Day: August 6, 2010

One Drowsy Dragon

| Tasha

One Drowsy Dragon by Ethan Long

One sleepy dragon wants to get some sleep, but his little dragons are making too much noise.  In this rhyming counting book, readers will find one dragon after another making all sorts of noises.  There is marching, dancing, screaming, jamming in a band, and much more.  Throughout, the adult dragon becomes more and more frazzled and exhausted until the end of the book when the ten little dragons are tired too and ready for bed.  But then the adult dragon is making so much noise snoring that they can’t get to sleep!

Filled with great sounds to make when reading aloud, this book is ideal for a pajama party.  It has a jaunty rhyme with plenty of shouting from the frustrated dragon adding to the frenzy.  The illustrations add even more appeal to the book with their bright colors and humor.  Just the look on the adult dragon’s face will having readers giggling as well as how oblivious the young dragons are to the situation. 

Bright and funny, this is a great counting book combined with dragon appeal and a bedtime theme.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.

All Star!

| Tasha

All Star!: Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jim Burke

This is the story behind the most valuable baseball card in the world.  Honus Wagner was born to a poor coal mining family and began working in the mines himself at age 12.  He had Sundays off and would play baseball after church.  He was strong from working in the mines, very fast despite his bowed legs, and could snag balls with his long arms.  At 16, Horus joined the semipros.  His brother was already playing professional ball.  As his career progressed, he became one of the most unforgettable players in history.  But even that is not what made his baseball card so valuable.  You will just have to read the book to find that out!

Yolen uses beautiful, evocative language in her verses.  At the same time, her verse reads in a frank, honest way.  The language is not flowery, but lends depth to the book as a whole.  Burke’s illustrations are done in oil on board.  He has captured the time period with grace and style.  His paintings often show unique perspectives that make the book very interesting visually.

The book touches on many issues, including child labor in the coal mines and the power and importance of sports.  Yolen is especially fine when speaking about the power of sports.  This is a fine book about a legend in baseball but it offers more appeal and interest than that thanks to its fine execution.

A book for baseball fans, certainly, but others will enjoy the story of a legend too.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Philomel.

Also reviewed by The Booknosher.