James Frey has sold a series of YA books to HarperCollins. The first book, I Am Number Four, is in a planned series of six. Frey submitted the first novel anonymously. The series will be primarily written by Jobie Hughes, though the idea originated with Frey.
The film rights for the series have already been purchased by DreamWorks.
That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book about Vegans, Vegetarians, and All Living Things by Ruby Roth.
A friendly introduction to veganism and vegetarianism for elementary-age children, this book focuses more on the evils of factory farming than eating animals. This slant makes it more appropriate for the young audience. The animals are portrayed as whimsical characters. The pigs have huge nostrils, the chickens stay round as an egg, and the cows are lanky with long-lashed eyes. Animals are shown in family groups, demonstrating what their natural lives would be like. This is contrasted with the misery they find on factory farms combined with the environmental toll as well. The book makes a sound, green argument for reducing animal consumption as well as eliminating factory farms.
This book deserves a place in most public libraries alongside all of those farm animal books. It offers another perspective that is missing from children’s sections in libraries. As adults learn that vegetarian and vegan diets are healthier for people as well as animals, parents will turn to libraries to help explain this to their children. It is a pleasure to find such a well-done book on the subject that provides information without the shocking images that would be too much for children.
Roth has done an admirable job of creating a book on a subject that could easily confuse and upset young readers. This book instead talks about nature, the importance of kindness, and gives children a way to make a difference right now. Her illustrations help to keep the subject from being too bleak with their cartoony feel.
Highly recommended for all public library collections, this book will be appreciated by vegetarians, vegans and others who are exploring their eating options. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by David Roberts
Miss Breakbone hates children. She is harsh, rude, and cruel. But worst of all, she is also a teacher. She calls her class Dunderheads, and one day goes too far in taking away a broken cat from one of the children. His nickname was Junkyard and he had found it in the trash, a perfect gift for his feline-loving mother. When Miss Breakbone basically dared Junkyard to try to get it back, the class turned to Einstein, a boy with a brilliant mind for figuring things out and the narrator of the story. The children all had talents that they are nicknamed for. Together they formed the perfect set of skills to break into Miss Breakbone’s castle of a house and retrieve the cat.
This book is a marvelous mix of impossible mission intrigue and school misfits. Fleischman has created characters that are unique, strange and great fun. His text is simple, perfect for readers in first and second grades who want a book with pizzazz but are more comfortable with lots of illustrations. Roberts’ illustrations are a large part of the book. Much of it is done with panels like a graphic novel, enhancing the feel that the book is for slightly older children than most picture books. Roberts illustrations are dramatic, silly, and suit the subject perfectly. His towering and glowering Miss Breakbone is a frightening figure indeed. The danger is heightened by his illustrations rather than diminished, much to the delight of readers.
Highly recommended, this book fits a niche for picture books that will be of great interest to newly independent readers. It is also a wonderful read aloud, filled with tension, drama and humor galore. Appropriate for ages 5-6 as a read aloud, but also appropriate for ages 6-8 as a self-read.
Also reviewed by Young Readers, 100 Scope Notes, and Books4yourkids.
Waking Brain Cells 