This Week's Bestselling Picture Books from the New York Times

Have you checked out the special children's book section in the New York Times this weekend? There are lots of reviews on a variety of children's books.

Also, after 10 years (10 YEARS!!!!!), the Harry Potter series is off the list. Dwight Garner has an interesting article about J.K. Rowling's reign.

And while we're at it, check out this week's bestselling picture books.


1. Read All About It!, by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush. Illustrated by Denise Brunkus.
Despite numerous negative reviews, the first-lady and recently-wed first daughter's picture book about a boy who discovers he likes to read is at the top of the list. Speaking of reviews, check out Roger Sutton's review of this book in the New York Times.




2. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
Now here's a book that is worthy of its spot on the list (this its the 25th week on the list, in fact). By flipping through the book you can see a horse galloping, an eagle soaring, and many other animals in movement. The content rhymes and has funny replies that will leave your child laughing. I even saw a board book version at my local bookstore the other day.



3. Dirt on My Shirt, by Jeff Foxworthy. Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman. Here's another book whose place on the list is probably propelled by its author's fame. It's a collection of poems that will probably get a chuckle or two out of your child.






4. Alphabet , by Matthew Van Fleet. In its fourth week on the list, this interactive alphabet book showcases a TON of plants and animals. With different textures, flaps, foils, and pull-tabs, it will definitely keep your preschooler occupied for a while.




5. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, written and illustrated by Mo Willems. On the list for 26 weeks, Knuffle Bunny Too is the follow up to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Here, little Trixie goes to school and discovers that her beloved Knuffle Bunny is NOT the only one in the world…oh boy. Willems illustrations and story had ME laughing out loud more than once. If you’re unfamiliar with Knuffle Bunny or Willems’ other works, I highly recommend you check him out.


6 Ladybug Girl, by Jacky Davis and David Soman. Illustrated by David Soman.
Meet a new kind of superhero who shows kids how to have fun in their own backyards. This would be a great choice for a younger sibling who always feel like they're "too little" to do the things their older siblings do.






7. Zen Ties, written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth.

In its 16th week on the list, this is a heartwarming story of a Buddist panda who encourages his nephew and friends to help a grouchy neighbor. They’re surprised by what they get in return.






8. My Dog May Be a Genius, by Jack Prelutsky. Illustrated by James Stevenson.
Poetry books sure are popular this week. This book of funny poems features a pig in a bathing suit, a skunk in a courtroom, a witch in a hardware store, and more.






9 Don't Bump the Glump!: And Other Fantasies, written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein.
Originally published in 1964, Shel Silverstein's first book of verse is still a hit with children and parents.







10. I Love You More, by Laura Duksta. Illustrated by Karen Keesler.
If you're looking for a sweet and sappy book that illustrates a mother's love for her child, look no further. This makes a great gift for a new mom or a great mother's day gift. There's still time to go out to your bookstore and grab a copy.







Happy Mother's Day everyone! I'm off for the rest of the day to do "mothery" stuff.

Articles about Children's Books in The Washington Post

Yes, I'm really up at 6 AM on a Saturday morning...oh sweet insomnia. Luckily, this morning's edition of The Washington Post has a few interesting articles about children's books.

"Twice Told Tales Plus a Few That Are Refreshingly New"
Carolyn Hax discusses a few new children's books that are very similar to some classics. For example, Gillian Shields and Gary Blythe's The Perfect Bear closely mirrors the idea behind The Velveteen Rabbit. I especially like her commentary on Laura and Jenna's new picture book. Kids love nothing more than forced enthusiasm. Finally, I have to get my hands on Lucky Monkey, Unlucky Monkey.




"Picture Books Celebrate the Fleet of Foot"
Speaking of re-imagined classics, check out Abby McGanney Nolan's review of Christopher Meyers' take on Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." The original text stays the same, but the illustrations put us on a basketball court--I know a few boys who would LOVE this book.

Nolan also reviews a couple of other books that honor fancy foot movement, Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire, and At Gleason's Gym, a book about the gym where Muhammed Ali and many many other boxers trained.


"From Wild Things to Happy Readers"

Finally, Michael Sims reviews two books written about children's books. First Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter by Seth Lerer gives a comprehensive history of children's literature from works created in ancient Greece and Rome to Harry Potter. I'm especially interested in reading his commentary on the representations of femininity in books for young girls throughout history.


Next, Sims discusses Leonard S. Marcus' Minders of Make-Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children's Literature, a book that discusses the history of children's literature in the United States. This looks like very interesting commentary on how books for American children have evolved throughout the nation's history.

Review FAQs

I get lots of questions about the books I review, my review policy, etc., so here are answers to many of those questions. If you are an author or publisher, and would like me to consider a book for review, please email me a description of the book at thewellreadchild AT gmail DOT com.

What types of books do you review?
I review board books, picture books, middle grade, and young adult literature. I also review parenting books and books that contain resources for parents and teachers. My goal is to review a diverse set of books for different interests and reading and age levels, and I try to review a variety of books. 

I review both fiction and nonfiction. I often choose not to review books that have a strong "message." For fiction, the books I review the most have a strong story and equally strong characters. For nonfiction, the books I tend to review also tell a story, have engaging photographs and/or illustrations, and don't just list facts. I seek out books that feature diverse characters and cultures.


Do you review PDFs or ebooks?
No. I do not accept PDFs or ebooks for review. Part of the magic of reading is being able to flip through books and devour the material, especially if it's a book with illustrations.

Can you guarantee a review?
No. I try to review every book I read, but sometimes I choose not to review a book because it does not fit within The Well-Read Child's mission. I only spend time reviewing books that I like or books about which I have something to say. I'm always honest in my reviews, so you may expect to see negative reviews from time to time.


Do you interview authors and illustrators?
Yes, I interview authors and illustrators and participate in blog tours. If you're interested in being a stop on The Well-Read Child, please email me. I appreciate as much advance notice as possible.

Next Week is "Reading is Fun Week"

Thanks to Jen Robinson for letting us know that next week is Reading is Fun Week, sponsored by Reading is Fundamental.

Here are the basics:

• Started in 1979, Reading Is Fun Week is a time to recognize the pleasures found in books and to mark the start of summer reading.
• RIF has put together The World’s Most Athletic Booklist in celebration of the upcoming Olympics. The list is free and includes books for children of all ages.
• Visit RIF's website for free resources to encourage summer reading and celebrate Reading is Fun Week. RIF also provides parents with lots of helpful reading tips.
  

Read the entire press release at Jen Robinson's Book Page.

Poetry Friday Challenge: The Aubade

We've done the aubade, and Wilbur, so I thought I'd combine them and turn it into a challenge.

In Richard Wilbur's "Late Aubade," the morning departure of a lover has already been staved off. It's just a matter of how long he can sustain the post-coital languor. Love has a lot in common with being lazy -- the bed is equally important to both.

I thought I'd try to write my own aubade -- since Wilbur's started late, I thought I'd start mine early, just before waking up. There's no convincing a lover to stay here when in a sense she's already left -- with the darkness, with the dream, with the end of a romantic story; especially if, unlike Wilbur's mistress, her loyalties lie with the sun!

So my attempt follows; if you accept the challenge, please post your own in the comments (or a link to it on your blog)!

Early Aubade
by Wes

Now I feel the intrusion of the sun,
And your backwards glance against the glare

I was dreaming about the movies,
The projector beaming at the wall

We hold hands before the fire,
The drums beat for the entranced wood

We do our lines for the moon and crickets,
And kiss in closeup against the sky

We dance on the lawn,
And laughing, get some steps wrong

The celluloid burns a little and peels your face
Which I try to press back down

But time staggers on the wheel
In undone loops, darkness settles in

Now there's just your warmth, and I realize
We cannot see what we are

Fleeing through the night-rain without looking back,
Under a rising umbrella

To my car, where the pistons hum
And keep the world going, around us

The day you went back there,
I chased you through the void

The flames chanting at my back,
I found you in a bright-empty room

Standing at attention before the sun,
Turning from a wall of undressed window

To say get up, sleepyhead,
The day has just begun


The Poetry Friday roundup is at writer2b's Findings.

Jump Into Literacy by Rae Pica

Jump into Literacy: Active Learning for Preschool Children by Rae Pica
Paperback: 136 pages
Publisher: Gryphon House; 1 edition (June 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0876590091
ISBN-13: 978-0876590096
Source of book: Review copy from publisher


Every now and then I'm going to share some wonderful resources that parents and teachers can use to help their children develop language and literacy skills. Jump into Literacy: Active Learning for Preschool Children is one of these resources.

Theory Behind the Book: The introduction to the book thoroughly discusses the theories behind the book and references a number of studies. The basic gist is that the components of emergent literacy are listening, speaking, reading, and writing and children learn best through active involvement--by moving, by participating, by having fun.

Divided into four sections with activities to help children develop skills in the four components of emergent literacy (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), the book offers fun activities for preschool children.

At the top of each page is a brief description of the activity's role in emergent literature, "Promotes listening skills and auditory discrimination," and "Develops letter recognition," for example. After a very brief introduction, the activity is divided into at least two parts: "To have," which lists the materials you need to complete the activity, and "To Do," which gives step by step instructions.

Some activities have a "More to do," section which gives ideas for expansion activities. The good news is that many of the activities require no materials, and those that do require inexpensive items such as lists of words, chart paper, markers, and a beach ball--probably things you can find around the house or things that are in typical preschool classrooms.

The activities themselves are organized from lowest to highest difficulty for the child to do, so there is a nice variety of activities for children who are different skill levels. All of them seem easy to prep for and to conduct, averaging around 3 to 5 steps.

In addition, they are engaging and diverse, so you and your children won't get easily bored.

Some of my favorites include:

• "Retell Me a Story:" The teacher/parent reads a short book to children, and the children take turns acting it out from beginning to end.
• "Little Miss Muffet:" The teacher/parent reads the nursery rhyme to children, and the children repeat each line, acting it out at the same time
• "Pass out a Rhythm:" The teacher/parent and children sit in a circle. The teacher/parent claps a simple rhythm, and each child in the circle repeats it.
  

There are over 100 activities like this that will help children develop early literacy skills through moving and through having fun. Parents and teachers can easily flip through the book to find and implement activities that are appropriate for their children. This would make an excellent resource for a preschool teacher, a home school teacher, and parents who have preschool-aged children and want to have fun with learning.

Also check out Gryphon House's website, which has tons of free activities.

Preview of Things to Come

I haven't posted my usual volume of reviews this week because I've been super busy at both work and home. However, I did want to share with you some books I've recently read that I'll be reviewing soon.

Fiction Picture Books

Grandma Calls Me Beautiful by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

A companion book to Mama, Do You Love Me? and Papa, Do You Love Me?, the Joosse/Lavallee team is back with a wonderful book about a grandmother's unconditional love for her granddaughter. Set in Hawaii, readers can also learn about the Hawaiian culture. If you're looking for a last-minute mother's day gift for a special grandmother, this would be perfect. I also have an interview w/ Barbara Joosse coming up.


Someday When My Cat Can Talk by by Caroline Lazo, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

In this very charming picture book, a little girl imagines all of the exciting things her world-traveling cat would tell her if it could talk. Through its rhyming descriptions and detailed illustrations, children also learn about different countries of the world. This is a very engaging book that celebrates the imagination.




Nonfiction Picture Book
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Éric Puybaret

This gorgeously illustrated biography tells the story of Jacques Cousteau's life. It celebrates curiosity and determination and would make a great choice for a boy.





Middle Grade Nonfiction
Brave Deeds: How One Family Saved Many People from the Nazis by Ann Alma

Told through a child's eyes, this is the moving story of a Dutch husband and wife couple who risked their lives to shelter Jews during the Holocaust. In addition to Frans and Mies Braal's narrative, sidebars give a lot of information about the Dutch resistance workers, the Holocaust, and much much more.





Middle Grade Fiction
Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Bride by Barbara Ensor

This is a contemporary retelling of the story of Thumbelina who yearns for independence from her well meaning, yet protective mother. Hmmm...think tweens will identify with that? When she gets her wish, things don't turn out the way she expected as she tries to survive in a world where everything is much bigger than she.




Young Adult Fiction

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

One of the best YA books I've read this year, the story centers around Aslaug a sheltered teenage girl who is accused of murder. Definitely intended for mature teens, the book alternates between her trial and the story leading up to the trial. It's weird, it's twisted, it's suspenseful, it's shocking....what more can you ask for?

Rabbit and Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon

Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (May 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152063072
ISBN-13: 978-0152063078
Source of book: Review copy from author and illustrator


Have you ever jumped to a conclusion and confronted someone only to find out later that it wasn't the person's fault at all? But by the time you realized it, your pride prevented you from admitting you were wrong? Nah, me either. In actuality, one such incident that occurred when I was a teenager resulted in my sister pushing me into the bathtub and turning on the shower.

The author and illustrator of Ugly Fish have joined forces again to bring us a story that reveals the ugly consequences of what may happen when you make incorrect assumptions. A rabbit named Rabbit and a squirrel named Squirrel live across the way from each other. They are frequently outside tending to their gardens but have never made an effort to speak to each other until one dreadful day when Rabbit wakes up to find that someone had taken carrots and lettuce from her garden. Immediately assuming it was Squirrel, she barges in on him in his whitey tighties, threatening him to stay away from her garden, or else. The next day, Squirrel awakes to find sweet peas and tomatoes missing from his garden. After declarations of war, name calling, tomato throwing, and a destroyed house, they find out who the real culprit is. But have they gone to far to make amends? Can they forgive each other?

Through this engaging and humorous story, Kara LaReau manages to make an excellent point without ever sounding preachy or condescending. While Rabbit and Squirrel's antics are funny, children learn what can happen if you can't keep your emotions in check and automatically jump to conclusions. Ms. LaReau also makes her point even more clear by not wrapping the book up in a pretty little bow. Instead, readers are left with uncertainty and a small glimmer of hope.

And just look at Scott Magoon's illustrations! A squirrel in underpants! What could be funnier than a sleepy squirrel in underpants?

And check out the illustration below of the warring Rabbit & Squirrel's deranged faces! Anger can turn even the most civil people into raving lunatics, and Magoon does an exceptional job of showing this progression through his illustrations.




Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas is storytelling at its finest and a sure discussion starter. Highly recommended.



*A special thanks to Kara LaReau for providing the images and for her patience and perseverance through a number of technical difficulties.


What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Three Silly Chicks: "LaReau's smart text is perfectly balanced with Magoon's nuanced illustrations which reveal Rabbit's and Squirrel's surprising breadth of emotion. If you've ever wondered what a vengeful rabbit or a suspicious squirrel might look like, this is the book for you." (Read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "This is not a tidy, morally prescriptive tale about fighting and bad manners for young children (but then if you know LaReau’s books, you know she has more respect for children than that)." (Read more...)

A Year of Reading: "There's great power in a cautionary tale such as this one. It gives our children a way to distance themselves from their disagreements and think about the problem in terms of Rabbits and Squirrels." (Read more...)

A Fuse #8 Production: "If you’ve had your fill of garden pest picture books and you feel like you want a break, just give this book a chance before you throw in the trowel. Sometimes war is just a series of miscommunications and sometimes the two parties are communicating perfectly. This book gives it to you both ways. Smart stuff that’s easy on the eyes." (Read more...)

If you have a review of Rabbit & Squirrel, leave a comment with your link, and I will add it here.

Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg written and illustrated by Mia Posada

Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg by Mia Posada

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press (December 22, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0822561921
ISBN-13: 978-0822561927
Source of book: Copy from publisher


This beautiful nonfiction book for younger children begins with an interior spread of the bottom of a white feathery animal with black talons sitting on a big egg along with this text:

This egg sits snuggly on its father's feet.
He warms it with his body's heat.
Under his feathered belly, it's cozy and warm,
Safe from the icy Antartic storm.

Can you guess what is growing inside this egg?

When you flip the page, you get the answer: an adorable baby penguin covered in gray down is sitting between its father's feet, the father proudly looking down at it. Readers then learn more factual information about the baby penguin and its parents.

The book continues in the same pattern, revealing baby alligators, ducklings, spiders, and more. At the end of the book are white life-sized shapes representing the actual size and shape of the different eggs featured in the book. In addition, a two-page spread details the 28-day incubation of a duck, with simple descriptions and diagrams that are easy for children to understand. We also learn the incubation period for the other animals in the book.

Mia Posada's detailed and expressive water color collages are enchanting and provide visual clues to help children guess the animals that are growing inside the eggs.

The rhyming verse and guessing game will keep kids entertained, and even younger children who can't quite grasp the content will love the illustrations. My little girl just pets and pets the baby sea turtles and the big, fuzzy spider egg sac. For all you teachers out there, this would be a fun choice for a science unit, and it's interactivity makes it a great book for story time.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Books Together: "It's an especially good choice for reading aloud to kids of different ages!" Read more...

The Miss Rumphius Effect: "This is another great book for looking different animals that lay eggs." Read more...


If you have a review of Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg, leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here!

Kids Still Love the Classics, but Why Aren't Kids Reading More

Via the Washington Post, a recent survey of 3 million kids in the U.S. reveals that their favorite authors include Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton, Harper Lee, Laura Numeroff, Katherine Paterson, and Gary Paulsen. I grew up with many of these authors, although Dr. Seuss always has always freaked me out a little.

Something that was very disheartening though were the number of books children read in 2007. Seventh-graders averaged 7.1 books in 2007, while 12th-graders averaged 4.5 books. Wow...why aren't kids reading more?

Read the article with links to the full survey results here.

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku by Ellie Crow, illustrated by Richard Waldrep

Reading level: Grades 3-4
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (October 31, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1584302763
ISBN-13: 978-1584302766
Source of book: Review copy from publisher


Duke Kahanamoku was born in Hawaii in 1890 and learned how to swim when he was four years old. He could be found in the ocean swimming and surfing nearly every day from that point forward. Though he struggled in school, his swimming talent was extraordinary. So much so that he went onto win Olympic gold and became a hero and role model to people all over the world.

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku chronicles Duke's story in a manner approachable to children. Through a chronological account of his life, Ellie Crow presents Duke as a talented, courageous, kind, and humble person. His courage and determination especially shine through as he is faced with racism when he travels to different US cities to qualify for the Olympics. The main focus of the book, however, celebrates the life of Duke Kahanamoku and introduces him to young readers who may have never heard of him before.

Richard Waldrep's brilliantly-colored "art-deco like" illustrations perfectly compliment the story, giving it a nostalgic feel. A time line and world map in the back highlight key events in Duke's life.

This would make a great choice for children who are interested in biographies, swimming, and surfing, and for boys who are looking for strong male role models. Social studies and language arts teachers can also use it as a supplemental resource in lessons about the Olympics, notable Asian/American figures, WWI, and discrimination.

Visit the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Picture Book of the Day.

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Papertigers.org: "At a time in American history when racism was widely acceptable, Duke Kahanamoku overcame the dual stigmas of being both poor and dark-skinned to achieve athletic excellence and to earn the respect and admiration of people all over the world. Ellie Crowe's lovingly crafted biography should inspire many readers to follow his example." (Read more...)

BookMoot: "Duke's Creed of Aloha is a fitting ending to an excellent biography of a man who always exhibited good sportsmanship and Olympic ideals. Richard Waldrep perfectly illustrates the story with wonderous full color illustrations that evoke vintage art deco travel posters." (Read more...)

If you have a review of Surfer of the Century, leave a comment with the link, and I'll post it here.

Wave by Suzy Lee

Wave by Suzy Lee
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 16, 2008)
ISBN-10: 081185924X
ISBN-13: 978-0811859240
Source of book: Review copy from publisher

This gorgeous and wordless picture book tells the story of a little girl's day at the beach. When she first arrives at the ocean, she's a little shy and uncertain as she looks at the daunting wave before her. As she grows more comfortable, she roars at the wave as it recedes into the ocean, and she finally musters up the courage to jump in and splash around. The wave, however, gets the last laugh and drenches her, but she soon forgets as she sees the treasure that washes ashore.

I have to tell you that this wordless book nearly rendered me speechless the first time I flipped through it. It's a universal story that every person who has been to the ocean will be familiar with. You don't NEED words to tell this story. The stunning images open up the senses and evoke emotion. I could smell the ocean, feel the spray on my face, hear the little girl's laughter, and feel her awe and reverence toward this powerful force of nature along with her delight.

Photo courtesy of Chronicle Books

It's the simplicity of the book that makes it truly powerful. The black and white panoramic drawings of the girl, her mother, and the seagulls are accented with splashes of the ocean's brilliant blue. When the wave finally engulfs the little girl at the end and recedes back into the ocean, the pages also become engulfed in blue--the sky, the girl's dress, the sea shells, etc.

This book makes me want to go to the beach. It conjures up my own memories of my childhood, and makes me reminisce about the innocence of childhood and the magic of the ocean. Accessible to children and parents of many cultures and languages and accessible to children who can't yet read or who are struggling with reading, I give Wave my highest recommendation.

Visit Suzy Lee's website to see more illustrations from Wave.


What other bloggers are saying:

Mindy's Book Journal: "A day at the beach has never been as lovely as it is in this book. Pair it with Flotsam or savor Wave on its own for its beautiful simplicity, but don’t pass this by. Perhaps a favorite of the year for me."


Do you have a review of Wave? If so, leave your link in the comments, and I'll include it here.

Share Your Reviews!

Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf recently started "Weekly Geeks," a weekly forum for bloggers. Each week, Dewey will give a different theme, such as "catch up on your reviews," "redecorate your blog," etc. Read all of the details and get a snazzy button here. I think this is an awesome idea and a great way to learn about other blogs and "meet" new bloggers.

Last week's was the first week, and the theme was "Discover New Blogs Week." I couldn't get my act together last week to participate, but I'm spending some time this weekend to look at some of the participants' blogs that I haven't seen before.

This week, Dewey challenges us to adopt Darla's (from Books and Other Thoughts) review method. Basically, Darla invites her readers to submit their links to reviews of the same books she's reviewed on her blog. She then posts the link to that review at the end of her review.

When I review a book, I do a google blog search to find other blog reviews of the same books and have recently been linking to them, along with a little snippet from the review. I love to hear what other people think about the book and love to read different perspectives. I also think it's important that readers are able to read what others think about the book because it helps them make better informed decisions. However, once I've posted a review, I rarely go back and try to find reviews that were written after mine. I would love to, but it really is a time issue.

So, I'm officially inviting you to take a look at the books I've reviewed. I have a categorized list of all book reviews in the left-hand column. If you've reviewed a book on your blog that I've also reviewed, please leave a comment with your link in the post of that particular book review. I will add your link at the end of my review, along with a little snippet from you review to give readers a sneak peek at what you have to say. Even if your review disagrees with my assessment, don't be hesitant to leave your link. As I said before, I love to read different perspectives, and I know that people have different tastes and viewpoints.

So, what are you waiting for? Send your links!


Read more about this week's Weekly Geeks challenge here.

Poetry Friday: Insomnia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Dante Gabriel Rossetti suffered from insomnia. After a ten year courtship, he married his wife who was also a model for many of his paintings. When she died less than two years after they were married, he began to treat his insomnia with a mixture of chloral and whiskey and ultimately had a mental breakdown. He wrote this poem in 1881, a year before his death.

Insomnia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Thin are the night-skirts left behind
By daybreak hours that onward creep,
And thin, alas! the shred of sleep
That wavers with the spirit's wind:
But in half-dreams that shift and roll
And still remember and forget,
My soul this hour has drawn your soul
A little nearer yet.

Our lives, most dear, are never near,
Our thoughts are never far apart,
Though all that draws us heart to heart
Seems fainter now and now more clear.
To-night Love claims his full control,
And with desire and with regret
My soul this hour has drawn your soul
A little nearer yet.

Is there a home where heavy earth
Melts to bright air that breathes no pain,
Where water leaves no thirst again
And springing fire is Love's new birth?
If faith long bound to one true goal
May there at length its hope beget,
My soul that hour shall draw your soul
For ever nearer yet.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is at Big A little a.

Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375842489
ISBN-13: 978-0375842481

In Confessions of a Serial Kisser, Evangeline has always been a "good girl," receiving good grades, hanging out with "good friends." She now lives with her mother in a tiny apartment having moved out of her childhood home after her parents' separation. One day she's cleaning in her mother's room and finds a box of romance novels under her mother's bed. One of these books, A Crimson Kiss, draws her in, and she sets upon a mission to get her own crimson kiss. This mission soon becomes an obsession as she kisses nearly every boy who crosses her path, including her best friend's boyfriend. As her reputation and relationship with her friend are damaged, she's coming to terms with her father's betrayal and his attempt at reconciliation with both her and her mother. Her life seems to be spiraling out of control as she searches for her crimson kiss.

While it's a good idea to expose teenagers to classic, thought-provoking literature, to truly make them lifelong readers, they need to have fun with reading. Give them the opportunity to read fun books that interest them because if reading always seems like homework, they will quickly get turned off. Confessions of a Serial Kisser is a light-hearted book whose title and pink cover with the big red lip print will beg girls to pull it off the shelf. Though it is funny at times and a fast read, its flaws will prevent it from becoming as well loved as Van Draanen's Flipped.

Many readers will find Evangeline annoying. She kisses boys without thinking of the repercussions, and she's super quick to judge others when she herself is not a model of good behavior. Robbie Marshall is a "dumb jock," Eddie Pasco is a "stoner," and she's downright cruel to poor Roper Harding who has obvious personal hygiene issues. Speaking of Eddie Pasco, there's this weird, overwhelming and forced anti-drug messaging in book. Eddie is one of Evangeline's "victims," and when she realizes he's a stoner, he becomes the scum of the earth while, Izzy, the creepy record store owner seems like a likely stoner himself. It almost felt like a cheesy PSA at times.

There were also some awkward passages that didn't really seem to fit. Evangeline is a rock 'n roll girl, and it's rock 'n roll that helps heal her relationship with her father in the end. She identifies with music and listens to it constantly, which is a truly believable characteristic. However, there are times in the book when Evangeline is listening to music, and she throws out the name of the band, the album, and all of the songs. It interrupts the flow and seems more like Van Draanen's, (a professed fan of rock 'n roll as indicated in the jacket flap) homage to her favorite bands. Also, the fact that Evangeline seems to be a self-taught master hair stylist is also a little unbelievable, and that she has to "babe herself up" to get guys is also a disappointing.

To be a truly good book, the reader really has to identify with the main character, and many girls won't be able to do this with Evangeline. While the concept is entertaining, the execution of a believable, likable character is not there.


Not EVERYONE agrees with me. See what other bloggers are saying:
Bookshelves of Doom: "Evangeline's voice never really worked for me. She never crossed the line of being a character on the page to becoming a person in my head, and so I was never fully pulled into the story. Because of that, the dialogue never really worked either -- and so the book ended up feeling like a 290+ page sitcom, complete with loads of exclamation points and the end-of-the-episode Big Lesson."

What I Blogged: "Plenty of surprises, plenty of laughs, and plenty of complications. This is all held together with a really touching story about dealing with a beloved parent’s betrayal."

Biblio File: "Overall, it was a nice book about finding yourself and how you won't be crimson without some attraction. There was friend drama that I didn't fully understand, because there were some serious flaws in that relationship even before Evangeline starts going kiss-crazy."

Books Read in April

This month, I got back on track with my reading and ended up reading some wonderful books.

Board Books

• Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz (my review)
• Who Goes Moo? by Make Believe Ideas (my review)
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle (my review)
• No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli (my review)
  

Fiction Picture Books

• Sally and Dave, a Slug Story by Felice Arena (my review)
• The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures retold by Burleigh Muten, illustrated by Helen Cann (my review)
• Way Up and Over Everything written by Alice McGill, illustrated by Jude Daly (my review)
• In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Tricia Tusa (my review)
• Wave by Suzy Lee (review coming soon)
• Someday When My Cat Can Talk by Caroline Lazo, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (review coming soon)
• Cat by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Craig Smith (review coming soon)
• Everybody Bonjours! Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Sarah Mcmenemy (review coming soon)
• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field, illustrated by Giselle Potter (Review coming soon)
  

Nonfiction Picture Books

• Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport (my review)
• How Artists See Series by Colleen Carroll (my review)
• Pier 21: Stories from Near and Far written by Anne Renaud, illustrated by Ares Cheung (my review)
• Going Around The Sun: Some Planetary Fun by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Janeen Mason (my review)
• This Is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming by Jan Thornhill (my review)
• Traveling With Anna/ De Viaje con Ana series by Laura Crawford (my review)
  

Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (my review)
• The Giver by Lois Lowry (my review)
• Tuk and the Whale by Raquel Rivera (my review)
  
• Thumbelina: Tiny Runaway Bride by Barbara Ensor (review coming soon)
• Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen (review coming soon)

Adult Fiction

A Cartload of Scrolls: 100 Poems in the Manner of T'ang Dynasty Poet Han-shan by James P. Lenfestey (I won this book from Diane at Carp(e) Libris, and it's absolutely wonderful. Look for a Poetry Friday review soon. Thanks Diane!

The Birth House: A Novel by Ami McKay

In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Alright, so that's 28 for the month of April, bringing me to a total of 79 for the year. I have 121 left to read by December 31st, and I'm hoping to get a good chunk read during MotherReader's 48 Hour Book Challenge in June.

Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe

Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (December 15, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0822576317
ISBN-13: 978-0822576310
Source of book: Review copy from publisher

Chico Bon Bon is a monkey who owns a tool belt full of tools—from the conventional screwdriver and drill to the not-so-conventional donkey wrench, zoozle, and snozz remover. On any given day, Chico Bon Bon will use these tools to build and fix things for his friends and family. He is extremely creative as is evidenced by the clock he builds for ducks and the small roller coaster for local chipmunks.

One day, a devious organ grinder looking for a new circus monkey lures Chico Bon Bon into a trap and takes him back to the circus camp. Luckily, Chico Bon Bon has his trusty tool belt with him and devises a plan to escape—the execution of this plan will leave children laughing and cheering for Chico.

While the story and text are very funny, it's Monroe's hilarious and highly detailed illustrations that will keep kids coming back to the book. The most elaborate illustration is that of the organ grinder taking Chico Bon Bon through the town to the circus camp. We see him traveling through the town on a winding road, passing by a pond, a smoothie hut, a park, a bookstore, and more. Each time I look at this page, I see something new.

I gave a copy to my friend Chris who has two daughters, ages 6 and 3, and he says it's quickly become a favorite in their house. If you're looking for a funny book that will keep kids asking for you to read it to them, Monkey with a Tool Belt makes a perfect choice. I sincerely hope this isn't the last we see of Chico Bon Bon.


What other bloggers are saying:


A Fuse #8 Production: "Monkeys are funny. Tool belts are not funny. So how do we account for the fact that monkeys plus tool belts are very funny? I've no idea, but if Chris Monroe keeps churning out more picture books of this style and flavor, I'll be a happy woman. Definitely a keeper for the tool belt and monkey lovers of the world."

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "Really, I think that everyone who has young children should go out and get a copy of this book. I might see if I can buy it in bulk, for all of my gift-giving needs. Monkey with a Tool Belt has my highest recommendation."

Zion School Library: "After reading Monkey with a Tool Belt aloud to 1st graders, they gave the book the highest praise by asking 'Is there another 'Monkey' book? If there isn't there should be!'"

Three Silly Chicks: "Monkey with a Tool Belt is a book kids will enjoy mightily. It's all that and a banana hammer!"

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli

Reading level: Ages 2-4
Board book: 24 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition (February 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763632449
ISBN-13: 978-0763632441
Source of book: Purchased own copy at bookstore

At nearly 14 months old, my little chica is beginning to understand the meaning of "yes" and "no." While she can't say the words yet, she nods or shakes her head, and when she's getting ready to do something she knows she's not supposed to (like eat dog food...ewww), she'll sneakily look around to see if anyone's looking.

Needless to say, we're having a lot of fun with Leslie Patricelli's No No Yes Yes . In the book, a baby dressed only in a diaper with one springy curl coming out of the top of its head does a variety of both good and bad things. On the left side of each interior spread, the baby is doing something he/she shouldn't be doing, such as eating dog food, pulling the cat's tail, and dumping bath water on the floor. "NO NO" is written across the top of these pages. On the right side of the page, the baby is doing something he/she SHOULD be doing, such as eating a banana instead of dog food, gently petting the cat, and keeping the bathwater and toys in the bathtub. "YES YES" is written across the top of these pages.

The humorous pictures will make children laugh, and with "no no" and "yes yes" as the only words in the book, children and parents can make up their own stories. A fun way to teach the "Yes/No" concept, this book would make a nice gift for young children.

Traveling with Anna Series by Laura Crawford

Traveling With Anna/ De Viaje con Ana series by Laura Crawford


Reading level: Grades 2-3
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Raven Tree Press; Bilingual edition (2008)
Language: English, Spanish
Source of books: F&Gs from publisher



I've always been a sucker for travel guides, destination books, travel websites, etc. I think it's a combination of the control freak in me who likes to plan every trip down to the very last detail and the wanna-be world traveler who loves to learn about and visit new places.

Now kids who love to learn about new places can do so with Laura Crawford's bilingual Traveling with Anna/ De Viaje con Ana series.

There are currently three books in the series:

• Postcards from Washington , D.C / Postales desde Washington, D.C
• Postcards from Chicago / Postales desde Chicago (Bilingual English/Spanish
• Postcards from New York City / Postales desde New York City

This interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction introduces children to U.S. cities through postcards written by the fictional character, Anna.

Photo courtesy Raven Tree Press

Each interior spread includes interesting information about a site or landmark in the city featured in the book in a number of ways. First, Ana writes a postcard to a relative or friend about the site in English. Next, three interesting facts about the site are written in both English and Spanish. Finally, a full-color photograph is also included in the spread.

Anna's postcards introduce kids to the featured city through a child's eyes. For example, in the Washington, D.C. book, when writing about the Lincoln Memorial, Anna wraps up her postcard with, "I wanted to climb on his lap, but Mom said no." I can only imagine how many children in real life have wanted to do this.

The bulleted facts themselves are appealing instead of the "boring" details kids are used to reading in history textbooks. Sticking with the Lincoln Memorial spread, kids learn that Lincoln's nickname was Honest Abe, that he never received a lot of formal education, and more.

Presenting the facts in both English and Spanish opens the doors to a variety of readers, including those learning English and/or Spanish, ESL learners, and Spanish speaking parents who have limited books in their language in which to read to their children. I only wish the postcards were written in both languages instead of just English because the postcards make the books unique and hold the greatest appeal.

The straightforward and clean book design makes the books appealing to older learners who will most likely not be embarrassed to be seen with the book. When I taught ESL to high schoolers, I had a big challenge to find books at their English-reading level that weren't too childish. They were constantly complaining that they couldn't find anything other than "baby books."

The Traveling with Anna series would make wonderful resources in a geography, social studies, ESL, or Spanish classroom. They'd also be a great way to introduce children to different US cities and to get them excited about vacation if you happen to be visiting one of the cities in the book. I look forward to seeing more books in the series.

Poetry Friday: Love Calls Us to the Things of This World

Richard Wilbur published his first poem when he was 8 years old. He went on to translate Moliere and Racine, write lyrics musicals, win the Pulitzer Prize, and become the U.S. Poet Laureate. If you've never been inspired by laundry, now's your chance.

Love Calls Us to the Things of This World

by Richard Wilbur

The eyes open to a cry of pulleys,

And spirited from sleep, the astounded soul

Hangs for a moment bodiless and simple

As false dawn.

Outside the open window

The morning air is all awash with angels.

Some are in bed-sheets, some are in blouses,

Some are in smocks: but truly there they are.

Now they are rising together in calm swells

Of halcyon feeling, filling whatever they wear

With the deep joy of their impersonal breathing;

Now they are flying in place, conveying

The terrible speed of their omnipresence, moving

And staying like white water; and now of a sudden

They swoon down into so rapt a quiet

That nobody seems to be there.

The soul shrinks

From all that it is about to remember,

From the punctual rape of every blessèd day,

And cries,

“Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry,

Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam

And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.”

Yet, as the sun acknowledges

With a warm look the world’s hunks and colors,

The soul descends once more in bitter love

To accept the waking body, saying now

In a changed voice as the man yawns and rises,

“Bring them down from their ruddy gallows;

Let there be clean linen for the backs of thieves;

Let lovers go fresh and sweet to be undone,

And the heaviest nuns walk in a pure floating

Of dark habits,

keeping their difficult balance.”

The Poetry Friday roundup is at The Miss Rumphius Effect