A charmer of a trailer for the movie version of It’s Kind of a Funny Story. The casting choices are excellent, so my hopes are high!
Day: July 15, 2010
Chalk
Chalk by Bill Thomson
In this wordless book, three children discover a bag hanging from the mouth of the dinosaur toy in the park. Inside is sidewalk challk, very special sidewalk chalk. When one child selects yellow and draws a sun on the wet pavement, it turns real, leaving the drawing and heading into the sky, ending the rain. Another child draws orange butterflies, which also lift from the ground and into the air. Excitement unfolds when the third child draws a dinosaur which comes to life, chasing them around the playground. The quick-thinking child draws a cloud with rain coming out of it and saves the day. Told in rich photo-realistic illustrations, this book is a magical journey into imagination.
A wordless book that is not strictly for preschoolers is a rare find. One that is told with such energy and style is even more rare. Thomson has created a book that is inviting, mesmerizing and unique. Told in such a way that the story flows through the illustrations, needing no narration, this book is superb. The realistic illustrations add to the modern feel of the book as well as the action and surprise of the magic. In fact, the juxtaposition of magic with photo-realistic illustrations is what elevates this book to another level. Beautifully designed and envisioned.
Highly recommended, this book will fly off the shelves by the strength of that cover alone. It can also be used as the basis for art and writing projects in a classroom setting beautifully. Appropriate for a wide range of ages, 3-8.
Reviewed from copy received from Marshall Cavendish.
Also reviewed by:
Touch Blue
Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord
Released August 1, 2010.
Tess firmly believes in luck and does all sorts of things to try and capture some of it. But wishes and luck are difficult things to grab ahold of as Tess quickly discovers. On her island home, the number of children have fallen below the threshold to have a school. If nothing is done, Tess and her family will have to leave the island and Tess will be unable to become a fisherman the way she wants to. So the islanders decide to take in foster children to both increase the number of children on the island and to help other people. Tess has been envisioning an orphan like Anne of Green Gables, who loves to read, loves the island and loves their family. But real life is more complicated. Her family ends up fostering Aaron, a boy haunted by his past and the loss of his mother, a boy who is silent and distant, moody and who plays the trumpet with amazing skill. Where is the luck in that?
Lord’s writing is effortless and enjoyable. While this book feels like a light summer read, it offers many insights into family, loss, luck and bravery. Lord has again tackled a difficult subject with such a brilliant approach that readers will be happily afloat in her hands before realizing that the book has a lot more depth than they may have expected.
Lord also excels at characters. Here Tess is the main protagonist, a girl who holds onto her haven of a community and clings to all the luck she can. She is a complex character written with restraint and understanding. Her delightful mix of bravery, self-assurance, and doubt is masterfully presented. Another great characterization is Aaron who reveals himself to the reader slowly, just as he does to Tess and her family. He is a foil to many characterizations of foster children, yet at the same time he has a darkness and need to him that speaks volumes.
You are guaranteed to have luck if you pick up this title, even more if you share it with another. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic.
Also reviewed by:
Waking Brain Cells 