Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered in Little, Brown Young Readers' giveaway. I wish all of you could have won!

And the winner of the four books, randomly selected at random.org is #7: Crafty Mama!


Congratulations Crafty Mama! I'll be contacting you via email for your mailing address.

And thanks again to Little, Brown Young Readers for the wonderful books!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

7 16 11 3 9
18 7 29 1 6
17 27 19 19 17
20 9 2 21 14
13 11 9 9 19
17 22 17 7 18

Timestamp: 2008-11-30 15:14:31 UTC

The Adventures of Max and Pinky: The Mystery

The Adventures of Max and Pinky: The Mystery by Maxwell Eaton III

Maxwell Eaton III kicks off his blog tour at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast tomorrow. He’ll be here for a fantastic guest post on Wednesday, but before all of the excitement commences, I want to introduce you to Max and Pinky through their newest adventure, The Adventures of Max and Pinky: The Mystery.

Max and his friend, Pinky, who happens to be a pig, decide to paint the barn outside their house red. When they wake up the next morning, the barn is Pepto Bismol pink. They repaint it red and stay up all night to guard it only to see it repainted the next day. They set about trying to discover who keeps painting the barn and even set a trap. Young readers will be delighted to discover who the culprit is.

Along with the very cute story are vibrant and equally cute comic-like illustrations that kids will love. They’ll get a few giggles out of the dialog bubbles above the characters’ heads and the elaborate trap that involves a bowling ball, a frog, a chicken, and a duck. The text is simple and sparse enough for a beginning reader to read with little difficulty. Even very young children will enjoy looking at and identifying the different farm animals in the book. This, along with Max and Pinky’s other two adventures, The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Best Buds and The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Superheroes would make a perfect gift for younger readers.



What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Menasha Kids: "Eaton excels at writing books with few words and lots of laughs. His characters say so much with a simple facial expression. This is simplicity at its best. " (read more...)

Bookgasm: "Cute, and not the least bit nauseating." (read more...)




More info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375838074
• ISBN-13: 978-0375838071
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Cybils Nonfiction Middle Grade/ Young Adult Fiction

I will be regularly updating this post to help me keep track of the books I've read and still need to read for the Cybils Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category. The titles of the books I've read will be bolded in purple. The ones I've received but haven't read are in red, and the ones I've yet to receive are in dark red.

11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System

written by David Aguilar

National Geographic Children's Books

Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan

written by Tony O'Brien

Bloomsbury USA

Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry

written by Scott Reynolds Nelson

National Geographic Children's Books

Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself

written by Cynthia Light Brown

Nomad Press

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

written by Shelley Tanaka

illustrated by David Craig

Abrams for Young Readers

Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

written by Nancy Amanda Redd

Gotham Books

Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You

written by Deborah Reber

Simon Pulse

Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life

written by Linda Sivertsen

Simon Pulse

George Washington Carver

written by Tonya Bolden

Abrams for Young Readers

Girls Inc. Presents: You're Amazing!: A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self

written by Claire Mysko

Adams Media

Gotcha Covered: Everything You Need To Know About Your Period

written by Lisa McGuinness

Chronicle Books

Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World

written by Ken Beller

LTS Press

Hidden Letters

edited by Ian Shine

and Deborah Slier

Star Bright Books

Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia

written and illustrated by Ted Lewin

and Betsy Lewin

Lee & Low Books, Inc.

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee

written by Charles Shields

Henry Holt

In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry

written by Carla Killough McClafferty

Farrar, Strauss & Giroux

Independent Dames: What You Never Knew about the Women and Girls of the American Revolution

written by Laurie Halse Anderson

illustrated by Matt Faulkner

Simon & Schuster

King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

written by Steve Sheinkin

Roaring Brook

Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss

written by Danica McKellar

Hudson Street

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka

written by Jon Scieszka

Viking

Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered

written by Barry Denenberg

Feiwel & Friends

Lincoln Through the Lens

written by Martin Sandler

Walker Books for Young Readers

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds

written and illustrated by Jeff Crosby

and Shelley Ann Jackson

Tundra

Model

written by Cheryl Diamond

Simon Pulse

Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes

written by Ellen Jackson

Houghton Mifflin

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

written by Susan Kuklin

Henry Holt

Off to War: Voices of Soldiers' Children

written by Deborah Ellis

Groundwood Books

One Hundred Young Americans

written by Michael Franzini

Collins Design

OUR FARM: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family Farm

written by Michael Rosen

Darby Creek

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out

Candlewick Press

Painting the Wild Frontier: The Art and Adventures of George Catlin

written by Susanna Reich

Clarion Books

Physics: Why Matter Matters

written by Dan Green

Kingfisher

ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool: a year in an american high school

written by Elisha Cooper

Dial

Science on the Loose: Amazing Activities and Science Facts You'll Never Believe

written by Helaine Becker

Maple Tree Press

Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World

written by Jane Yolen

Charlesbridge

Sedimentary Rock

written by Rebecca Faulkner

Heinemann-Raintree

Seize the Story

written by Victoria Hanley

Cottonwood Press

She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer

written by Sally Hobart Alexander

Clarion Books

Snow Falling In Spring

written by Moying Li

Farrar, Strauss & Giroux

Steel Drumming at the Apollo: The Road to Super Top Dog

written by Marx Trish

Lee & Low Books, Inc.

Super Crocs and Monster Wings

written by Claire Eamer

Annick Press

Swords: An Artist's Devotion

written and illustrated by Ben Boos

Candlewick Press

Taking Care of Your Girls: A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens, and In-Betweens

written by Marisa Weiss

Three Rivers Press

The Bite of the Mango

written by Mariatu Kamara

Annick Press

The Great Race:The Amazing Round-the-World Auto Race of 1908

written by Gary Blackwood

Abrams for Young Readers

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

written by Candace Fleming

Schwartz and Wade Books

The Pocket Guide to Mischief

written by Bart King

Gibbs Smith

The Raucous Royals: Test Your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce which Royal Rumors are True

written and illustrated by Carlyn Beccia

Houghton Mifflin

The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West

written by Sid Fleischman

Collins Design

The Way We Work

written by David MacCaulay

Houghton Mifflin

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir

written by Cylin Busby

and John Busby

Bloomsbury USA

The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America

written by Bill Thompson

Houghton Mifflin

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

written by Nelson Kadir

Hyperion

What the World Eats

written by Peter Menzel

Tricycle Press

Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There

written by Jeff Belanger

Sterling Publishing

Women of Granite: 25 New Hampshire Women You Should Know

written by Janet Buell

Apprentice Shop Books

Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama

written by Garen Thomas

Feiwel & Friends

YUM: Your Ultimate Manual for Good Nutrition

written by Daina Kalnins

Lobster Press

Meet Cheri Williams

I'm excited to introduce you to Cheri Williams, the newest contributor at The Well-Read Child!

Cheri Williams—bibliomaniac extraordinaire! Cheri loves to purchase, read, store, admire, and consume books in excess. She considers a home library, weekly book-buying binges, and nose-to-page time mandatory. A recent bookhunt revealed books in every room of her house (even the restrooms and laundry room). She sees this as a good thing.

A Book-of-the-Month Club subscriber since before birth, Cheri comes from a long line of book lovers. Passionate to leave a love-of-reading legacy, she believes, “Reading changes us. It grows us. And, reading is fun!”

To that end, Cheri pens fiction and non-fiction for tweens and teens and has the great honor of speaking to students about reading and writing. Her website offers instructional helps, as well as, daily snippets of reading fun sure to equip and entice even the most reluctant reader. You can learn more about Cheri on her website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook—she’d love to be your bibliomaniac-friend!

http://www.cheriwilliams.com/
http://cheriwilliams.blogspot.com/
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1467190877&ref=name



Welcome Cheri!

Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor

Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor

If you’re in the mood for the type of book that just gives you the “feel-goods,” Greetings from Nowhere may be what you’re looking for.

Aggie, an elderly woman hesitantly puts the motel she’s run with her husband, now deceased, for years up for sale. She doesn’t want to but sees no other way.

Loretta, a young girl receives an anonymous package containing the only worldly possessions of her birth mother who has recently died. The package contains clues as to places the birth mother may have visited during her lifetime, and the girl’s loving adoptive parents set upon a trip to visit some of the places.

Kirby, a young boy in much need of love is on the way to reform school when his mother’s car breaks down.

Willow, a lonely and heartbroken young girl whose mother suddenly left her and her father is surprised when her father decides to buy the motel and start a new life.

In Greetings from Nowhere, these four people’s lives connect at the Sleepy Time Motel, forming a heartwarming story that provides a bit of elixir to the soul.

Barbara O’Conner does an exceptional job with getting inside the head of four very believable and likeable characters. What is most impressive is that fact that in one short book, she was able to tell the story of these four characters from their own points of view AND connect them through their loneliness and need for love.

It’s a story of hope, a story of healing, and a story about finding friendship when you need it the most and least expect it.

Highly recommended.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Carol's Corner: "GREETINGS FROM NOWHERE is also a story of hope and redemption- of people who need and find and care for each other. I know so, so, so many kids who need books like that too. " (read more...)

Abby (the) Librarian: "And the setting is another thing I loved about this book. I could see the mountains, the dried-up swimming pool, the weedy parking lot, the musty rooms, the tomato garden... it all really came alive for me." (read more...)

Eva's Book Addiction: "...thanks to some wonderfully understated writing and a keen knowledge of how people think and talk, it all comes together in a satisfying package. " (read more...)

More info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (March 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374399379
• ISBN-13: 978-0374399375
• Source: Library
  

More by Barbara O'Connor:

• How to Steal a Dog
• Moonpie and Ivy
• Me and Rupert Goody
• Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia
  

Remembering Aunt Marian

I've tended to stay away from personal posts on this blog, but to put it frankly, this blog would not even exist if my Aunt Marian hadn't turned me onto reading when I was just a little girl. I've mentioned her here, here, and here. But Aunt Marian didn't only turn me into a voracious reader. She and my Uncle Dave were always important fixtures in my life and a source of great influence. When I was little, I thought my Aunt Marian was the smartest person in the world, and now I know that not only was she the smartest, but she was the kindest person I've ever known.

Her strength, never ending support, generosity, and gigantic heart always made me feel special and loved. She was a huge fan of The Well-Read Child and often sent books to my daughter who shares her middle name.

This afternoon, my Aunt Marian died, and I can't even describe the deep sadness I'm feeling right now.

On this Thanksgiving Evening, I am thankful that she was in my life for 31 years.

Aunt Marian...I love you, I miss you, and can't even begin to thank you for everything.

Coming up on The Well-Read Child

If you haven't entered my book giveaway, you still have until Saturday at midnight to do so. I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Sunday. Enter here.

I signed up for a Twitter account, so if any of you would like to follow me, my username is "wellreadchild."

Next week, I'm super excited to be participating in Maxwell Eaton's blog tour which kicks off on Monday at Seven Imp. Be sure to visit Jules and Eisha on Monday and then come here on Wednesday for a super fantastic guest post by Maxwell.

Speaking of blog tours, I'll also be featuring an interview with Judy Blume during the second week of December. Awesomeness abounds.

I also have some great reviews scheduled written by the fantastic guest contributors at The Well-Read Child, so be sure to come back and see those.

Finally, to all of my American friends, have a very very Happy Thanksgiving. This year more than ever I'm thankful for my friends, family, and health. Cheers!

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

Review by Erica Moore

Those pesky boys. The Penderwick sisters have trouble. This time they aren’t saving a mysterious boy in an old mansion but their own father and the boy next door. Aunt Claire, their father’s sister, has decided it’s time for Mr. Penderwick to start dating again and that can only mean disaster. The girls launch a plan to find terrible women for their father to date but Mr. Penderwick seems to have his own plan. And then there’s Tommy the boy next door who begins dating an older girl in 8th grade much to Rosalind’s chagrin. Batty the youngest Penderwick spies upon and then befriends the new next door neighbor and her toddler son. Not to leave out Jane and Skye who have their own problems with a switched homework assignment and a school play. The school year is starting, the Penderwicks are home, and it’s anything but routine on Gardam Street.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is a sequel to The Penderwicks, a winner of the National Book Award. It isn’t necessary to read The Penderwicks before reading The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. Each book stands alone and can be enjoyed separately, but you will definitely want to read more about this family after reading only one book.

Part of the appeal of the Penderwicks is it’s timelessness. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is set in the present but it easily could have been set in the 1960s or the 1980s. There is little to date this book and it will seem contemporary to kids 10 years from now. Their family stories and adventures could be happening to your family and neighbors.

This is a great book to use to get kids talking about their own family stories. Often times things that caused great family drama are seen in a different and amusing way later. This is the stuff of family legend. Many people have these stories to share. The kind that begin, remember when .... For families and educators it’s an opportunity to have kids do autobiographical writing.

There is tragedy in the Penderwick family. The girls’ mother dies shortly after “Batty” is born and she is named after her mother, Elizabeth. The books begin several years after her death and this event does shape Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty but it is not the main theme of either book by Birdsall. I believe that this is an example of bad things happening to every family but not letting them define us completely. This is a healthy family dealing with normal joys, sorrows and of course adventures all the while coming out on top. This will be a favorite for many years.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Note: There are TONS of reviews out there, so here is just a sampling of the most recent.

Books and More: "Sometimes sequels don't live up to the original book but this is NOT the case. " (read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "I enjoyed this book because I loved the characters. I loved the narrative. I loved how Birdsall wrote the story. The narrative voices. The language. The style. But I didn't love this one because of the plot." (read more...)

Never Jam Today: "...mothers searching for one—one!—decent read-aloud on the new arrivals shelf are in for a treat. Each of the four girls are given time to shine, and a plot line that could have flopped—scheming potential girlfriends for Daddy—instead unfolds with charm." (read more...)

Books for Kids Blog: "Realistically drawn, the Penderwick sisters come through as genuine individuals who nonetheless manage to blend into a one-of-a-kind close-knit family." (read more...)

Cool Kids Read: "While it may seem a "girl" book, it should most definitely appeal to younger boys -- and might give them a good lesson about their female counterparts as well." (read more...)

Fuse #8: For those of you who couldn't care less about books with a classic feel and just want something funny, well written, and enticing, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street has your number. (read more...)




More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375840907
• ISBN-13: 978-0375840906
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson

Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson

Reviewed by Mighty Mom (The Adventures of Mighty Mom)

Not much happens in Johnson, New Jersey until the day 14-year-old Jack discovers a dead body in a wooded area near his home. Soon after, members of an exclusive lodge in Johnson begin to die, one after the other. Driven by intrigue, Jack and his friends work to uncover the secret behind these suspicious deaths. But can they do so without becoming victims themselves?

Jack: Secret Histories is the first of three prequel novels to F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series. As such, Jack's fate is predetermined: we know he's going to make it. The question is this: Can Mr. Wilson keep readers engaged when the hero's fate is not in mortal jeopardy? I would say, yes. There is an adequate mix of whodunit intrigue and paranormal creepiness to draw the reader to its final pages. My only reservations revolve around his injudicious mention of 1980's paraphernalia and the questionable relevance of some secondary characters and their respective scenes. While the significance of such oddities as the old lady with a dog may become clear later in the series, for now I am left feeling the narrative could have been tighter.


Jack: Secret Histories would be best read by the young adolescent or any fan of the Repairman Jack series who wants to step back in time.

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Bookshelves of Doom: "There was also some effort made to explain some of the differences between 1983 and now (no internet, cultural stuff), but those bits felt disjointed and inorganic, and so they were also distracting, felt a bit teach-y and made me feel like the author might not think much of the audience's reasoning capabilities" (read more...)

Au Courant: "If you want a quick read thick with mystery and secrets, and a little supernatural icing that will leave you wondering what would happen next, I suggest Jack: Secret Histories." (read more...)

BookMoot: "...I must say that Jack is one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever encountered. He has no last name, no SSN and no official existence. He earns a living “fixing” problems for people who have no where else to turn. And he’s very good at it." (read more...)

Jean Little Library: "This is a great mystery, suspenseful and well-plotted. The mysterious secret societies are fascinating and Jack's character is a perfect foreshadowing of his future persona." (read more...)

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "I must admit to having a hard time assessing whether or not this book will stand on its own for teen readers who haven't read the Repairman Jack series. But as someone who has read that series, this book is a lot of fun." (read more...)




More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tor Teen (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765318547
• ISBN-13: 978-0765318541
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Bread Comes to Life by George Levenson, photography by Shmuel Thaler

Bread Comes to Life: A Garden of Wheat and a Loaf to Eat by George Levenson, photography by Shmuel Thaler

Reviewed by Lisa Stanger

Do you think it’s time,
For Non-fiction books to rhyme?


Told in rhyme, this nonfiction book aimed at children aged 4-7 tells the story of bread, from sowing wheat to slicing a finished loaf. Author George Levenson brings his film making experience to this project and the result is cinematic page spreads with a concise description of the process of producing bread. A DVD and teaching kit is also available and clearly the major market for this title is an educational one. The uncluttered and striking visuals make this book an invaluable addition to a unit about baking, bread or agriculture. There is a website with teaching activities here.

The rhyme in this book may make it easier for a teacher to read aloud (always a bonus for a nonfiction title), but I think the sometimes awkward nature of it detracts from the strong visual elements and the usefulness of the information :

“Stack up piles of sun-dried stalks,
Rub them in a threshing box.
It’s the simple, old-time miller’s craft
Of separating wheat from chaff.”

This book would be useful with a wide range of children as a general overview of bread production, though older children may not warm to the text where the text will not be perceived as “talking down” to them. A good resource for classes that could have been a great book with a different take on the text.

(The book was originally released in 2004 and is now being reissued in paperback.)

More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press; Reprint edition (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582462739
• ISBN-13: 978-1582462738
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Book Giveaway!

Little, Brown Young Readers has kindly offered the following four books to give away to one lucky reader of The Well-Read Child. They would make perfect holiday gifts for special young readers in your life.

South by Patrick McDonnell

This wordless picture book by the creator of the comic strip Mutts follows a little bird and the cat who helps him find his way south for the winter.




Willow Buds #2: When Toady Met Ratty by Mary Jane Begin

This is the second book in Mary Jane Begin's Willow Buds series inspired by Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Badger introduces Toady to Ratty, and a bit of competition ensues before a trip to carnival helps them all become friends.



AMERICA: The Making of a Nation by Charlie Samuels

This is my favorite book of the bunch and would make a great gift for history loving kids of all ages. In the format of an anonymous journal, the book takes readers through the history of the United States from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the 21st century. It's full of pictures and interactive components such as flaps and fold out Declaration of Independence.


The Beginner's Guide to Bears by Gillian Shields, illustrated by Sebastien Braun

This cute book shows young children about the fun they can have with their teddy bears. At the end is a peek-a-boo mirror inviting the reader to look in it with his/her own teddy bear. I can see this book being paired with a stuffed bear to make a perfect gift for a young child.




Entry rules
Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on this blog by midnight EST on Saturday, November 29th. Please leave either a link to your blog or an email address so I can get in touch with the winner. The contest is open to US residents only.


Good luck!

Ilustrator Interview: Dimitrea Tokunbo

I'm excited to be wrapping up the week with an interview with Dimitria Tokunbo, illustrator of Amadi's Snowman.






When you received the text for Amadi's Snowman, what did you want to capture through your illustrations?
I really wanted to convey the colors I remembered from my visits to Nigeria. I wanted the readers to see the rich orange and copper tones of the dirt and pottery, the lush greens of the trees and bushes that lined the roads and the multicolored fabrics that swished by me as the people hurried past.


I see that your father grew up in Nigeria. Did you draw from your own experiences to create the art in Amadi's Snowman?
I have been to Nigeria a number of times and I did use my experiences there, but I also relied heavily on my relatives & friends through the internet to provide me with valuable research and photos.


Tell us a little about your art. What medium did you use for Amadi's Snowman? Is this your preferred medium or do you use others?
I used acrylic paint for Amadi’s Snowman. I’ve used acrylic paints for a few magazine assignments but not for a full length picture until Amadi’s Snowman. For previous books, I used water color and colored pencils.



The overarching theme of Amadi's Snowman is about the importance of literacy. Why do you personally think literacy is important?
I grew up in a family of teachers and story tellers. My great, great grandmother’s sister was a missionary who taught newly freed slaves in America to read. My mother was a special reading teacher before she retired. I believe that reading is an essential part of a good education and I believe that a good education unlocks limitless opportunities for the world’s children.

How do you think parents and teachers can help reach out to reluctant readers?
I think that graphic novels and comic books are a great tool in getting reluctant readers to read. I am dyslexic and so I resisted reading for a large part of my childhood. I loved to be read to but didn’t get excited about reading chapter books to myself. I’ve always been attracted to pictures. And found that Graphic novels helped me (and later one of my daughters) transition from picture books to chapter books.


Do you and your daughters read together as a family?
My daughters are ages 11 and 14 and they still love it when I read novels to them at bed time, if I’m too tired one of them will read a chapter or two. Our schedules are hectic but we still squeeze family reading time in. Sometimes we will be seen riding the subway and each of us is deep into our own book (o:


What are some of your daughters' favorite books?
When my daughters were much younger they loved books like “Is your Mama a Llama?” and “Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale”. We went to the local library at least three times a week so they got a chance to have a lot of favorites.


What can we hope to see next from you?
Well, I have a book coming out in Fall of 09 that I’ve written for Scholastic Inc. titled, The Sound of Kwanzaa, illustrated by Lisa Cohen.


Any final thoughts?
I am really glad to be a part of the team that put together Amadi’s Snowman. It was fun to work on and it is fun to share it!

Dimitrea, thank you so very much for stopping by. I look forward to seeing The Sound of Kwanzaa when it comes out, and best of luck with all of your future projects!

How to Read a Book without Words (Out Loud)

Intro: When Tanya, a Well-Read Child contributor who blogs at Children's Books: What, When & How to Read Them, told me about her idea for a post about reading wordless picture books, I immediately took her up on her offer to write it. So, thanks so much Tanya for this fabulous post. You've certainly inspired me to try out more wordless picture books with my daughter!

As an art school drop out and picture book aficionado, I am always drawn to a book's illustrations above all else. So, of course I would be drawn to a beautifully illustrated book that is all pictures. However, as a mother of a toddler and reader of story time three days a week, I need a book that will grab my audience, whether it's my son sitting in my lap or little faces looking up at me from the kid-sized benches in the Children's Department of the bookstore. Picture books without words draw the "reader" into a silent universe that is interpreted internally. To "read" a wordless picture book out loud requires that the "reader," using visual cues from the the author/illustrator, create a narrative that will draw the listeners into the story and guide them through it externally. This is not always the easiest thing to do, even for someone who has read hundreds of picture books. But, I have found that, with a little thinking ahead and attention to detail, you can draw listeners in to the book and make the story last longer than the time it takes to flip through the pages.

David Wiesner is undoubtedly the master of visual storytelling, having won the Caldecott Medal for Tuesday, The Three Pigs,and Flotsam, as well as the Caldecott Honor Award for Free Fall and Sector 7.

But, before we dive into the wordless works of David Wiesner, I want to introduce you to Barbara Lehman, author/illustrator of The Red Book, winner of the Caldecott Honor in 2005, as well as Museum Trip, Rainstorm, and Trainstop. Lehman and Wiesner both use watercolors to magnificently illustrate their books, but in very different ways. Lehman employs black outlines that give her pictures a two dimensional, almost comic book feel, making her books ideal for younger children. This isn't to say that her illustrations are simplistic. They are rich with details, crisp and colorful. And, most of all, inviting. Readers can't help but be drawn in to Lehman's books, especially The Red Book, which is about being drawn into a book, literally!

The plots of Lehman's books are often circular, ending where they began.The Red Book begins and ends with a nameless, red book stuck in a snowbank in a city somewhere. In between, the finder of the red book opens the pages to see another reader, on a sandy beach, who can see her, too. The story follows the city child as she devises a way to meet up with the other reader of the red book.

Other than serving as a page turner, how can you "read" this book out loud, drawing younger children into the story and drawing out their imaginations? There are a few things you can do before you even open the book to begin engaging your audience. Whenever I read out loud, at home or at work, I like to say the name of the book and the name of the author and illustrator. After that, I usually open the book and start reading the story. However, with Lehman's books, which all have the main character on the cover, I like to tell my audience that we are going to read a book without words and I need help to tell this story. Then, I ask the audience to choose a name for the main character to get us started. Gender appropriate names, or even real names, don't matter. This is about what the audience sees and thinks. Reading a wordless book out loud requires a fine balance between audience involvement and verbal illustration enrichment on your part. As the "reader," take every opportunity to throw in adjectives when appropriate. Ask your audience to say how the main character is feeling, based on his/her expression. Ask your audience what they think the main character is thinking. Use your narrative to frame input from the audience and move the story along, page by page.

As an individual reader, you know where your imagination goes as you read a wordless book to yourself. When "reading" out loud to an audience, you want to engage them and have them tell you where their imaginations are going as they look at the pictures in the book. All four of Lehman's books have main characters who are alone, and maybe lonely, but who find a connection with others, which reminds me a little bit of wordless picture books themselves - the pictures are out there on their own, waiting to connect with a reader who will give words their story.



David Wiesner's books take imagination and illustration to the next level. Some of Wiesner's artwork would not be out of place hanging in a museum next to the works of Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali. Wiesner's books are more detailed and his plots more complex than Barbara Lehman's, making for even more "reading" opportunities, but also requiring a slightly more advanced ability to understand the stories.


Of course, these stories don't need to be understood or explained to be enjoyed. Simply looking at the beautiful, painterly illustrations with your audience and talking about the minutiae can make for an entertaining experience. Without words, readers (and listeners) are forced to look more closely at the illustrations, for clues and for narrative, than they would when reading a picture book with words. Words provide the cues for what to think about the story and how to look at the illustrations - without them, interpretation is up to you. Reading a book without pictures is also great practice for future museum visits and appreciation of art that hangs on the wall rather than between the pages of a book. Because of the detailed nature of Wiesner's illustrations, naming all the characters in his books might not be the best strategy, especially for the intricate Flotsam. However, this could be great fun with the more playful Sector 7in which clouds have personalities and Tuesday in which frogs on flying lily pads have a nocturnal adventure.

However you choose to frame your narrative, calling attention to details and involving the listener is key to an engaged experience when reading a book without words. The way in which you call attention to and narrate the details determines the level of imagination and attention that your listeners will exhibit. I have always been the kind of reader who pores over illustrations and points out details. When my children were infants, this was a great strategy for engaging them in the story.

While reading Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann I would always point out the mouse with the banana, who is somewhere different on each page. Eventually, I could ask, "Where is the mouse?" and my audience would delight in showing me. Looking for details has its rewards as well, especially with author/illustrators like Peggy Rathmann, who hides characters from one book in the pages of another - see 10 Minutes till Bedtime, an almost wordless book with guest appearances by the stars of Caldecott Medal winner Officer Buckle and Gloria and the cast of Good Night, Gorilla.

Readers of the works of David Shannon can have fun searching for his dog Fergus, a little, white terrier and star of his own book, Good Boy, Fergus!, hidden within illustrations of all of his books. Shannon is very creative with his incorporation of Fergus into his art work. In one book, Fergus appears as a logo on a bicycle. In another, he is a bit of graffiti on a desk.

However you choose to approach the experience, reading a wordless book out loud is both challenging and rewarding. Getting good at it and appreciating it is a muscle that needs flexing and developing. The more you work it, the more it works for you, and the more you get out of the wordless books you read. The ultimate gift of reading the wordless picture book out loud is the creativity it inspires in the listener. Wordless picture books are springboards to stories yet to be told, germinating in your children's minds.

Author Interview: Katia Novet Saint-Lot

Yesterday, I reviewed Katia Novet Saint-Lot's picture book, Amadi's Snowman, and today, I'm honored to present to you an interview with Katia.

Jill: What inspired you to write Amadi's Snowman?

Katia: My husband was the UNICEF state representative for the South-Eastern region of Nigeria. One evening, he came home, full of stories about young boys quitting school because they preferred to earn quick money doing street business. My character, whose name was Ifeanyi, at the time, was born right then.

Jill: In the book, Amadi doesn't at first realize how important it is to be able to read. Can you talk a bit about why you believe literacy is important?

Katia: Literacy means education, education means freedom, independence, understanding, being able to grow, to expand one's horizons, to stand up for oneself. I grew up with a Spanish mother who never went to school until the age of 40, when she finally learned to read and write. My father had to quit school when he was 15 to earn a living, in spite of his teachers having tried to convince his parents to let him continue with his studies. He did go back to school after I was born, studying at night for years, and he did well for himself. I suppose my background made me realize certain things, early in life. The way people treated my mother in shops because she was a foreigner, and obviously not very educated, for instance. These things had a profound impact on me, as a child. Having lived in several developing countries, I also have and continue to see the way uneducated people are taken advantage of by those who were lucky enough to have the means to get an education. Education opens doors. The lack of education keeps people from moving up the social ladder.

Jill: By the book's end, Amadi is excited about learning how to read. Do you think that children who love to read get a bigger benefit from reading than the ones who merely read because they have to for school? Why?

Katia: That's an interesting question. I suppose you get a bigger benefit simply because you take pleasure in doing it. I'm pretty much an autodidact, and one thing I've learned over the years is that it is so much easier to learn quickly and efficiently when you like a subject, when you're motivated. If books give you pleasure, then, it seems to me that what you read will have an impact on you, will stay in your mind, as opposed to kind of entering your brains from one side, and getting right out the other.

Jill: What advice can you give parents and teachers for helping children learn to love reading?

Katia: I'm not sure I have any qualification to answer that question, but having books around and reading to children, reading stories that spark their interest and curiosity, that get them involved, that make them feel concerned, that move them, fascinate them, all these would seem like good ways to foster a love for reading. Just like Amadi.

Jill: I see in your bio that you have two daughters. Do you read together as a family?

Katia: I read a lot to my daughters, yes. I wouldn't say as a family, because they are four years apart, and the oldest can now read books on her own. But the little one has inherited all her sister's books, and the older one still loves me to read for her. Or we read one page, she reads the following, etc.

Jill: What are some of your daughters' favorite books?

Katia: There again, it depends on the age. My older daughter loved Dr. Seuss's "M. Brown can Mow" as a baby and a toddler. I knew it by heart. I also read her Anastasia Suen's "Baby Born" a million times at least. And we both loved Robert Munsh's "Love you Forever." I actually composed a little tune to go with the song in the book, and I still sing it to them at night time. Kora also loves "Bringing Asha Home," by Uma Krishnaswami. It's a lovely book, and there is an Indian baby, and we live in India. She's starting to read longer books, now. She seems to be very visual, so illustrations, art, graphics really catch her eye. As for the little one, she's never really had a favorite book so far. She'll ask me to read the same one several nights in a row, and then, it will be another, and another.


Jill: What message do you hope to send to children who read Amadi's Snowman?

Katia: Apart from the obvious message about the glory and magic of books, and how they open doors, I think that I also wanted to show a child in a different setting. Something familiar to a western child, like snow, can be totally foreign to another. And yet, Amadi is such an universal character. He's stubborn, slightly defiant, in a hurry to grow up, and also immensely likable because he's smart, and curious, and wise enough, in the end, to change his mind.

Jill: Do you have any plans for future books?

Katia: I have stories going around, absolutely. And several projects in the draft stage. Keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed :)


Thanks so much for stopping by Katia, and I wish you the best of luck with all of your future endeavors!


Be sure to come back on Friday for an interview with Dimitrea Tokunbo, the illustrator of Amadi's Snowman.

Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-lot, illustrated by Dimitria Tokunbo

Amadi's Snowman
by Katia Novet Saint-lot, illustrated by Dimitria Tokunbo

Amadi, a young Igbo boy in Nigeria doesn't see a reason for learning how to read, so he disobeys his mother and runs off to market instead of waiting for his reading teacher to arrive. After all, he IS going to be an Igbo businessman, and they certainly have much more to do than sit around and read.

As he's walking through the market, Amadi notices an older boy he knows reading a book with an interesting picture of a snowman inside. The boy, Chima, tells Amadi about snow, something he has never even heard of, and for the rest of the day, Amadi's mind is full of questions. Maybe there's more to reading after all...

If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that I'm a huge proponent of literacy. Knowing how to read is not only a crucial survival skill, but LOVING to read can open your eyes to so many new people, places, and things. This is why I like Amadi's Snowman.

I'm not a fan of heavy-handed messages, and this book could have easily gone in that direction. However, Katia Novet Saint-Lot passes on the message of the importance of literacy through the eyes of a curious child. I've always heard stories of reluctant readers finding THE book that turned them onto reading, and in Amadi's case, it was a book about a snowman. Don't get me wrong...the message is still there, but I don't think it's too "preachy."

Also, by telling us the story of a boy in Nigeria, Ms. Saint-Lot is opening OUR eyes to another culture. We get a great description of the marketplace, learn a bit about business in Nigeria, and meet a boy who I think a lot of children will relate to even though he's in a different part of the world.

Dimitria Tokunbo's earth-toned illustrations with vivid splashes of color take us straight to Nigeria and draw us into its rich culture.

This book shares a critical message in an engaging and unintimidating manner and would be a good addition to any school, home, or classroom library. Teachers and homeschool parents, visit Tilbury House's website for a variety of discussion questions and resources you can use with the book.

I'm honored to be taking part of Katia Novet Saint-Lot's Global Virtual Tour. Click here to see all of the former and future stops on the tour. Tomorrow, Katia will be visiting and answering a few questions, and on Friday, we'll be talking to the illustrator, Dimitria Tokunbo.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Mitali's Fire Escape: "Novet Saint-Lot has written a universal story about the power of literacy without losing sight of the delightful particulars of one boy's life." (read more...)

5 Minutes for Books: "Amadi's Snowman is a touching reminder of how transformative books can be. " (read more...)

In the Pages: "It shows the importance of learning to read and the lifestyle of another culture. " (read more...)

Books Together Blog: "My own kids identified with Amadi, who is a very likeable character, despite the fact they've made many a snowman during winters in Michigan and Virginia. " (read more...)


Random Wonder: "...To me, Amadi's Snowman is more than just a reading-is-a-wonder send up; it’s a multicultural look at how others view the same world. " (read more...)

Scrub-A-Dub-Tub: "While the power of reading is a key theme, it is not the only one. Just as Amadi has a chance to learn about snow in places far away, kids reading this book can learn about the Ibo (African people) and Nigeria." (read more...)

Bees Knees Reads: "A reminder of how just one little book can change a persons entire life! " (read more...)

Literary Safari: "This picture book would make a good read-aloud for children who question the role of reading in their lives and could lead to some interesting group discussions . " (read more..)

My Readable Feast: "Not only is it a beautiful book and a sweet story, but it shows the magic of reading and how it’s the key to knowing so much about the world and its wonders. " (read more...)
More information about the book:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers (May 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884482987
• ISBN-13: 978-0884482987
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

All images are used with permission from Tilbury House Publishers.

November Carnival of Children's Literature

The November Carnival of Children's Literature is up at Mommy's Favorite Children's Books. Karen has the roundup with the theme of "The Gift of Reading." There are a lot of great posts, including reviews and gift ideas. Do go and check it out!

Next month, the carnival will be hosted at Jen Robinson's Book Page. Jen is asking everyone to share their " very best post from all of 2008. The deadline is December 15th." Ooooh....I've got a lot of thinkin' to do. :)

Nonfiction Monday: Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys by Lang Lang with Michael French

Reviewed by Erica Moore

Lang Lang has been named one of the top 20 teens who will change the world. He played the opening concert for the World Cup 2006 Munich. In 2008 he played at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. He is a rare star in the classical music and more with his work as an ambassador for UNICEF. Lang Lang has fan clubs and a shoe with Adidas.

His story starts at the beginning with his earliest memories of family and the piano. He remembers sitting at the piano at 2 years of age and practicing the piano by age 3. By the age of 5 he wins his first piano competition against much older students. Lang Lang seldom watches tv, plays with friends or with toys although he loves transformers. He practices the piano for hours every day. When it becomes clear Lang Lang is a musical prodigy his father takes him to live in Beijing and audition for a prestigious music academy. This takes Lang Lang away from his mother as she stays behind to work and support the family. He is only 8 when he goes to Beijing and 10 when he wins a scholarship placement at the music academy.

Lang Lang’s story is amazing and sad as he recalls his childhood and his relationship with his father in a very factual way. Lang Lang misses his mother greatly and goes years without seeing her so that he may further his piano career. His father seems only to care about Lang Lang winning first place in competitions. Lang Lang has music to comfort him and seems to escape his life in his practicing. Lang Lang doesn’t come across as bitter and makes an attempt to explain the Chinese culture of competition and his father’s temperament which seems abusive to my western viewpoint.

Lang Lang recently visited my home town of Portland, Oregon and his performance made the front page. I unfortunately didn’t see him perform but after reading his story I will definitely make an effort.

This is an engaging autobiography about someone who accomplishes amazing things in their early teens. I was moved by this book. I think teens will be hooked reading about someone living so completely different. They will be shocked and angry about the things that happen to Lang Lang but all the drama and triumph is what makes this a compelling story. There is a map, timelines, vital stats and fun facts about Lang Lang, and a glossary to help round out any paper on a famous person.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

I.N.K.: "Along the way, readers will absorb a considerable amount about China, its history and culture, as well as the power of all kinds of music, particularly classical." (read more...)

More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385735782
• ISBN-13: 978-0385735780
• Source: Publisher Review Copy
  

Listen to some samples of Lang Lang's music here.

Stop by Anastasia Suen's Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday delights.

Nonfiction Evaluation Criteria

I've been taking time off from blogging this week because I've spent a great deal of time in the past few days reading some books nominated in the Cybils Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category. As a first-round panelist, I, along with the other fabulous panelists have to produce a short list for the judges by the end of December.

Books that win a Cybils award must be a combination of quality and kid appeal, and it seems like a daunting task to select a list of 5-7 books that meet this criteria from approximately 60. I can't even imagine how the panelists in the Young Adult Fiction and other larger categories are going to do it.

As I've been reading, I'm using the following criteria to help me evaluate a book's quality and kid appeal:



Age-appropriateness
Middle graders and young adults span from approximately age 9 to 14+. That's quite a wide age range, so as I'm reading, I'm asking myself if the subject matter as well as the language, visual elements, organization, and tone seem appropriate for the book's intended age. As a middle school and high school teacher, I know that kids in this age group do not want to be treated like little children or feel as if they're being talked down to. Likewise, they don't like to read books with childish illustrations or large "baby" fonts. On the other side of the spectrum, I pay attention to whether or not the same elements may be more appropriate for older audiences.


Layout
Layout is important when it comes to evaluating a book. A pet peeve of mine in nonfiction is when a sentence or paragraph carries over onto the next page, and you have to flip back to read an interesting text box, time line, or photo caption. If I have to turn a page so that I can finish reading a sentence and then have to flip back to read something else, I get annoyed, and I can imagine that kids may NOT flip back and miss interesting information. I know that this is sometimes out of the author's control and that it has to do with printing issues, but to me, good layout and content go hand in hand. What use is good content if it's missed or forgotten because it's poorly organized?

On a similar note, I also look at how information is organized and chunked. Are section headings easy to find? Is the information organized so that it follows a logical flow and is appealing to the eye or do readers have to wade through lots of text or read tons of information and elements that are crowded onto the pages.

To me, readability is just as important as engaging text.


Writing Style/Tone
As I mentioned above, kids don't want to be talked down to, but at the same time, they don't want to read dull, dry text. As I'm reading the books, I take a close look at the writing style and tone and try to get a grasp on whether it's engaging and conversational. Does it draw readers in by asking questions or presenting problems that need to be solved? If it's a biography, does the author present the subject matter in a way that makes the person(s) appealing to readers? Can they relate to them? Are readers inspired to keep turning the page?


Appealing Story
Even though it's nonfiction, the book should still tell a story or stories that interest kids and keeps them from putting the book down. The story could be about Abraham Lincoln's assassination, a historian's quest to discover information about a legendary figure, or the story behind the formation of a new solar system. To me, excellent nonfiction doesn't just present straight facts. I can get that kind of information in an encyclopedia. Instead, excellent nonfiction draws me into a story about something or someone, inspires me to ask questions and want to discover the answers, and makes me CARE about the subject matter.


Visual Elements

I finally look at the visual elements in a book to help me distinguish the good from the great. Granted, some genres like biography or autobiography don't necessarily require a lot of photos or illustrations, but they certainly don't hurt. Or do they? Going back to age-appropriateness, visual elements CAN hurt a book's quality if they are too immature or even too mature for the intended audience. If I pick up a book about The Civil War that's written for a middle grade audience, I don't expect to see gory pictures of corpses strewn about a battle field. But I DO expect to see pictures of important people from this time period and perhaps some weapons or other relics.

I tend to prefer nonfiction where the visual elements are integral parts of the book instead of supplementary elements. By that I mean, does the book merely include a drawing of a chapter's subject matter at the beginning of the chapter or are illustrations, photographs, maps, timelines, etc. scattered throughout? Are they colorful, crisp and easy to distinguish, and eye-catching? Do they have captions if appropriate? Can a reluctant reader pick the book up and be engaged without having to read all of the text? That's important to me.


[Edited to include references. Thanks to Tricia from The Miss Rumphius Effect! ]
References
Does the book have a list of references at the end, an index, glossary, or a sources consulted section? Not only do references give you a place to go for more information, but it shows you where the author got his/her information. Moreover, it adds credibility to the content especially when the book has been reviewed by an expert(s) in the field of the book's subject matter.

Conclusion
These criteria are really helping me focus on the different elements of the nominated books I've been reading and is helping me distinguish the good from the great. Anything I'm missing here?

Hey! Have you seen Wordle?

Wordle is my new favorite way to waste time. You can enter your favorite string of words to create a pretty word cloud. You can also enter the URL of your website or blog, and it will pull words from your site to create a word cloud. It can also create a word cloud using your del.icio.us tags. Click randomize to get all kinds of different colors, fonts, and layouts.

Here are a couple of the clouds I created by entering The Well-Read Child's URL.

AWESOME!!!

Bloggy Happenings

I was going to take a much-needed break from blogging this week and catch up on Cybils reading instead, but there's seriously way too much going on.

First off, be sure to visit ShelfSpace at ForeWord Magazine where Jen Robinson is guest posting all month long. Jen's first post, A Gift for All Seasons, gives some fabulous tips for giving children the gift of reading. In addition to the many benefits of possessing the love of reading that Jen lists in her post she says, kids will "learn to entertain themselves, and to assimilate different viewpoints." This is a wonderful post, and I look forward to see what else Jen has to say at ShelfSpace this month.

Speaking of Jen, she recently reviewed Maggie Stiefvater's Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception on her own blog. In her review, Jen said, " I think that Lament will also appeal to other fans of tales of star-crossed love, and of fantasies in which the magical world is juxtaposed against the real world." It sounds like a book right up my alley, so I'm adding it to my TBR pile.


I guess I should have left a comment thanking Jen for her review, but I confess to often browsing blogs without leaving comments. Thankfully, Pam (aka MotherReader)and Lee Wind have organized the Comment Challenge: 21 Days to Community. From November 6 through November 26th, Lee and Pam are challenging bloggers to leave at least five comments a day on kidlit blogs, with the goal of reaching 100 comments by the end of the challenge.

Says Pam, "What if I told you that for the cost of a few extra minutes a day, you can boost your blog readership, foster a feeling of connection, and make someone’s day? I’m talking about commenting." Because I decided to take some time off from blogging, I'm a bit behind, but I'm going to join now and make up by making extra comments in the days ahead.


One last thing before I head off to read and comment on blogs, Amy from My Friend Amy has organized a Books for the Holidays campaign. Says Amy, "So here's my challenge to you....are you willing to buy books this holiday season? Not just for the usual suspects but for as many people on your list as possible? We have a lot of librarians and book clerks in the community so I'm pretty sure we can help each person find just the right book! Are you in?"

If you are in, sign up at Books for the Holidays, and check back often for reviews and much much more.


Whew! Looks like I chose the wrong week for a bloggy vacation!

New York Times Children's Books Special Issue

I've spent the majority of my day reading Cybils nominees for the Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category. Some have been great, and others just "eh." I'm busy writing up review notes, but in the meantime, check out The New York Times' Children's Books Fall Special Issue.

Great stuff!

Thornspell by Helen Lowe

I am excited to present Erica Moore's first review at The Well-Read Child.

Thornspell by Helen Lowe

Prince Sigismund has lived in the small West Castle on the edge of his father’s kingdom for many years. The castle, village and park are surrounded by a large wall and gate. Sigismund hasn’t been allowed outside of the wall for a long time and he likes to dream about what lies beyond the gate and the silent forest that comes up to the western wall. The forest is forbidden and no one has been allowed to enter it for almost a 100 years, not since his great-grandfather placed an interdict forbidding anyone to go into the forest. No one remembers why exactly the forest is forbidden but there is a presence about the forest that makes people avoid it. No one would dare to enter it. There are many stories about the forest. One story tells of a kingdom in the middle of the forest and an enchanted sleeping princess under the spell of an evil fairy. Sigismund loves hearing these stories. Nothing exciting ever happens to him until one day he speaks to a mysterious lady through the castle gate and falls under a sleeping sickness only to be cured by another lady in his dreams. Afterwards, everything changes for Sigismund.

Helen Lowe has done a remarkable job in retelling and expanding the sleeping beauty fairytale. This tale focuses on the story of the prince chosen to awaken the princess and the danger and intrigue of the fairy realm when it plays in the mortal realm. Sigismund comes to realize he is the prince that must awaken the sleeping princess and put a stop to a fairy who wants to control both his kingdom and the one in the sleeping forest.

There is suspense, magic, betrayal and of course a dragon but you’ll never guess who or what is the dragon. Well I didn’t. This book is full of surprises. I stayed up late reading it in one sitting. Fantasy lovers will not be disappointed. Pair this book with Robin McKinley’s Beauty and Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley (Cinderella theme) for additional fairytales. I would expect to see this book on best book lists. Helen Lowe has won awards for her poetry and short stories. This is her first novel.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Create Readers: "This is an exciting page-turner, especially for lovers of fantasy, and even for folk such as me who are not usually ardent fantasy fans." (read more...)

Alissa's Picks: "The story is definitely fantastic, with fairies (good and bad), shifting realities of real and unreal (that s comes up again and again), and, of course, a magical, powerful sword. But what's truly great about this book is that it's not ABOUT all those elements--they just happen to make the story more enjoyable to read." (read more...)

A Dark Feathered Art: "It’s quite an intelligent book, and Helen being a poet means that it sings beautifully too. " (read more...)

The Puck in the Midden: "Thornspell is compelling, but it’s not fresh and new. The writing is good, and the story moves, but it lacks teeth." (read more...)

Author Interview at Tim Jones: Books in the Trees


More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding: 320 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037595581X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375955815
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau

The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
Reviewed by Sheila Jones (Greenridge Chronicles)


When I first picked up The Diamond of Darkhold, I knew nothing about The City of Ember , or indeed any of the other titles in Jeanne DuPrau’s Ember series. I looked at the cover (which, judging from the bland frontispiece, seemed more intent on advertising the upcoming film) and thought “Hmmm.”

Then I started the first chapter, The Vault:

“Around the middle of the twenty-first century, when it seemed that a great catastrophe was about to engulf the world, an underground city was built as a last refuge for the human race. It was called the city of Ember.”

Okay, I thought, post-apocalyptic fiction. Fun. I read on:

“When the people emerge from the city,” [the builder] said, “they will find themselves in a devastated world.”
“Unfortunately true,” said his assistant.

The Builder and his assistant cook up a plan to stock some essential “head start” articles for the people of this city, to be hidden in a vault in a hillside near to where they would emerge, when the Earth is once again safe to roam about on. Only one catch:

The people of Ember came out of their underground city somewhat later than planned. Because they were in a state of bewilderment and exhaustion when they emerged, and because trees had grown up where trees hadn’t been before, they failed to notice the door to the vault.

Oh darn. They missed the vault for the trees. But wait, someone else finds the vault. Someone who is obviously unsuitable. Someone who can’t read and has a bad temper. And thus begins The Diamond of Darkhold.

I should start by saying that I don’t believe you need to have read the first three books in this series. It will help for some of the more obscure-and-never-explained-even-at-the-end moments, but most of what you need is in that initial chapter: apocalyptic events threaten Earth, quick-thinking and very anonymous people develop a secret underground city and stock it with food, greenhouses, clothing, and buildings, not to mention a generator to power this underground city for at least 200 years, then lead selected adults and infants down to the city, where they are to form a new society, one to survive the apocalypse. Of course, I say this because I read Darkhold first, instead of last, but there was never a moment when I thought “Ugh, I wish I’d read the others before this one.” Never.

Darkhold takes up the story several months after the people of Ember have emerged from what we are told was a malfunctioning and slowly dying city. The people of Ember are not the only people to have survived the apocalypse, though; shortly after emerging they come across a town called Sparks, with a small but determined group of inhabitants living a hardscrabble life, and the Emberites set to work to assimilate into the sometimes resentful town. Life is hard for everyone, and more so for the Emberites, not having experienced things like wind and rain and cold. Plus, they didn’t bring much with them when they left Ember, and the people of Sparks are at times ambivalent about sharing what little they have. People get sick, people die, crops fail, and there is no real medicine to speak of. Someone needs to do something, and fortunately, someone does. Someone from the city of Ember. This is the story of The Diamond of Darkhold.

I was quite enchanted with this book. In fact, I could hardly put it down, it was so gripping. DuPrau has a clear, crisp style that details in the sparest of ways, leaving one with the feeling that the reading was like having been on a roller coaster. The action moves along briskly, never lingering, the characters are vivid, their dialogue genuine, and even the bleakest moments zip along with a sort of breathlessness. I was left with the feeling that I’d just read a book written by an old pro.

And when I’d finished it, I went immediately to the library and took out The City of Ember .


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Wands and Worlds: "There's plenty of excitement and suspense and adventure. And I really liked that what they found in Ember was different than what they - and the reader - expected. Fans of the Ember series will definitely want to read it. " (read more...)

A Patchwork of Books: "A few new characters make their way into the ever exciting mix, as do all the favorites, in what turned out to be a pretty great adventure. The beginning moved slightly slower than I typically enjoy, but being a fourth book in a series a lot of back information was given for possible newcomers to the books. " (read more...)

HomeschoolBuzz.com "There is some action with the adventure, and the author places an emphasis on teamwork, creative thinking, and the acceptance of each other. " (read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "While The People of Sparks and The Prophet of Yonwood are more about ideas and philosophies, this one is pure action and adventure." (read more...) Also see an interview with the author at Becky's Book Reviews.

More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375855718
• ISBN-13: 978-0375855719
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Other Ember Books in the series:

Meet Erica Moore!

I'm happy to introduce Erica Moore, a new contributor at The Well-Read Child.

After 11 years as a children's librarian in Portland Oregon I recently decided to stay home with my two kids, ages 2 and 5. This hasn't really given me more time to read, do laundry, daydream, or hang out on twitter but I now see my family on the weekends and our lives are less hurried and stressed. I feel more focused and connected. I love reading kids lit and I do mix in an adult book here and there, but they happen to be more of the tech industry and business genre rather than that other kind of adult book. Mostly because those are the adult books that float around our house thanks to my husband. I will read most anything and at least start... or finish it. I do have the bad habit of jumping to the end of the story. Sometimes this is to see if the middle is worth reading and sometimes it's because the suspense is killing me and I can't help but peek. That it my dirty little secret. I have also started books only to discover that I've already read it. I would like to think this is because I try and read quite a bit, and hey sometimes they change the cover art, but it could also just be a terrible memory. I think there are strong points and weak points with almost any book and it's great to celebrate the strengths even while acknowledging the weaker side. Cheers to all the authors, illustrators and poets who provide us with wonderful stories.

Welcome Erica!

The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sanders

The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sanders
Reviewed by Jena Lohrbach (Muse Book Reviews)



The word that’s run through my mind since I started The Hanging Woods: Sociopathic.

From page one, the narrator is clearly someone I wouldn’t want to run into. Ever. All the main characters are unhinged. Jimmy, with his abusive dad, has grown into a mean adolescent. Mothball’s the fat kid who gets picked on. He seems pretty mild-mannered, but then he decides to try to break the record for the world’s longest-lived headless chicken. (That means he has to cut the head off a chicken but leave the brainstem intact. As you might imagine, he’s not successful on the first couple of tries.) And Walter, our narrator—well, he can try to blame it on a lot of circumstances.

Once it’s been established just how horrible these three young men are (it takes the first half of the book), that’s when people start dying.

I wouldn’t recommend The Hanging Woods to anyone I know.* This book made me frightened at the prospect of having sons. It might be okay for a teen guy audience—the voice is frighteningly authentic, but I’m sure that as a teen, I wouldn’t have liked this book one bit. I kind of wish I’d quit reading it when the notion first struck me, but I kept hoping for something redemptive, something to make the discomfort of imagining these characters worthwhile. No such luck.

*Clearly, though, readers at Amazon disagree with me; it gets a few five-star reviews there.



What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

A Patchwork of Books: "Enjoyable, though heartbreakingly so, both young men and women will enjoy this possible classic-in-the-making." (read more...)

Notes from the Handbasket: "It's a vibrant, gritty portrait of boys struggling to become men. " (read more...)

Read Arizona: "I recommend this book to readers who are mature enough to handle the content. " (read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "I prefer my narrators a bit more sane. HOWEVER I know that some readers will appreciate this one. It is well written. If it had been poorly written, I wouldn't have found the strength to keep reading. " (read more...)


More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (March 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618881255
• ISBN-13: 978-0618881253
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Nonfiction Monday: The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

Happy Nonfiction Monday! Today, I'm presenting another book that has been nominated in the Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category for the Cybils Awards.


Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True is a very fun and engaging book that investigates whether or not common rumors about the world's most famous royalty throughout history are true or false. For example, did Anne Boleyn really have six fingers? Was Napolean Bonaparte as short as he was rumored to be? Was King Henry VIII so large that his servants had to carry him because he couldn't walk?

Throughout the book, readers encounter speech bubbles, quizzes, funny caricatures, tabloid magazine-style articles, and other interactive text that make readers become a part of the investigation and learn how over time, facts can be twisted. The information in the book is chunked into short segments so that readers never feel overwhelmed with content. A section at the end of the book even tells readers how they can begin to investigate other rumors they may have heard.

Carlyn Beccia made smart choices about which information to present, creating a book that makes history fun and appealing and that I believe will have kids interested in learning more. I'm definitely keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future.


Resources:

The Book's Blog and website include a lot of resources for further investigation. They're well worth checking out.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

I.N.K. "A book with wickedly appealing art and layout, little quizzes, juicy historical tidbits." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618891307
• ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
• Source: Review copy from publisher

Also by Carlyn Beccia:

Check out Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections.

Blog the Vote!

I've made a deliberate choice to stay away from politics on this blog. While I have strong political convictions, my intent is for this blog to welcome every person who cares about reading to kids and developing literacy regardless of their political persuasion or any other persuasion for that fact.

So, when I read about the Blog the Vote effort organized by kidlitosphere bloggers, Lee Wind , Gregory K, and Colleen Mondor, I had to think long and hard about what I would say to keep the blog neutral. I think I have it.

This is why voting is important to me, and why, if you're eligible to vote, you should go out to the polls on Tuesday.

• 90 years ago, I wouldn't have been allowed to vote. I could have tried to convince my husband and other men to vote for the candidates I wanted to rule the nation, but I would not have had a voice. What I thought and felt wouldn't have mattered according to the laws set forth by our nation. So, I vote for my great grandmothers who weren't afforded this right, and for all of the people, especially the women who fought tooth and nail so that I can stand in line at the polls on Tuesday and cast my vote.
  

• I didn't vote until I was in my early 20s. I didn't think my vote really mattered, or that what was happening in Washington, DC didn't affect me. But then I saw the close race between Gore and Bush and realized that my vote DOES matter, that if all of the other apathetic people like me voted, it COULD make a difference, that the decisions made in Washington, DC DO affect me.
  

• Finally, I vote for all of the people in the world who can't. At the beginning of this decade, I taught ESL for a few years to high school and middle school students. I heard stories from these kids that were horrifying....personal stories of murder, death, and atrocities that NO person, let alone a child should have to bear first in real life and then in his/her memory. These stories still sometimes keep me awake at night, and more than ever, I realize that voting is a privilege that I will not take for granted.
  

I don't care whether you're Republican, Democrat, Independent, or even who you're voting for as long as you do it. If you have children, I encourage you to take them to the polls on Tuesday, to talk to them about the importance of voting, and to witness a crucial part of the democratic process first hand.


Visit all of the other Blog the Vote posts and even submit your own at Chasing Ray.

Happy 1st Birthday Blog!

Wow...it's hard to believe that it's been a year since I sat in my bed with my laptop and decided to start a blog about reading with my daughter. I never thought I would make so many new friends who are passionate about children's books and reading to children much less that anyone would even read my posts.

But here we are, and I've had a very fun, rewarding, and fulfilling year. Thanks to everyone for reading and for making all of the hours spent reading and blogging worthwhile.

Here's to hopefully many more years!