Book Reviews
FIRST READERS
Little Joe's Big Race by Andy Blackford
Its unique plot and laugh-out-loud ending, paired with engaging illustrations, make this an outstanding choice for beginning readers with basic skills.
***** Stars
First Reader
Reviewed by dluetscher
PICTURE BOOKS
A Place to Call Home by Alexis Deacon, Illustrated by Viviane Schwarz
A group of (what appears to be) hamsters outgrows their hidey hole home in the junkyard and the seven of them decide that they must find new digs. They are afraid to venture out into the world without some kind of protection (very, very small portable holes that they can take with them on their quest), but they soon find enough portable holes for everyone. Well, everyone, except “Brother,” who has to make do with a lampshade. He’s the only one who can see anything, though, so he tries to guide his siblings through the inevitable dangers and obstacles they encounter outside of their hole. What follows is a hysterical adventure as the hamsters (wearing rubber gloves, a boot, a tea cup, a paper towel roll, and a faucet over their heads) attempt to cross the junkyard. They cross the “sea,” climb a “mountain,” struggle through the “desert,” and finally take a peek out from underneath their holes – just in time to see a terrible beast carrying off “Brother.” A very confused junkyard dog is assaulted by hamsters (and left wearing their accoutrements), as they make off with Brother and unleash themselves upon the world. “This place looks nice.”
A fun and imaginative story about expanding one’s horizons, overcoming fears, and finding a new home, A Place to Call Home, will make adults and kids giggle as the hamsters take on the world. Cute hamsters wearing ridiculous things on their heads = winning combination!
* * * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
April and Esme: Tooth Fairies by Bob Graham
April (7 ¾) and Esme (6) are the daughters of tooth fairies. One day, April gets a call on her cell phone – from a client with some very specific instructions – she wants the girls to collect her grandson Daniel’s tooth. She gives them directions to her house and April and Esme rush home to prepare. Their parents are a little concerned that their girls are too young, but eventually they allow them to go (with lots of preparation, reminders, and hugs). The 2 new tooth fairies carry out their mission with only a few hitches (they also check in with mom via cell) and return home after their adventure – sleepy, but triumphant.
Excerpt:
“This is important, April,” said Dad. “To Daniel you are a…a…spirit of the air. You are magic. He must never see you.”
“Magic? Me?” said April.
Mom found a string bag. “For the coin going out – and the tooth coming back,” she said. “Send me a text if you need to,” she added.
This is a sweet, funny, and empowering tale. The parent tooth fairies are willing to let go just enough to allow their girls some independence and they offer plenty of warmth and support along the way. The love and respect everyone in this tooth fairy family has for one another is evident in both text and illustrations. The fairies are hippies – there’s lots of tie-dye, nature-lovin’, windchimes, and other details that adults are likely to notice (do kids even know what hippies are?). They’re just like any other close, caring family, except they have wings!
Picture book
*****Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Blue Chameleon by By Emily Gravett
Emily Gravett’s books are always beautifully, creatively, artfully designed, and Blue Chameleon is no exception. Blue Chameleon is lonely, but looking for friendship. He changes his colors every couple pages as he tries to make himself look like whatever he encounters next. When none of them respond to his overtures, he goes gray like a rock – giving up – then white like the pages of his book, almost disappearing completely. Finally, another chameleon, bright with splashes of color, finds and befriends him and both are deliriously happy. Simple language (one word on each page, plus whatever the Chameleon has to say) describes the colors, patterns, shapes, and identities of each of the creatures/things/inanimate objects Chameleon meets on each page. This is a clever and fun concept book, with a very appealing protagonist.
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Book That Eats People by John Perry, Illustrations by Mark Fearing
This book EATS people. So, if you should find it, be careful. If it makes any funny noises, you’ll want to stop reading immediately, pile stuff on top of it, and probably run for your life – just to be safe. This is the story of the book and the people it’s eaten (a tragicomedy). Originally entitled, “What Happened to Sam Ruskin?” the book has now been labeled, “The Book That Eats People,” so you’ll know how to recognize it. Every effort has been made to rehabilitate it, but the book has acquired a taste for people, and it won’t give them up. Darkly humorous and delightfully scary – interactive reading has never been so dangerous!
Excerpt:
If you hear pages rustling, it’s probably because the book smells something yummy. But if you hear a sound like an octopus in a tub of yogurt, that is the book’s empty stomach and the book is RAVENOUS. If you hear THAT, find someone nearby – FAST – who might taste delicious to a book.
* * * * * STARS
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee
When the Boss Baby arrives, he immediately takes control of his parents’ lives – “He put Mom and Dad on a round-the-clock schedule, with no time off.” Dressed in black footie pajamas that look just like a power suit (with a convenient flap at the back) and a tie, the Boss Baby proceeds to throw his weight around. It’s truly remarkable how many parallels there are between insufferable bosses and squalling babies – Marla Frazee is a genius. This is funny on so many levels. The illustrations are great – showing baby on his baby monitor/walkie talkie/cell phone, sitting with arms crossed and an angry expression in his rolling walker (looks just like an executive’s desk!). Parents (especially ones who’ve had their lives similarly destroyed) will LOVE this. Older siblings should appreciate it, too. Babies, however, are unlikely to see the humor, and will demand overtime and plenty of kissing-up from their parental employees.
* * * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Could Be Worse by James Stevenson
Grandpa always says the same thing, “could be worse,” whenever his grandkids tell him something. They assume that it’s because he leads a very uninteresting life. To spice things up, he tells them a story of his previous evening – when he was abducted from his bed, horrible things happen to him, and he finally returns shaken, but alive. Their response? I bet you can guess…
Funny, but completely unrealistic. Grandpa needs to work on his tall tales, but as a first attempt at leading an interesting life – not bad.
* * * STARS
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
Crichtor is a very special boa constrictor who belongs to an elderly French lady named Madame Louise Bodot. He was a birthday present to her from her son, who was studying reptiles in Africa. Although Crichtor was a surprise (he made Madame shriek when she opened the box), Madame quickly adjusts to her new pet – learning about his species at the zoo, bottle-feeding him (the illustration shows Crichtor coiled in her lap), and making him feel loved and at home (she brings in palm trees and knits him a sweater for the colder months). Crichtor blossoms under her tender ministrations and becomes a most helpful snake (he holds Madame’s books in his coils, helps out at the school where she teaches, even rescues her from a burglary). The whole town comes to know and admire the reptile and he lives a long and happy life.
All I can say about Crichtor is, “How have I not read this before now?” This sweet story will make readers laugh as they watch the very proper Madame Louise bring her snake up to be a model citizen. She obviously adores Crichtor, and you will too. Illustrations are primarily black and white ink with some red and green highlights, and show an expressive Crichtor (I don’t think snakes have eyelashes, smile, or wag their tails like dogs) slithering into all kinds of positions as he follows his elderly mistress around their home and about town.
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
When Liam is out exploring (he seems to be the only one in his city that enjoys being outside) he discovers some plants struggling to grow between the rails of an abandoned elevated railway. He starts tending these plants, even though he doesn’t have much experience with gardening, and he gradually learns how to care for them. The plants flourish and the garden begins to expand and travel along the railway (both Liam and the garden are curious about new places). When winter comes, the garden is covered by snow, but Liam uses the time to prepare for the spring, and others join him in his gardening pursuits (he leaves growing surprises on people’s doorsteps). Years later, the garden and the city and its inhabitants are all flourishing and finding ways to live together. Beautiful, whimsical, bright illustrations of the curious garden’s explorations accompany the text. Some illustrations speak entirely for themselves, as the garden grows into new places and new people become involved with it. This is an excellent choice for talking to kids about green spaces, and to get them interested in gardening and the environment – it shows them that anyone can be involved, anyone can make a difference, and anyone can learn how to do something (like gardening) that they don’t know much about at first. It’s empowering and fun to read.
I was just reading about NYC’s Highline elevated railway being opened as a park – they’ve planted it and added paths, and people can now tread where the trains once ran. Peter Brown actually references the Highline in a note at the end of The Curious Garden – my mother would say this is another one of those glorious coincidences that she’s so fond of (I maintain that it’s all about paying attention – once something catches your eye/brain, you’re more likely to notice other references to it). I love when urban spaces are reverted to nature – there are far too many strip malls and developers and city planners who think that every green spot has to be filled with buildings or managed to death. I think a little wildness, and a little green is good for us all.
Picture book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Fred Stays with Me! by Nancy Coffelt
A young girl shuttles back and forth between divorced parents…different homes, different routines. The one constant is her dog Fred who, though not perfect, is always there. When Fred disrupts Mom and Dad’s respective lives, their daughter reminds them in no uncertain terms that Fred Stays with Me! They see the wisdom in this, and make the necessary adjustments. This book is a positive and relatable picture book choice that reinforces the life-skills of communication and flexibility. It is one of 2011’s Monarch nominees.
***** Stars
Picture Book
Reviewed by dluetscher
Granny Gomez & Jigsaw by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Scott Maggoon
Granny Gomez is not plagued by many (or any, really) of the complaints that normally dog the elderly. She lives comfortably in a nice home, enjoys puzzles, gardening, drumming, and mountain climbing. But she’s lonely. When she mentions she’s thinking of adopting a pet, her young neighbor brings her a baby pig, whom she calls “Jigsaw.” A pig in the house isn’t always the easiest thing, but Granny and Jigsaw get along so well that it doesn’t become an issue until Jigsaw outgrows the house (Granny carries him up and down the stairs every time they have to go out). Granny, enterprising as ever, builds her pig companion a beautiful new barn – as nice if not nicer than her house. When evening comes and it’s time for them to part company, each is lonely, so, the adaptable Granny drags her camp mattress into the barn and beds down with Jigsaw.
Granny often looks the part of the stereotypical grandmother (gray bun, nice dress, sweater), but her hobbies and her pet pig certainly spice things up. She’s so spunky and independent, too – a real problem-solver. Barn-building doesn’t even put the slightest hitch in her get-a-long (she’s prepared, having purchased the book, Barn-Building for Beginners). Funny story with adorable illustrations that pet-lovers who treat their pets like members of the family will certainly appreciate.
* * * Stars
Picture Book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond
This picture book bounces along with delightful rhythm as more and more townspeople join in an impromptu parade. The story invites reading aloud.
***** Stars
Picture Book
Reviewed by dluetscher
Hair for Mama by Kelly A.Tinkham and illustrated by Amy June Bates
A patron recently brought this book to my attention. It is definitely worth sharing! This is a sensitive story about Mom’s cancer. Realistic, yet hopeful, it depicts a family lovingly engaged in coping with her illness. This is a sweet and valuable read-aloud that will help children and their adults understand what to expect when someone they love is facing chemotherapy.
*****Stars (and a tissue)
Picture Book
Reviewed by dluetscher
Have You Seen My Duckling by Nancy Tafuri
Mother Duck has lost one of her ducklings. She – with the rest of her babies in tow - makes the rounds of the pond, asking other creatures they chance to meet, “Have you seen my duckling?” Sharp-eyed young ones will be able to point out the missing duckling in each of the illustrations – he’s not far from his family! Beautiful, realistic illustrations of pond life – including the adorable, downy, brown and yellow ducklings.
* * * * Stars
Caldecott Honor Book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
A House in the Woods by Inga Moore
Once upon a time there were two pigs living in the woods in homes they had built for themselves – a den and a hut. When they return after a walk, they find that a bear and a moose have moved in, respectively. Due to their large size, they destroy the pigs’ homes when they get up to greet them. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, the animals decide to enlist the help of the beavers (who want to be paid in peanut butter sandwiches) to build a new, larger house that they can all share. It takes a lot of hard work, but they all cooperate and eventually the new house is built and the animals move in (after paying their bill). Bedtime finds them all upstairs, snoozing in their new-to-them beds (they got all of their furniture from a junkyard), and readers are invited to say goodnight to each.
A sweet story of cooperation and friendship. There are no problems in this book, only solutions. And the matter-of-fact telling of it (readers will be asked to suspend their disbelief several times for this story to work, but they’ll do it happily) will make you smile, and occasionally laugh out loud. If only human contractors would work for peanut butter sandwiches!
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
I Don’t Like Gloria! By Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain
Calvin is a little dog whose people have just adopted Gloria, a fluffy, prissy cat who doesn’t understand that there are BOUNDARIES, and Calvin doesn’t like her. Gloria gets all of the attention and Calvin just gets in trouble. He’s justifiably upset, too. “The first thing she did was eat out of my bowl. MY bowl. She has her own bowl. It says GLORIA on it. Mine says CALVIN. Can’t she read?” Gloria, meanwhile, revels in her special status until the animals find something they can agree upon. The new pet rabbit, Jeffrey? “We REALLY don’t like Jeffrey!”
Most readers will have some experience having to compete with someone or something else for attention and will be able to relate to Calvin’s story. He is always shown front and center on each right hand page, as if he is talking directly to his sympathetic and outraged audience. His expression ranges from bewildered, to angry (showing a few teeth), to sad (when he tries to chase Gloria up into a tree and she doesn’t even budge). The classic ending will have everyone smiling, except for Jeffrey, who looks a little worried. What’s next? A budgie? A hamster? An anaconda?
* * * * Stars
Picture book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Imagine Harry by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
Little Rabbit is quite dependent on his friend, Harry, especially when it’s time to start school. The thing is, no one else sees Harry, or even seems to realize he’s there.
This warmly reassuring tale underscores the security Little Rabbit has in his relationship with his mother and the inner resources he draws upon in adjusting to school. Eventually Harry moves away and doesn’t write or call.
Deep, rich color and lots of detail make each illustration worth much attention.
***** Stars
Picture Book
Read other Little Rabbit books by this sister duo:
Find these books and more in the library catalog/place a hold
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace
This tongue-in-cheek take on cleaning one’s plate is humorous fun for kids and grown-ups alike. “If you want to grow up to be a big, strong pea, you have to eat your candy.” Papa Pea tells Little Pea. That’s a tall order, but Little Pea acquiesces. And what’s for dessert? You might be surprised.
Corace’s signature ink-and-watercolor style with lots of white space make the Pea family’s antics (ranging from roughhousing with Papa Pea when he comes home to bedtime stories with Mama Pea) stand out and demand notice.
***** Stars
Picture Book
Other winners by this duo:
Review by Jodi Simmons, Youth Services Staff
Find these books and more in the library catalog/place a hold
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Lola is a happy girl. Why? Because it’s Tuesday and Tuesday is library day. Little ones will relate to Lola and appreciate her celebration of books as they shadow her through her adventures from wake-up time to bedtime when, of course, her new library books are read to her. Bright, but soft and fuzzy, acrylic illustrations are engaging and good for group reading, as well as for one on one.
**** Stars
Picture Book
Reviewed by Jodi Simmons, Youth Services Staff
Little Whistle by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Tim Bowers
Little Whistle is a small brown guinea pig who lives in a toy shop called Toytown. He sleeps all day because at night he has adventures visiting all of his friends (the toys) in the shop. On his very first night in the shop, he meet s a sailor who lets him borrow his pea coat, which Little Whistle wears every night thereafter – it gets cold in the shop! He also makes friends with some of the other toys – Lion, Rabbit, Bear, and Violet, to name a few. Even though friends come and go, Little Whistle is happy (and the toys are, too), because his friends are being sold to children who “care for them.”
Little Whistle is just about the cutest guinea pig ever – he’s plump with round beady eyes and a cheerful disposition (Tim Bowers has captured the little grin and bright spirit that all guinea pigs seem to possess). In his pea coat, Little Whistle looks rather patrician (and a bit like Paddington Bear), as he makes his rounds of the shop. This is a gentle, reassuring, imaginative story.
Picture book
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Little Whistle's Dinner Party by Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Tim Bowers
Little Whistle is back! He’s up to his usual nocturnal adventures in the toy shop, too. This time he decides to host a dinner party for all of his friends. First he invites everyone personally to join him at midnight for the party, then he makes a quick trip (via plane!) to the all-night grocery to get some supplies. The party is a great success – especially the vanilla wafer cookies they have for dessert.
Tim Bowers’ illustrations are magical and breathe life into Little Whistle and the other characters. Readers can’t help but respond to Little Whistle’s sweet, sleepy smile as he slips off into dreamland every morning. Another enjoyable entry in this series.
Picture book
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Mad Dog McGraw By Myron Uhlberg, Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Mad Dog McGraw is the meanest dog in the neighborhood, and the little boy who narrates this story hates him. He comes up with all kinds of schemes to get past the dog, but they all end the same way – with Mad Dog McGraw chasing him home. Then, after adopting a stray cat (called ‘Bait’), to distract Mad Dog McGraw, the boy notices something interesting – Mad Dog McGraw does not attack Bait. “Bait licks Mad Dog’s face. Mad Dog nuzzles Bait.” And that’s when the boy has the brilliant idea of making friends with Mad Dog, who maybe isn’t so evil after all.
This is an amusing story about a boy who’s barking up the wrong tree when it comes to understanding the seemingly vicious dog down the block. Illustrations are mixed media (paint, fabric, torn papers) set against colorful painted backgrounds. Goofy and whimsical with a satisfying (and happy!) ending.
* * * Stars
Picture book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Parts by Tedd Arnold
A little boy completely freaks out when he thinks his body is falling apart! He notices that he’s losing hair, skin, what appear to be pieces of his brain, even the stuffing inside of him is coming out – through his bellybutton. Since the “glue” that’s holding him together obviously isn’t working, he uses his dad’s stash of masking tape to wrap all his remaining parts tightly together. When his parents notice his new look, they take some time to explain that what he’s experiencing is completely normal – there’s nothing to fear – and the poor kid is finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Phew!
From the title, Parts, I thought that this was going to be a book about body changes, and to some extent it was! But not at all as I anticipated. Great for read-alouds, this picture book’s rhyming text and silly, imaginative, brightly-colored illustrations will have any audience of kindergarteners or first graders hooting with laughter (and possibly checking to make sure their parts aren’t loose!).
Picture book
***Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
The Princess and the Pea, Adapted and Illustrated by Alain Vaes
In this version of the Princess and the Pea, the prince announces to his gem-obsessed mother that he intends to marry. The queen is concerned that a royal wedding will cost a lot of money, however, and that marriage in general (the prince’s as well as anyone else’s) will deplete the amount of gems available to her (for her collection), so she schemes to sabotage the prince’s plans. She devises a number of silly tests to put the princesses through their paces (hopscotch, yo-yo slinging, jump rope, etc.), and if a princess fails at any one of the tests, she is out of the running. The princesses are all beautiful, talented, intelligent women (seemingly), but each one of them fails the queen’s test. The prince is so irritated that he drives off in a huff – and meets the woman of his dreams, princess Opal. She repairs his car and returns to the palace with him where she passes the queen’s tests and is invited to spend the night, so the queen can test her royal pedigree by making her sleep on a pea buried under 20 mattresses (only a real princess would feel the pea). Opal doesn’t know this, but when she prepares for bed, her opal amulet gets caught in her hair, and that pokes into her back something awful. As a result she gets no sleep and passes the test with flying colors. Additionally, she has the opportunity to mention to the queen that her kingdom is famous for its opals and other gems – this makes them fast friends and the prince’s wedding proceeds without a hitch straight on to happily ever after!
This funny adaptation of The Princess and the Pea will amuse adults and children who are familiar with more traditional tellings of the original tale. I particularly liked that princess Opal drives a tow truck, fixes cars (she’s just doing this trucking thing until she comes of age), and is covered in grease and wearing overalls when prince Ralph meets her. Bright illustrations bring the characters to life (the ones of the princesses at their tasks are especially entertaining), and I loved the little corgis that occasionally show up in and around the palace.
Fairy Tale
Folk Tale
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett, Illustrated by Poly Bernatene
This is one of those books where two infants are switched at birth (or close enough) and raised by unsuspecting families until they come of age and all is revealed! Because of all of the stories they’ve read (where that sort of thing happens all the time) it’s not surprising to the King and Queen when their baby daughter, Priscilla, turns into a pig (it must be the work of some bad fairy!). And because of all the stories they’ve read, it’s not surprising to the farmer and his wife when their piglet, Pigmella, turns into the little girl they’ve always wanted. Piglet and girl both grow up, girl being rather more successful at being a farmer’s daughter than pig at being a princess. But, when the farmer’s wife learns what really happened, she insists that they tell the King and Queen. Will Pigmella have to leave the only home and family she has ever known and live among snooty strangers? Will Priscilla finally be given leave to wallow in the mud?
As it turns out, no. The King and Queen are familiar with the stories where this sort of thing happens all the time, and they’re not about to let some upstart peasant girl marry a prince. But imagine what they have to go through to talk the prince into marrying their princess. This picture book is a real hoot. Priscilla the pig’s gowns, headdress, and expressions are priceless. Kids who are familiar with fairytales and “those sorts of stories” will recognize the similarities and giggle along. Highly entertaining and recommended.
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Pssst! by Adam Rex
A little girl goes to the zoo one day and is called over to each of the animal enclosures (by their inhabitants) and asked to acquire certain things. The gorilla wants some new tires (his tire swing is broken), the bats want some flashlights (for their friend the hippopotamus, who doesn’t like the dark), etc. etc. Everyone has a (mostly) reasonable explanation for the thing(s) they want. The baboon hands over a sack of coins (collected by the peacock from the zoo’s fountain) to pay for it all, and the little girl goes shopping across the street at the “Microcosmart,” which has everything. What do the animals actually use all of the items for? You’ll want to read this to find out. Funny, with lots of hidden stuff in the pictures (bears rereading to make sure you haven’t missed anything the first time through!).
* * * * STARS
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
A Sick Day for Amos McGee By Philip C. Stead and Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Amos McGee is an elderly zookeeper who has a special relationship with some of his charges. He spends quality time with the animals and understands them/makes allowances for them. When Amos stays home sick one day, the animals are concerned. They take the bus over to his house (the bus driver acts as if nothing is out of the ordinary) and check in on him – keeping him company and caring for him while he’s not feeling well. This is a truly lovely and touching story of friendship. The faded illustrations make the book seem much older than its publishing information would indicate (the kindness and care expressed by these unlikely friends, and their ability to relax in one another’s company and spend time just being might also seem ancient to today’s generation). Playful and sweet and funny, and all together delightful – be sure to check out some of the details you may have missed (Amos’ bunny slippers, the penguin’s socks, the bird that takes a hanky to the rhinoceros’ eyes). Reminiscent of Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.
2011 Caldecott Winner
* * * * * 5 Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian.
Skippyjon Jones By Judy Schachner
Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese kitten whose mother sends him to his room after finding him curled up in a bird’s nest – he needs to do some “serious thinking before you leave this room, Mr. Fuzzy Pants, about just what it means to be a CAT.” It doesn’t take Skippyjon long to imagine himself as somewhere (and something) else, though, once she leaves. He takes on the persona of El Skippito, the Mexican Chihuahua and famous swordfighter. As Skippito he helps rid Los Chimichangos (a band of Chihuahuas that he meets in his travels) themselves of the Great Bumblebeeto (a giant bee who has stolen all of their beans). Skippito slays the bee, and all of the beans it had previously ingested come pouring out. When we return to the real world, Skippyjon is laying amidst the destruction of his birthday piñata (candy everywhere!), which was hidden in his closet by his mother.
Skippyjon, with his huge ears and head and teensy-tiny body, does bear some resemblance to the Chihuahua, in this colorful, energetic picture book. Peppered with Spanish words and phrases (as well as some inventive, made-up Spanglish), you’ll find yourself reading (or imagining) this aloud – with the appropriate Mexican-Chihuahua accent. Not sure if this is politically correct, but it sure is fun!
* * * Stars
Picture Book
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Stand Straight Ella Kate: The True Story of a Real Giant by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
Ella Kate grew up in the late 1800s. She started life in the normal way, but when she was 7 years old she started growing rapidly, quickly outdistancing her peers. She didn’t stop growing until she was 22 years old, and by then she was over 8 feet tall! Initially, Ella was very distressed by her height. Like most kids, she just wanted to be able to blend in, and people were often mean to her – calling her a freak. When she was 18, she was offered a job as an “attraction” – to make appearances as the world’s tallest woman, first at a museum and then later as parts of touring shows around the United States and Canada. She took the job and was able to help support her parents, pay off their debts, and become financially independent. The touring allowed her to travel all over the country and see and do things most women could not. She became quite popular back in her hometown of Rainbow, Missouri, for her stories.
This picture book biography of Ella Kate is told from her (fictional) point of view and describes her experiences as she grew, and kept growing! Kate Klise’s storytelling and Sarah Klise’s vivid, colorful illustrations bring Ella Kate to life. An author’s note provides some additional information at the end. Interesting story and woman.
Nonfiction
Picture book
* * * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Starlight Goes to Town by Harry Allard, pictures by George Booth
Starlight the chicken has always dreamed of being a high fashion model in Milan, Italy, but she’s stuck in rural Tennessee. After numerous complaints she is visited by her chicken fairy godmother who tells her how to get what she wants – all she needs to do is wish hard and lay an egg. Starlight hatches a convertible the next day and heads off to the big city. An egg and a plane later she’s in Milan! Things don’t work out for her so well there (people laugh her off the runway), but Starlight is not deterred. She returns to the states (Connecticut this time) where she attempts to lay a house. Uh-oh. Her fairy god mother has taken a vacation and left her nitwitted nephew in charge of all the wishes! It takes some time, but eventually Starlight manages to lay an acceptable house. She adds the mixed up wishes and their results to her never-ending yard sale.
Love this story. This is a chicken who knows how to take the lemons life hands her and make…er, omelettes? Starlight is just so matter-of-fact about everything. She knows what she wants, and once she has the means, she goes out to achieve it. I admire her spirit, her chutzpah, and her google-y eyes. Hilarious, chicken-scratch artwork, and a weirdly lovely story complement each other perfectly.
Picture book
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
JUVENILE FICTION
Juvenile fiction reviews are organized by title. Click on the letter of the first word of the title (ignore the word THE).
The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell
Eleven year old Clara lives with her mother in the old Glendoveer mansion, where mom and another caretaker (Ruby) look after old Mrs. Glendoveer. Clara has never been to school, nor is she allowed to leave the house or have any friends because of her poor health. She has a weak heart, her mother tells her, so it isn’t good for her to get over-excited. Clara chooses to defy her mother’s wishes when she secretly befriends the new girl who has just moved in down the street – Daphne. When Mrs. Glendoveer passes away, she leaves them a legacy – her birds, and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her youngest child, Elliot. When Daphne tells Clara the stories she’s heard about the Glendoveers (that they murdered their own children!), Clara vows to set the record straight. The two girls begin an investigation that puts them in danger, but which ultimately reveals the truth (exonerating Mr. & Mrs. Glendoveer) and frees the restless spirits of the Glendoveer children.
Resourceful children, spooky talking birds, and murderers most wicked! Readers who enjoy a well-told mystery with just a hint of the supernatural will flock to this.
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson Caudill Nominee 2011
It’s 1776 and Isabel Finch (who later becomes Sal Lockton) and her younger sister Ruth are sold to the Locktons when their owner passes away. They were to have been freed under the terms of the last will and testament of their owner, but with no copies of the document to prove it, the girls are stuck. The Locktons take them to New York to serve in their household, where the girls quickly learn how cruel their new Mistress can be. She separates them, then, when she learns Ruth is prone to fits, sends Ruth away. Isabel is devastated.
The Locktons are Loyalists, and there are all kinds of rebel activities taking place in the city. Sal meets another slave boy, Curzon, who tells her that the rebels can help her and her sister escape from the Locktons, so for a time she acts as a spy for the rebels – taking them what information she gathers from Master Lockton’s secret meetings with his Loyalist cohorts. But when Sal is discovered, the rebels do nothing to save her or her sister. Sal is imprisoned, punished (branded with an ‘I’ for insolence), and then returned to her owner, who seems to delight in her torment.
Soon after, the rebels are expelled from the city, and the Loyalists take over. Sal hears that Loyalists will free any slaves who are willing to work for them, but when she offers her services, she is told that they are only taking rebel slaves (they have no desire to alienate Loyalist slave owners). Thereafter, Sal vows not to involve herself in politics – neither side has any interest in *her* cause. Time passes and she is forced to reexamine her decision when she learns that Curzon has been imprisoned. She begins bringing him (and the other prisoners) food and sees to it that they receive medical attention and blankets. She also, occasionally, carries messages to them from their commander. It’s another situation that gets her in trouble. When she’s burned all of her bridges with the Locktons, and when it seems that the rebels may be turning the conflict around to their advantage, Sal breaks Curzon out of prison (hides him in a cart), and together they cross the river into New Jersey – hopefully to a new life.
It took me a few pages to get into this book (the beginning is a little slow), but I found myself caught up in Sal’s life. Well, mostly outraged on her behalf at the injustices and abuse she suffered under the “care” of her new owners. What despicable people. There’s some information that suggests that Madam Lockton is just as much a victim of abuse as she is a perpetrator – her husband beats her, and she’s caught in a marriage that doesn’t seem to hold much affection. She’s also trapped in a place (the New World) she clearly doesn’t want to be (Great Britain would be ever so much more to her liking). It’s really no excuse, however, for her behavior toward Sal and the other servants. I kept hoping for a fairytale ending, and although Sal does escape, there’s no certainty that it will be permanent or that her life will be any better – there’s a war on and they’re not exactly running away from it. The sequel to this is called Forge and will be out in October of 2010. While I’m definitely curious about Sal/Isabel’s fate, I’m feeling overwhelmed – there are so many good things to read!
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald
Charlie Joe Jackson hates to read and he’ll do anything to avoid it. Unfortunately, the arrangement he had with his friend Timmy – to read and summarize all his books for him in exchange for ice cream sandwiches – comes to an end when their parents find out what’s been going on. Is Charlie Joe doomed? No! He comes up with a new plan, a brilliant plan. Unfortunately, it means he’s going to have to sacrifice the love of his life and watch her go out with someone else in order to make it work. But Charlie Joe really hates reading and he will go the distance!
Charlie Joe has written the anti-book, the one for fellow “reluctant” readers like himself (actually, he’d prefer to be known as a non-reader) – short chapters, short words, under 300 pages. He mostly sticks to the script. But he becomes so wrapped up in telling his own story that his “guide” becomes more autobiographical than he originally intended and the chapters, words, and total length grow and grow. Funny, and clever – this should delight boys (especially) who profess that they hate reading; it even offers some good tips!
From the author’s bio:
“Tommy Greenwald is the father of three boys (Charlie, Joe, and Jack) who would all prefer getting a dental checkup to checking out a book. After years of pleading, threatening, and bribing, Tommy finally decided the only way to get his kids to read was to write a book about how to get out of reading. This is the result. And they read it! (So they say.)”
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Conspiracy 365 Series – January by Gabrielle Lord
It is New Year's Eve, and 15-year-old Callum Ormond is chased down the street by a staggering, sick man with a deadly warning, "They killed your father. They'll kill you. You must survive the next 365 days". Following the first attempt on his life Callum is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He is hurled into a life on the run, with a price on his head. He is now a fugitive, isolated and alone. Hunted by the law and ruthless criminals, Cal must somehow uncover the truth about his father's mysterious death and the secret of the Ormond Singularity before the year is up. The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last. Cal has been warned. He has 365 days. The countdown has begun....
This is a great new action adventure series set in Australia. Aimed at 4th through 8th graders it offers a fast paced exciting read that I would recommend for even the most reluctant readers. There will be 12 books published during 2010, one for each month of the year. This is a great concept. Each book is pretty compact and leaves you eager to move on to the next. The non-stop action and the short chapters make this a very approachable and unintimidating book. I am very excited to have this great new series available to our readers.
*****Stars
Reviewed by J Cooper
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (audio version)
Zoe Elias is ten, going on eleven, and she’s planning to be the next child prodigy playing piano at Carnegie Hall. Unfortunately, her father sidetracks her big plans by getting her an organ (the Perfectone D60) instead of the baby grand piano she’s got her heart set on. No matter. Zoe decides to become proficient at the Perfectone D60 first, and to compete in the Perform-O-Rama – a yearly organ-playing competition for kids and adults. Zoe doesn’t really fit in with most of the girls at school, which is ok, because she really hits it off with the boys – particularly Wheeler, who starts coming over to her house every day after school to hang out with her and her dad. Wheeler and Zoe’s dad spend their afternoons baking cookies and breads and delicious tarts while Zoe practices playing the Perfectone D60. Zoe’s dad has a kind of social anxiety that interferes with his ability to lead a normal life (crowds of people make him extremely nervous, as does traffic), and he spends most of his time at home earning mail-order degrees. So, when Zoe learns that her mom won’t be able to take her to the Perform-O-Rama, she’s convinced that she’ll never get her chance to shine. Dad surprises everyone, however (except Zoe’s friend Wheeler who knows he can do anything he sets his mind to), and gets Zoe to the competition where she carries off the 4th place trophy!
I love Zoe Elias. She’s so determined, so unique, so unintentionally funny. She and Wheeler really understand one another on a level that most kids don’t – she gets that his father can’t stand to be home, and he gets that her father has problems going out – and they care about each other in a teasing, but completely honest way (this is how everyone wants to be loved and understood). It was almost heartbreaking at times to read about Zoe’s father’s difficulties, but it just makes his triumph over them all the more exciting. There are stories which seem to be specifically designed to address certain problems or issues, and they feel clunky or deliberate – A Crooked Kind of Perfect had none of these flaws. I believe in Zoe Elias. I highly recommend the audiobook edition – it was fantastic; Tai Alexandra Ricci does an excellent job with Zoe’s voice.
* * * * * Stars
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: 730 (print version)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
The story is about Willow, a girl who lives in Alaska, the land of twenty-below temperatures and sled dogs. You'll experience the story as you read each page of diamond-shaped text.
Willow is so excited! Her parents have agreed to allow her to mush the dogsled out to her grandparents’ house all by herself! So off she goes. But Willow makes a mistake and someone she loves is hurt.
Surrounded by her family and others who watch over her, she discovers that her own small life touches the lives of others more than she thought. This is a touching story is about a young girl who learns that her life is bigger than her own worries about growing up, and that she is noticed and loved more than she knew.
**** Stars
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: 670
Review by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services Staff
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
Danny Dragonbreath is a dragon, but so far he’s not a very good one – he can’t even breathe fire, no matter how much he practices (and he’s getting tired of his dad’s long-winded lectures on the subject). He goes to a school for reptiles and amphibians and his best friend, Wendell, is an iguana. When Danny receives a failing grade on his report about the ocean, he decides to visit his cousin Edward – the sea serpent – who lives in the Sargasso Sea (which is just a quick bus trip away!). He drags Wendell along for the ride. They learn A LOT about the ocean and its creatures and faceoff with a giant squid before returning safely to land. Danny even writes a decent paper! He still can’t breathe fire, though. Maybe in the next book?
Cute black and white and green illustrations accompany this funny (and surprisingly informative) story. This should delight boys – especially reluctant readers – who will empathize with Danny’s desire to shortcut his homework and focus on the important stuff in life – imagination, play, and friends! Plus, they’ll secretly (shhhh) be learning something about the ocean.
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan
This would make a delightful read-aloud for grades 1-4. Author/illustrator, Hannigan, embraces word play and fun in this charming story of a young girl’s quest to be true to herself and be lonely no more. The book’s short chapters and big illustrations make it a good transition to longer juvenile fiction.
*****Stars
Juv Fiction
Reviewed by dluetscher
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Eleven-year-old Calpurnia Tate has the utter misfortune of being the only girl right in the middle of a family full of boys. Because of this, there are some expectations put on her by her mother. Calpurnia struggles to improve her sewing, knitting, and cooking because in 1899 a girl is expected to do these well. She really prefers being in the company of her grandpa, studying natural selection and variation of species. Calpurnia’s growing passion for the world of science causes her to question the direction of her future. Should she do what she loves or do what she is expected to do?
****Stars
Reviewed by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: 830
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Kendra and Seth believe they are in for a long boring visit at their grandparents’ country home. The wooded property begs to be explored, but they are not allowed to enter the woods or go into the barn, and there are so many rules, they will never have any fun!
Deciding to bend the rules, they venture out and discover that the rules are in place to protect them from the wild and often dangerous inhabitants of the property. Much like an animal preserve, Fablehaven is a refuge for mystical and magical creatures, and their grandfather is the caretaker!
With some foolish choices, Kendra and Seth have stirred up a lot of trouble, not to mention the anger of the fairies. How can they combat their strong magical attacks on their family?
This 2011 Rebecca Caudill nominee is sure to fascinate fans of the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series.
***** stars
Grade level recommendation 4-8; Lexile: 700
Reviewed by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services staff
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
Seikei is the son of a merchant in ancient Japan, but he longs to escape his current station and become a noble samurai – one of the knights of Japan. He gets his chance when he notices a mysterious figure in the dark while he and his father are staying at an inn. When he speaks up about what he’s seen to save the lives of some innocent paper merchants, Judge Ooka, the investigator decides to let Seikei help him solve the crime he is investigating surrounding that mysterious figure. Along the way Ooka gives Seikei the opportunity to prove that he has what it takes to be a truly great samurai.
A valuable jewel was stolen from the samurai Hakuseki, who meant to deliver it to the shogun as a present. A fake jewel was found among the belongings of the paper merchant and his daughter. Seikei glimpses the thief, but thinks he has seen an evil spirit of some kind. He discovers that it was a real person who disappeared beneath the floor of the inn and escaped through a tunnel. Judge Ooka suspects that one of a troop of kabuki players has stolen the jewel and they set off in pursuit. Seikei confirms this suspicion – Tomomi, whose real name is Genji Takezaki, is the thief. But Judge Ooka does not apprehend him, even when he knows the culprit’s name. Instead, they wait to see how events will play out – to find out what motive Genji had in stealing the jewel and what he plans to do with it.
What follows is a great samurai mystery, with intrigue, drama, and honor. The criminals and the dishonorable all die in the end and during a wrap up tea ceremony the Judge reveals to the shogun how he and Seikei made their discoveries. The shogun allows the Judge to adopt Seikei, letting him follow his dream of becoming a samurai. Fast-moving, detailed, and engaging. For those who like mysteries and those fascinated by ancient Japanese culture.
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
What would you ask a magic mirror if you knew it had to tell you the truth? Where would you go if you had a magic flying carpet available to you? It’s so much fun to imagine, and this book will bring you right into the middle of a magical adventure set in a library. Not a library, exactly, but a repository where many ordinary and not-so-ordinary objects are stored and borrowed, like magic mirrors and flying carpets! Elizabeth is given a job at the repository, and learns all about the Grimm Collection, which contains the magical objects from the Grimm fairy tales. But objects are going missing and being replaced by fakes! It’s up to her fellow pages at the library to find out what is happening, and to rescue one of their own.
****Stars
Reviewed by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: 600
Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
Heart of a Shepherd is a touching and memorable story of family loyalty and faith. Ignatius "Brother" Alderman, nearly twelve, is in charge of the family ranch when his father leaves for Iraq with his Army Reserve Unit. Birthing calves, raising newborn lambs, and fighting wildfires are all part of a rancher’s duty, and Brother accepts it all courageously. He is committed to doing his father’s work on the family ranch while his father is in Iraq. However, he struggles with a feeling that he must go a completely different direction with his life. Through difficult circumstances, Brother learns that family is important, but it’s also important to follow your heart.
***Stars
Reviewed by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: 850
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
I love how this book is sprinkled with Japanese words. And not just ones that you would hear anyway, but things like “kira-kira” – glittering - or “katsu” – triumph. This is the story of Katie’s family, how they move from a small Japanese community in Iowa to an even smaller Japanese community in Georgia. Katie, from the time she is born, is encircled in the love of her older sister, Lynn. And later, Katie offers the same kind of love to her younger brother, Sam. Their lives are difficult, for their parents work long hours to support them all. Their father works as a chicken sexer and their mother processes chicken in a meat packing plant. The Georgia community where they live isn’t accustomed to Japanese people, and don’t make them feel particularly welcome. And things go from bad to worse when Lynnie becomes ill. For years they think that she’s anemic, but later they learn that she has lymphoma – after that diagnosis, Lynn’s health slowly declines and it is Katie who has to care for her.
I think that Japanese is the perfect language for finding great beauty in the world with small perfect words. There’s so much in this story that glitters, despite all of the hardships that the family faces, and so much love. If Lynne is the smart, responsible one, Katie is the silly one. Her storytelling voice sounds the perfect note – humor gently stirred into sadness. The idea of Katie and her siblings speaking with southern accents cracks me up every time I think about it.
* * * Stars
Grade level recomendation: 5-8 Lexile: 740
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher
Henry Grim, 14, was a servant at the exclusive Midsummer School up until recently. When one of the Midsummer professors caught him borrowing textbooks, he decided to tutor him instead of reporting him to school administrators for theft. Henry Grim then became one of the most promising students Midsummer School never had the privilege of teaching! Encouraged by his tutor to take the entrance exams for Knightley Academy, Henry became the first commoner ever to be accepted as a student. His acceptance paves the way for 2 other unique first years – Adam (who is Jewish), and Rohan (who is of East Indian descent) – who become his roommates and best friends. While the boys study chivalry, military history, medicine, fencing, languages and other disciplines related to knighthood, they must put up with their classmates ridicule and scorn. As the pranks played on them become more serious, however, the boys begin to suspect that someone else is behind them – someone who will do anything (even committing murder) to get them out of Knightley. Will Henry be able to survive the year without landing in an early grave?
I was up until 1am this morning finishing this - it was really that exciting! Although there's no magic involved, this boarding school tale reminded me strongly of the Harry Potter series. If you're like me and you wish there were more Harry Potter books, you'll definitely want to try Knightley Academy. This is a great suspenseful read!
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian!
The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
Princess Patricia Priscilla is about to turn 16 and have her birthday ball – the one where she must choose a suitor. She’s trying not to think too much about this, but there’s little else for a princess (in her kingdom, anyway) to do.
After talking to her maid, the princess decides to sneak out of the castle and attend classes at the villagers’ school – impersonating an impoverished peasant girl. She introduces herself to the rather handsome teacher as “Pat,” and soon discovers that she has a passion for learning and for helping others.
Meanwhile, preparations for the ball continue apace and we are introduced to the princess’ truly ghastly suitors. There doesn’t seem to be much she can do to get out of marrying one of them (or in the case of the conjoined twins, TWO), but, circumstances work in her favor and everyone lives happily ever after (except maybe Prince Percival – a vain fellow who accidentally burns off all of his hair). A quick, breezy, fun (and funny) fairytale.
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
The Line by Teri Hall
More, more, more!!! That’s what I wanted after finishing “The Line” by Teri Hall. In this dystopian tale, Rachel learns that the area known as “Away” used to be a part of her own country. This area was shut off completely from the rest of civilization as a protection against a nuclear attack. Everyone living there was left to live or die on their own, without assistance from the government of the Unified States. Generations later, Rachel and her mother, formerly an anti-government collaborator, are living a quiet and unobtrusive life, when Rachel receives a message from across the Line. At the same time, trouble reappears at their door, and Rachel and her mother receive help from an unexpected source. Is it safer for them to stay or to Cross the Line?
**** Stars
Grade level recommendation: 4-8 Lexile: unavailable
Review by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services Staff
The Unwanted by Lisa McMann
I have to say I was disappointed in this book. I had read the reviews that promised a blend of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. They exclaimed the book as being a “creative adventure”. I did not find either to be true, however. I got through half of the book and the story never got any more developed than the blurb about the story on the book cover. I found the main character, Alex, to be mainly without any personality. There were other supporting characters with equally bland personalities, especially two girl characters who were nearly indistinguishable from one another. The story and world building did show some creativity, however I found it to be lacking in detail and without needed explanation of the most unusual aspects of the setting. Everything different or surprising or startling was simply explained away by a vague “magic”. A lot of “telling” is going on in this story, without much of the “showing” that could make this a real attention-getter. I stopped listening to this book halfway through. If you find that you liked it, please let me know!
I give this 1 star (or, don’t waste your time). If you want some well-told, appealing stories in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genres try these:
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull
Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Martin is a young beetle who lives in the walls of the Pompaday’s apartment in New York City. The beetles don’t think much of Mr. & Mrs. Pompaday or bouncing baby William, but they are quite fond of 11-year old James (Mrs. Pompaday’s son from a previous marriage). Martin wants to do something special for James on his birthday, so he uses James’ new drawing set to make him a picture. The tiny, precise drawing is much like the style of Albrecht Dürer. James loves it, but when the Pompadays and his father Karl see the drawing, they think he made it. There’s no way he can explain (nor does Martin want any fame or notoriety) what really happened, so James allows them to believe this. Karl takes James to see the Dürer exhibition at the MET and shows a couple of the curators (Christina and his friend Denny) James’ drawing. Upon seeing it, Christina hatches an elaborate scheme to have James forge one of Dürer’s sketches to foil the plans of a Dürer-loving art thief. Martin becomes embroiled in their plans and manages to pull off an amazing forgery and discover the identity of the criminal.
Martin and his family are pretty impressive for a bunch of beetles! Not only is Martin artistically talented, but he also manages to work out a way of communicating with James – despite not being able to write or understand written English. His ingenuity and their cooperation enable them to solve the mystery behind the Dürer heists. Unfortunately for James, he’s still stuck being a Pompaday, but he’s a resilient, good-natured kid and he doesn’t let it get him down. Exciting story! Kids will be searching their cabinets for beetles to befriend.
* * * STARS (Pretty Good)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Mockingbird By Kathryn Erskine
Caitlin’s (5th grader) brother Devon was killed in a devastating shooting at the Virginia Dare Middle School and she’s not sure life is ever going to be the same. She misses him, but she has Asperger’s syndrome, so her way of relating to people and the world is a little different than normal. It doesn’t help that Caitlin’s dad is falling apart with grief, either. Although she’s different, Caitlin struggles to understand other people. Devon used to help her with this, but now she’s only really got the social worker at the school who really understands her and she wants Caitlin to step out of her comfort zone and try to make some friends. When her dad tells her that she has to find “closure” Caitlin (after much thought and consideration – what does ‘closure’ even mean?) decides that the thing that would most help them both is to finish Devon’s Eagle Scout project – making a wooden Mission chest. This, and her friendships with two other kids who were also profoundly affected by the school shootings (a 1st grader, Michael, whose mother was killed by the shooter, and fellow 5th grader, Josh, whose cousin was the shooter) help Caitlin through her own unique grieving process and open her up to learning something about empathy.
Kathryn Erskine does a lovely job of rendering Caitlin’s world, the world of an Asperger’s person. Because this is written from Caitlin’s point of view, readers are better able to understand her than the other characters in the story do, which creates a lot of sympathy for her. While it’s clear that she’s different, she’s not so different that we can’t understand her situation and empathize with it. The school shootings are somewhat softened through Caitlin’s eyes, but you can tell how much more intensely other people (like Caitlin’s dad) are affected by their losses. Touching, somewhat sad, but ultimately empowering.
* * * * Stars
Realistic Fiction
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
Find this book in the library catalog/place a hold
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
2011 Newbery Medal Winner
12-year-old Abilene Tucker’s father has raised her “on the rails”, but now he has chosen to abandon her in the town of Manifest where he spent his youth, as he heads back to his wanderer's life. Abilene discovers a hidden box of keepsakes, which leads her and her new friends on a search for a spy. The objects in the box, (a fishing lure, a silver dollar, a skeleton key among other items), help illuminate the often humorous, occasionally sorrowful stories of Manifest in the year 1918 and bring Abilene closer than ever to her father. Manifest is full of deep secrets and richly portrayed characters including Shady, a sometimes barkeep and preacher; Hattie Mae Harper, the “reporter about town”; and Miss Sadie, gypsy woman and Diviner. The unforgettable story of Abilene and how she accepts the people of Manifest as family, and how the town embraces both her and her father as their own, is splendidly told and a pleasure to read.
Recommended for ages 9 and up. Lexile 800.
*****Stars
Reviewed by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services Staff
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! By Mrs. Bunny,Translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny have just decided (one of Mrs. Bunny’s many whims) to become detectives when Madeline’s parents (humans) go missing. Madeline is a responsible young girl, who is about to graduate from the 5th grade, and she’s accustomed to taking care of her folks. When they are abducted by foxes, she is sick with worry about them (how will they manage without her?). All Madeline has to work with is a ransom note (signed “The Enemy”) and a mysterious recipe card written in code. Her famous decoder uncle is no help – he falls into a coma almost as soon as Madeline arrives – and the bunnies, while very sweet and attentive to Madeline’s needs, are not exactly equipped to be detectives (it takes more than natty fedoras, as they discover).
If you’re not laughing hysterically as the Bunnys bumble through this enticingly odd mystery, you’re doing it wrong. Funny and very quotable. Read it ALL. I hope the Bunnys and Madeline return for another installment. I look forward to it.
Excerpt:
Mrs. Bunny: “I think we should become detectives.”
Mr. Bunny: “That’s it?”
Mrs. Bunny: “Yes.”
Mr. Bunny: “What about my job with the carrot marketing board?”
Mrs. Bunny: “Quit.”
Mr. Bunny: “And your job collecting lint and creating art from it?”
Mrs. Bunny: “That is not a job, that is a calling. But to heck with it. Let’s go buy fedoras…”
Mr. Bunny: “…Detective licenses?”
Mrs. Bunny: “I think fedoras are enough. Anyone who sees a bunny in a fedora will not feel the need to see a license.” (pp. 55-56)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Savvy by Ingrid Law
In the Beaumont family, when your 13th birthday rolls around you discover what your “savvy” is. Having a savvy is a lot like having a special skill or talent, except that there’s no way to tell what your savvy is going to be until it shows itself. Like Mibs’ brother Fish, who found that his savvy can make storms and hurricanes blow up if he gets too near a large body of water. And look out if he gets upset!
When Mibs’ turns 13, discovering her own savvy is the least of her worries, as she gets caught up in a whirlwind adventure on a pink bus, with the cops searching for her and her family! I found myself wanting to be a part of her family, with her perfect mom, and her electrifying older brother! See if you agree!
***** Stars
Grade level recommendation: 4th-8th Lexile: 1070
Review by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services Staff
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
Richard Peck is an author of several award-winning historical fiction books for kids. In A Season for Gifts, he has written another exceptional story. Set in the 1950’s, this is the story of 12-year-old Bob, his family and his experiences as the new kid in town. This novel is filled with remarkable characters, including the older teenage sister who begins sneaking out at night, the younger sister who still believes in Santa Claus, and the odd neighbor lady who sits in her garden at midnight with a shotgun, in order to catch kids up to no good. This is a story about true friendship and good neighbors, told with plenty of rollicking fun and adventure.
**** Stars
Grade level recommendation: 3rd-6th Lexile: 690
Review by Anne Kunzen, Youth Services Staff
Skellig by David Almond
In his dilapidated garage, Michael hears movement, and digging through the dirt and junk, he finds a creature that seems to be part man and part bird or angel. He is filthy, smelly and apparently near to starvation.
As disturbing as this discovery is, it is the least of Michael's worries. The new house is a mess, his parents are distracted, and his brand-new baby sister is seriously ill. Still, he can't get this mysterious creature out of his mind-even as he wonders if he has really seen him at all.
Michael and his new friend Mina visit the creature whose name is Skellig. They bring him food and drink and move him to a safer location. As the children get to know and help Skellig, they have some magical moments together. Skellig begins to transform under their care and concern, looking younger and quite beautiful.
Told in beautiful flowing prose, this unusual tale has a magic of its own.
It was the Winner of the Carnegie Medal and Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award. Also in 2007 it was selected by the judges of the Carnegie Medal for children’s literature as one of the ten most important children’s novels of the past 70 years.
A truly unusual wonderful book that I highly recommend for 4th grade and up.
***** Stars
Reviewed by J Cooper, Youth Services
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Dwight, 7th grader, is kind of a dork. He’s awkward and he’s always doing weird things that make it clear he’s lacking in the social skills department. He’s also an origami folding genius. His greatest creation so far is an origami Yoda, which gives advice when Dwight puts him on his finger. Other kids are drawn to Origami Yoda, who seems very wise (even though they are simultaneously repelled by Dwight). The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is a compilation of stories about Origami Yoda collected by Tommy, who desperately wants to know if Origami Yoda is for real – can his advice be trusted? Everyone seems to have their own theories about Origami Yoda and his advice, and no one knows for sure if Yoda is actually Dwight or if Dwight is channeling some mysterious Force. In any case, Yoda’s advice seems to be spot on in most cases, and Tommy is going to have to trust him if he wants to get the girl.
This bizarre little book is short and amusing. It looks well-worn, as if the kids (especially Tommy) have gone through it over and over again in their quest to understand Origami Yoda. Each of the stories is decorated with various doodles and followed by a commentary from Tommy and Harvey. There are even instructions at the end to help readers create their own Origami Yoda (will it have the answers they seek?). This should tickle middle-grade readers’ fancy. Older readers will probably roll their eyes.
Humor
Realistic Fiction
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Hansel and Gretel are royal siblings, born to royal parents who chop their heads off (they’re fine, don’t worry!) to show their loyalty to their steadfast servant, Faithful Johannes. When the children find out what their parents have done, they run away (to find better parents – ones who aren’t likely to separate their heads from their shoulders) – to the woods where they move in with the woman (familiar to most of us as ‘the witch’) with the delicious house (who just so happens to like children – to eat – more than anything). After foiling her plans (for dinner), the children find another family that seems to want them, but when they willingly give up their seven sons (who are magically transformed into sparrows) in order to take Hansel and Gretel in, the children feel terrible and go off on a quest to bring them back. Gretel ends up chopping off her own finger to rescue the sons. The children’s further adventures include a short stay in a wild wood (where Hansel turns into a beast), a trip down to Hell, an encounter with a serial killer, and, eventually, a return home, where they defeat the terrible dragon that has been laying waste to their kingdom.
The original tales recorded by the brothers Grimm were often violent and disturbing. Over the years they’ve been rewritten and altered to be more child-friendly (or ‘boring’). Adam Gidwitz puts the horror back in this retelling of Hansel and Gretel – and you’ve probably never heard this version before. Throughout the narrative, the author issues warnings whenever things are about to get gruesome (so that any sensitive children can leave the room, or plug their ears). He also takes a lot of pleasure in faking out his readers by continuing the story just when you think it’s come to an end (though, obviously, there’s got to be more when you’re only a few pages in). This retelling definitely makes Hansel and Gretel much more interesting as characters (and their adventures aren’t bad either). Adam Gidwitz would say that it’s not for the squeamish, but in reality, he doesn’t dwell overmuch on the gore or the violence. And, there are, after all, ample warnings!
* * * Stars
reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Minli lives in a small, poor, rural village in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain (called so because it is barren of life). Her parents – Ma and Ba – work hard cultivating crops, but barely manage to get by. Ma is bitter and resentful about their misfortune and poor circumstances, and when Minli uses one of her copper coins to buy a goldfish to brighten up their lives, Ma scolds her for wasting money. Ba, however, remains positive and hopeful, and he shares this through his fantastic stories. Minli loves her father’s stories, and after hearing one, she decides that she will try to change her family’s fortune by seeking out the Old Man of the Moon, who is said to reside on Never-Ending Mountain. She learns the secret of how to find him from her goldfish, whom she releases into the Jade River.
Along the way, Minli meets Dragon (a dragon who, for some reason, cannot fly) and convinces him to join her in her quest – if *she* can ask the Old Man of the Moon for help, surely Dragon can as well. They set off on an adventure that lasts many days. Minli’s parents are worried sick about her when she disappears. When they try to follow her, however, they find the goldfish seller, who convinces them to return home and wait for her return. He gives them a special goldfish, which begins speaking to Ba, and offers him advice and comfort. Minli’s journey takes her to new places and she meets many new people (and thinks of many new questions to ask) before finally reaching the Never-Ending Mountain. When she finally stands before the Old Man of the Moon, however (alone, because Dragon is not able to cross the bridge to the mountain), she is only allowed one question. Minli must decide which is most important.
Grace Lin, the author, read volumes of Chinese stories and myths when she was a child and later, as an adult and an author, she wanted to share and explore them in her writing. Some of the tales she shares in this book are reflections of the stories she grew up with, others are her own. Together, they provide the inspiration and backdrop for Minli’s adventures. For readers who love folk and fairytales and stories with Asian flavor – this will delight!
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Find this book in the library catalog/place a hold
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
When 11-year old Zoë’s mother passes away, she is taken in by her uncle, Dr. Henry Royster. Both are accustomed to being on their own – Zoë had to take care of herself because of her mom’s mental illness and poor choices, and Henry lost wife #3 and became an artist (he makes large metal sculptures) – and both are rather independent and stubborn. Like the feral cat, Mr. C’mere, that Zoë attempts to befriend, she’s a little wild and slow to trust. When Henry forces Zoë to attend school (5th grade, so she can be with her ‘peers’ and where she’s terribly, terribly bored) for the first time in her life, Zoë takes to keeping a journal – one of the assignments her sympathetic teacher gives her. She begins writing her memoir, and is furious when her classmate Hargrove steals it and uses it to find her secret cabin in the woods. Zoë has another secret, too, about the white deer (Sister) and its human shadow, Wil. When Hargrove is injured and Wil is suspected, Zoë finally has to decide whether or not to confide in Henry and the other people who she is just coming to know and love.
Although Zoë is just a kid, her uncle treats her with respect and gives her a lot of leeway and lenience – he seems to understand that she needs to do things her own way, and that that way may not necessarily be wrong. It’s a delicate balancing act, because he wants to protect her and keep her safe from harm, but safety isn’t always Zoë’s priority. Zoë’s experiences with her mother have made her older and wiser beyond her years, but they’ve also made her cautious about opening up to and loving other people. She has a lot of conflicted feelings, too, which she’s working through on her own. Readers who get inside her head will fall in love with this smart, tough little girl. An extremely satisfying read with excellent, well-developed characters.
It’s interesting to note that Clay Carmichael got the idea for this story from a tom cat she gentled and tamed. There are chapters from the cat’s point of view interspersed with Zoë’s observations/memoir.
* * * * Stars (Great)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Wonder of Charlie Anne by Kimberly Newton Fusco
This is the poignant story of Charlie Anne and her family during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Charlie Anne's mother has recently died in childbirth and her tough unemotional cousin, Mirabel has arrived to take care of the family. Life is a never ending round of chores for Charlie Anne who misses her mother desperately. The final straw for her is when her father and older brother leave the farm and head north to try and earn money building roads.
Life changes when the neighbor, Mr Jolly takes a new wife, Rosalyn. She is very different from the local women and even dresses in brightly colored pants. She also has an African American girl, Phoebe with her. Charlie Anne becomes friends with Phoebe and soon learns that racial prejudice is rife both throughout the town and at home.
Despite the tough times and hardship there is also much humor and Charlie Anne's personality is totally engaging. She faces the unfairness of life and finds ways to change things for the better.
A very enjoyable read especially for those who like historical fiction and learning about the way people used to live.
Recommended for Grades 4-8
Stars ****
Reviewed by Jayne Cooper, Youth Services
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Guinea PI: Hamster and Cheese #1 by Colleen AF Venable & Stephanie Yue
Sasspants the guinea pig lives in a pet shop with a bunch of other animals. The owner of the shop, Mr. Venezi, has really bad eyesight, though, and doesn’t know much about the animals he’s selling. As a result, most of their cages are grossly mislabeled – the hamsters are “koalas,” the gecko is a “moose,” the chinchillas are “camels,” and the mice are “walruses.” Sasspants loves to read, and just as she’s about to get to the end of her book, she’s interrupted by a Hamster/Koala who thinks she’s a private investigator (somehow the ‘G’ in ‘guinea pi…’ has fallen off her cage), and wants her to help. Mr. Venezi’s lunch (a provolone, tomato, and lettuce sandwich) has been stolen every day, and he’s been leaving it right outside the hamster cage, so he blames them. The hammies want to clear their good names – they can’t even stay awake during the day, so there’s no way they’re the sandwich thieves – and Detective Pants is the only one who can help them!
This is a truly hysterical kids’ comic (adults will also be rotfl); there’s a lot of subtle humor and inside jokes that adults will appreciate, too. The pets are all incredibly cute (especially the hamsters with their big, pleading eyes), and the artwork really embodies the spirit and character of the animals it depicts. Readers will be able to follow along with Detective Pants’ investigation – finding clues in the pictures that will help them solve the mystery of the missing sandwich. Sasspants and her faithful Hamster associate, Hamisher, finally put everything together in a very satisfying conclusion. This is a very silly book, and very silly people will enjoy it immensely. I shall eagerly await the next installment!
* * * * Stars
Grade level recomendation: Lexile:
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
JUVENILE FICTION - ILLUSTRATED
Crow Call by Lois Lowry, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Liz’s father has recently returned from the war and he is taking her to hunt the crows that destroy their crops. Liz is wearing her new flannel shirt (which is longer, almost, than she is), and she’s got the important job of sounding the “crow call,” a type of whistle that sounds just like the crows. As they walk through the forest together after breakfast at a local diner, Liz asks her father about the war – whether he was scared. They talk, too, about the crows – Liz is worried that they have families, nestlings that will miss their parents. Her dad tries to reassure her that they’re doing the right thing, but Liz’s concern has affected him as well. When Liz calls the crows, hundreds of them answer her call, landing in the trees around her. They don’t shoot any of them. “My father comes down the hill to meet me coming up. He carries his gun carefully; and though I am grateful to him for not using it, I feel there is no need to say thank you – Daddy knows this already.”
Crow Call is based on Lois Lowry’s childhood memories of her father coming home from the war in 1945, and their experience “hunting” crows together. There’s a picture of Lois Lowry (at the end of the book) as a little girl, wearing the enormous flannel shirt her dad bought her. The sepia-toned illustrations give this story an old-time look and feel – as if they’re taken from old photographs or old memories. A closer examination reveals other details about the time period – the prices in the diner are obviously from “back in the day” – you can’t get a hamburger for 49 cents anymore. Sweet, nostalgic story of a girl’s relationship with her dad.
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Junkyard Wonders By Patricia Polacco
Trisha talks her parents into letting her stay with her dad for a year in Michigan – she has a learning disability, just learned to read over the summer, and she’d like to start school in a place where no one knows that she “used to be dumb.” Things don’t go exactly as Trisha planned, however. She is placed (once again) in a special class, called the “junkyard” with teacher Mrs. Peterson and other special learners. Her summer friend, Kay, won’t play with her now that she knows Trisha’s one of the “junkyard” kids. Trisha is upset initially, but she soon adjusts to life in her new school with her new classmates. They have a lot of fun, and learn so much, but they still face a lot of teasing and bullying from kids in the regular classes. Mrs. Peterson takes them all to an actual junkyard to show the kids that junk is really full of possibilities. Each of the class tribes takes something back from the yard to transform, and several weeks later they present their inventions. Trisha’s group has repaired and improved a model airplane. The whole class wants to see it fly, so they all pitch in to help raise money to buy a motor, then, the whole class attends a launch party – on the roof of the school. It’s a triumphant moment for everyone.
The Junkyard Wonders is autobiographical – Patricia “Trisha” Polacco really was dyslexic and she really was a part of Mrs. Peterson’s junkyard. Her memories of that time were so powerful and positive that she wanted to share them with everyone, by writing this book. At the very end she shares some of the other students’ stories – how they went on to become fashion designers and aeronautical engineers and, in her own case, a famous author! What a wonderful teacher Mrs. Peterson must have been to have so inspired her students to appreciate themselves, face their unique challenges, and explore their talents. The bright and cheerful illustrations show all of the energy and wonder in these special young folks.
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
The Man in the Moon, The Guardians of Childhood book1 by William Joyce
The Man in the Moon (MiM) used to be a little boy, who flew around the galaxies in his parents’ airship, which could pull in its sails and disguise itself as a moon as necessary. When Pitch, the King of Nightmares, learned of MiM’s existence (MiM never had nightmares), he vowed to find and capture him. MiM’s parents and his protector, Nightlight, were able to save MiM, but at the expense of their own lives – the damage to the airship, however, was irreparable and it became a moon for true, orbiting the Earth. MiM and the survivors of the battle (Moonbots, Moonmice, Lunar Moths, and Glowworms) lived on the moon and watched the inhabitants of Earth. MiM was especially interested in children like himself, and whenever their lost balloons made it up to the moon, he could hear all of their hopes and dreams. When MiM grew up, he found ways to look out for the children on Earth – swearing to guard them against nightmares and the darkness.
A clever, imaginative, and steampunk-flavored story about the origins of the moon (and its possible denizens) with beautiful illustrations (dreamy and nightmarish, where appropriate, with lots of dark blues, and glowing stars and worms). A little scary and dark when Pitch enters the story, but ultimately reassuring. The children of Earth need not be afraid when they have the Guardians of Childhood looking out for them!
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle
In the space of just a few years, biologist Karen Lips noticed a serious decline in the population of golden frogs living in the mountain forests of Panama. She discovered massive quantities of dead frogs and was perplexed and concerned about the cause of their deaths. Sandra Markle follows Lips’ investigation into the near-extinction of these tiny frogs who are not only special to Panamanians as a national symbol, but also fill an important role in their ecosystem and food chain.
Although, occasionally over-wordy with explanations (within the text) of various vocabulary words/concepts with which its intended audience may be unfamiliar, this scientific mystery and its gradual unraveling (paired with brilliant, close-up photographs of the frogs) will fascinate budding biologists and frog-lovers alike.
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Intricate and colorful torn paper collages illustrate the fascinating symbiotic (mutualistic) relationships between various animals and organisms. Their stories are told in comic book/graphic novel-like panels, describing the nature of the relationship and how it benefits each animal. Even if you know something about symbiosis, this book really brings it to life – from cleaner birds and fish that risk their lives removing parasites from otherwise deadly predators to interspecies hunting teams (badgers and coyotes working together? Wow!) – young people (and adults) will find their curiosity piqued by these mutually beneficial pairings.
The book ends with an animal (and a relationship) everyone will recognize – man’s best friend, the dog, and its people! The author biography states that: “Robin Page and Steve Jenkins share a burrow in Boulder, Colorado, where they work and forage together, occasionally picking lint off of each other’s sweaters…” Highly recommended for budding naturalists!
Non-fiction
Grade level recommendation: 4-7
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
How to Scratch a Wombat by Jackie French
Jackie French has been living among wombats in the near-wilds of Australia for over 30 years. She’s made friends with her neighborhood wombats and has cared for orphaned and injured wombats. Wombats are curious creatures, marsupials, which like to dig. They experience the world primarily through their large nostrils and have a highly evolved sense of smell. They spend their days underground in comfortable burrows and their evenings above ground munching on lush green grass (when they can get it), and other vegetation (when they can’t). They’re rather stubborn and set in their ways – untrainable, as Jackie puts it, but not unintelligent.
You can learn all sorts of wonderful wombat facts in How to Scratch a Wombat (and take her quiz to see if *you* are a wombat!). Her writing is very friendly, easy to follow, and full of stories about the wombats she has personally known. The illustrations are (as in her other book Diary of a Wombat) delightful – depicting the stocky, smiling, dozy-looking bear-like creatures in all of their activities (drawn by Bruce Whatley). I would love to meet some of these creatures in person some day.
Non-fiction
Grade level recommendation: 4-6
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
The Life Cycle of a Snail by L.L. Owens
This introduction to snail biology will have young readers racing out to their own backyards to locate their slimy subjects for a closer inspection. Detailed, close-up photographs accompany explications of snails’ life cycle – the one of the land snail laying its eggs in a moist patch of soil is a particularly good catch. While some details are fuzzy owing to the breadth and differences among disparate snail species (some are single-sexed, some hermaphrodites, some are plant eaters, some are meat eaters, some live in water, some on land, etc.), this stirs up interest and a desire to learn more about these fascinating creatures. Well done, L.L. Owens!
* * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds
The Maasai are a group of semi-nomadic people who live in Kenya and Tanzania. In the past they traveled thousands of miles with their herds, following rain and growing seasons and seeking out new pastures for their animals. They do not believe in land ownership. Their way of life has had to change with modern times, however. Other people and practices have required them to reduce their grazing territory and herds and adopt new ideas and traditions (small-scale sustainable farming, tourism, etc.) in order to survive. While the Maasai are embracing these changes, they wonder what the future will bring. Jan Reynolds introduces the Maasai people and their culture in this accessible book. Readers will begin to learn about the Maasai through the activities of a family with who Reynolds became close. Bright photographs and smiling Maasai are welcoming and add interest. A positive look at how the Maasai are successfully maintaining their culture and beliefs as they adapt to changes in their environment. Kids interested in other cultures will enjoy this book.
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Photos by William Munoz
Michael Vick, NFL quarterback, was running an illegal dog-fighting ring and raising “fighting dogs” at his appropriately named “Bad Newz Kennels.” When information about his crimes came to light, the dogs were seized, as evidence, and spent many months in isolation in an animal shelter. In the past, fighting dogs were considered dangerous and people thought they were not good prospects for rehabilitation. In the case of Vick’s dogs, however – probably because the case was so high profile and received a lot of media attention – animal rights groups and concerned citizens got involved and the dogs were eventually tested for temperament. Out of 49 dogs, only one was deemed unsafe. The rest were sent to live in foster homes and other shelters where they received obedience training and learned to live and interact with people and other animals.
Audie was one of the lucky dogs who found a foster home (and later a forever home) with some very patient and understanding people. His new owners thought he would be a good candidate for agility training and competition, and he was until they discovered he had knee problems. Audie needed surgery in order to correct his knees. After several months of rehabilitation, Audie was able to compete. This children’s picture book follows Audie through his rescue, touching lightly on the darker details of the dog-fighting underworld in a way that will impress upon young readers the seriousness of the situation without horrifying them. Beautiful photographs of Audie and some of the other rescued dogs add interest and engender empathy for the abuse and loneliness they suffered before getting a new leash on life.
* * * * Stars
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian
What to Expect When You’re Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents (and Curious Kids) By Bridget Heos
Bridget Heos presents and answers the questions expecting insect parents might have IF they were capable of asking questions (and needed the answers) in an informative and amusing way. “Congratulations, insect parent-to-be! You must be very excited. You may be feeling proud but also a little scared. Your babies will be tiny. How will you help them grow big and strong, like you? Don’t worry. You have instincts. They will tell you how to be a mother or father.” Topics covered include: number of babies born/hatched, what they’ll look like, where insect mothers should lay their eggs, what the larvae will eat when they hatch, how to keep them safe from predators, and more. Inquiring insect parents may want to see their young grow up and fly away, but most of them won’t live that long, “By the time your young spread their wings, you will have passed away. Your children will know how to fly thanks to their instincts, just as you did at their age…Your young will grow up and mate and lay eggs that become new larvae, and the cycle starts all over again. The new parents will ask, ‘What will my babies look like?’ Well, not really. But because it is a good question, we will ask it for them.” Bright illustrations of chunky insects with huge eyes and goofy expressions are just the right canvas for this humorous collection of facts about insect babies.
* * * * 4 Stars (Great!)
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, YA Librarian
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley Went Hollywood by Jeff Kinney
Jeff Kinney has written a behind-the-scenes look at the Wimpy Kid Movie that’s just as entertaining as his bestselling book series. Not only does it capture the same humor and charm of Greg Heffley’s diaries, but it also provides a lot of insider information about how movies get made (and, of course, how this movie in particular was made). I was pretty amazed by how much work goes into movie production, how many people are involved, and the attention to detail that’s paid to creating scripts, scenery, etc. It’s not at all surprising to discover that this movie was 2 years in the making! Fans of the Wimpy Kid books (and movie) will love this Movie Diary, but those with an interest in movie-making will find a wealth of information as well. I learned a lot about movies that I didn’t know before! Highly recommended!
Things you might not know:
• Wimpy kid actors got together off-set to get to know one another better so that they’d be more comfortable and more natural in the movie!
• Screen tests were made to see whether the actors who played Greg and Rowley had “chemistry” on screen!
• They had to recreate entire rooms and scenes on a soundstage when the weather got bad and in cases where they didn’t have enough footage of a particular scene that they’d filmed on-site.
• Whole bedrooms and lives and background details were created for characters – to make their environments and characters seem as realistic as possible!
• For onsite locations, they often repainted, redecorated and moved all of the people and their possessions out!
* * * Stars
Grade level recommendation: Lexile:
Reviewed by Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian