Pictures Are Good

All the books I remember loving as a kid had illustrations--the Wizard of Oz books, the Narnia books, the Little House books, all the Betsy Tacy books (even the high school ones). But then it seemed like illustrations in chapter books fell out of favor. Julia Gillian, however, is illustrated with fun pen and ink drawings showing Julia Gillian, her dog, Big Foot, her parents, and all the environs in her nine square block area of the city. Julia Gillian can walk anywhere in that nine square block area when she takes Big Foot and tells a grown up before she goes. Julia Gillian, she always goes by both names, is a creative and talented girl but she doesn't like to read much. She finally finds a book she thinks she'd like to read, a book with a green cover. Unfortunately, after she starts to read the green book, she realizes that it is probably going to have a sad ending and she's afraid to finish it. But Julia Gillian is a resourceful girl and she has many supportive adults in her life. Julia Gillian is going to be fine--she just doesn't realize it yet.

A Kitten Tale

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
Once there were four kittens. As the seasons pass, they worry about the snow that's coming--at least, three of them worry. The fourth says, "I can't wait!" Finally it snows and the fourth kitten rushes out to play in the snow. It's cold and wet and it covers everything. And the other kittens finally decide that the snow looks like fun.

The story would be a great read aloud with the frequent repetition of the phrase, "I can't wait!" but it's the pictures that steal the snow. Three tiger striped kittens and one all gray play in the mail and a puddle and a pile of leaves. They look three dimensional on the page and you can practically see them pouncing on each other.

A winner.

Catching Up

I've been clearing off my nightstand and have done a ton of reading lately. Just one of the books I read is Steel Trapp: The Challenge by Ridley Pearson. A fast paced book about a boy on his way to the National Science Challenge who gets caught up in the handoff of a briefcase to a member of a terrorist gang. The suspense is nonstop but never overly scary. In the end, everything is resolved and Steel (Steven), his family, and his new friend, Kaileigh, are all fine and the terrorist plot is stopped. Great for 10 and up. Available March 25.

Sebastian Darke Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney reminded me of Lloyd Alexander. The main character gets in over his head through the best of intentions, meets a stalwart companion and a beautiful girl, and grows in self awareness and self confidence. Sebastian is off to the country of Keladon to apply for the position of court jester. Along the way he and his talkative beast of burden, Max, meet Captain Cornelius Drummel, a small but fiercesome soldier, who is also on his way to Keladon. The three of them save the life of Princess Kerin of Keladon and are then ensnared in court politics when they get to Keladon. For 12 and up. Available April 8.