September 2006 Archives

Seattle PI has a nice piece: A Moment With ... Jack Prelutsky, America's first children's poet laureate. It is a short interview with Prelutsky, but it does remind all of us that poetry and kids do mix!

A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve has just won the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction!  Check out the announcement for more information on the book and the series it is part of.

Got an email from JacketFlap, a children's literature portal, this morning telling me that my blog had been added to their service.  How nice! And when I visited their site, I found much more than I expected.  They have an incredible list of children's publishers, an active forum, a children's publishing blog reader that follows 161 blogs, an enormous blogroll that has my fingers itching to explore by clicking around, and a free customizable personal page for visitors to select the blogs they wish to follow.  It is all professionally done, with a crisp clean feel that invites you to explore.

You will notice a link to them on the right side of my blog as well, so that you can easily start reading this blog via their interface. 

Snow Sounds: an Onomatopoeic Story by David Johnson.

Through onomatopeoic words and evocative watercolors, Johnson perfectly captures the morning of a deep snowfall.  The book opens with the extreme hush of falling snow, and readers glimpse a house covered in white with more snow in the air.  Then as a child wakes up, the sound of the snowplow approaches.  As the morning routine progresses inside, the outside world is revealed as roads and driveways are cleared, reconnecting the house and family.  Finally the school bus pulls up with a honk, taking the kids off. 

This is such a lovely book, especially effective because it uses only the sounds of the morning to really provide a mood.  As someone who lives in Wisconsin and adores those hushed winter mornings that signal a snowfall, I know this is a book that will speak to many northern readers.  It is amazingly easy to read aloud, given that it is all sound words.  Children will also be able to follow the storyline easily. 

Recommended for classes doing onomatopoeia, but also for new readers and anyone who loves snow. 

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, pictures by Marla Frazee.

I am a fan of books about real little girls who are not obsessed with being princesses, but are more down and dirty people who refuse to conform.  And in Clementine, I found exactly that. 

Clementine is an eight-year-old who struggles to pay attention at school and continually finds herself in the principal's office for some infraction.  At the start of the book, Clementine finds her best friend and neighbor Margaret crying in the bathroom because she got glue in her hair and cut it out.  Clementine offers to balance the haircut but it doesn't look right, so Margaret decides she should just cut all of it off.  And Clementine does. "Which is not exactly easy with those plastic art scissors, let me tell you."  And that is just the beginning of Clementine's week. 

The writing is very funny and would be perfect to read aloud to a class of first or  second graders.  I think they would all find a piece of themselves in Clementine.  The illustrations contribute so much to the book as well.  Often things that are just mentioned in passing are captured in the pictures, make the book that much deeper.  And we all know how important scattered pictures in a chapter book are.  These illustrations will invite young readers in and the writing will keep them there. 

Clementine is a small sweet treat of a book.  And just like her namesake she lingers enjoyably on your palate as well.  I only hope that we see more of her in the future.

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld.

This was one of those books that made me dance with joy when I got it in on the library reserve shelf.  Luckily I work with people who understand book lust, so they just humor me. 

Last Days is a sequel to Peeps, the amazing vampire novel that combined vampirism with communicable diseases.  This novel takes us further into the  epidemic occuring in New York City where all sorts of people are becoming peeps and the society is beginning to crumble due to the epidemic.  The situation is seen through the eyes of five teens, who form a band together in the middle of the chaos, looking to make themselves famous before the end of the world.  Westerfeld's writing as always is fast-paced, enjoyable, and consuming.  His characters are individuals who make mistakes, find themselves caught in world-changing situations, but remain true to themselves. 

Recommend this to those kids who already love Westerfeld.  For those who don't, make sure you start them on Peeps.  Any kids who enjoy horror, apocalyptic fiction, or band fiction will love this.  Don't you just adore books that sell themselves and get teens asking for more by the same author?  And even better, Westerfeld has several series to get teens really hooked. 

NPR has a great interview with Maurice Sendak, plus a fantastic audio slideshow featuring his work: Why Maurice Sendak Puts Kid Characters in Danger. Sendak's new book is a popup, which will turn off many libraries from ordering it, but I hope that some of you brave it.

I Can Do It by Jana Novotny Hunter, illustrated by Lucy Richards.

When I picked up this book, I expected a toddler book about a small child wanting to do things by themselves: a subject that has been covered again and again in charming ways.  But this is something different.

A little guinea pig boy is off to nursery school.  His day is described in adjectives.  One spread is about being FAST, another about QUIET, another about CLEVER.  And the adjectives carry him through his day from entering preschool to being picked up at the end of the day.  This is a great book for having conversations about what words describe your day and how you can change throughout your day.  Add to that the fact that it is a reassuring, sweet book about preschool and this is a real gem.

Got an email announcing the debut of Three Cats Write (Three Hollywood Cats -- One Serial (but not serious) Novel, a new blog that will serialize The Amber Baboon written by Apollo Kerley, Asta Nethery and Jemima Wing, all feline authors.

What a great idea! Three children's book authors: Barbara Kerley, Natasha Wing, and Mary Nethery collaborate to create a blogged book featuring three cat heroes. The blog is clever and the writing lots of fun.

What a treat!  I have just read two humorous books about teen boys that I would recommend to any teen boy who is willing to pick up a book (and the teen girls too!)

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green.

This is the second book by the winner of the Printz Medal for Looking for Alaska.  I know that he won the Printz for that book, but I enjoyed his second one even more.  I always appreciate books for teens that have a great sense of humor, because it is that humor that will get kids through those years of angst and hormones. 

Colin has just been dumped by the 19th girl named Katherine he has dated.  He feels like a piece of himself has gone missing and that he has no idea how to find it.  His best friend, Hassan, forces Colin on a road trip to help take his mind off of his depression.  They find themselves in Gutshot, Tennessee visiting the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.  Why?  Because Colin is a child-prodigy who enjoys collecting facts.  But he considers himself a failed prodigy because he has yet to do anything remarkable.  The two boys discover much more than a monument in Gutshot in this funny novel filled with swearing in several languages, fascinating factoids in footnotes, and a theorem that just may predict if relationships will thrive or fail. 

Green's humor will have you laughing outloud.  Truly.  The wild pig hunting scene had me doubled over laughing as I tried to continue to read, only to start guffawing again.  To pay it the ultimate compliment, it rivaled Gary Paulsen's Harris and Me.  Thoughout the book readers will find little gems of humor that beg to be read aloud and shared.  I think this will be the type of book passed from one teen to the other just to enjoy a good laugh together. 

Even better, the book is not just funny, but also has insights into being popular, accepting your own strangeness, and realizing that to be different does not mean that you are alone.   This is a book for all real teens out there.  It will speak to them and they will see themselves somewhere in the pages looking back.  Simply great.

Yesterday, Kathleen Dunn on Wisconsin Public Radio had a great program on the importance of school librarians in our public schools and to our students.  (It is the second program listed for 9/21/2006).  The shortage of school librarians was also discussed along with what the state should consider doing about it.  Lots of very passionate calls from school librarians makes it very interesting listening.

Flotsam by David Wiesner.

Wiesner is one of those authors/illustrators that you know is going to create something amazing every time he publishes a book.  And this book lives up to that reputation. 

This wordless picture book follows a boy playing by the seashore.  When he is slammed by a wave, he discovers a camara washed up on the shore.  He rushes to a one-hour photo shop to develop the film and reload the camera.  What he sees in the photographs is amazing and inspires him to take his own picture and then return the camera once again to the sea. 

Wiesner has captured the pure exhilaration of exploring a beach.  From the sandy endpapers and the first image of a boy's eye looking at a crab, the reader is captured.  The realism in the illustrations is the perfect foil for the magical fantasy world revealed in the photographs the boy develops.  The photographs are done with the same realism, tricking the eye for a second before you discover the strangeness of what you are really seeing. 

This is not a book for a crowd.  It is a book for a small group to savor.  I can see it inspiring all sorts of art projects based on other realistic settings with fantastical elements.  I can see it inspiring writing about the worlds that are glimpsed on the pages.  And I can see the book being asked for again and again by children who want to simply create their own story for a few minutes. 

If you have never attended the SirsiDynix Institute, then you should! They offer free online workshops for librarians (and you don't have to be one of their customers!) On October 10th, the Institute will be doing a program called Engaging Youth on their Own Terms: Instant Messaging and Gaming in Libraries. It is about listening to our teen patrons and serving them in the way they want to be served. MySpace, iPods and blogs will also be discussed. I am all registered and hope to see you there!

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick.

Released in October.

It rarely happens, but every so often I start reading a book and realize on the first page that this is a book I am really going to enjoy.  This is one of those books. 

Alex is a 16-year-old who is angry at his parents for splitting up.  So he decides to shake them up a little by driving to his father's house and telling him off.  Unfortunately, Alex has also been drinking and ends up beheading a neighbors lawn gnome. 

Alex is sentenced to 100 hours of service at a senior center where he is assigned to their toughest resident, Sol Lewis, a wise-cracking, hard-as-nails man who completely confuses Alex by calling him names in Yiddish.  Slowly and realistically, Alex and Sol begin to bond through their guitar playing and humor. 

The writing in this book is zingy, sparkling and energizing.  It is pure pleasure to read the wry observations of Alex that play off of Sol's insults.  The adults, from Sol to the nurses to Alex's parents, are well-drawn and fleshed out.  The novel speaks to the power of music, forgiveness of family members, and the forging of new connections.  But it is not heavyhanded because of the infectious humor.   There is no sex in the novel and the only violence comes from a beheading of a lawn ornament and Alex's best friend Laurie's anger at a headboard.   Teens with a sense of humor, and that is most of them, will enjoy this book. 

Readers are sometimes warned to have a tissue ready, but in this case make sure you are reading where you can laugh out loud.    This one makes it on to my top five of the year.  Solidly. 

Let's Play in the Forest While the Wolf Is Not Around by Claudia Rueda. 

This winning picture book is based on a Colombian play-song and has the simple melody appended at the end of the book.  You can either read the book aloud or choose to sing it.  Either way, it is a lot of fun.  The book is about a group of animals who decide that they are going to play in the forest as long as the wolf is not there.  They call out, "Wolf are you there?" and the wolf replies that he is putting on his underwear, combing his hair, etc.  Then the next verse starts with them once again declaring that they will  play in the forest.  It goes round and round again, rhythmically building the tension as the wolf gets more and more ready....for school.

This is a natural read aloud that kids will adore.  It is even better if you learn the simple melody and sing it along with the children.  I can see this becoming a staple in preschools that is asked for again and again.  Enjoy!

Lush by Natasha Friend.

Sam is a teenage girl living in an alcoholic household.  She can't have friends over for sleep overs, has to hide her father's drinking from the neighbors, and finds herself getting angrier and angrier.  To relieve some of the pressure, she picks a nice looking older teen to send a note to about her situation.  But the note doesn't get read by the person she wants it to.  Instead she finds herself not getting sympathy, but getting tough love.  Sam keeps on writing, intrigued by the person writing her back.  As her father's drinking becomes worse, Sam finds that she can no longer help him by hiding it. 

Friend, author of Perfect, has done it again.  She has created a well-written, accessible book about a real teen girl who has to make heart-rending decisions that not only affect her but her entire family.  The book is a quick read that is sure to be popular with teen girls looking for problem novels.  But they will discover that some problem novels, like this one, are the best of the bunch.

Ella Sets the Stage by Carmela and Steven D'Amico.

If you haven't read any of the Ella books yet, you are missing a treat.  The books have an old-fashioned feel of Babar and Curious George that is warm and welcoming.  Ella is an enchanting elephant who is quite shy.  So for her, it is hard to figure out what to do at the upcoming talent show at her school.  She tries and tries to figure out what her talent actually is, but even on the night of the show, she doesn't know what she is going to do.  Luckily, her natural talent of helping others comes to the rescue. 

These picture books are slightly longer than most, but don't let that turn you away.  The text flows well and tells a direct story with touches of humor throughout.  It is the perfect length for use with Kindergarteners.  Make sure you go back and share the whole series!

ALA announced that author Meg Cabot has recorded public service announcements for Teen Read Week.  The announcements are available in mp3 format and are for libraries to use to promote Teen Read Week locally.  You can find the PSAs at the Teen Read Week site. 

ComingSoon.net has the news that the trailer for Eragon has been released online.  Get your browser warmed up and head over to Moviefone to see it.   An exciting glimpse into the film, it is definitely one to share with teens looking forward to December. 

WIth Thesps Tell Tale of Desperaux, Comingsoon.net announces the voice actors for the upcoming CGI movie of Tale of Desperaux. And look at the talent! Kevin Kline, Dustin Hoffman, Christopher Lloyd, Tracey Ullman and more! The site offers additional details on the production.

MotherReader has challenged all of us to come up with a list of top five books for various ages.  What fun!  These are my faves of what I have read so far this year:

PICTURE BOOKS

Dizzy by Jonah Winter
An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Aston
For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane
Meow Ruff by Joyce Sidman
Summer Is Summer by Phillis and David Gershator

ELEMENTARY

Desperate Journey by Jim Murphy
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins
Henrietta, There's No One Better by Martine Murray
Rules by Cynthia Lord

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Anatopsis by Chris Abouzeid
Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley
Clay by David Almond
Corydon and the Island of Monsters by Tobias Druitt
Sweet Thang by Allison Whittenberg

HIGH SCHOOL

Monster Blood Tattoo by D. M. Cornish
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Rash by Pete Hautman
Wait for Me by An Na

The picture book and teen ones were easy for me this year, but I struggled with the elementary books.  Looks like I need to read more of those!

Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin is another in the charming Click Clack Moo series.  This time the duck, cows, sheep and pigs have decided to enter a talent contest at the fair.  The cows sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, the sheep sing Home on the Range, and the pigs do interpretive dance.  Duck manages everyone and makes sure they are rehearsing.  But once they get to the fair, the judges don't seem to appreciate their talents until Duck jumps on stage and saves the day.

Like all of the books in the series, this one begs to be read aloud.  It is such fun to sing like a cow or a sheep.  And the final twist to the story will have children giggling along. 

Share this one with preschoolers on up.  Even elementary age kids will enjoy the humor here.  Be careful because you will find yourself riding in the car and having to sing aloud like the cows and sheep.  A small price to pay for such an enjoyable read.

Oh No, Not Ghosts!  by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Adam McCauley. 

This is one of those books that I had to sneak out of the house to get it back to the library.  My sons absolutely loved it.  It is the perfect Halloween read-aloud with a myriad of creepy creatures.  A brother and sister who are being quiet to let their father sleep hear a wailing sound.  The boy tries to reassure his sister that it is the wind, not ghosts, but all she hears is ghosts and cries, "Oh no, not ghosts!"  As he tries to reassure her, he continues to name other creatures she shouldn't fear and the pattern continues.

The pictures are creepy but cartoony, and each monster is revealed to be imaginary in the illustrations.  It is a great book to read aloud, because of the little girl's reactions.  Just play those up in a different voice or the book can be confusing to listen to.  What fun!  A perfect book to give kids a few safe shivers.

Red Cygnet Press publishes children's books written by promising college students.  From shots of the covers alone, the art looks very well-done.  I look forward to reading some of the titles.  The website offers reviews of the books as well as sample pages.  You can also sign up for emails on their books. 

Just One More Book!! is a blog that offers podcasts that are all about children's books. Most of them feature recommended books, but others have author interviews and listener feedback.

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson, pictures by Tiphanie Beeke.

This autumnal title is quite charming.  Fletcher is a fox who has a favorite tree.  But he is very worried about it because the leaves are turning brown and starting to fall off.  He tries his best to reattache leaves, but they just keep on being taken off by the wind.  A flock of birds even helps him, but to no avail.  When the last leaf finally falls off into Fletcher's hand, he is distraught and takes the leaf home to keep warm and safe.  The next very cold morning Fletcher heads out to the tree and discovers that it has become even more lovely.

The text of the book changes from narrative to  poetic and flowing in places, easing the reader through the magic of the season.  It is the illustrations that make the book really sing from the deep autumn colors to the swirling wind and finally the icicles on the tree.  It is a visual journey through a changing season that is emotional and evocative. 

Add this one to your fall storytimes as well as any tree or plant themed ones.  It also makes a great home-read for a preschooler as you snuggle together under the covers.

Nothing to Do by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin.

This is a book all about how great it is to have absolutely nothing to do.  Get away from children who use the word BORED far too much and instead treat them to a new way of viewing free time.  As freedom itself.  The text by Wood is lovely, open-ended and freeing, offering so many ways to spend time that are expansive and imaginative.  My favorite page is:  "Or building a fort, a secret place where no one can see you because you can't see them.  And surviving for hours on peanut-butter sandwiches and lemonade."  Brings back all sorts of lovely summer afternoons spent in the tall grass behind the house. 

The illustrations lend themselves to the subject with dreamy but deep colors that evoke all sorts of memories.  Based on different patterns found in nature, the pictures are in panels offering all sorts of ideas of special ways to spend these found moments of time. 

This is exactly the book that rushed children need.  Shut off those video games, turn off the TV, and just dream.

Beyond the Blackstump is one of the sites I visit to discover new places online.  It is an Australian directory of sites.  So imagine my surprise as I read the updates for September 3rd and discovered that they included this blog!  What a treat to see it listed and recommended.  I just love these little web shocks as I surf around. 

Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustred by Jacqueline M. Cohen.

I enjoy folklore tremendously, and this traditional Jewish folktale makes a wonderful picture book, especially paired with the folksy illustrations of Cohen.  Shlemazel is convinced that he doesn't have any luck, so he refuses to work or try to do anything at all.  Then clever Moshke comes up with a plan to trick Shlemazel into trying.  He gives him a spoon that he calls "the amazing, remarkable spoon of Pohost,"  telling Shlemazel that it will help him find his luck.  And does it?  Well, of course it does!  This is a folktale after all.

The treat of this picture book is in the language and the ease with which it is written.  The dialogue flows, each character has a unique tone, and you will find yourself reading aloud with a lilt of an accent that matches the story.  It is a real joy to find such a winning traditional tale.

When Giants Come to Play by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

This magical picture book tells the story of what happens when two giants come to play with Anna.  From hide and seek to jump rope, they have a wonderful time.  Each game and activity is done in a giant sort of way.  Trees are pulled out when they pick peaches, cars are raced with real cars, and Anna's older sister is used as their dolly.  The illustrations are soft and reflect an old-fashioned feel, but are enlivened by a real sense of humor. 

Share this one for giant storytimes or as a real treat for any preschooler or kindergartener.  It is a lot of fun.

The Guardian Children's Fiction Shortlist has been announced:

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Blown Away by Patrick Cave
Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve

The James Madison Book Award is given for the book that "that best represents excellence in bringing knowledge and understanding of American history to children in elementary school and to middle-schoolers."

The 2006 winner is Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden.

Three honor books were also selected:

Built to Last: Building America's Amazing Bridges, Dams, Tunnels, and Skyscrapers by George Sullivan.
The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students by Suzanne Jurmain
Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War by Jennifer Armstrong

The Cow Who Clucked by Denise Fleming.

You can never go wrong reading aloud Fleming's picture books, and her new one is no exception.  One morning Cow wakes up to find that she is clucking rather than mooing.  So she sets off across the farm to find her moo.  She goes from one farm animal to the next listening to the sound they make until she finds the animal that is mooing and is able to switch back to her normal sound. 

Fleming's writing is rhythmic and simple, creating a strong pattern that children will enjoy.  Her illustrations as always are stunningly lovely and very child-friendly.  Like the writing, they are simple but masterful.   Share this book with toddlers through preschoolers in units about sounds, farms, cows, animals, etc.  There are so many uses for this one, and it is another great read aloud from a true master.

The Mixed-Up Rooster by Pamela Duncan Edwards, pictures by Megan Lloyd.

Ned is a rooster who just can't seem to wake up in the morning.  He's just not a morning bird.  So Daisy Mae decides to fire him as their rooster.  Ned hides in a nearby tree and hears the replacement rooster crowing.  He hides there all day until nightfall when he meets all sorts of friendly creatures who come out at night:  bats, rabbits, and tree frogs.  Ned plays all night with them.  Then in a game of hide and seek, he hears a strange creeping noise.  A snake is sneaking into the hen house!  Ned's night bird tendencies save the day with a little help from Daisy Mae. 

Two things make this picture book fun.  First is the vibrant illustrations that are cartoon-like and comical.  Second is the language that is filled with puns galore.  My favorite is when Ned complains about being "hen-pecked" by Daisy Mae.  This is a joy to read aloud with a fast pace that flies along.  Add this to your poultry themed storytimes for preschoolers and Kindergarteners. 

We the People Bookshelf is funded by ALA and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  It is a grant program that will send 15 classic children's books to 2000 school and pulbic  libraries in the United States.  You can apply online through January 31st.  A list of titles is available on the site.

Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton explores the mystery of the relationship between Faust, Gutenberg and an unknown boy.  The book flashes back and forth between modern-day Oxford and fifteenth century Germany.  Readers get to meet Endymion Spring, a boy who discovers Faust's secret of dragon-skin paper that has magical properties and has the power to allow readers to read every book ever written.  Readers also get to know Blake, an American boy whose mother is studying in Oxford.  Blake is left at some of the top libraries in Oxford to amuse himself along with his younger sister Duck.  One day, he discovers a strange book bound in brown leather that at first appears to be blank.  It is this book of Endymion Spring that will lead him on a wild adventure around Oxford.

This book is fascinating from the historical details of Endymion's life to the glory of the hidden side of the Oxford libraries.  It is a novel for those of us who love books, who are often taken away by the mysteries we find inside and the wonder of what could be found there.  The characters are well-rounded and complex as are their relationships with those around them.  The adults around the characters are flawed and complicated people themselves.  Once the reader is captured by the mystery of both the modern story and the historical one, the book is nearly impossible to put down.  The climax is both stunning and gratifying. 

Offer this one to both children and adults to read.  Just make sure they love books.  This one is a winner.

I took a long weekend to get my little boy (excuse me, big boy) off to Kindergarten. Now to get back to reviewing all of the books we have enjoyed together over the last few days!