LiterariTea

Blackout

2012-01-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

Blackout
John Rocco
Hyperion
2011
Caldecott Honor

I meant to review Blackout this past fall when I first had the chance to read it. This is one of those picture books I'd like to own--personally, I think it is a better book than A Ball for Daisy, the book that took Caldecott gold. I think its story/message is much more profound, and I really love the illustrations.

In Blackout, Rocco shows us what happens to a city apartment building when the power goes out. Oh no! All the gadgets/devices/screens/"tasks" that have lured folks inside their homes are no longer wielding any power. It happens to be summer, which means that the heat quickly infuses the previously air conditioned homes. It's also dinner time. People start emerging outside, on the roof, and... talking with their neighbors!

At the end of the book, when the power comes back on, what did they learn from their sudden blackout? You'll have to read it to see.

A Ball for Daisy

2012-01-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

A Ball for Daisy
Chris Raschka
2011
Schwartz and Wade
Caldecott Winner

A Ball for Daisy is a wordless book and, like the best wordless books, will delight not only the youngest child in the house, but probably his/her older siblings (and parents) as well. If you've ever owned a dog, you will enjoy this sweet story all the more. Daisy has a favorite red ball that goes with her everywhere. One day, while she and her owner are out for a stroll, a bigger dog comes along and starts playing with the ball. Oops! The ball pops. Daisy is grief stricken and mopes around. I won't give away the ending, but let's just say this tragedy is resolved completely and toddlers will rejoice in Daisy's good fortune.

This book is charming, to be sure, but I confess that I didn't think it quite as medal worthy as, apparently, the Caldecott committee did.

publication data and image from goodreads.com

The Lion's Share

2012-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

The Lion's Share
Matthew McElligott
Walker Childrens
2009

The Lion's Share is a marvelous, boldly drawn picture book that portrays both a charming story about sharing and greediness as well as illustrating essential math concepts. A lion invites the jungle animals to a dinner party every year, and this is the ant's first time to attend. He is horrified by the other guests' behavior and greediness....When the cake is passed around, the elephant goes first and cuts the cake in half. Each animal, in turn, cuts the remaining cake in half; all that is left for the ant to cut in half simply turns to crumbs when he tries to cut it. In an effort to make amends for there not being enough cake left for him to share with the lion (after the other animals have had "their share"), he offers to make the lion a cake. Not to be outdone, the animal next in line promptly offers to make twice the number of cakes as the previous animal. By the time the elephant is volunteering, he commits to a large number of cakes! Illustrations nicely capture the shrinking and growing numbers.

Recommended for older preschool and up!

Books Children Love

2012-01-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

Books Children Love
Elizabeth Laraway Wilson
Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Crossway
2002

Another must have resource for parents! Those familiar with Francis Schaeffer may recognize his daughter's name as one of the co-authors. Wilson and Laraway have put together a terrific collection of book lists in the educational spirit of Charlotte Mason who advocated "living books" as a means to educate children (instead of "dead textbooks"). Thus, the book is filled with lists of nonfiction books that are really interesting to children and accurate enough to be good sources of information. There are nonfiction categories as well (fantasy, fairy tales, etc.), but I think the nonfiction sections really shine. So many other lists for children ignore these types of categories or under-represent them. Nice, succinct summaries of books are provided so that readers can know what the book is about. Lists are categorized and well-organized.

Again, a print-based book of book lists can only include books published before its own publication date. Megan and I seek, on this blog, to direct you to recent books that might be included in such worthy resources as this when next they are updated. (And critically evaluate current resources in general) We also enjoy reviewing books that have already been covered in such books as Books Children Love and examining whether they have stood the test of time.

Newbery, Caldecott Awards--2012

2012-01-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

The results are in, ladies and gentlemen! This morning, at the ALA mid-winter conference in Dallas, the 2012 Youth Media Awards were announced. I'm proud to say that I've reviewed a couple of these works in the past year and noted their worthiness in one way or another--and I'm EXTRA glad to see one of my all-time favorite authors win the Margaret A. Edwards award for lifetime achievement. I keep meaning to review Susan Cooper's fantasy series, but haven't had the time to do her justice. Thankfully, others are also recognizing her! (I should admit that she featured prominently in my MA thesis, so perhaps "doing her justice" in blog form would take me a while.... )

I'm not necessarily recommending these works; remember, a committee made up of people chose these works. The National Book Award and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award have been announced within the past few months as well. It's worth reading these books and knowing "what's hot" and "what's not."

At any rate, here is the shortlist of the most well-known awards. Check the link above to see the full list. If a book has been reviewed on this blog, I'll link to it below.

Newbery (most outstanding contribution to children's literature)

Winner: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Honor: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanha Lai
Honor: Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Caldecott (most distinguished American picture book for children)

Winner: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Honor: Blackout by John Rocco (I've been meaning to review this one--it's GREAT)
Honor: Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Honor: Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Printz (excellence in literature written for young adults)

Winner: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Honor: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
Honor: The Returning by Christine Hinwood
Honor: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Honor: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I'll be checking out these and other award winners when I get the chance and will then review them here! I've also read/reviewed Between Shades of Grey which was an honor book for the award for first novels.

Confessions and the "Canon"

2012-01-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

First, my two confessions:

Despite my desire to "keep short accounts" and finish the books currently on my bookshelves, I have already been bitten hard by the bug to keep reading others' (new) recommendations.... I have 4 books in process right now, one of which has languished on my bookcase for a few months, one of which was a library checkout prompted by some review somewhere, and two are Advance Review Copies (ARCs) on my Nook. (sigh) The plus side is that they're all GREAT, so stay tuned!
I've never read Jane Eyre.

I know, right?! How can someone carry on with a literature blog, profess to have been an English major in college, a former English teacher, and have a literature-based MA... and NOT have read Jane Eyre? It's a shocker. (Thankfully, I'm not the only one with this dark and dirty little secret.)

So, I'm going to redefine my goals for this year. First, I'm not going to attempt to read every book that sits on my bookshelves, hitherto unread by me. Second, I'm really going to make an attempt to finally read Jane Eyre. My secret lurks in the back of my mind, calling out "fraud!"

And, let's move onto the idea of the literary canon....

I just wanted to encourage anyone reading this blog (I'm assuming it's primarily parents) to RELAX about making sure little Susie reads every single "right" book. Think about it this way: when Dickens was a kid, did he read Charlotte's Web? No. Did Shakespeare grow up on a steady diet of "the classics" including, but not limited to, Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letter, Wuthering Heights? No. Are there new, wonderful works being published all the time? Yes. Is there enough time to read all the "best" books? No.

So, why do we stress over little Robbie's seeming lack of interest in any of the "great" books? There is certainly merit in providing the young people in your life with opportunities to read well-crafted books, but that quality literature can still be a formative experience with The Secret Garden missing in action. (ouch. that hurts me to even type it. I'm considering scratching it out. Secret Garden is one of my ALL-TIME faves...I have this edition pictured below)

I'd encourage you to offer the best writing you can get your hands on to the young people in your life. But pay attention to what they are interested in reading. Some folks just don't enjoy reading for fun. That's OK. It's important to be able to read well, to make proper inferences, to critique at a world view level, and to appreciate the craft of writing. You can accomplish those things without Farmer Boy or Heidi.

Seek out well written nonfiction (Redeemed Reader has done a nice job promoting some interesting nonfiction). Encourage children to read books that challenge them in between "brain candy" like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Take advantage of movie tie-in's (Hugo Cabret is a big book to tackle, but it's not a hard read. TinTin is a vocabulary heavy adventure comic series from decades ago).

Bottom line: READ (to your kids, with your kids, and in front of your kids)

And, for what the ALA deems the best of the latest children's books, stay tuned. Newbery/Caldecott/Printz Medals get announced Monday!!! I'm hoping to be able to go back and update some of my recent reviews with their new award status.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2012-01-19T14:02:00.001-08:00

I did NOT mean to publish this post yet, so you'll have to bear with me while I edit it "live" as it were....

January is definitely a time for wintry reading, even if you're in a part of the country (like me) that doesn't see much snow. Check out these wonderful snow-y picture books--some new and some old--during your next library visit. I'll include a link to making your own snowflakes at the end as well--a very fun, inexpensive way to enrich your reading experience. (all images and publication info taken from goodreads)

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost, author
Susan Jeffers, illustrator
Dutton
1978

Frost's poem unfurls against the backdrop of Jeffers' marvelous illustrations. There's a Christmas-y twist to this one, but it's still worth reading in January. Good read aloud to all ages.

Snowflake Bentley
Jacqueline Briggs, author
Mary Azarian, illustrator
Houghton Mifflin
Caldecott Medal
1998

I have Megan to thank for my autographed copy of this gem. A picture book biography of Wilson Bentley, a key researcher into snowflakes (he first discovered that they have 6 sides and are all different). Side bars give more information than the storyline text, making this book suitable for multiple ages. Azarian's woodcuts really make the story stand out (as evidenced by her Caldecott Medal!).

No Two Alike
Keith Baker
Simon and Schuster
2011

Two little birds--who look almost alike--marvel at how no two things are alike...even if they look almost alike. Snowflakes start them off, and they continue their explorations against a beautiful, simple winter backdrop. This is one that will delight the youngest readers! To make a six-sided snowflake, check out the author's great tutorial.

The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats
Puffin
Caldecott Medal
1962

Here's a classic that still delights young readers/listeners 50 years later. Keats deservedly won a Caldecott for his illustrations in this simple story of a young boy exploring the night's snowfall.

Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
James Howe, author
Marie-Louise Gay, illustrator
Candlewick
2008

I've mentioned Houndsley and Catina before, but it's worth a reminder here to point out this particular volume--Houndsley and Catina enjoy the softer side of winter in this wonderfully gentle book. An early reader that works for a quiet read aloud to older preschoolers as well.

Poppleton in Winter
Cynthia Rylant, author
Mark Teague, illustrator
Blue Sky Press
2001

We're big Poppleton fans around here! Another easy reader series that's wonderful, but this particular volume shows Poppleton in the snow as well dreaming up ways to entertain himself indoors.

Frog and Toad All Year
Arnold Lobel
HarperTrophy
1984

Since I've mentioned some early readers, I can't NOT mention my FAVORITE early reader series, can I? This book covers more than just snow/winter... but it's a great romp through each season with Frog and Toad.

The Way Back Home--more Jeffers love...

2012-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Way Back Home
Oliver Jeffers
Philomel
2008

Wow! I like this one maybe even more than Lost and Found or Up and Down. The art is so charming. The storyline is just right for preschoolers. The boy in the story finds an airplane in his closet and decides to fly it (of course! what else would you do with it?). He ends up on the moon, out of gas. A friendly little martian lands on the moon, too. Together they figure out how to help each get home.

The pacing is pitch perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners. The art is wonderful. I'm going to seek out more of Jeffers' books for sure! (They've passed the kid test with flying colors, too--my kids gleefully followed the narrative through the pictures (some pages have few words) and pointed out the penguin from other books of Jeffers').

Recommended read aloud to toddler/preschooler and up

Valentine's Day Cards... be still my beating heart!!

2012-01-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

OK, I know I could get all crafty and such with my kids for Valentine's Day... and maybe we will for a few select folks. But, how's THIS for a terrific option for the bibliophiles among us?? They're a wee bit pricey, I confess, but I'm sorely tempted....

Honey for a Child's Heart

2012-01-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

Honey for a Child's Heart
Gladys Hunt
Zondervan
2002

This book is a must for Christian parents. Hunt gives a marvelous rationale for why we should be reading to our children--and what we should be reading to our children--in the light of Scripture. Fully half of the book is her philosophy of reading and her encouragement to us to read to our children.

The second half of the book is comprised of lists--suggestions of what to read to your children that meet her standards given earlier. The books are divided up by age and category. I use these lists often to put books on reserve at the library. I'm rarely disappointed. This is one of the few books I think is definitely worth owning.

But a print-based book inevitably falls behind. While there are truly wonderful books published in the past that shouldn't be missed, there are also new, truly wonderful books being published all the time. I suppose what Megan and I hope to do here on this blog is direct you in one of two ways: to books we think are truly wonderful and shouldn't be missed (both past and present)--in the spirit of Honey for a Child's Heart. The other direction is to critically evaluate some of the new books that are bestsellers or garnering praise from the biggies in the publishing/library worlds (sources such as Horn Book, Scholastic, ALA Awards, etc.).

A Monster Calls

2012-01-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
Jim Kay, illustrator
Candlewick
2011

From the book cover: An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

That about sums it up, folks. I'm not sure how to describe this book, except to say it is NOT a book to simply hand willy nilly to the avid young reader in your life without first looking into it yourself. I'm not sure it's a kid's book (or that it's an adult book).

**Spoiler Alert**
I can hardly write anymore about the book without divulging at least some of the plot. I'll try not to give away the end. A young boy lives with his mother who is losing her battle with cancer. This fact has branded him at school and shaped his current identity (both in his own mind and in those of the people around him). He begins to have nightmares and a monster starts visiting him at precisely 12:07 every night. This monster is, apparently, real since there is always evidence of his visits left in the morning.

There was a point in this book at which I did not want to keep reading: I was convinced that Ness could not end the book satisfactorily for me. If the mother lived, I would feel cheated and that he'd wrapped up the ending too neatly. Life isn't like that much of the time. On the other hand, how in the world could I handle her death? Conor would be left alone, and that was just too sad to contemplate. And what of this horrifying monster?

I'll just say that the ending was perfect. Ness does an amazing job.

The illustrations seem to work for most folks, but I didn't like them much. In retrospect (it's been a few weeks since I read this book), I think they have helped "hold" the book in my mind more than I expected, but I found them somewhat distracting during the actual read.

Recommended for middle school and up.

*P.S. I've labeled this book "fantasy" because of the monster, but I actually think it's better described as "realistic fiction."

updated 1/18/12 to add notes/discussion

Things to Note/Discuss

Do you know anyone who is experiencing anything like Conor? (i.e. family member terminally ill, etc.)
Where is Conor finding hope (if any)? What would you tell Conor?
What do you think you would do if you were Conor's friend at school? Have you had a friend who tried to shun you because of something going on in his/her life?
What is the REAL hope in this situation? (whether or not the book/author seems to share your opinion)

Literary Favorites: Beginning Readers

2012-01-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

My friend Brandy has a great little category on her blog titled "My Favorite Things." She regularly posts on her favorite (something) in literature, most recently her favorite literary mothers. I love this idea--such a great way around the inevitable (and totally unanswerable) question posed to bibliophiles: "What's your favorite book?" I mean, really. Who can answer that? So, to start off our own favorites section here and to highlight an oft overlooked category of children's literature, I'll list my favorite Beginning Reader series. These are so worth seeking out and, unfortunately, (as Brandy and I were bemoaning today) you'll have to head to a library. The "beginning reader" category at the big box bookstores usually stars pop culture remakes that are worthless as far as actual literature goes. But these books are the first ones a child actually reads and they will remember these books. These books will help shape their future literary experiences, so make these early experiences good ones! Great stories! Well-crafted text! Well-executed illustrations (which must walk that fuzzy line between illustrations that help carry picture book texts and merely subtle illustrations occasionally in a chapter book).

A truly great beginning reader series is a work of art. Any author who can craft a well-written (and often well-illustrated) book for this reading level is a genius. Try writing a story someday using such a limited vocabulary and make it something even a grownup wants to read. Try... just try. In the meantime, here are some to look for in your library (in no particular order):

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel (OK, I lied. These are my faves. And my all-time favorite Frog and Toad is Frog and Toad Together; the cookies story is especially appropriate as Girl Scout Cookie season approaches....)
Little Bear by Minarik (and illustrated by Sendak; my all-time favorite and the best read aloud of this series is Little Bear's Visit--especially the goblin story)
Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems (and his single story Amanda and her Alligator)
Poppleton and Friends by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant (and the ones about Henry's cousin, Annie and Snowball)
Cat in the Hat and other Seuss beginning readers*
Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin (single book, not a series)
Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hof (incidentally, this was the very first book I read on my own--I still remember the experience vividly... it was the page with the monkeys on it where the letters suddenly coalesced and became meaningful and I've never been the same!)
Are you My Mother? and The Best Nest by P. D. Eastman (just for the record, Go, Dog Go! drives me crazy)
George and Martha by James Marshall (and I can't even pick a favorite here--they're all awesome!)**

*The most phonetic and approachable for new readers--still, after all these years!
**The George and Martha books are not as phonetic as the others on this list, just so you know.

Lost and Found and Up and Down

2012-01-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

Lost and Found (2005)
Up and Down (2010)
Oliver Jeffers
Philomel

I discovered one of these books at my friend Brandy's house a few weeks before Christmas. I was instantly captivated by Jeffers's illustrations--charming! The storylines are just as good. These books make wonderful library check outs and potential gifts/books-to-own.

They chronicle the developing friendship between a boy and a penguin. Illustrations and text are simple and direct--yet full of depth. Stories are appropriate for young children, but older children will enjoy them as well.

Keeping Short Accounts

2012-01-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

One of my "themes" for this semester (or, maybe the whole year!) is to "keep short accounts." To finish what I start in a timely fashion, to not take on new projects until I've finished what I've already started, and get caught up on the current open-ended issues (Megan should be chortling heartily about now--she and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to taking on new projects... or, at least, dreaming them up).

At any rate, what this means for my reading is twofold:

-potentially not as much (after all, the children do need to be fed, the house cleaned, the homework done, and the clothes cleaned)

-to read the books in my own house that I haven't read yet!! Therefore, fewer "new releases," as it were, and more "old favorites" (I have stacks of books that have been loaned to me and/or picked up at thrift stores and are still unread....). I truly can't bear to part with books that I haven't even read yet! Must read at least part in order to determine if the book needs to vacate the premises or earn a spot on the already, over-crowded shelves.

Hopefully, I'll catch up by summer and can start tackling new releases again.

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great

2012-01-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great (The Knights' Tales)
Gerald Morris
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
2008

I flew through this book on my Nook and chortled the whole way through. I thoroughly enjoy Morris's irreverent take on the Arthurian legend. Kids who are bored with the usual romantic treatment of this era will appreciate Morris's wry authorial intrusions throughout; in describing a fight scene, he often makes comments such as (not a direct quote), "I won't describe the entire fight in detail since fights are always more interesting to watch than to actually read about."

Sir Lancelot quests and adventures his way through this short, illustrated volume, rescuing damsels in distress, fighting jousts and duels, and learning a bit about character development along the way. Prose is perfect for newly independent readers; I think struggling older readers would appreciate these books as well.

Recommended for elementary and up

Sir Gawain the True

2012-01-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

Sir Gawain the True (The Knights' Tales Series)
Gerald Morris
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
2011

A tongue in cheek, witty portrayal of one of the most famous knights of Arthur's round table. This book is perfect for newly independent readers who have a basic familiarity with Arthurian England (you know, knights in shining armor rescuing damsels in distress and fighting gallant jousts/duels for the sake of their honor and their king). Morris's prose is pitch perfect and gives readers a great feel for Sir Gawain and his world. Small line drawings appear throughout the book as well. (The same author wrote Sir Lancelot the Brave, and I can't believe I never reviewed that! Stay tuned....)

Recommended for elementary and up (or read aloud to younger folks).

B is for Bethlehem

2011-12-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

B is for Bethlehem
Isabel Wilner, author
Elisa Kleven, illustrator
1995--paperback
2004--board book

It's a little late to let everyone know about this charming Christmas book, but I'm afraid I'll forget next year! I've had this book for years, and my children have grown to love it as well. The illustrations are sparkly collage style and provide a wonderful twist near the end--you realize a group of children has been acting out the Christmas story. The text is simple couplets that walk the reader/listener through the Christmas story--including a wonderful reminder at the end that Jesus came for everyone! Amazingly, the author created this in ABC order and still keeps the order of the Christmas story. She begins with Augustus and ends with Zanzibar.

I like that this book is different from the usual Christmas story fare; it's a nice counterpoint both in illustrative style and in text format while still reinforcing the biblical story of Christmas. The board book edition makes a wonderful gift for toddlers.

Museum ABC

2011-12-05T19:36:00.000-08:00

Museum ABC
Metropolitan Museum of Art
2002

"Which one do you like?" is the inevitable question as we turn the pages for each letter. A is for Apple of course, and on the opposite page are details of four paintings in a variety of artistic styles with depictions of apples. B is for Boat, C is for Cat, and so on, a wonderful introduction to art and its appreciation from ancient to modern (honestly, I haven't checked to see how recent, but quite a range is represented), art from all over the globe. Every time we share this book I want to go to an art museum for our own treasure hunt to find Dancing, Eggs, Feet, Games, Hair, Insects, Jewelry, and Kisses (our favorite). Highly recommended for all ages.

Museum 123 and Museum Shapes are also available, and I believe they will go on our Christmas lists this year!

Gift Ideas!

2011-12-02T12:56:00.001-08:00

Of course we Literaritea types are going to champion books as the ideal Christmas gifts! But, what if you already want to give a young friend or relative a good book and don't know what to get? I am a "heavy user" of the library, and there are lots of books out there that are good "library checkouts" but not necessarily books I'd like to own. On the other hand, there are some books well worth buying. In addition, never under estimate a young person's delight when he or she gets a book for his or her very own--even if it's not "classic" material. (The "classics" are certainly worth investigating, too, particularly if you find truly beautiful editions.) Here are some possible ideas from amongst recently published books or reissued books; consider them "good reads" and books that delight children as well as books that will interest multiple ages. They are easy to find as well, and you should have time to get them here by Christmas if you order them online.

*These books have been reviewed on our blog, but I can't get their links to work today! So, feel free to check our indices or do a search. So sorry!!

Wordless and/or books for the very young

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (amazon)*
Where's Walrus by Stephen Savage (amazon)*

Books for Preschoolers

Press Here by Herve Tullet (amazon)
Cars Galore by Peter Stein and Bob Saake (amazon)*
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone (amazon)*
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone (amazon)*
Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip Stead (amazon)
A Pocketful of Posies by Sally Mavor (amazon)*
Museum ABC from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (amazon)*

***Early Readers (these also make great gifts for preschoolers who aren't reading yet)

Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems (review) (amazon)
Amanda and her Alligator by Mo Willems (amazon)
The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo (review) (amazon)
Classics such as Frog and Toad, George and Martha, Cat in the Hat, Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Mr. Putter and Tabby, Little Bear, Frances,... never go out of style; when you are first able to read a book all by yourself, it is magic. These are some of the BEST books to buy for kids!!! And some of the ones they will remember the most!!!

Mid-Upper Elementary School/Independent Readers (children's novels)

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (review) (amazon)
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (review) (amazon)
The 100 Cupboards series (fantasy) by N. D. Wilson (review and review) (amazon)
Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson (review) (amazon)

Middle School and Up

Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner (review) (amazon)
The 100 Cupboards Series by N. D. Wilson (review and review) (amazon)
An American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel) (review) (amazon)

Movie Tie-in's (a great way to encourage reluctant readers)

The Adventures of Tintin (one of the first graphic novels) (amazon)
The Adventures of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik--especially for young artists and/or inventors (review) (amazon)

The Rescuers (Retro Reads)

2011-11-14T17:20:00.001-08:00

The Rescuers
Margery Sharp, author.
Garth Williams, illustrator
1959; re-released 2011

I can sing every word of the songs from the animated Rescuers movie--truly, one of the classics of its genre. So, it was with delight that I discovered a month or so ago that it was a book first!! Imagine my added interest when I realized that Garth Williams was the illustrator (he did Charlotte's Web and The Little House books).

And, yes, the book is about two mice named Bernard and Bianca who rescue someone. And there the similarity ends. Disney's animated version did a good job of portraying Bernard's and Bianca's characters, but they completely made up every last little bit of detail and plot for the movie. You might say that the movie was "suggested" by the book.

Still, the book is delightful and worth reading. It reads like an older children's novel, but it would be a terrific selection for precocious child readers and/or those who enjoy old-fashioned animal fantasies. Bernard and Bianca are actually teamed up with another mouse named Nils and they are attempting to rescue a Norwegian poet who's been imprisoned in the formidable black castle. Each member of their brave team contributes valuable service in their quest. All comes right in the end, but there is a part of the ending I didn't see coming...

Recommended for elementary and up; this would make an okay read aloud to elementary aged children and experienced listeners that are younger. It's the kind of book I would have thoroughly enjoyed reading on my own as a child.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Retro Reads)

2011-11-14T16:43:00.001-08:00

The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Paul Galdone
2005 (reprint)

We are HUGE fans of Galdone's folk tales around here; I've highlighted his Gingerbread Boy before. Thankfully, some of his best folk tales are being reissued with newer covers. Yea!!

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Galdone style, is a wonderful telling of this classic folk tale. If you haven't read this to a small group of young children, you're missing out--they will reenact it over and over and over and over. You're liable to hear repeats whenever you go under (or over) a bridge while out and about.

Galdone tells this tale with all the gore you'd expect from a good, classic folk tale. The troll is fully planning to eat these billy goats and the last billy goat does some damage to that mean ol' troll. Kids need that kind of reconciling action at the end of a story like this. Let them enjoy it! Let good soundly trounce evil... even if that means the big billy goat defeating the troll.

New cover at top; old below.

Play With Me (Retro Reads)

2011-11-14T16:32:00.001-08:00

Play With Me
Marie Hall Ets
1976
Caldecott Honor

We don't have only sweet, quiet books here at our house, but I think far too many people in today's society overlook these older, quiet books--so I'm bringing them to your attention during National Picture Book Month. I listed this title in an older post on Restful Illustrations. That's a great description for this gentle book.

A little girl goes outside to play (by herself!) and tries to get various animals to play with her. Eventually, she sits down and is quiet, discouraged perhaps because all the animals have been running away. As she sits there, though, the animals begin to creep back out and be with her.

This is a great book for young children, both for naptime reading time and other times throughout the day. Take it on your next picnic and read it outside! This is the kind of book my kids have enjoyed looking at on their own--something about those peaceful illustrations invite pondering.

May We Sleep Here Tonight? (Retro Reads)

2011-11-14T16:16:00.001-08:00

May We Sleep Here Tonight?
Tan Koide (author), Yasuko Koide (illustrator)
1982

This is a "retro reads" book because it is 20 years old! It has been reissued with slightly adapted cover art (as of 2000), so it is still available. Since this is apparently Picture Book Month (who knew?!), I thought I'd highlight some oldies, but goodies. This is a great place to start because May We Sleep Here Tonight is not as well known as some others. It's not a major award winner or terribly progressive or overtly educational.

It IS gentle and beautiful. A Japanese husband-wife team wrote and illustrated this charming picture book (you'll notice Japanese words in the pictures). It strikes the perfect balance between suspense and reassuring for young children. Small animals are lost in the woods and find shelter in a stranger's house. The stranger returns and there is some initial question about this stranger's benevolence....

Between Shades of Gray

2011-11-14T16:01:00.001-08:00

Between Shades of Gray
Ruta Sepetys
2011

What happens to the people in a country that "disappears" from the map? It depends on the conquering country, but I would imagine that many displaced people groups suffer similar things to Lina and her family.

Lina and her family are part of the large Lithuanian (and Latvian/Estonian/Finnish/etc.) deportation enacted under Stalin's brutal regime in Russia and its neighboring countries. Lina's family is deported to Siberia, where they survive (some of them) for an unbelievable length of time.

This deportation took place around the time of the Nazi Holocaust; we often focus on Hitler's reign of terror and forget about what was going on in neighboring Russia. For that reason, this is an important book. To illustrate how people can treat other humans as completely devoid of the image of God--this is another reason why this book is important. To help us understand why people groups are so desperate to regain their cultural and national identity--another reason why this book is important.

I think Sepetys writes well; I thought the epilogue was unnecessary. She gives some people names; others are identified only by characteristics: "bald man" or "girl with the doll." This technique helps us realize how strangers were thrown together and forced to survive together--and how they managed to do so through helping one another and serving one another (and sacrificing their own good in the process).

I'm not sure that this book is dramatically "better" or even "different" than many Holocaust books; still, it is about a different people group and shows a new angle on that era of history. Official Shades of Gray website.

Recommended for middle school and up

An update to our favorite chai

2011-11-09T14:19:00.001-08:00

If you've tried the popular chai concentrate recipe before, you may be interested in the update to the original that I just posted here. The spices are stronger and it's not as sweet, and my (Megan's) husband actually prefers it without vanilla! Feel free to adjust to your own taste, of course.

I strongly recommend Betsy's scones as an accompaniment. Thanks for joining us!