Blogging About Books ~ Advanced Children's Literature Spring 2009

The following fifteen blog postings are to fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Children's Literature with Dr. Janet Hilbun. This was completed in the spring semester of 2009 at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas, as part of the Masters Degree Program in the School of Library and Information Studies.

~Shannon Dutton
5613-20

Popular Authors - Andrew Clements ~ A Week in the Woods

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Week-in-the-Woods/Andrew-Clements/e/9780689858024/?itm=1, accessed May 9, 2009.



Bibliography



Clements, Andrew. 2002. A WEEK IN THE WOODS. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 043953108X



Summary

A WEEK IN THE WOODS by Andrew Clements is another great young adult book by this award winning author. Mark, a rich kid from New York, moves to New Hampshire after the renovations on their new home there are complete. His parents won't be with him, of course, they will be in San Francisco running a stockholders meeting. Leon and Anya, the gardner and housekeeper, will move with Mark and help keep and eye in him until they arrive. Mark is forced to leave his old school, Lawton Country Day School and will be attending Runyon academy in the fall as a boarding student. In the meantime, his parents have enrolled him in the local elementary school, Hardy Elementary, where he finds it difficult to fit in with the other students.

In the beginning, Mark's snobbish attitude distances him from the other students and makes the teachers not like him. Especially Mr. Maxwell who can't stand rich people or "their lazy, spoiled kids." Eventually, Mark changes his attitude and actually starts to make some friends. The teachers also begin to warm to him, except for Mr. Maxwell. As the annual fifth grade camping trip approaches, Mark decides that this will be his opportunity to prove himself to Mr. Maxwell and show him that he is more than just a spoiled rich kid. But just as things start to get better, Mark is caught on the trip with a camping tool that includes a knife, something they were specifically asked not to bring. It is not really Mark's fault and he tries to explain, but Mr. Maxwell won't listen and decides to send him home. Before this can happen, Mark runs into the woods and gets lost. Mr. Maxwell goes after him and ends up getting hurt and having to rely on Mark to get them out of the woods. A story of courage, loyalty and fairness, students will enjoy this book and learn what it takes to survive "a week in the woods."

Reviews



SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Gr 4-6-Angered by his family's move from Scarsdale, NY, to rural New Hampshire, Mark refuses to make friends or please his teachers. Because of his indifference, one teacher decides that he's dealing with a "slacker" and a "spoiled rich kid." To make matters worse, the fifth grader acts unimpressed with Mr. Maxwell's annual outing to the state park for a week of nature studies. However, the boy becomes increasingly interested in the outdoors and camping and signs up for the trip. On the first day there, the teacher discovers Mark with a camping tool that contains a knife, an item that students were asked not to bring. He decides that someone needs to teach the boy a lesson and decides to send him home. Mark runs away, gets lost, and must use his newly acquired skills to survive a night in the woods. The story explores both Mark's and Mr. Maxwell's point of view, and the final resolution of their conflict is effective. The boy's relationships with his ever-absent parents and his caregivers are interestingly developed. The novel includes a helpful map of the state park. Like many of Clements's titles, this one will be a popular choice, particularly with fans of Gary Paulsen and Jean Craighead George.-Jean Gaffney, Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library, Miamisburg, OH Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.



KIRKUS REVIEWS: Playing on his customary theme that children have more on the ball than adults give them credit for, Clements (Big Al and Shrimpy, p. 951, etc.) pairs a smart, unhappy, rich kid and a small-town teacher too quick to judge on appearances. Knowing that he'll only be finishing up the term at the local public school near his new country home before hieing off to an exclusive academy, Mark makes no special effort to fit in, just sitting in class and staring moodily out the window. This rubs veteran science teacher Bill Maxwell the wrong way, big time, so that even after Mark realizes that he's being a snot and tries to make amends, all he gets from Mr. Maxwell is the cold shoulder. Matters come to a head during a long-anticipated class camping trip; after Maxwell catches Mark with a forbidden knife (a camp mate's, as it turns out) and lowers the boom, Mark storms off into the woods. Unaware that Mark is a well-prepared, enthusiastic (if inexperienced) hiker, Maxwell follows carelessly, sure that the "slacker" will be waiting for rescue around the next bend-and breaks his ankle running down a slope. Reconciliation ensues once he hobbles painfully into Mark's neatly organized camp, and the two make their way back together. This might have some appeal to fans of Gary Paulsen's or Will Hobbs's more catastrophic survival tales, but because Clements pauses to explain-at length-everyone's history, motives, feelings, and mindset, it reads more like a scenario (albeit an empowering one, at least for children) than a story. Worthy-but just as Maxwell underestimates his new student, so too does Clement underestimate his readers' ability to figure out for themselves what's going on in each character'slife and head. (Fiction. 10-12)

Popular Authors - Dan Gutman ~ The Homework Machine

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Homework-Machine/Dan-Gutman/e/9780689876783/?itm=2, accessed May 9, 2009.

Bibliography

Gutman. Dan. 2006. THE HOMEWORK MACHINE. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN 0689876785

Summary

When their teacher puts them into a work group together, Sam, Kelsy and Judy think that Brenton is a big computer nerd. But when he tells them that he had invented a machine that will do your homework, they insist on him proving it. When he does, the three convince him to let them use it and things quickly get out of hand. The machine starts to put pressure on the foursome, for different reasons. Judy feels guilty about cheating, but feels the need to be a perfect student. Kelsy is afraid her other friends will make fun of her for hanging around the "nerds." Sam is always making fun of Brenton, but needs his help in learning to play chess by mail with his dad who is serving in Iraq. When Sam's dad is killed in combat the four start to bond and what follows involves trouble with the law. Told in short chapters by each of the characters, the story is often funny, but at times exceptionaly sad. Despite this, it carries a strong message of friendship, honesty and tolerance that will engage readers from the first page.

Reviews

CHILD MAGAZINE: Only a miracle -- like a homework machine named Belch -- could unite this unlikely foursome: genius inventor Brenton, overachiever Judy, slacker Kelsey, and smart-aleck Sam. At first, only the machine connects them, but after enough sessions of "doing homework" together, they begin to value each other's differences and become friends. Ideal for middle-grade readers, this highly entertaining story unfolds in short, first-person interviews at the police station. (Yes, they do get caught.) Tucked in between the laughs are excellent messages about tolerance, honesty, and the importance of what the students' teacher calls the "homework machine [that] already exists. It's called your brain." (Ages 8 to 12)

Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006

KIRKUS REVIEWS: When fifth-graders Judy, Sam and Kelsey discover their classmate Brenton Damagatchi's homework machine, they think they are on to a good thing and begin to visit him regularly after school. Alphabetically seated at the same table, the brilliant Asian-American computer geek, hardworking, high-achieving African-American girl, troubled army brat and ditzy girl with pink hair would seem to have nothing in common. (They would also seem to be stereotypes, but young readers won't mind.) But they share an aversion to the time-consuming grind of after-school work. Their use of the machine doesn't lead to learning-as a surprise spring quiz demonstrates-but it does lead to new friendships and new interests. The events of their year are told chronologically in individual depositions to the police. In spite of the numerous voices, the story is easy to follow, and the change in Sam, especially, is clear, as he discovers talents beyond coolness thanks to a new interest in chess. Middle-grade readers may find one part of this story upsettingly realistic and the clearly stated moral not what they had hoped to hear, but the generally humorous approach will make the lesson go down easily. (Fiction. 8-11)

Popular Authors - Peg Kehret ~ Escaping the Giant Wave

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Escaping-the-Giant-Wave/Peg-Kehret/e/9780689852725/?itm=2, accessed May 9, 2009.

Bibliography

Kehret, Peg. 2003. ESCAPING THE GIANT WAVE. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN 9781415555484

Summary

In the book ESCAPING THE GIANT WAVE by Peg Kehret, we meet Kyle, a thirteen year old boy from Kansas. When his dad is named the Salesman of the Year for his real estate company, the family wins an all expense paid trip to the Oregon coast. This is great news to Kyle and his sister BeeBee who have never before flown on an airplane. But when they get to the airport and Kyle discovers that Daren Hazelton, the boy who has bullied him since kindergarten, is going on the same trip, things start to go wrong. Arriving at the "luxury resort" they find that it is not yet finished and are forced to stay across the street at the old hotel. The elevator breaks down often, and there are not many people staying there. One night while walking on the beach, Kyle and his father see a sign warning of the possibility of tsuami's in the area. They stop to read the sign which includes steps to take if one ever hit.

The next night while his parents are out on a yacht celebrating his fathers award, an earthquake hits, setting the hotel on fire. Remembering what he read on the sign the day before, Kyle knows he must get his sister to safety, while trying to convince Daren that a tsunami may be coming. What follows is Kyle saving his sister form harm and finally seeing Daren for the lying coward that he is. This book would be good read aloud to fourth or fifth grade students to help them see the potential harm in bullying.

Reviews

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: Caroline Haugen - Kyle, his sister BeeBee and their parents are heading on a family vacation to the Oregon coast. BeeBee and Kyle have never been out of Kansas. Since their father is Salesman of the Year, the entire family gets to go to the awards conference in Oregon. However, the vacation is not what Kyle had expected. Daren, the school bully, turns out to be there as well. In addition, there is a terrible disaster while his parents are out on a cruise and Kyle has to learn to take care of himself and BeeBee. While the story has the potential to be highly interesting and suspenseful, it lacks the realistic detail for readers to become involved in the plot and invest themselves in the characters. The best part of the book is the sub-plot of eight-year-old BeeBee's obsession with the financial market. The book would be much stronger with more details and explanations.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Kyle's excitement at vacationing with his family on the Oregon coast turns to dismay when Daren, the school bully and Kyle's nemesis, turns up in the same hotel. When Kyle is left to baby-sit his little sister Bebe while his parents embark on a dinner cruise, an earthquake and then a tsunami strike, starting a fire in the hotel. Kyle and Bebe must outrun the tsunami and save themselves and Daren from this force of nature. Through this experience, Kyle is finally able to stand up to his tormenter. Peg Kehret's novel (S & S, 2003) is blandly narrated by Terry Bregy who deflates much of the tension and drama of the story. Nevertheless, middle school boys might enjoy the survivor aspects of the tale.-Lisa Hubler, Memorial Junior High School, South Euclid, OH

Graphic novels for Young Readers ~ Babymouse: Beach Babe

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Beach-Babe/Jennifer-L-Holm/e/9780375932311/?itm=2, accessed May 8, 2009.

Bibliography

Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 2006. BABYMOUSE: BEACH BABE. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 9780375932311

Summary

Babymouse, ready for an adventure, is out of school and off to the beach. Ready for sun, sand and surfing one thing she isn't expecting are sharks! The third in the Babymouse series, this graphic novel geared towards younger elementary school aged children is sure to be a hit. Girls in particular will identify with the main character, Babymouse, and will see themselves in the real situations presented in the book. Done in black, white and pink pen-and-ink, the cartoon-like illustrations perfectly match the text, which will have the reader laughing out loud. Her little brother who wants to accompany her on many beach excursions, gets his feelings hurt because she doesn't want him around. But when she nearly loses him, she realizes that even the beach is better when shared with someone you love.

Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS: The little mouse with the big personality skips through a third set of mini trials and triumphs, presented in two-color graphic novel-style panels. Having daydreamed her way through the last day of school ("Good-bye, dumb fractions!") and even cleaned out her locker, Babymouse bounds eagerly into the car for a getaway to the beach. But what with crowds, surfboard wipeouts, sunburn, the odd shark and trying to keep adoring little sibling Squeak at arm's length (which isn't quite far enough to avoid the fallout, so to speak, of occasional bouts of motion sickness), the vacation starts to look like a big fizzle: "Typical!" to quote Babymouse's watchword. Pairing short bits of text in a "hand-lettered" font to small but clear scenes drawn with dark lines and pink highlights, the authors tell a quick, funny tale that ends on a warm note, with Babymouse discovering that wipeouts are more fun when shared with her biggest little fan. Emergent readers will cheer "Babymouse!" right along with Squeak. (Graphic novel. 6-8)

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: In this installment of the Babymouse adventures, the young mouse is headed for the beach. School is out and she's ready to become a "beach babe" by learning how to surf on a family vacation. Meanwhile, her little brother struggles to win Babymouse's affections. Told with humor, energy-filled illustrations, and a fun weaving of animal fantasy and psychological realism, this cute, quick read packs a lot into its graphic novel format. We have Babymouse and her misadventures on the beach fleshed out by her active inner life filled with daring adventures and humorous recollections. This fun-filled story is coupled with the challenges of an average sibling relationship. Her younger brother gets carsick on the trip to the beach, and later eats too much on a trip to the carnival to add some gross, true-to-life humor. He's also insistent on playing with his sister, who doesn't have the time for him until she nearly loses him and realizes he could make her beach adventures even better. With heart, humor, and a good dose of vomit, this book has it all. It's great fun and a quick read; kids will no doubt enjoy every frame.

Series Books ~ Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Henry-and-Mudge-and-the-Tall-Tree-House/Cynthia-Rylant/e/9780689811739/?itm=2, accessed May 8, 2009.

Bibliography

Rylant, Cynthia. 2002. HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE TALL TREE HOUSE. Ill by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780689811739

Summary

When big, burly uncle Jake comes to visit Henry is excited. When he finds out why he has come to visit he is excited and a little worried. Mudge can do a lot of things but climbing trees isn't one of them! When the tree house is finished, Henry climbs up for his first look around and realizes how much he misses Mudge. Not wanting to hurt his Uncle's feelings he stays in the treehouse for fourteen minutes and then comes down to give Mudge a hug and a kiss. After going in and out of the house several times Henry's dad finally stops him and asks him what's the matter. When Henry tells his dad, a solution is found and readers find out just how important a dog can be to a little boy.

Reviews

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: K-Gr 2-When Uncle Jake builds Henry a beautiful tree house, there is a big problem-Mudge cannot climb trees. Unwilling to hurt his uncle's feelings, the boy tries staying in the structure for short periods, then getting down to be with his dog. When the grown-ups notice what is going on, they come up with the perfect solution-the tree house is rebuilt in Henry's bedroom so boy and dog can enjoy it together. The family dynamics are sensitive, warm, and funny. Pen-and-ink and watercolor art illustrates the action, and the final spread on which the tree house is next to Henry's bed is just unexpected enough to elicit giggles. A welcome addition to a deservedly popular series.-Lisa Smith, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: Henry's Uncle Jake loves to visit and he also enjoys Henry's dog, Mudge. One day Uncle Jack has a big surprise for Henry—he builds him a tree house. It really is neat, but Henry finds it pretty lonesome up there, because Mudge can't make the climb. After a few repeated trips to visit inside with Mudge, his family figures out that something is wrong. The solution is intriguing and will only work for kids if their bedroom is big enough, which apparently Henry's is. The other more obvious solution would be to build the "tree house" on the ground. It is a simple story for Henry and Mudge fans and kudos to Carolyn Bracken for maintaining the style of the original characters. Part of the "Ready-to-Read" series, this is a level 2 for kids reading independently. 2002, Simon and Schuster.

Big Winners: Chapter Books ~ Rules

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Rules/Cynthia-Lord/e/9780439443821, accessed May 8, 2009.

Bibliography

Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439443822

Summary

Cynthia Lord has created a poignant story about the realities of living with autism. Catherine, the narrator of the story, will draw in readers as she struggles to find order and balance in her life. A promising artist, she fills her sketchbook with rules she has set up for David, “so if my someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother wish doesn’t ever come true, at least he’ll know how the world works,” even though in her heart, she knows that this will never happen.

Catherine’s parents lives revolve around David, often making her feel left out and of less importance to them. His needs overshadow her own in the family unit, and the reader will ache for her as she moves into adolescence and all of the trials and tribulations that come with this awkward time in life. When she befriends Jason, a boy her age with severe communication issues and in a wheelchair, Catherine has to face the fact that normal is difficult, and maybe unnecessary, to define.

Lord’s honest writing genuinely grasps the impact that a special needs child has on a family. This emotional story will show middle-grade readers what it means to be different, to feel different, and to find acceptance among our friends and family. It would make a great read-aloud with many opportunities for discussion along the way.

Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS: When 12-year-old Catherine is embarrassed by her autistic younger brother's behavior, her mother reassures her that "real friends understand." But Catherine is not convinced, and she is desperate to make a friend of the new girl next door. She doesn't like it when others laugh at David or ignore him; she writes down the rules so he will know what to do. Catherine is also uncomfortable about her growing friendship with 14-year-old Jason, a paraplegic. Jason uses a book of word cards to communicate, and Catherine enjoys making him new cards with more expressive words. Still, when he suggests that they go to a community-center dance, she refuses at first. Only when Jason sees through her excuse does she realize that her embarrassment is for herself. Catherine is an appealing and believable character, acutely self-conscious and torn between her love for her brother and her resentment of his special needs. Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences. (Fiction. 9-12)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him ("It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store"). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Nonfiction ~ What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/What-Do-You%20Do-with-a-Tail-Like-This/Steve-Jenkins/e/9780618256280/?itm=2, accessed May 7, 2009.

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2003. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618256288

Summary

This informational picture book is made up of 5 different animal body parts (noses, ears, tails, eyes, and mouths) and how various animals use each one. The animals are presented on 2 different double page spreads, with the first being just a picture of their nose, tail, eyes, ears or mouths. The first page gives us directions on how the book should be shared, “See if you can guess which animal each part belongs to and how it is used.” This is a great way to introduce young children to how animals use their body parts differently from one another.

For the most part the animals we encounter in this book are familiar, but Jenkins has also chosen to include some such as the platypus, mole, and bush baby that are more obscure in nature. This keeps the students engaged until the very end. Also included at the end of the book are several pages that list more information about each animal introduced in the story. This is great for those students who will want to continue to study about some of these fascinating animals.

In this book we see Jenkins signature use of cut paper collage that depicts each animal in realistic form. The fur, skin and feathers are done close-up on alternating pages making them virtually lifelike in nature. The attention to detail from the mosquito feelers to the toenails on the chimpanzee make it easy for us to understand why this book was chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book.

Reviews

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: Steve Jenkins contributes another artistically wrought, imaginatively conceived look at the natural world. What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Jenkins and wife Robin Page, stages a guessing game. Illustrated with Jenkins's trademark cut-paper art, one spread will show animals' tails (or noses, ears, etc.) as text asks variations of the titular question; turn the page, and the whole bodies of the animals are shown as answers are supplied ("If you're a lizard, you break off your tail to get away"; "If you're a scorpion, your tail can give a nasty sting"). Four pages of illustrated endnotes deliver meaty profiles of the 30 featured creatures.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: K-Gr 4-Colorful cut-paper collages provide glimpses of the noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths, and feet of different creatures, showing that each one uses these body parts in a unique and fascinating manner. Combining a guessing game with factual tidbits, the text offers an attention-grabbing introduction to animal physiology.

KIRKUS REVIEWS: Not only does Jenkins (Life on Earth, 2002, etc.) again display a genius for creating paper-collage wildlife portraits with astonishingly realistic skin, fur, and feathers, but here on alternate spreads he zooms in for equally lifelike close-ups of ears, eyes, noses, mouths, feet, and tails. Five examples of each organ thrusting in from beyond the pages' edges for each "What do you do" question precede spreads in which the point of view pulls back to show the whole animal, with a short accompanying caption. Visual surprises abound: a field cricket's ears are actually on its legs; a horned lizard can (and does, here) squirt blood from its eyes as a defense mechanism; in an ingenious use of page design, a five-lined skink's breakable tail enters and leaves the center gutter at different points. Capped by a systematic appendix furnishing more, and often arresting, details-"A humpback whale can be 50 feet long and weigh a ton per foot"-this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9)

Dogs are Popular! ~ Down Girl and Sit: On the Road

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/On-the-Road/Lucy-A-Nolan/e/9780761452348/?itm=2, accessed May 6, 2009.


Bibliography


Nolan, Lucy. 2005. DOWN GIRL AND SIT: ON THE ROAD. Ill. by Mike Reed. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. ISBN 0761452346


Summary
DOWN GIRL AND SIT: ON THE ROAD is narrated by a dog who believes her name is "Down Girl." She and her best friend "Sit," who lives next door, have many adventures together which are all told from the perspective of the dogs. Down girl spend her days chasing squirrels, talking to Sit over the fence, and protecting her master. This easy chapter book is fun for students of all ages. For first and second graders it is a great chapter book that is on their level. Third and fourth graders will love hearing it read out loud and may understand more of the humor than younger readers. My favorite chapter is entitled "The Lady in the White Coat" and is about a visit to the vet. I loved it when Rruff (Down Girl's master) was trying to get Down Girl to come out from under the bed so he drops a doughnut near it. "Ruff dropped a doughnut near the bed. He wanted me to think it was an accident. Did he really think I was going to fall for that? Did he really think I would come out for a doughnut? I came out for the doughnut." This book is a fun and easy read that will have readers laughing out lound and begging for more.

Note: DOWN GIRL AND SIT: ON THE ROAD was the Texas Bluebonnet Award winner in 2007-2008.

Reviews

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Gr 1-3-Narrated from a dog's point of view, this easy chapter book covers the hilarious antics of two canine friends who puzzle through and explain life with their masters. Even though this title is a follow-up to Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels (Marshall Cavendish, 2004), it stands alone. In one of the four episodes, the pups enjoy a car ride as their ticket to see the world. In another, while camping with her human, Down Girl turns into "Wild Dog" and stalks squirrels, surmising that they may be the creatures she had chased away from her home in the city. Then, she runs when a rabbit ("What kind of squirrel was this?") twitches its nose. A small black-and-white illustration appears on almost every page, supporting the text's humor. Anyone who has owned a dog can relate to these tales. Children will be delightfully challenged by the perspective and ask for more."-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Down Girl and Sit are best friends. They are also dogs, dogs who enjoy the finer things of canine life, including chasing squirrels, bothering their masters and eating crumbs. The charming first-canine point of view really works here-partly because Nolan keeps her dog's voice steady and humorous, and partly because she really seems to think like a dog. The first of the four linked stories involves a drive to the beach and an exciting episode where the car's brake fails and the two dogs "drive" down the beach. Because Down Girl sees the world through canine glasses, the reader is treated to some amusing takes on dog behavior. For instance, when Down Girl and Sit find a bag of two doughnuts, they have to decide who gets them. "Hmm. There were two dogs, two masters, and two doughnuts. That sounded about right. Thank goodness dogs don't know math. That makes all our decisions easy. We ate the doughnuts." Kids will want to curl up with their best friend and laugh at the adventures of Down Girl and Sit." (Fiction. 6-9)

Picture Books in Verse and Poetry ~ Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Take-Me-Out-of-the-Bathtub-and-Other-Silly-Dilly-Songs/Alan-Katz/e/9780689829031/?itm=1, accessed May 6, 2009.

Bibliography

Katz, Alan. 2001. TAKE ME OUT OF THE BATHTUB. Ill. by David Catrow. New York: Simon & Schuster Publishing. ISBN 0689829035

Summary

In this book of "silly dilly songs for silly dilly kids" Alan Katz takes us through some of the funny situations children encounter on a day-to-day basis. The fourteen poems are all written to familiar children's tunes, making them easy for children of all ages to recognize. The children will hoot with laughter as you sing "Stinky, Stinky Diaper Change," to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and will love "I'm Filthy, I'm Dirty," sung to the tune of "It's Raining, It's Pouring." David Catrow's humorous illustrations set the tone for the book even before it has been opened. The cover, which shows a little boy flying out of the bathtub naked with in-line skates on his feet, will have the children laughing out loud before the first page has been read. Done in watercolor, each picture is a perfect depiction of the text on the page. This book is sure to be a hit with children of all ages.

Reviews

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Songwriter and television comedy writer Katz provides ludicrous lyrics to 14 traditional tunes, offering playful parodies on some familiar routines. To the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," a boy wearing roller skates claims he has been soaking so long in the tub that he "used one, two, three bars of soap/ Take me out... I'm clean!" Other amusing entries include "I've Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom" (sung to "I've Been Working on the Railroad"), in which a girl tidies her room by shoving all of her belongings "out the door," which Catrow (She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!) interprets quite literally (he shows her bureau, goldfish, etc., piling up in the back yard), and "Give Me a Break" (sung to the tune of "Home on the Range"), introducing a child whose library book is long overdue. A few songs do not scan so well (e.g., this verse set to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean": "My brother flicks peas with his fork and/ They zip down my shirt with a splat/ Next I see a big piece of pork land/ On my head like it's a new hat!"). But the subjects (a sibling with a stinky diaper, a youngster who refuses to go to bed, a cranky poodle think "Yankee Doodle") teamed with Catrow's outlandish illustrations, as hyperbolic as the words, will have kids giggling as they sing." Ages 2-6. (May)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Gr 3-5-This hilarious collection goes straight to the heart of playground humor. What made "On Top of Spaghetti" such an integral part of popular culture is what makes these selections so equally successful. Well-known songs like "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," and "I've Been Working on the Railroad" become-with a wink, a poke, and nod-"Take Me Out of the Bathtub," "The Yogurt Flies Straight from My Brother," and "I've Been Cleaning Up My Bedroom." Some of these transformations are so clever that kids will want to burst into song immediately. Imagine your next patron singing, "Oh give me a break/`Cause I made a mistake/And my library book's overdue" to the tune of "Home on the Range." The watercolor illustrations are equally entertaining, with exaggerated features and situations giving them a cartoon look. "Go Go Go to Bed" depicts an exhausted mom slumped in a chair with toys and a child literally bouncing off the ceiling above her. There's something here to tickle most funny bones."-Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY

Historical Fiction Picture Books ~ The Greatest Race: A WWII Story from the Netherlands

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Greatest-Skating-Race/Louise-Borden/e/9780689845024/?itm=1, accessed May 6, 2009.

Bibliography

Borden, Louise. 2004. THE GREATEST SKATING RACE: A WORLD WAR II STORY FROM THE NETHERLANDS. Ill. by Niki Daly. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Summary

This story takes place in December 1941, in the Netherlands during WWII. Piet, who's father and grandfather are skate makers by trade, wants more than anything else to be able to skate someday in the famous skating race, the Elfstedentocht or Eleven Towns Race. The race was held only in winters that were very cold because the canals and waterways that connect the towns had to be frozen.

December of 1941 was the second winter that the War had been in Holland. The country had been held by German soldiers for more than a year and Piet's father is in England serving with the Allied armies. That Christmas there are few presents for anyone, but Piet does get a small red leather notebook that he uses to write down all of the towns that are in the famous Elfstedentocht and how many kilometers are between each one. One night in January, one of their neighbors is taken away by the Greman soldiers because he owns a radio and has sent messages to England. The neighbor's wife fears for the safety of her children so she decides to send them to Brugge to live with their Belgian aunt. The problem is how to get them there without any German soldiers noticing. It is decided that Piet will skate them across the border on the canal that connected Slius with Brugge. Piet's grandfather tells him he must be as brave as his father and get the two children there before the sun sets. Piet worries that the little boy, who is only seven, will grow too tired to make it all the way there or that they will be stopped by German soldiers along the way.

The children do make it to their destination despite being stopped by German soldiers at the border. The book, although quite long, is a great history lesson in itself. I do think it is for older children, fourth grade and up. It gets a little sluggish in places but is interesting for the most part. The pictures, done by Niki Daly, are wonderfully coupled with the text. The children's flushed cheeks and the clothing they wear give an authenticity to the story as a whole.

Note: The Greatest Race was a 2007-2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee.

Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "One winter day in 1941, in a German-occupied Dutch town called Sluis, ten-year-old Piet Janssen's ice-skating skills are put to a dangerous test. It's WWII, and Piet's schoolmate Johanna Winkelman's father has been arrested for espionage. Since his friend and her brother are no longer safe at home, Piet must help them escape to their aunt's house in Brugge, skating over icy canals and outsmarting German soldiers until the three cross the Belgian border. The story of this perilous, bitterly cold flight-a race against time-is told in Piet's earnest first-person voice and formatted like poetry, with frequent, often inexplicable line breaks. Themes of bravery, strength, and tradition echo throughout-like the "Swisssshh, swissshhh" of the children's skates. Daly's lovely illustrations, complete with rosy-cheeked innocents and autumnal tones, effectively evoke a sense of time and place in this slow-moving (but nonetheless moving) tale of a child's wartime heroism. (information about the Elfstedentocht, author's note on the history of skating, map) (Picture book. 8-11)

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "A fictionalized story set in World War II is well served in Louise Borden's first-person narrative combined with Niki Daly's subdued and wintry palette of the Dutch landscape. A young skater named Piet has always admired the first man to skate the route now immortalized in the "Eleven Towns Race" that takes place in the Netherlands. He suddenly has a chance to use his skating skills to accompany two children whose father has been taken by the Germans. Their mother is sending them to relatives for safety and has asked him to skate the canals with them from Sluis (rhymes with voice) across the Belgian border to relatives. The dramatic story shows Piet's courage, his ability to avoid detection, and the ways the children keep up their spirits on the long skate (the record for the 200 kilometer race is slightly under thirteen hours). Although there is no suggestion that Piet's accomplishment is based on a real event, it reads like one complete with an "After the War" section and readers would have been well-served by a note saying exactly what is real and what is made up. There are, however, informative short historical notes, both on the race itself, and on skates and skate making, which end the story."

Picture Books for Older Readers ~ A Fine, Fine School

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fine-Fine-School/Sharon-Creech/e/9780060007287/?itm=2, accessed May 6, 2009.

Bibliography

Creech, Sharon. 2001. A FINE, FINE SCHOOL. Ill. by Harry Bliss. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 006027736X

Summary

Tillie loves school. But she also loves Saturdays and Sundays when she can climb her favorite tree, take her dog on walks and teach him how to catch sticks, and show her brother how to skip and swing on the swing. Then her Principal, Mr. Keene, decides that the students should go to school on Saturdays and Sundays, and then holidays and even in the summer. The kids all love Mr. Keene so much that they hate to disappoint him, so they go along with him. But when he asks Tillie about how much she is learning she tells him that although she is learning some amazing things, not everyone is learning. Mr. Keene becomes worried, and asks her to identify exactly who isn't learning and he will see to it that they do. Tillie replies, "My dog beans, hasn't learned how to sit, and he hasn't learned how to jump over the creek. And my little brother hasn't learned to swing or skip. And I haven't learned how to climb very high in my tree or how to sit in it for a whole hour." After Tillie's explanation, Mr. Keene wanders through the halls looking at the children and the teachers and seeing how miserable they all look, he finally realizes that more isn't always better.

Reviews

BOOK MAGAZINE: "Teachers and students will cheer at this funny story about a real problem in modern education. Tillie likes school, but she also likes her weekends playing with her younger brother and dog. However, her enthusiastic principal believes that, since school is so beneficial, more school days would be even better for kids. The principal decides to add Saturdays to the schedule, then Sundays and so on, until Tillie opens his eyes to the value of playing and learning things outside of school. The illustrations are the perfect complement to this gentle satire about education run amok."

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "School can be peachy, but that doesn't mean time away from school isn't just as valuable, which is the lesson Principal Keene has to learn in this charming story of a school administrator utterly rapt in his job. Mr. Keene just can't get enough of his fine school with all that fine learning being taught by the fine teachers to the fine students. So he decides to have school on Saturday, then Sunday, then on holidays, then the whole year through: "He was so proud of the students and the teachers, of all the learning they were doing every day." Literally. But the students and teachers aren't so sanguine about the situation, though no one wanted to prick Mr. Keene's balloon. Until Tillie finally tells him that some others are not learning because of all the school, like her dog, who hasn't learned how to sit, or her little brother, who hasn't learned how to swing or skip, because she's never home to teach them. Indeed, she hasn't learned to climb a tree for all the classroom time she's been putting in. Mr. Keene sees the light, beveling his enthusiasm and putting his good intentions into perspective."

LIBRARY JOURNAL: "PreS-Gr 3-This charming tale by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins, 2003) tells of an exuberant principal who is so pleased with his student's achievements that he extends the school day to include weekends, holidays, and the summer. A young student, Tillie, convinces him that there are important things that kids can learn outside the classroom as well. Perhaps it is not so fine to be at school all of the time. "

Folk Tales and Fairy Tales Revisited ~ Rabbit's Gift

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Rabbits-Gift/George-Shannon/e/9780152060732/?itm=1, accessed May 5, 2009.

Bibliography

Shannon, George. 2007. RABBIT'S GIFT. Ill. by Laura Dronzek. New York: Harcourt books. ISBN 9780152060732

Summary

In this charming tale of friendship, winter is approaching and Rabbit needs to find food quickly. But when he finds not one but two turnips he decides to keep one and share the other. He leaves the turnip on Donkey's doorstep thinking of him alone on the hilltop. When Donkey returns from finding a potato to eat, he in turn leaves the turnip on Goat's doorstep because "My potato is plenty for me. Goat's always hungry. I'll take this to him." When goat returns with a cabbage he'd found, he thinks that Deer may have lost the turnip and decides to leave it at her house. Deer in turn decides that with all the snow that had fallen, rabbit "couldn't have found much food," and takes it to Rabbit where he is sound asleep in his rabbit hole. The next morning Rabbit wakes up to find that the turnip has made it's way back to him due to the generosity of all the friends. "Who in the woods could have brought me this?" Rabbit wonders. Distraught because he doesn't know who to thank, he decides the best way to accomplish this is to share it with all of his forest friends. Because he says, "A turnip always makes for a cozy meal."

Reviews

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Winter has arrived, but Rabbit has gotten lucky: he's found an extra turnip in the snowy field. Then it dawns on Rabbit that his friend Donkey may not be as fortunate, so he deposits the second turnip on her doorstep. Donkey, in turn, leaves the turnip for Goat, who delivers it to the home of Deer, who generously but unwittingly returns the vegetable to its original owner. Once again Rabbit knows the right thing to do: he brings all the animals together for a small winter feast. The artist's naif acrylic paintings, rendered in rich, saturated colors, are particularly effective in conveying both the winter chill and the effort involved in paying it forward; Rabbit and Goat push the prized turnip through the snow with their snouts or heads, while the other animals must navigate deep drifts to make their delivery. Shannon and Dronzek (previously paired for White Is for Blueberry) prove once again that they are likeminded talents, able to tackle a potentially treacly subject with understated earnestness and lyricism. " Ages 3-7.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This story of sharing and caring for one's neighbors begins as Rabbit goes out to collect food to sustain himself through the coming winter storm. He has some good fortune and decides to give an extra turnip to his friend Donkey. Donkey is away but when she returns home, she finds the turnip and, knowing she has enough to eat, she, too, passes it on. With each consecutive house, the gift is deemed more than enough and eventually makes its way back to Rabbit. He exclaims, "I don't know who to thank . . . .But I know just who to share it with!" This folktale, with versions found in many cultures, is well told and richly illustrated. The appealing acrylic art supports the simple text and enhance the story. This title also includes an author's note and Chinese calligraphy glossary. A terrific seasonal storyhour selection."

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Shannon takes an ancient folktale and shapes it into quite a nice little winter story. Though it's cold and snowy, Rabbit finds not one but two turnips. One is enough for him, so he rolls the other over to Donkey's house and leaves it outside the door for her. Donkey comes home with a potato, and concerned that Goat is always hungry, leaves the turnip for him. Goat has a cabbage, so brings the turnip to Deer; and she, satisfied with her carrot, leaves the turnip outside Rabbit's door. The next day, Rabbit shares the turnip all around. Dronzek makes a lovely border of turnips, with the Chinese ideograms for the names of the animals, as a leitmotif; her shapes are soft, rounded and sculptural and the snow is deep and soft. The animals have expressive faces and move the gift of the turnip around by pushing, butting and rolling. In a graceful author's note, Shannon traces what he can of the misty origins and multiple versions of this story. A low-key but lovely winter tale. "

Picture Books for the Younger Set ~ Too Many Frogs!

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=too+many+frogs&box=too%20many%20frogs&pos=-1, accessed May 4, 2009.

Bibliography

Asher, Sandy. 2005. TOO MANY FROGS! Ill. by Keith Graves. New York, NY: Philomel Books.
ISBN 0399239782

Summary

In this wonderful story about the joys of sharing a book with someone, we meet Rabbit and Froggie. Rabbit lives alone in the hollow of an old tree. He cooks for himself, tidies up after himself, and at the end of each and every day, he reads himself a story. One rainy evening, Rabbit hears a knock-knockety-knocking at his door and finds a rain-soaked Froggy standing outside. After inviting himself in, Froggie stays to hear Rabbit's nightly story. He comes back each night to hear the story, never being invited. On the fourth night Froggie shows up for story time this time with his whole family in tow. This proves to be the last straw for Rabbit who finally tells Froggie that he does mind if they all come in. But as he sits reading alone, Rabbit realizes how nice it is to have a friend to share a story with. In this case, a whole bunch of frogs....but not too many frogs!!

Note: TOO MANY FROGS was a 2006 Texas 2x2 selection.

Reviews

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "This rollicking nod to the pleasures of sharing a good book, features a psychedelic-blue rabbit who savors the isolated bliss of his own living room to read an evening story. Enter boisterous Froggie who disrupts Rabbit's peaceful existence, but loves listening to Rabbit's nightly stories. Rabbit's increasing frustration with his unwelcome guest is delightfully mirrored in his facial expressions and his ear movements, as oblivious Froggie eventually arrives with a horde of amphibian relatives to join the fun. Finally, Rabbit has had enough and throws them all out, only to discover he rather misses their companionship after all. Young children will enjoy the bouncy language, and the repetition as Froggie's visits escalate. Ample white space makes the simple text easy to see, and the different perspectives in the illustrations keep things lively. Humorous details include silly book titles on Rabbit's shelf. Parallel themes of people needing people—or in this case rabbits needing frogs—and the camaraderie of sharing a good story are well presented. "

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Rabbit has a well-scripted, predictable life until Froggie knocks on his door one night. His guest loves to listen to this big blue rabbit with oversized ears read a story and likes it even more when he has prepared himself a snack or gotten cozy-night after night. Polite Rabbit refrains from refusing entry until Froggie shows up with his entire family. As he settles himself down to read alone, however, he realizes that he misses Froggie and invites the whole crew in. The humorous illustrations create empathy for Rabbit but also for Froggie, who is genuinely delighted to listen to a story. The varied facial expressions lend credence to the adage "A picture is worth a thousand words." The simple text may say "but before he could begin, there was that knock-knockety-knocking again!" but the horror on Rabbit's face is priceless. A fun story that celebrates reading and standing up for oneself."

KIRKUS REVIEW: "Asher and Graves pay respects to the pleasures of reading aloud in this tale of a solitary rabbit saddled with an unwanted visitor. One stormy night, just as Rabbit's about to sit down in his easy chair with a book, Frog knocks at the door, begging shelter. After listening raptly while Rabbit reads, Frog departs with thanks-but returns for more the next night, and for several nights after that, making himself more and more at home, too. A peace-loving sort, Rabbit puts up with the intrusion-until Frog shows up with a score of relatives. Using his customary palette of intense, opaque colors, Graves casts the episode with pop-eyed, Ren-and-Stimpy-like figures, comically contrasting rotund, cheery frogs with a bright blue rabbit who sports skinny, immensely long ears and a fussy look. Furiously slamming the door on Frog and his kin, Rabbit then discovers that reading to himself just isn't the same, and so relents. Readers and listeners alike will applaud his decision. "

Too Many Frogs!

Classic Picture Book Authors and Illustrators ~ Bunny's Noisy Book

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bunnys-Noisy-Book/Margaret-Wise-Brown/e/9780786807444/?itm=11, accessed May 4, 2009.

Bibliography

Brown, Margaret Wise. 2000. BUNNY'S NOISY BOOK. Ill. by Lisa McCue. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078680744X

Summary

This charming classic tale introduces us to all the sounds a little bunny hears over the course of a day. It begins in the morning as he opens his eyes and hears the bzzzzz of a bumblebee and ends with his mother's familiar thump of her foot telling him it's time to return home to their hole, where he knows he is safe from the old red fox. The illustrations, by Lisa McCue, compliment the text perfectly adding to the appeal of this timeless tale. This is the perfect bedtime story to share with small children and will remind them of the safeness and security of home.

Reviews

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Over the course of a day, Little Bunny puts his long ears to good use and discovers a world full of sounds--birds chirping, bees buzzing--some of them (a sneeze, a stretch) of his own making. Brown's (Goodnight Moon) posthumous text reads more like a draft than a finished product, but there is still plenty here to draw in a young audience: the comforting brevity and gentle rhythm of the prose ("He raised his ears without opening his eyes. He heard all the little quiet noises starting the morning around him"); rhetorical questions after each sound is introduced ("What was that? Yes. It was a bumblebee. Two bumblebees"); and a close-of-day wrap-up that radiates a snugly warmth."

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Young children will be delighted to discuss and identify each sound in this previously unpublished manuscript by the legendary Margaret Wise Brown. While picture books are often described as a marriage between text and art, few books demonstrate the principle as beautifully as this one. Lisa McCue's illustrations are simply perfection. One can almost feel the soft brown fur of the little bunny's back. Bee wings whirr, and blades of individual grass wave in the meadow. The bunny's expressions when he listens to sounds, and when he yawns are irresistible. Brown's gentle text, as soothing as the classic Goodnight Moon, has been masterfully arranged in pages that invite young children to participate. For example, when the little bunny hears a Cock Cock Cock-a-doodle Doo, the page ends with a question children will be delighted to answer, "What was that?" This is a book children will ask for again and again. In the classroom and at bedtime, this book will be treasured."

The Big Winners ~ Picture Books - Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dont-Let-the-Pigeon-Drive-the-Bus/Mo-Willems/e/9780786819881/?itm=1, accessed May 4, 2009.

Bibliography

Willems, Mo. 2003. DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078681988X

Summary

In this funny story, a bus driver gets off the bus to take his break, and a pigeon steps up to take his place. As he begs to drive the bus, the children get a sense that he is talking to them and will love being able to answer back as he begs and pleads his was through the book. Mo Willems once again does a superb job using his cartoon-like illustrations, to capture what every young child resembles as he throws a temper tantrum. My favorite part of the books comes on the last pages, where feeling dejected, he sees a huge red tractor-trailer go by and begins to dream about driving it. This reminds us of how easily little ones forget about so many things!

Note: This book recieved the Caldecott Honor Award in 2004.

Reviews

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "The plucky star peeks in from the left side of a page, and exhibits an array of pleading strategies against window-pane panels in mauve, salmon and willow ("I'll be your best friend," he says wide-eyed in one, and whispers behind a wing, "How 'bout I give you five bucks?"). Finally he erupts in a full-spread tantrum on an orange background, the text outlined in electric yellow ("Let me drive the bus!!!"). When the driver returns and takes off, the bird slumps dejectedly until a big red truck inspires a new round of motoring fantasies. Readers will likely find satisfaction in this whimsical show of emotions and, perhaps, a bit of self-recognition." Ages 2-6.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Like David Shannon's No, David (Scholastic, 1998), Pigeon is an unflinching and hilarious look at a child's potential for mischief. In a plain palette, with childishly elemental line drawings, Willems has captured the essence of unreasonableness in the very young. The genius of this book is that the very young will actually recognize themselves in it."

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "This cinematic adventure, with its simple retro-cartoonish drawings, begins on the opening endpapers when a pale blue pigeon dreams of driving a bus. On the title page, the profile of the strong-jawed bus driver notes in a word bubble that he has to leave for a little while and requests that the reader watch things for him. "Oh and remember: "Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus." The text is a handwritten, typewriter-like hand in white word bubbles set on a background of neutral tones of lavender, salmon, celadon, and beige. With the bus in the reader’s care, the bus driver nonchalantly strolls away. Turn the page and readers see a close-up of the pigeon, who spends the next 13 well-paced pages begging, pleading, lying, and bribing his way into their hearts. The words "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!" triple in size and leap from the page as the pigeon loses control, flopping across the bottom of the pages. Readers of all ages will nod with recognition of his helplessness and frustration."