Curriculum LaboratoryBest Read-Aloud Books And Browsing Collection, Grades 2-3

For further assistance in using any of the resources in the Lab, please ask at the Curriculum Lab Information Services Desk Introduction To The Collection and Booklists:

In 2013, the browsing collection of these titles will be found at the beginning of our Fiction Collection. The lists and the collection make an excellent place to start, if you are looking for well reviewed titles to share with your students. Read-aloud books are also great for independent reading choices, as can be seen from the reviews. As these titles are ordered and received into the collection, you will also be able to browse these titles in the catalogue by searching for “read aloud books” or “bestread.” You can also add your favourite subject to your search to find great read-alouds for the classroom curriculum. The grade level recommendations are to be considered an approximation. You be the judge if your students would like a title in your particular grade. Note: “EC” level on any of the titles indicates it as a read aloud suitable for preschool children. The read-aloud level is usually lower than the independent reading level, so also pay attention to the reading level in the reviews, if the title is to be read independently by children.. Many of these titles are also found in the main Curriculum Laboratory collection, so check the library catalogue.

These Read Aloud Lists were consulted:

• Read Aloud America, found at: http://www.readaloudamerica.org/• Great Books To Read Aloud, found at: http://www.randomhousesites.co.uk/childrens/GreatBookstoReadAloud/Great%20Books.pdf• The Treasury of Read-Alouds by Jim Trelease, found at: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-treasury-intro.html• E.B. White Read Aloud Awards• The Alberta Read Aloud Registry• EPL Books To Read Aloud, Good Read Alouds For The Family, NYPL Great Books For PreK To Read Aloud, from Lethbridge Public Library’s Bibliocommons lists.

The reviews are quoted from Books In Print Online, used under the Fair Dealing clause for research and reviewing purposes.

Helpful brochures: (found at http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/brochures.html)

• Why Read Aloud to Children?• Thirty DO's to Remember When Reading Aloud• A Dozen DON'Ts to Remember When Reading Aloud

1

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Ahlberg, AllanKatharine McEwen (Illustrator)The children who smelled a rat2005

School Library Journal: Gr 2-5-This fourth book about the Gaskitts is genuinely entertaining. Horace, the family's cat, describes it as "unputdownable," and it is. Several threads occur simultaneously: Dad chases the baby in a runaway stroller; taxi driver mom finds unusual packages left in her cab; and the children try to solve the mystery of their teacher's strange behavior. McEwen's quaint, cartoon illustrations are integrated throughout the chapters and have captions that tell yet additional tales. Teachers will find useful Ahlberg's inclusion of literary devices in addition to the multiple adventures of the Gaskitts. The book has 16 easy-to-read chapters, a glossary, a table of contents, and footnotes referencing events that occurred in the previous adventures-all devices to teach children about intricate and detailed story reading and writing. This is a gem of a book: funny, riveting, absorbing, unputdownable!-Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OH

Arnold, KatyaElephants can paint too!2005

Booklist: Gr. 1-3. Some elephants can paint! Arnold's unusual picture book centers on a group of pachyderms that do just that. They live in Thailand, where the slowing of the logging industry prompted the need to find alternative sources of funding for elephant care. Arnold, an art teacher, juxtaposes human art students with the painting pachyderms in an effective presentation in which brief, matter-of-fact text contrasts hilariously with full-color photographs of elephants delicately gripping paintbrushes in their giant trunks, mischievously dunking their artwork in the river, and, occasionally, painting one another. It all looks like great fun, with the elephants making a mess just as kids do. In addition to the silliness, there's some factual information--for example, an elephant's trunk has 150,000 muscles, but the human body has only 639. An author's note provides information about the nonprofit Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project, which sells the work of elephant artists. --Diane Foote

Bailey, LindaTracy Walker (Illustrator) Gordon Loggins and the three bears1997

After a brief snooze just before story time, Gordon Loggins wakes to discover a secret doorway leading to a forest -- right in the middle of the library! He quickly darts through and finds himself in the starring role of a familiar fairy tale. Goldilocks is missing and the three bears, frantic to find a replacement, tell Gordon he must fill in if the story is to go on. A refreshing and funny adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Barrett, JudiAnimals should definitely not wear clothing1990

This book, by the team that created Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, takes a quirky look at what might happen if animals decided to don additional apparel.

Beam, EmilyTumtum and Nutmeg2007

Guardian UK: The miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to improve the life of their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. Moving from their palatial and secure quarters to the dusty and abandoned doll's house, they become a Fairy of Sorts for the children in their care. But then grim Aunt Ivy, with an abiding hatred of mice, comes to stay and it is all-out war. Can Tumtum and Nutmeg outwit her? Bring on the troops! There's a delightfully twitchy quality to Tumtum and Nutmeg which, despite their clothes and their domesticity, makes them seem genuinely mousey, and the small-scale world they inhabit is full of just the right tiny details.The miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to improve the life of their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. - Julia Eccleshare.

2

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Bedard, MichaelSitting ducks2001

Booklist: Ages 5-9. For a slightly older crowd than preschoolers, this diverting story begins at the Colossal Duck Factory, where newborn quackers roll off the assembly line. Unbeknownst to them, they are being fattened for the alligator inhabitants of the town. One duck, however, escapes his fate and is befriended by an alligator, who eventually confesses what is in store for the little duck's brethren. Then it is up to the duck to sound the alarm and head to the rescue. All of this is illustrated by Bedard, a well-known poster artist who is famous for his duck characters and who provides slick, airbrushed pictures that are heavy on the fun. Some of the laughs will be best appreciated by adult readers: ducks exercising in a frenzy so that they can slim down enough to fly away, and such signs as Fly or Die on the wall, but there's plenty here for kids, too, who will willingly go with the sassy text and singularly amusing art. --Ilene Cooper

Brown, JeffScott Nash (Illustrator)The Flat Stanley collection: Stanley, Flat again!/Invisible Stanley/Stanley in space/Flat Stanley2006

Stanley Lambchop is just a normal boy, with a normal younger brother named Arthur, and two normal parents. That is, until a bulletin board falls on him during the night and flattens him to half an inch thick! From this point on, Stanley will never again be just an ordinary boy. Whether he is flat, invisible, or in outer space, Stanley will have the adventures of a lifetime!

Brown, PeterChildren make terrible pets2010

School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 1-Lucy, a young brown bear in a pink skirt and hair bow, meets the most adorable little boy in the forest one day. She takes him home, excitedly shows him to her mother, and begs, "Can I keep him, PLEASE?" Though her mother warns her that "children make terrible pets," Lucy is bound and determined to prove her wrong. Agreeing to take full responsibility for her new companion, Lucy and Squeaker eat, play, and nap together. However, the cub soon finds that there is some truth to her mother's admonitions. The child is hard on the furniture, creates chaos everywhere, and absolutely refuses to be potty trained. When Squeaker goes missing, Lucy tracks him down and discovers that all involved will be better off if the lad remains where she finds him. It's a hard truth, but Lucy has to admit that her mother was right. The amusing, soft-hued illustrations on tan backgrounds are worked in pencil on cut construction paper and a bit of "digital tweaking." Each spread is placed on frames made of a variety of woods. The dialogue is shown in speech bubbles, hand lettered by the author/illustrator, while the narration is placed in rectangular boxes. Appealing and humorous, with a lesson to boot!-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Brown, PeterThe curious garden2009

Booklist: In a city without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind, a young, curious boy, Liam, discovers a few spindly flowers on an elevated train track. With pruning shears and water (and a few songs), he nurtures the little patch until it thrives and starts to spread. Soon, the entire track is covered in lush green. Throughout the snowy winter, the boy dreams and reads about plants, and when spring comes, his flowers inspire more gardeners all over the city. The simple words have a lyrical, rhythmic quality that will read aloud well, and they reinforce the sense that the natural world is a living, breathing character. It's the illustrations, though, that will engage kids most. Combining panels with full-page illustrations and many wordless spreads, the pages show the city's inspiring progression from a dull, dreary place to a fantastical, organic metropolis. An image of Liam on a stealth gardening mission, disguised in sunglasses, hat, and pint-size trenchcoat as he deposits sod and flowers onto a concrete strip, will amuse kids, even as it prompts them to think about unusual places gardens could grow in their own communities. An author's note about the story's real-life roots concludes. For more books about young gardeners, see the accompanying feature, Read-alikes: Green Thumbs. --Engberg, Gillian

3

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Bunting, EveIrving Toddy (Illustrator)1995

School Library Journal: Gr 1-4-A poignant look at the pain inflicted upon one child by a dominant culture's heavy-handed attempt to ``help.'' Near the turn of the century, a Cheyenne boy, Young Bull, is forced to attend the off-reservation Indian school so that he can learn to become a part of the white world. He is housed in soulless barracks and shown repeatedly and quite blatantly that the Indian ways are no good. When he rebels and tries to run home in a snowstorm, he is caught, returned, and shackled for a day. The story, told from Young Bull's point of view, is not so much judgmental as empathetic-none of the authority figures is an ogre. The agents for change here are not white bureaucrats, but Indians who have adopted white ways, and Young Bull clearly feels betrayed by them. Toddy's acrylic and oil paintings add to the emotions expressed in the narrative. The openness, light, color, and individuality of the boy's home surroundings are in sharp contrast to the formality, emptiness, and uniformity of the school. Young Bull's struggle to hold onto his heritage will touch children's sense of justice and lead to some interesting discussions and perhaps further research.-Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library, IL

Bunting, EveTed Lewin (Illustrator)One green apple

PW Annex Reviews: Bunting (Fly Away Home) once again delves into a timely social topic with a straightforward, rather simplistic treatment-in this instance, the integration of an immigrant child into a rural setting. Farah, on her second day of school, goes on a field trip to an apple orchard. "I think it odd to have boys and girls sit together. It was not like this in my village." Her first-person narration gives the story authenticity, making readers privy to a newcomer's feelings of confusion and frustration. After her teacher explains that Farah is to pick only one apple, the girl chooses a hard, presumably unripe one from a tree that "is small and alone, like me." She notices many things: her classmates' smiles (some unfriendly, some warmer); how her dupatta (head scarf) is the only thing that sets her clothing apart from her peers; and how the sounds she hears (laughter, a classmate belching) are universal. Lewin's light-filled watercolors often resemble photographs, especially when depicting the students. Though Farah's insightfulness seems beyond her years, the symbolism of her green apple and the students' apple cider as a "melting pot" comes across as thoughtful, not overdone. Ages 5-8.

Cameron, AnnThomas B. AllenThe most beautiful place in the world1998

Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning natural beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother when she remarries-- his stepfather didn't want him-- Juan lives with his grandmother. He shines shoes in front of the Tourist Office and knows his grandmother appreciates the money. Yet, when he sees the other children, all neat and clean, going off to school, Juan is deeply envious. He passionately wants to attend, but fearing Grandmother will say no, teaches himself to read. Finally gathering his courage, he asks if he might go to school and is surprised and relieved when Grandmother not only agrees but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan does well in school and knows he can look to the future with hope, secure in his grandmother's love and support. Juan tells this first-person, bittersweet story with warmth and dignity. Its simple directness, almost naivete, will impress children. Allen's softly shaded pencil drawings offer a telling glimpse of Juan's home and village life. PW.

Carrier, RochGilles Pelletier (Illustrator)A happy New Year’s day1991

School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-- Readers are taken back in time to 1940, when the narrator was four years old. The world was in the midst of a war, yet in this small Canadian village of Sainte-Justine, families were able to carry on with holiday celebrations. And what joyful celebrations they were, with large groups gathered for the New Year's feast. This is a joyous recollection of just such a day. One can almost feel the warmth and spontaneous gaiety that unfolds when the family gathers together. The text is simple and clear, describing many fascinating details of daily life. Yet the story transcends time as this family could just as well be a contemporary one. The writing is cohesive and does not linger in sentimentality or nostalgia. Playful illustrations are well suited to the text. Full-page paintings are done in a primitive style using bright, bold colors. They sparkle with energy and fun. Intricate details hold viewers' interest and will guarantee repeated readings. --Alexandra Marris, Rochester Public Library, NY

Ceccoli, Nicoletta (Illustrator)Little Red Riding Hood2004

Publishers Weekly: In this version of the old story, quiet menace seems to pervade every scene. Evetts-Secker (The Barefoot Book of Mother and Son Tales) lingers on the darker bits of the tale, dwelling with spooky pleasure on the scene in which the wolf (whose long teal-colored tail and smooth skin seem positively reptilian) lures the girl off the path with the suggestion that she pick flowers for her grandmother: "Little Red Riding Hood gazed to the left, and gazed to the right, then back to the left path, thinking how much she would love to pick flowers." In Ceccoli's (The Faerie's Gift) dense pastels, the forest itself sways with indecision. Colorful birds swoop through the treetops, but the trees draw back, as if fearing the girl's rash act and its consequences. When Little Red Riding Hood makes her way to grandmother's house, its sunny yellow walls loom over her, phantasmagorically. The famous observations are made ("Oh Grandmother! What big ears you have"), the girl is eaten, and the hunter arrives just in time to cut the wolf open and free its victims. The last page shows grandmother and granddaughter sharing the meal the girl has brought; a reassuring end to an eerie journey. Ages 4-8.

4

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Cronin, DoreenBetsy Lewin (Illustrator)Giggle, giggle, quack2002

School Library Journal: K-Gr 2-Remember that audacious duck who made an appearance in Click, Clack, Moo (S & S, 2000)? Well, he's back in this hilarious continuation of the subversive antics of Farmer Brown's animals. The farmer is off on a much-needed vacation, leaving his brother in charge with the admonition, "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Bob dutifully follows his brother's written instructions: "Tuesday night is pizza night .The hens prefer anchovies," and "Wednesday is bath day for the pigs. Remember, they have very sensitive skin," etc. Art and text cleverly play off one another. Early on, sharp-eyed viewers will observe that Duck is rarely without his pencil, thereby giving a clue as to who is really supplying the daily instructions. And Lewin's animated cartoon art with its loosely composed black line manages to capture well-meaning, but perfectly clueless Bob and that pampered barnyard crew. The scam ends when, during a check-in phone call, Farmer Brown hears "Giggle, giggle, quack" (the animals are watching The Sound of Moosic). Kids old enough to catch on will delight in seeing the clever animals pull off another fast one.-Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

DemiLiang and the magic paintbrush2008

Publishers Weekly: Whatever a beggar boy paints with his brush comes to life, in a masterful story that glows with Demi's jewel-like art. A Reading Rainbow selection. Ages 5-8.

Denton, Kady MacDonaldA second is a hiccup: A child’s book of time

School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 2-The abstract concept of time is explained in child-friendly terms: "A second is a hiccup-/The time it takes to kiss your mom/Or jump a rope/Or turn around." A minute is long enough to "sing just one small song," and in an hour, you could build a sandcastle, run through a sprinkler, climb a tree, and play pretend. A day "needs filling, like a cup," and a week is explained as "Seven wake-ups, seven sleeps." In a month, a scraped shin will heal with "brand-new skin," and by the end of a year, "You'll grow right out of your old shoes." Denton's charming watercolor-and-ink vignettes, showing three friends interacting with one another and with their families, celebrate their joys and accomplishments with warmth and affection. The lyrical, rhyming text answers deceptively simple childhood questions with great flair.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

DiCamillo, KateChris Van Dusen (Illustrator)Mercy Watson goes for a ride2006

Booklist: PreS-Gr. 2. Mercy the pig, who proved herself a worthy child substitute in ercy Watson to the Rescue (2005), is up to her old tricks again. This time the self-absorbed, endearingly naughty Mercy brings many a child's dream to life: she squeezes herself onto Mr. Watson's lap and commandeers his beloved 1959 pink Caddy for a joyride. Van Dusen's larger-than-life characters and retro sensibility extend the dry humor of the situation, and his shiny, rainbow-bright gouache art shoots the energy, especially Mercy's, right off the page. Great for emergent readers. --Stephanie Zvirin

Doyen, DeniseBarry Moser (Illustrator)Once upon a twice2009

School Library Journal: K-Gr 3-Doyen's utterly sound and alive story is paired with the perfect illustrator, whose deft touch provides all the eeriness that it begs for. The cautionary tale begins with the "eldermice" telling the youngsters who are gathered to play in the night air that the woods and ponds are filled with creatures dangerous to their kind. With gloriously nonsensical words and phrases (e.g., "scritchscrambles"), the author manages to get the point across that there is much to fear in the night. Jam Boy doesn't listen and instead brags that he is unafraid, and he stays to play alone by the pond. Here the language grows taut with suspense, and Moser's dark backdrop is punctuated with fireflies. "Half-submerged, a slender queen/Esses 'cross the pond unseen,/Sly serpentine-bound not to miss.." Out of nowhere a snake roils, coils, and lashes. Splash! What has happened to Jam Boy? Children will be sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting some news about their fallen protagonist. Despite the dark feel, there is much to rejoice about in learning of Jam Boy's fate. Ultimately a story of youthful arrogance-or as Doyen calls it, "furry overconfidence"-versus the elders' wise experience, this wonderful book is a marvelous read-aloud that children will want to hear again and again. It is too good to save for Halloween.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

5

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Dunrea, OliverHanne’s quest2006

Horn Book Magazine: (Primary) Kindly old Mem Pockets is about to lose her farm for nonpayment of taxes when her devoted hens remember the ""Secret of Laying Golden Eggs,"" a legacy of ancient dragons. Little Hanne has yet to lay an egg, but since she's the only one hatched under a new moon, she takes up the challenge. Her quest is classic: to find an ancient barrow (where a mole appears to guide her), three standing stones (coming to life, they resemble the Fates), and the sea; meanwhile, she eats three precious grains in each place. Since all is preordained, there's not a lot of tension here; what engages is the affectionate, well-honed storytelling voice and the unassuming Hanne herself, whose innocence sustains her through every peril, including laying those eggs once she's back home. The elemental simplicity of the folkloric setting is extended in the occasional full-page paintings with their elegant limning of minimal detail and significant characters -- a wise old turtle who rescues Hanne from the sea, a boy who carries her homeward, Mem Pockets in her cozy kitchen. Since young readers may be daunted by the solid blocks of text on the generously broad pages of this book, it may do best as a read-aloud.

Evyindson, PeterWendy Wolsak (Illustrator)The wish wind

All the best wishes can bring more than you expect. When a grumbling young boy is tested by the Wish Wind, he learns all his requests are granted. Will he understand the value of patience and youth before he is too late?

Fleming, CandiceBrian Karas (Illustrator)Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!2002

Publishers Weekly: This onomatopoeic romp opens calmly, with a hopeful gardener planting a vegetable patch behind his brownstone house. Bright green leaves sprout from the rich soil. " `Yum! Yum! Yummy!' said Mr. McGreeley. `I'll soon fill my tummy with crisp, fresh veggies.' " He doesn't notice a cottontail trio watching expectantly from the garden wall. "And the sun went down. And the moon came up. And / Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat!/ Spring-hurdle,/ Dash! Dash! Dash!/ Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The brazen "twitch-whiskers" hop and dig their way to a fresh-picked salad, and Mr. McGreeley awakens to a row of gnawed stems. Karas (Saving Sweetness), who works in chalky gray pencil with brick-red, kale-green and creamy-yellow gouache, pictures the bunnies waiting patiently as the incensed Mr. McGreeley builds a wire fence, a moat and an enormous cinderblock tower with searchlights. Fleming (Gabriella's Song) demonstrates an ear for language as the suburban farmer battles his furry foes, night after night. The ritual culminates in the "gotcha" finale, in which the rabbits seem defeated, only to burst into view with a vigorous repeat of the title. Fleming and Karas demonstrate great comic timing in this high-spirited tale of one-upmanship. Ages 3-7.

Gaiman, NeilDave McKean (Illustrator)The wolves in the walls2003

Booklist: Gr. 3-6. Gaiman's picture book about one little girl's prescient concern for the sanctity of her home is visually realized through collage and other multimedia images that match the sometimes dark, fantastical story, tone for tone. Lucy is the first to hear wolves in the walls of her house, but her family, each of whom seems oblivious to the ambiguity of his or her reassurances, dismisses her worries. Indeed, the wolves do emerge, and the family decamps to the garden, from which Lucy and her pig-puppet bravely lead the family's charge back to reclaim their house from the jam-eating, video-game-playing pack. With the rhythms of an old fairy tale (the end is a new beginning of trouble in the walls), and startling graphics that force readers to look deeply into each scene, this is a book for the twenty-first-century child: visually and emotionally sophisticated, accessible, and inspired by both literary and popular themes and imagery. --Francisca Goldsmith

George, Jean CraigheadJohn Schoenherr (Illustrator)The wounded wolf1978

As hungry animals close in on an injured wolf, hoping to feed on him after death, help arrives to change the odds.

6

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Gilmore, DonMarie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)The Christmas orange1998

"Shortlisted for Governor General's Award for Children's Literature" Now an animated holiday special on Teletoon! Santa didn't make many mistakes. But he made a big one when he asked what Anton Stingley wanted for Christmas. . . . . . Anton's list was sixteen pages long. On Christmas morning, there was one thing under the Stingley's tree. It was an orange. Anton was not pleased. He and his lawyer decided to sue Santa Claus. Everyone came. It was the trial of the century. But Santa Claus, alias Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Pere Noel - has a surprise up the sleeve of his old blue suit. Anton was stunned. What had he done? With the sparkle and snap of a holiday cracker, Don Gilmor and Marie-Louise Gay deliver The Christmas Orange, a witty, fun filled treat for all.

Gilmore, DonMarie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)Yuck, a love story2000

Publishers Weekly: Gillmor and Gay (The Fabulous Song) team up again for a sympathetic account of a childhood crush in this good-natured book, which wisely mentions love only in the title. Austin Grouper says "yuck" when he hears that Amy, a girl his age, has moved in next door. Yet he courts her attention by dressing as a superhero and sculpting a dinosaur out of Popsicle sticks in her yard. " `Dinosaurs had very small brains,' Amy said. She was wearing a blue sweater with horses on it. `So do you,' Austin told her, and went home." On Amy's birthday, Austin doesn't get her an ordinary present. He literally lassoes the moon (alluding to It's a Wonderful Life's romance) and drags it into Amy's backyard, although he never explains why he goes to so much trouble for a girl. Amy accepts his gift politely. Gay, whose round-faced characters recall Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, pays attention to small details. A loyal brown dog follows Austin everywhere, and Amy's three orange-spotted kittens observe each awkward meeting between the tentative couple. Gillmor portrays Austin's contradictory behavior with understanding, but doesn't sustain the screwball comedy; Amy doesn't tease Austin back, and Austin spends too many spreads alone, wrangling with the moon. The book veers into fantasy rather than developing the everyday drama it so nicely introduces. Ages 4-8.

Grahame, KennethMicahel Hague (Illustrator)The reluctant dragon1983

Booklist: Gr. 3-6. Whether you choose the copy with Shepard's expressive line drawings or Hague's lush color illustrations, this is a must for dragon collections. Although lengthy, the story of the dragon, the boy, and the saint and how they agree to fight the inevitable battle makes a fine read-aloud.

Hansen, RosannaMysteries in space: Exploration and discovery2005

High-interest/low vocabulary. - Chapters are brief, and each one is tied to a unifying theme. - Important life-science concepts introduced through exciting true stories. - Timelines and maps included where appropriate.

Hartman, BobTim Raglin (Illustrator)The wolf who cried boy2004

Little Wolf is tired of his mom's cooking! It's the same old thing night after night, Lamburgers and Sloppy Does. How he wishes his mother would serve up a nice platter of his favorite dish, Boy! But Boy is hard to come by these days. As Little Wolf trudges home from school one day, he decides to postpone his boring dinner by shouting "Boy! Boy!" But what will happen when a real boy finally comes along? In this hilarious twisted tale, Little Wolf learns the same timeless lesson that the boy who cried "Wolf!" did so many years ago

Hill, Elizabeth StarrRob Shepperson (Illustrator)Wildfire!2004

Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Ten-year-old Ben looks forward to celebrating the Fourth of July in Bending Creek, Florida, the village where he lives with his grandparents and great-grandmother. Dry weather and the threat of forest fires have led to the cancellation of fireworks, but when an irksome new boy named Elliot dares him, Ben sets off a rocket anyway. The adventure that follows tests his compassion as well as his courage. The sympathetic main character and his clearly drawn, uncomfortable relationship with Elliot will resonate with many children. The ending provides the satisfaction of justice: Ben deserves both his punishment and his reward. Printed in large type and illustrated with 10 appealing full-page and double-page drawings, this short chapter book is an attractive choice for young readers. --Carolyn Phelan

7

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Howe, JamesMairie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)Houndsley and Catina2006

Publishers Weekly: The importance of friendship and of appreciating one's true talents lay at the heart of this appealing collaboration introducing a canine-feline pair. Howe's (Bunnicula) breezy narrative initially reveals Catina hard at work on her book, Life Through the Eyes of a Cat, which she hopes will launch her career as a famous, prize-winning author. When Houndsley reads the opus, he realizes that his best friend is "a terrible writer," yet tactfully keeps his opinion to himself ("I am at a loss for words," he tells her). In the following story, Houndsley enthusiastically whips up an appetizing feast for Catina and another pal. Declaring, "You could be famous!" Catina encourages him to enter a cooking contest and he does-with comically disastrous results. The final entry neatly brings resolution with a true confessions session that stresses the importance of friendship. Gay's charming watercolor, pencil and collage art exudes a spontaneous quality for the feline's environs and an orderliness for the pooch. Catina's dimly lit den wordlessly suggests that her heart is not in her authorial pursuits, while Houndsley's airy golden kitchen practically emits an appetizing aroma and his passion for cooking. This charming trio of chapters implicitly testifies to the adage that opposites attract. Ages 5-7.

Hurwitz, JohannaJohn Wallner (Illustrator)Aldo Applesauce1979

For a shy 4th-grader like Aldo Sossi, making friends is very difficult in this story about the trauma of moving by an author who understands children.

Hutchins, HazelRuth Ohi (Illustrator)One duck1999

School Library Journal: K-Gr 2-A duck nests in a field and goes about the business of hatching her eggs. A farmer, who doesn't know about her, decides it's time to turn the soil. As his tractor gets closer and closer to the hidden nest, the animal senses danger, but is determined to protect her eggs, and flies off only at the last possible moment. Seeing the duck, the farmer stops his tractor and moves the nest. The next day, the duck is seen leading her newly hatched ducklings to a pond. The story is written in a lyrical style that effectively sets the mood and tone. This is especially evident in the scene where the duck senses the approaching danger. The careful choice of words greatly enhances the dramatic effect. Because of its somewhat sophisticated vocabulary, the book is more suited to reading aloud than as a title for newly independent readers. Watercolor illustrations add to the overall mood. The duck never comes across as a fully developed character, but the tale's setting and emotional impact give it a great deal of depth, allowing readers to become involved in the action and excitement. Try pairing this with Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings (Viking, 1941) for a different, but equally satisfying look at the lives of wild ducks.-Arwen Marshall, New York Public Library

Hutchins, HazelRuth Ohi (Illustrator)Tess1995

Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Tess, her older brothers, and their parents live in a shack on the prairies of western Canada. Tess dearly loves the land, but her parents remember easier times back East and resent the poverty that the family must endure. When the coal runs out and there is no money to buy more, Tess and her brother Charlie must gather cow dung for fuel. She understands her parents' embarrassment at their financial need, yet she and Charlie take great pride in collecting the best cow patties. When a haughty neighbor discovers their secret, Tess feels she has disappointed her family until her own kindness in saving the man's dog from coyotes wins his respect. Hutchins' sparsely told story, set in the 1930s, vividly portrays both the desolation and the allure of frontier life and meshes nicely with Ohi's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations. For another portrait of hardships on the prairie, see Eve Bunting's Dandelions [BKL S 15 95]. --Kay Weisman

8

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Janeczko, Paul B.Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)Dirty laundry pile: Poems in different voices2001

School Library Journal: Gr 3-6-Janeczko's collection of "persona" or "mask" poems-poems written in voices of nonhuman things-is varied in topic, mood, and quality. The selector has included many crackerjack poets, such as Karla Kuskin, Bobbi Katz, Lillian Moore, and Douglas Florian, and a few whose names are not as familiar. Most of the selections have been taken from other anthologies. Whether thoughtful or humorous in nature, many of them are on-target descriptions of a variety of unrelated objects-a kite, roots, a sky-blue crayon, a vacuum cleaner, a pair of red gloves, the winter wind. The cleverness of the best of these descriptions voiced by inanimate narrators might entice young people to try to create some similar verses of their own. Sweet's bright, colorful watercolors in a flat cartoon style depict full- and double-page scenes and borders that feature critters and objects from the poems. Consider this one for classroom read-alouds.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Kakugawa FrancisScott Goto (Illustrator)Wordsworth the poet2003

Ages 4-8. The beautifully illustrated children's book tells the story of Wordsworth, a misunderstood mouse whose love of poetry set him apart from the others. Everyone in the Hawaiian rainforest makes fun of Wordsworth and his 'silly' poetry. But when a big thunderstorm darkens the forest for days on end, he takes pen in hand and shows the other mice how poetry can save the day.

Keefer, Janice KulykJanet Wilson (Illustrator)Anna’s goat2001

Quill & Quire: We live in a time when to be a migrant or refugee is one of the commonest human conditions," writes Janice Kulyk Keefer, who has memorably addressed the refugee experience in her award-winning fiction and a family memoir. In Anna's Goat, her first children's book, she approaches the same topic from the perspective of two young sisters. Anna's birth is a moment of joy for her family, who have been uprooted from their homeland to a "cold, dark country" during World War Two. While feeding baby Anna, Mother also nourishes the hopes of her eldest daughter, Wanda, with tales of the family's former life in their hometown city of "parks and palaces." Life gets even harder when the girls' father is sent to work in another village. Mother, who works at a factory, worries about how to take care of the girls on her own. Her fellow workers find an unusual companion for the girls - a loving, protective, playful nanny goat. When the war is finally over, Anna and Wanda bid farewell to their beloved "nanny" and journey back to their homeland. Expecting a city of splendour, they are disappointed to find rubble. Once again, Mother turns to the consolations of storytelling, comforting Anna with tales of her unforgettable nanny. Although it's based on a true story, the omniscient narration lacks the lively immediacy and intimacy of memories being revived in the retelling. While Kulyk Keefer, with moving delicacy, dramatizes the refugee experience in general, she is less successful in capturing the specific circumstances of the sisters. That's left to the richly emotive, expressive art of Janet Wilson. Her beautifully textured illustrations on coloured paper with Conte crayon are backlit by the golden glow of memory.

Kerly, Barbara Brian Selznick (Illustrator) The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating History of Mr. Warehouse Hawkins, Artist and Lecturer2001

Booklist: Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. What a marvelous pairing: the life of the nineteenth-century British dinosaur maven Waterhouse Hawkins and Selznick's richly evocative, Victorian-inspired paintings. Hawkins had been drawing and sculpting animals from his childhood. As an adult he set to work trying to recreate what a living dinosaur looked like based on fossil remains. Hawkins' dinosaur sculptures still stand in Sydenham, England, a better fate than what happened to those he built in New York City. There, Hawkins ran afoul of Boss Tweed; children can thrill to the idea that broken pieces of Hawkins' dinosaurs still lie buried in Central Park. Kerley also regales her audience with the story of Hawkins' New Year's Eve dinner, with guests seated inside the shell of the iguanodon he was building. Selznick's art is wonderfully wrought, innovative in its choices, clever in what and how he chose to illustrate. Equally fantastic is the execution: oh, those dinosaurs! Extensive notes from the author and illustrator are clear enough even for younger children and provide a genuine sense of the thrill of research. Although many of Hawkins' dinosaur models are now known to be inaccurate, the passion of his life and his single-minded pursuit of it rings loud and clear. Appealing on many levels, this picture book for older readers will be a favorite dinosaur book for years to come.--GraceAnne A. DeCandido

9

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Kerrin, Jessica ScottJoseph Kelly (Illustrator)Blazing ahead!2006

School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-Martin Bridge returns in another book that's just as funny as the previous titles in the series. In the first chapter, he is on an overnight camping trip with the Junior Badgers, including his prankster friend, Alex. In the second chapter, Martin has to help his Dad fix the lawn mower during his favorite show. However, he discovers this time spent with his father has fostered a closer bond and has taught him mechanical skills that he can share with his friends. In the end, he helps decorate the lawn mower with lightning bolts because Dad's favorite superhero from childhood was Volt Thundercloud. Kelly's expressive, quirky drawings in graphite and charcoal with digital shading complement the text. The book's delightful characters and engaging stories will provide a boy-centered alternative to Barbara Park's "Junie B. Jones" books and Mary Pope Osborne's "Magic Tree House" series (both Random).-Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

Kerrin, Jessica ScottJoseph Kelly (Illustrator)Ready for takeoff!2005

Horn Book Magazine: (Primary) Martin Bridge means well, he really does. But his wonderful plans don't always turn out right. Slice-of-life incidents, presented in three stand-alone chapters, ring with truth and familiarity because Martin is no cookie-cutter elementary school boy. While his regular, ""cranky-pants"" bus driver is out on medical leave, Martin develops a crush on her riddle-reciting replacement, Jenny. His plan to show Jenny how much he appreciates her goes awry when Mrs. Phips returns a little earlier than expected. A rocket exhibition threatens to come between Martin and his best friend as petty jealousies fester. But the relationship is saved when on launch day both boys' rockets explode. When Martin is put in charge of caring for a neighbor's hamster, the unspeakable occurs, sending Martin into a spiral of ethical considerations. Should he go along with Alice's mother, who directs him to buy a replacement and pretend it is the old hamster? Or should he tell little Alice the truth? Kerrin takes on this question with grace, allowing her young protagonist to work out his own solution. Frequent gentle graphite-and-charcoal illustrations add exuberance and dimension to the text. A warm, rich story for new chapter-book readers, who will be more than ready for Martin Bridge.

King-Smith, DickThe water horse2000

Horn Book Magazine: (Intermediate) First published in England, this beguiling tale is likely to prove popular in the United States. First of all, it is about a monster; secondly, it is about children who, with the assistance of understanding grownups, rescue the monster; and finally, it offers an explanation of what might be lurking in Loch Ness, always an intriguing topic. Set in the thirties, a kinder, gentler era, the book recounts the story of a type of sea monster called a kelpie, or Water Horse, from the moment it is discovered by eight-year-old Kirstie as a giant mermaid's purse, through its hatching in a bathtub, to its final disposition, three years later, when the ""amiable beastie"" is full-grown. Because the characters are plausible, the events are believable, an effect due also to Dick King-Smith's homespun style. King-Smith presents the story from the perspective of both the children and, unanthropomorphically, the sea monster. Suspense is created as the humans attempt to teach the kelpie what he needs to know in order to survive, but that suspense is laced with humor to provide balance. Is this a family story with overtones of the fantastic, or a fantasy featuring a family? Who cares? Its pace is compelling and the premise appealing. It's an ideal family read-aloud. And there's the final chapter, which suggests that there may be an unknown truth hidden in Loch Ness. m.m.b.

Kline, SuzyFrank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)Horrible Harry and the Goog2005

Booklist: Gr. 2-4. In an affectionate preface, Kline notes that on recent school visits she asked students to name places in school they haven't been to but would love to see. In the eighteenth book in her popular chapter-book series, she takes readers to those forbidden school places as Harry and his best friend, Doug, chase Harry's one-eyed cat, Goog, through the deserted hallways after the kids have gone home and the teachers have congregated in the library for a meeting. Goog leads Harry and Doug to the empty teachers' lounge, through the darkened basement to the boiler room, and, for one bumbling moment, into the girls' restroom. The stern, kind custodian finally brings a stop to their adventure, scolding them and rescuing Goog. The light mischief and innocent defiance of authority will grab the audience. --Hazel Rochman

Kline, SuzyFrank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)Horrible Harry at halloween2000

School Library Journal: Gr 2-3-Harry's classmates in Room 3B know they can count on him to wear a really scary costume on Halloween. After all, he's been a slithery snake, the Loch Ness Monster, and Count Dracula in past years. When he arrives dressed in a suit and tie, they feel let down even after he explains that he is Sergeant Joe Friday of the LAPD. However, Harry's detective skills come in handy when Mary discovers that the pixie dust is missing from her costume accessories. Primary-grade humor and practical jokes, student science experiments, and mystery are sprinkled throughout the story. "Horrible Harry" fans as well as newcomers to the series will be amused with his Halloween antics in this chapter book for transitional readers.-Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL

10

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Koch, Edward T.James Warhola (Illustrator)2004

Booklist: K-Gr. 3. Eddie's big brother, Harold, is a terrific athlete. All the kids want Harold on their team, but Eddie can't hit or catch the ball. Eventually Harold gets tired of Eddie's tagging along (You're no good at sports ), and he tells his brother to do what he really does best--talk. Eddie wins the school public speaking contest, and, yes, he grows up to become mayor of New York City. This fictional picture-book is far from the usual heavy-handed, celebrity inspirational message, especially because there's humor in Eddie's success; he has to figure out when to stop talking. Warhola's active, comic watercolors create a lively sense of the diverse city neighborhood in the early 1930s, on the street, in the park, and close-up at home. Best of all are the scenes of the players after the games, enraptured by Eddie's play-by-play talk of their wonderful achievements. With its affectionate humor about the brothers' rivalry and the klutz who wins in the end, this autobiographical story will have wide appeal--even for kids who don't know Koch. --Hazel Rochman

Kudlinski, Kathleen V.S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)Boy, were we wrong about dinosaurs!2005

Booklist: K-Gr. 3. What could be more heartening to children than the unabashed admission that grown-ups make mistakes? Science has had its share of theories once accepted as fact but later superseded, and the mystery of dinosaur fossils seems to have brought out the imaginative side of scientists. Beginning with the ancient Chinese, who decided that dinosaur fossils came from dragons that still lived, the story fast-forwards to nineteenth-century scientists, who guessed that Iguanodon' s sharp, conical bone was a spike on its head, rather than a spur on its hand. One mistaken idea after another is examined and illustrated with an ink drawing juxtaposed against a single-color background. Further information comes to light, and the information is corrected on a page showing a dinosaur drawing tinted with full-color washes. Intelligently designed and imaginatively conceived, the artwork makes the text more understandable and the whole book more beautiful. It also reflects the outlook of the text, portraying the scientists of each generation as earnest, sometimes puzzled searchers who did the best they could with the evidence available. The ending returns to the Chinese beliefs, stating that if birds are the descendants of dinosaurs, then they still live. Best of all, the closing paragraph acknowledges that the search is not over yet: the children fascinated by this book may one day find new answers to old questions about the dinosaurs. --Carolyn Phelan

Kusugak, Michael ArvaarlukVladyana Langer Krykorka (Illustrator)Baseball bats for Christmas1993

Never having seen trees, the children in Repulse Bay decide that the funny things sent them one year must actually be baseball bats.An autobiographical tale from Michael Kusugak's childhood tells a story of life in the arctic, and easily different cultures can interpret things differently.

Kusugak, Michael ArvaarlukVladyana Langer Krykorka (Illustrator)Northern lights: The soccer trails1993

"Northern Lights" is a beautiful tale that explores the mystical aspects of the northern lights in Inuit culture. Scientists have their own explanations for the phenomenon that occurs when the night sky shimmers with milky white patterns, or displays all the colors of the rainbow. But the Inuit prefer their own explanation: They believe the souls of the dead are engaging in a lively game of soccer, just as they did when they were living. They run all over the sky chasing a walrus head that they use for a soccer ball. This is the story of Kataujaq and the intimate relationship she has with her mother. They do almost everything together; they hug, rub noses and say "Mamaq" which means "You smell so nice." But a great sickness comes and Kataujaq's mother is taken south to the white people's hospital and never comes back. Kataujaq grieves, but is also able to rejoice when she and her grandmother watch the northern lights. This book celebrates family life, intimacy and the glory of nature.

Langcaon, JeffGranpa’s magic Banyan tree2005

A grandfather revisits his own childhood memories while playing with his grandson in a magical banyan tree.

11

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Lasky, KathrynJohn Manders (Illustrator)Humphrey, Albert, and the flying machine

Booklist: Gr. 1-3. Reluctantly attending the sure-to-be-boring birthday party of Princess Briar Rose, brothers Humphrey and Albert soon yawningly note that the long-rumored prophecy is coming true as everyone at court falls into a deep sleep. The boys awaken 100 years later (but before the other guests) and leave the castle in search of a prince who can end the enchantment with a kiss. Instead they find real-life inventor Daniel Bernoulli, who is attempting to invent a flying machine and manages to fulfill their purpose as well as his own. Though the ending owes little to either history or folklore, it is entirely satisfying anyway. Besides linking the story to that of Sleeping Beauty, the appended author's note provides information about scientist Bernoulli's life and his discovery. Large in scale, comical in characterization, and dramatic in composition, the spirited watercolor, gouache, and pencil artwork will help draw children into this lighthearted blend of fact and fiction that's good for reading aloud. --Carolyn Phelan

Lee-Tai, AmyFelica Hoshino (Illustrator)A place where sunflowers grow2006

School Library Journal: Gr 1-4-Lee-Tai based this story on the experiences of her grandparents and her mother, who were interned in Topaz, Utah, during World War II. With quiet understatement, the text focuses on the confusion and sadness young Mari feels after her family's abrupt relocation to the camp. In the harsh desert landscape, she thinks wistfully of her home, where she played with her brother in a yard filled with flowers. Her parents are worried about her silence and listlessness, but an art class offers her a means of expressing her feelings. She makes a friend as well, and when her desert sunflowers put up seedlings, she feels a new sense of hope. The story is told in both English and Japanese, and the earth-toned illustrations, created using watercolors, ink, tissue paper, and acrylic paint, nicely detail the simple plot. Hoshino modeled some of her compositions on those of Hisako Hibi, the author's grandmother and a prominent Japanese-American painter. Other picture books dealing with this topic include Eve Bunting's So Far from the Sea (Clarion, 1998), Yoshiko Uchida's The Bracelet (Philomel, 1993), and Rick Noguchi and Deneen Jenks's Flowers from Mariko (Lee & Low, 2001). Lee-Tai's tale, with its emphasis on the internees' dignity and feelings, offers the gentlest introduction to this tragic episode.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Lee, DennisMarie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)Lizzy’s lion1984

Winner of the Canada Council Award for Children's Book Illustration Dennis Lee has created a magical word in verse, recounting the story of Lizzy and the very real and grownup pet Lion she keeps in her bedroom.

Lesynski, LorisNight school2001

Booklist: Ages 6-8. Bedtime is when night owl Eddie's mind really starts "rock-and-rolling." So, naturally, he's delighted to learn about Night School. At first, his new school is bliss, with its night-centric curriculum ("tons of nighttime topics for the stories they could write. They studied just the animals that stay awake at night"), although he's mocked by the other kids for being too "daytime" (no one brings sandwiches; lunches are chic hors d'oeuvres from the nightclub down the street). Gradually though, Eddie and his fellow new pupils realize that Night School is strictly for ghouls, and in a heart-pounding escape, they make it home. The story's outrageous, silly humor, written in lively rhyme, finds great visual expression in Lesynski's detailed, joke-packed drawings. Read alone or aloud, this offers plenty of lighthearted fun. --Gillian Engberg

Lewin BetsyDoreen CroninClick, clack, moo: Cows that type2000

Booklist: Ages 4-8. Lewin's wild line-and-watercolor cartoons are perfectly suited to this barnyard farce about animals that go on strike to demand better working conditions. The cows find an old typewriter in the barn, and to the farmer's fury, they type messages to him: "Dear Farmer Brown. The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets. Sincerely, The Cows." When he refuses their request, they put up a notice: "Sorry. We're closed. No milk today." The hens are cold, too, so they join the cows--no eggs, either. There are ultimatums, emergency meetings, and a hilarious surprise ending. Today's preschoolers may have to be told about antique clackety typewriters, but they'll love the slapstick of the domesticated animals who get the farmer to toe the line. The thickly outlined pictures extend the fun, with closeups of the frenzied boss, the stalwart cows, and the hens cozy under their plugged-in blankets. Then there are the ducks . . . --Hazel Rochman

12

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Long, MelindaDavid Shannon (Illustrator)Pirates don’t change diapers2007

Publishers Weekly: Plucky young Jeremy Jacob is reunited with Captain Braid Beard and his crew of daft, dentally challenged buccaneers in a follow-up to the bestselling How I Became a Pirate. This time, Jeremy clearly has the upper hand: he won't let the pirates dig up the treasure they buried in his backyard at the end of the previous book until they help him placate his cranky baby sister, Bonney Anne (pirate aficionados will note that her name is a nod to real-life female pirate Anne Bonny). The story unfolds rather predictably-but just as entertainingly as the original: the pirates turn out to be washouts as nannies, jokes fly about dirty diapers and strained spinach, and, of course, "the wee lass" Bonney Anne ends up being the key to recovering the treasure. But Long's piratical dialogue still delivers a juicy read-aloud: what reader of any age won't relish the opportunity to say "Aargh!" or declare "Rock on!" as the crew does in unison when Braid Beard orders them to rock Bonney Anne to sleep? And Shannon's voluptuously colorful and comic paintings runneth over with comic mayhem, sly details (somehow, the pirates manage to find a pirate show on Jeremy's TV) and no end of goofy expressions. Ages 3-7.

Lottridge, Celia BarkerIan Wallace (Illustrator)The name of the tree: A Bantu taile1989

Booklist: Ages 5-8. A lively African folktale that celebrates effort rather than talent. A drought has spread through the land of the short grass, so the animals wander across the great plain in search of food. And what food they find! Delicious-looking fruit temptingly hangs from a single tall tree. Not even the giraffe can reach the fruit, however, and the bark is so smooth the monkey can't climb the tree. An old tortoise knows the tree will offer its fruit to those who know its name, and the only one who can disclose that information is the lion. The gazelle runs off, pleased that his quickness will save the day; he gets the information from the lion, but when he stumbles, the gazelle forgets the tree's name. Similarly, the moniker goes out of the elephant's head when he falls. Only the young turtle, so slow and small, completes the task and saves his friends from starvation. Illustrating the tale are faintly hued, impressionistic scenes that portray both the dryness of the drought-plagued land and the individuality of the animals. A strong read-aloud, handsomely illustrated. --Ilene Cooper

Lum, KateSkip Skwarek (Illustrator)What! Cried Granny: An almost bedtime story2001

Horn Book Magazine: (Primary) Sleeping over at Granny's for the first time, Patrick comes up with one reason after another to delay the inevitable. He can't go to bed because he doesn't even have a bed; or a blanket; or a teddy bear. In response to each legitimate complaint, Granny springs into action. Rushing out-doors, she chops a tree to build a bed, shears sheep and weaves a blanket, stitches up a truly enormous bear. But even Granny can't deal with Patrick's final objection to going to bed: her Herculean efforts have taken quite some time, and now ""it's morning."" Lum's cumulating text is paced with panache. Like slamming on brakes, the sudden halt at each new demand catapults Granny into a new flurry of activity. Johnson's bold graphics join in the nonsensical fun, with collage-like figures silhouetted against flat areas of vibrant color and settings that are suggested by only an occasional window, tree, shadow, or precipitous skyline; whimsical details, such as the little dog that wanders from page to page, tracking paint or sharing Patrick's TV, add interest. A refreshing new take on a familiar scenario. j.r.l.

MacDonald, MeganPeter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)Stink and the incredible super-galactic jawbreaker2006

School Library Journal: Gr 1-3-Judy Moody's seven-year-old brother is back with new super-galactic adventures. Stink buys the World's Biggest Jawbreaker and slurps, sloops, and shloops it all day until in one crunch, it is G-O-N-E. Disappointed that his jaw isn't broken, he decides to use his new letter-writing skills to complain to the company. He receives 21,280 jawbreakers, prompting him to write more letters in an attempt to get more free stuff. Candy, toys, and zoo passes arrive daily for Stink, who won't share any of his treasures with his "green with envy" older sister, Judy. He is so busy receiving the free goodies that he overlooks his super-best friend Webster's birthday party invitation, and he has to find a way to mend their friendship. He has also been learning about idioms in school and peppers them throughout the story along with his colorful Stink-isms. Black-and-white comic-book-style illustrations are clever and zany. This early chapter book is bound to be a hit with fans of Stink or Judy Moody, and it makes a hilarious read-aloud.-Michele Shaw, formerly at Yorkshire Academy, Houston, TX

Major, KevinImelda George (Illustrator)The house of wooden Santas1997

Jesse and his mother face the challenges of making a new life in a small town. But it's hard. Jesse has no friends, and his mother's carved wooden Santas aren't selling. Will there even be a Christmas? Jesse wonders. But before the season is out, Jesse and his mom discover the true spirit of Christmas.

13

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Markle, SandraAlan Marks (Illustrator)Little lost bat2006

Publishers Weekly: Markle (the Outside and Inside series) turns her attention to the Mexican free-tailed bat set in central Texas's Bracken Cave, a nursery cave home only to female bats and their babies. "Even though the rock cave is as huge/ as a cathedral, it's steamy hot/ from the body heat of/ millions of female bats." The descriptive narrative immerses readers in this intimate setting, as it describes one bat's birth and early days. Markle sugarcoats nothing, least of all the predator-prey relationships. A lurking snake "snags a baby bat for dinner." The mother of the title bat traps and eats a moth, only to become a barn owl's supper a week later. Readers might be surprised at this turn of events, given previous snuggly nursing scenes. ("For three days and nights, he searches/ and cries for her to find him.") Marks, who collaborated with Markle on A Mother's Journey, provides realistic, elegant watercolor-and-ink paintings; their dusky blues and purples mirror some of the nocturnal subject's mystery. Many scenes glow with an almost translucent effect from the moon. Audiences will be somewhat comforted when a mother that has lost her own baby adopts the orphaned bat. Author notes, resources and additional bat facts wrap up this informative, moving nature exploration. Ages 6-9.

Marsden, CarolynVirginia Shin-Mui LohThe jade dragon2006

Guardian UK: The miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to improve the life of their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. Moving from their palatial and secure quarters to the dusty and abandoned doll's house, they become a Fairy of Sorts for the children in their care. But then grim Aunt Ivy, with an abiding hatred of mice, comes to stay and it is all-out war. Can Tumtum and Nutmeg outwit her? Bring on the troops! There's a delightfully twitchy quality to Tumtum and Nutmeg which, despite their clothes and their domesticity, makes them seem genuinely mousey, and the small-scale world they inhabit is full of just the right tiny details.Caption: article-juliabriefs.2The miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to improve the life of their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. - Julia Eccleshare.

Matthews, L.S.A dog for life2006

School Library Journal: Gr 4-8-Like Matthews's Fish (Delacorte, 2004), this is a tale about a journey of discovery and the importance of holding onto the things that matter in troubled times. John Hawkins, the narrator, and his brother, Tom, have a dog that can communicate with them psychically. When Tom becomes ill, the doctor says that the pup must go, but the boys know that Mouse is essential to Tom's recovery. To keep the canine from being sent to the pound, John and Mouse set out on a journey to find a temporary home for the dog with an uncle they haven't seen in years. Along the way, they encounter an ineffectual New Age healer and her family, a scientist who performs experiments on stolen animals, and a persecuted Roma family who help them reach their goal. Although John and Mouse encounter some disturbing situations, the childlike tone and magical elements of the narrative keep it age appropriate. Mouse is an engaging character whose wry observations of the foibles of human beings contrast with John's naivety, and readers will be rooting for the pair to succeed in their quest. Highly enjoyable.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

McCall, AlexanderPeter Bailey (Illustrator)Akimbo and the lions2005

Publishers Weekly: Akimbo and the Elephants; Akimbo and the Lions Alexander McCall Smith, illus. by LeUyen Pham. Bloomsbury, $4.95 each ISBN 978-1-59990-031-5; 978-1-59990-032-2. A boy living on the edge of an African wildlife preserve must help stop poachers hungry for ivory tusks and lions that prey on a cattle farm. The tales' brevity, Smith's concise writing and Pham's evocative half-tone illustrations make these an attractive choice for reluctant readers, in PW's words. Ages 7-9.

Mollel, Tololway M.Linda Saport (Illustrator)Subira Subira1999

Booklist: Ages 3-7. In Nancy Raines Day's The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale (1995), a courageous stepmother tames a lion and learns from the experience how to tame her stepson and make him love her. Mollel's story takes place in contemporary Tanzania and concerns a brave young girl, Tatu, who learns to control her difficult little brother. The boy is sullen and disobedient; Tatu loses her temper; and the children always end up fighting and hurting each other. Then the spirit woman tells Tatu to pluck three whiskers from the lion. In taming the beast, Tatu learns the power of patience and song, which makes her brother happy and loving. The quarrels may be more dramatic than the peaceful ending, but siblings who wish they didn't fight will recognize Tatu's guilt and conflict. Saport's richly colored pastel illustrations express the magic and the everyday in the Tanzanian village. Most powerful are the flowing scenes of the brave girl and the lion, first far apart, then in a stroking embrace that's both metaphor and stirring story. --Hazel Rochman

14

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Mollel, Tololway M.Paul Morin (Illustrator)The orphan boy2008

Governor General's Award for Illustration International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour Book Award for Illustration American Library Association Notable Book Award, 1991 The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award for Illustration One night the old man looked at the stars but one was missing! Suddenly he heard footsteps. He turned his head to see an orphan boy. The man and the boy lived together. The boy had a special secret that he said he couldn't share. The man's curiosity got the better of him and his life was changed forever. This award-winning picture book is based on a Maasai legend about the planet Venus and tells of a loyal affection despite broken trust. Accompanied by magnificent paintings of Africa.

Moore, LilianThe snake that went to school1987

Puffy is just a harmless hog-nosed snake. But NOT everybody knows that. When Hank Jenkins proudly brings his pet snake home from camp, his mother is horrified. Puffy has to go. Luckily, Hank's fourth-grade teacher is willing to let Puffy stay in the school's science room -- on trial. But one day, Puffy mysteriously disappears from his cage. HELP! A SNAKE LOOSE IN THE SCHOOL! Hank is in for a lot of trouble....

Moss, MarissaC.F.Payne (Illustrator)Mighty Jackie: Strike-out queen2004

School Library Journal: K-Gr 3-When Jackie Mitchell was a pitcher for the Chattanooga Lookouts, she made baseball history on April 2, 1931, by striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Moss begins this brief chronicle of the young woman's moment in the sun by setting the scene at the stadium that day, quoting the skepticism expressed by sports reporters. She then moves back to Mitchell's childhood and describes her early interest in the game and the support and encouragement offered by her father. When the scene returns to the big day, the author indulges in some minor fictionalizing as she imagines the teen's thoughts and feelings when she faced the baseball giants. The narrative captures the tension and excitement, and has the air of an experience remembered. Payne's mixed-media illustrations with their judicious use of sepia increase the nostalgic feel. Pair this title with Shana Corey's Players in Pigtails (Scholastic, 2003) or Doreen Rappaport and Lyndall Callan's Dirt on Their Skirts (Dial, 2000) for a close look at a previously neglected piece of history.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Muntean, MichaelaPascal Lemaitre (Illustrator)Do not open this book2006

Publishers Weekly: Reverse psychology drives this voice-bubble monologue, whose curmudgeonly narrator-a pink pig in a purple stocking cap-implores readers not to turn the pages. He appears on the inside flap, sniping, "Excuse me, but did you read the front cover of this book? Are you always so rude?" Next, readers interrupt him in his woodshop, where ladders, pylons and boxes of "dangerous words" and "nouns" suggest a work in progress. "The reason you weren't supposed to open this book is because it is not yet written," he frowns, as disorganized scraps flutter about, each labeled with a single word like instant-poetry refrigerator magnets. The pig sneakily gets revenge by wondering, "What's your name?" and begging for participation in a fill-in-the-blanks rubric ("There once was a giant pest named _____.... It did not matter how many times _____ was asked to go away, _____ would not go"). Muntean makes sure he protests too much, daring readers to press their luck, and Lemaitre (the Who's Got Game? series) provides the author with tiny sidekicks-a round brown spider and violet-blue fly-who mimic his gestures and imply that he's harmless. Like Mo Willems's Pigeon books, this makes an excellent read-aloud, with abundant opportunities for hammy acting. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

Muth, Jon J.Stone soup: book and CD2011

Award-winning artist and author Jon J Muth retells the favorite tale of a selfish community who is tricked into creating a delicious soup from stones. NARRATOR: B.D. Wong FORMAT: Paperback Book & CD Three strangers, hungry and tired, pass through a war-torn village. Embittered and suspicious from the war, the people hide their food and close their windows tight. That is, until the clever strangers suggest making a soup from stones. Intrigued by the idea, everyone brings what they have until-- together, they have made a feast fit for a king! In this inspiring story about people working together, Muth takes a simple, beloved tale and adds his own fresh twist with beautiful illustrations.

15

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Myers, LaurieArthur Howard (Illustrator)The SOS file2004

Publishers Weekly: Newbery winner Byars and her two daughters, with whom she collaborated on My Dog, My Hero, offer a collection of fictional students' responses to their teacher's request for stories about times that they needed to call for help. Unfortunately, what emerges is a mishmash of a dozen tales, not all of them sticking to the theme. For instance, a boy whose parents are divorced and who considers himself a complete loser on the baseball field tells a tale that builds to a poignant moment when he hits the winning home run during the first game his father ever attended, but, as he writes in conclusion, "I didn't need an SOS after all." Other stories, in adhering to the childlike voice of the student "authors," detract from the momentum of the tale, such as an account of two girls' calamitous test ride on their homemade go-cart (after the narrator wipes out, injured, a kid claps-"This wasn't exactly the applause I was looking for"). The highlight is "Miracle on Main Street," in which a girl who was found as in infant in a dumpster recounts how she and her adoptive parents tracked down the man who rescued her. Though inconsistent, these anecdotal accounts-embellished by Howard's charcoal-and-wash illustrations, appropriately reflecting the mood of each piece-make for short takes that may well boost the confidence of reluctant readers. Ages 8-12.

Napoli, Donna JoLita Judge (Illustrator)Ugly2008

School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-Using a Tasmanian setting for this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling," Napoli has fashioned a witty and entertaining book. The "duckling," called Ugly by his Pacific black duck siblings, is late to hatch and behaves strangely, but is sustained by his mother, who believes he is smart. Ejected from the duck colony after a severe pecking because he is different, Ugly sets off to find a friend. Many helpful animals, including a wombat and a golden bristletail possum, provide advice, warmth, and knowledge. They also alert him to dangerous predators such as a quoll, spurred platypus, and Tasmanian devil. Ugly also learns about humans when he encounters a family and an old woman who talks to herself and her pets. Humor lightens the story. Ugly meets teenage ganders that verbally and physically spar like egotistic adolescents, but the story takes a grim turn when the shocked duckling (surprising, too, for readers who may not be familiar with the original tale) witnesses their brutal slaughter by hunters. After a long and lonely year, Ugly discovers his true identity-he is a beautiful Australian black swan-and finds a home. Like Avi's "Poppy" series (HarperCollins), this book is lush with details of the natural world and animal behavior and an elegant use of language. An excellent read-aloud.-Susan Hepler, formerly at Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA

Naylor, Phylis ReynoldsAlexandra Boiger (Illustrator)Roxie and the hooligans2006

School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-In this beginning chapter book, nine-year-old Roxie Warbler knows just what to do if she finds herself buried in an avalanche, but she doesn't know what to do about Helvetia's Hooligans. The gang at Public School Number Thirty-Seven has chosen her to be Victim of the Year, thanks to her ears, which stick straight out. The Hooligans chase Roxie into the Dumpster, fall into it themselves, and everyone is soon spilled onto a barge being pulled out to sea. The children end up stranded on an island with a couple of nasty thieves. With only the survival tips Roxie remembers from Uncle Dangerfoot's stories of his fantastical adventures with famous thrill-seeker and author Lord Thistlebottom to help her, Roxie finds herself leading the four hungry, thirsty, and scared bullies to safety. Full-page pencil illustrations perfectly complement this clever story that will leave readers cheering for Roxie as she proves to be as successful an adventurer as her famous uncle.-Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

Nesbit, E.Inga Moore (Illustrator)Book of beasts2002

Publishers Weekly: Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore, E. Nesbit's The Book of Beasts, originally published in 1900, makes a handsome picture-book edition. A boy king, fascinated by the Palace library, unwittingly unlocks a magical world lying dormant between the covers of a book. But in the process, he also releases a fire-breathing Red Dragon. Rendered in ink, oil pastels and oil paint, Moore's stunning illustrations spill over with a humor that also pervades in the text (e.g., "Master Lionel, dear, they've come to fetch you to go and be king," reads Nurse's thought bubble on the first page).

16

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Nix, GarthBrian Biggs (Illustrator)One beastly beast: Two aliens, three inventors, four fantastic tales2007

A collection of fantastic stories by the one and only Garth Nix, featuring rude pirates, enchanted penguins, strange inventions and a very beastly beast indeed! Great Christmas gift idea and wonderful school holiday listening 4.5-star reviews on amazon.com One beastly beast that's more than meets the eye. Two aliens with slimy tentacles and too many eyes fixed on adopting a human son. Three inventors and a sea serpent, a princess, an orphanage, and two ships full of pirates. Four fantastic tales by renowned fantasy author Garth Nix. Garth Nix takes on a younger audience with this collection of magical adventures. His trademark fertile imagination and spellbinding storytelling is sure to capture a whole new generation of fans.

Nolen, JerdineKadir Nelson (Illustrator)Big Jabe2000

Horn Book Magazine: (Primary, Intermediate) Part magical savior, part tall-tale hero, Big Jabe personifies the triumph of African Americans who (miraculously it must sometimes have seemed) escaped from slavery. At the behest of her master, Mr. Plenty, Miss Addy goes fishing and finds little Jabe floating Moses-like in a basket. The boy fills her wagon with fish and also gives her a luscious pear, whose seed swiftly matures to a tree in its first year. Jabe, too, is full-grown in time to harvest that same summer's extraordinary abundance. His Herculean abilities leave the slaves with luxuriously little to do, which so troubles their mean-spirited overseer that he punishes first one and then another as surrogates for Jabe, whom Mr. Plenty protects. Each unjust punishment is followed by a sudden storm during which the punished and their families are spirited away without a trace. Only Addy understands that Jabe and the pear tree-the North Star shining through its branches-are involved in these mysterious escapes. When Addy herself is accused of witchcraft and chained, she too vanishes, and eventually Jabe himself moves on, ""though he turned up at different times in different places throughout the South. And everywhere he did, burdens were lifted."" Jerdine Nolen recounts her original tale with a light touch and lyrical voice that add depth and resonance to its telling imagery and serious overtones. Kadir Nelson's gouache-and-watercolor illustrations are lovely: full-bleed spreads pull readers into a lush summer when every plant and creature is vibrant with health. Yet he also effectively conveys the rigorous life of the slaves via their leanness, their clothing, and even in the way he depicts a meal when, thanks to Jabe, there is enough fish for all: dark earth tones predominate in the firelit scene while heaps of well-cleaned fish bones bespeak the hunger that usually prevailed. This powerful story will be particularly effective shared aloud.j.r.l.

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)If you give a cat a cupcake2008

Publishers Weekly: If you give an adorable gray kitten a supporting role in a popular series, he'll cry out for a lead--and thus, this latest entry from Numeroff and Bond, which features a cat that first appeared in If You Give a Pig a Party. Like its predecessors, the story bubbles with cascading "if... then" silliness: a girl's granting of a cupcake, for example, leads to a request for sprinkles, which causes a mess; cleaning up gets the cat overheated, which prompts a trip to the beach, and so forth. Some of the connections feel forced even for this series (a ride on a merry-go-round whale inspires a wish to go to a science museum), but the vivacity of the drawings and pertness of the kitty protagonist make up for the shortcomings. Besides, a lot of the series' appeal can be credited to the competency and ingenuity of the various human enablers in the books. While sometimes baffled by the goings-on, the girl in these pages is able to roll with the punches--unlike many adults. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 3-7.

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)If you give a dog a donut1999

Booklist: In this If You Give . . . series title, giving a dog a donut results in him asking for a glass of apple juice. But when he asks for more juice and there is none, he'll have to make his own. An apple reminds him of a baseball, which leads to a baseball game, and so begins a domino effect of associations until the whole story comes full circle. The peppy, simple narrative is read-aloud friendly, and the cheery cartoonish illustrations depict an animated brown-and-white dog and his indulgent boy companion. Kids will enjoy this entertaining entry in a popular series.--Rosenfeld, Shelle

17

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)If you give a pig a party2005

Publishers Weekly: The perennially popular party theme, paired with the playfully persistent porcine star of If You Give a Pig a Pancake, ensures that these collaborators' latest addition to the series (which began with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie) will be eagerly celebrated by their fans. After decorating the house with balloons and donning her favorite dress, the party gal attempts to phone her friends to invite them to her fate. Since they aren't home, she jumps in a bicycle basket as her accommodating caregiver transports her to search for them. On the way, they come across a street fair, where the energetic pig finds her pals and enthusiastically enjoys the amusements before they all head home to party. The vision of the girl pedaling her bike with eight animals aboard including a snake coiled atop her head will bring on ample giggles, as will the sight of the pajama-clad menagerie (the snake wears a sock) preparing for a sleepover. Bond makes particularly clever use of the spreads when conveying the mayhem of the bumper cars and pillow fight scenes. As in the earlier volumes of this serendipitous series, this caper comes satisfyingly full circle, with the pig asking for a party all over again. Ages 4-8.

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)If you take a mouse to school2002

School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 1-That adorable rodent, dressed in his tiny blue overalls, returns with all the ebullience and adventurous spirit he displayed in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985) and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies (2000, both HarperCollins). This time he accompanies his human friend to school, and his enthusiasm for learning fascinates the class. Mouse joyfully discovers new activities, which include performing a science experiment, building a "mouse house" with blocks, writing a book, and more. Bond's illustrations are an essential part of the story, with visual clues that link it to the original-chocolate-chip cookies appear on pajamas, in a lunch box, and as a refrigerator magnet. White backgrounds allow the crisp, bright watercolors to stand out and invite perusal. With his minuscule backpack and expansive joie de vivre, the little charmer exudes excitement about everything he undertakes, and the day turns into a lively experience for mouse and boy.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)If you take a mouse to the movies2000

Booklist: Ages 3-6. Following the popular If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1987), If You Give a Moose a Muffin (1991), and If You Give a Pig a Pancake (1998), Numeroff offers another lively cause-and-effect romp. When a boy takes a mouse to the movies, the mouse wants popcorn, which he strings together and wants to hang on the Christmas tree that the boy buys for him. On the way home, the mouse wants to play in the snow but then needs to warm up at home, where he sings Christmas carols and wants to decorate the tree. His popcorn string is missing, so he wants to make another, which reminds him of the movies . . . As with the previous titles, children will find both the bouncy speculative text and the colorful illustrations irresistible. In simple pictures filled with wit, Bond personalizes both the story and the characters, creating the earnest boy, eager to please his gleeful, hyper mouse. A charmer that's sure to get plenty of circulation. --Gillian Engberg

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)Mouse cookies and more: A treasury2006

Four favorite "If You Give..." titles are collected in one comprehensive edition, including "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake," and "If You Take a Mouse to School." A CD, recipes, sheet music, little-known facts, and activities are also included.

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeFelicia Bond (Illustrator)Mouse cookies: 10 easy-to-make cookie recipes1995

School Library Journal. Gr 2-4. Some cookbooks related to children's stories strain for relevance, but this one is a funny, imaginative extension of Numeroff's much-loved If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (HarperCollins, 1985). The story in this spiral-bound book has no words: it is told through Bond's droll, detailed watercolors on the pages facing 10 recipes. It takes place in the mouse's house in the base of a large tree trunk, where he is baking. The boy from the previous book, still wearing the same gold shirt trimmed in green, is peeking through the tiny window and watching the cheerfully messy procedure. The rodent is so weary by the time the first batch is in the oven that he takes a nap and the cookies burn. The rest are fine, thoughand before he eats them all himself, he hands one out the window to the boy. Most of these good-old favorite cookies are made from scratch, and the directions are clear. Just the thing for mice and boys and the rest of us.Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME

18

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Numeroff, Laura JoffeeIf you give a mouse a cookie1993

If a hungry little traveler shows up at your house, you might want to give him a cookie. If you give him a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim . . . . The consequences of giving a cookie to this energetic mouse run the young host ragged, but young readers will come away smiling at the antics that tumble like dominoes through the pages of this delightful picture book.

Paye, Won-LdyJulie Paschkis (Illustrator)Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile2003

School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 2-A clever chicken outwits a hungry crocodile by convincing the reptile that she's her sister. Patterned figures placed effectively on black backgrounds lend a dramatic flair to the fresh and funny storytelling.

Pennypacker, SaraMartin Matje (Illustrator)Stuart goes to school2003

Booklist: Gr. 2-4. Stuart is back, with his cape made out of ties, and he still has a lot to worry about. His family has moved, so it is going to be a whole new third grade. Children will recognize Stuart's anxieties: What if no one likes him? What if he gets lost on the way to the bathroom? What if he throws up? As in the previous book, Stuart's Cape (2002), adventures abound; he is mortified when, during Our Big Interesting World (show-and-tell), his cape makes his clothes disappear, and he finds himself standing in front of the whole class in his underwear. But the next day, the cape makes a hole, and Stuart finds some very interesting uses for it. Stuart loves to draw, and his artwork plays an important part in the resolution, which is deeply reassuring. Matje's numerous line drawings look as though Stuart did them. --GraceAnne DeCandido

Pinkney, JerryThe ugly duckling1999

Publishers Weekly: Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic. This "duckling" is teased unmercifully by his apparent siblings but loved by the mother duck: "He may not be quite as handsome as the others," she says, "but... I am sure he will make his way in the world as well as anybody." Eventually he runs away, and as the seasons turn, the fledgling has a series of adventures, from a close encounter with a hunting dog to getting trapped in ice. All the while he is growing, transforming, and in the triumphant ending, he finds peace and happiness when his real identity is revealed to himself and to readers. Pinkney's artwork is a swan song to the beauty of the pastoral, and his lush images flow across the pages in sweeping vistas and meticulous close-ups. Whether depicting the subtle patterns and colors of a duck's feathers, the murky twilight of a freshwater pond or the contrast of red berries against dried grasses etched with snow, Pinkney's keenly observed watercolors honor nature in all its splendor. A flawlessly nuanced performance by a consummate craftsman. Ages 3-up.

Polacco, PatriciaPink and Say2002

Gr 4 Up-This picture book set during the Civil War is a departure for Polacco in terms of content and audience. It is certainly the deepest and most serious book she has done. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, an African American Union soldier about Sheldon's age, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then are captured and taken to Andersonville, where Pink is hanged within hours of their capture. One of the most touching moments is when Pink reads aloud from the Bible to Moe Moe and Say. Say tells them that he can't read, but then he offers something he's very proud of: he once shook Abraham Lincoln's hand. This is a central image in the story, and is what ties the boys together for a final time, as Pink cries, "`Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.'" The picture of their clasped hands, with the hands of the soldiers wrenching them apart, is exceptionally moving. Polacco's artwork, in fact, has never been better. She uses dramatic perspectives, dynamic compositions, and faces full of emotion to carry her powerful tale. History comes to life in this remarkable book.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

19

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Rumford, JamesSilent music: A story of Bagdad2008

Booklist: My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad. In just a few lines per page, a young Iraqi boy describes his favorite things: soccer, loud parent-rattling music, dancing, and, most of all, Arabic calligraphy: I love to make the ink flow . . . stopping and starting, gliding and sweeping, leaping, dancing to the silent music in my head. When bombs fall on the city, Ali, inspired by his hero, Yakut, a thirteenth-century calligrapher, calms himself with his pen: I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace. Rumford, who has included Arabic calligraphy in previous titles, such as Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey (2003), fills his multimedia collages with large, looping script that spells out the words and phrases that Ali writes. Many children will have questions about Arabic writing and where the individual letters stop and start, but they'll connect with Ali's first-person voice, which echoes the calligraphy's graceful rhythm and tells a simple, powerful story about a child's everyday survival and hope in wartime Baghdad.--Engberg, Gillian

Rylant, CynthiaDiane Goode (Illustrator) When I was young in the mountains1985

For twenty years, Cynthia Rylant's story of childhood in the Appalachian Mountains has been an enduring favorite. Growing up in the mountains is depicted with a spare, lyrical text and beautiful, tender illustrations by Diane Goode. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal. To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, When I Was Young in the Mountains is being released with a commemorative copper-colored band. Gr. 1-3

Shannon, DavidToo many toys2008

Booklist: Spencer has too many toys. They spill from closets, cascade down staircases, and generally occupy him and frustrate his parents in equal measure. Finally Spencer's mom has had enough, and after a litigious negotiation, she helps Spencer pack a box of toys to give away. At the last minute, though, Spencer reconsiders the plan in unexpected ways. Shannon's illustrations are cacophonous explotions; even the title page is so chaotic that the text is crowded into the corner. Shannon's fans will recognize elements of his previous characters Alice the Fairy's expressive aspect; David's corn teeth in this current cast, portrayed with ebullient vigor. Also effective are the almost surreal backdrops to some of the disagreements. When Spencer is asked to let go of some of his treasures, for example, he resembles a sad-eyed puppy, standing in a gray wasteland, a barren tree in the background. Shannon's story carries an attitude large enough to entertain a big group, while the illustrations are detailed enough to engage even the most inattentive individual when viewed up close.--Barthelmess, Thom

Simmie, LoisCynthia Nugent (Illustrator)Mister got to go: The cat that wouldn’t leave1995

School Library Journal: K-Gr 3During a storm, a gray cat seeks shelter in a hotel, where Mr. Foster, the manager, decides to let him stay until the sky clears. The cat, however, plans to make the place his permanent home and succeeds in endearing himself to the rest of the staff. Although Mr. Foster regularly announces that the cat has got to go when the rain stops, the Vancouver weather offers one rainy day after another. By the time the feline tangles with a raccoon that is frightening a guest, Mr. Foster's affection for him is clear. A trip to the vet results in the cat's official name: Got to Go. Nugent's watercolors bring both animal and setting, the historic Sylvia Hotel, to life. Interesting use of large and small illustrations and various type sizes provides additional visual interest. Got to Go will win listeners and readers as surely as he convinced Mr. Foster to let him stay.Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN

Stilton, GeronimoSurf’s up Geronimo2005

Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love. Ah, there's nothing like a relaxing vacation on the beach! I would spread out by the crystal-clear water with a good book. What more could a mouse want? At least, that was the plan. But somehow, my vacations never seem to go according to plan. Instead of a beautiful seaside resort, I found myself in a fleabag hotel that was falling down around my ears! Oh, would I ever be able to relax and enjoy my vacation?

20

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Stinson, KathyKasia Charko (Illustrator)King of the castle2000

Ages 7 to 10 years. This book is about a man who spends every day in a school but who cannot read. Mr Elliot has a job he loves -- he is the custodian in a primary school. He is so useful to everyone that he sometimes sees himself as the king of the castle. But Mr Elliot has a secret. He can't read. When he sees a child at the school being called stupid and falling into traps he remembers so well himself, Mr Elliot finally decides he must learn how to read. His granddaughter proves to be his perfect audience. Black and white illustrations enhance this novel's appeal. "King of the Castle" is perfect both for encouraging children to read and for adult literacy programs.

Terry, Will (Illustrator)Margaret Read MacDonald (Retold by)Little Rooster’s diamond button2006

School Library Journal: Gr 1-3-This version of a Hungarian folktale is perfectly suited to a storytelling performance. A little rooster finds a diamond button, only to have it snatched up by a greedy king. The rooster goes to the palace and demands that it be returned. The monarch tries to get rid of him, but he uses his amazing magic stomach to escape from a well, a fire, and a beehive. Finally he not only wins the button back, but manages to obtain all of the king's treasure as well. The story is simple but amusing and has good cadence and pacing. MacDonald has eliminated all extraneous detail so movement from scene to scene is quick. There is much here to delight listeners, especially when the rooster releases a swarm of bees in the king's baggy pants. Terry's plucky acrylic illustrations heighten the humor. He uses rich, contrasting colors and exaggerated facial features to make the characters and scenes energetically funny. Celia Barker Lottridge's version (Groundwood, 2001) is illustrated by Joanne Fitzgerald with traditional watercolor-and-ink pictures, and the story is told with more embellishment. It is well suited for individual reading, but MacDonald's is better for group sharing.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT

Ting-Xing YeSuzane Langlois (Illustrator)Weighing the elephant1998

In a small Chinese village lives a baby elephant, Huan-huan. The evil Emperor issues an impossible puzzle: the villagers can save Huan-huan only if they can deduce how much it weighs. A child comes up with an ingenious, scientifically sound answer.

Van Allsburg, ChrisProbudit!2006

Booklist: As in Jumanji (1981) and Zathura (2002), Van Allsburg creates another story of the mischief and magic that can happen when kids are left alone in the house. Calvin is thrilled when his mother gives him tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent's magic show. He invites his best pal, Rodney, to join him, and together they watch while Lomax hypnotizes a woman with a spiraling wheel until she behaves like a chicken. Later, while Mama is gone, Calvin and Rodney try to hypnotize Calvin's little sister, and they are amazed when they seem to succeed. Unfortunately, they can't remember the words that will break the spell. Even with a closing twist, this story lacks the drama and cohesion of Van Allsburg's previous titles. The nostalgic, double-spread sepia-tone artwork is eye-catching, though, and it will draw kids into the story with angled, theatrical images of a well-dressed woman strutting in a chicken pose and African American Calvin wrestling with his sister and facing his scolding parent. This isn't Van Allsburg's best work, but the accomplished art will attract fans. --Gillian Engberg

Waterton, BettyAnn Blades (Illlustrator)A salmon for Simon1996

Simon, a Native American boy, has been trying all summer to catch a salmon. But when he gets his chance, Simon no longer wants to keep it--it's too strong and beautiful!

21

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Watt, MelanieChester2008

Publishers Weekly: This sidesplitting metafiction offers further proof of Watt's (the Scaredy Squirrel books) extravagantly fresh, cheeky voice. Here, the exasperated author-illustrator engages in a literary tug-of-war with the eponymous marmalade puss, who has a figure like Nero Wolfe and an outsize ego to match. Chester is determined to thwart Watt's attempts to write a nice little book about a winsome country mouse; using a red magic marker, he writes, "Then Mouse packed his bags and went on a trip very, very far away and we never saw him ever again!" underneath Watt's opening sentence and attempts to make himself the star of the show. Volleys of creativity and red ink follow: Watt introduces a fierce dog, only to have Chester make him vegetarian; Chester begins a new story set in Chesterville ("where mice weren't allowed"), but Watt makes it rain, washing his work away. Chester retaliates by caricaturing the author ("Hi. I am Melanie Watt and I am very angry!" reads a speech bubble), and the mouse even enters the act, complaining, "I can't work like this!" The closing pages seem to give Watt the upper hand (hint: a humiliating pink tutu is involved), but readers, who will adore Chester's unbridled self-interest and blatant disregard for artistic integrity, may suspect that this is one kitty who has not yet begun to fight. Ages 4-8.

Watt, MelanieChester’s back!2008

Publishers Weekly: Starred Review. In this mischievous follow-up to her comical metafiction, Chester, Watt—who is both character and author—thinks she's hit on a way to keep her cat's huge ego in check: make him the star of his very own fairy tale. But as Chester once again makes clear, scrawling in red marker over almost every page (only the endpapers are left unscathed), he's not going to be easily placated—or dismissed. Being a picture book star has gone to his already swollen head: Dear admirers, he begins, Due to an overwhelming amount of fan mail, I, Chester, am back.... Colorful envelopes below this message are addressed to Chester from Shakespeare (Your #1 Fan), Einstein and Picasso; a typed note from M.W. next to an author photo reads, Please forgive Chester. He's forgotten to mention that he wrote all those fan letters himself. A tiny mouse (Chester labels him his butler) provides running commentary, sometimes through gestures only. Readers will be dazzled by the cat's rampant self-regard (he claims to have invented the wheel) and tickled by his ongoing battle of wits with his owner/creator. Ages 4–8.

Watt, MelanieChester’s masterpiece2010

Booklist: Fat tabby Chester continues his fierce battle for control with author Watt. This time, Chester has taken over after hiding Watt's art supplies and computer mouse. The cover image, which looks like it's been taped and stapled over the real cover, showcases Chester brandishing his red marker, with the words With NO help from added before Watt's credit. Chester is a gleeful and exuberant author, rejecting all of Watt's Post-it notes on the ingredients of a good story. This dialogue vividly conveys what books are all about genre, setting, plot, heroes, ending in uproarious fashion.--Fletcher, Connie

Wiesner, DavidFlotsam2006

Booklist: PreS-Gr. 2. As in his Caldecott Medal Book Tuesday 0 (1991), Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings. At the seaside, a boy holds a magnifying glass up to a flailing hermit crab; binoculars and a microscope lay nearby. The array of lenses signals the shifting viewpoints to come, and in the following panels, the boy discovers an old-fashioned camera, film intact. A trip to the photo store produces astonishing pictures: an octopus in an armchair holding story hour in a deep-sea parlor; tiny, green alien tourists peering at sea horses. There are portraits of children around the world and through the ages, each child holding another child's photo. After snapping his own image, the boy returns the camera to the sea, where it's carried on a journey to another child. Children may initially puzzle, along with the boy, over the mechanics of the camera and the connections between the photographed portraits. When closely observed, however, the masterful watercolors and ingeniously layered perspectives create a clear narrative, and viewers will eagerly fill in the story's wordless spaces with their own imagined story lines. Like Chris Van Allsburg's books and Wiesner's previous works, this visual wonder invites us to rethink how and what we see, out in the world and in our mind's eye. --Gillian Engberg

YinChris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator)Brothers2006

Booklist: Gr. 2-4. In this sequel to Coolies (2000), young Ming arrives in San Francisco from China, eager to reconnect with his older brothers. Wong has returned to work on the railroads, but Shek invites Ming to help in his struggling Chinatown grocery store. Life is lonely for Ming until he makes friends with Patrick, an Irish immigrant living in a nearby neighborhood. As the friendship progresses, Ming learns some English, which enables him to promote the store to customers outside of Chinatown, greatly improving business. Soentpiet's luminescent, photo-realistic paintings, which provide many vivid setting details, perfectly complement Yin's thoughtful text. An afterward clarifies that this story is fiction and offers further information about Irish and Chinese immigration in the mid-1800s and the development of San Francisco's Chinatown. Great for group sharing, this tale will be welcomed by classes learning about history, immigration, and multiculturalism, as well as how to be a friend. --Kay Weisman

22

Bibliographic Information:

Review:

Yolen, JaneEd Young (Illustrator)The emperor and the kite2002

Booklist: Ages 4-8. More than twenty years after the original captured a Caldecott honor, a new edition of this well-known picture book appears. Yolen's lovely story of the Chinese emperor's youngest daughter, who frees her father from imprisonment by means of a kite, is unchanged, but the illustrations are more striking and more effective than ever. Working within a somewhat longer format on whiter paper, Young makes some minor shifts in layout and changes in colors, bringing greater clarity of line and sharper intensity of hue. Although the differences at first seem minor, the artwork as a whole is more vital, more vibrant. Librarians who have tried to reorder only to find the book out of print, whose old copies are shopworn, or whose budgets are sufficient should consider adding this newly revamped title: a familiar jewel polished to unaccustomed brilliance.

Prepared by: Bill Glaister and Beth Cormier December 2012.

23