BookMoot

Award Winning Happiness

2012-01-25T22:55:00.005-06:00

ALA Youth Media Awards Day is something like a high holy day in the Kidlitosphere. -- The anticipation -- the predictions --and in my case the recognition that my TBR list grows ever longer.

When I heard the news that Jack Gantos had been awarded the 2012 Newbery Award for his novel Dead End in Norvelt, I was elated and began firing off emails to other members of the entwood here to let them know the momentous news.

I highly recommend the audio version of the book read by Gantos himself. It is an excellent way to enjoy this semi-autobiographical tale. He knows where he put all the jokes, ellipses and tender moments and delivers them perfectly.

The Troika of Jack Fansanity (Jules at Seven Imp, the brilliant Adrienne at What Adrienne Thinks about That and myself) was engaged in a day long happy-dance and conga line through emails and Facebook posts.

Jack has been recognized with Newbery honors and other awards in the past. Last week Dead End in Norvelt was awarded the 2012 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Winning THE Newbery Medal means that iconic gold medal will forever grace the cover of his book. It is a validation of his wonderful writing. "Writing is hard work" Gantos told my students several years ago when he visited my library. I am overjoyed his hard work has been recognized and rewarded.

Congratulations Jack Gantos!

Here is his presentation with the from the National Book Festival, Fall 2011.
I know his Newbery Award acceptance speech will be a humdinger. No one who hears him speak, ever forgets it. Listen to the crowd roaring with laughter here.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

2011-12-21T23:20:00.001-06:00

My family room coffee table is covered with picture books of the season. In honor of Hanukkah, tonight we read Eric Kimmel's marvelous Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. This is one my very favorite read-alouds to share. Eric Kimmel is a commanding storyteller. I treasure my signed copy of this classic.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, 1989

Hershel is courageous and cunning as he faces some evil goblins who ruin Hanukkah for the town folk every year. In order to break their evil hold over the village, someone must stay in the old synagogue for the eight nights of the festival and light the menorah there each night. Hershel volunteers for the job.This is a story that rivets young (and old) listeners. Kimmel relates this folktale with his full storyteller's voice. The book won a Caldecott honor in 1990 for good reason. The story and the illustrations beautifully balance humor and "scary." Trina Schart Hyman's finely drawn characters and setting pull the reader into the danger. The shadows in the old building are deep. Her goblins are at once comical and horrific. A dreidel playing goblin is grotesque with horns and multiple noses yet his dopey expression invites laughter. The skeletal hand of the King of the Goblins is silhouetted against a fire red background as Hershel (and the listeners and readers) look on with horror. Yet, Hershel outwits the demons and when he triumphs each night, the glow of the candles signals the power of faith over the darkness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T14:20:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The classic WKRP Turkey Drop.

Nonfiction Monday: Enrique Esparza and the Battle of the Alamo

2011-11-21T07:31:00.001-06:00

Enrique Esparza and the Battle of the Alamo (History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theaterby Susan Taylor Brown; illustrated by Jeni Reeves, 2011. (review copy)

Texas history is the focus of fourth grade social studies in the Lone Star state. That is a happy year for those students as they study the story of the state's founding and its struggle for independence. Texans regard their state's symbolic birth at the Alamo with a mixture of pride and reverence. I have observed that by the time they revisit the story in 7th grade with its overlay of government and civics and junior high ennui, their enthusiasm wanes.
I am always on the lookout for books that embrace that high level interest in elementary school.
Susan Taylor Brown's Enrique Esparza and the Battle of the Alamo is part of the "History speaks" series from Millbrook Press. Brown focuses on the family of eight year old Enrique Esparza in the days leading up to and following the battle for the Alamo. Enrique's father Gregorio Esparza was one of the Tejano defenders who fought along side of the likes of Bowie, Crockett and Travis.

The Esparza family joined Gregorio inside the Alamo for the thirteen day battle. Gregorio died along with the other Anglo and Tejano defenders as Santa Anna gave no quarter for the fighters inside the mission. Esparza's wife and children survived. The story acknowledges the role of Tejanos in the fight for independence and their role in shaping the future of the state.

Jeni Reeves uses a warm and vivid Southwestern color palette to illustrate Enrique's story. She paints with broad brush strokes and captures the tension and fear in the family's faces as they endure the battle and the aftermath. Texas school librarians are always on the lookout for "Texas" books. The reader's theater adds another dimension to the story for classroom use. This is an excellent addition to the Texas school library. I wonder if it is available in the gift shop at the Alamo?

Movie: Trailer for The Hunger Games

2011-11-20T15:32:00.002-06:00

From Zombies to vampires and werewolves.

2011-11-01T05:18:00.003-05:00

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris. Delacorte, 2011 (review copy provided by publisher)

This incongruous book cover does not begin to hint at the story between the boards. Kate Grable works as the student trainer for her high school's football team. She is smart, knowledgeable and takes her job seriously. She takes good care of the players even though the coach is not as concerned with their health as he is the team's performance.
When she discovers vials of drugs in the coach's office, she suspects he is foisting steroids on his team. When the football players begin falling ill and developing zombie-like symptoms (such as taking bites out of their classmates) she fears it may be something far worse. This is a very clever story and Kate is a smart and worthy heroine.

Cynthia Leitich Smith has one of her excellent interviews with Carrie Harris today at her blog Cynsations. And speaking of Cynthia...

Cynthia Leitich Smith, has extended her story, Tantalize as a graphic novel, Tantalize: Kieren's Story, Candlewick, 2011 (review copy provided by publisher). This is not merely a redo of the original story in graphic novel format. Instead she tells the story from the point of view of Kieren, the werewolf boyfriend of Tantalize's main character, Quincie. Quincie is the young Austin restaurateur who has unknowingly hired a vampire as her head chef. The graphic novel rounds out the original storyline adding more insight into Kieren who is one of the story's most interesting characters. Ming Doyle's black and white artwork employs close-ups and emotion filled facial expressions that reminded me of the old True Romance comics only with weremonsters.

At a recent author appearance at Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Cynthia described the process of working with an illustrator in this kind of storytelling. She described a collaboration which made me think of the relationship between a movie director and cinematographer with each of them sharing both roles.

Halloween 2011 - what's your favorite book?

2011-10-31T22:39:00.005-05:00

This year I outsourced the pumpkin carving to the entlings and we ended up with some sort of symbol of the Horde? from World of Warcraft and a face from Minesweeper? I'm clueless.

I obviously need to reawaken my inner reading theme pumpkin carver next year. In the meantime, check out David LaRochelle's stunning work.

But we maintained our tradition of asking trick or treaters to name a favorite book before we doled out the treats. When the parents accompany the children there is general approval of this question. It is very fun to hear a dad ask, "which one of the books we've been reading do you like right now?" to his little one.

I was interested in the mother, carrying and a candy bag on behalf of her 14 year old daughter who was "home passing out candy" for her while she accompanied the younger siblings about the neighborhood. Could she have some candy for her daughter? She said her daughter liked, "mysteries, not the old ones but those new ones." Have a Kit Kat, lady.

Still, most of the kids were fairly cheerful about the question. More than one recalled "oh, I remember this place from last year."

Book titles mentioned in return for Reeses Peanutbutter Cups this year included:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter were the big winners this year.
George Washington's Socks
Percy Jackson
The Bible
Happenstance Found
Monster High
Agatha Christie
Alvin Ho
Cats to the Rescue
Warriors
Short Life of Bree
Twilight
Skeleton Creek
Hunger Games (many)
Green Eggs and Ham
Eragon
Lord of the Rings
Judy Moody
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can you?
Everybody Poops
Island
Cinderella
Cat in the Hat
FlyGuy
Barbie books
SpongeBob
Chronicles of Vladimir
Looking for Alaska (now THAT was interesting. From a very tall and deep voiced group)
1984
Wake
Bad Girls Don't

Turtle in Paradise

2011-10-27T21:20:00.000-05:00

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm. Random House, 2010 (review copy from publisher)

Jennifer Holm spins the reader back to the perilous economic times of the Great Depression. Set in the 1930s, eleven year old Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minerva in Key West, Florida because her single mother has a new job as a housekeeper and the new employer does not want children staying at the house. Turtle settles into life in Key West, eating new foods and trying to fit in with her male cousins.

The Our Gang comedies come to mind as her cousin Bean and the neighborhood Diaper Gang work to provide babysitting and diaper changing services for the mothers in the area. The children pull the neighborhood babies in their wagon and provide a secret cure for diaper rash that is a the stuff of legend. Unlike today, these children enjoy a wonderful freedom, safe within their community and extended families. Turtle meets more of her mother's family for the first time, including her ill tempered grandmother, Nana Philly. Her grandmother is suffering from the after-effects of a stroke and a lifetime of ill humor. Happily, Turtle is not fazed by her grandmother's attitude. Holmes always writes such interesting grandmother characters into her stories. Turtle gains more insight into her mother's early life and the man who might be her father. There is also lost pirate treasure, a hurricane and a cameo appearance from a very famous literary resident of Key West.

Photos of Key West and some of the real life characters in the story are provided at the end. Holm's research and meticulous attention to detail pay off, giving the story a rich sense of place and time.

Jennifer Holm's characters, May Amelia (Our Only May Amelia,) Penny (Penny from Heaven,) and now Turtle are girls I love spending time with.

Walking Home in the Dark...

2011-10-16T16:09:00.004-05:00

Ever since Ichabod Crane was chased by the Headless Horseman, the real and imagined threats that lurk in the darkest shadows have been celebrated in urban legends, novels and picture books.

Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann. Roaring Book, 2011

Gus loves his dog, Ella, but she is getting old and she warns him that she will not be around much longer. Before she dies she promises Gus that she will always be with him. Gus is sad and missing his dog as Halloween arrives but he puts on his skeleton costume and goes out trick or treating anyway. On his way home through a graveyard (of course!) he is surrounded by threatening skeletons. Just as they are about to attack, Ella appears as a bone dog to save him. The skeletons are unimpressed until Gus and Ella begin to howl into the night, calling real live dogs to their aid. The final pages confirm and assure the young reader that love never dies and Gus will never be alone.

Rohamann's visual storytelling is cinematic here. He opens and closes the story, viewing Gus and Ella together before an iconic full moon that frames the two friends. The reader (and Ella?) watch from above as Gus sits alone, rakes leaves alone and heads out for trick-or-treating, alone. Once Ella, the bone dog, returns to the scene, the view returns to ground level. The skeletons are at once comic and scary. Rohmann pans their frenzied retreat across a two page spread as they flee from ... turn the page ... the pack of real dogs in pursuit. The next page turn will be a laugh-out-loud read aloud moment. This is a beautiful story told with humor, sweetness and delicious creepy moments. I predict this book will not linger for long on the library's return book cart. I cannot WAIT to share it with children.

On a Windy Night by Nancy Raines Day; illustrated by George Bates. Abrams, 2010

Outstanding read aloud story about a scary walk home on Halloween night. A young boy's imagination turns shadows, sounds and dark shapes into terrifying threats until the moon light reveals what they really are. This is a perfect Halloween story that acknowledges the thrilling spookiness of the night but reassures too. Nancy Raines Day heightens the boy's imagination with a classic chant of "Cracklety-clack, bones in a sack. They could be yours--if you look back." The words grow in size, across the pages, as the boy's fear grows. Bates's pen and ink drawings depict the eerie clouds, the threatening tree branches and menacing cornstalks that become skeletons and jack-o-lanterns chasing the child on his way. The pen and ink work gives a splendid childlike Edward Gorey-ness to the pictures.

Dark Night by Dorothee de Monfreid. Random House, 2009

As Felix walks through the dark woods, the scary growl from a wolf sends him into hiding. Another loud growl from a tiger scares away the wolf who is then frightened away by a crocodile. Along with n unlikely small friend and a clever idea Felix turns the tables on the beasts with a bigger "badder" creature of his own invention. Sometimes the first step in overcoming fear is to find a friend and just walk tall.

Jack for Ambassador!

2011-09-13T03:47:00.000-05:00

Today the new novel by Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt, goes on sale! As such, my family has declared it
Jack Gantos Day here in the entwood. I have been unabashed in my fandom for this man's writing. The humor in his books got my family through a tough time.

I still hear from students (many now in college) who say, "I remember when Jack Gantos came to our school." His visit was memorable in so many ways, not the least because it was the first and only time I ever saw a teacher almost fall off of her rolling chair because she was laughing so hard during his presentation.

One of the many joys of belonging to the Kidlitosphere community is getting to know folks who share your reading (and felt boarding) enthusiasms. During an email discussion of all-things-Jack with Jules at 7-Impossible things Before Breakfast and Adrienne at What Adrienne Thinks About That, we all agreed that Gantos would be the PERFECT choice for the role of Ambassador. So today, along with them, I enthusiastically wish to nominate Jack Gantos to be the next National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

His knowledge of children's literature is "deep and wide" as the old song goes. Listening to one of his presentations is a mini course on the subject. From Rotten Ralph to Hole in My Life, his books span early childhood to young adult.

Gantos's stories takes his characters into the strange, the odd, and the macabre but he always knows exactly how far to go and respects the youngster holding the book. He overlays his stories with tenderness and affection.

Still, there are moments when the reader cannot believe what just happened. While reading his stories aloud, my listeners have been know to suddenly cover their eyes (not their ears) and exclaim, "I can't watch!"

It is fitting that after years of writing some of his childhood into the Jack Henry stories, his character has stepped out in Norvelt as "Jack Gantos" or "Gantos Boy."

It is a testament to my dedication to this cause that I have stepped out from behind the dragon to appear here today. (Well, almost. The new baby dragon wanted to be in the photo and, yes, it is chewing on Rumbaughs.)

I hope Jack can be considered for ambassador. He would be grand.

Thank you Jules for arranging for our t-shirts. I wear mine with pride.

Nonfiction Monday: Baseball

2011-08-15T05:00:00.008-05:00

First Pitch: How Baseball Began by John Thorn. Beach Ball Books, 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Beach Ball is producing some very well done sports books. I like their typography and the design which includes a nice balance of white space, text boxes and illustrations. The information easy to read and assimilate. The pages are numbered which is helpful to students learning to cite facts. They include an index, short glossary, photo and illustration credits and a list of web resources.

There is a wealth of information here on the origins of "America's pastime" provided by historian, John Thorn, whose credentials are very sound as he is the Official Historian for Major League Baseball. Thorn's mission here, is to share the background of baseball's origins and examine the real contributions of Abner Doubleday and Alexander Cartwright. Thorn's conclusions may surprise fans who have seen the plaques at Cooperstown. He traces the history of the game from an early children's game to the year, 1845, when William R. Wheaton wrote down some of the first rules for club play.

Thor's story reads like a detective tale which engages even casual fans, like myself. Highly recommend this title for all school library collections.

Review copies from my public library.

Author, Phil Bildner is recalling the great stories and legends of baseball for a new generation. Beginning with Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy, which was chosen for the Texas Bluebonnet Award in 2004, Bildner tells the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his search for the perfect bat. Charlie Ferguson, the "finest bat smith in all of South Carolina -- and in all the South" made a bat for Jackson which he used throughout his career. Ferguson was also part psychologist as he helped Jackson through various hitting slumps with advice on caring for his bat. Bildner's after word tells the rest of the Shoeless Joe's famous story. C. F. Payne paints his subjects with caricature-realism and a rich colors.

Bildner recounts the epic pennant race between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants in the summer of 1951 in The Shot Heard 'Round the World. C. F. Payne illustrates again. His paintings and Bildner's words paint a time gone by as stillness falls over Brooklyn and every ear listens to the final game of the series on the radio. Bildner's young narrator calls the climactic game and the reader watches, in the stands, as the Giant's Bobby Thomson cracks out the game ending home run.

Bildner is at the top of his game here with polished storytelling in his new book, The Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941. Here, he covers Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak and Ted Williams's .400 batting average. What little I knew about DiMaggio's hitting streak was from Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlow in the movie, Farewell My Lovely. "Joltin' Joe" and "The Splendid Splinter" hit their way into the country's hearts during the summer of 1941. Bildner calls games like a veteran baseball announcer as he highlights key hits and identifies the fields and cities where the games were played. He lets the players speak for themselves with quotes. After hitting a three run homer in the All-Star Game,we "hear" Ted Williams say, "The greatest thrill of my life!" A list of research sources is also included.
Illustrator S.D. Schindler presents the visual story like a newsreel combining full page illustrations with vignettes. The book bolds and color codes Williams's name in red and DiMaggio's name in blue which helps the reader follow the two story lines. Bildner smoothly entwines facts and baseball stats in his writing but he excels at finding the heart of these sports stories and sharing them with a young readers.

First Pitch: How Baseball Began by John Thorn. Beach Ball Books, 2011
Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy by Phil Bildner ; illustrated by C.F. Payne. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2002.
The Shot Heard 'Round the World by Phil Bildner ; illustrated by C.F. Payne. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2005.
The Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941 Phil Bildner ; illustrated by S. D. Schindler. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, c2011.

Amy O'Quinn is hosting the Nonfiction Monday round-up today @amyquinn.com

Sunny Bunnies

2011-08-10T07:03:00.011-05:00

Greg Pincus, father of the Fibs poetry form at his blog GottaBook and social media tour guide at Happy Accident, penned an ode to summer with a new poem, "At the Beach - a beach poem" last week. His poem inspired me to pick up Margie Blumberg's book Sunny Bunnies from the review stack.

A rabbit family packs up the car and heads to the beach where they play in the waves, fly a kite, enjoy a picnic lunch and build a sand castle. Blumberg's story rhymes along with a pleasant read-aloud rhythm. She hits all the activities a child enjoys at the beach. June Goulding's bunnies are picture book sweet and she fills the page with nice details including a sumptuous picnic with foods young children will recognize. At the end of the day, jars of lightening bugs glow while the family toasts marshmallows around a campfire. She also keeps the geography of the beach consistent in the different views. Her end papers are a map of Carrot Cake Park where the family has spent the day. I really like presenting maps to young children. Blumberg and Goulding hit the mark with the book's last pages as the children, who are still not tired, jump out of bed to check on their parents and find them completely zonked, sound asleep from their big day at the beach.

Sunny Bunnies, written by Margie Blumbert, illustrated by June Goulding, MB Publishing, 2008

Second Fiddle

2011-07-16T08:20:00.005-05:00

Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry. Random House, 2011

As a veteran of the "I can't hear you practicing" skirmishes, I am heartened by stories of young people, devoting themselves to music (and practice) which this lovely book cover promises. Band, orchestra and choir programs play a huge role in many teens' lives. One of my students used to credit Virginia Euwer Wolff's The Mozart Season for inspiring her to All State success.

Parry begins her book with this cracking opening line:

"If we had know it would eventually involve the KGB, the French National Police, and the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, we would have left that body in the river and called the Polizei like any normal German citizen; but we were Americans and addicted to solving other people's problems, so naturally, we got involved."

This is a very cleverly imagined mystery, set in the distant past of 1990, in Berlin, not long after the Berlin Wall came down. Also, as promised, there is music.

Three girls have become friends by playing together in a string trio. Their music has linked them in friendship even though they come from different social worlds. Giselle's father is the commanding general of the American Forces in Berlin and Vivian's mother is the U. S. consul general to West Berlin. Jody's family lives in enlisted soldiers' quarters. Musically, Jody also plays second violin in the trio. As political change takes hold in Germany, many American diplomatic and military families are preparing to leave Berlin. These girls will probably not see each other again.

Their apprehension worsens when they learn their music teacher will not be able to take them to a music competition in Paris, This is a blow after all their practice and preparation. On their way home from their last lesson, they decide to cross into the East Berlin to console themselves with some gelato. The ease of their crossing is still somewhat unnerving as this used to be enemy territory. While there, they witness a terrible crime against a Soviet soldier and despite years of Cold War distrust, the three resolve to help him. As they plan, Jody sees a way to help the soldier and also get to Paris so they can perform together, one last time.

Parry conveys a sense of what it is like to be part of a military family living overseas. Despite frequent moves and her father's long work hours, Jody's family enjoys a sweet closeness. The author also captures the time and place perfectly. One side of the Brandenburg Gate is prosperous and booming, the other side is poor and grim. Parry inserts lovely detail such as the mouth-watering aroma from a Parisian crepe cart and the quiet interior of a church which puts the reader there, on the streets of Berlin and Paris. Her descriptions are so spot on, we can follow the action with a city map.

A useful and interesting author's note gives additional background on the division of Germany in 1945, the fall of the Berlin Wall and Eastern Europe's struggle to be free from the Soviet Union.

From Pachebel's Canon to Paris street musicians to Cold War intrigue, this book is a virtual vacation. I truly enjoyed the ride.

Roseanne Parry Website

Harry Potter

2011-07-09T16:10:00.004-05:00

Waves of Harry Potter nostalgia are washing over me this weekend. This lovely article "How J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter Saved Reading" By Norman Lebrecht in the Wall Street Journal today tributes the school library for introducing the book to his family.

My family experience traces the phenomenon to the school library. Our youngest daughter brought home a copy around year four, when she was 9. Her elder sisters commandeered it and insisted that the parents read as well. What Ms. Rowling achieved—long before Warner Bros. adapted her work into films, the last of which will be released next week—was a children-led read-in that crossed all age barriers, uniting families in a primal fireside act of sharing an unfolding story, page by page.

I remember that summer when I started reading Sorceror's Stone with entling no. 3. After two afternoons of reading aloud, together, she took the book upstairs and finished it on her own and pronounced it a grand read. I credit JK Rowling with her reading fluency to this day.

I was very fortunate at the start of my school librarian career. My first year as a school librarian saw the stampede for books about the Titanic, thanks to the movie. At that point we only had Exploring the Titanic by Robert D. Ballard and a picture book biography about Molly Brown, Heroine of the Titanic by Elaine Landau. Publishers soon got up to speed. (I remember the almost mele at the Little Brown booth for Inside the Titanic.)

Then there was Harry, wonderful Harry. I met a former student, not long ago, who recalled that I handed him a copy of the first book and he became a reader from that day forward. Rowling's books made every librarian look good as children clamored for the books.

As I look forward to the final film chapter of Harry's story on Friday I am reminded of how exciting it was to anticipate the very first movie along with my students. Seeing photo stills of Hogwarts with the floating candles in the great hall was thrilling. As the end of his film journey is at hand, I am cheered to see the books still being checked out by a new generation of readers in school libraries today. I am so happy the my family and I were there for the first grand ride.

Old MacDonald has a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O

2011-06-30T14:39:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of Old McDonald and onomatopoeia sound effects.

Gobble Gobble Moooooo Tractor Book by Jez Alborough. Kane Miller, 2010

Jez Alborough's usual cast of animals characters are trying to hitch a ride on a tractor driven by Sheep. Farmer Dougal hears the all noise and jumps out of bed to see what is going on. All he sees is his tractor sitting in place and animals grazing quietly, nearby. After he returns to bed, the animals are ready to ride again. The story reminded me of Duck on a Bike by David Shannon -- animals and vehicles. As a read aloud, there are animal sounds to make. The illustrations are in Alborough's comic style. I will say that the toothy grin of the sheep is a little unnerving.

Chicken, Chicken, Duck by Nadia Krilanovich, Tricycle, 2011

Farm yard animals quack, baa, cluck, maa, squeek, meow and woof. As the pages turn, the animals seem to be cheerfully jumbled up together. It is not until the last two page spread that their goal is revealed. Krilanovich paints with lovely texture and pattens. Her chickens are especially beautiful. The book plays with the Duck Duck Goose game chant, adding in animal sounds.

Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown, Knopf, 2010

Dancing is just plain fun for everyone. Dancing ladybugs go Tippity! Tippity!, elephants go Stompity! Stompity!, ducks' feet go Slappity! Slappity! and so on, with insects and lizards and animals of all sizes dancing up a storm. Nice rhythm and rhyme swing the text. It would make an excellent storytime read-aloud with lots of opportunities for audience participation. Marc Brown's collage illustrations pop with color and texture. The simple shapes might inspire some young artists. I am putting this one in my "have book, will travel" librarian's bag.

SYNC YA Literature into Your Earphones

2011-06-23T12:22:00.003-05:00

2 Free Audiobook Downloads Each Week
June 23 - August 17, 2011

Teens and other readers of Young Adult Literature will have the opportunity to listen to bestselling titles and required reading classics this summer. Each week from June 23 - August 17, 2011, SYNC will offer two free audiobook downloads.

The audiobook pairings will include a popular YA title and a classic that connects with the YA title's theme and is likely to show up on a student's summer reading lists. For example, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, the first book in a popular series with strong allusions to Romeo & Juliet, will be paired with Shakespeare's classic.

To find out when you can download titles to listen to on the run this summer, visit www.AudiobookSync.com or text syncya to 25827

SYNC Titles
Summer 2011

6/23/11 - 6/29/11
Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

6/30/11-7/6/11
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
The Trial by Franz Kafka

7/7/11-7/13/11
Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah
A Passage to India by E. M. Forster

7/14/11-7/20/11
The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney
Beowulf by Francis B. Gummere [Trans.]

7/21/11-7/27/11
Chanda's Secrets by Allan Stratton
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

7/28/11-8/3/11
Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari
Rescue: Stories of Survival From Land and Sea by Dorcas S. Miller [Ed.]

8/4/11-8/10/11
Immortal by Gillian Shields
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

8/11/11-8/17/11
Storm Runners by Roland Smith
The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Pottermore

2011-06-23T09:18:00.013-05:00

Pottermore.com
The registration page is very slow right now. I can only imagine that the site is getting hammered with requests. There is more (thanks to Sheila Ruth @Wands and Worlds for the information) at the Guardian

the fresh Potter material – to be unveiled later this year - already stretches to 18,000 words about the novels' characters, places and objects, with more to come. From Professor McGonagall's love for a Muggle as a young woman, to how the Dursleys met (Petunia was working in an office); from new information about Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff houses, to details about wand wood, Rowling's writing will be just one part of the richly interactive, free Pottermore.com website, which is intended to bring the Harry Potter storylines to interactive life for readers.

Nonfiction Monday: For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart

2011-06-20T06:18:00.003-05:00

For the Love of Music: The remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart by Elizabeth Rusch, paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Francher. Tricycle Press, 2011 (review copy provided by the publisher)

The CIP in this books shows the LC subject heading as "Berchtold zu Sonnenburg, Maria Anna Mozart, Reichsfrelin von, 1751-1829" aka Maria Anna Mozart, Wolfgang's sister. Rusch uses the piano sonata form, which she describes before the story begins, to frame her story as Maria played them frequently. Billed as Wonders of Nature! and Child Geniuses!, Maria and her younger brother, Wolfgang performed together across Europe. The two spoke French and Italian and had rich imaginations. A composer and prodigy in her own right, Maria noted down Wolfgang's compositions for him, before he could write. When their father chose to focus on Wolfgang as a solo performer, Maria was left behind at home, a move that devastated her. The siblings remained close though even after Maria's marriage and many of Wolfgang's compositions were dedicated to his sister.

Artists, Johnson and Francher use a collage of woven fabrics, rich brocades and embroidered satins, to bring the story to life. The textiles act as a canvas for the paintings and give them richness and depth. The paint is laid on thickly in places rendering a three dimensional feel to the figures. The pianos are layered with images of original hand written sheet music from the Mozart family collection. I would love to see the original artwork for this book.

A brief but complete bibliography includes books, letters and documents and personal interviews. An "encore" summary of Maria Anna Mozart's life fills out details of her story. This book is beautifully executed in every way.
Bravi!

If Rocks Could Sing

2011-06-18T08:40:00.000-05:00

If Rocks Could Sing: a discovered alphabet by Leslie McGuirk. Tricycle Press, 2011 (review copy provided by publisher)

My inner school librarian is putting this book on my "must purchase" list. The book is a happy tribute to every child who ever filled a box, sack, pail, or gym sock with a rock collection.
The ABC style book is wholly original and an imaginative delight. Each page focuses on a rock in the shape of a letter of the alphabet.
A rock shaped like a lower case "e" illustrates "elephant" along with a rock that looks just like the head of an elephant, with an upraised trunk. The two page spread for "o is for Ouch!" depicts a donut shaped "'o" rock with ouch depicted by a smooth oval stone "face" pitted with holes and grooves that look just like a face, grimacing.

I know I exclaimed or laughed out loud at some of the whimsical selections. McGuirk's interpretation of these amorphous shapes is a wonder because we see them too! Her rocks are identified as fossiliferous sandstone and the geologic process that forms this kind of sedimentary rock is also described. McGuirk began collecting these rocks on Florida beaches although she specifies that the letter "X" is from Maine.
This book has wide classroom applications from art teachers to science teachers. It would perfectly pair with Byrd Baylor's classic Everybody needs a Rock.

Gardens

2011-06-15T06:50:00.123-05:00

Water Weed Wait by Edith Hope Fine and Angela Demos Halpin, illustraed by Colleen Madden. Tricycle, 2010 (review copy provided by the publisher)

School gardens are often started but tend to languish despite the best of intentions of teachers, students and parents. This book might encourage a community to try again.
The children at the Pepper Lane Elementary are inspired by a visit from Miss Marigold, the garden lady to start a garden at their school. They work together with help from adults. Even Mr. Barkley, the school's cranky neighbor, lends his gardening expertise. Building a garden is hard work. Ground must be cleared and prepared then seeds are planted and watered. It takes patience to wait for vegetables to grow and flowers to bloom but their efforts are rewarded and celebrated at the end. Suggestions for starting a school garden are shared.

A Garden for Pig written by Kathryn K. Thursman, illustrated by Lindsay Ward, Kane Miller, 2010

Pig lives on an apple farm. His owner feeds him every kind of apple delicacy but Pig is tired of apples and longs for the vegetables growing in a nearby garden. When Pig manages to get into the garden he is in heaven. He discovers a passion for squash. When Mrs. Pippins discovers him in the garden, she secures him in his muddy pig pen and he cannot escape. He prepares the ground in his pen for planting and "passes" the seeds from the squash he ate. He patiently waits and before long has his own squash garden. Thursman follows the story with two pages of organic gardening tips. Illustrator, Ward's apple trees are filled with apples and text from apple recipes. Pig's method for planting his seeds is very...organic--to be sure. THAT will get the kids attention!

Our Shadow Garden by Cherie Foster Golburn, art by the children of the Children's Cancer Hospital at M.D.Anderson Cancer Center. Bright Sky Press, 2011.
The Children's Art Project at M.D.Anderson Cancer Center funds programs for children who are cancer patients at the center. The project has long been known for its Christmas cards but has also branched out to beautiful stationary and gift items as well as cards for other holidays. This book is a compilation of artwork by forty-seven of those patients.

When a child's grandmother becomes ill with cancer, she cannot work in her garden any more. Told in the first person, the child and "Poppa" work to revamp Nana's garden. The two of them create a shadow garden that can be enjoyed in the evening. Soft lights are hung in the trees and flowers that bloom in the cool of the evening are added to the beds. The flowers' fragrances waft through the air. Animals that only come out in the evening visit the garden. A well placed bench provides a spot to rest and to listen. The creation of the garden gives the child and Poppa a focus and way to contribute to their loved one's recovery.

A glossary of plant and garden terms (like diurnal and germinate) is included along with a list of gardening websites. Information on planning a shadow garden appear in sidebars on the pages along with specific information about shadow garden plants. Traditions of planting by the phases of the moon are explained also. Golburn is a certified Texas Master Gardener and is knowledgeable about her subject. Gardens have a healing power. More than just a "gift" book, the content is useful to gardeners and families who are dealing with cancer.

Nonfiction Monday: Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: a story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

2011-06-13T06:00:00.007-05:00

Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: a story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. Clarion, 2010. (review copy provided by the publisher)

When I mentioned there was a children's book about Hendrix to the teacher dressed like Jimi Hendrix for our "dress like a rock star" day at school a few weeks ago, everyone within earshot was stunned.
"A book for kids?"
The story of Hendrix's death has overshadowed his music. When one of the children asked the teacher if he was dressed as Michael Jackson, I wondered if any children at the school had even heard of Hendrix.

Golio tells Hendrix's story with poetic language and imagery.

With every sound, a color
glowed in Jimmy's mind
Blue was the whoosh of cool water splashing over rocks.
Orange and red, the crackling of a campfire.
Green, the rustle of a thousand leaves.

Did Jimmy really see the world in this way or is this poetic license? This feels researched and informed thanks to the extensive list of research sources, the discography of music and videos, and website list included at the end.

Golio imparts a great deal of information about Hendrix's life without resorting to a dry narration of facts. We understand there is no mother in the boy's life through the descriptions of his relationship with his father.

At night, he'd listen to Dad croon along with
gospel, jazz or blues reconrds on the old
phonograph. A song by Muddy Waters--with
its wailing guitar and harmonica--set off
fireworks in his mind.

Jimmy was fascinated with all kinds of sound and his imagination saw colors in the noises and rhythms of the city and nature. The boy was also an artist, often sketching and painting. A self-taught guitarist, his music took off in a whole new direction when he acquired an electric guitar and discovered how amps and guitar strings could be used to create a unique sounds.

Javaka Steptoe's artwork startles and compels the reader to look deeper into the pictures. His illustrator's note describes his process of delving into the music and the neighborhood of Jimmy's childhood. For his canvas, he used plywood from the Seattle (Hendrix's childhood home) RE Store, an emporium of salvaged and reclaimed building materials. These pictures are vibrant collages of plywood and paint and photo prints. The rough texture and grain of the plywood plays under paint that is a translucent wash in some areas and a thick layer in others. On the last, two-page, vertical spread, Steptoe's boyish Jimmy evolves into Jimi and the final iconic image of Hendrix from posters and album covers, He renders the musician in purple (Purple Haze?)

The author addresses Hendrix's death honestly and in a straight forward manner in the author's note. He focuses on substance abuse and addiction as a disease that people can recover from with help. He draws on his own years as a counselor in the discussion and points to several websites that help families and children understand the issue and find assistance. His comments would be a comfort and useful to young people who are facing similar problems themselves or in their family.

Nonfiction Monday: Before There Was Mozart

2011-06-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome, Schwartz & Wade, 2011.

Joseph Boulogne was born in the West Indies in 1745. His mother was a slave on his white father's plantation. Cherished by his parents, he was educated and taught music from an early age. Joseph was extremely gifted, excelling at everything he tried.

When his father returned to France, Joseph and his mother accompanied him. Joseph was thrust into a world that did not accept him as a person of color. His talent was unmistakable though and he earned a place in the king's court as soloist, conductor and composer, even inspiring a young Mozart with his genius. He was also a master swordsman, a fact that intrigued the elementary music classes where we shared this book..

James Ransome drenches the paintings with sunlight and tropical color in Joseph's early island years. Later in France, the richness of the French court glows on the pages.

The Ransomes provide a wonderful opportunity here to learn of a less well known musician and his contributions to the world of classical music.

48 Hour Book Challenge: Wrap-up

2011-06-05T22:58:00.002-05:00

Well, despite a foul illness, (that is receding somewhat as I write) I was able to read a few books and listen to part of another. I also spent time reading blogs of other participants and writing some quick reviews. I have more hours left in my 48 hour block but have to be at work early tomorrow to start closing down the library for the school year. Yawn.

Books read:
Calli Be Gold by Michele Weber Hurwitz. Wendy Lamb Books, 2011
Rocky Road by Rose Kent. Knopf, 2010
Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books, 2011

Time Reading: 6.5 hours
Reading blogs: 1.5 hours
Writing reivews: 4 hours.

Time Listening to audiobook of The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: 4 hours

Total for the challenge: 16 hours

48 Hour Book Challenge: Liar, Liar

2011-06-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books, 2011
(review copy from the publisher)
Genre: Realistic fiction (Did not plan my 48 Hour Book Challenge to end up as a "realistic fiction" marathon.)

I am so fond of these relatively short but utterly readable little books Paulsen has been writing recently. They are full of humor and story that resonates with readers 4th grade and up. With page counts between 100-120 pages, they are not intimidating to readers who eye a book for its thickness or thinness.

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17

Kevin knows the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie. He just finds that lies are easier on everyone. He has rules for telling lies but even his experience and talent cannot keep him from becoming hopelessly entangled in the multiple threads he is working. There is trouble on his home front too when his father's business travel begins to interfere with their family's life. He realizes his duplicity may have hurt his parent's relationship too.

Kevin realizes the value of truth telling in a poignant moment with the little boy he babysits. He comes clean with a clear-eyed maturity that is a wondrous thing to behold. As he writes letters of apology to all the people he has lied to and accepts the consequences that befall him, life gets better.

Earlier this week I finished Paulsen's Masters of Disaster (Wendy Lamb, 2010, 112 pages) which made me laugh out loud. Henry is the brains who embroils his friends, Riley and Reed in quests to set records and prove their bravery in the hopes of impressing girls. Reed bears the brunt of the danger and damage in these exploits. Amazingly, no one is seriously hurt but Reed does accumulate a horrible odor as the book goes on. Henry and Riley reflect:

"It's like he has a gift, " Henry said to Riley as they flipped on their flashlights and made their way down the tunnel toward Reed's voice. "No matter where we go or what we do, he's like a compass pointing north when it comes to locating smelly goo."

"Extraordinary," Riley agreed. "You work so hard to come up with adventures and somehow it always come down to Reed in a pile of poop."

Time reading: 1 hour, 120 pages.

48 Hour Book Challenge: Rocky Road

2011-06-05T19:29:00.000-05:00

Rocky Road by Rose Kent. Knopf, 2010
(review copy from the publisher)
Genre: realistic fiction
Terrific story of a family moving to upstate New York in the middle of winter to start an ice cream parlor. Tess is in seventh grade and her little brother, Noah, is eight years old. He is also deaf. Their dad is out of the picture. Their ma is a dreamer and hard to stop when she gets an idea in her head. She also suffers from what she calls Shooting Stars. Tess learns the condition has another name, bipolar disorder. Their new home is in a senior community which at first seems bizarre but turns out to be a blessing as the community takes the children into their hearts as surrogate grandparents. Ma works nonstop, dreaming up new flavors of ice cream and renovating the space that will become their store. Through her efforts, the downtown business district begins to dust itself off and shine. Tess begins to make friends and things are looking up on the eve of the store's grand opening when the Shooting Stars return and Ma crashes into despair and depression. It is up to Tess and her friends and new family from the senior community to make the business a success.

Full of admiration for Kent's storytelling.

Time reading: 3 hours, 295 pages
Time coughing: less than yesterday
Time spent whining about being sick: everyone is bored with me so I gave it up