/Film has the news that Anne McCaffrey’s first Dragonriders of Pern novel is being adapted for a film. The adaptation is being done by David Hayter, X-Men and Watchmen screenwriter.
And the screaming begins in my skull. I adore the world that Anne McCaffrey created in her novels and worry rather frantically how freaking bad this movie version could be.
Busy Elephants by John Schindel and Martin Harvey
The latest in the Busy Book series from Tricycle Press, this book features wonderfully crisp and clear photos of elephants. Nicely, the photographs are also dynamic with elephants of different sizes interacting, running, splashing and blowing. Get this into the hands of the smallest animal lovers.
Grandma Calls Me Gigglepie by J. D. Lester, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
A third board book from the pair who gave us Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants and Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug. The book moves through human and animal grandparents interacting with their grandchild and calling them a variety of suitable endearments. This is an adorable concept that continues to work well due to the sweet illustrations and sentiments inside.
The Little Composter by Jan Gerardi
This lift-the-flap board book not only promotes composting but has an intriguing premise where the flaps conceal the remains of the eaten food. A jaunty rhyme moves the book forward to the end where the worms start to do their work and the garden work begins.
All books reviewed from copies received from Random House.
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
The sequel to If I Stay tells the story of what happened in the three years since the accident that killed Mia’s family and left her choosing between life and death. The three years since Mia headed to Julliard and left Adam behind, completely. Now Adam is a rock star living in LA, riding on the fame that his songs of heartbreak and anger created. Songs that were inspired by his loss of Mia. But the life of a rock star is not working out well for Adam. He has to take medication to calm himself down, is no longer traveling or living with his band, and worries that he may have to leave music behind entirely. In one final evening before he leaves on a long tour, the impossible happens and he meets up with Mia at one of her concerts. The two of them explore Mia’s New York, and explore the accident and devastation that caused them to pull apart.
This sequel is just as beautifully written as the first book. Forman excels at exploring emotion, writing it in such a way that it causes readers to feel it inside their own skin. Without overwriting at all, Forman creates a lyrical and sparking prose that rings with truth and feelings. In this second book, she explores betrayal, abandonment, grief and success.
The characters have nicely grown since the first book, showing that the three years have changed them but not enough to leave readers behind. These young adults bear the scars of their previous relationship, scars that imprint so many of their choices and reactions. And then we have the city of New York, which is almost a character herself. The background to the reunion that serves as action and adventure for the characters.
A compelling, surprising and haunting sequel. This is one that fans of If I Stay will be satisfied and enthralled by. Appropriate for ages 16-18.
Reviewed from copy received from Penguin Young Readers Group.
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Here are the short lists for the 2011 CBCA Book of the Year. There are five different categories:
Older Readers
About a Girl by Joanne Horniman
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher by Doug MacLeod
The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett (available in US in September 2011)
The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta (available in US)
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
Younger Readers
Duck for a Day by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Leila Rudge
Henry Hoey Hobson by Christine Bongers
Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer
The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody
Toppling by Sally Murphy, illustrated by Rhian Nest James
Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
Early Childhood
The Deep End by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Mitch Vane
It’s Bedtime, William! by Deborah Niland
Look See, Look at Me! by Leonie Norrington, illustrated by Dee Huxley
Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Noni the Pony by Alison Lester
The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies by Tom Niland Champion & Kilmeny Niland, illustrated by Deborah Niland
Picture Book
Family Forest by Lucia Masciullo, written by Kim Kane
Hamlet by Nikki Greenberg
Mirror by Jeannie Baker
My Uncle’s Donkey by Tohby Riddle
Two Peas in a Pod by Chris McKimmie
Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Drawn from the Heart: A Memoir by Ron Brooks
Our World: Bardi Jaawi: Life at Ardiyooloon
Return of the Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Tohby Riddle
Theme Parks, Playgrounds and Toys by Nicolas Brasch
Wicked Warriors and Evil Emperors by Alison Lloyd, illustrated by Terry Denton
Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front by Leon Davidson
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Salina Yoon
Yoon take the traditional rhyme and enlivens it with strong graphical images. The holes in the pages let readers look through either way, making turning pages a delight as you see different ways to look at the same thing. The rhyme and interesting illustrations make this an appealing choice.
Reviewed from copy received from Random House.
Rocket Town by Bob Logan
A board book filled with rockets and enough humor to keep adults entertained as well. The real treat here are the illustrations which have a great 60s vintage vibe that is playful and welcome. Logan also plays with color as the book pages turn. If you have a child into trucks and trains, give rockets a try!
Reviewed from copy received from Sourcebooks.
Who’s in the Forest? by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Jill McDonald
Peek through the holes in the pages to see who you can see in the forest. The mixed media collage illustrations are whimsical and charming. From the various patterns that make up leaves and sky to the smaller details of acorn caps and bird wings, there is so much for the eye to look at here. The rhyming text combined with the holes in the pages will appeal to little ones.
Reviewed from library copy.
Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown, illustrated by Julie Paschkis
Follow the transformation of a young boy named Neftali into the poet Pablo Neruda. The book starts with Neruda’s childhood and moves through his life as he begins to write poetry in his signature green ink. His connection to nature is emphasized throughout the book from his love of the sea to the stones of Chile. It also speaks to his love of children and his growth into a fighter for workers’ rights. This is a lovely, quick glimpse of an amazing poet.
Brown’s words are simple and accessible to children. She manages to explore Neruda’s inspirations without losing her young audience. Rather she talks in detail about what inspired his poetry, what he meant as a person, and where he came from. It is a powerful way to look at Neruda and his work.
The art by Paschkis is extraordinary. Her paintings combine moments throughout Neruda’s life with words. The words grow on leaves and trees. They show in the sun and the moon. They form the very ground. It is an expressive way to show the power of words in Neruda’s life as well as how they came from all that surrounds him.
Explore Neruda through beautifully simple text and illustrations that have words streaming through them. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
Reviewed from copy received from Henry Holt.
Image by Holtsman
Oxford University has found that reading is the sole out-of-school activity that will enhance a teen’s career prospects. Not even sports or music can make this claim.
The study found that 16-year-olds who read books at least once a month were significantly more likely at age 33 to have a job that is managerial or professional.
Video game playing is the other side of the coin, where changes of attending college fell if a teen was spending a lot of their time that way.
The study looked at 17,200 people aged 33 and compared their extra-curricular activities at age 16 with their careers. For girls, there was a 39% probability that they would be in managerial or professional careers if they read as teens, compared to a 25% if they had not. For boys, the figures were 58% for readers, compared to 48% for nonreaders.
It’s another study win for reading as a teen. The other study that can out recently showed a link between decreased depression in teens and reading.
Clackers: Monkey by Luana Rinaldo
Clackers: Crocodile by Luana Rinaldo
Looking for a great book to give to a new baby? Take a look at Clackers. They are board books with super thick pages (could I even suggest that the foam core of the pages would be ideal for little teethers?) Plus they have a handle. If shaken by the handle, the books make a clacking noise as the pages bounce together. So these are both books and toys.
Each book has a simple story. Monkey’s story is about the noises Monkey hears as he swings through the jungles. The story is filled with enough sounds to make it very fun for little ones. Crocodile has an equally appealing story with a peek-a-boo theme as Crocodile searches for her mother. The art of the books is simple and colorful, just right for the audience.
A pair of adorable, fun and functional books for the smallest of readers, these are sure to be thrown, chewed, and shaken by little hands. Appropriate for infants through toddlers.
Reviewed from copies received from Macmillan Publishers.
Also reviewed by
Patrick Ness, author of the wonderfully tense The Knife of Never Letting Go, has selected ten books that are entirely unsuitable for teens but perfect to read when people say you are far too young to read them. One wonders how many more teens would be reading if they just got a few inappropriate books in their hands!
Here is his list:
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
The Stand by Stephen King (this and everything else by King were a huge part of my teen reading habits)
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Maul by Tricia Sullivan
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
Unrecommended by Unnamed – the place to put those all those books that YOU read as a teen but now think that teens are WAY to young to read. Yeah, I can relate to Ness’ Flowers in the Attic reference…
Waking Brain Cells 