Author: David T. Greenberg
Illustrator: Joy Allen
Year: 2005
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Poetry
Location: Anywhere, U.S.A.
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: Starting off with the classic nursery rhymes stating what little boys and girls are made of, this book turns into a battle of the sexes, with girls on left pages talking about what they don't like about boys, and boys on right pages talking about what they don't like about girls. Peace is restored when each gender discusses the things they like about the other.
Comments: The text on the inside flap of this book states that it is intended as two books in one. "Boys can read the Book of Girls (for Boys) on the left side, and the girls can counter by reading the Book of Boys (for Girls) on the right." Text isn't always lined up this way, however, so it might be hard for two people to read the different parts at the same time. It's a very fun idea, however, and the rhymes are creative. The watercolor and pencil drawings are fun and bright, and they show a lot of action. Children who are entering the "cootie" stage would enjoy this book.
Themes: Boys, Girls, Getting Along, Looking for the Good in Others.
Red Flags: A few burp and fart jokes, Children misbehaving
Multicultural Elements: Children of many different cultures are depicted
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
All in Just One Cookie
Author: Susan E. Goodman
Illustrator: Timothy Bush
Year: 2006
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book
Genre: Picture Book/Non-Fiction
Location: Grandma's Kitchen/All over the World
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: While Grandma gathers and mixes each of the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, the cat and the dog research how each ingredient is made and how it all mixes together to create a delicious treat.
Comments: This book pulls out all the stops in trying to teach children where their food comes from in an interesting and entertaining way. The pictures are bright and attractive, and the hungry dog and curious cat are fun to watch. Little jokes are made on each page. My favorite joke comes from the chickens who state, "I'm not crossing that road!" when they see the cat driving the eggs to the store.
The information in the book seems solid, and it goes into more detail than I thought a picture book would. For example, children get a small food chain lesson when they learn about the ecosystem surrounding saltwater ponds. The book ends with a map of the world depicting where each ingredient comes from. A recipe for chocolate chip cookies is found on the very last page of the book. This book may be used for information for young children's reports, but more information would probably be needed for older audiences.
Themes: Baking, History of Ingredients, Chocolate Chip Cookies
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Timothy Bush
Year: 2006
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book
Genre: Picture Book/Non-Fiction
Location: Grandma's Kitchen/All over the World
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: While Grandma gathers and mixes each of the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, the cat and the dog research how each ingredient is made and how it all mixes together to create a delicious treat.
Comments: This book pulls out all the stops in trying to teach children where their food comes from in an interesting and entertaining way. The pictures are bright and attractive, and the hungry dog and curious cat are fun to watch. Little jokes are made on each page. My favorite joke comes from the chickens who state, "I'm not crossing that road!" when they see the cat driving the eggs to the store.
The information in the book seems solid, and it goes into more detail than I thought a picture book would. For example, children get a small food chain lesson when they learn about the ecosystem surrounding saltwater ponds. The book ends with a map of the world depicting where each ingredient comes from. A recipe for chocolate chip cookies is found on the very last page of the book. This book may be used for information for young children's reports, but more information would probably be needed for older audiences.
Themes: Baking, History of Ingredients, Chocolate Chip Cookies
Red Flags: None
How I Became a Pirate
Author: Melinda Long
Illustrator: David Shannon
Year: 2003
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 44
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year
Genre: Picture Book/Adventure
Series Information: First of the Pirate books
Location: High Seas
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: When Braid Beard and his crew land at the beach, they meet Jeremy Jacob, a boy whose family is vacationing at the beach that day. Braid Beard notices Jeremy's talents at digging in the sand, and he asks Jeremy to join the crew and help them find the perfect place to bury their treasure. Jeremy agrees, and at first he enjoys eating with his mouth open and staying up past his bedtime. Jeremy starts to rethink his decision when he realizes that pirates don't get a bedtime story and goodnight kiss each night. SPOILER! When a terrible storm hits, and the ship loses its mast, Jeremy decides he has had enough of being a pirate. He suggests that Braid Beard and the crew hide their treasure in his back yard, which they do with the promise that they'll come by to see if he ever needs help.
Comments: Boys especially will like this story of a boy who gets to act up as much as he wants, but determines that he'd rather be home with his parents. Shannon's paintings are full of detail, and his pirates are hilarious. Even on pages that are mostly text, pirates are drawn around the edges, giving the effect of pirates looking at you from above as you lay on the floor looking up. The text is fun, but the best part of it is the crew's habit of repeating whatever it is the captain says in large, bold, messy letters.
Themes: Pirates, Treasure, Acting Up, Appreciating Regular Life
Red Flags: Small instances of Peril; Most of the characters are pirates, but they're harmless ones.
Illustrator: David Shannon
Year: 2003
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 44
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year
Genre: Picture Book/Adventure
Series Information: First of the Pirate books
Location: High Seas
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: When Braid Beard and his crew land at the beach, they meet Jeremy Jacob, a boy whose family is vacationing at the beach that day. Braid Beard notices Jeremy's talents at digging in the sand, and he asks Jeremy to join the crew and help them find the perfect place to bury their treasure. Jeremy agrees, and at first he enjoys eating with his mouth open and staying up past his bedtime. Jeremy starts to rethink his decision when he realizes that pirates don't get a bedtime story and goodnight kiss each night. SPOILER! When a terrible storm hits, and the ship loses its mast, Jeremy decides he has had enough of being a pirate. He suggests that Braid Beard and the crew hide their treasure in his back yard, which they do with the promise that they'll come by to see if he ever needs help.
Comments: Boys especially will like this story of a boy who gets to act up as much as he wants, but determines that he'd rather be home with his parents. Shannon's paintings are full of detail, and his pirates are hilarious. Even on pages that are mostly text, pirates are drawn around the edges, giving the effect of pirates looking at you from above as you lay on the floor looking up. The text is fun, but the best part of it is the crew's habit of repeating whatever it is the captain says in large, bold, messy letters.
Themes: Pirates, Treasure, Acting Up, Appreciating Regular Life
Red Flags: Small instances of Peril; Most of the characters are pirates, but they're harmless ones.
Baby Brains: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World
Author/Illustrator: Simon James
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Horn Book Fanfare award
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy
Series Information: First of the Baby Brains series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: Mr. and Mrs. Brains wanted their baby to be smart, so even before he was born Mrs. Brains read to him at night and played classical music and foreign language tapes during the day. The morning after Mr. and Mrs. Brains bring him back from the hospital, he is discovered reading the newspaper and he fixes the family car. He attends school and earns a medical degree in a matter of weeks. When NASA finds out about Baby Brains, they ask him to go on the next space mission. SPOILER! Finding himself alone in the middle of space, Baby Brains finally does something normal: he asks for his mommy. Baby Brains is sent back home, where he decides to enjoy the benefits of being a baby, except for on weekends when he helps out at the local hospital.
Comments: Children will probably love the absurd idea of a baby who is so smart that he can fix a car, practice medicine, and become an astronaut. Simon James has an artistic style similar to that of Quentin Blake of the Roald Dahl books fame. In fact, the slightly absurd subject matter and pictures made me feel like I was reading a Roald Dahl book written for younger readers.
Themes: Genius Children, Babies, The importance of families
Red Flags: None
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Horn Book Fanfare award
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy
Series Information: First of the Baby Brains series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: Mr. and Mrs. Brains wanted their baby to be smart, so even before he was born Mrs. Brains read to him at night and played classical music and foreign language tapes during the day. The morning after Mr. and Mrs. Brains bring him back from the hospital, he is discovered reading the newspaper and he fixes the family car. He attends school and earns a medical degree in a matter of weeks. When NASA finds out about Baby Brains, they ask him to go on the next space mission. SPOILER! Finding himself alone in the middle of space, Baby Brains finally does something normal: he asks for his mommy. Baby Brains is sent back home, where he decides to enjoy the benefits of being a baby, except for on weekends when he helps out at the local hospital.
Comments: Children will probably love the absurd idea of a baby who is so smart that he can fix a car, practice medicine, and become an astronaut. Simon James has an artistic style similar to that of Quentin Blake of the Roald Dahl books fame. In fact, the slightly absurd subject matter and pictures made me feel like I was reading a Roald Dahl book written for younger readers.
Themes: Genius Children, Babies, The importance of families
Red Flags: None
Monday, December 8, 2008
Duck and Goose
Author/Illustrator: Tad Hills
Year: 2006
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book for Children
Genre: Picture Book
Series Information: First book in the Duck & Goose series
Location: A ball sitting in the grass in a meadow
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: When Duck and Goose spot a large white ball with yellow, orange, and red spots on it, they mistake it for an egg. The two begin to fight over whose egg it is, and they eventually decide to raise it together. SPOILER! When a bluebird comes by and asks if he can play with their ball too, Duck and Goose realize their mistake, and they begin playing with the ball instead of sitting on it.
Comments: This was a very cute story. Hills manages to teach children about cooperation and sharing without hitting them over the head with the message. Hills also tries to keep children's interest with the text, making shouted phrases in bigger fonts and placing text in different places on the page. Perhaps the most successful part of this story is Hills' description of Duck and Goose, who are both comical characters. A lot of this comes through in Hills' artwork. His paintings are bright and fun. I especially enjoyed the expressions and mannerisms he manages to give Duck and Goose even though they're simply drawn.
Themes: Sharing, Friendship, Cooperation, Mistaken Identity
Red Flags: None
Year: 2006
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book for Children
Genre: Picture Book
Series Information: First book in the Duck & Goose series
Location: A ball sitting in the grass in a meadow
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: When Duck and Goose spot a large white ball with yellow, orange, and red spots on it, they mistake it for an egg. The two begin to fight over whose egg it is, and they eventually decide to raise it together. SPOILER! When a bluebird comes by and asks if he can play with their ball too, Duck and Goose realize their mistake, and they begin playing with the ball instead of sitting on it.
Comments: This was a very cute story. Hills manages to teach children about cooperation and sharing without hitting them over the head with the message. Hills also tries to keep children's interest with the text, making shouted phrases in bigger fonts and placing text in different places on the page. Perhaps the most successful part of this story is Hills' description of Duck and Goose, who are both comical characters. A lot of this comes through in Hills' artwork. His paintings are bright and fun. I especially enjoyed the expressions and mannerisms he manages to give Duck and Goose even though they're simply drawn.
Themes: Sharing, Friendship, Cooperation, Mistaken Identity
Red Flags: None
Kensuke's Kingdom
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Year: 1999
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 164
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Adventure/Survival
Location: An island somewhere in the Indian Ocean
Time Period: 1988
Plot: When eleven year-old Michael's parents decide to leave their home in England to pursue their dreams by sailing around the world for eighteen months, Michael is ecstatic. One stormy night halfway through the voyage Michael and his dog Stella are thrown overboard. Michael and Stella are miraculously saved by a seventy-four year-old Japanese man who lives on a nearby island. Even though the Japanese man provides Michael with food every day, he does nothing else with Michael, dividing the island into two separate parts and refusing to allow Michael to build a signal fire. Months go by. Frustrated with his imprisonment on the island, Michael avoids the man's warning not to swim in the ocean, and is attacked by a deadly jellyfish. The man rescues Michael, and the two finally bond as the man, named Kensuke, cares for Michael's wounds. SPOILER! Michael learns that Kensuke was washed up on the island during the World War II when the ship he was serving on was attacked by American bombers. Kensuke has had some contact with the outside world—enough to know that his home, Nagasaki, was destroyed by an atomic bomb, which most likely also killed his family. He also hid on the island when men came to the island on a hunting trip. Left alone for years and years, Kensuke has come to the conclusion that man is innately cruel. This is why he avoided Michael at first. As they get to know each other, Michael encourages Kensuke to learn to hope again and to consider going back to Japan. When Michael's parents finally find the island, Kensuke refuses to come with Michael, convinced that he needs to stay with his new family, a group of orangutans. Kensuke makes Michael promise that he won't share his story for ten years. When Michael finally speaks out about his experience, he learns that Kensuke's family is still alive.
Comments: As I was writing the outline of this story, I realized how depressing it sounds. Michael meets a man who has decided that man will always want to kill one another, and he doesn't want to live in that kind of society any more. This, however, is not the point of the story. Although the book does have a somewhat sad tone, it also has a stronger hopeful one. Kensuke has worthwhile goals in life. He takes pride in beauty, and he does everything with care. He has come to learn to love his neighbors the orangutans, and he stays on the island out of a want to protect them instead of out of fear of the unknown. This story has many different elements that should appeal to a wide range of readers. This book reads a lot like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. There's the adventure aspect, with details of a life at sea and the courage it takes to life a life of survival on a deserted island. The book also has a philosophical side, discussing the need of man to stop and reflect and learn to love his surroundings. I also liked how some harder issues such as the bombing of Nagasaki and man's cruelty to animals was brought up. It was a very well-written book and I enjoyed reading it.
Themes: Life at Sea, Shipwreck, Survival, Leaving the world a better place than you found it.
Red Flags: Men come on the island to kill the adult monkeys and steal the babies. Seagulls trying to eat baby turtles, Jellyfish attack, Michael is thrown overboard and separated from his parents.
Multicultural Elements: Kensuke is Japanese
Year: 1999
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 164
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Adventure/Survival
Location: An island somewhere in the Indian Ocean
Time Period: 1988
Plot: When eleven year-old Michael's parents decide to leave their home in England to pursue their dreams by sailing around the world for eighteen months, Michael is ecstatic. One stormy night halfway through the voyage Michael and his dog Stella are thrown overboard. Michael and Stella are miraculously saved by a seventy-four year-old Japanese man who lives on a nearby island. Even though the Japanese man provides Michael with food every day, he does nothing else with Michael, dividing the island into two separate parts and refusing to allow Michael to build a signal fire. Months go by. Frustrated with his imprisonment on the island, Michael avoids the man's warning not to swim in the ocean, and is attacked by a deadly jellyfish. The man rescues Michael, and the two finally bond as the man, named Kensuke, cares for Michael's wounds. SPOILER! Michael learns that Kensuke was washed up on the island during the World War II when the ship he was serving on was attacked by American bombers. Kensuke has had some contact with the outside world—enough to know that his home, Nagasaki, was destroyed by an atomic bomb, which most likely also killed his family. He also hid on the island when men came to the island on a hunting trip. Left alone for years and years, Kensuke has come to the conclusion that man is innately cruel. This is why he avoided Michael at first. As they get to know each other, Michael encourages Kensuke to learn to hope again and to consider going back to Japan. When Michael's parents finally find the island, Kensuke refuses to come with Michael, convinced that he needs to stay with his new family, a group of orangutans. Kensuke makes Michael promise that he won't share his story for ten years. When Michael finally speaks out about his experience, he learns that Kensuke's family is still alive.
Comments: As I was writing the outline of this story, I realized how depressing it sounds. Michael meets a man who has decided that man will always want to kill one another, and he doesn't want to live in that kind of society any more. This, however, is not the point of the story. Although the book does have a somewhat sad tone, it also has a stronger hopeful one. Kensuke has worthwhile goals in life. He takes pride in beauty, and he does everything with care. He has come to learn to love his neighbors the orangutans, and he stays on the island out of a want to protect them instead of out of fear of the unknown. This story has many different elements that should appeal to a wide range of readers. This book reads a lot like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. There's the adventure aspect, with details of a life at sea and the courage it takes to life a life of survival on a deserted island. The book also has a philosophical side, discussing the need of man to stop and reflect and learn to love his surroundings. I also liked how some harder issues such as the bombing of Nagasaki and man's cruelty to animals was brought up. It was a very well-written book and I enjoyed reading it.
Themes: Life at Sea, Shipwreck, Survival, Leaving the world a better place than you found it.
Red Flags: Men come on the island to kill the adult monkeys and steal the babies. Seagulls trying to eat baby turtles, Jellyfish attack, Michael is thrown overboard and separated from his parents.
Multicultural Elements: Kensuke is Japanese
At Night
Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Bean
Year: 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 Horn Book Fanfare award, 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: New York City at Night
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: A young girl who cannot sleep feels a breeze coming from her bedroom window. She picks up her pillow and blankets and follows the breeze upstairs to the roof of their house in New York City, where she makes a bed out of two garden chairs. She then falls asleep after watching the stars. The last page shows the mother sitting next to the little girl, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Comments: The soothing, rhythmic text and the calm, muted pictures make this book an excellent choice for bedtime reading. It was obvious to me that the author is an artist rather than a storyteller because sometimes the text is interrupted at an odd place for the insertion of another picture, but this doesn't really matter that much since it is in the pictures that the story is truly told. This book makes me wish I had a rooftop garden to sleep in during the summer months.
Themes: Having Trouble Sleeping, New York at Night, Enjoying the world around you.
Red Flags: None
Year: 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 Horn Book Fanfare award, 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: New York City at Night
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: A young girl who cannot sleep feels a breeze coming from her bedroom window. She picks up her pillow and blankets and follows the breeze upstairs to the roof of their house in New York City, where she makes a bed out of two garden chairs. She then falls asleep after watching the stars. The last page shows the mother sitting next to the little girl, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Comments: The soothing, rhythmic text and the calm, muted pictures make this book an excellent choice for bedtime reading. It was obvious to me that the author is an artist rather than a storyteller because sometimes the text is interrupted at an odd place for the insertion of another picture, but this doesn't really matter that much since it is in the pictures that the story is truly told. This book makes me wish I had a rooftop garden to sleep in during the summer months.
Themes: Having Trouble Sleeping, New York at Night, Enjoying the world around you.
Red Flags: None
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Spacer and Rat
Author: Margaret Bechard
Year: 2005
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 183
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2006 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre: Science Fiction
Location: Freedom Station, an asteroid that has been colonized by humans located in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Time Period: Far Future, when Earth is too crowded an people move to other planets in an attempt to survive.
Plot: Jack is a Spacer, a person born and raised on the asteroid Freedom Station. Kit is a Rat, a child who now has to scrounge for food since her parents died and left her alone at Freedom Station on the voyage from Earth to the asteroid colony Seattle Prime. Rats are particularly frowned upon by the people living in Freedom Station, who believe that if a person is not contributing to their community, they are just wasting valuable resources. Jack wants nothing to do with Kit, but when his friends try to corner Kit and turn her in for a reward, he feels sorry for her and helps her escape. Suddenly Jack finds himself involved in a problem he never expected. Before Kit's dad died on the journey from Earth to Freedom Station, he created the first sentient robot, a robot who named himself Waldo. Now different warring factions are trying to steal Waldo, hoping to use his advanced technology to create the new ultimate weapon. Jack must help Kit and Waldo escape the authorities and find transportation to Seattle Prime, where a colleague of Kit's father lives, before it's too late. SPOILER! After many close calls and daring adventures, Jack, Kit, and Waldo discover that the colleague at Seattle Prime is actually the leader of one of the terrorist groups that is trying to kidnap Waldo to make the universe's next ultimate weapon. Unsure of where to go or how to hide, Waldo decides to go off on his own and try to create other sentient robots to form his own colony. Convinced that splitting up is the best way to go, Kit returns with Jack to Freedom Station, where she will try to find a job and wait until Waldo sends her word that he's safe.
Comments: As is common with many science fiction and fantasy novels, it sometimes takes a while for the author to explain the concept of the book and do a little "world building." Bechard does a good job of world building without making the text slow down too much, but I found all of the slang a bit hard to get used to, and each time I picked the book up it took me a bit to adjust to the rhythm enough to figure out what was going on. Who knew that "spam" would be a swear word in the far future? "True fact." Once I got into the story, however, the plot flowed nicely and it built up to a very satisfying and exciting chase scene in the climax. The ending was somewhat open-ended, which made me wonder if this book has a sequel planned. While the slang may be off-putting to some people, readers who enjoy science fiction will probably enjoy this book.
Themes: Space Colonies, Sentient Robots, New Technology, War, Learning to get to know people before you judge them.
Red Flags: Mild things: Breaking in to a store; Stealing; A lot of swearing, but not with words we consider swear words; Someone is shot, but it turns out they were just hit with a stun gun instead of an actual gun with bullets.
Year: 2005
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 183
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2006 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre: Science Fiction
Location: Freedom Station, an asteroid that has been colonized by humans located in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Time Period: Far Future, when Earth is too crowded an people move to other planets in an attempt to survive.
Plot: Jack is a Spacer, a person born and raised on the asteroid Freedom Station. Kit is a Rat, a child who now has to scrounge for food since her parents died and left her alone at Freedom Station on the voyage from Earth to the asteroid colony Seattle Prime. Rats are particularly frowned upon by the people living in Freedom Station, who believe that if a person is not contributing to their community, they are just wasting valuable resources. Jack wants nothing to do with Kit, but when his friends try to corner Kit and turn her in for a reward, he feels sorry for her and helps her escape. Suddenly Jack finds himself involved in a problem he never expected. Before Kit's dad died on the journey from Earth to Freedom Station, he created the first sentient robot, a robot who named himself Waldo. Now different warring factions are trying to steal Waldo, hoping to use his advanced technology to create the new ultimate weapon. Jack must help Kit and Waldo escape the authorities and find transportation to Seattle Prime, where a colleague of Kit's father lives, before it's too late. SPOILER! After many close calls and daring adventures, Jack, Kit, and Waldo discover that the colleague at Seattle Prime is actually the leader of one of the terrorist groups that is trying to kidnap Waldo to make the universe's next ultimate weapon. Unsure of where to go or how to hide, Waldo decides to go off on his own and try to create other sentient robots to form his own colony. Convinced that splitting up is the best way to go, Kit returns with Jack to Freedom Station, where she will try to find a job and wait until Waldo sends her word that he's safe.
Comments: As is common with many science fiction and fantasy novels, it sometimes takes a while for the author to explain the concept of the book and do a little "world building." Bechard does a good job of world building without making the text slow down too much, but I found all of the slang a bit hard to get used to, and each time I picked the book up it took me a bit to adjust to the rhythm enough to figure out what was going on. Who knew that "spam" would be a swear word in the far future? "True fact." Once I got into the story, however, the plot flowed nicely and it built up to a very satisfying and exciting chase scene in the climax. The ending was somewhat open-ended, which made me wonder if this book has a sequel planned. While the slang may be off-putting to some people, readers who enjoy science fiction will probably enjoy this book.
Themes: Space Colonies, Sentient Robots, New Technology, War, Learning to get to know people before you judge them.
Red Flags: Mild things: Breaking in to a store; Stealing; A lot of swearing, but not with words we consider swear words; Someone is shot, but it turns out they were just hit with a stun gun instead of an actual gun with bullets.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Authors: Jennifer L. Holm
Illustrator: Matthew Holm
Year: 2005
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 91
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Babymouse Series
Location: Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Babymouse hears that the most popular girl in school, Felicia Furrypaws, is having a sleepover, Babymouse becomes determined to get an invitation, even if it means helping Felicia cheat on her book report and letting down her best friend, Wilson Weasel. SPOILER! When Babymouse goes to the sleepover, she realizes just how mean Felicia is and just how much they don't have in common. Babymouse realizes that she doesn't need to be popular to be happy, and she leaves the sleepover, and heads over to Wilson's house to make amends.
Comments: I can see why this book is popular. Babymouse is not only a precocious little mouse, she's also extremely imaginative. The pictures in the book are mostly black and white, until Babymouse starts daydreaming, at which point the pages explode with the color pink. Babymouse's imagination turns even the most boring of topics into something fun and exciting. Children probably also enjoy the fact that this is a "thick" book that they can read and understand.
Themes: Sleepovers, Friends, Popularity, Using your Imagination
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Matthew Holm
Year: 2005
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 91
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Babymouse Series
Location: Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Babymouse hears that the most popular girl in school, Felicia Furrypaws, is having a sleepover, Babymouse becomes determined to get an invitation, even if it means helping Felicia cheat on her book report and letting down her best friend, Wilson Weasel. SPOILER! When Babymouse goes to the sleepover, she realizes just how mean Felicia is and just how much they don't have in common. Babymouse realizes that she doesn't need to be popular to be happy, and she leaves the sleepover, and heads over to Wilson's house to make amends.
Comments: I can see why this book is popular. Babymouse is not only a precocious little mouse, she's also extremely imaginative. The pictures in the book are mostly black and white, until Babymouse starts daydreaming, at which point the pages explode with the color pink. Babymouse's imagination turns even the most boring of topics into something fun and exciting. Children probably also enjoy the fact that this is a "thick" book that they can read and understand.
Themes: Sleepovers, Friends, Popularity, Using your Imagination
Red Flags: None
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Year: 2005
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 425
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2006 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre: Science Fiction
Series Information: First of the Uglies series
Location: The Smoke
Time Period: Unknown Future
Plot: Tally Youngblood can't wait until she turns sixteen. Then, she will undergo mandatory intensive plastic surgery and be able to go live with her best friend Peris, who lives in New Pretty Town. New Pretty Town is a suburb of the city where all the "New Pretties" live with only one goal in mind--to have fun. Then Tally meets Shay, a girl Tally's age who scorns the idea of living in the idealistic world of the Pretties. Instead of showing up for her mandatory operation, Shay runs off to join the people who live in "The Smoke." The people in The Smoke are in hiding, and the authorities want to hunt them down. One of the authorities (called the Specials), Dr. Cable, refuses to let Tally have her operation until she follows Shay into The Smoke wearing a tracking device that will allow Dr. Cable and the Specials to hunt Shay and her friends down. Tally does as she is told, but she becomes conflicted when she meets the people of The Smoke, especially a boy named David, and she hears their side of the story. SPOILER! According to David and his parents, a beautiful body is not the only thing you get when you go in for your mandatory operation at the age of sixteen. The doctors also create lesions in your mind so you don't question authority. Tally had decided that she wanted to stay in The Smoke, but when she accidentally sets off her tracking device and some, including Shay, are captured, and when she hears of the Specials' scheme, Tally volunteers to turn herself in and become a Pretty in an effort to help David and his family undermine the Specials from the inside.
Comments: Westerfeld raises up some interesting issues in this novel. What does a perfect society look like? What would it act like? Is it worth taking away people's free agency to create this society? One appealing thing about this novel is that these issues are present, but the characters and story are strong enough that they can stand alone and the novel is not too preachy. Tally is a little whiny for me, but she's also plucky and ready for adventure. I can see why this is such a popular series.
Themes: Image, Conformity, Utopian Societies, Big Brother Societies, Rebels
Red Flags: There is some violence, but it's not very graphic, Tally wanders into a sort of orgy garden when she's sneaking into the New Pretties' area, but nothing is described.
Year: 2005
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 425
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2006 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Genre: Science Fiction
Series Information: First of the Uglies series
Location: The Smoke
Time Period: Unknown Future
Plot: Tally Youngblood can't wait until she turns sixteen. Then, she will undergo mandatory intensive plastic surgery and be able to go live with her best friend Peris, who lives in New Pretty Town. New Pretty Town is a suburb of the city where all the "New Pretties" live with only one goal in mind--to have fun. Then Tally meets Shay, a girl Tally's age who scorns the idea of living in the idealistic world of the Pretties. Instead of showing up for her mandatory operation, Shay runs off to join the people who live in "The Smoke." The people in The Smoke are in hiding, and the authorities want to hunt them down. One of the authorities (called the Specials), Dr. Cable, refuses to let Tally have her operation until she follows Shay into The Smoke wearing a tracking device that will allow Dr. Cable and the Specials to hunt Shay and her friends down. Tally does as she is told, but she becomes conflicted when she meets the people of The Smoke, especially a boy named David, and she hears their side of the story. SPOILER! According to David and his parents, a beautiful body is not the only thing you get when you go in for your mandatory operation at the age of sixteen. The doctors also create lesions in your mind so you don't question authority. Tally had decided that she wanted to stay in The Smoke, but when she accidentally sets off her tracking device and some, including Shay, are captured, and when she hears of the Specials' scheme, Tally volunteers to turn herself in and become a Pretty in an effort to help David and his family undermine the Specials from the inside.
Comments: Westerfeld raises up some interesting issues in this novel. What does a perfect society look like? What would it act like? Is it worth taking away people's free agency to create this society? One appealing thing about this novel is that these issues are present, but the characters and story are strong enough that they can stand alone and the novel is not too preachy. Tally is a little whiny for me, but she's also plucky and ready for adventure. I can see why this is such a popular series.
Themes: Image, Conformity, Utopian Societies, Big Brother Societies, Rebels
Red Flags: There is some violence, but it's not very graphic, Tally wanders into a sort of orgy garden when she's sneaking into the New Pretties' area, but nothing is described.
The Arrival
Author/Illustrator: Shaun Tan
Year: 2006
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 128
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2008 ALA Notable Book, 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated award, 2008 Ten Best Books for Young Adults, and many many others
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Location: A new land
Time Period: late 1800s/early 1900s
Plot: A man travels by steamship to a new and exotic land, where the animals, food, words, currency, and almost everything else about the place are completely unfamiliar to him. SPOILER! With the help of friendly people and the companionship of an odd gilled animal that resembles half lizard half dog, the man builds a new life in the country, and sends for his family to join him there.
Comments: This wordless graphic novel was completely different from what I expected it to be. Tan captures the immigrant experience in a somewhat disturbing, surrealistic style, but that is how a person feels when they've moved to a strange new place. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. Depicted in rich sepias and dark blacks and grays, Tan even gives the book the feeling of an old photo album by making some pages look crumpled and mold-spotted, and by including cracks and tears in the pictures. It is obvious that he spent a lot of time on this book, and I appreciated the note he included in the back that talked about all the research he did and how he tried to model his pictures after old photographs of Ellis Island, the Titanic, and other subject-appropriate depictions of the past.
Themes: Immigration, Coping with Change, New Places, Oppression, Friendship
Red Flags: Disturbing images of what immigrants to the new country have left behind: a battlefield strewn with skeletons, large men who are setting the city on fire, long tentacled arms looming over a city.
Multicultural Elements: The main character is Caucasian, but he meets many different people from many different cultures.
Year: 2006
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 128
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2008 ALA Notable Book, 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated award, 2008 Ten Best Books for Young Adults, and many many others
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Location: A new land
Time Period: late 1800s/early 1900s
Plot: A man travels by steamship to a new and exotic land, where the animals, food, words, currency, and almost everything else about the place are completely unfamiliar to him. SPOILER! With the help of friendly people and the companionship of an odd gilled animal that resembles half lizard half dog, the man builds a new life in the country, and sends for his family to join him there.
Comments: This wordless graphic novel was completely different from what I expected it to be. Tan captures the immigrant experience in a somewhat disturbing, surrealistic style, but that is how a person feels when they've moved to a strange new place. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. Depicted in rich sepias and dark blacks and grays, Tan even gives the book the feeling of an old photo album by making some pages look crumpled and mold-spotted, and by including cracks and tears in the pictures. It is obvious that he spent a lot of time on this book, and I appreciated the note he included in the back that talked about all the research he did and how he tried to model his pictures after old photographs of Ellis Island, the Titanic, and other subject-appropriate depictions of the past.
Themes: Immigration, Coping with Change, New Places, Oppression, Friendship
Red Flags: Disturbing images of what immigrants to the new country have left behind: a battlefield strewn with skeletons, large men who are setting the city on fire, long tentacled arms looming over a city.
Multicultural Elements: The main character is Caucasian, but he meets many different people from many different cultures.
Black? White! Day? Night!
Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Year: 2006
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 24
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book
Genre: Picture Book/Movable Book
Location: Anywhere
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: This book discusses opposites in a question and answer format. Each page is a lift-the-flap with holes cut so the reader can see a section of what is on the inside of the page. What seems like one thing on the top of the flap is revealed to be its exact opposite when the flap is lifted.
Comments: This book was very entertaining and educational. It not only contains flaps that children will love to lift, but the illustrations are bold and bright. The opposites used are sometimes unexpected, and will keep even older children guessing. My favorite page was the Sad? Happy! page.
Themes: Opposites
Red Flags: None
Year: 2006
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 24
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book
Genre: Picture Book/Movable Book
Location: Anywhere
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: This book discusses opposites in a question and answer format. Each page is a lift-the-flap with holes cut so the reader can see a section of what is on the inside of the page. What seems like one thing on the top of the flap is revealed to be its exact opposite when the flap is lifted.
Comments: This book was very entertaining and educational. It not only contains flaps that children will love to lift, but the illustrations are bold and bright. The opposites used are sometimes unexpected, and will keep even older children guessing. My favorite page was the Sad? Happy! page.
Themes: Opposites
Red Flags: None
Tails
Author: Matthew Van Fleet
Art Directed by: Skip Skwarck
Year: 2003
Publisher: Red Wagon Books (Harcourt, Inc.)
Pages: 20
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (Preschool)
Genre: Picture Book/Tactile Book/Movable Book
Plot: Children will learn about different animals and their tails in this movable book which includes 7 different textures to touch, a scratch-and-sniff scent, pull tabs and flaps, and more.
Comments: If you look at the back of the book, it looks like this is the ultimate educational tool. Along with the features I mentioned above, this book claims it "demonstrates opposites, actions, counting, and more." The rhyming text was minimal, but it did convey the idea of opposites. The last page included a picture of all of the animals in the book, along with labels of their names. (I was impressed when the monkey was labelled as a Tamarin). I guess I've got a long way to go as an educator. I also read this book to the same 2 1/2 year-old mentioned in the previous post, and besides touching all of the different tails, I had the most fun asking her what noises the different animals make (the monkey says "aaaaa"). I didn't even think about discussing the concept of opposites with her. Despite my personal lackings, this is a very well put-together book with bright colors that I think children would enjoy even without the tactile and movable elements. Those just make the book more fun.
Themes: Animals, Tails, Learning what makes things different
Red Flags: None
Art Directed by: Skip Skwarck
Year: 2003
Publisher: Red Wagon Books (Harcourt, Inc.)
Pages: 20
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (Preschool)
Genre: Picture Book/Tactile Book/Movable Book
Plot: Children will learn about different animals and their tails in this movable book which includes 7 different textures to touch, a scratch-and-sniff scent, pull tabs and flaps, and more.
Comments: If you look at the back of the book, it looks like this is the ultimate educational tool. Along with the features I mentioned above, this book claims it "demonstrates opposites, actions, counting, and more." The rhyming text was minimal, but it did convey the idea of opposites. The last page included a picture of all of the animals in the book, along with labels of their names. (I was impressed when the monkey was labelled as a Tamarin). I guess I've got a long way to go as an educator. I also read this book to the same 2 1/2 year-old mentioned in the previous post, and besides touching all of the different tails, I had the most fun asking her what noises the different animals make (the monkey says "aaaaa"). I didn't even think about discussing the concept of opposites with her. Despite my personal lackings, this is a very well put-together book with bright colors that I think children would enjoy even without the tactile and movable elements. Those just make the book more fun.
Themes: Animals, Tails, Learning what makes things different
Red Flags: None
Ten Little Ladybugs
Author: Melanie Gerth
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Year: 2003
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Pages: 22
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Counting Book
Series Information: Same idea used in Good Night, Sweet Butterflies and others
Location: Anywhere in the World
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Young children learn to count backwards as their parents read of ten little ladybugs who fly away one by one.
Comments: In most book reviews I would discuss Gerth's whimsical rhyme or the dreamlike quality of Huliska-Beith's watercolors. Both are excellent reasons to like this book, and I think they are important in keeping a young child's attention. However, I read this book to a 2 1/2 year old over the Thanksgiving break, and the part she obviously loved the most was the fact that she could actually touch each of the bumpy ladybugs that stood out of the page. She touched them over and over and over again as I counted. I guess it just goes to show that a picture book can be of the highest quality, but the child actually gets the most out of the fact that they are having a one-on-one moment with a parent or other adult. Either that, or those bumpy ladybugs are a lot of fun! :)
Themes: Counting Backwards, Ladybugs
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Year: 2003
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Pages: 22
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Counting Book
Series Information: Same idea used in Good Night, Sweet Butterflies and others
Location: Anywhere in the World
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Young children learn to count backwards as their parents read of ten little ladybugs who fly away one by one.
Comments: In most book reviews I would discuss Gerth's whimsical rhyme or the dreamlike quality of Huliska-Beith's watercolors. Both are excellent reasons to like this book, and I think they are important in keeping a young child's attention. However, I read this book to a 2 1/2 year old over the Thanksgiving break, and the part she obviously loved the most was the fact that she could actually touch each of the bumpy ladybugs that stood out of the page. She touched them over and over and over again as I counted. I guess it just goes to show that a picture book can be of the highest quality, but the child actually gets the most out of the fact that they are having a one-on-one moment with a parent or other adult. Either that, or those bumpy ladybugs are a lot of fun! :)
Themes: Counting Backwards, Ladybugs
Red Flags: None
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Author/Illustrator: Dav Pilkey
Year: 1997
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Pages: 121
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Comedy/Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Captain Underpants series
Location: Jerome Horwitz Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (1997)
Plot: George Beard and Harold Hutchins are best friends who attend fourth grade at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. They love to play practical jokes and they love to create a comic book series called Captain Underpants ("Fighting for truth, justise, and all that is pre-shrunk and cottony"). When the school principal, Mr. Krupp, catches George and Harold playing a practical joke, he punishes them by making them his servants. In order to get out of their punishment, George and Harold order a hypno-ring, hoping to hypnotize Mr. Krupp so he will do their bidding instead. When they jokingly use the hypno-ring to make Mr. Krupp become Captain Underpants, Mr. Krupp takes off most of his clothes, uses the red curtains as a cape, and runs out of the school, looking for someone to save. George and Harold follow Mr. Krupp, and the three find themselves in the middle of a plot by Dr. Diaper to take over the world. SPOILER! George, Harold, and Captain Underpants work together to thwart Dr. Diaper and his evil robot henchmen, and they head back to school. George and Harold figure they should probably undo the hypnosis on Mr. Krupp, but they can't find the hypno-ring's instructions, and they end up throwing water on Mr. Krupp to wake him up. Since Mr. Krupp was awakened from his hypnosis the wrong way, any time someone snaps their fingers he becomes Captain Underpants again, setting up the premise for the rest of the series.
Comments: I can certainly see why Captain Underpants is so popular. The story has a lot of things in it that young boys find appealing: superheroes, practical jokers, jokes about bowel movements, and more. Pilkey tells a fun story, and he keeps readers' attention with his sense of humor, cartoon drawings, and one can never forget the Flip-O-Rama, which allows children to make the pictures on the pages move in actions scenes. Some parents might not want to let their children read these books because of some of the jokes, but most of the jokes stay on the clean side and are harmless. A good suggestion for reluctant male readers.
Themes: Superheroes, Practical Jokes
Red Flags: Jokes about bowel movements, Adults dressed only in underwear or diapers.
Multicultural Elements: Although very much a cartoon, George is also an African-American
Year: 1997
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Pages: 121
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Comedy/Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Captain Underpants series
Location: Jerome Horwitz Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (1997)
Plot: George Beard and Harold Hutchins are best friends who attend fourth grade at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. They love to play practical jokes and they love to create a comic book series called Captain Underpants ("Fighting for truth, justise, and all that is pre-shrunk and cottony"). When the school principal, Mr. Krupp, catches George and Harold playing a practical joke, he punishes them by making them his servants. In order to get out of their punishment, George and Harold order a hypno-ring, hoping to hypnotize Mr. Krupp so he will do their bidding instead. When they jokingly use the hypno-ring to make Mr. Krupp become Captain Underpants, Mr. Krupp takes off most of his clothes, uses the red curtains as a cape, and runs out of the school, looking for someone to save. George and Harold follow Mr. Krupp, and the three find themselves in the middle of a plot by Dr. Diaper to take over the world. SPOILER! George, Harold, and Captain Underpants work together to thwart Dr. Diaper and his evil robot henchmen, and they head back to school. George and Harold figure they should probably undo the hypnosis on Mr. Krupp, but they can't find the hypno-ring's instructions, and they end up throwing water on Mr. Krupp to wake him up. Since Mr. Krupp was awakened from his hypnosis the wrong way, any time someone snaps their fingers he becomes Captain Underpants again, setting up the premise for the rest of the series.
Comments: I can certainly see why Captain Underpants is so popular. The story has a lot of things in it that young boys find appealing: superheroes, practical jokers, jokes about bowel movements, and more. Pilkey tells a fun story, and he keeps readers' attention with his sense of humor, cartoon drawings, and one can never forget the Flip-O-Rama, which allows children to make the pictures on the pages move in actions scenes. Some parents might not want to let their children read these books because of some of the jokes, but most of the jokes stay on the clean side and are harmless. A good suggestion for reluctant male readers.
Themes: Superheroes, Practical Jokes
Red Flags: Jokes about bowel movements, Adults dressed only in underwear or diapers.
Multicultural Elements: Although very much a cartoon, George is also an African-American
The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse
Author/Illustrator: Bruce Hale
Year: 2000
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Pages: 95
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/Detective
Series Information: First of the Chet Gecko series
Location: Emerson Hicky Elementary
Time Period: Present Day (2000)
Plot: Chet Gecko is a fourth grade private eye at Emerson Hicky Elementary. When Shirley Chameleon tells Chet that her brother Billy is missing and that she will give Chet a stinkbug pie if he can find Billy before the school football game, Chet is on the case. In order to figure out where Billy is, Chet must outsmart his teachers, deal with bullies, perform many and various hijinks, and dodge detention. Although he doesn't originally want the help, he pairs up with Shirley Mockingbird to solve the case. But the school bully, Herman Gila Monster, is on the trail too, and he's out to stop Chet before he uncovers too much. SPOILER! After Herman and his gang catch Chet and Shirley and tie them to the school diving board, dangling precariously over the school swimming pool, Chet and Shirley finally figure out the last clue to the puzzle. The two manage to untie themselves and race out to the football field just in time to find Billy Chameleon (who was off willingly helping Herman with his pranks) and thwart Herman in a plot to undermine the school football game.
Comments: Children may read this book for the mystery, but they are more likely to enjoy it for the satire. Almost every line in the entire book is a pun or a joke or a farce of some kind. Chet isn't a very good detective, but children probably won't worry about that. Another fun aspect of the book is the fact that all of the characters are animals, so they do animal things. For example, since Chet is a gecko, he can climb walls, stick out his tongue to trip bullies, and detach his tail or use it to pick a lock at will. The text is broken up with fun ink and pencil drawings, which will be welcome to reluctant readers. Because of the drawings, this book may look like it's meant for younger readers, but the satire may make it more appropriate for older children who will better understand the jokes.
Themes: Detectives, Bullies, Football, Mystery, School, Missing People
Red Flags: Although these animals talk, they still eat worms and flies and whatnot.
Year: 2000
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Pages: 95
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/Detective
Series Information: First of the Chet Gecko series
Location: Emerson Hicky Elementary
Time Period: Present Day (2000)
Plot: Chet Gecko is a fourth grade private eye at Emerson Hicky Elementary. When Shirley Chameleon tells Chet that her brother Billy is missing and that she will give Chet a stinkbug pie if he can find Billy before the school football game, Chet is on the case. In order to figure out where Billy is, Chet must outsmart his teachers, deal with bullies, perform many and various hijinks, and dodge detention. Although he doesn't originally want the help, he pairs up with Shirley Mockingbird to solve the case. But the school bully, Herman Gila Monster, is on the trail too, and he's out to stop Chet before he uncovers too much. SPOILER! After Herman and his gang catch Chet and Shirley and tie them to the school diving board, dangling precariously over the school swimming pool, Chet and Shirley finally figure out the last clue to the puzzle. The two manage to untie themselves and race out to the football field just in time to find Billy Chameleon (who was off willingly helping Herman with his pranks) and thwart Herman in a plot to undermine the school football game.
Comments: Children may read this book for the mystery, but they are more likely to enjoy it for the satire. Almost every line in the entire book is a pun or a joke or a farce of some kind. Chet isn't a very good detective, but children probably won't worry about that. Another fun aspect of the book is the fact that all of the characters are animals, so they do animal things. For example, since Chet is a gecko, he can climb walls, stick out his tongue to trip bullies, and detach his tail or use it to pick a lock at will. The text is broken up with fun ink and pencil drawings, which will be welcome to reluctant readers. Because of the drawings, this book may look like it's meant for younger readers, but the satire may make it more appropriate for older children who will better understand the jokes.
Themes: Detectives, Bullies, Football, Mystery, School, Missing People
Red Flags: Although these animals talk, they still eat worms and flies and whatnot.
Harriet the Spy
Author/Illustrator: Louise Fitzhugh
Year: 1964
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 300
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: First book in the Harriet the Spy series. There are a few other authors who have written Harriet the Spy novels inspired by Fitzhugh's character
Location: Manhattan, NY
Time Period: Present Day (1964)
Plot: Eleven year-old Harriet M. Welsch is determined to become a writer someday. In the meantime, she practices by spying on her neighbors and writing down what she thinks of them in a notebook that she keeps with her at all times. When Harriet's nurse, Ole Golly, leaves to get married, Harriet fells like a very close friend has gone away. Soon after, the children at school find Harriet's notebook and they read all of the mean things Harriet has written about them. The children form a club excluding Harriet and try to find ways to pay her back for all of the mean things she has said. Feeling exiled, Harriet begins to revolt. She refuses to do her school work and she writes in her journal more and more. However, instead of helping Harriet feel better, it just makes her more lonely and more rejected by her classmates. SPOILER! When Harriet's parents find out about her odd behavior, they try a number of things including banning Harriet from writing and forcing her to see a psychologist. Nothing works until they talk to the principal and get Harriet put in charge of writing the sixth grade newsletter. Harriet finally has a constructive place where she can write without alienating others. Harriet asks for forgiveness from her friends and learns more about what it takes to be a good writer.
Comments: This book is different from what I thought it would be. For some reason, I imagined that it would mostly be about the funny characters Harriet sees on a day-to-day basis. Although this is an aspect of the story, this book is more than that, and I can see why this book is a classic. Although this book takes place in the 1960s, I can imagine something like this happening today. This book explores how a child might feel at the loss of a loved one or at the loss of friends. It also discusses how everyone should treat each other with respect, and how one should ask for forgiveness when they are wrong. Harriet is a precocious child, and even though she deserved a lot of the trouble she got into, she was still a sympathetic character. Children who have dealt with loneliness or the loss of loved ones might identify with Harriet.
Themes: Loss of Loved Ones, Keeping Secrets, Telling Secrets, Getting Revenge, Asking Forgiveness
Red Flags: Harriet says some rude things in her journal, but nothing too offensive.
Year: 1964
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 300
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: First book in the Harriet the Spy series. There are a few other authors who have written Harriet the Spy novels inspired by Fitzhugh's character
Location: Manhattan, NY
Time Period: Present Day (1964)
Plot: Eleven year-old Harriet M. Welsch is determined to become a writer someday. In the meantime, she practices by spying on her neighbors and writing down what she thinks of them in a notebook that she keeps with her at all times. When Harriet's nurse, Ole Golly, leaves to get married, Harriet fells like a very close friend has gone away. Soon after, the children at school find Harriet's notebook and they read all of the mean things Harriet has written about them. The children form a club excluding Harriet and try to find ways to pay her back for all of the mean things she has said. Feeling exiled, Harriet begins to revolt. She refuses to do her school work and she writes in her journal more and more. However, instead of helping Harriet feel better, it just makes her more lonely and more rejected by her classmates. SPOILER! When Harriet's parents find out about her odd behavior, they try a number of things including banning Harriet from writing and forcing her to see a psychologist. Nothing works until they talk to the principal and get Harriet put in charge of writing the sixth grade newsletter. Harriet finally has a constructive place where she can write without alienating others. Harriet asks for forgiveness from her friends and learns more about what it takes to be a good writer.
Comments: This book is different from what I thought it would be. For some reason, I imagined that it would mostly be about the funny characters Harriet sees on a day-to-day basis. Although this is an aspect of the story, this book is more than that, and I can see why this book is a classic. Although this book takes place in the 1960s, I can imagine something like this happening today. This book explores how a child might feel at the loss of a loved one or at the loss of friends. It also discusses how everyone should treat each other with respect, and how one should ask for forgiveness when they are wrong. Harriet is a precocious child, and even though she deserved a lot of the trouble she got into, she was still a sympathetic character. Children who have dealt with loneliness or the loss of loved ones might identify with Harriet.
Themes: Loss of Loved Ones, Keeping Secrets, Telling Secrets, Getting Revenge, Asking Forgiveness
Red Flags: Harriet says some rude things in her journal, but nothing too offensive.
The London Eye Mystery
Author: Siobhan Dowd
Year: 2007
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 323
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/ Children as Detectives/Locked Room Mystery
Location: London, England
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When a mysterious stranger walks up to Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim as they are waiting in line to buy tickets for the London Eye, the three are conflicted. The stranger is offering a free ticket for one of them with no strings attached, but they know they shouldn't accept gifts from strangers. After they accept the ticket, Ted and Kat are extremely confused and worried when they see Salim get on the London Eye, but they never see him get off. The police are called to investigate Salim's disappearance, but no one will listen to the children's theories. Not content with waiting for the police to find Salim, Ted and Kat make up a list of theories of what could have happened to their cousin, and they set out to investigate each one. SPOILER! Ted eventually figures out that Salim must have staged his own disappearance by changing his clothes while he was on the London Eye. Although Ted's parents, his aunt and uncle, and even Kat won't listen to him, the police pick up his tip, which leads them on the correct trail. They find out that Salim had thought about running away from home so he wouldn't have to move to New York with his mother, but he changed his mind and got lost on the way back home. Ted and Kat figure out where Salim must have gotten lost, and Salim is reunited with his family.
Comments: The London Eye Mystery is proof that good classic mysteries are still being written. Dowd does a good job of slowly giving out clues that will keep the reader guessing what happened until the very last pages. SPOILER! I was very impressed with Dowd's version of how Salim got off of the London Eye without getting the attention of Kat and Ted, but the end clue of Salim happening to slip into a condemned building without getting caught right when Ted's father was locking up the building was a little thin to me. I don't think this will be a detraction for most young readers, however. end spoiler One thing that makes this book different from most classic mysteries is Dowd's narrator, Ted. Ted is a very smart person, but there is an air of mystery about him since his family always talks about his unnamed brain disorder that makes him very good with facts, but not so good at reading people. This gives an edge to the story, but it isn't creepy. In fact, it makes the reader want to root for Ted more. Children will like trying to figure out this mystery along with Ted and Kat, and will enjoy the surprise ending.
Themes: London Eye, Missing People, Mysteries, Divorced Parents, Moving
Red Flags: A dead body is discovered that Ted's dad has to identify, but it isn't accompanied by any sort of description.
Multicultural Elements: Salim is half Pakistani, and his father is Pakistani, but this doesn't play into the story at all.
Year: 2007
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 323
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Mystery/ Children as Detectives/Locked Room Mystery
Location: London, England
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When a mysterious stranger walks up to Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim as they are waiting in line to buy tickets for the London Eye, the three are conflicted. The stranger is offering a free ticket for one of them with no strings attached, but they know they shouldn't accept gifts from strangers. After they accept the ticket, Ted and Kat are extremely confused and worried when they see Salim get on the London Eye, but they never see him get off. The police are called to investigate Salim's disappearance, but no one will listen to the children's theories. Not content with waiting for the police to find Salim, Ted and Kat make up a list of theories of what could have happened to their cousin, and they set out to investigate each one. SPOILER! Ted eventually figures out that Salim must have staged his own disappearance by changing his clothes while he was on the London Eye. Although Ted's parents, his aunt and uncle, and even Kat won't listen to him, the police pick up his tip, which leads them on the correct trail. They find out that Salim had thought about running away from home so he wouldn't have to move to New York with his mother, but he changed his mind and got lost on the way back home. Ted and Kat figure out where Salim must have gotten lost, and Salim is reunited with his family.
Comments: The London Eye Mystery is proof that good classic mysteries are still being written. Dowd does a good job of slowly giving out clues that will keep the reader guessing what happened until the very last pages. SPOILER! I was very impressed with Dowd's version of how Salim got off of the London Eye without getting the attention of Kat and Ted, but the end clue of Salim happening to slip into a condemned building without getting caught right when Ted's father was locking up the building was a little thin to me. I don't think this will be a detraction for most young readers, however. end spoiler One thing that makes this book different from most classic mysteries is Dowd's narrator, Ted. Ted is a very smart person, but there is an air of mystery about him since his family always talks about his unnamed brain disorder that makes him very good with facts, but not so good at reading people. This gives an edge to the story, but it isn't creepy. In fact, it makes the reader want to root for Ted more. Children will like trying to figure out this mystery along with Ted and Kat, and will enjoy the surprise ending.
Themes: London Eye, Missing People, Mysteries, Divorced Parents, Moving
Red Flags: A dead body is discovered that Ted's dad has to identify, but it isn't accompanied by any sort of description.
Multicultural Elements: Salim is half Pakistani, and his father is Pakistani, but this doesn't play into the story at all.
Genesis Alpha
Author: Rune Michaels
Year: 2007
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 193
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery
Location: Anwhere, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2007) or very near future
Plot: When Josh was born, he saved Max's life. Max was dying from cancer, and in desperation, his parents turned to InVitro Fertilization. Josh was the fertilized egg whose DNA was the closest match to Max's. Josh was born, and the stem cells from his umbilical cord were injected into Max to cure him from the cancer. In Josh's mind, this makes him and Max more than brothers. Even though Max is now away at college, the two keep in touch by playing an online game every Saturday called Genesis Alpha. One Saturday when Max doesn't show up for their weekly game, Josh is blown over when he learns that Max has been arrested for raping and murdering a fellow college student. Suddenly, Josh is faced with large moral questions: Does he believe Max could have done such a horrible thing? If Max is guilty, is Josh also responsible for the girl's death since he saved Max's life all those years ago? Will Josh also turn out to be a killer since the two of them are so close both socially and genetically? SPOILER! Josh is forced to confront all of these questions when Rachel, the murdered girl's sister, shows up at Josh's house insisting that Max is guilty. Rachel and Josh find evidence that Max really did commit the murder. Then Josh finds out that he is not only a close DNA match to his brother, but he is actually an illegally made clone of his brother. Josh must come to terms with both of these revelations in order to realize that he and his brother are not the same person, and his fate is his own.
Comments: This psychological thriller is a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down. Michaels isn't afraid to ask some very hard questions, but she does so with morality that wouldn't keep me from recommending it to younger teenagers. I think young adults are curious about subjects such as cloning, nature versus nurture, destiny, morality, and many of the other issues Michaels brings up. Readers follow Josh on his moral quest through Josh's first person narration. The pace of the book was slightly slower than I expected, but it keeps the reader's attention. Josh is a very believable character, and his voice rings true. I had more trouble with believing Rachel would do some of the things she does, but her methods are definitely effective. Because of the red flags listed below, I wouldn't recommend this book to people who are especially squeamish, but I think young adults will appreciate the way Michaels brings up age-old questions with a modern-day twist.
Themes: Stem Cell Research, Cloning, Morality, Destiny, Social Gaming
Red Flags: Rachel cuts herself with a knife, rusty screws, and anything else she can find, but there isn't much description about it.
Year: 2007
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 193
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery
Location: Anwhere, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2007) or very near future
Plot: When Josh was born, he saved Max's life. Max was dying from cancer, and in desperation, his parents turned to InVitro Fertilization. Josh was the fertilized egg whose DNA was the closest match to Max's. Josh was born, and the stem cells from his umbilical cord were injected into Max to cure him from the cancer. In Josh's mind, this makes him and Max more than brothers. Even though Max is now away at college, the two keep in touch by playing an online game every Saturday called Genesis Alpha. One Saturday when Max doesn't show up for their weekly game, Josh is blown over when he learns that Max has been arrested for raping and murdering a fellow college student. Suddenly, Josh is faced with large moral questions: Does he believe Max could have done such a horrible thing? If Max is guilty, is Josh also responsible for the girl's death since he saved Max's life all those years ago? Will Josh also turn out to be a killer since the two of them are so close both socially and genetically? SPOILER! Josh is forced to confront all of these questions when Rachel, the murdered girl's sister, shows up at Josh's house insisting that Max is guilty. Rachel and Josh find evidence that Max really did commit the murder. Then Josh finds out that he is not only a close DNA match to his brother, but he is actually an illegally made clone of his brother. Josh must come to terms with both of these revelations in order to realize that he and his brother are not the same person, and his fate is his own.
Comments: This psychological thriller is a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down. Michaels isn't afraid to ask some very hard questions, but she does so with morality that wouldn't keep me from recommending it to younger teenagers. I think young adults are curious about subjects such as cloning, nature versus nurture, destiny, morality, and many of the other issues Michaels brings up. Readers follow Josh on his moral quest through Josh's first person narration. The pace of the book was slightly slower than I expected, but it keeps the reader's attention. Josh is a very believable character, and his voice rings true. I had more trouble with believing Rachel would do some of the things she does, but her methods are definitely effective. Because of the red flags listed below, I wouldn't recommend this book to people who are especially squeamish, but I think young adults will appreciate the way Michaels brings up age-old questions with a modern-day twist.
Themes: Stem Cell Research, Cloning, Morality, Destiny, Social Gaming
Red Flags: Rachel cuts herself with a knife, rusty screws, and anything else she can find, but there isn't much description about it.
Apples to Oregon
Extended Title: Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Year: 2004
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2005 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Golden Kite Award
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction/Tall Tale/Western
Location: Oregon Trail
Time Period: Early 1800s
Plot: A tall tale based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling, this book describes what it might have been like on the trail when a farmer from Iowa tries to bring not only his family across the prairie to Oregon, but also hundreds of fruit trees and vines as well. The family encounters adventures such as crossing the Platte and Columbia Rivers, dust storms, droughts, dangerous mountain passes, and the oncoming threat of winter.
Comments: Hopkinson writes in an amusing, singsong tone that sounds just like someone telling a western tall tale. Although this is the story of Henderson Luelling, children will like the fact that it is the main character, Delicious, who saves the trees again and again. Carpenter's oil paintings are fun and bright and golden, matching the tone of Hopkinson's tall tale. The end of the book includes a note about the source of the tale, describing who Henderson Luelling really was and giving a little bit of the history of what it takes to grow apples. Children can learn something with this book without feeling like the information is being crammed down their throats.
Themes: Crossing the Plains, Pioneers, Fruit, Apples, Henderson Luelling
Red Flags: A mighty dust storm requires all of the children to take off their clothes and drape them over the fruit trees, other slight instances of peril
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Year: 2004
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2005 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Golden Kite Award
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction/Tall Tale/Western
Location: Oregon Trail
Time Period: Early 1800s
Plot: A tall tale based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling, this book describes what it might have been like on the trail when a farmer from Iowa tries to bring not only his family across the prairie to Oregon, but also hundreds of fruit trees and vines as well. The family encounters adventures such as crossing the Platte and Columbia Rivers, dust storms, droughts, dangerous mountain passes, and the oncoming threat of winter.
Comments: Hopkinson writes in an amusing, singsong tone that sounds just like someone telling a western tall tale. Although this is the story of Henderson Luelling, children will like the fact that it is the main character, Delicious, who saves the trees again and again. Carpenter's oil paintings are fun and bright and golden, matching the tone of Hopkinson's tall tale. The end of the book includes a note about the source of the tale, describing who Henderson Luelling really was and giving a little bit of the history of what it takes to grow apples. Children can learn something with this book without feeling like the information is being crammed down their throats.
Themes: Crossing the Plains, Pioneers, Fruit, Apples, Henderson Luelling
Red Flags: A mighty dust storm requires all of the children to take off their clothes and drape them over the fruit trees, other slight instances of peril
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Secret Olivia Told Me
Author: N. Joy
Illustrator: Nancy Devard
Year: 2007
Publisher: Just Us Books Inc.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 ALA Coretta Scott King Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction/Christian Fiction
Location: A schoolyard in urban America
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Olivia tells her best friend a secret, the secret gets spread around the schoolyard, getting bigger and stranger with each telling. SPOILER! Olivia's friend must confess that she told the secret in order to keep their friendship intact.
Comments: Joy, a popular urban Christian fiction writer, addresses the issue of being trustworthy with a simple, catchy rhyme that children should enjoy. However, it is the pictures that are the most interesting part of this book. Most of the pictures are black and white, showing silhouettes of each child. The secret is depicted in the form of a bright red balloon, with a string trailing from the mouth of the child who told it. As the secret is spread, the balloon gets bigger and bigger. The balloon pops when Olivia's friend confesses that she told the secret.
Another interesting part of this book was the list of questions provided at the end of the book. The questions are designed to help parents open up a discussion with their children as to why it is wrong to tell secrets about other people. This could be a heavy topic for some parents and children, but it may be useful for those parents who are having trouble explaining to their children why one should not tell lies and secrets.
Themes: Lies, Friendship, Urban Christian Fiction
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: The book includes children of many races, but most of the children are African-American.
Illustrator: Nancy Devard
Year: 2007
Publisher: Just Us Books Inc.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 ALA Coretta Scott King Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction/Christian Fiction
Location: A schoolyard in urban America
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Olivia tells her best friend a secret, the secret gets spread around the schoolyard, getting bigger and stranger with each telling. SPOILER! Olivia's friend must confess that she told the secret in order to keep their friendship intact.
Comments: Joy, a popular urban Christian fiction writer, addresses the issue of being trustworthy with a simple, catchy rhyme that children should enjoy. However, it is the pictures that are the most interesting part of this book. Most of the pictures are black and white, showing silhouettes of each child. The secret is depicted in the form of a bright red balloon, with a string trailing from the mouth of the child who told it. As the secret is spread, the balloon gets bigger and bigger. The balloon pops when Olivia's friend confesses that she told the secret.
Another interesting part of this book was the list of questions provided at the end of the book. The questions are designed to help parents open up a discussion with their children as to why it is wrong to tell secrets about other people. This could be a heavy topic for some parents and children, but it may be useful for those parents who are having trouble explaining to their children why one should not tell lies and secrets.
Themes: Lies, Friendship, Urban Christian Fiction
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: The book includes children of many races, but most of the children are African-American.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Year: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Richmond, Virginia/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time Period: 1840's
Plot: A retelling of a true story, Henry Brown was a slave in Virginia. When his wife and children were sold by their owner, Henry decided he needed to figure out a way to become free. With the help of a few friends, Henry stowed away in a crate and was mailed to Philadelphia, where he could be free. Because of his journey, Henry earned the name Henry "Box" Brown.
Comments: This is definitely an example of a picture book that tells more through the pictures than it does through the words. Nelson's artwork, inspired by an old lithograph of the actual Henry "Box" Brown, uses very dark, rich colors. In fact, it's sometimes hard to read Levine's simple but well-written text because of the artwork. However, this is a very well told story, and the pencil/watercolor/oil pictures do compliment the mood of the story. My favorite picture is a cross-section of Henry in the box, which shows Henry's forehead and hand as if they are pressed against glass instead of against the side of a crate. Children will enjoy the pictures and the fact that this is a true story.
Themes: Slavery, Underground Railroad, Henry "Box" Brown
Red Flags: Slavery, Children and others sold and separated from their families
Multicultural Elements: African Americans
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Year: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Richmond, Virginia/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time Period: 1840's
Plot: A retelling of a true story, Henry Brown was a slave in Virginia. When his wife and children were sold by their owner, Henry decided he needed to figure out a way to become free. With the help of a few friends, Henry stowed away in a crate and was mailed to Philadelphia, where he could be free. Because of his journey, Henry earned the name Henry "Box" Brown.
Comments: This is definitely an example of a picture book that tells more through the pictures than it does through the words. Nelson's artwork, inspired by an old lithograph of the actual Henry "Box" Brown, uses very dark, rich colors. In fact, it's sometimes hard to read Levine's simple but well-written text because of the artwork. However, this is a very well told story, and the pencil/watercolor/oil pictures do compliment the mood of the story. My favorite picture is a cross-section of Henry in the box, which shows Henry's forehead and hand as if they are pressed against glass instead of against the side of a crate. Children will enjoy the pictures and the fact that this is a true story.
Themes: Slavery, Underground Railroad, Henry "Box" Brown
Red Flags: Slavery, Children and others sold and separated from their families
Multicultural Elements: African Americans
The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Year: 1974
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pages: 253
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Sequel: Beyond the Chocolate War
Location: Trinity High School
Time Period: Present (1970's)
Plot: Jerry Renault is a new freshman at Trinity High School, a Catholic private school. The unofficial leader of the school is a gang called the Vigils. Headed by Archie Costello, the Vigils terrorize the underclassmen by forcing them to complete "assignments." When the school fundraiser comes up, Jerry is given his first assignment by the Vigils: refuse to sell chocolate for the first ten days of the fund raiser. Bristling under being forced to act a certain way, Jerry decides to take a stand for himself, and refuses to sell the chocolates at all, even after the ten day deadline is up. SPOILER! The Vigils (and Brother Leon, the unofficial head of the school) are not happy with Jerry's display of defiance, and they set out to break him. It all culminates in a scene where the entire school has turned out for a fight between Jerry and Emile, a pawn of the Vigils. Jerry loses the fight right as the teachers come and intervene. The Vigils have made their point that no one should cross them.
Comments: The Chocolate War is sexually explicit, contains offensive language, and is violent. No wonder the ALA Banned Books site lists The Chocolate War as the second most-contested book in the year 2007, and it is frequently high up on other frequently contested book lists as well! (You might have to scroll down a bit to see this). Oddly enough, of all of the complaints against the book, the thing that bothered me most about it was that the adults were condoning the Vigils' behavior. Brother Leon not only stood by and allowed the Vigils to terrorize Jerry, he actually encouraged it. Another upsetting part of the book was the ending, wherein SPOILER! the bad guys win. Instead of Jerry triumphing over evil, the book focuses on a theme written on a poster in Jerry's locker: "Do I dare disturb the universe?" Some teenagers might like this book for its psychological battle with this question. The book definitely did hold my attention through to the very end. Although they are nowhere near the same, this book reminded me of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in both voice and theme, but The Absolutely True Diary succeeds for me where this one fails because of its hopeful outlook on life.
Themes: Dealing with Loss, Gangs, School Fundraisers, Competitions
Red Flags: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
Year: 1974
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pages: 253
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Sequel: Beyond the Chocolate War
Location: Trinity High School
Time Period: Present (1970's)
Plot: Jerry Renault is a new freshman at Trinity High School, a Catholic private school. The unofficial leader of the school is a gang called the Vigils. Headed by Archie Costello, the Vigils terrorize the underclassmen by forcing them to complete "assignments." When the school fundraiser comes up, Jerry is given his first assignment by the Vigils: refuse to sell chocolate for the first ten days of the fund raiser. Bristling under being forced to act a certain way, Jerry decides to take a stand for himself, and refuses to sell the chocolates at all, even after the ten day deadline is up. SPOILER! The Vigils (and Brother Leon, the unofficial head of the school) are not happy with Jerry's display of defiance, and they set out to break him. It all culminates in a scene where the entire school has turned out for a fight between Jerry and Emile, a pawn of the Vigils. Jerry loses the fight right as the teachers come and intervene. The Vigils have made their point that no one should cross them.
Comments: The Chocolate War is sexually explicit, contains offensive language, and is violent. No wonder the ALA Banned Books site lists The Chocolate War as the second most-contested book in the year 2007, and it is frequently high up on other frequently contested book lists as well! (You might have to scroll down a bit to see this). Oddly enough, of all of the complaints against the book, the thing that bothered me most about it was that the adults were condoning the Vigils' behavior. Brother Leon not only stood by and allowed the Vigils to terrorize Jerry, he actually encouraged it. Another upsetting part of the book was the ending, wherein SPOILER! the bad guys win. Instead of Jerry triumphing over evil, the book focuses on a theme written on a poster in Jerry's locker: "Do I dare disturb the universe?" Some teenagers might like this book for its psychological battle with this question. The book definitely did hold my attention through to the very end. Although they are nowhere near the same, this book reminded me of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in both voice and theme, but The Absolutely True Diary succeeds for me where this one fails because of its hopeful outlook on life.
Themes: Dealing with Loss, Gangs, School Fundraisers, Competitions
Red Flags: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Dangerous Book for Boys
Authors: Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden
Year: 2007
Publisher: Collins (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Pages: 270
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Series Information: The Daring Book for Girls is not written by the same authors, but is put out by the same publisher.
Book Summary: A guide containing fun facts and information that every boy should know, this book covers many different topics from knot tying to dinosaurs to morse code to descriptions of famous battles to lists of famous things that every boy should know (even including poetry and Shakespeare!) and much more. Intended for "every boy from eight to eighty."
Comments: I really like the concept of this book—a handy reference source of not only boring facts and figures, but of things that every boy should know, but could never find in one location. Conn and Hal Iggulden write in an easy-to-read, engaging style that should help keep boys' attention. Text is broken up by the use of pictures and by breaking up intensive chapters into multiple sections.
These points make the book easy to use, but from a reference standpoint, this book isn't a good one to use as a source for a paper or a school project. The information in the book seems accurate enough, but the sources of information can't be found anywhere in the book—not even in a bibliography stuck in the back of the book. Also, I mentioned earlier that intensive chapters are broken up into sections. What I didn't mention was that these sections are sprinkled throughout the book instead of being placed in the vicinity of each other. Since the book isn't broken into subject-specific sections, the book may be somewhat hard to navigate, even with the use of the Table of Contents. If you're a parent, get this book for its entertainment value rather than as a reference resource.
Themes: Boys, Definition of Boyhood, Fun Facts
Red Flags: Some of the projects found in the book require adult supervision, or may be, as the title suggests: dangerous (ex: shooting a gun, skinning a rabbit)
Year: 2007
Publisher: Collins (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Pages: 270
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Series Information: The Daring Book for Girls is not written by the same authors, but is put out by the same publisher.
Book Summary: A guide containing fun facts and information that every boy should know, this book covers many different topics from knot tying to dinosaurs to morse code to descriptions of famous battles to lists of famous things that every boy should know (even including poetry and Shakespeare!) and much more. Intended for "every boy from eight to eighty."
Comments: I really like the concept of this book—a handy reference source of not only boring facts and figures, but of things that every boy should know, but could never find in one location. Conn and Hal Iggulden write in an easy-to-read, engaging style that should help keep boys' attention. Text is broken up by the use of pictures and by breaking up intensive chapters into multiple sections.
These points make the book easy to use, but from a reference standpoint, this book isn't a good one to use as a source for a paper or a school project. The information in the book seems accurate enough, but the sources of information can't be found anywhere in the book—not even in a bibliography stuck in the back of the book. Also, I mentioned earlier that intensive chapters are broken up into sections. What I didn't mention was that these sections are sprinkled throughout the book instead of being placed in the vicinity of each other. Since the book isn't broken into subject-specific sections, the book may be somewhat hard to navigate, even with the use of the Table of Contents. If you're a parent, get this book for its entertainment value rather than as a reference resource.
Themes: Boys, Definition of Boyhood, Fun Facts
Red Flags: Some of the projects found in the book require adult supervision, or may be, as the title suggests: dangerous (ex: shooting a gun, skinning a rabbit)
The Hidden Children
Author: Howard Greenfeld
Year: 1993
Publisher: Ticknor & Fields
Pages: 118
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 1994 Horn Book Fanfare Award
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoirs
Location: Europe
Time Period: World War II
Book Summary: What would it be like to be a Jewish child during World War II? This book tries to answer this question by giving the accounts of people who survived the Holocaust as children. Some were taken in by non-Jewish families and given new names and identitites, some were hidden in convents and orphanages, and others spent much of their childhood years on the run. Includes information on the causes of the war, memories of the children interviewed, and discussion of the aftereffects of the War.
Comments: Greenfeld does a good job painting the scenery. His description of what was happening, combined with photographs of Jewish children and their accounts of what happened to before, during, and after the War, creates a seamless work. Although this book can be rather depressing, one good thing about this book is that Greenfeld is interviewing survivors of the war. This work does not spend time talking about the concentration camps, but instead focuses on those who managed to keep away from the camps. This is still a sobering tale, and even though the text is easy enough to read, I wouldn't recommend this book to younger age range of children that it's written for.
Themes: Holocaust, Anti-Semitism, Survival, Being in Hiding
Red Flags: Descriptions of poor living conditions, health problems, and light discussion of people who were caught and killed both in and out of the concentration camps
Year: 1993
Publisher: Ticknor & Fields
Pages: 118
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 1994 Horn Book Fanfare Award
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoirs
Location: Europe
Time Period: World War II
Book Summary: What would it be like to be a Jewish child during World War II? This book tries to answer this question by giving the accounts of people who survived the Holocaust as children. Some were taken in by non-Jewish families and given new names and identitites, some were hidden in convents and orphanages, and others spent much of their childhood years on the run. Includes information on the causes of the war, memories of the children interviewed, and discussion of the aftereffects of the War.
Comments: Greenfeld does a good job painting the scenery. His description of what was happening, combined with photographs of Jewish children and their accounts of what happened to before, during, and after the War, creates a seamless work. Although this book can be rather depressing, one good thing about this book is that Greenfeld is interviewing survivors of the war. This work does not spend time talking about the concentration camps, but instead focuses on those who managed to keep away from the camps. This is still a sobering tale, and even though the text is easy enough to read, I wouldn't recommend this book to younger age range of children that it's written for.
Themes: Holocaust, Anti-Semitism, Survival, Being in Hiding
Red Flags: Descriptions of poor living conditions, health problems, and light discussion of people who were caught and killed both in and out of the concentration camps
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Victory
Author: Susan Cooper
Year: 2007
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 224
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 National Social Studies Trade Book
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Historical Fiction
Location: Connecticut, England, H.M.S. Victory
Time Period: 1803-1806/Present Day (2006)
Plot: Molly Jennings is an English girl who lives in 2006, while Sam Robbins is a farm boy who was pressed into service on H.M.S. Victory back in 1803. Their stories are told simultaneously, and each character has a different yet similar problem to face. While Sam has to learn about the perils of life on the sea and is involved in the famous battle of Trafalgar, Molly also has to deal with homesickness and loneliness when she moves to Connecticut, where her new father's job is located. Molly and Sam's lives are connected when Molly finds Robert Southey's book Life of Nelson at a nautical souvenir shop. Pasted inside the cover of the book is a scrap of the flag that covered Lord Nelson's body after he died. Sam had been given that piece of flag, and passed it on to his children, who pasted it into the book. SPOILER! Molly and Sam's lives truly converge when Molly goes back to England for a week in an attempt to get over her homesickness. While there, her grandfather takes her to Portsmouth, where they take a tour of H.M.S. Victory. There, Molly reconnects with Sam and experiences through Sam's eyes the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson. Molly later discovers that the reason she had such a vivid experience is because she is actually a descendant of Sam's.
Comments: The idea of two people being connected through time is an interesting one, and Cooper does a good job of helping you feel the connection between these two individuals. I think this story would have worked just as well if Cooper had focused solely on Sam's experience aboard H.M.S. Victory, but the addition of Molly's story adds depth of feeling to the plot. The hard issues of death, war, and Molly's depression over her homesickness and her father's death, make this a book I wouldn't recommend to younger readers, but it might be an interesting way for older readers to learn about one of England's most famous battles.
Themes: Battle of Trafalgar, Sea Voyages, Homesickness, Separation from Loved Ones, Coping with Trauma
Red Flags: Description of Battle Scenes, Death, Description of Poverty in the 1800s, Extreme Homesickness
Year: 2007
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 224
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 National Social Studies Trade Book
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/Historical Fiction
Location: Connecticut, England, H.M.S. Victory
Time Period: 1803-1806/Present Day (2006)
Plot: Molly Jennings is an English girl who lives in 2006, while Sam Robbins is a farm boy who was pressed into service on H.M.S. Victory back in 1803. Their stories are told simultaneously, and each character has a different yet similar problem to face. While Sam has to learn about the perils of life on the sea and is involved in the famous battle of Trafalgar, Molly also has to deal with homesickness and loneliness when she moves to Connecticut, where her new father's job is located. Molly and Sam's lives are connected when Molly finds Robert Southey's book Life of Nelson at a nautical souvenir shop. Pasted inside the cover of the book is a scrap of the flag that covered Lord Nelson's body after he died. Sam had been given that piece of flag, and passed it on to his children, who pasted it into the book. SPOILER! Molly and Sam's lives truly converge when Molly goes back to England for a week in an attempt to get over her homesickness. While there, her grandfather takes her to Portsmouth, where they take a tour of H.M.S. Victory. There, Molly reconnects with Sam and experiences through Sam's eyes the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson. Molly later discovers that the reason she had such a vivid experience is because she is actually a descendant of Sam's.
Comments: The idea of two people being connected through time is an interesting one, and Cooper does a good job of helping you feel the connection between these two individuals. I think this story would have worked just as well if Cooper had focused solely on Sam's experience aboard H.M.S. Victory, but the addition of Molly's story adds depth of feeling to the plot. The hard issues of death, war, and Molly's depression over her homesickness and her father's death, make this a book I wouldn't recommend to younger readers, but it might be an interesting way for older readers to learn about one of England's most famous battles.
Themes: Battle of Trafalgar, Sea Voyages, Homesickness, Separation from Loved Ones, Coping with Trauma
Red Flags: Description of Battle Scenes, Death, Description of Poverty in the 1800s, Extreme Homesickness
The Chronicles of Narnia
Author: Based on the Books by C.S. Lewis
Illustrator: Pop-Ups by Robert Sabuda; Full-Color Art by Matthew Armstrong.
Year: 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 14
Reading Level: Beginner (ages 4-8)
Genre: Pop-up/Movable Books/Fantasy
Series Information: Based on The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
Location: Narnia, a magical land where animals can talk
Time Period: The entire life span of Narnia from its creation to its destruction
Book Summary: Each two-page spread of this magical book summarizes one of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series written by C.S. Lewis. Summaries of each book are only a paragraph long, leaving most of the page open for the artwork of award-winning paper engineer Robert Sabuda.
Comments: The Chronicles of Narnia, especially the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is one of my favorite books/series ever written. Imagine my happiness when I found out that Robert Sabuda had done a version of these books! Sabuda's art does pop out of the page, and I was enthralled by it. My favorite pages were probably the Chronicles of Narnia page (so pretty!) and The Last Battle page (that page just keeps popping and popping and popping), followed closely by The Magician's Nephew page (Aslan the Lion springs out of the book).
As fun as this book is, because each page is a summary of an entire story, it's not a good one to choose for a story time or even for reading one-on-one with a child who does not know the series. Part of me wishes Sabuda would have summarized just one of the books instead of the entire series. That would have made the book more readable. But maybe that's just the Narnia-lover in me, wishing he'd depicted a few more of my favorite scenes.
Themes: Pop-up Books, Art, Sabuda, Chronicles of Narnia
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Pop-Ups by Robert Sabuda; Full-Color Art by Matthew Armstrong.
Year: 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 14
Reading Level: Beginner (ages 4-8)
Genre: Pop-up/Movable Books/Fantasy
Series Information: Based on The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
Location: Narnia, a magical land where animals can talk
Time Period: The entire life span of Narnia from its creation to its destruction
Book Summary: Each two-page spread of this magical book summarizes one of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series written by C.S. Lewis. Summaries of each book are only a paragraph long, leaving most of the page open for the artwork of award-winning paper engineer Robert Sabuda.
Comments: The Chronicles of Narnia, especially the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is one of my favorite books/series ever written. Imagine my happiness when I found out that Robert Sabuda had done a version of these books! Sabuda's art does pop out of the page, and I was enthralled by it. My favorite pages were probably the Chronicles of Narnia page (so pretty!) and The Last Battle page (that page just keeps popping and popping and popping), followed closely by The Magician's Nephew page (Aslan the Lion springs out of the book).
As fun as this book is, because each page is a summary of an entire story, it's not a good one to choose for a story time or even for reading one-on-one with a child who does not know the series. Part of me wishes Sabuda would have summarized just one of the books instead of the entire series. That would have made the book more readable. But maybe that's just the Narnia-lover in me, wishing he'd depicted a few more of my favorite scenes.
Themes: Pop-up Books, Art, Sabuda, Chronicles of Narnia
Red Flags: None
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Lemonade Club
Author/Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Year: 2007
Publisher: Philomel Books
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: Miss Wichelman's fifth grade class (Anytown, USA)
Time Period: 1970s?
Plot: Tells the true story of Polacco's daughter, Traci, her best friend, Marilyn, and their teacher, Miss Wichelman. Traci and Marilyn love being part of Miss Wichelman's fifth grade class. Every day Miss Wichelman ends class by reciting the adage, "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade." One day Marilyn discovers that she has leukemia, and she has to undergo radiation treatment, which takes away all of her hair. Traci and Miss Wichelman come to Marilyn's aid, encouraging the entire class to support Marilyn by shaving their heads. SPOILER! While Marilyn recovers and everyone's hair is growing in again, Miss Wichelman stays bald. Miss Wichelman confides to Traci and Marilyn that she has breast cancer and is also going through radiation treatments. Traci and Marilyn rally behind their teacher, encouraging her to "make lemonade" out of the situation. Five years later, Traci and Marilyn are bridesmaids at Miss Wichelman's wedding, and the three are still close friends.
Comments: It's always encouraging to see other people supporting each other, and that's what this book is all about. Because it's a true story, it may be one enjoyed by adults as well. In fact, for this reason I almost listed the book as an intermediate reader instead of as the beginning reader that Amazon.com says it is. Polacco's marker and colored pencil drawings go well with the story because they look like something Traci or Marilyn would probably draw to help explain what is going on. I also appreciated the pictures of the real-life Traci, Marilyn, and Miss Wichelman included in the back of the book, along with the note about where the three are now and what they are doing with their lives.
Themes: Cancer, Friendship, Baldness, Sickness, Dreams
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Kids of different races are in Miss Wichelman's class, but the main characters are Caucasian
Year: 2007
Publisher: Philomel Books
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: Miss Wichelman's fifth grade class (Anytown, USA)
Time Period: 1970s?
Plot: Tells the true story of Polacco's daughter, Traci, her best friend, Marilyn, and their teacher, Miss Wichelman. Traci and Marilyn love being part of Miss Wichelman's fifth grade class. Every day Miss Wichelman ends class by reciting the adage, "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade." One day Marilyn discovers that she has leukemia, and she has to undergo radiation treatment, which takes away all of her hair. Traci and Miss Wichelman come to Marilyn's aid, encouraging the entire class to support Marilyn by shaving their heads. SPOILER! While Marilyn recovers and everyone's hair is growing in again, Miss Wichelman stays bald. Miss Wichelman confides to Traci and Marilyn that she has breast cancer and is also going through radiation treatments. Traci and Marilyn rally behind their teacher, encouraging her to "make lemonade" out of the situation. Five years later, Traci and Marilyn are bridesmaids at Miss Wichelman's wedding, and the three are still close friends.
Comments: It's always encouraging to see other people supporting each other, and that's what this book is all about. Because it's a true story, it may be one enjoyed by adults as well. In fact, for this reason I almost listed the book as an intermediate reader instead of as the beginning reader that Amazon.com says it is. Polacco's marker and colored pencil drawings go well with the story because they look like something Traci or Marilyn would probably draw to help explain what is going on. I also appreciated the pictures of the real-life Traci, Marilyn, and Miss Wichelman included in the back of the book, along with the note about where the three are now and what they are doing with their lives.
Themes: Cancer, Friendship, Baldness, Sickness, Dreams
Red Flags: None
Multicultural Elements: Kids of different races are in Miss Wichelman's class, but the main characters are Caucasian
Eyewitness Invention
Author: Lionel Bender
Year: 2005
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages:72
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Planet Earth
Time Period: Covers almost every time period
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand what an invention is ("something that is devised by human effort and that did not exist before. . . . They usually result from the bringing together of existing technologies in a new way." pg. 6) and how it has evolved through time. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include inventions starting from tools and the wheel to current inventions like the silicon chip. The format of each chapter is unique: a generic summary of the topic is found in the upper left hand corner, and the rest of the page is filled with photographs that are prime examples of the topic. The latest and newest version of the invention is not always mentioned, but the major versions of the invention that changed history are. Labels and text surrounding the photograph explain why that object is important in the field. Also includes a Did you Know section, a timeline of important inventions, a Find Out More section, a glossary, and an index.
Comments: This is a very thorough series, and it manages to convey a lot of information in a way that I think will appeal to both eager and reluctant readers. Inventions shown sometimes include cut-away panels to allow readers to see how the invention works. The labels in the Eyewitness series were not as helpful as they were in the Inside & Out Guide series, but more information is given on each object, which means the Eyewitness series gives more information than the Inside & Out Guide series does. The additional sections at the back were also interesting and helpful.
Themes: Inventions, History of Inventions, Reference
Red Flags: None
Year: 2005
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages:72
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Planet Earth
Time Period: Covers almost every time period
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand what an invention is ("something that is devised by human effort and that did not exist before. . . . They usually result from the bringing together of existing technologies in a new way." pg. 6) and how it has evolved through time. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include inventions starting from tools and the wheel to current inventions like the silicon chip. The format of each chapter is unique: a generic summary of the topic is found in the upper left hand corner, and the rest of the page is filled with photographs that are prime examples of the topic. The latest and newest version of the invention is not always mentioned, but the major versions of the invention that changed history are. Labels and text surrounding the photograph explain why that object is important in the field. Also includes a Did you Know section, a timeline of important inventions, a Find Out More section, a glossary, and an index.
Comments: This is a very thorough series, and it manages to convey a lot of information in a way that I think will appeal to both eager and reluctant readers. Inventions shown sometimes include cut-away panels to allow readers to see how the invention works. The labels in the Eyewitness series were not as helpful as they were in the Inside & Out Guide series, but more information is given on each object, which means the Eyewitness series gives more information than the Inside & Out Guide series does. The additional sections at the back were also interesting and helpful.
Themes: Inventions, History of Inventions, Reference
Red Flags: None
First Ladies
Author: Amy Pastan, in association with the Smithsonian Institution
Year: 2001
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages: 64
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Washington, DC; United States
Time Period: 1775-Present (2001)
Book Summary: Gives a unique history of the United States by focusing on the various First Ladies, up through Laura Bush. Some first ladies are covered in half a page, while others are covered in multiple pages. Most entries include a picture of the first lady, a brief biography including critical dates, and pictures of general artifacts that were associated with that president and that time period. Also includes an index.
Comments: Because the setup of this book is so different from the other two books I analyzed in the series, I had to double check that this book really does belong with the others. However, the idea behind all of the books in the series is the same: to give a general history and timeline of that subject. Readers should know that the subject of this book is actually American History through the angle of the First Ladies, and the subject is not necessarily the First Ladies themselves. Although this book discusses each of the wives of the past presidents of the United States, the information is given in a way that also gives the reader a vague idea of the history of the United States and of the political problems that arose while that woman’s husband was in office. This is especially noticeable in a few entries that did not discuss the president’s wife in detail because she had died either before or during the president’s term in office, but still contained a lot of detail because of the events that happened while the president was in office. (Like Thomas Jefferson's wife, who died before he came to office, but still somehow managed to have two pages devoted to her.)
Themes: First Ladies, American History, Reference
Red Flags: None
Year: 2001
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages: 64
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Washington, DC; United States
Time Period: 1775-Present (2001)
Book Summary: Gives a unique history of the United States by focusing on the various First Ladies, up through Laura Bush. Some first ladies are covered in half a page, while others are covered in multiple pages. Most entries include a picture of the first lady, a brief biography including critical dates, and pictures of general artifacts that were associated with that president and that time period. Also includes an index.
Comments: Because the setup of this book is so different from the other two books I analyzed in the series, I had to double check that this book really does belong with the others. However, the idea behind all of the books in the series is the same: to give a general history and timeline of that subject. Readers should know that the subject of this book is actually American History through the angle of the First Ladies, and the subject is not necessarily the First Ladies themselves. Although this book discusses each of the wives of the past presidents of the United States, the information is given in a way that also gives the reader a vague idea of the history of the United States and of the political problems that arose while that woman’s husband was in office. This is especially noticeable in a few entries that did not discuss the president’s wife in detail because she had died either before or during the president’s term in office, but still contained a lot of detail because of the events that happened while the president was in office. (Like Thomas Jefferson's wife, who died before he came to office, but still somehow managed to have two pages devoted to her.)
Themes: First Ladies, American History, Reference
Red Flags: None
Eyewitness Chemistry
Author: Dr. Ann Newmark
Year: 2005
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages:72
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Planet Earth
Time Period: Covers almost every time period
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand what chemistry is ("the science of change")and how it has evolved through time. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include things like the first chemists, atoms and molecules, the periodic table, chemical reactions, acids and bases, the chemistry of life, the first plastics, and the chemical industry. The format of each chapter is unique: a generic summary of the topic is found in the upper left hand corner, and the rest of the page is filled with photographs that are prime examples of the topic. Labels and text surrounding the photograph explain why that object is important in the field. Also includes a Did you Know section, a timeline of important events, a find out more section, a glossary, and an index.
Comments: This is a very thorough series, and it manages to convey a lot of information in a way that I think will appeal to both eager and reluctant readers. The additional sections at the back were also helpful. This series presents more information than the Inside and Out Guide series does, and it seems to focus on a slightly older audience.
Themes: Chemistry, History of Science, Reference
Red Flags: None
Year: 2005
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
Pages:72
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: DK Eyewitness Books
Location: Planet Earth
Time Period: Covers almost every time period
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand what chemistry is ("the science of change")and how it has evolved through time. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include things like the first chemists, atoms and molecules, the periodic table, chemical reactions, acids and bases, the chemistry of life, the first plastics, and the chemical industry. The format of each chapter is unique: a generic summary of the topic is found in the upper left hand corner, and the rest of the page is filled with photographs that are prime examples of the topic. Labels and text surrounding the photograph explain why that object is important in the field. Also includes a Did you Know section, a timeline of important events, a find out more section, a glossary, and an index.
Comments: This is a very thorough series, and it manages to convey a lot of information in a way that I think will appeal to both eager and reluctant readers. The additional sections at the back were also helpful. This series presents more information than the Inside and Out Guide series does, and it seems to focus on a slightly older audience.
Themes: Chemistry, History of Science, Reference
Red Flags: None
The Inside & Out Guide to Mighty Machines
Author: Clint Twist
Illustrator: Alex Pang
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand how some of the most famous high-powered machines work. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include the Sea King helicopter, the Super Airbus A380, the Hercules aircraft, the B2 Bomber, the Saturn V Rocket, the monster truck, the giant dump truck, the bulldozer, the Big Boy locomotive, the Abrams tank, the Nimitz Carrier, and the tugboat. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the machine, but most of the chapter is dedicated to a diagram of the machine in question, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the machine works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: One thing I failed to mention in the other two posts, but that applies to them as well is that many of the labels on the graphics not only state what the different parts of the machine is, but they also explain how that specific part works. Detailed labels aren't included in each instance, but they are used to help clear up misunderstanings about what a part does. Labels are especially noticeable in the Mighty Machines book, and they are greatly appreciated.
To quote the paper I had to write comparing this series with the Eyewitness series, the Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Machines, Technology, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Alex Pang
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand how some of the most famous high-powered machines work. Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include the Sea King helicopter, the Super Airbus A380, the Hercules aircraft, the B2 Bomber, the Saturn V Rocket, the monster truck, the giant dump truck, the bulldozer, the Big Boy locomotive, the Abrams tank, the Nimitz Carrier, and the tugboat. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the machine, but most of the chapter is dedicated to a diagram of the machine in question, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the machine works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: One thing I failed to mention in the other two posts, but that applies to them as well is that many of the labels on the graphics not only state what the different parts of the machine is, but they also explain how that specific part works. Detailed labels aren't included in each instance, but they are used to help clear up misunderstanings about what a part does. Labels are especially noticeable in the Mighty Machines book, and they are greatly appreciated.
To quote the paper I had to write comparing this series with the Eyewitness series, the Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Machines, Technology, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
The Inside & Out Guide to Spacecraft
Author: Clare Hibbert
Illustrator: Alex Pang
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource dedicated to the different types of spacecraft that exist. Each spacecraft is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include an overview of the history of the early spacecraft, Apollo 11, the Moon Lander, the MIR Space Station, the X-plane, the space shuttle, the shuttle orbiter, the EVA Spacesuit and MMU, the satellite, the Mars Pathfinder, the Spaceshipone, and the ISS. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the spacecraft, but most of the chapter is dedicated to photographs of actual spacecraft and a diagram of the featured spacecraft, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the spacecraft works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: Personally, I think this book in the series is a little better than the other two I analyzed. I found it especially interesting that the astronaut's spacesuit was included as one of the spacecraft mentioned. When you think about it, the spacesuit in and of itself is a very interesting piece of equipment that is essential to space flight, so it makes perfect sense that it would be included here.
I will also reiterate what I said in the previous post about another book in this series: The Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Spacecraft, History of Space Exploration, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Alex Pang
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource dedicated to the different types of spacecraft that exist. Each spacecraft is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include an overview of the history of the early spacecraft, Apollo 11, the Moon Lander, the MIR Space Station, the X-plane, the space shuttle, the shuttle orbiter, the EVA Spacesuit and MMU, the satellite, the Mars Pathfinder, the Spaceshipone, and the ISS. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the spacecraft, but most of the chapter is dedicated to photographs of actual spacecraft and a diagram of the featured spacecraft, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the spacecraft works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: Personally, I think this book in the series is a little better than the other two I analyzed. I found it especially interesting that the astronaut's spacesuit was included as one of the spacecraft mentioned. When you think about it, the spacesuit in and of itself is a very interesting piece of equipment that is essential to space flight, so it makes perfect sense that it would be included here.
I will also reiterate what I said in the previous post about another book in this series: The Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Spacecraft, History of Space Exploration, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
The Inside & Out Guide to Inventions
Author: Chris Oxlade
Illustrator: Moorhen Studios
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand how some of the most famous inventions work. (Invention: "a new machine, a new tool, or a new way of doing something.") Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include the steam engine, the automobile, the airplane, the rocket, the tank, farm machinery (especially the harvesting machine), printing, the telephone, the telescope, the electric motor, the camera, and the computer. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the invention and of a major inventor in the field, but most of the chapter is dedicated to a diagram of the invention, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the machine works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: To quote the paper I had to write comparing this series with the Eyewitness series, the Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Inventions, Technology, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Moorhen Studios
Year: 2006
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Reference
Series Information: Part of the Inside & Out Guide series
Book Summary: A reference resource designed to help children understand how some of the most famous inventions work. (Invention: "a new machine, a new tool, or a new way of doing something.") Each topic is covered in two-page chapters. Topics covered include the steam engine, the automobile, the airplane, the rocket, the tank, farm machinery (especially the harvesting machine), printing, the telephone, the telescope, the electric motor, the camera, and the computer. Each chapter gives a short description of the history of the invention and of a major inventor in the field, but most of the chapter is dedicated to a diagram of the invention, complete with labeled parts and cut-away or see-through areas to help children better understand how the machine works. Also includes an index and glossary.
Comments: To quote the paper I had to write comparing this series with the Eyewitness series, the Inside & Out Guide series "may be a good choice for those who don’t necessarily care about the history of an invention, but they want to know about how current technology works. The larger font, open spacing, and simpler wording of The Inside and Out Guide to Inventions (2006) also suggests that this book will appeal to a younger audience than the Eyewitness Invention (2005) book will." In other words, this series doesn't give enough information for a chid to write a research paper on the subjects covered, but it is a good source to use for inquisitive children who want to know how the world works.
Themes: Inventions, Technology, Reference Resources
Red Flags: None
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kira-Kira
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Year: 2004
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Pages: 244
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2005 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Chesterfield, Georgia
Time Period: 1950s or 1960s
Plot: Five year-old Katie is upset when she discovers that she and her Japanese-American family are moving from their home in a Japanese community in Iowa to a small, grungy apartment in Georgia. Her family is a close-knit one, however, so they weather the storms together. Katie's parents work long hours at a chicken processing plant in an attempt to make ends meet, so Katie and her younger brother Sammy must look to their older sister Lynn for care and guidance. When Lynn falls ill, Katie must take up her sister's role as psychological head of the family in order to keep the family together. SPOILER! When Lynn dies, the family almost falls apart. Katie, her brother Sammy, and her parents must each realize that Lynn would want them to move on in life and enjoy the beauties of the world instead of mourning.
Comments: I think I would have been very depressed if this was an adult novel instead of a story written for older children. Katie's family goes through a lot, and I kept thinking to myself, "what else is going to happen to this family?!" As it is, Kadohata glosses over some of the more depressing aspects of the story, and tries to focus on the one good thing this family has: each other. The family's unity was actually one of the most relatable parts of the book for me, and one of the parts I could appreciate the most. This isn't a story about the trials this family goes through, instead it's a story about how they stick together through it all.
I have one small complaint about this novel: Glossing over some important issues may make this book more appropriate for children, but it also made it harder to follow in some instances. The best example of this I have is that I know time was passing in the novel, but I wasn't sure how fast. I spent much of the book thinking that Katie was a little older than five, when she was actually around ten. This was especially confusing when Katie was talking about making dinner for the family and taking care of both Lynn and Sammy. I guess this vagueness gives a more accurate view of how children are presented with the world when their parents are trying to protect them from something, but it was still frustrating.
Themes: Cancer, Unions, Racism, Death, Unfair Working Conditions, Mourning, Illness, Family Unity, Sisters
Red Flags: Death, Sammy's leg gets caught in a bear trap, Katie's father crashes a windshield
Multicultural Elements: Japanese-Americans
Year: 2004
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Pages: 244
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2005 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Chesterfield, Georgia
Time Period: 1950s or 1960s
Plot: Five year-old Katie is upset when she discovers that she and her Japanese-American family are moving from their home in a Japanese community in Iowa to a small, grungy apartment in Georgia. Her family is a close-knit one, however, so they weather the storms together. Katie's parents work long hours at a chicken processing plant in an attempt to make ends meet, so Katie and her younger brother Sammy must look to their older sister Lynn for care and guidance. When Lynn falls ill, Katie must take up her sister's role as psychological head of the family in order to keep the family together. SPOILER! When Lynn dies, the family almost falls apart. Katie, her brother Sammy, and her parents must each realize that Lynn would want them to move on in life and enjoy the beauties of the world instead of mourning.
Comments: I think I would have been very depressed if this was an adult novel instead of a story written for older children. Katie's family goes through a lot, and I kept thinking to myself, "what else is going to happen to this family?!" As it is, Kadohata glosses over some of the more depressing aspects of the story, and tries to focus on the one good thing this family has: each other. The family's unity was actually one of the most relatable parts of the book for me, and one of the parts I could appreciate the most. This isn't a story about the trials this family goes through, instead it's a story about how they stick together through it all.
I have one small complaint about this novel: Glossing over some important issues may make this book more appropriate for children, but it also made it harder to follow in some instances. The best example of this I have is that I know time was passing in the novel, but I wasn't sure how fast. I spent much of the book thinking that Katie was a little older than five, when she was actually around ten. This was especially confusing when Katie was talking about making dinner for the family and taking care of both Lynn and Sammy. I guess this vagueness gives a more accurate view of how children are presented with the world when their parents are trying to protect them from something, but it was still frustrating.
Themes: Cancer, Unions, Racism, Death, Unfair Working Conditions, Mourning, Illness, Family Unity, Sisters
Red Flags: Death, Sammy's leg gets caught in a bear trap, Katie's father crashes a windshield
Multicultural Elements: Japanese-Americans
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Criss Cross
Author/Illustrator: Lynne Rae Perkins
Year: 2005
Publisher: Greenwillow/Harper Trophy
Pages: 337
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2006 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Coming of Age
Series Information: Sequel to All Alone in the Universe
Location: Seldem, a small town somewhere in America
Time Period: 1970s?
Plot: At the beginning of her summer vacation, Debbie wishes for something good to happen. At the same time, Hector is learning to pursue the goals and ambitions in his life. As the summer progresses, Debbie helps an old arthritic woman and discovers what love might be. Hector learns to express himself through music. Hector and Debbie's friends also go through experiences, and together they get closer to discovering their true selves and their place in the world.
Comments: I had a hard time defining what the purpose of this novel was. There isn't a solid plot that ever gets resolved. In fact, the premise of the novel (and the title) is that we're all just wandering around, trying to find ourselves.
The lack of solid plot wasn't as annoying to me as it usually is because Perkins' writing style is a lot of fun and explores different ways of communicating ideas. There's a chapter written from the perspectives of two different people, written in columns placed side by side. Another chapter is written in haiku. Sometimes pictures are used to explain parts of the text. My favorite chapter had Debbie following instructions written by someone whose first language was not English. For example, "Easy Basin Wrench . . . is favored with the patronages of common sense and wisdom." If only I was blessed with those patronages!
All in all, I liked the book, I liked the writing style, and I liked the characters, I'm just still confused as to what the point of it was.
Themes: Coming of Age, Relationships, Discovering your place in the world
Red Flags: A woman has a heart attack
Year: 2005
Publisher: Greenwillow/Harper Trophy
Pages: 337
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2006 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Coming of Age
Series Information: Sequel to All Alone in the Universe
Location: Seldem, a small town somewhere in America
Time Period: 1970s?
Plot: At the beginning of her summer vacation, Debbie wishes for something good to happen. At the same time, Hector is learning to pursue the goals and ambitions in his life. As the summer progresses, Debbie helps an old arthritic woman and discovers what love might be. Hector learns to express himself through music. Hector and Debbie's friends also go through experiences, and together they get closer to discovering their true selves and their place in the world.
Comments: I had a hard time defining what the purpose of this novel was. There isn't a solid plot that ever gets resolved. In fact, the premise of the novel (and the title) is that we're all just wandering around, trying to find ourselves.
The lack of solid plot wasn't as annoying to me as it usually is because Perkins' writing style is a lot of fun and explores different ways of communicating ideas. There's a chapter written from the perspectives of two different people, written in columns placed side by side. Another chapter is written in haiku. Sometimes pictures are used to explain parts of the text. My favorite chapter had Debbie following instructions written by someone whose first language was not English. For example, "Easy Basin Wrench . . . is favored with the patronages of common sense and wisdom." If only I was blessed with those patronages!
All in all, I liked the book, I liked the writing style, and I liked the characters, I'm just still confused as to what the point of it was.
Themes: Coming of Age, Relationships, Discovering your place in the world
Red Flags: A woman has a heart attack
Monday, November 10, 2008
I Am a Star: Child of the Holocaust
Author: Inge Auerbacher
Illustrator: Israel Bernbaum
Year: 1986
Publisher: Prentice-Hall Books for Young Readers
Pages: 87
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: Merit of Educational Distinction by the International Center for Holocaust Studies of the B’nai Brith Anti-Defamation League.
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir
Location: Jebenhausen, Germany; Terezin Concentration Camp, Czechoslovakia
Time Period: Kristallnacht, November 9-10, 1939-May 8, 1945 (World War II)
Book Summary: Tells the story of Inge Auerbacher and her family, German Jews who were transferred to the Terezin Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia and lived there for three years until they were liberated by the Soviets. Ms. Auerbacher was one of only thirteen survivors from her transport of about 1200 people who were sent to Terezin, and was one of the few surviving children. Discusses the history of World War II and Anti-Semitism. Also inclues a timeline, poetry written by the author, photographs and pictures, and suggested books for further reading.
Comments: Auerbacher provides a lot of background to the causes of the Holocaust in a way that children will understand it. She doesn't just simply state that the Nazis hated the Jews. Instead, she gives the both the history of Hitler's rise to power, and the even longer history of Anti-Semitism in Europe. She also shares facts about the concentration camps themselves, but she does so in a gentle way that won't be too disturbing to children.
There is a lot of information included in the book, and Auerbacher tries to break this up into manageable segments through various means. I appreciated the photographs, which mainly included pictures of the people Auerbacher talks about in the book. Less helpful were the poems and drawings placed sporadically throughout the book. The poems give little snippets of concentration camp life that will be useful to children, but these snippets are not discussed in the actual narrative. For example, a poem about finding and hiding potatoes is inserted without any comment made about this incident in the text. Sometimes the poems are placed in such a way as to interrupt the text, making it hard to keep track of what is going on.
Themes: World War II, Anti-Semitism, Concentration Camps, Holocaust
Red Flags: Light discussion of the purpose of Auschwitz and the horrors of concentration camps.
Illustrator: Israel Bernbaum
Year: 1986
Publisher: Prentice-Hall Books for Young Readers
Pages: 87
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: Merit of Educational Distinction by the International Center for Holocaust Studies of the B’nai Brith Anti-Defamation League.
Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir
Location: Jebenhausen, Germany; Terezin Concentration Camp, Czechoslovakia
Time Period: Kristallnacht, November 9-10, 1939-May 8, 1945 (World War II)
Book Summary: Tells the story of Inge Auerbacher and her family, German Jews who were transferred to the Terezin Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia and lived there for three years until they were liberated by the Soviets. Ms. Auerbacher was one of only thirteen survivors from her transport of about 1200 people who were sent to Terezin, and was one of the few surviving children. Discusses the history of World War II and Anti-Semitism. Also inclues a timeline, poetry written by the author, photographs and pictures, and suggested books for further reading.
Comments: Auerbacher provides a lot of background to the causes of the Holocaust in a way that children will understand it. She doesn't just simply state that the Nazis hated the Jews. Instead, she gives the both the history of Hitler's rise to power, and the even longer history of Anti-Semitism in Europe. She also shares facts about the concentration camps themselves, but she does so in a gentle way that won't be too disturbing to children.
There is a lot of information included in the book, and Auerbacher tries to break this up into manageable segments through various means. I appreciated the photographs, which mainly included pictures of the people Auerbacher talks about in the book. Less helpful were the poems and drawings placed sporadically throughout the book. The poems give little snippets of concentration camp life that will be useful to children, but these snippets are not discussed in the actual narrative. For example, a poem about finding and hiding potatoes is inserted without any comment made about this incident in the text. Sometimes the poems are placed in such a way as to interrupt the text, making it hard to keep track of what is going on.
Themes: World War II, Anti-Semitism, Concentration Camps, Holocaust
Red Flags: Light discussion of the purpose of Auschwitz and the horrors of concentration camps.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Year: 1989
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Pages: 137
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 1990 Newbery Medal
Genre: Historical Fiction (World War II/Holocaust)
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Time Period: World War II (1940s)
Plot: During World War II, when the Germans threaten to arrest all of the Jews in Denmark, Annemarie's Jewish friend, Ellen, and Ellen's family are suddenly in trouble. Annemarie and her family must put themselves in danger to help Ellen's family escape to safety. SPOILER! Annemarie's family helps sneak Ellen's family to Gilleleje, a small fishing village on the seashore. There, under the cover of night, Ellen's family and many other Jews are hidden in the fishermen's boats and taken across the sea to safety in Sweden. Along the way Annemarie and her family encounter many dangers. Annemarie especially must be brave when a special package is left behind. Annemarie must get the package to her uncle's fishing boat before the Germans come search the boat.
Comments: The thing I appreciated most about this book is the fact that this book discusses a true incident during World War II wherein people helped Jews escape the German concentration camps, and for the most part were not discovered. Annemarie learns hard lessons about the value of human life and the importance of helping others and standing up for what you believe in. The afterward explaining what elements of the story were true and what elements were not was especially helpful. While I would not recommend this book as the only book a child should read in order to understand the Holocaust, this is a great example of little-known stories of humanity that happened during that time that need to be shared.
Themes: Friendship, World War II, Denmark, Anti-Semitism
Red Flags: Hard themes, People injured trying to run underground organizations against the Nazis.
Year: 1989
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Pages: 137
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 1990 Newbery Medal
Genre: Historical Fiction (World War II/Holocaust)
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Time Period: World War II (1940s)
Plot: During World War II, when the Germans threaten to arrest all of the Jews in Denmark, Annemarie's Jewish friend, Ellen, and Ellen's family are suddenly in trouble. Annemarie and her family must put themselves in danger to help Ellen's family escape to safety. SPOILER! Annemarie's family helps sneak Ellen's family to Gilleleje, a small fishing village on the seashore. There, under the cover of night, Ellen's family and many other Jews are hidden in the fishermen's boats and taken across the sea to safety in Sweden. Along the way Annemarie and her family encounter many dangers. Annemarie especially must be brave when a special package is left behind. Annemarie must get the package to her uncle's fishing boat before the Germans come search the boat.
Comments: The thing I appreciated most about this book is the fact that this book discusses a true incident during World War II wherein people helped Jews escape the German concentration camps, and for the most part were not discovered. Annemarie learns hard lessons about the value of human life and the importance of helping others and standing up for what you believe in. The afterward explaining what elements of the story were true and what elements were not was especially helpful. While I would not recommend this book as the only book a child should read in order to understand the Holocaust, this is a great example of little-known stories of humanity that happened during that time that need to be shared.
Themes: Friendship, World War II, Denmark, Anti-Semitism
Red Flags: Hard themes, People injured trying to run underground organizations against the Nazis.
The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Year: 2006
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 144
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Hard Pan, California, a small town on the Mojave Desert.
Time Period: Present (2006)
Plot: Ten year-old Lucky worries about the future. Her mother has died, her father doesn't want her, and her guardian, Brigitte, is homesick for her native France. Lucky is sure that one day Brigitte will get tired of being Lucky's guardian, and will hop a plane back to France, leaving Lucky in the care of the Los Angeles welfare system. In a desperate attempt to convince Brigitte how much Lucky means to her, Lucky decides to run away for a week. Things do not go as planned when a dust storm hits the day Lucky decides to run away. SPOILER! The entire town sets out to find Lucky and her neighbor Miles, who has gotten lost in the dust storm. Lucky and Miles are found hiding in an abandoned mining dugout. Lucky learns that contrary to her suspicions, Brigitte has actually been trying to get the paperwork approved to officially adopt Lucky so they can be a real family.
Comments: Patron does a good job with giving each of the characters in this story a personality. There's ten year-old Lincoln, who loves tying knots; five year-old Miles, who loves to mimic sounds, eat cookies, and read Are You My Mother?; Short Sammy, whose captivating story told at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting makes Lucky decide to search for her Higher Power; there's Lucky herself, who longs for a permanent place in the world and carries around a survival pack so she can survive in any situation, and there are many other well-drawn characters.
Although I enjoyed reading about such well-rounded characters. this book has so many back stories that it takes a long time to get to the point. When the plot does pick up it is very engaging, but the resolution comes very quickly and as a slightly jarring surprise which doesn't really fit with the rest of the plot. This makes this a book I wouldn't willingly recommend to reluctant readers. The pencil drawings found throughout the book are interesting additions that work well with the text, and they help give the book a lighter tone.
Themes: Death, Families, Adoption, Finding Your Place in the World
Red Flags: This book is sometimes banned because of a word included twice in the text. Also, the description of what Lucky's mother's ashes looked like was kind of unsettling to me. I've never thought of ashes like that before.
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Year: 2006
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 144
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 Newbery Medal
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Hard Pan, California, a small town on the Mojave Desert.
Time Period: Present (2006)
Plot: Ten year-old Lucky worries about the future. Her mother has died, her father doesn't want her, and her guardian, Brigitte, is homesick for her native France. Lucky is sure that one day Brigitte will get tired of being Lucky's guardian, and will hop a plane back to France, leaving Lucky in the care of the Los Angeles welfare system. In a desperate attempt to convince Brigitte how much Lucky means to her, Lucky decides to run away for a week. Things do not go as planned when a dust storm hits the day Lucky decides to run away. SPOILER! The entire town sets out to find Lucky and her neighbor Miles, who has gotten lost in the dust storm. Lucky and Miles are found hiding in an abandoned mining dugout. Lucky learns that contrary to her suspicions, Brigitte has actually been trying to get the paperwork approved to officially adopt Lucky so they can be a real family.
Comments: Patron does a good job with giving each of the characters in this story a personality. There's ten year-old Lincoln, who loves tying knots; five year-old Miles, who loves to mimic sounds, eat cookies, and read Are You My Mother?; Short Sammy, whose captivating story told at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting makes Lucky decide to search for her Higher Power; there's Lucky herself, who longs for a permanent place in the world and carries around a survival pack so she can survive in any situation, and there are many other well-drawn characters.
Although I enjoyed reading about such well-rounded characters. this book has so many back stories that it takes a long time to get to the point. When the plot does pick up it is very engaging, but the resolution comes very quickly and as a slightly jarring surprise which doesn't really fit with the rest of the plot. This makes this a book I wouldn't willingly recommend to reluctant readers. The pencil drawings found throughout the book are interesting additions that work well with the text, and they help give the book a lighter tone.
Themes: Death, Families, Adoption, Finding Your Place in the World
Red Flags: This book is sometimes banned because of a word included twice in the text. Also, the description of what Lucky's mother's ashes looked like was kind of unsettling to me. I've never thought of ashes like that before.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Author/Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein
Year: 2003
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Caldecott Medal, 2004 Horn Book Award
Genre: Historical Fiction/Picture Book
Location: World Trade Center, New York City, New York
Time Period: 1974
Plot: The story of how Philippe Petit snuck into New York City's World Trade Center by night and performed his famous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.
Comments: Although this story aims to capture an event in history—the famous tightrope walk of Philippe Petit—it also seems like this story is trying to capture the memory of the Twin Towers themselves. The story is told simply and poetically in prose, but the story is perhaps even better portrayed in the ink and oil drawings. The most interesting pages were the depictions of the actual tightrope walk itself, which are done on extended pages to give a sense of how high up Philippe had to be in order to accomplish his task. An interesting book that tries to capture a happy moment related to something that usually is associated with sadness.
Themes: Tightrope Walking, World Trade Center, Entertainment, Momentous Occasions
Red Flags: None
Year: 2003
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Caldecott Medal, 2004 Horn Book Award
Genre: Historical Fiction/Picture Book
Location: World Trade Center, New York City, New York
Time Period: 1974
Plot: The story of how Philippe Petit snuck into New York City's World Trade Center by night and performed his famous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.
Comments: Although this story aims to capture an event in history—the famous tightrope walk of Philippe Petit—it also seems like this story is trying to capture the memory of the Twin Towers themselves. The story is told simply and poetically in prose, but the story is perhaps even better portrayed in the ink and oil drawings. The most interesting pages were the depictions of the actual tightrope walk itself, which are done on extended pages to give a sense of how high up Philippe had to be in order to accomplish his task. An interesting book that tries to capture a happy moment related to something that usually is associated with sadness.
Themes: Tightrope Walking, World Trade Center, Entertainment, Momentous Occasions
Red Flags: None
Monday, November 3, 2008
Hoot
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Year: 2002
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pages: 292
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2003 Newbery Honor Book
Film Tie-ins: Hoot, New Line Cinema, 2007
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Coconut Cove, Florida
Time Period: Present (2002)
Plot: Roy Eberhart has just moved to Coconut Cove, Florida, from his beloved Montana, and he's not enjoying the sunny weather or the warm temperatures. Instead, Roy is too busy dealing with being the new kid—again—and dealing with the school bully, Dana Matherson. One morning when Dana is terrorizing Roy on the bus, Roy notices a barefoot boy about his same age running in the opposite direction of the school bus. Intrigued, Roy is determined to figure out who this free spirit is. He follows the boy's tracks across town and stumbles across a problem much bigger than any bully—a Mother Paula's All-American House of Pancakes is being constructed in an area where some endangered burrowing owls have made their home. Roy, his new friend Mullet Fingers, and Mullet Fingers' sister Beatrice unite together to try to save the owls. SPOILER! Roy and his friends find a way to save the owls after getting media attention by holding a demonstration at the Mother Paula's groundbreaking ceremony. The public learns of the endangered owls and Mother Paula's is no longer allowed to build a pancake house in Coconut Cove.
Comments: My grade: B- It's always difficult to write a novel with a message without hitting the reader over the head with that message. For the most part, Hiaasen succeeds in writing a funny, engaging novel that gets the message of environmental protection across without being too preachy. My main complaint about the novel is that the characters are a little too black and white. The bad people are obviously bad and somewhat dim-witted, and the good people are good and smart and strong. This typecasting does make for some engaging reading and for some fun situations, but it may be a detraction to older audiences. Those who are bothered by overarching generalizations should be cautioned to skip the Epilogue, which details how all the bad guys got their comeuppance and how all the good guys were rewarded.
Themes: Bullies, Owls, Environmentalism, Franchises
Red Flags: Description of pranks involving poisonous or dangerous animals, Fist fights, Mooning
Year: 2002
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pages: 292
Reading Level: Young Adult
Awards: 2003 Newbery Honor Book
Film Tie-ins: Hoot, New Line Cinema, 2007
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Location: Coconut Cove, Florida
Time Period: Present (2002)
Plot: Roy Eberhart has just moved to Coconut Cove, Florida, from his beloved Montana, and he's not enjoying the sunny weather or the warm temperatures. Instead, Roy is too busy dealing with being the new kid—again—and dealing with the school bully, Dana Matherson. One morning when Dana is terrorizing Roy on the bus, Roy notices a barefoot boy about his same age running in the opposite direction of the school bus. Intrigued, Roy is determined to figure out who this free spirit is. He follows the boy's tracks across town and stumbles across a problem much bigger than any bully—a Mother Paula's All-American House of Pancakes is being constructed in an area where some endangered burrowing owls have made their home. Roy, his new friend Mullet Fingers, and Mullet Fingers' sister Beatrice unite together to try to save the owls. SPOILER! Roy and his friends find a way to save the owls after getting media attention by holding a demonstration at the Mother Paula's groundbreaking ceremony. The public learns of the endangered owls and Mother Paula's is no longer allowed to build a pancake house in Coconut Cove.
Comments: My grade: B- It's always difficult to write a novel with a message without hitting the reader over the head with that message. For the most part, Hiaasen succeeds in writing a funny, engaging novel that gets the message of environmental protection across without being too preachy. My main complaint about the novel is that the characters are a little too black and white. The bad people are obviously bad and somewhat dim-witted, and the good people are good and smart and strong. This typecasting does make for some engaging reading and for some fun situations, but it may be a detraction to older audiences. Those who are bothered by overarching generalizations should be cautioned to skip the Epilogue, which details how all the bad guys got their comeuppance and how all the good guys were rewarded.
Themes: Bullies, Owls, Environmentalism, Franchises
Red Flags: Description of pranks involving poisonous or dangerous animals, Fist fights, Mooning
George Washington's Cows
Author/Illustrator: David Small
Year: 1994
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction/Beast Tale
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Mount Vernon, Virginia
Time Period: Late 1700s
Plot: The animals on George Washington's farm are driving him crazy. The cows must be pampered: dressed in fine gowns, lodged in their own private upstairs room, allowed to eat jam on scones, and begged on hands and knees in order for them to obligingly let you milk them. The pigs are a genteel, helpful bunch and they like to help with the chores and serve the guests at dinner parties. The sheep are all scholars, and they hold a number of degrees. SPOILER! Unsure how to cope with the animals' behavior, George Washington decides to try his hand at politics, and he leaves the farm.
Comments: This is a picture book I would recommend for older children rather than for preschoolers. The story is funny and engaging, told in a sing-song rhyming pattern. The pictures are nice and detailed watercolors, and it's fun to see examples of the events the text is describing: cows in purple gowns, wigged pigs playing musical instruments and serving wine to guests, sheep in scholarly caps and gowns playing with chemistry sets and looking through telescopes, and of course a rendition of George Washington crossing the Delaware.
Themes: History re-written, George Washington, Farm Animals
Red Flags: None
Year: 1994
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction/Beast Tale
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Mount Vernon, Virginia
Time Period: Late 1700s
Plot: The animals on George Washington's farm are driving him crazy. The cows must be pampered: dressed in fine gowns, lodged in their own private upstairs room, allowed to eat jam on scones, and begged on hands and knees in order for them to obligingly let you milk them. The pigs are a genteel, helpful bunch and they like to help with the chores and serve the guests at dinner parties. The sheep are all scholars, and they hold a number of degrees. SPOILER! Unsure how to cope with the animals' behavior, George Washington decides to try his hand at politics, and he leaves the farm.
Comments: This is a picture book I would recommend for older children rather than for preschoolers. The story is funny and engaging, told in a sing-song rhyming pattern. The pictures are nice and detailed watercolors, and it's fun to see examples of the events the text is describing: cows in purple gowns, wigged pigs playing musical instruments and serving wine to guests, sheep in scholarly caps and gowns playing with chemistry sets and looking through telescopes, and of course a rendition of George Washington crossing the Delaware.
Themes: History re-written, George Washington, Farm Animals
Red Flags: None
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems
Year: 2003
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8/Preschool)
Awards: 2004 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Animal Tale
Series Information: First in the Pigeon series
Location: Anywhere, USA
Time Period: Present (2003)
Plot: When the bus driver leaves the bus in the reader's care for a few moments, he cautions: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" As soon as the bus driver is gone, the pigeon shows up, begging, wheedling, tricking, and trying anything else he can think of to get permission to drive the bus. After repeatedly being told "no," the pigeon throws an all-out temper tantrum. SPOILER! The pigeon is sulking when the bus driver returns and drives off, but he quickly gets over the disappointment when he sees a large semi truck pull up.
Comments: This book is very simply put together. Each page is a simple flat earth-toned color, with the two-toned pigeon outlined in black crayon on each page. Willems does a good job of expressing the actions of the pigeon with a few simple lines. This minimalistic style is perfect for the book because it makes the reader focus on the antics of the pigeon, which are exactly in line with antics of a young toddler (and alas, sometimes the antics of older people as well). Children will sympathize with the pigeon, but they will laugh at him as well.
Themes: Persistence, Behavior, Coping with the word NO, Pigeons, Buses
Red Flags: None
Year: 2003
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8/Preschool)
Awards: 2004 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Animal Tale
Series Information: First in the Pigeon series
Location: Anywhere, USA
Time Period: Present (2003)
Plot: When the bus driver leaves the bus in the reader's care for a few moments, he cautions: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" As soon as the bus driver is gone, the pigeon shows up, begging, wheedling, tricking, and trying anything else he can think of to get permission to drive the bus. After repeatedly being told "no," the pigeon throws an all-out temper tantrum. SPOILER! The pigeon is sulking when the bus driver returns and drives off, but he quickly gets over the disappointment when he sees a large semi truck pull up.
Comments: This book is very simply put together. Each page is a simple flat earth-toned color, with the two-toned pigeon outlined in black crayon on each page. Willems does a good job of expressing the actions of the pigeon with a few simple lines. This minimalistic style is perfect for the book because it makes the reader focus on the antics of the pigeon, which are exactly in line with antics of a young toddler (and alas, sometimes the antics of older people as well). Children will sympathize with the pigeon, but they will laugh at him as well.
Themes: Persistence, Behavior, Coping with the word NO, Pigeons, Buses
Red Flags: None
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Hello, Goodbye Window
Author: Norton Juster
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Year: 2005
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2006 Caldecott Medal Winner
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present (2005)
Plot: A little girl tells of all the fun things she can do when she visits her grandparents by explaining the different views she gets through her grandparents' kitchen window. She makes silly faces, plays peek-a-boo, counts the stars, and looks for visitors including a T-Rex and the Queen of England ("Nanna is English, you know, so the Queen likes to come for tea"). Most importantly, she says hello and goodbye through the window.
Comments: I had a bit of trouble with this book at first because the pictures are so bright and detailed and kind of messy. Then I got into the storyline, and the pictures made perfect sense. This is a story told from the point of view of a little girl, and the pictures reflect that—they're supposed to look like a little girl made them, even though they are much more detailed and done in many more mediums than a typical toddler would normally use. I really liked the idea of the story—looking at life through different views of the same window. I just wouldn't read the story to very small children because the pictures might be too distracting.
Themes: Family, Different Viewpoints
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Year: 2005
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2006 Caldecott Medal Winner
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Not Part of a Series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present (2005)
Plot: A little girl tells of all the fun things she can do when she visits her grandparents by explaining the different views she gets through her grandparents' kitchen window. She makes silly faces, plays peek-a-boo, counts the stars, and looks for visitors including a T-Rex and the Queen of England ("Nanna is English, you know, so the Queen likes to come for tea"). Most importantly, she says hello and goodbye through the window.
Comments: I had a bit of trouble with this book at first because the pictures are so bright and detailed and kind of messy. Then I got into the storyline, and the pictures made perfect sense. This is a story told from the point of view of a little girl, and the pictures reflect that—they're supposed to look like a little girl made them, even though they are much more detailed and done in many more mediums than a typical toddler would normally use. I really liked the idea of the story—looking at life through different views of the same window. I just wouldn't read the story to very small children because the pictures might be too distracting.
Themes: Family, Different Viewpoints
Red Flags: None
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems
Year: 2004
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)/Preschool-1st Grade
Awards: 2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: First Book in the Knuffle Bunny Series
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Knuffle Bunny goes missing after a trip to the Laundromat, Trixie, Mommy, and Daddy search everywhere for Trixie's beloved toy rabbit.
Comments: Willems takes a traumatizing situation that I'm sure many small children have found themselves in—the wash day of their favorite blanket or stuffed animal—and makes it fun and mysterious and exciting and scary all at once. The pictures compliment the realistic situation Trixie finds herself in. Each picture is actually a black and white photograph of different areas of Brooklyn, with ink-drawn characters added in. The text also adds to the situation with bold text when Trixie realizes what is wrong and words like "Aggle flaggle klabble" when Trixie, who cannot talk yet, tries to tell her dad that Knuffle Bunny is missing.
Themes: Stuffed Animals, Missing Loved Ones
Red Flags: None
Year: 2004
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)/Preschool-1st Grade
Awards: 2005 Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Series Information: First Book in the Knuffle Bunny Series
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Knuffle Bunny goes missing after a trip to the Laundromat, Trixie, Mommy, and Daddy search everywhere for Trixie's beloved toy rabbit.
Comments: Willems takes a traumatizing situation that I'm sure many small children have found themselves in—the wash day of their favorite blanket or stuffed animal—and makes it fun and mysterious and exciting and scary all at once. The pictures compliment the realistic situation Trixie finds herself in. Each picture is actually a black and white photograph of different areas of Brooklyn, with ink-drawn characters added in. The text also adds to the situation with bold text when Trixie realizes what is wrong and words like "Aggle flaggle klabble" when Trixie, who cannot talk yet, tries to tell her dad that Knuffle Bunny is missing.
Themes: Stuffed Animals, Missing Loved Ones
Red Flags: None
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