Online Book Club Nominees Up for Voting

A little over a month ago, I decided to start an online book club in honor of my Aunt Marian who passed away on Thanksgiving. The nine members of The Well-Read Ladies have nominated books for our February and March discussions, and I've posted a poll and descriptions of the nominees up at the group blog. If you'd like to join our discussions, please email me at thewellreadchild AT gmail DOT com. I will invite you to our Google Group as well as set you up to author blog posts.

Happy reading!

Walking to School by Eve Bunting

Walking to School by Eve Bunting
Review by Shelly Burns (Write for a Reader)

Summary
Allison is a Catholic, living in Northern Ireland. Her mom walks her to school with the other Catholic students and their parents, but it is not your normal walk to school. It is dangerous because the only route to school is through a Protestant neighborhood. The Protestants are not nice with their taunts and threats, but neither are some of the Catholics Allison knows, for example, her uncle. Allison can’t understand why the Catholics and Protestants hate each other so much; is it the same in other countries? Maybe children could change things, if only the grown-ups would let them.

My Review
Eve Bunting takes a sad happening in Belfast, Ireland and tells a wonderful story. I have always enjoyed Bunting’s stories and this one is no exception. The writing, from Allison’s perspective, is so touching and so real. It makes you feel as if you are there, walking with Allison and the other Catholic students.

“The noise is awful. They’re blowing horns and whistles and clanging the metal lids of rubbish bins. Some of them are wearing scary Halloween masks. They’re shouting stuff I don’t want to hear.”

“I’m pushing my way along. Suddenly, somebody grabs my blazer and tears off one of my buttons.”

Bunting’s writing is so clear that you just want to reach out to Allison and take her away from the scary situation that she’s in.

I enjoyed the fact that Bunting chooses to focus on a real life experience and write a story around it. Most children won’t experience what Allison does, but they will experience bullying, ridicule, or hatred for being different in one way or another. This book shows that one small act of kindness can help you overcome that.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
A Year of Reading: "This is an amazing contemporary story, based on an actual event, about the power of young people to bring about social change and justice. " (read more...)

The Reading Zone: "This is a deep story and one I plan to use as a mentor text for personal narrative." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (September 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618261443
• ISBN-13: 978-0618261444
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher
  

Alicia Afterimage by Lulu Delacre

Alicia Afterimage by Lulu Delacre
Review by Erica Moore

Alicia is 16 years old when she is killed in a single car accident. Memories and stories from friends and family are woven together to paint a picture of Alicia’s life. Each chapter is titled after a particular person. Friends talk about how Alicia’s life and death impacted them. Throughout the book are muted line drawings and a sheet of memorial notes from students in yearbook style. The cover art reflects nicely the format of the book with a Chuck Close style self-portrait Alicia created when she was 15. Many seemingly separate parts complete a whole picture or person.

Alicia’s mother is the author, and most of the line drawings, collages, and photos in the book were created by Alicia. This makes it very personal. The story is approachable and would be helpful to teens wrestling with a similar tragedy. An afterimage is what Alicia’s mother sees for many months whenever she closes her eyes. She sees an outline form of Alicia. This is a real phenomenon and inspired the title of the book.

The writing is a little uneven and the narrator is strong so that there isn’t much change in voice between the many friends and family members. The story is told instead of the reader living it through the friends of Alicia. This distancing might be what keeps it from being too sad for readers.

The book is fiction because some of the accounts have been changed for the flow of the story. However, it reads as a true experience and there is an appendix and a photo of Alicia.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Write for a Reader: "This is a great book for young adults, because the loss of a classmate is so prevalent these days. We can not shield our children from death, as much as we’d like to, and grief is real, even in high school students." (read more...)

More Info:

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600602428
• ISBN-13: 978-1600602429
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Review by Jena Lohrbach ( Muse Book Reviews)

"Mild geek" Frankie Landau-Banks is a delightful main character who attends boarding school, is part of the debate team, and plays Ultimate Frisbee. At school, if she's recognized by anyone other than the Geek Club Conglomerate, it's as Zada's little sister. Over the summer, though, she fills out and becomes something of a knockout—which is (partly) why the campus's most eligible bachelor notices her.

Of course she's happy being Matthew Livingston's girlfriend. Well, kind of. Frankie, besides being a charming and adorable girlfriend, is also an observant, thoughtful young woman. She notices that no one (except fellow Geek Clubbers) talks to her as Frankie; she's always Livingston's girlfriend, on the fringe, not a real part of her boyfriend's group. She's "arm candy," a position with far less recognition than she wants.

And that's just a fraction of why she decides to anonymously infiltrate the campus's all-male secret society, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, and orchestrate outrageous pranks.

This book earned its place on the shortlist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Though adults may wonder what she sees in the boys in the Order (especially Livingston), it worked for me and my inner fifteen-year-old. It's all about Frankie, who's complex enough to make up for the staticity of most of the other characters; to make the others more complex would mean adding another hundred or more pages to the book.

Girls who enjoyed John Green's Looking for Alaska will want to read this book, too.

I'm rather hoping there's a sequel to this History.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
[Reviews are all over the blogosphere. Here's a small sampling of recent reviews.]

Maw Books Blog: "It was good to see a girl in a role where she’s capable, intelligent, and smart enough to pull off the pranks. She was sassy and fun. But, I did have a couple of problems with the characters. I just couldn’t relate to Frankie in any way. " (read more...)

Bookshelves of Doom: "...I've been thinking about this one ever since I read it two weekends ago. This is definitely one to put on the YA Books to Hand to Adults list. " (read more...)

The Virtual Loft: "Witty, irreverent, and insightful about gender relationships and how one smart girl rewrites the old boys’ code, this is a terrific story, and my favorite one so far by the talented E. Lockhart. " (read more...)

Pinot and Prose: "I loved this book. It was funny, sarcastic, foreboding, serious, political, smart." (read more...)


More Info:

• A Cybils Finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category.
• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (March 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786838183
• ISBN-13: 978-0786838189
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Oliver Has Something to Say! By Pamela Edwards

Oliver Has Something to Say! By Pamela Edwards
Review by Mary Rowe (Library Queen's Weblog)


Oliver has a very common problem found among children with an older sibling. Oliver doesn’t get a chance to speak. Oliver opens his mouth to speak but someone always answers every question for him. First, it is his older sister. She seems like the typical older sister who is trying to be helpful. She just has not noticed that Oliver has grown up and is able to speak for himself. Mom and Dad are also guilty of speaking for Oliver instead of waiting for him to form the words and make his own voice heard.

It takes a kind, patient preschool teacher to help Oliver find his voice. Oliver seems a little overwhelmed when he gets to make a choice for himself about where to play. Mrs. Samra is patient while Oliver tries to get his underused mouth in motion. Through the process Mrs. Samra listens with her eyes and heart as well as her ears. Finally, Oliver is able to tell her what he wants to do.

Oliver has learned his lesson well. After his first day in pre-school he gets up in the middle of the night and lets everyone know they have not been right about what he really wanted as they spoke for him. Loudly, he lets them know all the things he tried to say over the week. Mom, Dad, and Margaret are so surprised that this time they have nothing to say.

This is an excellent book to be used in the home or classroom, not only to encourage children to speak up, but to let talkative children know they are not being helpful when they rush to finish someone’s thought or sentence. Sometimes, children need an extra few seconds of time before they can gather their thoughts. Those who are a bit quicker in forming their thoughts (Mom, Dad, older siblings, and even teachers) need to take the lesson in this book to heart.

Reviewers note: This book hit very close to home for me. My grandson has some tendencies found in children with oral apraxia. There seems to be a bit of “a disconnect” between his brain and his oral muscles. He can make all the sounds but has a hard time getting his lips and tongue into position to make the sounds. This causes a bit of a delay when he begins to speak. It also causes him to substitute some sounds that are easier for him to make for some of the harder sounds. He is more than happy most of the time to let his older sister do the speaking for him. His mom has an undergraduate degree in speech communication. She has been able to make sure he got an opportunity to make his voice heard.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Just One More Book: "Slurps, spaghetti, grimaces and gasps seem to spurt from the page in this animated escapade of a younger sibling who finally finds his voice." (listen to podcast about book...)

My Readable Feast: "Oliver Has Something to Say! makes us realize that quiet kids do have opinions and we need to encourage them to express themselves." (read more...)

Cheryl Rainfield: "Do you know a shy child, or a child who has a hard time speaking up? Give them this book; it may help them to feel understood or less alone." (read more...)

The Literary Word: " I think this is an amazing book in that it will inspire and promote confidence in children who are shy or quiet." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Lobster Press (March 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897073526
• ISBN-13: 978-1897073520
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher
  

Howard Thurman's Great Hope by Kai Jackson Issa, illustrated by Arthur L. Dawson

Howard Thurman's Great Hope by Kai Jackson Issa, illustrated by Arthur L. Dawson

Review by Shelly Burns (Write for a Reader)

Summary
Howard Thurman was born in 1899, in segregated Daytona, Florida. His mother and grandmother cooked and cleaned for other people, but he dreamed of the day when they wouldn’t have to do that, when he could go to college like his late father had wanted him to. Negro students at the time didn’t make it passed the seventh grade. Howard was determined to find a way to go to the eighth grade and then on to high school and college. He transcends the limits on Negro education and earns a scholarship to an out –of-town high school. Howard’s dream would have been lost if it hadn’t been for a kind act by a stranger at a railroad station.

My Review
Howard Thurman is a name that I did not know until I read this book. Because of his dedication and perseverance, Howard became a seminal civil rights leader and an inspiration to the nation. Kai Jackson Issa shares a wonderful story about the bonds of community and the power of faith. This book would make a great read aloud for students learning African-American history, during Black History month, or to analyze the character of Howard Thurman.
Through her writing, Issa shows the determination of a boy who seemed to have everything against him.

“Sometimes Howard’s longing for Papa felt like a terrible ache. Even though his father was gone, Howard still wanted to make him proud. Howard dreamed of becoming a college man just like Papa said. With an education, Howard could determine his own destiny.”

The story does not shy away from the hard parts of Thurman’s life and paint a pretty picture. It tells it like it is, so that the reader knows that Howard had to deal with a lot of “stuff,” just like people today do.

“Every day after his classes, Howard worked odd jobs to help his family. He did yard work, cleaned fish in a market, shined shoes, and churned ice cream in his cousin Thornton’s restaurant.”

What a great message for children; determination and perseverance, even in the toughest times, pays off. Even adults can benefit from reading this book.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
[if you've reviewed this book, please leave your link in the comments]


More Info:

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (September 1, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 1600602495
• ISBN-13: 978-1600602498
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections.

Parents Roundtable: Do you have a reading routine?

One of my goals this year is to build a bigger community and get ideas and recommendations from lots of people. One way I'm doing this is to start having a number of roundtable discussions with parents, teachers, librarians, bloggers, etc.

The first roundtable discussion is for parents. And by parents, I use the term loosely. You could be a parent, guardian, grandparent, or any other person who has a special relationship with a child.

My question is: Do you have a reading routine with your child? If so, please describe it. For example: When do you read? Do you read out loud? What types of books do you read?

Please leave your responses in the comments, and be sure to come back and respond to others' comments. I will round-up all of the comments into a post next Saturday and also post the next roundup discussion!

Looking forward to seeing your responses!

Finalists for the Cybils have been announced!

Hey! Go over to the Cybils website, and check out all of the finalists that were announced this morning! My reading list just got bigger!

I had the honor of serving on the Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult panel with the following awesome bloggers:

Kathy M. Burnette The Brain Lair
Sarah Rettger Archimedes Forgets
Carol Wilcox Carol's Corner
Vivian Mahoney HipWriterMama

Out of 59 nominated books, we came up with the following finalists:

2008 Non-Fiction MG/YA Finalists

11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System
written by David Aguilar
National Geographic Children's Books

My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants (10-year-old Maryn Smith's winning entry for the National Geographic Children's Book Planetary Mnemonic Contest). So begins this engaging introduction to the newly classified solar system. Stunning artwork, cool facts on how the planets are named after different gods and goddesses, simple explanations and an informative glossary make this a book young astronomers will enjoy reading.
--Vivian Mahoney, HipWriterMama

Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry
written by Scott Reynolds Nelson
National Geographic Children's Books

A field trip into the mind of a historian. Historian Scott Reynolds Nelson invites readers to follow him as he uses artifacts, photographs, and other documents to put together the pieces of a real- life historical mystery.
--Carol Wilcox, Carol's Corner

Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers
written by Nancy Amanda Redd
Gotham Books

Leave your embarrassment at the door, because this book combines refreshing candor with no-holds barred topics, untouched photos, and information backed by a leading physician to help empower teen girls. The photos are somewhat shocking, but important for girls to see so they know their body is normal. Don't let your teens get the wro ng information from their friends...let them get empowered with real information and love the body they're in.
--Vivian Mahoney, HipWriterMama

King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution
written by Steve Sheinkin
Roaring Brook

Historian and textbook author Steve Sheinkin provides a factual, fun chronicle that traces the American Revolution from start to finish. Humorous chapter titles and illustrations, entertaining facts, and labeled maps make learning history lots of fun.
--Jill Tullo, The Well-Read Child

Lincoln Through the Lens
written by Martin Sandler
Walker Books for Young Readers

John F. Kennedy may have been the first television president, but Lincoln Through the Lens makes a strong case for recognizing Abraham Lincoln as the first photographic president. From the earliest known photo of Lincoln to the only one taken after his death, Martin Sandler shows how the sixteenth president was captured on film, and how he used the images to his advantage.
--Sarah Rettger, Archimedes Forgets

Swords: An Artist's Devotion
written and illustrated by Ben Boos
Candlewick Press

Ben Boos' well written and visually stimulating book was a pleasure to read. The illustrations were detailed and the history fascinating. Children of all ages will pore over this book as they trace the sword designs through the ages. Ben relayed the use of the sword throughout the ages including the Middle Ages and the age of the Samurai. Ben's drawings illuminated not only the variety of swords used but his love for this "formidable tool".
--Kathy Burnette, The Brainlair

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir
written by Cylin Busby
and John Busby
Bloomsbury USA

In summer, 1979, Cylin Busby was nine years old, living with her parents and two older brothers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts when her life changed in a matter of minutes. Cylin's father, John Busby, a policeman, was on his way to work when a car pulled up next to him and shot off the bottom half of his jaw. THE YEAR WE DISAPPEARED is a memoir, told by Cylin Busby and her father John, in alternating chapters, of the terrible year following Busby's shooting. A terrific real life crime read!
--Carol Wilcox, Carol's Corner

We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball
written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Hyperion

Kadir Nelson connects with readers in his history of Negro League baseball told from the first person point of view of an "everyman" player. The engaging narrative combined with stunning oil paintings capture the joy and passion of the players who were surrounded by hatred and inequality.
--Jill Tullo, The Well-Read Child

These are all amazing books, each in their own way, and I can't wait to see which one the finalists pick as the winner. Winners will be announced on Valentine's Day.

As for being a panelist, it was a wonderful experience. I read all but one of the books that were nominated, and though I spent lots of late nights reading, it was well worth it.

Farewell 2008!

Oh boy...what a year it's been. I've made so many new blogging friends, connected with teachers, parents, and librarians, interviewed some wonderful authors, and brought on a fabulous team of guest reviewers.

My goals for The Well-Read Child in 2009 include giving the blog a more streamlined and unique look and feel, bringing you a wider variety of book reviews, and working to build a stronger community. More on all of these will be coming up in the New Year.

Thank all of you for reading, for your comments, for your suggestions, and for your support, and I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Holiday Break

I'll be taking a break from posting and computers altogether for the next couple of weeks. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season, and I'll see you again in 2009!

Interview with Mary Pope Osborne

It's an honor and a pleasure to bring you an interview with Mary Pope Osborne, author of many many children's books including the Magic Tree House series.

Jill Tullo (JT): Your Magic Tree House series is the ultimate celebration of imagination and adventure. As a former teacher, I've unfortunately witnessed a number of situations where kids are discouraged from using their imaginations and being creative--situations where the fun and magic of learning and discovering are taken away and replaced with rote memorization assignments. Can you talk a little about why you think it's important for children to use and develop their imaginations?

Mary Pope Osborne (MPO): This subject makes my heart pound, as I think that developing an imagination might be the most important thing to develop in childhood. It leads to creative problem solving, temporary escape from difficult circumstances, and daily enrichment of life. Reading is a great source for developing imagination. And so is play: Children need to play outside-- build forts, climb trees, imagine their bikes are horses, turn a picnic table into a stage, put together a circus act, make a raft. They need to play with dolls, stuffed toys, toy army men and knights. They need to talk in funny voices and roll trains and trucks through the dirt. For thousands of years, children have invented other worlds. Now we’re letting technology do all this for them!

JT: Jack and Annie have been all over the world and visited lots of different time periods. How do you come up with so many new adventures?

MPO: Mainly I read. Whenever I find a subject I’m interested in, I gather lots of books on the topic and start to comb through them, and if I find myself taking notes, I’m a goner…a story is taking hold. I also get kids to vote on ideas I’m thinking about…it’s amazing how helpful this has been…the enthusiasm of readers has engineered the whole series.

JT: Do you ever worry that your creative well will run dry? If so, how do you combat it?

MPO: This hasn’t been a concern…yet. My main problem now is that I fractured a finger in a fall – and it wasn’t treated properly-- so I’m typing with a little bit of a handicap…But if I get caught up in what I’m writing about, I forget that problem for a while.

JT: What places or time periods haven't Jack and Annie visited that you'd like them to eventually visit?

MPO: Hmm.. the Alps, the Aztecs, the Black Forest, the Nile, the White House, the childhood cabin of Abraham Lincoln, Scotland, the Mogul Empire of India… to name a few

JT: What are some your favorite places in the world?

MPO: Katmandu, Nepal; Paris and Provence; Oxford and the Lake District of England; Austria; Ireland; southern Switzerland; all of Italy, and New England

JT: My blog's mission is to help parents and educators help instill the joy of reading in their children. Why do you think it's important
for kids to not only be able to read but to also LOVE reading?

MPO: If you love to read, you’ll eagerly seek out books and get lost in them. And if you do this, you’ll never be bored or lonely. You can fill every empty hour with adventures, new information, and food for thought. A love for reading will ignite curiosity and connect you to the world. It will give you friends, heroes, villains. It will populate your mind with dramas that sometimes end up feeling more like your life than your real life. I can’t imagine a life without reading. I’d shrivel up and die.

JT: Do you have any advice on how to help parents reach out to reluctant readers?

MPO: Choose a good book and read it with your child. Read a page, and then have the child read a page. Get caught up in the story…help the child understand that reading can reveal a world of fun adventure…
Do this again and again, until hopefully, the child kicks you out of the process and starts reading silently to himself.

JT: What do you like BEST about being a famous children's author?

MPO: Nearly everything about it is wonderful – it satisfies my love for adventure. It gives me a good reason to read, to talk to children, to travel, to learn new things.

JT:What do you like LEAST about being a famous children's author?

MPO: Worrying that unknowingly I’ve slighted a child – but not writing them back, by not recognizing someone I’ve met before, by not hearing a question, or not taking enough time with them.

JT: What can we expect to see next from you?

MPO: Right now, my husband Will and I are producing a musical of Magic Tree House. Will and composer, Randy Courts, wrote the show based on my book Christmas in Camelot. For the next six months it will be traveling around the country on a national tour. It’s a huge show – with two-story high puppets, knights and ladies of Camelot, Irish dancing and wonderful songs. We’ll be touring a lot with the show. If readers want to know if the show’s coming to their area, they can check out the website: www.mthmusical.com.

As for books, a tree house adventure with Mozart in Vienna is coming out in the spring: Moonlight on the Magic Flute. And in the summer, a tree house adventure with Louis Armstrong in New Orleans will come out: A Good Night for Ghosts. And now I’m taking notes for a story about Ireland and leprechauns. It never ends!


Thank you so much for your time Mary, and best of luck with the musical. I hope to make the Baltimore show, and I can't wait to read the newest Magic Tree House books in 2009!

Previous stops on Mary's blog tour:

• Big A little a
• The Reading Zone
  
• Fields of Gold
• The Page Flipper
  

How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman

How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A by Marjorie Priceman

Review by Mary Rowe (Library Queen's Weblog)

Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Can she bake a cherry pie, Charming Billy?
She can bake a cherry pie
Quick as the cat can wink its eye.
She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

Billy Boy’s future wife may have learned to bake a cherry pie from this book, How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the USA by Marjorie Priceman. .

How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the USA is a book with lessons you would wounldn’t imagine from just reading the title. The reader gets a tour of the United States and some basic concepts about the raw materials needed for many common products, and of course, a recipe for cherry pie. Everything needed to make this cherry pie must be gathered because the cook shop is closed. You will need to get everything necessary to make what you need to bake the cherry pie. You will need a pie pan so you will need steel to make the pie pan. To make the steel you will need coal. To get the coal you will need to go to the closest coal mine. Each element of the pie making process takes you to another state to get the raw materials for a tool or an ingredient.

The book reads almost like the If You Give a …books by Laura Joffe Numeroff. With the use of the word “you” as the main character the reader becomes part of the story.

“In the mood for a cherry pie? Let’s get started. First, mix flour and salt in a bowl. What, no bowl?

You will definitely need a bowl. Also, a pie pan, a rolling pin, a measuring cup, a pastry slab, a set of spoons, and some pot holders- which you can get at the Cook Shop.

But if the Cook Shop happens to be closed…

Go to New York and hail a taxi. Ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

There find the closest coal mine. Coal is used for making steel, and you need steel to make your pie pan. Take the trolley deep underground and fill a bucket to the brim. Don’t forget your hard hat and flashlight!”

That is the beginning of your whirlwind adventure to gather all the necessary tools and ingredients to make a cherry pie.

The author takes the reader to many states and gives a small aspect of the states culture, industry, or geography. One state the author has you visit is Alaska. There is nothing to get from Alaska. You just go because its there. I thought this was a “stretch” but a fun jaunt. Overall the visits to the states follow a logical course for the goal of making a cherry pie.


The illustrations are playful and full of detail. They add to the story by depicting some of the concepts that might not be farmiliar to the children. The illustrations also depict the rich cultural diversity of our country.

I would recommend this book for grades 1-3, but I plan to use it with my fourth graders who are studying the United States also. I plan to send them on a search for all the raw ingredients needed to make the cherry pie. It will be an internet scavenger hunt where they are given the object and have to find the raw materials. We will read the book as a culminating activity.

Marjorie Priceman is also the author of How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "The text is entertaining and filled with interesting facts. Priceman's gouache on hot-pressed watercolor paper illustrations add tons of other tidbits. " (read more...)

The Bookworm's Booklist: "Includes a brightly painted end paper map of the U.S.A.—and a recipe for cherry pie, of course! " (read more...)

InfoDad: "The book is fun to read, fun to look at and fun to learn from – and families can try the pie recipe together. " (read more...)

More info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375812555
• ISBN-13: 978-0375812552
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher
  

What Does Mrs. Claus Do? by Kate Wharton, illustrated by Christian Slade

What Does Mrs. Claus Do? by Kate Wharton, illustrated by Christian Slade

Review by Shelly Burns (Write for a Reader)


Summary

Many stories are written about Santa Claus so we all know what he does on Christmas, but no one really knows about Mrs. Claus. Does she just sit around and wait until Santa returns? Is she hosting a party while he’s gone? Could she be a…whale rider, sushi chef, snowmobile chopper, heli-ski-jump-mountain-top hopper? After reading this book you’ll be asking yourself, what can’t Mrs. Claus do?

My Review

I really enjoyed this story. I love Christmas and try to read every Christmas picture book that I can. This one is going on my list of “must read to the students” list. I know that they will be laughing, as I was, when they read this. Not only does Kate Wharton put a comical spin on Mrs. Claus, she does it through rhyme which children will pick up on and enjoy the rhythmic quality of this story. I found myself wanting to read it again as soon as I was finished with it, and I imagine that is how a child would feel about it as well. The illustrations that Christian Slade did are just great! They add to the comedy of the entire thing.

According to the story, Mrs. Claus has her own things to do while Santa is gone. My favorite part is when Santa returns.

“When Santa comes home and hangs up his pack, Mrs. Claus has just secretly beaten him back. Are you thinking, ‘She can’t do that all in one night! There’s not enough time!’? And perhaps you are right. But then, if the stories of Santa are true, why couldn’t Mrs. Claus do it all too?”

The picture shows Mrs. Claus sitting in her rocker with a cup of cocoa, like she’s been there all night, just waiting on him to return.

As a teacher, I could see using this with the students to springboard some of their own writing and artwork about what Mrs. Claus does. I think that they could come up with some very creative ideas, maybe even some that Kate Wharton didn’t think of. I know it would be a hit in my classroom. I also think that young children will fall in love with this story.

It’s time for us to see Christmas from a different perspective, that of Mrs. Claus. Thank you, Kate Wharton, for allowing us to do that!


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

A Patchwork of Books: "You just never know what that sneaky Mrs. Claus may be up to..." (read more...)

Simply Sensational Divas Review: "I love the rhythm and the rhyming; the words flow nicely and easily together. I love the educational opportunities the words provide." (read more...)

Rhyme of the Day: "It seems like something kids would like, whether they "believe in Santa" or not. " (read more...)




More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582461643
• ISBN-13: 978-1582461649
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Meilo So

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Meilo So

Reviewed by Erica Moore

What would you do if your neighbors destroyed your home of nine years? Well thankfully Pale Male had many fans and friends to protest for him.

Pale Male is New York City’s famous red-tailed hawk who came to Central Park when he was very young and stayed. He and a mate built a nest atop an apartment building across from the park. This was the first time people witnessed a red-tailed hawk nest on a building. Pale Male would raise more than 20 chicks in nine years in the nest on 5th Avenue.

In 2004 the building owners removed the nest thanks to the Bush Administration’s weakening of environmental protections. This set off an international outcry accompanied by local New Yorkers protesting. Pale Male’s nest was soon restored.

The story of Pale Male is inspiring--something wild adapts and survives in an urban environment. The writing is smooth and full of information as it unfolds. This is an easy book to share with kids. There is factual information as well as a great story with tension, drama and a perfect resolution. This should inspire new bird watchers. I know it made me get my backyard birding books out of the kitchen drawer and look up the birds at the feeders with my kids.

The illustrations by Meilo So are beautiful. The reader is given a hawk’s eye view as most of the pictures are from a hawk’s perspective as he flies around the park and buildings. The water colors capture the movement of the hawks. I love the picture of the babies leaving the nest and landing nearby. The end papers are the red tails of the hawks, and even the dust jacket has a hawk in flight wrapped around the book with a stick in his beak ready to rebuild that nest.

There have been several picture books about Pale Male since his nest was taken down, and this is my favorite. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City has received many starred reviews and is sure to show up on recommended book lists.



What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Chicken Spaghetti: "The ensuing bird-related goings-on make an exciting picture book, and young readers have a fine avian protagonist to cheer for." (read more...)

Fort Lee Children's Room Blog: "I recommend Pale Male for all ages because it is a story anyone can appreciate and it may just inspire you to learn more about this great animal." (read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "I have one word for you: Endpapers. Man, I wish I had them to show you here. They’re sublime: Pale Male’s auburn hawk feathers, all spread-out and larger-than-life atop a bit of blue sky. Gorgeous, I tell ya. Thank you, Meilo So, for that moment of beauty." (read more...)

Texas Trifles: "Though I already knew about the New York City hawk's story, this book turns it charmingly into an avian adventure with a heartwarming ending." (read more...)

More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (March 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375845585
• ISBN-13: 978-0375845581
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday delights!

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater (Blog, Website, Facebook)

After spending a few days reading nothing but nonfiction for the Cybils awards, I was more than ready to get lost in a bit of fiction. Last month, I read Jen Robinson’s post about Lament, in which she called the book, "a deliciously creepy romantic novel," so this seemed like the perfect choice. Author Maggie Stiefvater saw my comment on Jen’s post and graciously sent me a copy of the book, and let me tell you, I stayed up until 3 in the morning to finish the book because I simply could not put it down.

Teenager Dierdre (Dee) Monaghan is an exceptionally gifted musician as is her best friend James, and EVERY time she performs, she always throws up. In fact, she’s throwing up before a big competition when she meets Luke Dillion where else, but the bathroom. Hmmm…you might think it’s sort of creepy to meet a ridiculously handsome guy in the bathroom where you’re barfing who just happens to know your name, but Dee is drawn to Luke. In fact, they go outside where Luke gets her to calm down and actually practice before the competition. Luke himself is a killer flautist, so they decide to do a duet where they stun the audience.

From that point on, weird things keep happening to Dee. She constantly finds four leaf clovers, she thinks she sees people watching her, and Luke keeps showing up all the time. Then there's this whole telekinesis ability she suddenly discovers she has. When Dee’s grandmother takes one look at Luke and tells him to stay away from her granddaughter, Dee is determined to find out what’s happening.

Turns out Dee is a cloverhand, a person who can see Faeries, and Luke is a Faerie assassin. And yep, you guessed it….Dee is his target, but he hopelessly falls in love with her, and even though she knows she’s in danger, she falls in love with Luke, too. But the evil Faerie Queen, also named Dierdre, is determined to have Dee dead, which leads to a very exciting and suspenseful showdown.

In this book, we have a forbidden romance, a love triangle, and homicidal faeries. What more can you ask for? A lot of people have compared this to Twilight, and I can definitely see the parallels. A girl falls in love with an older unhuman, yet gorgeous creature. Another friend loves the girl. The girl is constantly confronted with danger. But here’s where the similarities stop.

Dee is a much stronger character than Bella, and unlike Bella, Dee eventually has to get herself out of the most dangerous situation yet.

Maggie Stiefvater's writing is absolutely beautiful and lyrical. As you're reading, the great care she took into developing characters, adding subtle details here and there, building suspense, emotion, and passion is evident. For those of you who appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of the written word, you'll find yourselves consuming each passage with delight. You can get a taste of her writing by reading the Prologue and Chapter 1 here.

Let’s not forget the creepy factor. There were moments in the novel that gave me goose bumps. Throughout the novel, you encounter white hounds, and at one point my own white hound suddenly jumped off the bed and starting howling. Talk about goosebumps.

Maggie Stiefvater has hit a home run with her first novel, and I can't wait to read Ballad, the sequel to Lament, which is coming out in the Fall of 2009.

I highly recommend this book to those who like a bit of magic, a bit of romance, a bit of creepiness, and those who love good writing. It's one of my favorite reads of the year.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "Overall, Lament offers a compelling and beautifully written glimpse at a hidden world, nearby but usually unseen." (read more...)


The Book Bind: "Brimming with doomed love, oh-so dangerous faeries, and music oozing out of every pore, it is simply wonderful." (read more...)


The Compulsive Reader: "Maggie Stiefvater, with her ability to create not only a gripping romance, but also a shadowy and puzzling mystery at the same time, is most definitely an author to watch. " (read more...)


Charlotte's Library: "...her [Dierdre's] realization that she has become involved in a life or death struggle against inhuman beings make for a gripping read. " (read more...)


The Story Siren: "Lament has a little bit of everything; suspense, romance, intrigue, and action. The bittersweet ending will leave you yearning for more. " (read more...)


Jessica M. Burkhart, Tween Author: "Maggie's writing is edgy, fresh and beautiful. " (read more...)


Kim Kasch Blogsite: A Writer's Blog: "This isn’t your typical kid’s fairytale that takes you on a journey to another world. Lament takes place in our world with modern-day settings." (read more...)


Pat Esden:"I feel like gossiping about all the details--about the music, the characters, my favorite scenes, the romance and horror. " (read more...)

More info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Flux; 1 edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738713708
• ISBN-13: 978-0738713700
• Source: Review copy from author

The Washington Post's Holiday Guide 2008

Check out The Washington Post's Holiday Guide 2008. This section lists the best books for of 2008 for kids, pre-teens, and teens.




Has anyone seen ABC3D? I've seen it at the top of a bunch of lists, and it looks like a beautiful book. I'm thinking of buying this for my daughter but am not sure if it can withstand toddler hands.




Also, check out the Post's Gift Books Section. It includes a gallery of both children's and adult books they call Visual Feasts. My shopping list just got longer.

Interview with Jan West Schrock

On Monday, I reviewed Give a Goat, written by Jan West Schrock, the daughter of the founder of Heifer International. Give a Goat, is about a classroom in Maine who developed a school project to raise money to buy a goat for families in need.

Jan agreed to do an interview, and here are her thoughts on the book, reading, and Heifer International.

1. As the daughter of the founder of Heifer International, you've probably been surrounded by inspirational stories of giving throughout your life. Why did you choose to tell the story of the children in Maine who raised money to buy a goat? What was it about that particular story that inspired you to tell it?

JS: I was a teacher for many years. My favorite students were middle-school children. Often, they are very idealistic at this age. When a great teacher captures the spirit of giving and ties it with her curriculum, that’s a good story.

When I discovered that Mrs. Rowell captured her fifth grade students’ imagination, to help poor children go to school, and incorporated this vision with a math unit, I knew it was magical. There are plenty of stories, and we have tons of stories in Heifer’s work, about children and other cultures, but few stories about relationships between children in the US and those in the developing countries. Give a Goat establishes that relationship.



2. Give a Goat is not just about helping others in need, but it's also about a community coming together to help raise money for people all over the world. Can you talk briefly about the power of communities?

JS: A unique value of Heifer International is "Passing on the Gift," which is key not only to ending poverty but establishing sustainability for many generations. Another unique value is creating strong communities to become self-reliant.

Heifer assists once-poor communities through training and gifts of livestock. Families that have learned the importance of working in community will often stay together and expand their work beyond the three years Heifer works with them. We see Heifer communities establishing micro-credit and dairy and grain cooperatives, making sure every child is educated, bringing women into leadership roles, establishing partnerships, and continuously finding ways to insure prosperity.

We also see examples of mending the wounds of war as rural communities sometimes are comprised of both sides of civil wars. For example in Albania, Kosovo, Armenia, El Salvador, the Philippines, Cambodia, Rawanda,etc.

Communities, with the right kind of training and future visioning, can turn poverty into prosperity, work for justice, and diminish the instinct for war.



3. Give a Goat definitely has a powerful message that I think will help make a difference in the world. When you were writing the book, what message did you hope would get across to readers?

JS: Telling children and adults, for this matter, about hunger and poverty without providing a way to genuinely help renders feelings of despair and/or helplessness. Sometimes people throw money at the situation and feel removed thinking, “Those people are not us, are not our neighbors. We’re lucky we’re not them.”

But, when children, and adults too, discover an unique way to help, a relationship is established and we as educators, parents, and students become excited about assisting with whatever resources we have. Working together, often in classrooms, civic organizations, and congregations, on a project helps us make a difference amd expand our neighborhoods. Philanthropic projects, begun at an early age, help us work together to become responsible in a world of great need. The “I-Me-Mine Generation ” can become a “We-and-Us-Together Generation.” This is the way to turn greed into compassion and usher in a new age of world citizenship.

In writing Give a Goat, I wanted to lift up the joy of children working together to make a difference for other children in our world.



4. I'd like to switch gears for just a minute and talk about reading. The mission of my blog is to help parents, teachers,etc. instill the joy of reading in the children in their lives because I firmly believe that knowing how to read and also LOVING it can change lives. Are you an avid reader, and if so, what are some of your favorite books?

JS: Recently I’ve been reading books focusing on agriculture and food systems: Michael Pollan’s books, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

Jeffrey Sachs’ The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, Lester Brown’s, Plan B: Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, and Paul Hawken’s Blessed Unrest accounts for how collectively we must, we can, and are, changing our environment and our world.

Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Kingsolver’s book reminds me of our sustainable farm in Indiana during my childhood.

Elizabeth Gilberts’ Eat, Pray, Love is inspiring as she describes her very personal year-longjourney in turning from helplessness and dependency to empowerment and caring for others. It’s a personal story very similar to the enlightenment of a Heifer community.



5. What were some of your favorite books growing up?

JS: I read all of the biographies written for children I could find at the library. They were either orange or blue books, a whole row of them at the library: Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Elizabeth Baker Eddy, Jane Adams. I especially loved the stories of women.

At Christmas time, before TV, we’d huddle around the fireplace as my father read Christmas stories. Our mother would peel apples in a blue bowl and give us slices as we, my four brothers and myself, listened.


6. As a mother yourself, can you offer any advice for helping parents reach out to reluctant readers?

JS: I taught students with learning disabilities for several years. I would introduce a story suggesting the student look for things that would happen. At times, I’d read along with them, one sentence or one paragraph at a time. Sometimes we'd stop and draw a picture. I would also encourage them to tell their own experience stories and would write as they shared their story.




7. The thing I like the most about Give a Goat is that instead of just talking about the importance of giving to others in need, it actually offers real-life, doable activities. What are other ways kids can getinvolved with their communities and give?

JS: Two eleven-year old girls enticed their congregation to give to a Heifer campaign from Feb. to November raising over six thousand dollars. Their parents and outreach leaders assisted them with their dream. The biggest event was an all-congregation talent show with proceeds going to their fund.

Many children request gifts be given to Heifer instead of for birthday presents at their party. Many children request Heifer gifts for their consecration ceremonies, Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvahs.

The librarian at the Great Salt Bay School, Damariscotta, ME, challenges the whole school to participate in a reading incentive program. Her students take then read like crazy during the harsh winter months. A big celebration ensues in the springtime.

Teachers gather in community support of civic organizations, local businesses, and homes for the elderly to support a reading incentive program. The whole community becomes invested in students’ reading and students become educators about Heifer International’s work, a community endeavor.

Youth in a congregation made dinners of soup, home-made bread, salad and desert for pre-subscribed take-out orders for their local community. They raised over five thousand dollars and had a grand time using the church kitchen, cooking together, and marketing.

Schools in Hong Kong participate in Heifer education and raise funds for Heifer’s work inChina. High school students filmed Heifer’s work in Yunan province and shared the story with their parents and community. This past year they raised over two million dollars.

Youth in 4-H club in Poland learned the care of goats and production of cheese and yoghurt. They marketed to the villages for special events. The funds earned were donated to purchase equipment for a children’s hospital.

In Armenia, a Heifer project provides training in animal husbandry in after-school youth programs. Young people learn to raise goats, primarily. They then will pass-on their gifts to youth in Heifer projects in bordering nations,Georgia and Azerbaijan, an amazing combination of skills acquired, meaningful work, and working for peace.

Many classrooms and whole schools embark on Heifer education and reading incentive programs throughout the US and in several international countries raising funds for Heifer’s work. Learning about what students can do to help other children while they read is a real joy. Learning and reading is the work of children and if they can be assisted to turn their work into a reality and make a difference in our world, they become both philanthropists and motivated students!

Heifer’s work in providing training and livestock, as well as the pass-on requirement, creates prosperity and instills a spirit of giving. Many youth become aware of a wider world and their role as responsible world citizens.



8. With the economy causing people to tighten their purse strings, a lot of families may not have as much money to give to charities as they have in the past. Do you have any suggestions for ways people can help out without having to give a lot of money?


JS: Our project partners have said, “Thank you for the gift of a fishing pole. Our families are no longer hungry and poor. But look around the pond and see thousands of people waiting for their fishing pole. Do you also notice that the water is polluted and running out of the pond? Until you educate yourself and your children about the root causes of poverty, you are not making the big difference.” Heifer International has heard this message and has created a strong education program. We know that it is very important to educate our children about the issues of hunger, poverty, and the environment and their role in restoring a healthy world. They can learn about Heifer’s work through films, stories, and activities, which we supply. They might raise money like the children did in “Give A Goat” or in many other creative ways, and they can also share these stories with others in their school and community to help raise awareness.



9. Do you have plans to write any other books?

JS: I’ve been thinking about writing a children’s book in the context of Heifer’s twelve cornerstones, our values, which are required in every proposal. Our cornerstones and our Values-Based Planning Model are the key components to successfully ending hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. Our cornerstones and our planning model insures sustainability.




10. Do you have any final thoughts?

JS: I wish all children, parents, and educators would embrace Heifer’s methods of creating prosperity. Working together in community is powerful and fun. I love seeing schools create gardens as part of their curriculum. This fall, a school in Maine created a garden and greenhouse to raise produce for their school lunch program and for the education of their students and their parents! Here’s a community working together in a very exciting way. It reminds me of the Heifer way.


Thanks Jan. It was an honor and pleasure!


*All photos used with permission by Tilbury House Publishers.

Under the Night Sky by Amy Lundebrek, illustrated by Anna Rich

Under the Night Sky
by Amy Lundebrek, illustrated by Anna Rich

A little boy is awakened one night by his mother who hurriedly puts on his coat and rushes him outside. The confused boy doesn't know what's going on and sees the same look some of the other neighborhood kids gathered together outside.

But soon a wonderful spectacle appears in the sky: The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. The boy and other children are awed as they look at the beautiful, swirling lights in the sky.

The boy uses beautiful, vivid language to describe them: "Sometimes the color oozes from one part of the sky to the other. The lights twist like colored ropes. They flicker like colored flames."

Anna Rich uses a rich blue, green, and pink color palette to bring to life both the lights and the diverse neighborhood that has come together to witness this wonder of nature.

While the book can certainly be used as a supplement in a science or astronomy lesson, it offers much more. It's about a mother's love for her son, about a community coming together, about taking time out to take in nature, and more. I especially liked the back story of the single mother who has to work late nights to support herself and her son. There are a so many kids who live in single parent homes (I was one of them). Yet, there are not enough books out there with kids from single parent families that also represent it in such a loving way as Amy Lundebrek did in Under the Night Sky.

A heartwarming book that introduces kids to a wonder they may have never heard of, this book would make a great addition to a classroom, school, or home library!

Check out Tilbury House's website for a number of wonderful resources for further learning.

Thanks to Tilbury House for allowing me to participate on the Under the Night Sky blog tour.

Other stops on the tour include:
Monday, Dec. 8: Shelf Elf (author interview)
Tuesday December 9: Bri Meets Books
Wednesday, Dec. 10: The Wild Rumpus Starts
Thursday, Dec. 11: In the Pages
Friday, Dec. 12: The Well-Read Child
Saturday, Dec. 13: Read These Books and Use Them
Sunday, Dec. 14: Ready, Set, Read
Monday, Dec. 15: Becky's Book Reviews
Tuesday, Dec. 16: NatureMoms
Thursday, Dec. 18: On My Bookshelf
Friday, Dec. 19: The Green Hour


More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers (May 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884482979
• ISBN-13: 978-0884482970
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

* Images used with permission from Tilbury House Publishers.