0545027892 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-9]

75. Sepetys, Ruta. 2011. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780399254123 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

76. Shapiro, J. H. 2011. MAGIC TRASH: A STORY OF TYREE GUYTON AND HIS ART. Ill. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN 9781580893855 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-5]

77. Sidman, Joyce. 2011. SWIRL BY SWIRL: SPIRALS IN NATURE. Ill. by Beth Krommes. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780547315836 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-4]

78. Sloan, Holly Goldberg. 2011. I’LL BE THERE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316122795 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-10]

79. Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. 2011. THE CHRISTMAS COAT MEMORIES OF MY SIOUX CHILDHOOD. Ill. by Ellen Beier. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421343 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

80. Srinivasan, Divya. 2011. LITTLE OWL’S NIGHT. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780670012954 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-K]

81. Stephens, John. 2011. EMERALD ATLAS. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375868702 [Suggested Grade Levels 5–8]

82. Stevens, April. 2011. EDWIN SPEAKS UP. Ill. by Sophie Blackall. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375853371 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

83. Stiefvater, Maggie. 2011. THE SCORPIO RACES. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0545224901 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

84. Sweet, Melissa. 2011. BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY’S PARADE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0547199450 [Suggested Grade Levels K-6]

85. Taylor, Laini. 2011. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316134026 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

86. Thompson, Holly. 2011. ORCHARDS. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780385739771 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

87. Trottier, Maxine. 2011. MIGRANT. Ill. by Isabelle Arsenault. Toronto: Groundwood. ISBN 9780888999757 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-5]

88. Tullet, Herve. 2011. PRESS HERE. San Francisco: Chronicle. ISBN 978-0811879545 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-6]

89. Van Draanen, Wendelin. 2011. THE RUNNING DREAM. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375966675 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

90. VanHecke, Susan. 2011. RAGGIN’ JAZZIN’ ROCKIN’: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN 9781590785744 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

91. Wardlaw, Lee. 2011. WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 978-0805089950 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

92. Whaley, John Corey. 2011. WHERE THINGS COME BACK. New York: Atheneum. ISBN 9781442413337 [Suggested Grade Level 8-12]

93. Wild, Margaret. 2011. HARRY & HOPPER. Ill by Freya Blackwood. New York: Macmillian. ISBN 9780312642617 [Suggested Grade Levels 1–3]

94. Winter, Jonah. 2011. BORN AND BRED IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION. Ill. by Kimberly Bulcken Root. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375861970 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

95. Wolf, Allan. 2011.THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT: VOICES FROM THE TITANIC. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-0763637033 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

96. Yaccarino, Dan. 2011. ALL THE WAY TO AMERICA: THE STORY OF A BIG ITALIAN FAMILY AND A LITTLE SHOVEL. New York: Knopf. ISBN 978-0375866425 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

97. Yee, Lisa. 2011. WARP SPEED. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780545122764 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-8]

98. Young, Ed. 2011. THE HOUSE BABA BUILT: AN ARTIST’S CHILDHOOD IN CHINA. New York: Little Brown. ISBN 9780316076289 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-7]

99. Yum, Hyewon. 2011. THE TWINS’ BLANKET. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 9780374379728 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

100. Zimmer, Tracy Vaughn. 2011. COUSINS OF CLOUDS: ELEPHANT POEMS. Ill. by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0618903498 [Suggested Grade Levels K-7]

My Name Is Mina

2012-02-26T23:55:00.000-06:00

Almond, David. 2011. MY NAME IS MINA. New York: Delacorte. ISBN 9780385740739 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-8]

REVIEW

This prequel to SKELLIG is both a visual and literary delight. Written in an undated journal format with different sized fonts, white space, and even white words on black at times, Mina’s first words are “My name is Mina, and I love the night.” After a run-in with her teacher, Mina asks to be homeschooled and her mother agrees and thus begins a time of almost “unschooling” where Mina is allowed to explore her feelings, her emotions, and subjects that interest her. This unstructured time and a blank journal give rise to a wonderfully introspective view of an intelligent young girl who needs time to figure life out on her own terms as she deals with the death of her father. With forays into an alternate school, meeting neighbors, and reuniting with old friends, Mina’s journey becomes the episodic plot. Nine-year-old Mina has the voice of a much older child which makes it accessible reading for both discerning elementary readers and thoughtful middle schoolers.

CONNECTIONS

Use this as an introduction to journal writing or writing description. Read sections aloud to the group and encourage students to write about what Mina is writing about in their own journals.

Use in middle school or high school with students interested in creative writing.

RELATED BOOKS

Almond, David. SKELLIG. ISBN 9780385326537

Henkes, Kevin. SUN AND SPOON. ISBN 9780061288753

By Janet Hilbun

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, And The Lawless Years Of Prohibition

2012-02-26T23:53:00.005-06:00

Blumenthal, Karen. 2011. BOOTLEG: MURDER, MOONSHINE, AND THE LAWLESS YEARS OF PROHIBITION. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-1596434493 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

This award winning nonfiction author gives readers another well-researched and lively look at a fascinating topic: the role of alcohol in our society, particularly during the Prohibition years in the 1920’s. Her balanced writing offers insight into the motivations behind the movement to ban public drinking and the ramifications of the Constitutional amendment to do so. How could good intentions go so wrong? What is the role of government in socializing behavior? She offers lively anecdotes and archival images in a well-organized presentation of a multi-layered issue. BOOTLEG was named a Kirkus Best Teen Book of the Year and School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book of 2011

CONNECTIONS

In her final chapter, Blumenthal raises questions about how other illegal substances (such as marijuana) affect society. There are excellent discussion points for older readers to consider in a pro/con debate. In addition, she provides extensive source notes and bibliographic references which tweens/teens can pursue for more photos, stories, and details. Check out Ken Burns’s documentary on Prohibition for more background building.

RELATED BOOKS

Other nonfiction books by Karen Blumenthal:

STEVE JOBS; THE MAN WHO THOUGHT DIFFERENT. ISBN 978-1250014450

LET ME PLAY: THE STORY OF TITLE IX. ISBN 978-0689859571

SIX DAYS IN OCTOBER: THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929. ISBN 978-0689842764

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Strings Attached

2012-02-26T23:51:00.000-06:00

Blundell, Judy. 2011. STRINGS ATTACHED. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978054221269 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

Set in the early 1950s, Blundell's newest young adult novel is a gritty page-turner fraught with mystery, intrigue, romance, and danger. Kit, one of a set of triplets raised by her widowed father and her aunt, has dated the unpredictable Billy for several years and known him even longer. Billy's father is alleged to have "mob" connections and when Kit leaves Rhode Island and flees to NYC to find work as a showgirl, he helps her. Billy’s gangster father also helps her when the musical closes and she needs work. The novel reads like a film noir with gangsters, murder, and cover-ups. Kit is a strong character, although not always likeable, and the twists and turns of her involvement with Billy's father make the book a page-turner. The story goes back and forth from the "present" to the flashbacks to Kit's life and her involvement with Billy. While this can make the story a little disjointed, it mostly works. The book will especially appeal to the older young adult reader who is not quite ready for adult books but wants something a little edgy with mature characters.

CONNECTIONS

Not only is this a great selection for a teen book club, but it can also be used to explore post-WWII US history or organized crime.

Use in an English classroom to introduce the device of the flashback, role of setting, and character development.

RELATED BOOKS:

Blundell, Judy. WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED. 9780439903467

Cushman, Karen. THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN. ISBN 9780618504559

Korman, Gordon. SON OF THE MOB. ISBN 9780786815937

By Janet Hilbun

Woof Meow Tweet-Tweet

2012-02-26T23:48:00.000-06:00

Boyer, Cecile. 2011. WOOF MEOW TWEET-TWEET. NY: Seven Footer Press. ISBN: 9781934734605 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK and up]

REVIEW

“Do you know how to tell the difference between a dog, a cat and a bird?” Well, do you? This is how the book WOOF MEOW TWEET-TWEET begins. The simple story compares and contrasts the habits of each of the creatures and what typically happens when they encounter one another.

The book’s twist is in the illustrations. Instead of drawn figures of the animals who make these specific sounds, we are presented with onomatopoetic text in their place; the words WOOF MEOW and TWEET-TWEET appearing in place of the creature. A fun play in text alignment has WOOF showing its tricks by sitting, begging and lying down, while MEOW appears on rooftops and lounging on a comfy chair. TWEET-TWEET appears on power lines and in trees.

The message is simple and straight forward and the text representation of the animals act in a rebus-like fashion. Simple illustrations run throughout in a retro color pallet dominated by oranges and green. Back matter includes the names of the fonts representing the animals and their creators, including the font for MEOW which was specifically created for this book.

CONNECTIONS

Add some noise making creatures to the story and carry it forward. Maybe the house pets will go on a car ride to the country. Who will they see? How will they appear? Create a story board, and don’t forget to draw your sounds!

RELATED BOOKS

Additional books that push the boundaries of page and text:

Tullet, Herve. THE BOOK WITH A HOLE. ISBN 9781854379467

Tullet, Herve. PRESS HERE. ISBN 9780811879545

By Marianne Follis

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends Of The Awfully Famous

2012-02-26T23:47:00.000-06:00

Bragg, Georgia. 2011. HOW THEY CROAKED: THE AWFUL ENDS OF THE AWFULLY FAMOUS. Ill. by Kevin O’Malley. New York: Walker. ISBN 9780802798176 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-12]

REVIEW

Highlighting the deaths of nineteen famous people, this fun and informative book achieves just the right mix of morbidity and humor. The cartoon portraits of each subject and the frank treatment of facts surrounding their deaths will appeal to general readers, not just history buffs. Some chapters detail the dying process—for example, Napoleon’s undiagnosed stomach cancer was treated with chemicals that he ingested causing massive diarrhea and vomiting. Other chapters emphasize post-death trivia– a rogue pathologist secretly removed Einstein’s brain and kept it in a jar in his basement for years. Yet, much information is drolly provided about the life of each subject, both their accomplishments and failures.

A final chapter emphasizes that these individuals became icons because of their hard work and devotion to their goals. They provide examples for young people of individuals who make the most of their lives, while realizing that no one escapes the ultimate end.

CONNECTIONS

Discuss how many of the causes of death listed in the book could be avoided. Identify medical advancements or societal changes that would result in different outcomes today. Invite teens to watch the TV series, “1000 Ways to Die.” Collect some of the causes of death to use in creative writing exercises.

RELATED BOOKS

Other fun and intriguing collective biographies for young adults:

Jacob, Matthew & Mark Jacob. WHAT THE GREAT ATE: A CURIOUS HISTORY OF FOOD AND FAME. ISBN 9780307461957.

Pouy, Jean-Bernard, Serge Bloch, & Anne Blanchard. THE BIG BOOK OF DUMMIES, REBELS, AND OTHER GENIUSES. ISBN 9780592701032

Welden, Amelie. WITH A BANJO GIRLS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD: HEROINES FROM SACAGAWEA TO SHERYL SWOOPES. ISBN 1885223684.

Various authors, WICKED HISTORY series.

By Rebecca S. McKee

Beauty Queens

2012-02-26T23:46:00.001-06:00

Bray, Libba. 2011. BEAUTY QUEENS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439895972 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

Libba Bray’s latest novel offers another humorous look at teen relationships and angst, this time in the form of beauty pageant queens. When their plane crashes on a supposedly deserted island, the surviving Miss Teen Dream contestants struggle to acquire basic necessities while maintaining their pageant practice regime. Using the tools available, the teens gather rainwater with an evening gown, spear fish with straightening irons, and attempt to signal passing planes and ships with discarded sequins. As days turn into weeks and rescue seems unlikely, the girls gradually leave their pageant world and its expectations behind to discover what they really want in life.

Bray’s hilarious, and often sarcastic, look at beauty invites readers to look beyond the surface to the true heart of teens. Readers will enjoy the girls’ superficial pageant platforms as much as their more sincere journeys of self-discovery. Between rescuing sexy reality show pirates and escaping from an evil corporation smuggling illegal weapons, the resourceful Miss Teen Dreamers have their hands full, but they rise to the challenge. In the words of Miss Texas Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins, “This is an opportunity for growth and the establishment of your personal brand. Everybody loves a survivor!”

CONNECTIONS

This title would make an excellent addition to a study about satire. Teens could compare examples from the girls’ interview answers to their more personal conversations later on the island.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for teens featuring satire:

Benway, Robin. AUDREY, WAIT. ISBN 9781595141910

Headley, Justina Chen. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (AND A FEW WHITE LIES). ISBN 9781428725270

Nelson, Blake. DESTROY ALL CARS. ISBN 9780545104746

By Kimberly C. Kinnaird

Anya's Ghost

2012-02-26T23:44:00.001-06:00

Brosgol, Vera. 2011. ANYA’S GHOST. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596437135 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

REVIEW

Anya is a Russian immigrant girl who, like most teens, is trying to assimilate. Her mother’s precautions and “”old ways” annoy her, her younger sibling is both endearing and an irritant, and she longs for a romantic relationship. When she falls down a well, she literally stumbles upon a piece of the past – a ghost who at first promises to fill a niche for Anya. The girl ghost helps Anya make good grades, she finagles a match-up between Anya and a popular boy, and she seems to “understand” Anya. When Anya realizes the ghost’s ulterior motive, the story takes a mysterious turn and Anya must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice for her newfound popularity.

The black, white, and gray graphic illustrations set the appropriate tone, yet the roundness and clarity of the figures give a child-like quality. Thus the reader is left with an impression of both innocence and darkness, which is the perfect complement to the text. This is a classic example of what appeals to graphic novel fans – the aura of the story is achieved with precise coordination between text and pictures.

CONNECTIONS

The antagonist in this story is a ghost from the past. Ask teens to analyze the roles of ghosts in other stories – both graphic novels and even in classic literature. What are some advantages to writing stories with a phantom villain as opposed to a mortal one? Why are ghost stories appealing to young readers? What makes a good ghost story?

RELATED BOOKS

Other graphic novels with a supernatural antagonist:

Kibuishi, Kazu. THE STONEKEEPER (AMULET series). ISBN 9780439846813

Kim, Susan. BRAIN CAMP. ISBN 1596433663

Tennapel, Doug. GHOSTOPOLIS. ISBN 9780545210287

By Rebecca S. McKee

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses The Atlantic

2012-02-26T23:40:00.002-06:00

Burleigh, Robert. 2011. NIGHT FLIGHT: AMELIA EARHART CROSSES THE ATLANTIC. Ill. by Wendell Minor. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978141697330 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

REVIEW

“Everything she has ever learned courses through her blood.

Now or never. All or nothing.”

Many books written about Amelia Earhart chronicle her fateful and failed last journey. This strikingly illustrated account details Earhart’s lengthy, daunting, thrilling and successful trans-Atlantic flight in May, 1932. Minor’s gouache and watercolor paintings perfectly capture the essence of the journey—from the thrill of adventure at take-off, to the anxiety, danger and even terror during the storm-ridden flight, to the exuberance of a safe landing in an Irish field. Colored pencil drawings on the end pages show both a map and timeline of this flight, as well as a rendition of Earhart’s Lockheed Vega airplane, nicknamed “The Little Red Bus.”

Though the basic story is told clearly through the illustrations, the simple and straightforward text expands upon the details, offering more insight into both the particulars of the flight and to Earhart herself. A bibliography, Internet resources, and a list of pertinent quotes from Earhart are also included.

CONNECTIONS

Readers may well be interested in learning more about Amelia Earhart or other women who accomplished extraordinary things, after this introduction. Additionally, this social studies/history book could be combined with a science lesson on thrust, air pressure, and lift culminating with children designing their own paper airplanes.

RELATED BOOKS

More picture book nonfiction about adventurous women:

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. AMELIA AND ELEANOR GO FOR A RIDE. ISBN 059096075X

Adler, David A. AMERICA’S CHAMPION SWIMMER: GERTRUDE EDERLE. ISBN 0152019693

By Sarah C. Dornback

Just Being Audrey

2012-02-26T23:37:00.001-06:00

Cardillo, Margaret. 2011. JUST BEING AUDREY. Ill. by Julia Denos. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061852831 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-3]

REVIEW

Audrey Hepburn was a movie star and fashion icon. But, she was also a caring person who strived to treat others kindly and to make a positive difference in the world. After surviving the Nazi occupation of Europe, she went on to star in some of Hollywood’s biggest films. She became an inspiration through her work ethic, her personal style, and her charitable work for UNICEF.

Cardillo skillfully tells the inspiring story of Audrey Hepburn emphasizing the star’s lifelong perseverance and individuality in text that is accessible to young readers and of interest to life-long Hepburn fans. She effectively highlights childhood experiences, such as the way Audrey was teased because “she was too tall, her neck was too long, and her eyes seemed too big.” The author goes on to show that these “were precisely the things that made her beautiful as an adult.” Denos’s gentle watercolors are the ideal complement to the text; she gets Audrey’s elegant, doe-eyed je ne sais quoi just right. Cardillo and Denos capably show how one celebrity made a true impact in the world by “just being Audrey.”

CONNECTIONS

This biography touches on many topics - ballet, World War II, the United Nations, Broadway, UNICEF - and can lead to further exploration and discussion of any of these subjects. Children can also map the different places Audrey lived around the world.

Audrey said children were like flowers; readers can discuss what she meant by this comparison and brainstorm ways they are like/unlike flowers. They can also illustrate themselves as flowers.

RELATED BOOKS

More books about trendsetters:

Corey, Shana. YOU FORGOT YOUR SKIRT, AMELIA BLOOMER! 9780439078191

Matthews, Elizabeth. DIFFERENT LIKE COCO. 9780763625481

By Jill Bellomy

The Girl Of Fire And Thorns

2012-02-26T23:35:00.001-06:00

Carson, Rae. 2011. THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS. New York: Greenwillow. ISBN 9780062025484 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

Sixteen-year-old Elisa is the chosen one, a princess, the possessor of the Godstone, the one about to be married. She is also the younger daughter, slightly overweight, not particularly pretty, the one who has never done anything special. And now she is to become the “secret wife” of a king whose country is in turmoil, in an attempt to salvage his reign and strengthen her father’s power in her country. When she arrives at her new home she is confronted by distrust, intrigue, jealousy, and revolution—all of which eventually lead to her kidnapping and her questioning all she has ever believed. This marvelous story goes far beyond the usual young adult fantasy with its wonderful world building, strong characters, romance, and its observations about family, duty, religion, and culture. Elisa is an especially strong character who is not beautiful or independent and part of the charm of this book is the growth of her as a character. The book, which can be read on many levels, is the first of a trilogy that can be enjoyed as a simple fantas, but is richer and more dynamic for the discerning reader.

CONNECTIONS

This novel would be wonderful for a girls’ or mother and daughter book club as it addresses issues such as body image, gender and societal issues, and religion.

RELATED WORKS

Other fantasy with strong female characters:

Bunce, Elizabeth. STARCROSSED. ISBN 9780545136051

Dixon, Heather. ENTWINED. ISBN 9780062001030

O’Neal, Ellis. FALSE PRINCESS. 9781606840795

By Janet Hilbun

The Day Dirk Yeller Came To Town

2012-02-26T23:33:00.001-06:00

Casanova, Mary. 2011. THE DAY DIRK YELLER CAME TO TOWN. Ill. by Ard Hoyt. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. ISBN 9780374317423 [Suggested Grade Levels Pre-K-3]

REVIEW

Notorious outlaw Dirk Yeller comes to town, looking to sooth his cat scratch fever symptoms, and fearful townsfolk send him without success to the general store, the trading post, and the saloon to find relief. Young Sam follows him throughout the town and finally thinks of the place that will calm Dirk Yeller down and bring him peace – the library. Miss Jenny has just the cure for Dirk– books with stories that capture the outlaw’s attention and ultimately his heart. Dirk leaves town, vowing to return to check out more books and the librarian.

Larger than life illustrations promote the tall tale quality of the story, with pictures of Dirk Yeller filling an entire page. Caricatures in soft pastels help to create a sense of harmony, not terror, illustrating Dirk’s true nature once he is converted by books. Clever end page drawings both set the stage for the story with wanted posters and close the tale with a wedding announcement. The text, full of colloquialisms and humor, presents a tale of redemption through reading.

CONNECTIONS

Create a read-aloud experience by assigning characters to student volunteers (individually or to small groups). The teacher or librarian can read the commentary, with the readers chiming in when it’s their character’s turn to speak. Projecting the pages with a document camera will make this an easier task.

RELATED BOOKS

Other tall tale picture books include:

Isaacs, Anne. SWAMP ANGEL. ISBN 9787221082824

Kellogg, Steven. PECOS BILL: A TALL TALE. ISBN 9780688058715

Nolen, Jerdine. THUNDER ROSE. ISBN 780152164710

By Susi Parks Grissom

First Day On Earth

2012-02-26T23:29:00.002-06:00

Castellucci, Cecil. 2011. FIRST DAY ON EARTH. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780545060820 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–12]

REVIEW

Anger, feeling misunderstood, isolated, and peer pressures are often the lot of a high school student. In Mal’s case, he appears to have the same issues as a normal high schooler, existing angrily on the fringes of the social scene. Yet appearances are not what they seem. For Mal, things are much worse, mirrored by his mother’s depression and drinking. Years ago he disappeared for three days after the abandonment of his father. Many theories are given but Mal knows that he experienced an alien abduction but how to be sure? At an abductees support group, Mal meets Hooper who seems to have some secrets that Mal can only guess at. Things quickly spiral into a road trip to the desert where Mal seeks to join Hooper into leaving planet Earth yet with the support of a few good friends, Mal realizes that he loves Earth and that it will be what he makes of it.

The writing may seem spare but is packed with emotions young adults will relate to. Even older readers will respond to Mal’s emotional journey and the complexity of his development as a character as he explores the new world of his making. The reader will be left wondering if Hooper really is an alien, if Mal was really abducted, but the reader will come away knowing that Mal has come to terms with himself and with the world at large. An excellent novel that grabs a reader by the heart.

CONNECTIONS

An exploration into the myths and facts of Area 51 would be an excellent companion to this novel or research into abduction reports.

RELATED BOOKS

Dashner, James. THE MAZE RUNNER. ISBN 0385737947

Sagan, Carl. CONTACT ISBN 9780671004101

By Christine J. Rayl

The End Of The Line

2012-02-26T23:27:00.001-06:00

Cerrito, Angela. THE END OF THE LINE. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823422876 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

After killing his friend, Robbie finds himself locked in a room with a desk, chair, paper, and a pencil at the Great Oaks School, known as the end of the line. The thirteen-year-old boy makes lists that reflect who he is and what he has done. He earns basic privileges from his lists, moving from denial to the reality of his actions. His story is told in flashbacks that show the events leading him to murder his friend alternating with his struggles in the school to acknowledge his own role in it.

This gritty and horrifying novel provides a realistic and open ending for the boy who comes to accept his actions and moves back home to a changed life. Robbie’s story is at times funny and poignant, but the horror of his actions resonates as the actions leading to the murder are slowly revealed.

This book may be difficult to read, but it shows how easily young people can make the wrong decision and how the consequences must be paid. It is a book that may make teens think about choices and actions with consequences. This book would be a good choice for libraries serving at-risk populations or juvenile facilities.

CONNECTIONS

Lead a discussion about the book which traces Robbie’s actions and identify at which points he could have changed the course of his life. Then have the teens make their own lists. Begin with “Who are you?” and choose other topics Robbie used to provide an opportunity for self-reflection.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for young people about emotions and the consequences of their actions:

Mackall, Dandi Daley. THE SILENCE OF MURDER. ISBN 9780375868962

Feth, Monika. Translated by Anthea Bell. THE STRAWBERRY PICKER.

ISBN 9780099488460

By Shirley Duke

Hush

2012-02-26T23:25:00.001-06:00

Chayll, Eishes. 2011. HUSH. New York: Walker. ISBN 9780802720887 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEWS

Eishes Chayll (a pseudonym) prosaically examines incest in a closed community in this hard-hitting novel that is not for every teen reader. Gittel is thirteen in 2003 when she witnesses her best friend Devory being joined “under the covers” by a brother and “forced to do something,” something Gittel does not understand. Soon after, Devory commits suicide. Four years later as Gittel prepares for her arranged marriage—the negotiations with the groom’s family, meeting the groom, the actual ceremony, what happened to Devory begins to make sense, but Gittel knows that her standing as a desirable woman depends on her silence. While the external plot revolves around the marriage, early married life, and the birth of her first child, the internal plot deals with her struggle to make the community, especially the men who are the leaders, admit and accept responsibility for the incest and abuse of young girls. When Gittel decided she must confront the leaders of the community, only trouble ensues. This disturbing novel examines hard issues and is often difficult to read—but it is an important one and is written for teens from a teen’s point of view. Gittel is a strong, well-developed, unforgettable character.

CONNECTIONS

This is an excellent book to share with school counselors and medical professionals who deal with abused teens. It is also a strong book club selection for your more mature and thoughtful readers who can handle difficult subjects. It is not a book for every reader, but it is an important book that should be available in high school and public libraries.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books dealing with abuse, incest, and sexual abuse:

Suzuma, Tabitha. FORBIDDEN. ISBN 9781442419957

Teller, Janine. NOTHING. ISBN. 9781416985792

By Janet Hilbun

Fabulous! A Portrait Of Andy Warhol

2012-02-26T23:22:00.002-06:00

Christenson, Bonnie. 2011. FABULOUS! A PORTRAIT OF ANDY WARHOL. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805087536 [Suggested Grade Levels 3–6]

REVIEW

Coca cola bottles, Campbell’s soup cans, and Marilyn Monroe are just a few of our cultural icons that have been immortalized in the art work of Warhol. Christenson takes this enigma of an artist and brings to life the complex childhood and events of Warhol’s life that created the artist he became. As a child, he was the youngest of a poor immigrant family in the Czech ghetto, bullied by his peers, sickly, and called a sissy. Yet throughout, Warhol drew. Images of life around him filled his notebooks. He took free art classes at the Carnegie Museum and became an art student in college. Eventually he left Pittsburgh and traveled to New York where within two weeks he had a job as an illustrator and entered the society of artists. Awards and recognition soon followed, yet Warhol never stopped observing life around him, continuing to fill notebooks with images of life.

Christenson has not only written a superb biography of Warhol’s early years, she has also held true to Warhol’s artistic visions with her superb illustrations that support the story. Her mastery of oil painting over photographic collages is enticing, creating a complete, inspirational biography for young, aspiring artists.

CONNECTIONS

This is a fascinating biography that supports a comprehensive look at American icons in the art world, as well as the immigrants who helped to create our country’s history. It can be used for art experiences in the classroom and library using charcoal, pastels, and watercolors.

RELATED BOOKS

Rodriguez, Rachel Victoria. THROUGH GEORGIA’S EYES. ISBN 9780805077407

Rubin, Susan Goldman. EDWARD HOPPER: PAINTER OF LIGHT AND SHADOW. ISBN 978-0810993471

By Christine J. Rayl

Texas Gothic

2012-02-26T23:19:00.002-06:00

Clement-Moore, Rosemary. 2011. TEXAS GOTHIC. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780385736930 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

REVIEW

Amy doesn’t expect much trouble when she agrees to house-sit at her aunt’s herbal farm for the summer, just herding some goats that periodically escape from their pen. Of course, the Goodnight Farm and its line of beauty and health care products aren’t exactly normal. Amy understands, “No matter what the label said, you could never assume anything only worked like magic.” Growing up in a family that practices magic, Amy is comfortable with household charms and friendly ghosts even as she tries to live a non-magical life. However when a powerful spirit crosses the farm’s protective spell to threaten Amy, she must embrace her own supernatural gifts to uncover the truth behind a local mystery.

Clement-Moore creates a modern gothic tale, complete with ghostly warnings, star-crossed lovers, and a long-hidden mystery. Amy’s older sister Phin enthusiastically drags her along to investigate rumors of a haunting on the neighboring ranch and they join a dig conducted by the UT physical anthropology department which leads to some dangerous situations sure to keep pages turning. Phin’s eccentric personality provides the perfect foil to Amy’s more cautious nature and readers will enjoy their banter. Sparks fly when Amy meets the brooding cowboy next door and their relationship adds another dimension to this engaging read. Teens looking for a good ghost story with a hint of romance will love this tale.

CONNECTIONS

Compare this novel with Edgar Allan Poe’s works for a modern twist on gothic tales. This book would also make a nice addition to a supernatural collection.

RELATED BOOKS

Other gothic themed books for teens:

Clement-Moore, Rosemary. THE SPLENDOR FALLS. ISBN 9780385736909

Garcia, Kami. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. ISBN 9780316042673

Morris, Paula. RUINED. ISBN 9780545042154

By Kimberly C. Kinnaird

If I Could Fly

2012-02-26T23:17:00.001-06:00

Cofer, Judith Ortiz. 2011. IF I COULD FLY. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. ISBN 9870374335175 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

REVIEW

Doris, the 15 year-old daughter of musician parents living in New Jersey, finds her world turned upside down when her ailing mother leaves for Puerto Rico to pursue her own career. With her father preoccupied with his band’s new singer, Doris seeks solace tending to homing pigeons, trying out different personas at school, and spending time with troubled friends. In a burst of independence, she flies to Puerto Rico to reunite with her mother and discovers that her real place is back home where she can learn to be herself. Like the birds she cares for, Doris learns to fly, declaring, “I have flown against the wind and only lost a few tail feathers. Viva, Doris!”

In this first person narrative, Doris tells her story in lyrical prose with a natural inclusion of Spanish phrases throughout the text. This journey of self-discovery celebrates Doris’ efforts to look both inside herself and outside to the external forces that complicate her life. Her friendship with gay free spirit Arturo and streetwise Yolanda frame the difficulties of teenage life in a tough urban setting, a backdrop for Doris’ exploration of how she, too, fits into the world.

CONNECTIONS

To explore the art of first person narration, ask students to choose another character in the book and to write a scene from the new character’s perspective. Discuss how the scene changes with a new narrator.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about teens exploring their cultural identity:

Ortiz Cofer, Judith. AN ISLAND LIKE YOU: STORIES OF THE BARRIO.

ISBN 978-0-8446-6967-0

Resau, Laura. WHAT THE MOON SAW. ISBN 9780385733434

Alvarez, Julia. HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS.

ISBN 9781439507384

By Susi Parks Grissom

Lexie

2012-02-26T23:15:00.001-06:00

Couloumbis, Audrey. 2011. LEXIE. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375856327 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

REVIEW

Ten year-old Lexie sets off for the family’s cherished beach house for a week with her father, even though her parents’ recent divorce creates an unsettling feeling about this time together. The appearance of Vicky, her father’s new girlfriend, and her two sons only compounds Lexie’s confusion. With each new change in a beloved routine, Lexie reflects on her disappointment and resentment and then quietly navigates these new waters, sharing beach house traditions with the boys and exploring what it means to be part of a new family.

At most times appearing to be more mature than the adults in the story, Lexie narrates her story in a gentle, wistful, but straightforward voice. The book explores divorce, new relationships, and fitting in with candor and sensitivity through the voice of a protagonist who both observes and reaches out. Middle grade readers touched by the challenge of divorce and blended families may find a champion in Lexie.

CONNECTIONS

Ask readers to write a narrative about a change that impacted their lives. How did they react to the change? Give the readers a chance to illustrate their narratives, if they wish. Then offer the opportunity to share their narratives in a small group.

RELATED BOOKS

Other realistic fiction about children dealing with divorce include:

Cleary, Beverly. DEAR MR. HENSHAW. ISBN 978068802406-2

Danziger, Paula. I, AMBER BROWN. ISBN 978039923180-3

Jackson, Alison. EGGS OVER EVIE. ISBN 9780805082944

By Susi Parks Grissom

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens Of A Tale

2012-02-26T23:13:00.002-06:00

Deedy, Carmen Agra and Wright, Randall. 2011. THE CHESHIRE CHEESE CAT: A DICKENS OF A TALE. Ill. by Barry Moser. Atlanta: Peachtree. ISBN 9781561455959 [Suggested Grade Levels 3–6]

REVIEW

Part historical fiction, part fantasy, THE CHESHIRE CHEESE CAT is an action-packed story with a little something for everyone. The book takes the reader back to the streets and alleys of 19th century London where a street cat named Skilley longs to live comfortably at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. When a cat is needed to handle the mouse infestation, Skilley becomes their mouser. Unfortunately for Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese he has a secret; he is a cheese-loving cat that has no taste for mice. An unlikely alliance forms between Skilley and the mice that reside there. Author Charles Dickens is a frequent customer to the establishment. He has a case of writer’s block, so instead of writing he has been observing the interactions between the cat and mice jotting down notes and theories in his journal. Another mouser is brought in to help alleviate the mouse problem. This tom, Pinch, is a vicious cat with a taste for blood. The mice are no longer safe and Skilley’s secret could possibly be revealed as well as what the mice are hiding in the attic.

Moser’s drawings are scattered throughout the book and add personality to the characters. Pages from Dickens’ journal are also included which show his suspicions and his humor.

CONNECTIONS

Research the Tower of London and the myths of the ravens. Search YouTube for videos about the ravens. Hold a cheese tasting event and vote on the best tasting cheese.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books with a mouse as a main character:

King-Smith, Dick. A MOUSE CALLED WOLF. ISBN 9780375800665

Peck, Richard. SECRETS AT SEA. ISBN 9780803734555

By Jane Jergensen

Clink

2012-02-26T23:11:00.001-06:00

DiPucchio, Kelly. 2011. CLINK. Ill. by Matthew Myers. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061929281 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK–2]

REVIEW

Clink is a rusty, squeaky robot that makes toast and plays music. Children aren’t interested in a robot that makes toast. They want the snazzier new models that can do everything from play baseball to bake cookies. The newer models tried to keep Clink’s spirits up, but that was a difficult task when he continually is passed up by the customers. Just when he was feeling like he was ready to give up, a boy enters the store that might be the one that can change his robot life.

Adults and children will enjoy this heartfelt, touching tale that DiPucchio has created. It reminds readers that there is someone for everyone. A person or robot doesn’t have to change who they are to have others notice or like them. Clink found this out the hard way when he tried to cut hair like the robot Blade and tried to play baseball like Zippy. When he was finally being himself by popping burnt toast and dancing to his old-fashioned tunes, the boy with the harmonica thought he was perfect.

Myers’ attention to detail is apparent in his illustrations. Every page is an explosion of fun and visually stimulating. Repeated readings of this book will inevitably reveal a treasure trove of wonder that was missed on previous readings.

CONNECTIONS

Design a robot. What will it look like, what special features will it have? Research robots. What function do robots serve in our society? Discuss what children think robots will do in the future.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books that feature robots with feelings:

Lucas, David. THE ROBOT AND THE BLUEBIRD. ISBN 9780374363307

Oliver, Mark. ROBOT DOG. ISBN 9781561484898

By Jane Jergensen

Underground

2012-02-26T23:10:00.001-06:00

Evans, Shane W. 2011. UNDERGROUND. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596435384 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-4]

REVIEW

“Escape,” “fear,” “crawl,” “tired.” These are words that Shane Evans incorporates into the minimal text describing passage on the Underground Railroad. The words expertly convey the silence and secrecy associated with this escape route for slaves. At the same time, Evans’ accompanying dark, mixed-media illustrations deftly reflect the emotions of its passengers, and his use of color further punctuates the reality of the fugitives’ passage from the darkness of slavery into the light of freedom.

While the simplicity of the text makes this an accessible choice for beginning readers, the deep symbolism reflected via the illustrations renders this picture book an appropriate selection for older and proficient readers as well.

CONNECTIONS

For younger readers: Darken the room and gradually increase the amount of light. Encourage children to identify emotions they experienced throughout the process. Next, repeat the exercise but this time focus on the affect the light has on vision.

For older readers: Evans uses light as a symbol. Identify ways that darkness and light and color choice have been used as symbols throughout history, in literature, and in popular media.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about the Underground Railroad:

Edwards, Pamela Duncan. BAREFOOT: ESCAPE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. ISBN 9780064435192

Hopkinson, Deborah. SWEET CLARA AND THE FREEDOM QUILT. Ill. by James Ransome. ISBN 0679874720

Levine, Ellen. HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX: A TRUE STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. ISBN

Weatherford, Carole Boston. MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. ISBN 0786851759

By Maria Cahill

Bee & Bird

2012-02-26T23:08:00.001-06:00

Frazier, Craig. 2011. BEE & BIRD. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596436602 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

With simple yet bold and colorful illustrations, Craig Frazier follows bird and bee on a journey from one animal’s home to the other’s. Throughout this wordless picture book, children will be delighted and surprised by the setting of the illustrations which are each revealed with the turn of a page.

Though ideal for very young children in one-on-one and small group readings, this book can also be used to inspire older children to tell their own surprise tales through images.

CONNECTIONS

For young readers, consider taking a journey in or around a familiar setting. As you progress point out “surprises” along the way. For example, you might draw children’s eyes to notice a nest hidden within a tree.

Equip older readers with digital cameras and allow them to create their own hidden surprises by zooming in on certain features of photos they take. Compile the students’ creations into a digital class book in which the turn of the page reveals the full image of the zoomed-in picture of the previous page.

RELATED BOOKS

Other children’s books to delight the eye:

Lehman, Barbara. THE RED BOOK. ISBN 0618428585

Rosenthal, Amy Krouse, and Lichtenheld, Tom. DUCK! RABBIT! ISBN 0811868656

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. FIRST THE EGG. ISBN 1596432721

By Maria Cahill

Hidden

2012-02-26T23:06:00.001-06:00

Frost, Helen. 2011. HIDDEN. New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. ISBN 9780374382216 [Suggested Reading Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

When Wren was eight years old, she remained in the car while her mother went into the gas station to pay for gas and get a drink, not knowing that the station is being robbed. The robber flees by stealing the car with Wren in it and drives her to his house, not knowing she is hiding in the back. Once there, Wren is afraid to leave the safety of the car parked in the garage—until she hears him abusing his wife and daughter, a daughter who has discovered Wren and brought her food and water. Wren escapes and calls the police who arrest the man and send him to prison. Fast forward six years and Wren is at camp where she recognizes Darra, the abused daughter of her kidnapper. Wary of each other, eventually the two begin to talk about their shared experience and its repercussions. Helen Frost is a master of the verse novel and the alternating voices of the two girls are distinctive in their poetic styles. The twists and turns and secrets combined with the superb artistry makes this an appealing novel in verse.

CONNECTIONS

Use this book to introduce dialogue in poetry. Pair students, give them a situation and have them write a verse conversation in alternating voices.

RELATED BOOKS

Verse novels for middle grade readers:

Frost, Helen. DIAMOND WILLOW. ISBN 9780374317768

Grimes, Nicki. PLANET MIDDLE SCHOOL. ISBN 9781599902845

Howe, James. ABBIE ON THE INSIDE. ISBN 9781416913849

By Janet Hilbun

Into The Outdoors

2012-02-26T23:05:00.002-06:00

Gal, Susan. 2011. INTO THE OUTDOORS. New York: Knopf. ISBN 978-0375869587 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

REVIEW

This simple picture book works on several levels. A family is taking a camping trip and hikes through the woods having an adventure together. At the same time, the animals of the forest are having their own parallel adventure. Add to all that, the cleverest use of prepositions to help tell the story as the family travels UP a mountain, OVER a bridge, and UNDER a canopy of trees.

Susan Gal is also the illustrator for this charming story and captures both the beauty of the natural world and the playful family time in lush scenes with engaging characters. Young readers will enjoy identifying the parallel (and intersecting) storylines and predicting what will happen next with each page turn.

CONNECTIONS

What a fun book to read and pore over multiple times as children join in on the rhythmic phrases that tell the story. They can act out the action verbs and prepositions (over, under, alongside)—a particularly useful exercise for those who are learning English as a new language. A fun follow up activity could focus on collaborating on a group book about a family’s walk through a city scene using prepositional phrases to describe the action.

RELATED BOOKS

Other picture books by Susan Gal:

NIGHT LIGHTS. ISBN 0375858628

PLEASE TAKE ME FOR A WALK. ISBN 978-0375858635

DAY BY DAY. ISBN 978-0375869594

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Planting The Wild Garden

2012-02-26T23:05:00.001-06:00

Galbraith, Kathryn O. 2011. PLANTING THE WILD GARDEN. Ill. by Wendy Anderson Halperin. Atlanta: Peachtree. ISBN 9781561455638 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

REVIEW

This quiet, lyrical picture book introduces the many ways seeds are dispersed and planted through natural means in the wild. After an introduction to a farmer and her boy planting their own garden, the book follows seeds being moved and deposited by winds, birds, sun drying, water, animals, and humans. Onomatopoeia adds snap to the text, which also mentions the variety of ways different seeds are adapted to move.

Soft pencil and watercolor in muted colors tell their own story, adding details to the spare text. Illustrator Halperin uses a variety of squares and shapes to divide the art, accenting the seeds such as cockleburs and acorns in a row of boxes in different stages of development below the main art. The story follows a natural sequence through the seasons and weather. The final spread shows the results of the seed dispersal and the different elements and means of conveyance by which the seeds arrived and grew.

The book provides children an intimate peek into nature and the world of plants and animals often not seen in urban settings and opens the world of nature and adaptations by seeds.

CONNECTIONS

Bring in or take a nature walk to gather acorns and observe growing plants or grasses that might have seeds. Use other books to read and find out seed needs and then plant the acorns in small cups. Care for the seeds until they sprout and observe their growth.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about nature and seed dispersal:

Macken, Joann Early. FLIP, FLOAT, FLY: SEEDS ON THE MOVE. ISBN 9780823420438

Pascoe, Elaine. SEEDS TRAVEL (HOW & WHY). ISBN 9780836830125

By Shirley Duke

Dead End In Norvelt

2012-02-26T23:04:00.003-06:00

Gantos, Jack. DEAD END IN NORVELT. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 978-0374379933 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-10]

REVIEW

Jack Gantos’s irrepressible and off-kilter sense of humor was never more in evidence than in this autobiographical story of his summer in small town Norvelt, Pennsylvania in 1962. Grounded and bored, he suffers from chronic nosebleeds that are a source of both delicious gore and total hilarity. To keep him out of trouble his mother loans him to an elderly neighbor lady who writes the obituaries for the local newspaper. This leads to an odd and unlikely friendship, learning a lot about people in this utopian town, and a bona fide mystery to be solved. The eccentric characters abound and the dry, sly humor makes it a terrific book to read aloud—even to older students. Dead End in Norvelt won the 2012 Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

CONNECTIONS

The author himself narrates the audiobook adaptation of this book and it is hilarious! Play excerpts and discuss how his reading conveys his autobiography. Locate the actual town of Norvelt on a map and research the philosophy behind this “created” town of the New Deal. Look for more activities on the Educator’s Guide at JackGantos.com.

RELATED BOOKS

Other humorous novels by Jack Gantos:

Look for the JOEY PIGZA books and the JACK HENRY adventures all by Gantos

Other novels about growing up in the 1960’s:

Schmidt, Gary. THE WEDNESAY WARS. ISBN 978-0545105620

Schmidt, Gary. OKAY FOR NOW. ISBN 978-0547152608

Wiles, Deborah. COUNTDOWN. ISBN 978-0545106054

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems

2012-02-26T23:02:00.003-06:00

George, Kristine O’Connell. EMMA DILEMMA: BIG SISTER POEMS. Ill. by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0618428427 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

REVIEW

Kristine O’Connell George gives us a tender story-in-poetry told through 34 beautiful poems about the tangled, but loving relationship between two young sisters. Jess, being the older sister is often frustrated by her younger sister Emma, but is faced with a “dilemma” as she wants to be the best big sister she can be. But when Emma breaks her arm in her attempt to follow her big sister up a tree, Jessica is torn with guilt. As each poem story unfolds, one glimpses the emotional bond of the sisters, as well as the warmth and closeness of the family unit. The poet draws upon her own experiences as a big sister to give an authentic voice to her characters.

Nancy Carpenter’s watercolor illustrations capture just the right amount of action and emotion in each scene. Together, the poems and art work together to tell a story, a mini “novel in verse” for the younger set. The free verse poems also stand alone and lend themselves to performance or discussion.

CONNECTIONS

This book would be ideal for launching discussions about the ups and downs of sibling relationships: “What does your sibling do that really bothers you?” Share the poem, “Trespass” from the book and discuss the difficulties. Then turn the tables and share fun experiences involving siblings: “What does your sibling do that really makes you happy?” Then share the final poem in the book.

RELATED BOOKS

Other poetry books by Kristine O’Connell George:

THE GREAT FROG RACE AND OTHER POEMS. ISBN 978-0618604784

OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS. ISBN 978-0618752423

LITTLE DOG POEMS. ISBN 0395822661

TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. ISBN 978-0618045976

LITTLE DOG AND DUNCAN. ISBN 978-0618117581

HUMMINGBIRD NEST: A JOURNAL OF POEMS. ISBN 0152023259

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Ruby Red

2012-02-26T23:00:00.001-06:00

Gier, Kerstin. 2011. RUBY RED. Translated by Anthea Bell. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805092523 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-10]

REVIEW

It’s always been about Gwen’s perfect cousin Charlotte. She was the one who would inherit the family’s time-traveling gene and had been preparing her whole life. So when Gwen turns out to be the time-traveler, it is a complete shock to the whole family … most of all Gwen. She finds the idea of visiting the past terrifying: “There was always some horrible thing lurking there. Plus, everyone had fleas.” And there is a lot more to deal with than fleas-- a secret society, 18th century dresses, a mysterious chronograph, family secrets, ghosts, and Gideon, her know-it-all, but incredibly handsome traveling companion. Readers are catapulted right along with Gwen into this suspenseful, exciting world, and all are in for a rollicking ride.

Originally published to great acclaim in Germany, RUBY RED is a fast-paced, entertaining adventure. The gems of the story are the eccentric characters, particularly the plucky heroine Gwen. Gier creates a distinct voice for this “normal” and hilarious teen that is pulled from a life of texts and telly and plunged into time travel. A few mysteries are left unsolved leaving the reader eager for the upcoming sequels.

CONNECTIONS

Readers can research the historical figures mentioned such as Sir Isaac Newton, Anne Boleyn, and Jack the Ripper. They can also look up the London sites such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Temple Church, and Selfridges. Readers can design their own time machines or they can look up the twelve gemstones and illustrate their own Circle of Twelve.

RELATED BOOKS

More books about heroines thrust into unexpected circumstances:

Carson, Rae. THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS. 9780062026484

O’Neal, Eilis. THE FALSE PRINCESS. 9781606840795

By Jill Bellomy

Say Hello To Zorro!

2012-02-26T22:58:00.001-06:00

Goodrich, Carter. 2011. SAY HELLO TO ZORRO! New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416938934 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Mister Bud leads a perfect dog’s life. He has his own things and his own schedule which includes “nap time,” “shift-position-and-nap-some-more time” and “greet and make a fuss time.” Everyone sticks to the schedule and things go just as they should until …. Zorro. When this bossy little pug moves in, Mister Bud’s schedule is completely disrupted. Eventually, the two find common ground and develop a pleasing new friendship.

Carter Goodrich combines delightful watercolor illustrations and tight, clever text to tell this amusing tale of cantankerous canines. The softly colored views of the dogs in their settings accented by the surrounding white space, sparse text, and glimpses of the owner’s arms and legs aptly show a pet’s point-of-view. The exaggerated features of the hilarious dogs take center stage while the owner’s attempts at direction and control are shown in the wings. Goodrich perfectly captures the endearing attributes and charm of dogs while also depicting the larger theme of the difficulty of adjusting to unwelcome change.

CONNECTIONS

This book can be used to focus on schedules, time, and chronological order. Children can list and illustrate their own preferred schedule or order a provided list of typical daily activities. The book can also be used to prompt a discussion about pets and their unique personalities. Or, it can lead listeners to consider and discuss changes in their lives, such as the addition of a new sibling to the family, and ways to positively handle these disruptions.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about unexpected change and new friendships:

Henkes, Kevin. JULIUS, THE BABY OF THE WORLD. 9780688089443

Marcus, Kimberly. SCRITCH-SCRATCH A PERFECT MATCH. 9780399250040

By Jill Bellomy

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide To Not Reading

2012-02-26T22:51:00.001-06:00

Greenwald, Tommy. 2011. CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING. Ill by J. P. Coovert. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436916 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

REVIEW

Charlie Joe, a smart, self-effacing and endearing middle school underachiever, will go to any length NOT to read a book. This chronicle of his efforts to write the dreaded 7th grade Position Paper without actually cracking a book involves the strategic use of friends, cliques, deception, and romance. Revelations at the school dance demolish these well-laid plans, and Charlie has to choose between two punishments that truly fit the crime. Reading tips (“Never read a book by someone whose name you can’t pronounce”) interspersed throughout the book contribute to Charlie Joe’s case against reading and to the reader’s enjoyment.

Written in first person, Charlie Joe’s keen observations on middle school life are both hilarious and insightful. Clever line drawings and the 25 exclusive non-reading tips contribute to the story’s humor and energy. Avid and reluctant readers alike should find Charlie Joe’s account of his middle school year a thoroughly enjoyable story.

CONNECTIONS

Think of book trailer possibilities! Divide readers into small groups and assign the task of creating a book trailer. Provide instructions on designing book trailers and sites to help with the design and music. Use the trailers as a reading promotion tool.

RELATED BOOKS

Other humorous books about middle school life:

Angleberger, Tom. DARTH PAPER STRIKES BACK: AN ORIGAMI YODA BOOK.

ISBN 9781419700279

Korman, Gordon SCHOOLED. ISBN 9781439581711

Peirce, Lincoln. BIG NATE: IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF. ISBN 9780061944345

By Susi Parks Grissom

Perfect Square

2012-02-26T22:50:00.001-06:00

Hall, Michael. 2011. PERFECT SQUARE. New York: Greenwillow. ISBN 9780061915130 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK–2]

REVIEW

Michael Hall’s use of vivid colors draws the readers in and takes them on an out-of-the-box adventure with a perfect square. It all begins with a perfectly happy square. Each day the square takes what might be considered a bad situation and turns it into something beautiful. “On Wednesday, the square was shredded in strips. So it made itself into a park.” Readers are taken on a weeklong journey of endless possibilities that a perfect square and an imagination can bring. When the week ends, the square waits to see what will happen next, but nothing happens. The square feels “confined, rigid and cramped,” so it makes itself a window. This simple, yet inspiring book teaches readers not to sit around and wait for others to do something for you. You are in charge of your own destiny.

The author could have used simple vocabulary, but instead chose action words that will lead to discussions and a chance for even the youngest of readers to build their vocabulary. Vivid colors reminiscent of Eric Carle’s artwork fill each square page. Colors, shapes, days of the week and a word study of predicates are all wrapped up in this nice little square package.

CONNECTIONS

Children can take a colored square and scissors then change the square into something else. Or they can pretend they are the square and act out the action words from the story. Introduce children to tangram puzzles. Invite children to move the tiles around to create a picture.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children with art concepts:

Hall, Michael. MY HEART IS LIKE A ZOO. ISBN 9780061915109

Saltzberg, Barney. BEAUTIFUL OOPS! ISBN 9780761157281

By Jane Jergensen

Why We Broke Up

2012-02-26T22:47:00.001-06:00

Handler, Daniel. 2011. WHY WE BROKE UP. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316127257 [Suggested Grades Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

When smart artsy film aficionado, Min and popular basketball playing Ed, start dating, many people asked “why?” While the answer to that question is not given here, we do have Min’s reasoning for WHY WE BROKE UP.

After the split, Min returns the artifacts of their relationship in a box to Ed. Traveling through the box and its seemingly random items (bottle caps, an empty match box, an undeveloped roll of film), Min tells the story of how the couple met, how their relationship developed and the significance of each item. Many of the chapters end with the recurring phrase “that’s WHY WE BROKE UP.”

Handler’s writing is beautiful and alternates between page long, detailed descriptions, to the terse, shorthand like way in which teens communicate. Chapters are peppered with obscure move title references that will have many readers running to IMDB. Who can say why people come together, but Min is eloquent in her reasons about WHY WE BROKE UP.

CONNECTIONS

What are the relics or artifacts of your life? Use cigar boxes and have readers collect items whose meaning may not be apparent at first glance. Create a background story that tells what these items are and what they signify about your life.

RELATED BOOKS

Other smart heartbreaks:

Green, John. AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. ISBN 9780142410707

Tibensky, Arlaina. AND THEN THINGS FALL APART. ISBN 9781442413238

Vivian, Siobhan. NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL. ISBN 9780545169165

By Marianne Follis

Bedtime For Bear

2012-02-26T22:36:00.001-06:00

Helquist, Brett. 2011. BEDTIME FOR BEAR. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060502058 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Just as Bear lays down for his long winter’s nap, his friends urge him to come outside and join them in one last adventure before spring. Bear attempts to stave off his friends’ request, but eventually they force him out of bed. Though angry at first, bear “slips” into fun and enjoys a snowy day of winter activities with his raccoon buddies. When the day finally draws to a close, bear is not the only one ready for bed.

Helquist’s mixed media illustrations, involving various layouts and speech bubbles, play off of the humorous onomatopoeia-filled text resulting in a comical presentation that children and adults will both enjoy.

CONNECTIONS

Play a twist on the game “Quiet Mouse” to determine who is the best hibernator. Encourage children to keep their eyes closed for as long as they can while you tempt them with various sounds. Once children opens their eyes, allow them to help you watch for other children as you continue until all children have opened their eyes. Suggestions for noises include: ringing a bell, opening a package/present, words/phrases such as “Look!” or “Eww! What is that?!”

Once all children have opened their eyes, discuss why it was hard for them to keep their eyes closed and why it might have been hard for Bear to sleep. Next, discuss the importance of getting plenty of sleep and consequences of not getting enough sleep. Finally, brainstorm some solutions for ignoring and/or eliminating noise when trying to sleep.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about bears and hibernation:

Fleming, Denise. TIME TO SLEEP. ISBN 9780805067675

Hall, Margaret. HIBERNATION. ISBN 0736896163

Wilson, Karma. BEAR SNORES ON. Ill. by Jane Chapman. ISBN 0689831870

By Maria Cahill

Hush, Baby, Hush!: Lullabies From Around The World

2012-02-26T22:34:00.002-06:00

Henderson, Kathy. HUSH, BABY, HUSH!: LULLABIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. New York: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-1845079673 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Hush, Baby, Hush! is a book of traditional lullabies gathered from all over the world to entertain children of all ages. These beautiful, simple songs and poems give a flavor of different parts of the world as well as show that soothing children to sleep is the same the world over. With words in the original language plus the English version, together with a melody line and delightful illustrations, this global collection is truly a book for all children; parents and educators can select from the songs to lull young children to sleep or to read and sing along with older children.  The lullabies included in Hush, Baby, Hush! come from Australia (Aboriginal), Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey, USA (Hopi), Wales, and West Africa (Yoruba).

It’s really a gem— lovely for laptime or storytime sharing— with many cultures represented and engagingly illustrated. It’s quite an achievement to capture multiple languages and cultures, but this collection hits the mark. 

CONNECTIONS

This book includes the music for the songs in the backmatter, so collaborate with a musician or music teacher to learn a sample song and perform it. Invite kids to interview family members about lullabies shared in the past. Translate familiar lullabies from English into other languages of the community or vice versa.

RELATED BOOKS

Other collections of global lullabies and verses:

Delacre, Lulu. ARRORRÓ MI NIÑO: LATINO LULLABIES AND GENTLE GAMES. ISBN 978-1584301592

Benjamin, Floella. SKIP ACROSS THE OCEAN: NURSERY RHYMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN 978-1845077884

Orozco, Jose-Luis. DIEZ DEDITOS: TEN LITTLE FINGERS & OTHER PLAY RHYMES AND ACTION SONGS FROM LATIN AMERICA. ISBN 978-0525457367

By Sylvia M. Vardell

High Riders, Saints, And Death Cars: A Life Saved By Art

2012-02-26T22:32:00.002-06:00

Herrera, Nicholas. 2011. HIGH RIDERS, SAINTS, AND DEATH CARS: A LIFE SAVED BY ART. Photos by John T. Denne. Toronto: Groundwood Press. ISBN 0780888998545 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

REVIEW

New Mexico folk artist Nicholas Herrera was out of control by age twelve. After almost dying in a car accident involving alcohol, he changed his ways, instead devoting his energy to his art. A poor student, Nicholas’s art was influenced by his mother, his love of high riders, and his religion. Using found articles and welding to create his own style, he portrayed the everyday view of things in his life—with his own cultural twist. He credits art with “saving my life.”

Brilliant photographs show Herrera’s art in the vivid colors of New Mexico folk art. His sculptures, including motorcycles and cars, are symbolic of people and events in his life. His work has transcended traditional folk art to become fine art speaking to current issues of many people today. The drug and drinking references make this book for teens.

The biography’s appeal lies in the art’s derivation from daily life in a New Mexico town where the artist still lives today. His experiences reflect the decisions many young men encounter and he shows how to move beyond them. This book will speak to many young people facing difficult choices.

CONNECTIONS

Collect several books on sculpture and folk art. Compare the different art forms and identify the emotions reflected in the art. Then have the young people design or write about a folk art sculpture reflecting experiences of their own.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about folk art:

Ancona, George. SEE THE FOLK ARTS (VIVA MEXICO!) ISBN 9780761413264

Rothstein, Arden Aibel, and Anya Leah Rothstein. MEXICAN FOLK ART: FROM OAXACAN ARTIST FAMILIES. ISBN 9780764326738

By Shirley Duke

I Am The Book

2012-02-26T22:30:00.002-06:00

Hopkins, Lee Bennett (Ed.) I AM THE BOOK. Ill. by Yayo. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0823421190 [Suggested Grade Levels 1-5]

REVIEW

Once again, Lee Bennett Hopkins has assembled a notable and diverse group of poets and poems on an appealing topic: books. These thirteen poems are by new and notable poets (like Naomi Shihab Nye and Kristine O’Connell George) and are beautifully presented in double-page spreads illustrated with jaunty delicacy by Yayo. Hopkins includes a helpful table of contents and an “About the Poets” section that gives brief yet interesting information about each poet who contributed to this anthology. All of these features makes the collection easy to read and easy to navigate. These book-themed poems are simple enough for young children to understand yet meaningful enough for older readers to explore and offer a celebration of reading in rhyme and free verse.

CONNECTIONS

These poems are natural for opening library time with a group, launching a reading lesson, or breaking the ice at a parent meeting or open house. Discuss the history of books and bookmaking and bring in examples, if available—such as pop-up books, accordion fold books, etc. Try making some unusual types just for fun. For ideas go to: VanillaJoy.com

RELATED BOOKS

Mission (Un)Popular

2012-02-26T22:28:00.001-06:00

Humphrey, Anna. 2011. MISSION (UN)POPULAR. New York: Hyperion.

ISBN 9781423123019 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

REVIEW

Twelve-year-old Margot Button is a self-proclaimed total social dork, but at the start of school and entering seventh grade, she aspires to fit in and be popular by vowing to change her ways. However, things simply don’t work out, what with a tarot-reading mom, bald, boring Brian, her step-dad, and identical triplet sisters. After losing her best friend to a private school, Margot is befriended by a new girl with a shady past who isn’t afraid to stand up to the popular crowd, one who isn’t beyond including a few lies. Margot eventually finds her way through the tricky maze of middle school, friendships, and truth.

The hilarious events taking over Margot’s life will allow middle school readers to laugh, sympathize, and acknowledge the difficulties happening at this age and let them relate to her woes. The strong writing and book length matches well with good readers and it is a book, while true to middle schoolers, that is completely appropriate for this age group.

The story of friendship and growing up is universal in theme, but MISSION (UN) POPULAR puts a hilarious spin on the trials and tribulations of defining one’s life during this awkward, earnest age.

CONNECTIONS

This book would make an excellent selection for a middle school book club. Drawing on Margot’s efforts, young people could discuss what aspects of character are important and talk about their short and long-term goals. Life choices is another topic for group discussion.

RELATED BOOKS

Other humorous, coming-of-age books about middle school:

Geithner, Carole. IF ONLY. ISBN 9780545234993

Sheldon, Dyan. THE CRAZY THINGS GIRLS DO FOR LOVE. ISBN 9781455829613

By Shirley Duke

Requiem: Poems Of The Terezin Ghetto

2012-02-26T22:26:00.001-06:00

Janeczko, Paul B. 2011. REQUIEM: POEMS OF THE TEREZIN GHETTO. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763647278 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

REVIEW

“False hope

said those who spoke

of transports and rumors of gas.

You are making music

in the shadow of the gallows.”

Janeczko’s compelling collection of original poems captures the despair and bleak terror of 1941 Terezin, Czechoslovakia. Renamed Ghetto Theresienstadt after the Nazi takeover, Terezin “officially” was a safe haven for the Jewish residents relocated there. They were encouraged by their captors to engage in cultural activities such as music and theater performances. However, the Jewish population were truly prisoners, with few real differences between Terezin and other concentration camps.

Deceptively simple black & white art (actually recovered from Terezin after WWII ended) accentuate and perfectly encapsulate the serene, yet forceful, poetry. Janeczko varies the point of view of each poem, including Nazi soldiers as well as Terezin residents of all backgrounds. The array of voices offers special insight into this painful piece of history.

CONNECTIONS

For teens, pair with the 1987 movie ESCAPE FROM SOBIBOR for historically based (though fictionalized) insight into personal experiences of persons under Nazi control during WWII.

RELATED BOOKS

Rubin, Susan Goldman. THE CAT WITH THE YELLOW STAR: COMING OF AGE IN TEREZIN. ISBN 0823418316

Thomson, Ruth. TEREZIN: VOICES FROM THE HOLOCAUST. ISBN 9780763649630

Volavková, Hana. I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY: CHILDRENS DRAWINGS AND POEMS FROM TEREZIN CONCENTRATION CAMP, 1942-1944. ISBN 0805241159

By Sarah C. Dornback

The Name Of The Star

2012-02-26T22:23:00.001-06:00

Johnson, Maureen. 2011. THE NAME OF THE STAR. New York: Putnam. ISBN 9780399256608 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

This first book of a new supernatural series by Maureen Johnson has it all--murder, friendship, romance, a little humor, and suspense-- and has an ending that allows it to stand alone while anticipating the next volume. Rory Devereaux from Louisiana finds the adjustment to London exciting but difficult-- the damp and cold, the ways of talking and dressing, the rules of boarding school, but all of this is made easier by her roommate and Jerome, a male prefect at the school. But in the city of London, all is not well-- someone is killing women on the same dates and in the same manner as Jack the Ripper. When one of the murders occurs near the school, Rory wonders why she is the only one who can see a strange man lurking in the shadows who stops to talk to her. Rory discovers she is one of a small group of people who not only can see ghosts but can talk with them and not only is a ghost acting like Jack the Ripper, but he wants to kill her. The blend of the supernatural and realism in this book is superbly structured so that everything that happens has a sense of believability. Not only is Rory a well-rounded character, the majority of secondary characters are well developed and not stereotypical. Johnson's flare for blending a little humor with serious topics fares well in this book that will find a wide teen audience.

CONNECTIONS

Use this book as a springboard for research into the “real” Jack the Ripper case or as a comparison between fact and fiction.

RELATED BOOKS

Clement-Moore, Rosemary. 2011. TEXAS GOTHIC. ISBN 9780385736930

Donnelly, Jennifer. REVOLUTION. ISBN 9780385737647

By Janet Hilbun

Neville

2012-02-26T22:20:00.002-06:00

Juster, Norton. 2011. NEVILLE. Ill. by G. Brian Karas. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375867051 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

REVIEW

Unhappy with his move to a new neighborhood, a boy is sent out one afternoon to find a friend. After a discouraging walk, he stops and inexplicably calls out the name, “Neville!” Drawing the attention of other children, the boy answers questions about this missing person. All then energetically join in the search and soon the air is full of “Neville!” With suppers waiting, the children leave the boy, vowing to help him look for Neville again tomorrow. A newly confident boy happily returns home to supper and bed, tucked in by his mother who wishes Neville pleasant dreams.

The simple text, written with more than a touch of irony, effectively sets up the gentle story of a boy who looks for friends in a unique way. The illustrations mirror the emotions presented through the story, spare and gray at the beginning of the book and colorful and detailed as the tale progresses. The word “Neville” almost becomes a character through the illustrations, as the word is drawn in a multitude of ways. A perfect partnership of simple but evocative text and pictures, NEVILLE provides a reassuring look into the importance of friendship in a child’s world.

CONNECTIONS

Have a group discussion on friendship. Why did Neville say that the worst part of moving was not having friends? What were some examples of characters being good friends in the book? What did Neville discover about friendship?

RELATED BOOKS

Other picture books about moving:

Penn, Audrey. A KISS GOODBYE. ISBN 9781933718040

Seigel, Mark. MOVING HOUSE! ISBN 9781596436350

Yolen, Jane. ELSIE’S BIRD. ISBN 9780399252921

By Susi Parks Grissom

I Want My Hat Back

2012-02-26T22:18:00.001-06:00

Klassen, Jon. 2011. I WANT MY HAT BACK. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763655983 [Suggested Grade Levels K-2]

REVIEW

A bear has lost his hat and he wants it back. He asks several animals if they have seen it, but no one has. He wonders if he’ll ever see it again and then realizes HE has seen his hat and heads off to retrieve it. The book ends with a comical, macabre twist that will leave the reader laughing out loud.

Jon Klassen’s first authored and illustrated book is an uproarious, original tale. The succinct text is perfectly paired with the amusing artwork. Klassen effectively uses color throughout the book including the earthy tones of the animals, the echoing of the hues in each animal’s words, the bold red of the hat, and the fully colored page of the bear’s ultimate realization. The dominant shape of the bear, the horizontal and vertical compositions, and the effective use of white space also add to the visual appeal. This simple yet memorable story will delight readers of all ages.

CONNECTIONS

Bear’s hat is “red and pointy” and another “blue and round” hat is mentioned. Children can create their own hats from basic shapes and then describe them or brainstorm a list of descriptive words to describe provided hats. Readers can name the animals Bear questions, describe them, and sequence their appearance in the story. The book can also be used to classify statements and questions. Or, the story can prompt a discussion on lying and purposeful deception.

RELATED BOOKS

Other amusing books about hats:

Nodset, Joan L. WHO TOOK THE FARMER’S HAT? 9780060245665

Slobodkina, Esphyr. CAPS FOR SALE. 9780060257781

Other picture books offering unique humor:

Brown, Peter. CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS. 9780316015486

Smith, Lane. IT’S A BOOK. 9781596436060

By Jill Bellomy

Inside Out And Back Again

2012-02-26T22:15:00.003-06:00

Lai, Thanhha. 2011. INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0061962783 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]

REVIEW

What a powerful debut work from new voice Thanhha Lai-- a loosely autobiographical work about her own experience as a refugee from Vietnam in the 1970s. The 10-year-old heroine of this taut novel in verse, Hà, narrates the story which is broken into 4 sections:

Each section offers a well-developed whole with a strong sense of place unique to each—life in Vietnam, surviving on a refugee boat, transplanting in an Alabama town. The transition between each place occurs quickly (as it would in reality) and offers the reader a strong sense of the displacement and constant re-orientation that the characters experience. This also provides a framework for a fast-moving plot that keeps the reader turning the page and wondering how the family will cope with each new challenge.

Amidst all this upheaval, Lai also manages to carve out distinct characterizations of Hà and each member of her family, including her resilient mother and each of her three brothers. Even characters in the “new” environment (sponsor, teacher, neighbor) emerge as multi-dimensional individuals. Our protagonist is often the least sympathetic character—rebellious, insecure, somewhat selfish—but her honest observations manage to be touching, poignant, and often hilarious while balancing the tightrope of authentic child voice and reliable story narrator. Lai does not shy away from including harsh difficulties and sadness, as well as offering hope that grows out of the characters’ strengths and love. Set in 1975, the book rings true today as new groups of refugees cope with war, camps, relocation, language learning, and cultural adjustment across the globe.

CONNECTIONS

In her “Author’s Note” concluding the verse novel, Lai concludes, “I also hope after you finish this book that you sit close to someone you love and implore that person to tell and tell and tell their story” (p. 262). In her dedication she acknowledges “To the millions of refugees in the world, may you each find a home”—what an invitation for kids to look for ways to welcome others in their immediate environment who may be eager for a friendly gesture and kind word.

RELATED BOOKS

Other novels in verse about cultural identity:

Burg, Ann. ALL THE BROKEN PIECES. ISBN 978-0545080927

McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. UNDER THE MESQUITE. ISBN 978-1600604294

Thompson, Holly. ORCHARDS. ISBN 978-0385739788

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Tell Me The Day Backwards

2012-02-26T22:11:00.002-06:00

Lamb, Albert. 2011. TELL ME THE DAY BACKWARDS. Ill. by David McPhail. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763650551 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

As Timmy Bear is getting ready to go to bed, he asks his mother to play the game “Tell Me the Day Backwards.” Timmy starts with happy memories of brushing his teeth in the stream, watching the beautiful sunset with his parents, and enjoying a picnic supper. Soon he is recalling the more exciting events of his day like being rescued from the deep pool by his father, swimming away from scary fish, and running from swarming bees after eating their honey. By the time the game is finished, Timmy is calmly drifting off to sleep.

Lamb’s gentle bedtime story encourages children to remember their day backwards. Young and old readers will enjoy sharing their own memories of the day in reverse as they read about Timmy’s adventures. McPhail’s muted watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the loving tone of the story. The use of a font in sepia ink complements the warm images of the happy bear family. Decorative endpapers feature a map of Timmy’s home, including hints of the day’s events, and provide a nice touch to this charming book. Young children will request repeated readings of Timmy Bear’s backwards day.

CONNECTIONS

This book would be an excellent choice for a quiet, bedtime story. Adults can also share this tale with groups of children and lead them in writing stories about their own day backwards.

RELATED BOOKS

Other bedtime stories for young children:

Brown, Margaret Wise. GOODNIGHT MOON. ISBN 9780060775858

Dewdney, Anna. LLAMA LLAMA RED PAJAMA. ISBN 9780670059836

Waddell, Martin. CAN’T YOU SLEEP, LITTLE BEAR? ISBN 9780744519310

Yolen, Jane. HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT? ISBN 9780590316811

By Kimberly C. Kinnaird

Biomimicry

2012-02-26T22:08:00.002-06:00

Lee, Dora. 2011. BIOMIMICRY. Ill. by Margot Thompson. Toronto: Kids Can Press. ISBN 9781554534678 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-7]

REVIEW

Finding patterns in nature’s diversity and using technology to adapt them for human use is biomimicry. The book identifies a number of biomimicry-inspired inventions and discusses their origins and development. Nature’s sustainable patterns, evolved over the years, serve as examples for engineers and scientists to mimic to create technology for improving lives and the Earth’s future. Short, information-packed sections about the different nature-inspired inventions follow an introduction section that organizes the inventions in that group.

Subdued earth tones in the acrylic art highlight the text and the forms in nature that inspired the technology. The art suggests rather than details the natural inspiration, which is well covered in the text. The final spread concludes with a charge to sustain the future of humans on Earth and live within the limits of the web of life on this planet.

This nonfiction book provides a fascinating look at a range of inventions resulting from nature. It gives a challenge and inspiration to look to nature for solutions to very real problems on Earth.

CONNECTIONS

Explore several examples of how humans have taken inspiration from nature using examples in the book. Then challenge the young people to invent their own design for an invention based on a form in nature. The “On the Move” chapter provides adaptable suggestions.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about nature inspired design:

Esbensen, Barbara Juster. ECHOES FOR THE EYE: POEMS TO CELEBRATE PATTERNS IN NATURE. ISBN 9780060243982

Gates, Phil. NATURE GOT THERE FIRST: INVENTIONS INSPIRED BY NATURE. ISBN 97-0753464106

By Shirley Duke

Basketball Belles: How Two Teams And One Scrappy Player Put Women's Hoops On The Map

2012-02-26T22:06:00.002-06:00

Macy, Sue. 2011. BASKETBALL BELLES: HOW TWO TEAMS AND ONE SCRAPPY PLAYER PUT WOMEN’S HOOPS ON THE MAP. Ill. by Matt Collins. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421633 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-5]

REVIEW

Told from the point of view of Stanford player Agnes Morley, this book recounts the first women’s intercollegiate basketball game. The competition against Berkeley took place indoors because many felt it wasn’t “proper for women to perspire in front of men.” The players, donned in bloomers and long-sleeved tops, energetically battled their opponents, slowing down only when a janitor had to fix an off-kilter basket. Morley concludes that “a lady can be tough and strong as well as refined and polite. She can even play basketball.”

BASKETBALL BELLES offers an exciting, play-by-play account of the historic game. The dynamic illustrations instantly transport the reader to 1896, extending the action on the court and enthusiasm of the female crowd. The early rules and uniforms will delight today’s readers. An informative author’s note, timeline, resource list, and photograph of the1896 Stanford team are also included. This story highlights the strong female spirit and the desire to be treated equally in all arenas.

CONNECTIONS

Readers can brainstorm the ways basketball has changed since this early game. They can watch a short clip of a recent basketball game and describe the action. Children can discuss the idea of being a “lady,” and what it means, then and now. The teams’ cheers for one another at the end of the story can prompt a conversation about good sportsmanship.

RELATED BOOKS

More books about spirited, female sports-enthusiasts:

Macy, Sue. WHEELS OF CHANGE: HOW WOMEN RODE THE BICYCLE TO FREEDOM. (WITH A FEW FLAT TIRES ALONG THE WAY). 9781426307614

Vernick, Audrey. SHE LOVED BASEBALL: THE EFFA MANLEY STORY. 9780061349201

By Jill Bellomy

One Foot, Two Feet: An Exceptional Counting Book

2012-02-26T22:05:00.000-06:00

Maloney, Peter. 2011. ONE FOOT, TWO FEET: AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNTING BOOK. Ill. by Felicia Kekauskas. NY: Putnam. ISBN 9780399254468 [Suggested Grade Levels K and up]

REVIEW

The exception mentioned in the title is really one of words, not numbers. As you turn the pages of this simple counting book you encounter illustrations and words that are those which break the normal rules of plurals. A page with the text “One foot” displays a single foot visible through a cut out shape in the page. When turned you see the text “Two feet” and the other half of the illustration showing the pajama clad footed pair, one festooned with a bandage designed with the numeric form of 2.

The book continues with an assortment of consecutively numbered and exceptionally pluraled items, including among others, octopi and oxen. The peek-a-boo format allows for predictive interaction as the reader learns some of the exceptions of the English language.

Light-hearted, child friendly illustrations adorn the pages with fun little details throughout, like the numeric representation on each pages tucked into the illustration, the progress of a small plane across the top, and the running tally that appears running along the bottom of the page. Small details like these will offer readers new discoveries as they read and revisit the book.

CONNECTIONS

The English language can be difficult, for native speakers as well as English language learners, especially when it comes to exceptions to the rule. Start a word chart listing the exceptional examples provided here, and add to it as new words are encountered.

RELATED BOOKS

A few other letters and words at play:

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. THE HIDDEN ALPHABET

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. LEMONS ARE NOT RED.

By Marianne Follis

The Orphan: A Cinderella Story From Greece

2012-02-26T22:04:00.001-06:00

Manna, Anthony L. & Mitakidou, S. 2011. THE ORPHAN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM GREECE. Ill. by Giselle Potter. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375866913 [Suggested Grade Levels 1- 6]

REVIEW

In this Greek version of the Cinderella story, a young girl becomes an "orphan" upon her mother’s death. Like other versions of this well-known tale, the father remarries, giving the girl a cruel stepmother and two malicious stepsisters. Particular to this version, however, the young girl’s good fortune begins when she returns to her mother’s graveside and hears the message to “go do good.” Other distinct features of this account include encounters at church and the prince’s strategic plan for meeting the girl. While this good-over-evil tale provides an account with features in common with its counterparts told throughout the world, this version uniquely reflects Greek culture and customs. This tale is noteworthy of its own accord, but its value is particularly evident when considered with Cinderella tales from other cultures.

CONNECTIONS

Gather other culturally specific versions of the Cinderella story and compare and contrast them. Identify folk elements that reveal the cultures and customs of the peoples reflected in the tales.

RELATED BOOKS

Exposed

2012-02-26T22:03:00.001-06:00

Marcus, Kimberly. 2011. EXPOSED. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375966934 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

Kimberly Marcus's debut verse novel explores the depths of hurt-- losing a best friend, losing faith in family, and facing truth. When Liz’s best friend Kate accuses Liz’s brother of rape, Liz does not know whom to believe-- her brother or her best friend. Liz has always trusted in her photography, her friendship with Kate, and her family, but suddenly all of these become "out of focus" as she tries to deal with all the emotions resulting from her brother's actions. In the end she must make some difficult choices and discovers that no matter what she chooses she will lose parts of her life that are important to her. Written in free verse, the book is a poignant story told from the unusual point of view of the sister and friend rather than the rape victim as raw emotions and truth are exposed. Using photography to “frame” the story works well and the integration is seamless. While the suggested grade levels are 9-12 there are many younger middle school readers for this book despite its difficult subject.

CONNECTIONS

Use this book to discuss issues of rape and assault; invite a police officer to talk to girls about the legal procedures when someone is raped—a good program for a girls’ book discussion group, Scout group, or even church group. Write poetry or choose a favorite poem and take a photograph to illustrate it.

RELATED BOOKS

Anderson, Laurie Halse. SPEAK. ISBN 9780312674397

Downham, Jenny. YOU AGAINST ME. ISBN 9780385751605

Summers, Courtney. SOME GIRLS ARE. ISBN 9780312573805

By Janet Hilbun

Flesh And Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire And Its Legacy

2012-02-26T22:01:00.001-06:00

Marrin, Albert. 2011. FLESH AND BLOOD SO CHEAP: THE TRIANGLE FIRE AND ITS LEGACY. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375868894 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

Marrin’s gripping nonfiction book delves into the events surrounding the infamous Triangle Waist Company fire in New York City and its long-reaching effects on American labor rights. On a sunny March afternoon in 1911, the upper floors of the Asch Building burst into flames. Frantic shirtwaist workers became trapped between densely packed rows of sewing machines and gathered in groups against locked doors as the fire quickly spread. While some of the workers were lucky and managed to make their way to the elevators or the unlocked stairwells, 146 people died in the fire. Most of the victims were young girls, recent Italian and Russian immigrants, accustomed to working long hours for little pay under dangerous conditions. In the aftermath of the fire, wealthy social reformers joined forces with the embattled labor unions to create legislation we take for granted today.

The author thoroughly examines the social and economic factors that led to the Triangle factory fire. Eyewitness and survivor testimony, newspaper articles, and photographs provide evidence of the harrowing lives most New York workers endured at the turn of the century. Marrin weaves these sources into a detailed story of a tragedy that changed our country. Concluding chapters discuss the struggle for reform, current American labor laws, and unsafe working conditions around the world today. A detailed bibliography with pages of notes provides additional research sources for interested readers.

CONNECTIONS

Pair this nonfiction book with fictional titles for a study of the Triangle fire and labor reform.

RELATED BOOKS

Fictional books about the Triangle fire:

Auch, Mary Jane. ASHES OF ROSES. ISBN 9780440238515

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. UPRISING. ISBN 9781416911722

By Kimberly C. Kinnaird

Under The Mesquite

2012-02-26T21:59:00.002-06:00

McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. 2011. UNDER THE MESQUITE. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN 978-1600604294 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

This is McCall’s first work for young people and it’s a strong beginning earning her a Pura Belpré award. It’s the compelling, contemporary story of a teenage girl, Lupita, oldest child in a large Mexican American family faced with taking charge as her mother’s dire illness affects the family. She struggles with her own feelings, with family responsibilities, with changing friendships, and with pursuing her own artistic ambitions. The setting includes family on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border and the language incorporates Spanish words and phrases fluidly throughout the poems.

Lupita’s journey is a difficult and painful one, but she is encircled by a loving family that supports and encourages her. The difficulties of balancing one’s duty to family with one’s individual aspirations within a specific cultural context are realistically and powerfully presented.

CONNECTIONS

Lupita finds an effective outlet in participating in theater at school. Invite volunteers to perform those passages; involve a theater teacher or local actor to discuss the role of theater; encourage young readers to consider participating in area theater.

Learning language and writing is an important part of Lupita’s story. Note the poems that focus on this aspect. Encourage discussion of experiences in learning a new language.

RELATED BOOKS

Other novels in verse about cultural identity:

Burg, Ann. ALL THE BROKEN PIECES. ISBN 978-0545080927

Engle, Margarita.

Lai, Thanhha. INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. ISBN 978-0061962783 Thompson, Holly. ORCHARDS. ISBN 978-0385739788

By Sylvia M. Vardell

The Many Faces Of George Washington: Remaking A Presidential Icon

2012-02-26T21:56:00.002-06:00

McClafferty, Carla Killough. 2011. THE MANY FACES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: REMAKING A PRESIDENTIAL ICON. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner. ISBN 9780761356080 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-6]

REVIEW

“The image most Americans have of George Washington comes from the one-dollar bill, and this is somewhat unfortunate.”

First-hand accounts from persons who met George Washington often reflect the belief that he did not actually look like the various paintings rendered of him. Further, public opinion today often considers Washington to be boring, old, and uninteresting-- completely opposite of public opinion during Washington’s own time, which held him in very high esteem.

McClafferty’s account chronicles the undertaking by the Mount Vernon Estate to re-create three historically accurate figures of Washington-- one at age 19, another at age 43 as a General in the Continental Army, and a final at age 57 as Washington takes his first presidential oath of office. The author clearly recounts the detailed and arduous, yet fascinating, process that historians, anthropologists, artists, and other experts utilized to make Washington come to life. Interspersed with details of the re-creation is biographical information from the relevant times of Washington’s life.

There are many other more complete biographies of Washington. This original book explores not only what Washington achieved, but the image he portrayed to those around him. The image on the dollar bill, though iconic, in the end falls short of capturing the real Washington.

CONNECTIONS

Gather books about Washington and other persons featured on U.S. currency, and show the many different images available of each. Discuss how the image chosen for widespread reproduction is different, better, or worse than other images available.

RELATED BOOKS

For readers interested in Washington:

Chandra, Deborah. GEORGE WASHINGTON’S TEETH. ISBN 0374325340

Marrin, Albert. GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE FOUNDING OF A NATION. ISBN 0525464816

By Sarah C. Dornback

Me... Jane

2012-02-26T21:53:00.001-06:00

McDonnell, Patrick. 2011. ME... JANE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316045469 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Told with simple text and beautiful watercolor illustrations, the story follows a young Jane Goodall and her stuffed toy chimpanzee, Jubilee, as she experiences the joy and wonders in the world around her. From discovering how a chicken lays an egg to listening to the sound of her own heart, the reader can experience the simple pleasures that are found in nature and all around us. The loving relationship between Jane and her stuffed friend is shown both in the illustrations by McDonnell as well as in the real photograph of Goodall on the title page. In this way the reader can feel as if they are being let into Jane Goodall’s life and memories, as if it is a special piece of her that only the reader gets to see.

What the writer of the book truly succeeds in doing is creating a sweet and beautiful story to go along with the stunning artwork that graces every page. Even the background images provide an insight into the thought process of each carefully planned out page. Readers are treated to a special inspiring message from Jane Goodall at the end of the book. She encourages everyone to make a difference whether it is something simple like recycling or something big like restoring a wetland. We all make an impact on the world around us.

CONNECTIONS

Children can create their own journals following the format of ME…JANE.

View videos about Jane Goodall and the work she does with chimpanzees.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about Jane Goodall:

Lindeen, Mary. JANE GOODALL: FRIEND OF THE APES. ISBN 9781602702493

Winter, Jeanette. THE WATCHER: JANE GOODALL’S LIFE WITH THE CHIMPS. ISBN 9780375867743

By Jane Jergensen

Never Forgotten

2012-02-26T21:51:00.001-06:00

McKissack, Patricia C. 2011. NEVER FORGOTTEN. Ill. by Leo & Diane Dillon. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375843846 [Suggested Grade Levels K-8]

REVIEW

Through the characters of Dinga, Musafa and the Mother Elements: Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind, McKissack’s series of free verse poems tell the story of one “Taken” but never forgotten. Dinga, a blacksmith and beloved father, mourns the capture of his son until he learns the fate of his much-loved boy through the stories of the Mother Elements. Upon his capture by slave traders, Musafa, a playful but wise son, lives the message passed from the Elements: he brings courage to his fellow captives, harnesses bravery in the face of the unknown, dances in rhythm to the drumbeat of life, and lives freely despite his enslaved reality.

Leo and Diane Dillon’s paintings accompany the text on borders and full pages and convey the gamut of emotions addressed in the verse. Together word and image express both the sense of loss felt by those family members of the Taken and the message of hope in the courage of the living.

CONNECTIONS

Despite news of his son’s enslavement, Dinga rejoices to hear the story of Mufasa. Discuss Dinga’s reaction and encourage children to consider how other parents might have responded upon learning the fates of their taken and enslaved children.

RELATED BOOKS

Other picture books about enslavement of Africans:

Feelings, Tom. THE MIDDLE PASSAGE: WHITE SHIPS/BLACK CARGO. ISBN 9780803718043

Lester, Julius. FROM SLAVE SHIP TO FREEDOM ROAD. ISBN 9780140566697

Thomas, Velma Maia. LEST WE FORGET: THE PASSAGE FROM AFRICA TO SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION: A THREE DIMENSIONAL INTERACTIVE BOOK WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS FROM THE BLACK HOLOCAUST EXHIBIT. ISBN 0609600303

By Maria Cahill

Wildwood

2012-02-26T21:49:00.001-06:00

Meloy, Colin. 2011. WILDWOOD. Ill by Carson Ellis. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062024688 [Suggested Grade Levels 4–8]

REVIEW

Prue’s life use to be ordinary. It was a normal day, normal parents, and normal weather. It wasn’t until a murder of crows flew off with her baby brother, that Prue’s life took a turn towards the extraordinary. Knowing that she must get her brother back, Prue enlists the help of her friend, Curtis, to go into the Impassable Wilderness where the crows had taken her brother, a place that no one had ever returned from. Thus begins a journey into a secret, fantastical land where animals talk, live in social groups, magic is common place, and where Prue and Curtis get caught up in the war and struggle for the freedom of Wildwood-- the Impassable Wilderness-– from tyranny.

Meloy has crafted an otherworldly reality that is enticing for those who relish an escape from the modern world. It is a complex story with a strong thread of right versus wrong placed in a setting that reminds a reader of a simplified Tolkien’s middle earth. Ellis’ illustrations extend the story for the reader, giving visual anchors to events and characters. It is a superbly written novel, the first of a promised series that will capture those readers who enjoy the magical worlds of the imagination.

CONNECTIONS

The complexity of characters and setting would support the creation of a visual reader’s journal of maps, groupings of characters, and leadership hierarchies. Readers may also want to do a response journal about Prue and follow her coming of age journey.

RELATED BOOKS

Valente, Cathrynne. THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING. ISBN 978-0312649616

O’Dell, Kathleen. THE AVIARY. ISBN 9780375856051

By Christine J. Rayl

Detective Blue

2012-02-26T21:47:00.002-06:00

Metzger, Steve. 2011. DETECTIVE BLUE. Ill. by Tedd Arnold. New York: Orchard. ISBN 9780545172868 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Detective (formerly Little Boy) Blue spends his days fixing the various situations imposed by old Mother Goose. The dish and the spoon are recovered (and washed) before lunch. The sheep is caught following Mary into school (“How will I learn to read?” he laments as Detective Blue leads him away). And then, Jack Sprat reports that Little Miss Muffet has gone missing. Will Detective Blue be able to find her (without knocking Humpty Dumpty off the wall)?

This silly, humorous picture book is equally fun to read aloud to groups or individual children. It is arranged to resemble a comic book, significantly increasing the “kid appeal.” Tedd Arnold’s (of the FLY GUY series) art completes and expands Metzger’s amusing and witty text.

CONNECTIONS

This book pairs nicely with a variety of other fractured fairy tales or revised Mother Goose. See if children can spot and name every rhyme and story mentioned or pictured in the book. For those who may not have experienced Mother Goose at home, consider first sharing the original verses of Little Boy Blue, Mary Had a Little Lamb, The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon, Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Peep, and others.

RELATED BOOKS

Stevens, Janet. AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON. ISBN 0152022988

Horowitz, Dave. HUMPTY DUMPTY CLIMBS AGAIN. ISBN 0399247734

By Sarah C. Dornback

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story Of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero

2012-02-26T21:45:00.001-06:00

Moss, Marissa. 2011. NURSE, SOLDIER, SPY: THE STORY OF SARAH EDMONDS, A CIVIL WAR HERO. Ill by John Hendrix. ISBN 9780810997356 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-5]

REVIEW

Sarah Edmonds was not the only woman to dress as a man and enlist in the Army during the Civil War. She is, however, the only woman formally recognized by the United States Congress as a Civil War veteran. Edmonds, known also as Frank Thompson, was already passing herself off as a male in order to avoid an arranged marriage when the Civil War broke out. After a failed attempt due to her lack of facial hair and looking too young, she successfully enlisted and served in the Union Army as a soldier, a field nurse (closer to a doctor), and eventually a spy.

Moss does a wonderful job of sharing this slice of Edmond’s life, with an appropriate amount of awe at her amazing accomplishments. Hendrix’s art is uncomplicated, and helps curtail some of the gore and other unpleasantness inherent to the story. The story and pictures cannot be considered white-washed or inaccurate, however, despite remaining suitable for a mid to upper elementary audience. An Author’s Note, Artist’s Note, Glossary, and Index are also included.

CONNECTIONS

Gather other stories to read about women’s service in the military. Both stories such as Molly Pitcher (who also had to disguise herself as a man), and the stories of the WAC (Women’s Army Corp) in WWII can be shared.

RELATED BOOKS

A general book about the Civil War:

Bolotin, Norman. CIVIL WAR A TO Z: A YOUNG READER’S GUIDE TO OVER 100 PEOPLE, PLACES, AND POINTS OF IMPORTANCE. ISBN 0525462686

Another book about women serving in the military during the Civil War:

Caravantes, Peggy. PETTICOAT SPIES: SIX WOMEN SPIES OF THE CIVIL WAR. ISBN 1883846889

By Sarah C. Dornback

We Are America: A Tribute From The Heart

2012-02-26T21:42:00.003-06:00

Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. New York: Collins. ISBN 978-0060523084 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-10]

REVIEW

The father-and-son team that brought us HARLEM, BLUES JOURNEY, and JAZZ, collaborates to create this lyrical collection of free verse poetry, quotes, and mural-like paintings. These powerful poems celebrate many aspects of American history and identity featuring significant historical figures along the way. They do not shy away from addressing difficult and complex aspects of our nation’s background as well as hailing the contributions of ordinary citizens among the famous and the monumental. The expansive paintings add a majesty to the poetry with layers of detail and meaning. There are stories within stories as readers consider the artwork, the quotations, and the poems together.

CONNECTIONS

These poems lend themselves to being read aloud, particularly when linked to commemorating historic occasions. Or perform for a public event (like a parent meeting or open house) accompanied by a tableau in which children pose in a scene as if in a play while the poem is read aloud. Also encourage the children to research more about the historical figures who are featured in the poems and to work together to write new poems about additional persons they discover.

RELATED BOOKS

More poetry for young people that celebrates the U.S.

Gunning, Monica. AMERICA, MY NEW HOME. ISBN 978-1590780572

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. MY AMERICA: A POETRY ATLAS OF THE U.S. ISBN 978-0689812477

Siebert, Diane. TOUR AMERICA: A JOURNEY THROUGH POEMS AND ART. ISBN 0811850560

Smith, Charles R. Jr. I AM AMERICA. ISBN 978-0439431798

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Heart And Soul. The Story Of America And African Americans

2012-02-19T22:07:00.002-06:00

Nelson, Kadir. 2011. HEART AND SOUL. THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 978-0061730740 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

REVIEW

Like his award winning book, WE ARE THE SHIP, Kadir Nelson has created another visual and verbal masterpiece. Here, his focus is on the history of African Americans and their contributions to the U.S. from the colonial era through the fight for civil rights. His sweep is epic, with both the proud and shameful moments of history poignantly depicted through the voice of an “Everywoman” narrator looking upon her past along with the nation’s past. The 44 elegant paintings and portraits ground the text in an authentic landscape and feature both the famous and the fictional. The sweep of the twelve chapters is dramatic and powerful, yet accessible to the young reader who is just learning about the struggle for justice and equality faced by an entire people. Helpful backmatter includes an author's note, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index. Kadir Nelson justly received the Coretta Scott King award for this latest masterpiece.

CONNECTIONS

The chapters of HEART AND SOUL lend themselves to dramatic read aloud or readers theater performance, particularly in celebration of Black History Month. If ambitious, incorporate simple costumes and props. This is also an excellent companion to Nelson’s book about the Negro Baseball Leagues, WE ARE THE SHIP. Older readers can contrast the different points of view he uses to tell the two stories. Finally, encourage readers to seek out more works written or illustrated by Kadir Nelson for further stories about significant people and places in African American history.

RELATED BOOKS

Other works by Kadir Nelson featuring touchstones in African American history:

WE ARE THE SHIP. ISBN 978-0786808328

HENRY’S FREEDOM BOX (by Ellen Levine). ISBN 978-0439777339

ELLINGTON WAS NOT A STREET (by Ntozake Shange). ISBN 978-0689828843

MOSES (by Carole Boston Weatherford). ISBN 978-0786851751

By Sylvia M. Vardell

A Monster Calls

2012-02-19T22:05:00.001-06:00

Ness, Patrick. 2011. A MONSTER CALLS. Ill. by Jim Kay. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 9780763655594 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

REVIEW

Unable to cope with his mother’s terminal cancer, Conor O’Malley begins seeing a monster. The ancient monster, transformed from the yew tree in his backyard, has come walking to tell Conor three stories. After the stories are finished, the monster wants Conor to tell him the fourth tale, his truth. Conor tries to ignore the monster’s request as his world falls apart, but the yew tree forces Conor to admit his darkest fears to himself so he can let go of his mother.

Kay’s black and white illustrations effectively use texture and shading to capture Conor’s isolation and anger. The monster’s facial expressions and physical stance add to the dark mood Ness creates in this emotional tale of facing loss. Ness’ haunting novel is inspired by Siobhan Dowd’s final unfinished story. After Dowd suffered an untimely death, Ness was charged with turning her idea into a book. He took her initial notes and created a story with “only a single guideline: to write a book I think Siobhan would have liked.”

CONNECTIONS

This book would be appropriate for mature readers. Teens suffering the loss of a loved one might take comfort from Conor’s experience. Readers could discuss the role of admitting the truth in the recovery process.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about loss written for teens:

Anderson, Laurie Halse. WINTERGIRLS. ISBN 9781407117485

Asher, Jay. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. ISBN 9781595141880

Forman, Gayle. IF I STAY. ISBN 9780142415436

Green, John. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. ISBN 9780142402511

Matson, Morgan. AMY AND ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR. ISBN 9781416990666

By Kimberly C. Kinnaird

Akata Witch

2012-02-19T22:04:00.001-06:00

Okorafor, Nnedi. 2011. AKATA WITCH. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780670011964. [Suggested Grade Levels 6-8]

REVIEW

Twelve-year-old Sunny was born in the United States but her family has returned to Nigeria where she is treated as an outcast. Not only is she from the United States, but she is an albino who is mercilessly teased by the other children and is not allowed to join them in their soccer games as she must stay out of the sun. Things change when she discovers that she is one of the Leopard People, a secret group who can perform magic. She and her three new “friends” and fellow students are assigned mentors and given an assignment that could cost them their lives-- to find and stop a serial killer who murders children. This compelling read is an exciting blend of realism, fantasy, magic, and excitement as Sunny and her new friends face doubt and danger. Sunny’s age make this an appropriate middle school selection that can also be enjoyed by older readers.

CONNECTIONS

Use this book as part of a social studies unit on myths of Africa. “Pull out” the myth, legend, and folklore in the novel and have students rewrite these tales and illustrate them as picture books.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books based on myth, legend, and folklore:

Barnhill, Kelly. THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK. ISBN 9780316056700

Farmer, Nancy. SEA OF TROLLS. ISBN 9780689867460

McKinley, Robin. PEGASUS. ISBN 9780399246777

By Janet Hilbun

Karma

2012-02-19T22:02:00.001-06:00

Ostlere, Cathy. 2011. KARMA. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9781595143389. [Suggested Grade Levels 8-11]

REVIEW

This is a beautiful and moving free-verse tale of a Canadian girl, Maya (also called Jiva), who first visits her parents’ native India after the suicide of her mother. Maya and Bapu (her father) travel to New Delhi in October, 1984 to lay her mother’s ashes to rest. Unfortunately, at this same time the country falls into unrest after the assassination of the Prime Minister, and Maya and her father are separated. Maya witnesses terrible suffering and violence, and as a result becomes temporarily mute. While unable to speak, she meets Sandeep, an Indian boy who helps her and keeps her as safe as he can. The story then evolves from both of their voices, Maya and Sandeep alternating, each in his or her own diary.

It is difficult to create consistent page-turns and maintain interest for 500+ pages, yet Ostlere does just this as the reader is transported into Maya and Sandeep’s world. The free verse poems clearly convey plot, setting, and character development. Although the diary format is difficult to believe at times, Maya and Sandeep themselves are believable and likeable characters. The reader wishes nothing more than to know more about them and their lives.

CONNECTIONS

Maya is half-Sikh and half-Hindu, her father being a Sikh and her mother a Brahmin. Their marriage was not accepted by either of their families. For a cultural connection, explore the differences and similarities between these two Indian religions. Also visit the author’s website at http://cathy-ostlere.com/ for background information about the author’s travels to India and how it influenced this story.

RELATED BOOKS

Desai Hidier, Tanuja. BORN CONFUSED. ISBN 9780439357623

Meminger, Neesha. SHINE COCONUT MOON. ISBN 9781416954958

By Sarah C. Dornback

Feynman

2012-02-19T22:01:00.001-06:00

Ottaviani, Jim. 2011. FEYNMAN. Ill by Leland Myrick. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596432598 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–12]

REVIEW

Ottaviani brings to young adult readers a fascinating look at the life of the late physicist Richard Feynman. Using a back and forth story technique in a graphic novel format, the author recounts Feynman’s life in such a way that the complexities of his explorations into physics seems reachable for anyone. Yet despite Feynman’s gifted abilities, he expresses an aversion to writing papers on his findings, which will find a responsive chord in most young adults. Later in life, his decision to stop drinking is presented in a very precise, logical way, just as Feynman presents his findings. Ottaviani continues to give the reader these snippets of a real person that demystifies the legend while maintaining Feynman’s uniqueness.

Biographies of famous scientists are often dry and appeal only to those who have a specific interest. Ottaviani has broken this expectation by crafting a relaxed look at not just the scientist but the boy, the young adult, and the man behind the brain that made pivotal changes in the way the world is understood. The reader is exposed to not just the Nobel-winning quantum physicist, but to the man who is an older brother, a musician, a loving husband, and a jokester who many call one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century.

CONNECTIONS

Two story maps could be created from this graphic novel, one following the personal history of Feynman and the other the scientific discoveries he made or participated in. Comparisons could also be made to contemporary scientists of Feynman’s time, both personally and scientifically.

RELATED BOOKS

Ottaviani, Jim. TWO-FISTED SCIENCE. ISBN 978-0978803742

Stannard, Russell. TIME AND SPACE OF UNCLE ALBERT. ISBN 9780571226153

By Christine J. Rayl

What Can(t) Wait

2012-02-19T21:58:00.002-06:00

Perez, Ashley Hope. 2011. WHAT CAN(T) WAIT. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda. ISBN 9780761361558. [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

REVIEW

Marissa lives in Houston, Texas, the youngest daughter of hard-working immigrant parents who work at low-paying jobs. Her brother is more interested in cars and “hanging” even though he graduated from high school; her sister got pregnant and dropped out of school. Now Marisa has a chance to fulfill her dream of becoming an engineer-- scholarships and acceptance at two universities makes this possible. But her parents have never appreciated her hard work in school and straight A report cards and though she has a chance to become the person she wants to be, babysitting for her niece, cooking meals, working an almost fulltime job to help with family finances are all converging to thwart her dreams.

Marisa is the kind of teenager that every teacher dreams of reaching and helping. Her battles with her family are gentle battles which she eventually wins. This is the type of book that belongs in every middle school and high school library in schools with large immigrant populations. Latino readers can so identify with the family dynamics and expectations, but the writing is not critical, only truthful.

CONNECTIONS

This is the perfect book to recommend to Latina girls who may be fighting the same battles. Use this selection for a girls book group as a starter for a discussion on personal goals and dreams vs. family pressures and expectations.

RELATED BOOKS

Canales, Viola. THE TEQUILA WORM. ISBN 9780375840890

Alegria, Malin. ESTRELLA’S QUINCENARA. ISBN 9780689878107

By Janet Hilbun

Lemonade And Other Poems Squeezed From A Single Word

2012-02-19T21:56:00.001-06:00

Raczka, Bob. 2011. LEMONADE AND OTHER POEMS SQUEEZED FROM A SINGLE WORD. Ill. by Nancy Doniger. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9721596435414 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-10]

REVIEW

This unique book takes the deconstruction of a poem to whole new lengths. Each poem starts on the right page with the text of a single word, artfully followed by several lines of select letters of the word typed below. While this tumble of letters may look like an artful display of type; look again, and then turn the page. The opposite side displays the letters of the words reformed into a new arrangement, and a new realization of the word.

Rearrangements can include such word displays and reformations as:

vacation

action

van

constellations

silent

lion

tells

ancient

tale

But the one that best describes this book is

creative

crave

art

Students will crave this book and want to try this new take on the written word!

CONNECTIONS

This collection of poems is deceptively simple. Challenge readers to follow this format using Scrabble tiles for ease in manipulation and see what poems they can “squeeze from a single word.”

RELATED BOOKS

For other looks at poetic forms and creative approaches to the art of the word see these:

Janeczko, Paul B. A KICK IN THE HEAD. ISBN 9780763606626

Janeczko, Paul B. POKE IN THE I. ISBN 9781417689538

Singer, Marilyn. MIRROR MIRROR. ISBN 9780525479017

By Marianne Follis

A Ball For Daisy

2012-02-19T21:55:00.002-06:00

Raschka, Chris. A BALL FOR DAISY. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 978-0375858611 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-3]

REVIEW

Chris Raschka won the Caldecott award (again) for this tender and lively wordless picture book. Daisy, an endearing puppy, has a favorite red ball that brings her much joy. Pages of scenes show her interacting with the ball, running and playing, until she meets a bigger (brown) dog. At first they enjoy their romp together, but when the big dog pops Daisy’s ball, she is heartbroken. Many bittersweet panels depict her grief, but when they return to the park, the brown dog has brought a new (blue) ball that Daisy get to keep and all is well again. Raschka’s distinctive impressionistic art moves across the pages with vivacity and zest, then aches with longing and loss, then celebrates the joyful conclusion of paradise regained.

CONNECTIONS

Without text, this is a lovely book to talk about and narrate together. What dialogue might children create for the various scenes? This could also prompt a discussion of toys loved and lost, as kids share their own experiences.

RELATED BOOKS

Other picture books illustrated by Chris Raschka:

THE HELLO GOODBYE WINDOW (by Norton Juster). ISBN 978-0786809141

YO! YES? ISBN 978-0439921855

ANOTHER IMPORTANT BOOK (by Margaret Wise Brown). ISBN 978-0064437851

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Blackout

2012-02-19T21:54:00.001-06:00

Rocco, John. 2011. BLACKOUT. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9781423121909 [Suggested Grade Levels PK - 2]

REVIEW

BLACKOUT takes the reader to New York City on a typical hot summer night. A small child is trying to find someone in his family that wants to play a board game. Everyone in the family is too busy doing their own thing to play a board game with him.

“And then. The lights went out. All of them.”

After the initial shock of total darkness, candles were lit and flashlights were turned on. The family settled down to make shadow puppets, but it was too hot inside after the power went off. They join residents of the neighborhood as they take to the streets and the rooftops.

Dark colors fill the illustrations to give the reader the illusion of a power outage. Once the families start lighting candles and turning on flashlights, the illustrations have a certain glow and warmth to them. Being in the dark can be a scary situation, but Rocco shows how one neighborhood makes the most of their newfound time when no one is busy and a sense of community emerges. There’s free ice cream, couples singing, people dancing, and firemen opening hydrants to cool the kids off. It is a party on the street until the lights come back on. Then everything goes back to normal until the family chooses to have a voluntary power outage by turning their lights off.

CONNECTIONS

Turn off the lights and have a flashlight reading event in the library. Read this book in conjunction with TV Turn-Off week. Brainstorm activities that children can do without electricity or lights.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books dealing with power outages and turning off the TV:

Collins, Suzanne. WHEN CHARLIE McBUTTON LOST POWER. ISBN 9780142408575

Novak, Matt. MOUSE TV.ISBN 9781453725559

By Jane Jergensen

Divergent

2012-02-19T21:52:00.001-06:00

Roth, Veronica. 2011. DIVERGENT. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062024022 [Suggested Grade Levels 8–x12]

REVIEW

Choices. We all have them, we all make them, yet in this dystopian novel there is one choice that must be made that determines future beliefs, loyalties and friendships. In a society with five factions, each person is tested to enter one of them yet once in a while, someone tests as a divergent, having the characteristics to function in more than one faction. Beatrice tests as a divergent and forsakes her family’s faction of Abnegation (the selfless) to join the Dauntless (the brave). She frees herself of past constraints, embraces the dangerous lifestyle, and finds her divergence to be the strength needed to help overcome a takeover by the Erudite (the intelligent).

Roth creates a realistically functional world by focusing on well-developed characters, a strong story line, and individual growth towards fulfillment. The dystopian nature of the world does not take precedent, rather it is the foundation for events that are the forefront of the story. The emotional, maturation of Beatrice into a self-sufficient, functional individual is handled masterfully and with enough excitement to gather in the most reluctant reader.

CONNECTIONS

The factions (the honest, the selfless, the brave, the peaceful, and the intelligent) encompass the qualities of a well-balanced society, but within this story, each quality is a separate faction that leads towards prejudice and war. Discussions could be held on the importance of each faction and the role they play in any government and culture. Which is the most important and why? Could a culture exist without a particular faction? If so, which one?

RELATED BOOKS

Other books with a dystopian background focusing on social changes:

Aguirre, Ann. ENCLAVE. ISBN 9780312650087

Lu, Marie. LEGEND. ISBN 9780399256752

By Christine J. Rayl

I Will Come Back For You: A Family In Hiding During World War II

2012-02-19T21:50:00.002-06:00

Russo, Marisabina. 2011. I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU: A FAMILY IN HIDING DURING WORLD WAR II. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 978-0375866951 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

REVIEW

Russo brings this autobiographical memoir to life through her distinctive folk illustration style and clear-eyed, sensitive writing. It’s unusual to use the format of the picture book to convey such difficult subject matter—surviving Nazi persecution of the Jews during World War II. Complete with copies of actual family photos on the end pages, Russo’s grandmother narrates the story, looking back to remember these childhood events for her inquiring granddaughter, using the charms on her bracelet to narrate each step on her journey to freedom. She doesn’t shy away from revealing the father’s death as a Resistance fighter either. Set in Italy, the Grandmother and her brother (as young children) escape Rome for a mountain village (in baskets full of pigs) and are “hidden” in plain sight living with a farm family. They survive the war and in the end immigrate to the U.S.

CONNECTIONS

This is a book that requires follow up discussion due to the serious, sensitive subject matter. Locate the places on a map and explain the historical context, if children need additional background. Explore the tradition of charm bracelets and the significance of individual charms. What charms might the children choose to exemplify their own family stories?

RELATED BOOKS

More autobiographical picture books by Marisabina Russo:

ALWAYS REMEMBER ME. ISBN 978-0689869204

A VISIT TO OMA. ISBN 978-0688096236

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Bookspeak!: Poems About Books

2012-02-19T21:49:00.002-06:00

Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. BOOKSPEAK!: POEMS ABOUT BOOKS. Ill. by Josee Bisaillon. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0547223001 [Suggested Grade Levels K-6]

REVIEW

This is a collection of 21 poems that any teacher and librarian will love—poems that celebrate books and reading. Where else can you find a poem about the index, for example? Salas has created a wonderful variety of poems about skywriting, diaries, cliffhangers, bookplates, literary conflict, bookstores, story endings, and more. The varying use of rhyme, rhythm, voice, and point of view gives each poem added uniqueness. In addition, careful readers will find several different poem forms including an acrostic poem, a haiku, list poems, etc. With whimsical art by Josée Bisaillon, weaving together collages, drawings, and digital montages, this book is clever, accessible and appealing.

CONNECTIONS

The opening poem, "Calling All Readers," serves as an excellent introduction to a reading lesson or library story time, demonstrating the delights that can be found in a book—friendship, adventure, even time travel. It can serve as a springboard for students to draft their own poems about their own experiences with books. Many of the poems in BOOKSPEAK lend themselves to reading aloud or performance, particularly “The Middle’s Lament,” written for three voices. Invite children to choose a favorite poem, practice it, and perform it for a public event or for the daily announcements.

RELATED BOOKS

Sidekicks

2012-02-19T21:47:00.001-06:00

Santat, Dan. 2011. SIDEKICKS. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439298193 [Suggested Grade Levels 2-6]

REVIEW

When Captain Amazing (aka Harry) starts feeling his age, he finally admits the truth: he needs a new SIDEKICK. This news creates a stir among his long suffering household pets, Roscoe, the loyal hound, Fluffy, the tiny hamster with huge attitude, and the new addition, Shifty, the chameleon. They feel neglected by the superhero’s already busy life and don’t want share his time and affection with someone new. So they do what all well drawn pets would do. They brush up on their own SIDEKICK skills (including some awesome superhero names and outfits) in order to audition for the role. When an encounter with Manny, a former SIDEKICK gone rogue, complicates matters, they join forces to assist Captain Amazing in the battle of his career… against Dr. Havoc!

Done in classic comic book style, Santat’s art pops off the page with a “POW!” and “BOOM!” using a muted palette with “SWIPEs!” of color. A complete range of emotion is played out on the expressive faces of the characters and supplemented with the text balloons of thought and word.

Readers of all ages will find the closing scene of “super” quality time hits the mark. Don’t forget to read the author/illustrator’s bio, given in the form of a SIDEKICK application.

CONNECTIONS

Reading a graphic novel takes some practice and is quite a complex activity. Help your readers by creating your own multi panel storytelling activity. Pay special attention to what a series of small panels convey compared to large ones.

RELATED BOOKS

Other great graphic novels for elementary students:

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. LUNCH LADY (series)

Holm, Jennifer L. BABYMOUSE (series)

By Marianne Follis

Where's Walrus?

2012-02-19T21:45:00.002-06:00

Savage, Stephen. 2011. WHERE’S WALRUS? New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439700498 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

This wordless picture book follows the zany antics of Walrus and his zookeeper after Walrus escapes from the zoo. The humor lies in the various hats Walrus wears to disguise himself to blend in with people around the city. As a result, the hapless zookeeper fails to spot him. Only when Walrus hits the high diving board does the zookeeper catch up. When the final hat comes off Walrus, the zookeeper discovers a way to keep him home and happy.

Flat, old-fashioned colors dominate spreads punctuated by the blue uniforms of the searching zookeeper. The art is simple and cartoon-like and a few simple brush strokes on faces convey the characters’ emotions. The art on the final page reveals the author’s satisfying plot twist.

Children may have great fun being “in the know” before the zookeeper realizes where Walrus is and spotting Walrus first in each spread. The book invites young children to join in the search and enjoy Walrus’s wild adventure.

CONNECTIONS

Lead a question and answer session after each spread to stimulate vocabulary. Have the children identify the location and occupations of the people Walrus encounters. Include the use of verbs to express what the citizens are doing as Walrus hides among them. Encourage them to predict what is about to happen on each spread.

RELATED BOOKS

Other wordless picture books:

Baker, Jeannie. MIRROR. 978-0763648480

Raschka, Chris. A BALL FOR DAISY. 9780375858611

By Shirley Duke

Drawing From Memory

2012-02-19T21:43:00.001-06:00

Say, Allen. 2011. DRAWING FROM MEMORY. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780545176866 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-8]

REVIEW

Caldecott medal-winner Allen Say shares his early journey to become an artist in this book, designed as an memory album. From his early love of drawing to his demanding studies at Aoyama Middle School in Tokyo to his life-changing apprenticeship with Noro Shinpei, the great Japanese cartoonist, Say shares with honesty and humor the events that formed his artistic development. His relationship with Shinpei is pivotal in Say’s story, as his sensei gives him the encouragement that his own father withheld throughout his childhood and early adolescence. The impact of teachers and fellow students is also chronicled in this coming-of-age tale that culminates in Say’s decision, at the age of 15, to join his long-absent father in America.

Say’s engaging and self-effacing text draws the reader into the story with a lively telling of preparation for middle school exams, life on his own at 12, and his intrepid decision to approach the great Shinpei as a potential student. Providing a visual window into Say’s early world are the comic panels, old photographs, paintings, and sketches that perfectly illustrate each phase of his artistic development. Text and illustration embody the passion of a young artist who must follow his dream, no matter how intimidating the journey.

CONNECTIONS

Allen Say uses comic book-style panels to tell his story in DRAWING FROM MEMORY. Invite readers to choose an episode in their lives and illustrate that memory using a comic panel presentation of the event.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books by Allan Say that are referenced in DRAWING FROM MEMORY:

Say, Allen. THE BICYCLE MAN. ISBN 978-0-395-32254-3

Say, Allen, THE SIGN PAINTER. ISBN 978-0-395-97974-7

Say, Allen. UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE: AN OLD JAPANESE TALE. ISBN 9780395845462

By Susi Parks Grissom

Okay For Now

2012-02-19T21:42:00.002-06:00

Schmidt, Gary D. 2011. OKAY FOR NOW. New York: Clarion. ISBN 978-0547152608 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-12]

REVIEW

Schmidt’s stand alone companion to the award-winning THE WEDNESDAY WARS focuses on Doug Swieteck who has moved with his family to upstate New York. Set in 1968 against the background of the Apollo Moon Mission, Joe Pepitone and the New York Yankees, and the Vietnam War, Doug is facing a difficult and abusive situation with a father who beats him, a brother accused of robbery, and another brother home from Vietnam with both external and internal scars. Enter Lil Spicer, a missing Audubon print, and a summer job delivering groceries to some really strange customers, and you have the blueprint for a fantastic coming-of-age novel with a little bit of everything-- family problems, first romance, mystery, history-- told in a compelling manner by the exceptional Gary Schmidt. Doug, a small, skinny boy considered a thug by his teachers and the town police, is a sympathetic, well-developed character, as is Liz who becomes his best friend and mentor. The book is a great novel for both boys and girls.

CONNECTIONS

Use this book in the classroom for a unit on the 1960s.

The book would also be a good bibliotherapy book for kids in abusive situations or with difficult home lives.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books by Gary Schmidt:

LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY. ISBN 9780375841699

TROUBLE. ISBN 9780547331331

THE WEDNESDAY WAR. ISBN 9780547237602

Other books set in the 1960s:

Kadahota, Cynthia. CRACKER: THE BEST DOG IN VIETNAM. ISBN 9781416906377

Lai, Thanhha. INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. ISBN 978006196273

By Janet Hilbun

Wonderstruck

2012-02-19T21:40:00.002-06:00

Selznick, Brian. 2011. WONDERSTRUCK. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0545027892 [Suggested Grade Levels 4-9]

REVIEW

Brian Selznick scores again with his second illustrated historical fiction novel. WONDERSTRUCK, lavishly illustrated in Selznick’s indomitable style, focuses on two hearing impaired characters in settings fifty years apart. Rose’s story, told entirely in pictures, is set New Jersey in the 1920s when she is a young girl, missing her brother and dreaming of meeting an actress she adores. Ben’s story, told in both words and pictures, begins in Minnesota in the 1970s where he is living with his aunt and uncle after the death of his mother. Both children long to go to New York City-- Rose to find her brother and the actress, Ben to find his father and the Cabinet of Wonders his mother wrote about. Both journey alone to the city where they hope to find the answers to their quests. This masterful story weaves a seamless tapestry between the two characters, two time periods, and two journeys that are somehow linked together. Readers of this book will be wonderstruck with delight.

CONNECTIONS

Have students write a story about themselves mixing words and illustrations. Use this selection in an art class to model drawing techniques. Visit the Museum of Natural History’s children’s activity website “Ology” at http://www.amnh.org/ology/.

RELATED BOOKS

Konisgsburg, E.L. FROM THE MIXED –UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER. ISBN 9781416949756

Quinn, Stephen Christopher. WINDOWS ON NATURE: THE GREAT HABITAT DIORAMAS OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. ISBN 9780810959408

Selznick, Brian. THE ADVENTURES OF HUGO CABRET. ISBN 9780439813785

By Janet Hilbun

Between Shades of Gray

2012-02-19T21:39:00.001-06:00

Sepetys, Ruta. 2011. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780399254123 [Suggested Grade Levels 8-12]

REVIEW

“They took me in my nightgown.” Lina, her mother, and little brother are taken from their Lithuanian home by the secret police in 1941. Accused of being anti-Soviet, the family, with hundreds of other “criminals,” is sent on a horrifying journey to Siberian labor camps. Although living out a nightmare, Lina finds the strength to carry on through her artwork. She secretly illustrates their experience hoping she will somehow be able to leave a trail for Papa to find them.

Based on the experiences of the author’s family, this novel reveals the horrors that took place in the Baltic states during Stalin’s reign of terror, a relatively unknown but immense Soviet genocide. Sepetys brilliantly voices the terrifying experiences while allowing hope, courage, love, and the strength of the human spirit to shine through. Flashbacks relay the family’s previous life, painting a sober picture of what was lost at the hands of evil. Sepetys’s use of art throughout the novel as a means of inspiration and documentation is particularly powerful. A compelling author’s note, map, and timeline round out this unforgettable first novel.

CONNECTIONS

Readers can observe the works of artist Edvard Munch and create illustrations of the characters in his distinctive style. They can plot the captives’ journey on a map and calculate the total miles traveled.

Sepetys says that truth rarely exists in black and white but rather “between shades of gray.” Readers can discuss what this means and which characters personify this idea in the novel.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about the Lithuanian experience:

Hautzig, Esther. THE ENDLESS STEPPE: GROWING UP IN SIBERIA. 9780329574666

Rabinovits, Shoshanah. THANKS TO MY MOTHER. 9780141305967

Whelan, Gloria. THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY. 9781402574061 [audio]

By Jill Bellomy

Magic Trash: A Story Of Tyree Guyton And His Art

2012-02-19T21:37:00.001-06:00

Shapiro, J. H. 2011. MAGIC TRASH: A STORY OF TYREE GUYTON AND HIS ART. Ill. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN 9781580893855 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-5]

REVIEW

This biographical picture book tells the story of Tyree Guyton, founder of the East Side Detroit Heidelberg Project. As a young boy with numerous brothers and sisters but few toys with which to play, Tyree began collecting eclectic cast-offs: bicycle wheels, popsicle sticks, old baseball caps, and more. He would then transform others’ garbage into imaginative designs.

Much to his mother’s chagrin, Tyree’s grandfather recognized his talent and encouraged Tyree to become an artist. As an adult, Tyree tried his hand at various professions, but his beloved Heidelberg Street home would not allow the artist in him to rest. Upon paying a visit to his mother, Tyree found the inspiration to transform his dilapidated and neglected neighborhood from trash into art.

This inspiring story will encourage children to pursue their dreams in the face of challenges and will serve to remind adults of the power of community. Shapiro’s text with rhythmic three-line stanzas interspersed throughout is accompanied by colorful mixed media illustrations which mimic the art of the Heidelberg Project.

CONNECTIONS

Encourage students to visit the Heidelberg Project website http://www.heidelberg.org/ and review the images and videos of Guyton’s art. Guyton used art to transform his environment and his neighbors’ image of their worth. Allow students to brainstorm ideas for how they might use their own talents to transform their community.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about affecting change:

Aston, Dianna Hutts. DREAM SOMETHING BIG: THE STORY OF THE WATTS TOWER. Ill. by Susan L. Roth ISBN 0803732457

DiSalvo-Ryan, DyAnne. CITY GREEN. ISBN 068812786X

Sundem, Garth. REAL KIDS, REAL STORIES, REAL CHANGE: COURAGEOUS ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN 1575423502

By Maria Cahill

Swirl By Swirl: Spirals In Nature

2012-02-19T21:35:00.001-06:00

Sidman, Joyce. 201. SWIRL BY SWIRL: SPIRALS IN NATURE. Ill. by Beth Krommes. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780547315836. [Suggested Grade Levels 1-4]

REVIEW

Spirals are a shape that curls around a center point, a shape that can be a snuggling shape, a growing shape, and a clever shape. While spirals are often seen as a rather simplistic concept, Sidman takes it to a new level by looking at spirals in nature, concepts that often we would not think of. The spiraled, coiled shape of a snake, the emergence of fern fronds, a hedgehog or millipede, are just some of nature’s spiral that “reaches out, exploring the world” as it unwinds and expands. The exploration of spirals in nature is not new, but in this book the spirals are not shown through photographs but rather, through the richly developed images created by Krommes.

This award winning illustrator does not disappoint as the scratchboard watercolor illustrations are complex, yet not so overwhelming that the young reader will be put off. Rather, the illustrations will be pored over as the images work seamlessly with the simple, open-end verses. Of particular note is the supportive end matter for further information about the spirals pictured in the book.

CONNECTIONS

This book is ideal for introducing the science or math concepts of shapes found in nature, including Fibonacci. Photos and drawings could be created by students to further support the spirals found in nature as well as exploring the process of creating scratchboard drawings.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books with this art form or exploring minute details in nature:

Swanson, Susan Marie. THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT. ISBN 9780618862443

Sidman, Joyce. BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. ISBN 9780618563135

By Christine J. Rayl

I'll Be There

2012-02-19T21:33:00.001-06:00

Sloan, Holly Goldberg. 2011. I’LL BE THERE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316122795. [Suggested Grade Levels 8-10]

REVIEW

Emily Bell’s life has been stable and mostly predictable. Her family is loving and helpful, making the right decisions comes easily to her, and her life is void of “dramatic hairpin turns.” Sam and Riddle Border have never lived in one place for more than a few months. Their father is unstable in every possible way. Emotionally and physically abusive, he moves the brothers to new locations whenever he feels “the net closing in on him.” Riddle has never been to school (and Sam not since the second grade), nor have they received medical care in that time. When Emily and Sam’s opposite lives merge unexpectedly, neither anticipates the enduring effect that each will have on the other.

Sloan’s debut novel is a breath of fresh air. Sam and Emily, who could easily be one-dimensional stereotypes, are instead unique and vibrant. Although the chain of events that befall the two are simply extraordinary, the circumstances and experiences rarely seem forced or contrived. Sloan successfully weaves into the background the stories of many other minor characters to create a memorable and inimitable coming-of-age narrative.

CONNECTIONS

At http://hollygoldbergsloan.com/aboutthebook.html, there are “playlists” of songs for each character. Teens could consider whether there are other songs that they believe capture the essence of Sam, Emily, or any of the other characters listed.

RELATED BOOKS

Other coming-of-age stories with both female and male protagonists:

Green, John. PAPER TOWNS. ISBN 9780525478188

Schmidt, Gary. OKAY FOR NOW. ISBN 9780547152608

By Sarah C. Dornback

The Christmas Coat: Memories Of My Sioux Childhood

2012-02-19T21:31:00.001-06:00

Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. THE CHRISTMAS COAT: MEMORIES OF MY SIOUX CHILDHOOD. Ill. by Ellen Beier. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823421343 [Suggested Grade Levels K-3]

REVIEW

Based on memories from the author’s life on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, this picture book portrays the spirit of the Christmas season that transcends culture. The story tells of Virginia, an Episcopal priest’s daughter, and her wish for a new coat. When the boxes from the East arrive, her family must offer the clothing to the others first. Another girl in need chooses the coat Virginia hoped to receive. After receiving gifts from Santa and celebrating with traditional food, and just before heading to church, her mother opens a box marked for the priest’s family. In it is a coat that just fits Virginia.

Watercolor and gouache art fills the spreads that suggest the chill of a South Dakota winter and portray the Native American characters in a realistic manner. The emotions Virginia experiences are rendered beautifully on her face and the Wise Men appear as Tribal Leaders in traditional headdress.

This book takes a universal story and sets it against another culture without making the culture the central theme. Without preaching or overt religious references, this Christmas book shows the season of joy and giving for all peoples and beliefs.

CONNECTIONS

Collect books about Christmas in other cultures. Have groups of children create a mural depicting the different ways people celebrate Christmas in other cultures.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about Christmas in other cultures:

Kimmel, Eric A., and Katya Krenina. THE SPIDER’S GIFT: A UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS STORY. ISBN 9780823417438

Langstaff, John, and Ashley Bryan. WHAT A MORNING!: THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN BLACK SPIRITUALS. ISBN 9780689808074

By Shirley Duke

Little Owl's Night

2012-02-19T21:29:00.001-06:00

Srinivasan, Divya. 2011. LITTLE OWL’S NIGHT. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9780670012954 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-K]

REVIEW

Little Owl flies through the dark night watching other nocturnal animals and noticing the beauty of the night forest. The possum family waddles along, moths flutter toward the moon, frog croaks softly, and cricket chirps smartly as the fog rolls in and hovers just overhead. Finally, Little Owl heads home and asks Mama to tell him how night ends. “The moon and stars fade to ghosts, spiderwebs turn to silver threads,” as Mama speaks these words, the sun begins to rise and Little Owl falls fast asleep.

First-time author Divya Srinivasan pairs lyrical, descriptive text with crisp, bold illustrations to create an engaging nighttime story. Little Owl’s big, circular eyes and the animals’ distinguishing characteristics leap from the black background. Srinivasan’s precise word choice perfectly describes the activity of the night forest and the emerging morning. This comforting book truly celebrates the delightful details of night and reassures young readers of its charm.

CONNECTIONS

The book can prompt a discussion of nocturnal animals. The children might list those featured in the book, look for the action of each animal (for example, the possums waddle, the hedgehog sniffs), and act each movement out. Readers can also compare the night to the day and even work together to create a companion tale highlighting the day from another animal’s point of view.

Little Owl is composed of simple shapes (circles, ovals, triangles, diamond). Children might enjoy creating their own Little Owl and other animals from construction paper shapes.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books highlighting the attributes of the night:

Ipcar, Dahlov Zorach. THE CAT AT NIGHT. 9781934031230

Na, Il Sung. A BOOK OF SLEEP. 9780375962233

Yolen, Jane. OWL MOON. 9780399214578

By Jill Bellomy

Emerald Atlas

2012-02-19T21:27:00.003-06:00

Stephens, John. 2011. EMERALD ATLAS. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375868702 [Suggested Grade Levels 5–8]

REVIEW

Kate, Emma, and Michael have been bounced from orphanage to orphanage for most of their lives. The children were taken away from their parents in the middle of the night with a promise that they would be together again. What the children don’t know is they were taken to protect them from a magical prophecy and to allow them to grow up to fulfill their destinies.

Despite the children’s upbringing, their spirits have not been broken. Kate is the protector. Since she was four years old, she has followed her mother’s wish of keeping her brother and sister safe. Michael is the studious one. He is well versed on dwarfish history because of the book his father left him. Emma is small but scrappy. She has no memory of her parents, only orphanages. She follows the rule: when you stop fighting, you’re finished. The latest orphanage they are sent to in Cambridge Falls is a strange place. They are the only children there and it is run by an eccentric Dr. Pym. As if their lives weren’t already in turmoil, they find a magical green book that transports them back in time where they must battle to save their lives and quite possibly save the world. THE EMERALD ATLAS is an action-packed fantasy of good against evil that will delight readers of all ages.

CONNECTIONS

Create a writing center with old photographs. Have children write stories involving any of the photographs. What adventure would you have if you went back to the time of the photograph?

RELATED BOOKS

Other books with magic in them:

Funke, Cornelia. INKHEART. ISBN 9780439852708

Rowling, J.K. HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. ISBN 9780439064866

By Jane Jergensen

Edwin Speaks Up

2012-02-19T21:25:00.002-06:00

Stevens, April. 2011. EDWIN SPEAKS UP. Ill. by Sophie Blackall. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375853371 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-2]

REVIEW

Absent-minded Mrs. Finnemore and her five little ferrets are off to the grocery to purchase sugar for Baby Edwin’s first birthday cake. Chaos ensues, with Ms. Finnemore oblivious not only to the havoc her children are wreaking in the store, but also to the fact that Baby Edwin’s babbling actually makes sense. “Gloody pooper do no LEAVEY,” he exclaims as his mother walks off, leaving him alone in the produce section. Edwin quietly saves the day by crawling through the store and finding the sugar that everyone else has clearly forgotten. The story closes with Mrs. Finnemore musing on the fact that Edwin will soon be talking-– as Edwin babbles “roofum sweet” about the sugar on the top of the car.

The book’s delight is in the details-- expressions on the ferret children’s faces and hilarious action taking place on the edge of the page. The retro illustrations point to a world of big full skirts and cars with fins, and repeating patterns abound on each page. Text and illustrations work together to create a book that begs to be shared.

CONNECTIONS

Explore the math concepts in the illustrations. Identify a category (repeating pattern in a skirt, veggies in a shopping cart) and encourage the readers to count the objects. Let older readers create simple math problems based on the book’s illustrations.

RELATED BOOKS

Other humorous picture books about a baby in the family:

Jenkins, Emily. THAT NEW ANIMAL. ISBN 9780374374433

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. HOW TO BE THE BABY BY ME, THE BIG SISTER.

ISBN 9780375938436

Harris, Robie. MAIL HARRY TO THE MOON. ISBN 9780316153768

By Susi Parks Grissom

The Scorpio Races

2012-02-19T21:23:00.002-06:00

Stiefvater, Maggie. 2011. THE SCORPIO RACES. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0545224901 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

The Scorpio Races occur every November on the small island of Thisby when the men and boys race their colorful but dangerous water horses, often to their deaths as the horses try to either drown their riders or eat their flesh. Sean Kendrick, a stable hand, has won the race for the last several years, but this year the stakes are especially high. Enter Puck Connolly, the only girl ever to enter the Scorpio Races. Despite the citizens of the island not wanting her to race, she chooses to race because she needs the money to save her home and her small island pony that she will use to race against the much stronger, much larger, and much faster water horses. In a somewhat predictable turn of events, she and Sean fall in love, despite the knowledge that only one of them can win. This book is dark, often disturbing, brutal, spine-tingling, impossible to put down, and unforgettable, despite its rather slow start. Not only will Stiefvater fans embrace this book, but so will readers who want to read something a little different from the usual young adult fare. This book was a Michael Printz Honor award winner.

CONNECTIONS

This book is a perfect selection for book club discussion. Have students draw or paint their impressions of what a water horse really looks like. Have a contest to choose the best depiction.

RELATED BOOKS

Books with other unusual creatures:

Childs, Tera Lyn. FORGIVE MY FINS (mermaids). ISBN 9780061914676

Cremer, Andrea. NIGHTSHADE (shape-shifters). ISBN 9780142419809

Papademetriou, Lisa. SIREN’S STORM (sirens). ISBN 9780375842450

Pike, Christopher. THE SECRET OF KA (genies). ISBN 9780547577296

By Janet Hilbun

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story Of The Puppeteer Of Macy's Parade

2012-02-19T21:21:00.002-06:00

Sweet, Melissa. 2011. BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY’S PARADE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0547199450 [Suggested Grade Levels K-6]

REVIEW

This is a lushly illustrated picture book biography of Tony Sarg, a pioneer of puppetry who contributed to making the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade the extravaganza it is today. Sweet details his early German roots and his penchant for puppetry, toy making, and experimentation. In the 1920s, he works with Macy’s department store to design and create new additions to the traditional parade celebrating immigrant traditions at Thanksgiving time. Several iterations of balloons are described and depicted in fascinating collage illustrations. Young readers will be fascinated by the process as well as by the adult’s child-like enthusiasm for his chosen career.

Melissa Sweet’s distinctive mixed media art and clever use of graphic and textual elements complement the story perfectly—especially since the subject himself was known for using all kinds of materials for his creative work.

CONNECTIONS

Share this book or excerpts from it prior to Thanksgiving for maximum relevance. Watch clips from previous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades, paying particular attention to the balloons. Compare with those that Sweet describes from previous generations. Gather supplies and try working together to create a balloon or “upside down” puppet as a group using some of the ideas presented in the book.

RELATED BOOKS

Other biographical picture books illustrated by Melissa Sweet:

Bryant, Jen. A RIVER OF WORDS: THE STORY OF WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS. ISBN 978-0802853028

Davies, Jacqueline. THE BOY WHO DREW BIRDS: A STORY OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. ISBN 978-0618243433

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Daughter Of Smoke & Bone

2012-02-19T21:20:00.002-06:00

Taylor, Laini. 2011. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316134026 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW

Karou, a striking, blue-haired art student in Prague, fills her sketchbook with detailed illustrations of chimaera, creatures comprised of parts of various animals. Unknown to her classmates, these creatures are actually Karou’s family. A scorched handprint on the portal to their world and the appearance of mysterious winged strangers-– one whose exquisite beauty and allure Karou cannot resist-- are signs of an approaching unearthly war that will change her life forever.

Taylor builds a hauntingly beautiful world within this captivating novel. The lush descriptions of Prague are expertly combined with Karou’s mythical realm creating a unique setting that is accessible and believable. The reader is drawn in from the first words: “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” Taylor succeeds in developing this hook into an unforgettable tale of forbidden love. Although exploring familiar subjects of romance, family, magic, self-discovery, and good vs. evil, Taylor brings originality to the topics through fascinating, well-developed characters and tight plotting. The suspenseful, engaging fantasy will leave readers eagerly anticipating the upcoming sequel.

CONNECTIONS

Artistic extensions include creating portraits of the characters, designing newly-imagined chimaera and seraphim, and illustrating the eye tattoos. Teens can view photos of Prague and map the many cities mentioned in the text including Paris, Istanbul, and St. Petersburg. A wishbone, wishes, and hope (“the real magic”) are important to the story; research the tradition of wishbones, write about wishes and hopes, and discuss the difference.

RELATED BOOKS

More novels with supernatural, star-crossed romance:

Clare, Cassandra. CITY OF BONES. 9781416914280

Hand, Cynthia. UNEARTHLY. 9780061996160

Marr, Melissa. WICKED LOVELY. 9780061214653

By Jill Bellomy

Orchards

2012-02-19T21:17:00.002-06:00

Thompson, Holly. 2011. ORCHARDS. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780385739771 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-12]

REVIEW

In the wake of a classmate’s suicide, Kana is sent to her mother’s childhood home, a small village in Japan, to reflect, visit with her family, and work in the same orchards her mother did so many years ago.

The story unfolds as Kana addresses each chapter to the dead girl, Ruth. The writing is intimate and intertwined as Kana’s feelings of isolation and guilt mix with the day to day issues of a young girl, such as cultural identity and body image. Half Russian Jew and half Japanese, Kana expresses her fears of belonging when upon her arrival in Japan she is greeted by her cousins who are “two skinny legs below a hipless bottom” and then later while trying to learn her Japanese family’s routine:

I try to help

but my ears

aren’t used

to Baachan’s words

Aunt and Uncle and Koichi’s

words

so much Japanese

so fast and constant

not

the half-and-half mix

of English

and Japanese

I hear from my family

or the Japlish I share

with Emi

in New York

ORCHARDS effectively uses setting to place Kana in a land where she is the outsider. She feels she doesn’t fit in physically, linguistically or culturally and reflects on her loss of place in the world. For Kana this takes place in Japan, for Ruth, this was her middle school experience at home.

CONNECTIONS

Use Kana’s letter writing technique as a writers’ prompt. What would you say/write to someone if you knew they would never read it?

RELATED BOOKS

Other novels in verse with strong female narratives:

Atkins, Jeannine. BORROWED NAMES. ISBN 9780805089349

Engle, Margarita. FIREFLY LETTERS. ISBN 9780805090826

By Marianne Follis

Migrant

2012-02-19T21:15:00.002-06:00

Trottier, Maxine. 2011. MIGRANT. Ill. by Isabelle Arsenault. Toronto: Groundwood. ISBN 9780888999757 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-5]

REVIEW

In this simile- and metaphor-filled picture book, young Anna, a Low German-speaking Mennonite migrant from Mexico, imagines herself as various animals. Anna relates her story with that of birds that follow the seasons north and south. She empathizes with the jack rabbit that lives in others’ abandoned holes and she connects with kittens who curl up with their siblings at night. Through these associations with animals, Trottier conveys the realities and hardships of migrant life for children.

Isabelle Arsenault’s pastel illustrations depict Anna as the animals with whom she associates herself. Additionally, Arsenault masterfully integrates the flying geese quilt block into the end pages and throughout the book to further punctuate the constant flight of Anna’s family. Though Trottier’s story focuses on a particular group of migrants, the book will resonate with other migrant children as well as those who must move frequently.

CONNECTIONS

Many of the Low German-speaking Mennonite migrants moved from the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Provinces in Canada to the cities of Durango and Chihuahua in Mexico. Group children and assign groups to trace the route from one of these provinces to one of these cities calculating the miles, indicating the states and major cities through which the route passes, and suggesting attractions to see along the way.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for children about migrant children:

Altman, Linda Jacobs. AMELIA’S ROAD. Ill. by Enrique O. Jacobs. ISBN 188000027X

Atkin, S. Beth. VOICES FROM THE FIELDS: CHILDREN OF MIGRANT FARMWORKERS TELL THEIR STORIES. ISBN 0316056200

Jiménez, Francisco. LA MARIPOSA. ISBN 0618073175

By Maria Cahill

Press Here

2012-02-19T21:14:00.002-06:00

Tullet, Hervé. 2011. PRESS HERE. San Francisco: Chronicle. ISBN 978-0811879545 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK-6]

REVIEW

This unique French import is so simple, it’s sublime. It’s nearly perfect as a book that invites young readers to engage in both a tactile as well as a visual experience. With each page of dots, the reader is invited to “press” or otherwise touch the page in a way that creates new dot arrangements and moves the story forward. There is an illusion of magic as the dots change and shift across the page. In its way, it’s as effective as an iPad or videogame full of fun and surprise. The simple, imperfectly painted dots on the stark white background, along with the hand-lettered looking font suggest a friendly and intimate kind of homemade book. It relies on the child’s imagination for its power—the ultimate accomplishment for any picture book.

CONNECTIONS

This book begs to be read aloud with a partner or the whole group—and of course with a volunteer acting out the necessary motions. And it bears repeated reading, too, and calls for imitation. Using colored dot stickers and a page divided in half, the children can create their own “before and “after” page with an action of their own. Then, display the pages or assemble a class book, so everyone can interact with the pages.

RELATED BOOKS

Other picture books featuring dots:

Crews, Donald. TEN BLACK DOTS. ISBN 978-0061857799

Lionni, Leo. LITTLE BLUE AND LITTLE YELLOW. ISBN 978-0375872907

By Sylvia M. Vardell

The Running Dream

2012-02-19T21:11:00.003-06:00

Van Draanen, Wendelin. 2011. THE RUNNING DREAM. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375966675 [Suggested Grade Levels 7-10]

REVIEW

In a tragic bus accident, Jessica’s leg is crushed resulting in an amputation below the knee. She may be able to walk again with a prosthetic, but this is a devastating blow to the sixteen-year-old track star: “Running aired out my soul. It made me feel alive. And now? I’m stuck in this bed, knowing I’ll never run again.” As Jessica tries to step back into life, she is befriended by Rosa, a classmate with cerebral palsy she never noticed before. Through the help of her new friend, family, teammates, and coach, Jessica realizes there may be hope for her after all.

Van Draanen capably tells Jessica’s inspiring story, realistically capturing the struggles, self-pity, setbacks, and triumphs one would surely experience recovering from such a life-altering injury. Van Draanen skillfully weaves the detailed recuperation-– clearly well-researched-– with typical events from the life of a teen enabling readers both to relate to Jessica and to gain a deeper understanding of an amputee’s experience. The novel is ultimately hopeful as Jessica’s determination and resilience allow her to find a new, reimagined path. The development of her character and the special friendship with Rosa emphasize the importance of looking past a disability to the heart of a person.

CONNECTIONS

Readers can watch online videos of real-life amputee runners using the Flex-Foot, such as Paralympics Gold Medalist Oscar Pistorius. They can research more about the Flex-Foot and other inventions that help people with physical challenges. Another topic that can be explored further is cerebral palsy.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books featuring youth coping with disabilities:

Bingham, Kelly L. SHARK GIRL. 9780763632076

Gallo, Donald R. Ed. OWNING IT: STORIES ABOUT TEENS WITH DISABILITIES. 9780763632557

By Jill Bellomy

Raggin' Jazzin' Rockin': A History Of American Musical Instrument Makers

2012-02-19T21:09:00.002-06:00

VanHecke, Susan. 2011. RAGGIN’ JAZZIN’ ROCKIN’: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN 9781590785744 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

This excellent source will delight band students as it gives the history behind many of the famous names they see emblazoned on their instruments. Who knew that Zildjian cymbals were invented almost 400 years ago? Why are Conn brass instruments still considered of highest quality? How did Steinway and Hammond become synonymous with pianos and organs? Each chapter discusses the history of these and other instruments with a famous family name.

Music-lovers will appreciate the detail behind the instruments and the creators’ rising to fame, yet the layout makes this an accessible source for teens. Sidebars, multiple photos, and pages accented in neon green add to the book’s appeal. While the text reads like a story, much of the content is unique (a chapter on Moog electronic synthesizers hails to more modern instrumentation), appealing to young researchers as well.

CONNECTIONS

Librarians don’t often make connections with music and band teachers, but this book provides the perfect opportunity to do so. Contact a music teacher in your community about holding a recital in the library. Ask these experts to talk about their favorite instruments, genres, and composers. Invite music students to report on research that they have conducted regarding music and provide a visual display of their work.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for young adults about music history:

Ellis, Rex M. WITH A BANJO ON MY KNEE: A MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM. ISBN 9780531117477

Gourse, Leslie. DEEP DOWN IN MUSIC: THE ART OF THE GREAT JAZZ BASSISTS. ISBN

Hart, Mickey. SONGCATCHERS: IN SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S MUSIC. ISBN 9780792241072

Rubin, Susan Goldman. MUSIC WAS IT: YOUNG LEONARD BERNSTEIN. ISBN 9781580893442

By Rebecca S. McKee

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told In Haiku

2012-02-19T21:08:00.002-06:00

Wardlaw, Lee. 2011. WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 978-0805089950 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

REVIEW

Won-Ton is a picture book story-in-poems about a shelter cat who is chosen from the rest and gradually settles into his new home. Wardlaw uses senryu, a form of Japanese poetry, to capture the feline personality page by page, poem by poem. The cat himself narrates his story and has an arch opinion about all the things he encounters in this new setting. Gradually, he bonds with his new owner, a little boy, and even reveals his “real” name by the end of the book. A unique spin on “adoption,” Wardlaw channels the cat’s independent spirit in unexpected ways.

The cartoon illustrations by Eugene Yelchin offer angular images of this persnickety cat full of sly energy and movement. The cat appears to slink across the page with the spare poems placed perfectly throughout. This unique book earned the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for 2012.

CONNECTIONS

Discuss the differences between haiku (about nature) and senryu (about human nature) and work together to try creating original examples of each. Collaborate to create a new cat or pet story with children working in pairs to write senryu poems and make a class book. Students may also want to research more information about cat behavior and shelter adoptions in their communities. Provide opportunities for them to tell their own stories about the pets in their lives.

RELATED BOOKS

Other collections of haiku:

Janeczko, Paul B. WING NUTS: SCREWY HAIKU. ISBN 0316607312

Mora, Pat. YUM! MMM! QUE RICO! AMERICAS’ SPROUTINGS. ISBN 978-1584302711

Prelutsky, Jack. IF NOT FOR THE CAT: HAIKU. 978-0060596774

Raczka, Bob. GUYKU. ISBN 978-0547240039

Rosen, Michael J. THE CUCKOO’S HAIKU AND OTHER BIRDING POEMS. ISBN 978-0763630492

By Sylvia M. Vardell

Where Things Come Back

2012-02-19T21:06:00.002-06:00

Whaley, John Corey. 2011. WHERE THINGS COME BACK. New York: Atheneum. ISBN 9781442413337 [Suggested Grade Level 8-12]

REVIEW

Whaley’s debut young adult novel won the Printz Award for 2012. Set in a sleepy, dull, Arkansas town, Cullen expects the summer before his senior year to be quietly boring. Sure there is a birdwatcher in town who insists he has found an “extinct” woodpecker which is causing a lot of media commotion, but other than that, not much else is happening, until his younger brother disappears. Fifteen-year-old Gabriel is quiet and gifted, not the type of teen to take off on his own. In a parallel story line, a young missionary in Africa has lost his faith and returns to the South to try to find himself. The intertwining of these two stories-- the loss of faith and the loss of a brother-- in the framework of media frenzy, family issues, lost love, and small town life makes for an intense novel. Whaley grew up in a small town in Louisiana and really “nails” Southern small town life. A former English teacher and only 28 years old, Whaley knows young adult readers and this shows in his expertly crafted novel.

CONNECTIONS

The extinct bird in the book is based on the supposed sighting of the Lazurus Woodpecker. Have students research this sighting.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books winning the Michael Printz Award:

Bacigalupi, Paolo. THE SHIP BREAKER. ISBN 9780316056199

Bray, Libba. GOING BOVINE. ISBN 9780385733984

Marchetta, Melina. JELLICOE ROAD. ISBN 9780061431850

McCaughrean, Geraldine. THE WHITE DARKNESS. 9780060890377

By Janet Hilbun

Harry & Hopper

2012-02-19T21:04:00.002-06:00

Wild, Margaret. 2011. HARRY & HOPPER. Ill by Freya Blackwood. New York: Macmillian. ISBN 9780312642617 [Suggested Grade Levels 1–3]

REVIEW

Where there is love, there is loss and for young children, the love of a pet is often followed by its loss. HARRY & HOPPER is about a child’s loss, but also the child’s journey through the grief and loneliness that follows. Hopper “was as jumpy as a grasshopper” and every evening would sneak past Dad to sleep on Harry’s bed. When Hopper dies, Harry is devastated. He does not say good bye to Hopper, does not help his father bury him, and does not want to sleep in his room. Yet Hopper appears to Harry that night and several nights thereafter. Harry lives for these nocturnal visits of play, yet Hopper gradually fades away, as if mirroring the lessening of Harry’s grief. On the last visit, Hopper is weak and unable to “hop” around. Harry carries Hopper into his bed where he holds a ghostly Hopper and softly tells him good bye.

This gentle book speaks to children through the simple story and superb illustrations of Freya Blackwood that capture the essence of the emotions. This book speaks on a child’s level, making it an excellent choice for children to understand the forms that grieving may take.

CONNECTIONS

This book is perfect for teaching children how to infer a character’s feelings and reactions due to Blackwood’s excellent illustrations. For older children, the illustrations show the use of line to indicate motion, emotions, and how less can be more. This book is a wonderful addition to a collection of books on loss and coping.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books about the death of a pet:

Viorst, Judith. THE TENTH GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY. ISBN 9780689712036

Rylant, Cynthia. DOG HEAVEN. ISBN 9780590417013

By Christine J. Rayl

Born And Bred In The Great Depression

2012-02-19T21:03:00.002-06:00

Winter, Jonah. 2011. BORN AND BRED IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION. Ill. by Kimberly Bulcken Root. New York: Random House. ISBN9780375861970 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

REVIEW

In poetic form, a boy relates the stories that his father has shared about what it was like to live in East Texas during the Great Depression. The text of this story is both lyrical and matter-of-fact, making this a unique offering to children who might not otherwise understand what it was like to live during such hard times. The young narrator recalls specific brow-raising situations: his father’s feet “got tough as leather” since there was no money for shoes, ten family members shared two beds, his grandfather played banjo minus two fingers that were “gone from a lumber mill accident.”

Dreamy watercolor illustrations help convey the poverty of the time and readers should not miss the author’s family photos from the 1930’s that adorn the end pages. This is an excellent book that recalls bad financial times of the past without analyzing the political and social issues of the time. It reinforces the adaptability of people and children while providing hopeful encouragement of the “blue skies of better days” to come.

CONNECTIONS

While this book reveals historical facts, it also serves as reminder of the importance of passing down stories to younger generations. Encourage children to “interview” their parents or grandparents about what life was like for them during childhood. Incorporate video or web-based tools such as Voicethread to record the discussions.

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Other informational books about the Great Depression:

Freedman, Russell. CHILDREN OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. ISBN 9780547480350

Stanley, Jerry. CHILDREN OF THE DUST BOWL: THE TRUE STORY OF THE SCHOOL AT WEEDPATCH CAMP. ISBN 9780785716754.

By Rebecca S. McKee

The Watch That Ends The Night: Voices From The Titanic

2012-02-19T20:59:00.003-06:00

Wolf, Allan. 2011.THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT: VOICES FROM THE TITANIC. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-0763637033 [Suggested Grade Levels 6-12]

REVIEW

Twenty-four voices give a thoughtful rendering of the fateful voyage in April of 1912. Through poetic narratives, readers gain a variety of perspectives about the ship, its passengers and societal norms. John Jacob Astor (The Millionaire) longs to avoid public scrutiny over his new teen bride. Jamila Nicola-Yarred (The Refugee) discovers love while she and her brother journey toward America. The Iceberg eloquently foreshadows his disastrous role, while The Ship Rat provides a matter-of-fact respite from the often-profound poems of the passengers. The dichotomies of rich and poor, young and old, contented and doleful are so precisely drawn that readers will easily grasp how one ill-fated event affects so many in such a variety of ways.

Despite no surprise ending, the reader is compelled to learn more about the relationships between the voices, to root for survival, and to make connections between the past and present. An author’s note, further insight into the voices, and a thorough bibliography make up back matter that should not be missed.

CONNECTIONS

Teens are sure to encounter much information about the Titanic during its centennial commemoration. Likewise the recent sinking of the Concordia off the coast of Italy provides a modern-day shipwreck to compare with that of the Titanic. Such events are perfect opportunities for research projects, so investigate webquests and online lessons about the Titanic and its occupants. Collect news stories about the Concordia crash and find visual dissections of cruise ships to better understand the layout of these boats.

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Other historical fiction about the Titanic:

Gray, Claudia. FATEFUL. ISBN 9780062006202

Weyn, Suzanne. DISTANT WAVES: A NOVEL OF THE TITANIC. ISBN 9780545085724

Williams, Barbara. TITANIC CROSSING. ISBN 9780803717909

By Rebecca S. McKee

All The Way To America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel

2012-02-19T20:56:00.003-06:00

Yaccarino, Dan. 2011. ALL THE WAY TO AMERICA: THE STORY OF A BIG ITALIAN FAMILY AND A LITTLE SHOVEL. New York: Knopf. ISBN 978-0375866425 [Suggested Grade Levels K-5]

REVIEW

In this autobiographical picture book, author and illustrator Dan Yaccarino tells the story of his family’s immigration from Italy to the U.S. As each generation makes its way in the new homeland, a toy shovel provides a link of continuity and a variety of useful purposes with a focus on working hard, enjoying life, and spending time with family. What could come off as sentimental is grounded in meaningful details and examples of daily life and Yaccarino’s characteristic cartoon characters rendered in a vivid palette of poster colors. He subtly incorporates the colors of the Italian flag (red, white, green) throughout the pages, a detail young readers are sure to enjoy.

CONNECTIONS

Following the reading aloud of this story, use the book to model how a family tree is constructed identifying each generations’ members and where they are noted on a tree diagram. Encourage young readers to talk about their own extended family members and what names (e.g. “Grandma,” “Nana,” etc.) they use for each person. Check the author’s web site for digital trailers for this book, one narrated by the author himself. He also encourages children to submit their own family stories at a dedicated blog: http://allthewaytoamericablog.blogspot.com/

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