Children's Bookshop & Teaching Supplies - Reader's Blog

What Makes a Great Read Aloud?

2008-08-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

At least some of it is beautiful language. Words that just flow and invite you into the story. Some of it is characters you want to know more about as soon as you meet them. And some it is a plot that leads you to unexpected places. In The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice, I was seduced by her use of language. Listen to this, "Inside the smell of flour tortillas and cinnamon greeted me. Add to that all the onions, peppers, and chilies heating up on the stove, and you could tell it was the kind of place people liked coming to." I love it. Easy to read aloud. Fills the senses. And invites you right into the story. Now you just have to wait until February for the rest. On sale 2/3/09.

Alvin Ho

2008-08-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great read aloud? Like funny books? Ones with pictures and a distinctive voice? Maybe you're a fan of Junie B. Jones or the Time Warp Trio? Well, here's the book for you:

Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.

And yes, that really is the whole title. Alvin doesn't talk at school. Doesn't talk at all. Fortunately, he has friends who help him out, a very understanding family and a great sense of humor. This would be a perfect read aloud for 1st - 3rd grade.

History, More or Less

2008-07-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

This last week everything I've read seems to have a historical bent. Nat Turner by Kyle Baker is an amazing graphic novel about the life of Nat Turner, leader of a slave rebellion. His story is a powerful one and telling it through this medium makes it even more so. The images are haunting. Recommended for teens and up.

I also read Karen Hesse's upcoming book, Brooklyn Bridge. If you are looking for a book to illustrate the idea of voice, this would be perfect. Joe lives in Brooklyn in 1903 and you can hear the Brooklyn accent in your head as you read. My favorite line comes when he meets a young woman who will be staying with his family for a while and he describes her with, "Pauline Unger looked like a girl who never bought on sale." A story about family, hard work, and opportunity in a new world. Available in September.

Finally I read Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud, the author of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, a series I found somewhat dark. Heroes is lighter in tone than the Bartimaeus but it's not all laughs either. Set in a fictional world that owes a lot to Scandinavian mythology, this is a classic hero's journey story. Halli has never fit in at home, sets out to avenge his uncle's murder, grows and changes as he travels, and finally comes home where he must protect his home and everyone he cares about from a deadly threat. Perfect for readers of The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. Available in January.

Frankenstein Takes the Cake or Why I Think Adam Rex is a Genius

2008-07-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Adam Rex wrote a book called Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, a perfectly fine set of poems perfect for Halloween. Now he's taken the gag one step further and it is genius. Frankenstein Takes the Cake starts out with a comic strip on the end papers in the front and a "list of poems that do not appear in this volume in the back." In between there are poems, comic strips about Frankenstein meeting his bride's parents, the Headless Horseman's blog (entitled "Off the Top of My Head" and my favorite of all the bits), fake advertisements, sight gags and a nice little bit about Dracula accidentally getting some garlic bread from the buffet at the Frankenstein wedding. I laughed and laughed. Take a look yourself. It's available now.

Heart of a Shepherd

2008-07-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Rosanne Parry's book, Heart of a Shepherd, made me laugh and cry. Brother (and you might choose to be called Brother too if your given name was Ignatius) is the youngest of five boys in a ranching family in eastern Oregon. He is the only one still living at home and when his father's reserve unit is called up to go to Iraq, he's left in charge along with his grandfather. When the unit goes, it impacts the whole community--ranchers, the school bus driver, teachers and many other important members of the community go too. Heart of a Shepherd looks at the way military service affects family and community as well what service, duty, community and faith mean and how many different ways there are to serve. Brother, his Quaker grandfather and everyone in their community will find a place in your heart by the end of this book.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale

2008-07-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Everyone's trying their hand at graphic novels these days. Shannon Hale, writer of great girl power novels, and her husband have teamed up illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation) to create this reimagining of the story of Rapunzel. Rapunzel grows up with Mother Gothel in great luxury but when she starts to ask too many questions, Gothel exiles her to a giant tree from which their is seemingly no escape. While she's there, Rapunzel's hair grows and grows and she learns to use it as a lasso. By using it as a rope, she gets out of the tree and finds herself working with a mysterious outlaw in a wild west setting to right the many wrongs that Gothel has perpetrated. Fabulous girl power, an appealingly klutzy heroine and true love's kiss at the end. Highly recommended. Available August 19.

The Tomorrow Code

2008-07-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

The Tomorrow Code, by Brian Falkner
Tane and Rebecca are all that stand in the way of the end of the world, but they don't know it yet. All they know is that they seem to be getting cryptic messages from the future. They start out trying to decode strings of 0's and 1's using Tane's computer and before they know it, they're buying a winning lottery ticket, sneaking into a highly secure genetics laboratory and researching buying a submarine. The New Zealand setting is at once exotic and familiar and the details about Maori culture are woven seamlessly. Science fiction and adventure--a great combo. Coming in October.

The Hunger Games

2008-07-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Dystopian novels for kids. Forget the science fiction of the past featuring astonishing technology and flights to the stars, now it's all about the dark possibilities that the future holds. In The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins a post-apocalyptic world is getting ready for the annual Hunger Games. Children are forced to compete to the death on a nationally televised reality show. When her younger sister is chosen as the girl to compete from her district, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She doesn't want to get too close to Peeta, the boy her district sends, but traveling to the capitol and training with him make it inevitable. How will she survive the gruelling competition with her body and soul intact?

I couldn't put The Hunger Games down. I read in the evening and then got up and read more while I ate my breakfast. Intense and fast paced with well drawn characters whose suffering feels real--mental as well as physical. Katniss has a hard shell but as the story develops, you see the girl beneath that shell and understand why she protects herself from the world. Watching her begin to care for Peeta and some of the other competitors, you feel yourself torn too.

Coming out in October. Recommended for readers of The City of Ember and The Giver. I've been hearing Newbery-ish buzz about this book. I guess we'll have to wait and see if they pick science fiction--not the usual Newbery fare.

Shift

2008-06-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
I loved this book. It opens with Chris starting college and remembering the cross country bike trip he took over the summer with his best friend, Win. Now Win is missing and Chris is taking the heat. Win's parents want to know where he is and don't mind putting the pressure on Chris to find out. But Chris wants to know where Win is too. As the book progresses, hints about where Win might be develop but Bradbury doesn't tip her hand too soon--tension is maintained throughout the whole book. Great for mystery lovers, readers of John Green and anyone who likes adventure.

Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning

2008-06-24T11:29:00.001-07:00

Is there a genre called coming of age tomboy books set in the south? If not, there should be. Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning by Danette Haworth is a prime example of the genre.

When a new girl moves to her sleepy Florida town, Violet's life gets shaken up. Suddenly things she's always taken for granted--Friday night fish fries, looking for Brain Freeze cups to turn in for a free Brain Freeze, hanging out with her friends Eddie and Lottie--don't seem quite so easy and natural. Melissa is ready to grow up in a way that Violet isn't and seeing her own life through Melissa's eyes makes Violet uncomfortable.

The sense of place in this book is incredible--I could feel the humidity, the mud under the Cypress trees, the crackle of lightning in the air. And Violet herself is really real--smart, prickly, a word collector, able to see when she's in the wrong even if she doesn't want to apologize.

I'm putting this book on my "contender for a Newbery honor" list.

The Dragonfly Pool

2008-06-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Eva Ibbotson's new book, The Dragonfly Pool, is vintage Ibbotson. The heroine is smart and caring, the villains heartless and full of self-importance, and the setting is both England and an imaginary central European country. The heart of the story is Tally, the daughter of a poor, hardworking and beloved by his patients doctor. With WWII looming on the horizon, Tally's father is relieved that Tally has received a scholarship to a boarding school in the country. Tally doesn't want to leave her father and London behind but once she is in the Devon countryside with a whole school full of children who need her concern, she is happy to be there. It is Tally who organizes the children and persuades the school authorities for a folk dancing trip to the country of Bergania. And that is where the real adventures begin--when they meet the crown prince of Bergania and help him escape from Nazi kidnappers. Coming in September.

Girl Power

2008-05-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Justina Chen Headley, one of the divas at www.readergirlz.com, writes about girls finding the power to be themselves. In North of Beautiful her main character struggles with issues of self image and family. Terra's dad is verbally abusive to the whole family. Her brothers are old enough to have moved away from home leaving Terra to be the buffer between her father and her cowed mother. Terra has other problems too--one side of her face is covered by a wine colored birthmark. She covers it with makeup and dreams of a treatment that will finally get rid of it altogether.

Her journey of self-discovery is illustrated with references to map making. Years before this story takes place, Terra's father had staked his academic career on an ancient Chinese map that turned out to be a very good fake. This event echoes through the whole story. Terra's oldest brother works as a high priced lawyer in China. Her father displays maps in their house--but none of Asia. And most important, Terra meets Jacob, whose Goth sensibilities challenge how she views the world. With Jacob and his coffee buyer mom, Terra and her mother travel to China to visit Terra's brother and the orphanage that Jacob lived in as a baby.

Beautiful.

Real Characters

2008-05-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban could be any other story about a sixth grade girl whose family isn't perfect and who doesn't quite fit in at school and yet it's so much more. What sets it apart? I think it's characterization. Zoe's oddball dad and hard working mother are presented in a loving and exasperated way that makes them extremely real characters. They don't seem to have quirks because the author thinks that will make them more memorable but because that's who they are. So, who are they?

Well, Zoe is a girl who really wants to play the piano. Unfortunately for her, her dad gets overwhelmed when he goes to the mall to buy the piano and ends up with an organ. But Zoe is a kid who knows how to make the best of things and so she starts taking organ lessons and ends up competing in an organ competition. Along the way she loses her best friend and makes a new friend who comes home after school to bake with her dad.

Her dad is the kind of guy who doesn't like to leave the house because he might get lost. Her mom is careful and detail oriented.

A great first novel.

2008-05-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Paper Towns, by John Green
Q has known his neighbor Margo Roth Speigelman since they were both little kids. Once they were close friends but as high school comes to a close they move in completely different circles. Q hangs out with the band nerds and Margo Roth Speigelman (you always have to use her full name) is one of the coolest of cool kids. But one night, Margo Roth Speigelman knocks on Q's window, forcing their circles to intersect. After a night of righteous pranks designed by Margo Roth Speigelman to right some wrongs and punish wrong-doers, Q thinks maybe, just maybe, they can be friends again. But then Margo Roth Speigelman disappears. The longer Q looks for her, the more he discovers about who she really is and how the surface Margo Roth Speigelman is not the whole picture at all.

Although there are some very funny moments, this is not a primarily funny book. Those funny moments balance out discussions of philosophy and poetry, real angst about what has happened to Margo Roth Speigelman, and thoughts about the meaning of friendship.

Old Stories, Retold

2008-05-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

Impossible by Nancy Werlin
One of my favorite kinds of books is the fairy tale retold. Impossible by Nancy Werlin is a story based on the ballad "Scarborough Fair," a song which is haunting me now that I've read the book. Nancy Werlin has written a version of the song where the girl must complete three impossible tasks in order to be free from her Elfin admirer and then written a story around it. In the story, Lucy is seventeen and living with her very loving foster parents. Her life seems perfect. Perfect until she finds out about the curse on the women of her family. A curse she must complete three impossible tasks to escape.

This is a can't put down read. The love story is compelling, the evil chilly, and then tension is high.

Coming in September.

Poetry Month Addendum

2008-05-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech
Right at the end of poetry month I got an advanced reading copy of Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech. Even though poetry month is over now, I have to gush about this book. It's a sequel to Love That Dog and is told in poems too. Jack and his favorite teacher, Miss Stretchberry, are back. This time we learn about Jack's deaf mother and how they communicate and Jack learns to appreciate cats--even the horrible black cat who scratches him and is the inspiration for the title. Here is the first poem in the book:

I hate that cat
like a dog hates a rat
I said I hate that cat
like a dog hates a rat

Hate to see it in the morning
hate to see that
F A T black cat.

There is discussion of onomatopoeia and alliteration, what his uncle Bill calls "real writing", and the poetry of William Carlos William. You will be inspired to read more poetry and maybe even write a poem or two of your own.

Day 29 Poetry Month

2008-04-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

The Tortoise
I wear a helmet
On my back.
It's hard
And guards
Me from attack.
And if I wheeze,
Or sneeze,
Or cough,
The shell I dwell in
Won't fall off.
It's glued without
A screw or mortise.
I'm born with it,
For I'm a tortoise.

From lizards, frogs, and polliwogs by Douglas Florian

Poetry Month, Day 24

2008-04-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

From Flicker Flash by Joan Bransfield Graham, a little sun for you since the sky is so grey today.

Sun

"From

93.000,000

miles away I bring

you this dynamite, ring-

a-ding day. I'll shout in

your window and bounce

near your head to solar

power you out of

your bed!"

Poetry Month, April 22nd

2008-04-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Alphabet Sherbet
Alphabet Sherbet.
Have you ever heard of it?
I bought myself a gallon,
and ate about a third of it.
The A's are all amazing.
The B's are a beautiful blue.
The C's and D's
are cool and delicious.
The E's are enjoyable too.
The F's are fair,
but don't you fret--
the G's are great,
so go and get
a bowl of Alphabet Sherbet.
You'll love it,
I'm sure of it!

from Flamingos on the Roof by Calef Brown

Day 19, Poetry Month

2008-04-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

Word Watch
Jittery seems a nervous word;
snuggle curls up around itself.
Some words fit their meanings so well:
Abrupt. Airy. And my favorite--

sesquipedalian,
which means: having lots of syllables.

From the most excellent Tap Dancing on the Roof by Linda Sue Park. A poem about words and their meaning seems most appropriate for poetry month.

Day 17, Poetry Month

2008-04-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers wipe the windshield

Wipe the water off the pane

This way That way

In the rain

from The Llama Who Had No Pajama, by MaryAnn Hoberman

Day 15, Poetry Month

2008-04-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Job Satisfaction, by John Collis
I am a young bacterium
And I enjoy my work
I snuggle into people's food
I lie in wait--I lurk.
They chomp a bit and chew a bit
And say, "This can't be beaten"
But then in bed they groan and moan,
"I wish I hadn't eaten."

from Dirty Laundry Pile, Poems in Different Voices

Day 10, Poetry Month

2008-04-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Uh oh, I missed yesterday as well. Today's poem is from the book Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures, written by Julie Larios and illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Both of them live in Seattle and Julie Paschkis's illustration style may look familiar to users of the library since she did some work for last summer's summer reading program. Anyway, here is today's poem:

Mermaid

Listen to the waves

break on the shore--

half song, half roar.

Listen to the beach

answer back--

half cry, half laugh.

Underneath it all,

you might hear a splash,

you might hear a call,

or you might hear a sigh,

long and low.

What does she say,

part woman, part fish?

I wish . . . I wish . . .

Day 8, Poetry Month

2008-04-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

I meant to post a poem every week day of the month but missed yesterday. Oops. Here's a poem for today from Douglas Florian's Insectlopedia.

The Praying Mantis
Upon a twig
I sit and pray
For something big
To wend my way:
A caterpillar,
Moth,
Or bee--
I swallow them
Religiously.

Poetry Month, Day 4

2008-04-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Rain on the green grass,
Rain on the trees,
Rain on the housetops,
But not on me.

Mother Goose

Hope you're staying dry.

Day 3, Poetry Month

2008-04-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

I walked by a willow that was leafing out yesterday and thought of the first line of this poem. So here it is, just for you.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-- Robert Frost

Poetry Month, Day 2

2008-04-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

From Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz

Thomas
The Doctor's Son

My father is the noble lord's physician,
And I am bound to carry on tradition.
With every patient that my father cures,
I learn more medicine. Ordinary sores
Will heal with comfrey, or the white of an egg.
An eel skin takes the cramping from a leg.
I know five kinds of fever, and four humors,
Bloodletting, and the way to feel for tumors.

I know the stars and movements planetary.
With one whiff, I can sniff out dysentery,
And also, I am practicing the way
To soothe my patients--and to make them pay.
They swear at us when we demand our fee,
But what man can afford to work for free?
A healthy man is careless with a bill--
You have to make them pay when they are ill.

When first you see a sick man, feel his brow
And say, "You should have called me before now!
If given time, I vanquish all complaints,
But as it is, we'll have to ask the saints.
Make sure you pray, and that your heart is quiet,
And think of ways to simplify your diet--
That trencher full of venison I see
Is much too rich! Just hand it back to me!"

After the prayer, let the patient rest,
And tell his family, "I will do my best
To fight this sickness, but I fear his fate--
It may be that you called me in too late."
Then shake your head, look serious and wise--
This sort of talk protects you if he dies.
If he recovers, it was all your skill
That brought him back to life. And that's better still.

April is National Poetry Month

2008-04-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Poetry Month, I plan to post a poem every day. Today's is from Jack Prelutsky's Pizza, Pigs and Poetry: How to Write a Poem.

A Piglet
I'm a piglet, pink and stout.
If I'm cold, I sneeze and sniff.
If I have to blow my snout,
I take out my oinkerchief.

Here's a writing tip from the book:
"Writing Tip #8
I never pass up an opportunity to write a poem."

Happy Poetry!

Ye Olde Bookes

2008-03-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

A friend loaned me Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. (Why, yes, I do sometimes read books that aren't for children. Hard to believe, but true.) It's an amazing novel about the building of a cathedral in medieval England. It got me thinking about all the great books for kids set in that place and time. My all time favorite is Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman. It is the story of a girl whose father needs to marry her off advantageously. Birdy, on the other hand, wants to stay true to herself and her independent heart. It touched my heart and made me laugh--two things I really like in a book.

And that put me in mind of this year's Newbery winner: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz. Conceived as a series of monologues for students at her school who were studying the middle ages, this is a set of sometimes connected poems for one or occasionally two voices about medieval times. Each one is told in a different voice: the glassblower's apprentice, the glassblower's daughters, the knight's son, a beggar, and more. Interspersed are short informational essays about different aspects of medieval life. You can browse and read the ones that interest you or, do as I did, and read it from cover to cover. It was fascinating, informational yet fun and the illustrations are beautiful--mostly muted colors with reds and blues that pop from the page. Oh, and an extensive bibliography! It's fabulous and extensive (did I mention that already?). I'm planning to open up my library web page and put some titles on hold.

Do you have a favorite book about the middle ages? Or another historical period?

Animal Play

2008-03-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

In Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett, a little girl and her stuffed animal pretend to be various animals. The text is rhythmic and repetitive:

Monkey and me,

We went to see,

We went to see some . . .

variously penguins, kangaroos, elephants and more. Each time you don't see the picture of the animal until you turn the page but you can guess what animal it is by the way the girl and her monkey are moving. The pictures are totally expressive and beautiful in a limited palette of black, white, brown and red.

Read Monkey and Me at your next story time and then take turns acting out your own animals.

Those Old Fashioned Stories

2008-02-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry
The Willoughbys are a perfectly old fashioned family. They live in a tall skinny old fashioned house. The father goes to work at a bank each day, leaving with a briefcase and furled umbrella. The mother cooks meals and knits. There are four children who do the things children in old fashioned books do--go to school and the park and occasionally the zoo or circus.

That is, they are a perfectly old fashioned family if your idea of a perfectly old fashioned family has been influenced by Lemony Snicket. The oldest boy bosses his siblings around, telling his youngest sister that she can't do anything because she's just a girl. Jane, the youngest sister, spends considerable time trying to become more self-assured. The middle boys are twins with the same name, so everyone calls them simply "A" and "B". The parents don't actually like their children and the children wish that they were orphans (a perfectly respectable thing to be in an old fashioned kind of story). Down the street, there is a wealthy and eccentric man who has the potential to become a benefactor if one should be needed. When a nanny is hired, the children decide that she is odious.

With tongue firmly in cheek, Lowry is clearly having the time of her life poking fun of the conventions of an old fashioned family story. There is a glossary full of laugh out loud definitions and an annotated bibliography of real old fashioned family stories (like Anne of Green Gables and A Christmas Carol) with spot on descriptions at the back. Not to be missed.

Available in April.

Who Doesn't Want to Be a Superhero?

2008-02-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Vivane Schwarz
is the story of Timothy, a cat whose favorite pajamas are starting to wear out. He can't bear the thought of giving them up though so his mother fixes them using the strongest thread and sturdiest patches and six very red buttons for good measure. Timothy discovers that the pajamas are not just mended but improved. Now they are Super Strong Pajamas with the Patches of Power and the Buttons of Braveness. Timothy sets out to save the world.

An extremely fun read aloud and the pictures are great too. Happy bedtime reading!

Where does the time go?

2008-01-29T15:47:00.001-08:00

I've read a ton of books since the beginning of the year but somehow it's easier to find time to read than to blog about it. I could blame it on the fact that everyone else in my family claims time on the computer but I don't have that excuse at work. The honest truth is that I'd rather read than blog. Especially when I get to read a book like Savvy by Ingrid Law.

I originally read Savvy back in November but, of course, put off blogging about it. Now that there's an official release date: May 1, 2008--the author's birthday, no less--it can be put off no longer.

I LOVED this book. A fantasy, a coming of age story and a road trip all rolled into one and set in a very American landscape.

Everyone in Mib's family has a Savvy--a special talent that they grow into right on their 13th birthday. One of Mib's brother's affects all the water around him, her aunt gets perfect obedience to her every request, everything Mib's mother does turns out perfectly. So of course Mib awaits her birthday with a little more anxiety than the average middle schooler. When her father is in a terrible car accident and ends up in the hospital miles away from home, Mib is convinced that her newfound Savvy can help him. She stows away on a repurposed school bus hoping to get to him and that is just the start of her adventures. For anyone who loves tall tales, fantasy, humor, and a happy ending.

Pictures Are Good

2008-01-12T15:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T15:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

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.

More Favorites

2008-01-03T15:29:00.001-08:00

How could I have listed my favorite books from 2007 and leave these two off? Here they are:

Spud, by John Van De Ruit
Laugh out loud funny coming of age story set in South Africa

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore, by Jenny Offill and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Probably my very favorite picture book of 2007. I don't know how I could have left it off my other list. This book made me laugh out loud every single time I've read it. Think Junie B. or Ramona in picture book format.

2007-12-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

My Most Excellent Year
A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park, by Steve Kluger
Augie and T.C. have been brothers--best friends really--since they were in first grade when T.C.'s mother died. Now they're in high school and, for a school assignment, writing about their freshman year in a series of letters supplemented with letters by Ale and a few others. And what a year it was--their lives would never be the same after meeting Hucky, a deaf boy who just needs a friend and, in T.C., Augie and Ale, he gets that and more. In the course of just a year, the three freshmen discover romance, learn sign language and meet Julie Andrews. Touching, funny, and incredibly original--I loved this book and didn't want it to end. On sale March 18, 2008.

My Favorites--2007

2007-11-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Books This Year

The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex

I loved this laugh out loud funny book about Tip; her alien friend, J. Lo; and her mom saving the earth from being destroyed by alien invaders.

An Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Based on Sherman Alexie's own life, this National Book Award winner will make you laugh and cry as you follow Arnold Spirit Jr.'s journey through adolescence.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick

Is it a picture book? A graphic novel? A chapter book? Or a combination of all three? The most inventive book I've read in a long time, this almost cinegraphic story of a boy living in the Paris underground is captivating.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked, by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean

A cumulative tale with beautiful nostalgic illustrations reminiscent of Wanda Gag.

Orange Pear Apple Bear, by Emily Gravett

Four words and illustrations showing seemingly endless combinations of them. Beautiful and innovative.

Make Your Own Mythology Day

2007-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus
What if overlaying modern day Manhattan is a centuries old place called Mannahatta peopled by the immortal Gods of Manhattan, including Babe Ruth, Alexander Hamilton, Peter Stuyvesant and a host of lesser warriors and other beings? That is the premise of this story. Most people can't see them but one day Rory sees a cockroach riding a rat and then a rat and squirrel fighting each other kung fu style. It turns out Rory is a "Light" and a needed warrior in the fight to right a great wrong from Mannahatta's past. The book is full of suspense and ends on an up note with the whiff of a sequel in the air.

Available April 17, 2008.

Shakespeare Redux

2007-11-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Something Rotten, by Alan Gratz, is available now. It's a retelling of Hamlet, set in the town of Denmark, Tennessee at the family owned Elsinore Paper. A clever environmental mystery with general appeal is made even more fun by all the references to Hamlet. Alan Gratz calls it "Pulp Shakespeare" or "Hardboiled Hamlet." It made me want to watch the movie Strange Brew.

Saving Juliet, by Suzanne Selfors, won't be out until February. But it's worth the wait. Mimi is tired of acting but willing to go through with one more run of Romeo and Juliet to pacify her mother, a former actress and now the owner of a theater. After a bout of stage fright, Mimi opens the backdoor of the theater for some air and finds herself stepping straight into Shakespeare's story.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry

2007-10-16T15:48:00.001-07:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Based on Sherman Alexie's own childhood this story is both touching and funny. When Arnold Spirit Jr. opens his math book on the first day of school and discovers his own mother's name written in it from when she was a student at the very same school, he is incited to action. Transferring from the school on the Indian reservation to the public school in a nearby farmtown is the beginning of a new life for Junior. Feeling like he doesn't belong anywhere--the students at his new school ignore him, almost everyone on the res gives him the cold shoulder when he transfers--slowly changes to a realization that you can belong to more than the tribe you are born into. By the end of the book, Junior embraces his membership in the tribe of bookworms, basketball players, Spokane Indians, and more.

Sherman Alexie has been nominated for the National Book Award for this title. See the article below:

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=alexie11&date=20071011&query=sherman+alexie+national+book+award

CONFIDENTIAL or Top Secret Notebooks

2007-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

"Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It" is the name of Brendan's top secret notebook full of questions about life. Brendan is a scientist, a tae kwon do afficionado and a young man of color. All of these things are important to his story. It starts out innocently enough with a trip to the mall when there is a rock and mineral display. While he's there he meets the white grandfather he's never known. His mother won't talk about her father at all, so Brendan tracks him down on his own and begins to get to know him, sneaking around to do so. The events that transpire are often described using the metaphors of Brendan's hobbies: science, geology, and tae kwon do, making this a powerful story. In the end, Brendan has learned something about rocks, proved himself to ready for a new tae kwon do belt, and brought his family closer together.

Poetry Even When It's Not Poetry Month

2007-09-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

I just learned about a new (new to me, that is) form of poetry. It's called sijo. It's from Korea and is similar to haiku in that you count syllables. But in sijo each line has a specific purpose too--the first line introduces the topic, the second further develops the idea and the third contains a twist of some kind. Here's an example from Linda Sue Park's terrific book, Tap Dancing on the Roof:

Breakfast

For this meal, people like what they like, the same every morning.

Toast and coffee. Bagel and juice. Cornflakes and milk in a white bowl.

Or--warm, soft, and delicious--a few extra minutes in bed.

Book Heaven or Why I Love Trade Shows

2007-09-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was just at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Tradeshow (try saying that five times fast) and came home with four (yes, FOUR!) bags full of books. You know that feeling when you can't find anything you want to read? Shouldn't be my problem for a few weeks at least.

One of the great things about PNBA is author breakfasts. You sit and eat a lovely breakfast someone else has cooked and authors entertain you. Friday morning, I introduced myself to my next door neighbor at the table and it was Liz Gallagher. Liz is awaiting the publication of her first book, The Opposite of Invisible. So as soon as the show was over, I sat down to read her book. Ooh, I loved it. Alice lives in Seattle (which for some reason the jacket copy describes as "quirky") and it is fun to recognize the places she goes--the Pike Place Market and Fremont troll, for example. Over the course of the book, she gains the confidence to be herself--to be the opposite of invisible. She gains and loses her first boyfriend, makes new friends and finds a new medium to explore artistically.

You can visit her website at http://www.lizgallagher.com/. Look for more about the books I picked up at PNBA in the next few weeks!

Not One Word Too Many

2007-09-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

First the Egg, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

First the egg, then the chicken.

First the tadpole, then the frog.

First the word, then the story.

A wonderful simple story that flows off the tongue. Perfect for discussing change and growth. A great writing model. The pictures complement the text perfectly with cutouts displaying just a part of the next page. Poetic and wonderful.

School Has Started

2007-09-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's Not About the Accent, by Caridad Ferrer

When Caro goes off to college, she is determined to be a new and more interesting person. Taking her cue from her grandmother's Cuban roots, she creates an alter ego called Carolina whose clothing is exotic and whose speech is littered with Spanish phrases. Pretending to be something she isn't does not turn out the way she hopes, but in the second half of the book her fascination with her grandmother's past becomes even more important to her. Caro's journey of discovery bears fruit personally, academically and for her family.

A note for sensitive readers--there is some drug use and an attempted rape.

Before I Die or Another Story Where the Hero Dies

2007-08-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Before I Die, by Jenny Downham
I can't say that the genre of books where the main character dies has ever had huge appeal for me. I think it's nice to end a book on a more hopeful looking to the future note. In fact, funny books are really my favorite. But that didn't stop me from enjoying Before I Die. The story begins with Tessa knowing her leukemia has reached the point where her death will be sooner rather than later and so she starts making a list of the things she wants to do before she dies. Her list is not for the faint of heart and includes having sex, breaking the law and spending the day answering every question, "Yes!" She is not an especially likeable character at the beginning of the story but even in the face of death, she grows as a person. A beautiful book whose characters will continue to live in your heart.

Spud

2007-08-02T13:00:00.001-07:00

Spud by John Van De Ruit is a novel set in South Africa in 1990 at a boys boarding school. The first copy that came my way, I passed by. The topic sounded too dreary for words. But then I kept hearing more about it and finally I decided to give Spud a try. And now I'm in mourning because I've finished the book and I miss the main character whose nickname is Spud.

The setting makes it sound like a political book but politics make only a brief appearance in Spud's saga. Really it's the story of his first year at boarding school: the peculiar boys he boards with, the pangs of first love, his crazy family and his joy in being chosen for the school play. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud while I was reading. People looked at me oddly in public places but I couldn't stop reading.

This is definitely a book for older readers--14 and up, maybe 12 or 13 for mature readers. Or just read it for yourself. You won't be sorry.

Smekday or Why I Love Science Fiction

2007-07-28T14:39:00.001-07:00

The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex

In a world full of books about wizards and magic (not that there's anything wrong with that), it is refreshing to read some true science fiction--funny science fiction, at that. Smekday used to be called Christmas but was renamed when earth was conquered. Gratuity, Tip to her friends, is asked to write a school essay about the true meaning of this holiday and the book starts with her first version and then her second and then her full account of the year after earth is invaded. Truly inventive, funny and illustrated with cool pencil drawings, this was everything you could want in a science fiction novel. There was even a battle or two, cross-cultural miscommunication and cool technology. But at its heart is Tip's coming of age story. Here's a link to Adam Rex's Smekday website:

http://www.smekday.com/

Coming in September.

The House that Jack Built, revisited

2007-07-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Apple Pie that Papa Baked, by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean starts with "the pie, warm and sweet, that Papa baked" and travels outward to "the world, blooming with life" by way of the sky, clouds, rain, roots, the tree and its apples. As fun as this book is to read aloud, it is the pictures that take my breath away. This is Jonathan Bean's first book, not that you would ever guess. His artwork was inspired by Wanda Gag and Virginia Lee Burton and the gold, black and red pictures have an old-fashioned picture book feel. A Caldecott contendor is the consensus here at Children's.

Hell Week

2007-07-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hell Week, by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Maggie, smart, snarky, psychic and independent, decides to go through rush in order to write an expose for the newspaper. While she learns about the Greek system she uncovers a magic plot to further the financial, social and political interests of the members of one of the sororities on campus. Although she starts out feeling superior to the girls who take rush seriously, she begins to make friends with some of them and finds herself being sucked into the system she originally despised.

Sports books

2007-07-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

I don't usually read a lot of sports books nor do I follow football, but this year I've read two different books about football. Mike Lupica's Comeback Kids: Two-Minute Drill
is a middle grade reader about a smart kid who loves football but can't seem to do anything but kick. He teams up with the star of the sixth grade team--Scott provides tutoring and Chris provides football coaching. Of course both succeed. But the real heart of the story is about how even though you may love the game, it may not love you back and how you have to keep trying even when things get difficult--in school, sports and life.

The other football book is Deadline by Chris Crutcher, a young adult book about a boy who finds out he has incurable cancer and decides to live his last year to the fullest. Even though he's small, he goes out for the football team and plays his heart out. The football writing kept me on the edge of my seat as did the rest of the story.

Both books will be available in September.

July 9, 2007

2007-07-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Aurora County All Stars, by Deborah Wiles

I've been reading this out loud to my kids. She writes so well for that. The words want to be spoken out loud. Every once in a while I think "Good garden of peas!" to myself, an expression from her book Love, Ruby Lavender. No particular phrase is sticking in my mind from this book but the characters are well drawn. There is a mystery about an old man's past. And suspense--will the Aurora County All Stars get to play their traditional 4th of July baseball game (the only game they play all year) or will the whole team have to participate in the pageant commemorating the founding of Aurora County? Baseball, over the top theatricality and southern charm are all there in equal parts. Good garden of peas, it's a good read.

July 5, 2007

2007-07-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Originally I planned to blog about all the children's books I read but that really hasn't happened. I wanted to wait until they were published before I blogged about them and usually I read advanced readers copies the publisher sends before the books are published. But then by the time the books are available, they aren't so fresh in my mind. So no more waiting!

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period, by Gennifer Choldenko is the last book I finished. It was wonderful. A book about race, being fat and, most of all, friendship in middle school. Kirsten can't wait for school to start to see her friend Rory again after a summer where Rory has been to camps and vacations. But strangely Rory doesn't seem as excited to see Kirsten. In fact, Rory is busy courting the popular girls to find a way into their group. Rory's actions make Kirsten question what she knows about friendship and herself and she finds a place for herself with a diverse group scorned by the queen bees but infinitely more accepting and interesting. By the end of the book she has learned a great deal about her family and herself--including the fact that finding the answers is not always easy.

June 21, 2007

2007-06-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Not sure what you want to read this summer? Well, I can recommend Book Crush by Nancy Pearl. It's Nancy's bookpicks for kids of all ages, arranged by topic like "Not Your Parents' Comic Books"; "Other Times, Other Places"; "Dragon Tales" and "Grin and Bear It". Each title has a brief description. I found myself wanting to reread old favorites, seek out some new titles and send Nancy an email with some titles I thought she'd enjoy. I read it in bits and pieces on a trip to Portland but it would be great to just have on your bookshelf for when you need a little inspiration.

June 5, 2007

2007-06-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

I never read comic books as a kid but I'm a new fan of graphic novels which are basically highbrow comic books. My latest favorite is The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci. After a bomb explodes in the big city she lives in, Jane's parents move the family to suburbia to feel safe. She feels stifled by her new life and bands together with Jayne, Polly Jane and another Jane to form P.L.A.I.N.--People Loving Art In Neighborhoods, a sort of guerilla art movement. Jane's pain is the pain of every smart high school girl and I was easily swept up in her decision to make a statement of hope in a world full of adult paranoia and teen peer pressure.

May 22, 2007

2007-05-22T14:32:00.001-07:00

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, by Kevin Sherry

I am in love with this oversize picture book about a squid who brags and brags about being the biggest thing in the ocean. He's bigger than shrimp, bigger than clams, bigger than turtles, bigger than everything. Everything except the whale he doesn't see right behind him. Illustrated in blue and green with a little red in an appealing cartoon style that is a perfect match for the story. Perfect for story time.

May 19, 2007

2007-05-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

I heard a story about the Cannes film festival as I was driving into work today and it put me in mind of a great book: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. It's set in the Paris Metro station and Hugo maintains all the station clocks even though he is just a boy. What really fascinates him though is creating his own machines and so he is in the habit of pilfering small mechanical toys from a stall in the station. This leads him to make friends and solve a mystery involving the early days of silent film.

The book is an amazing combination of pictures and words. Whole sections are told in black and white drawings, mostly wordless and interspersed are more traditional sections of text. The story is wonderful in and of itself but what really sets this book apart is the marriage of text and pictures to tell the story. A classic.

What does Young Adult mean?

2007-05-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

I just read an advanced readers copy of The Spell Book of Listen Taylor, by Jaclyn Moriarty. It was fabulous--quirky characters, a family mystery, both funny and tender, but who was it written for? The book cover says its for 14 and up yet all the main characters but one are adults with adult concerns. Let's face it, no 14 year old is that interested in a list of "Irritating Things About My Husband", are they? Maybe I'm wrong about other 14 year olds, but I would not have cared for that at 14 or 16 or even 18. Listen Taylor (and isn't that a great name?) is 12 but I don't think she's the main character, but merely part of a large ensemble cast who work together to tell the story of the spell book and how it came to be. She's the one who works the spells but not the reason the book exists or even more than peripherally involved in the family mystery. So, although I loved this book, I won't be buying it for the store, because where would it get shelved? We have no spot for it.

But that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it, just not for teens. Watch for it, it comes out in September and I'd be happy to order a copy for you if your interested.

Similes

2007-05-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

May 8, 2007

My original plan was to post every day but I seem to be averaging once a week. Maybe I will be more prolific as time goes on but for now, no excuses will you hear from me but I will try to post a bit more often.

I'm working with a small group at my children's school doing some creative writing on Friday afternoons. This week we're going to talk about similes and I can't wait to share my new favorite book with them: My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks, by Hanoch Piven. For each member of the narrator's family is a whole list of similes describing them accompanied by a picture made of found objects. For example, Dad is as stubborn as a knot in a rope and the picture has a knotted rope for Dad's mouth.

2007-05-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

May 1, 2007

One last poem to remember poetry month....

Book Crooks
They stole my pants,
Th y st le her purse.
T ey stol some let ers
From th s verse.

from Bing Bang Boing, by Douglas Florian

ZUCCHINI

2007-04-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2007

ZUCCHINI

Zucchini
meeny
miney
moe.
Plant a seed
and watch it grow.

Eeny meeny
makes a lot.
Like a magic
cooking pot.

Eeny
meeny
munch a lot.
Zucchini every meal—
you’ve got:

Zucchini bread.
Zucchini spread.
Zucchini casseroles.

Zucchini pies.
Zucchini fries.
Zucchini dinner rolls.

Zucchini juice.
Zucchini mousse.
Zucchini jam and scone.

Zucchini hash
and succotash.
Zucchini
meeny
miney

MOAN.

from Busy in the Garden, by George Shannon.

Ready to plant some zucchini? Maybe next month.