Month: April 2011

Depressed? Try Reading a Book!

| Tasha

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Image by Canonsnapper

A study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that teenagers who listen to more music than other teens are more likely to experience major depression.  The study had 106 participants, 46 of which had major depressive disorder.

The top quarter of teens who listened to the most music were 8.3 times more likely to be depressed than the teens who feel into the lower quadrant of music listening.  Interestingly, though researchers expected to see a similar result, television watching did not have the same connection to depression.

Here is the reading part:

The top quarter of teens in the study who read the most, including not only books but magazines and newspapers, were one-tenth as likely to be depressed as those in the lower quadrant who read the least. 

The question is whether music or depression came first and also whether reading or not being depressed came first. 

Review–Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn O. Galbraith

| Tasha

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Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn O. Galbraith, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin

This lovely book moves from the steady and deliberate planting of seeds by farmers to the ways that seeds are planted in nature.  The seeds sweep along the in the wind.  They are dropped by birds eating from the seed heads.  They pop and snap to new places.  They are carried on the coats of animals.  They are planted by squirrels hiding them for winter.  Told in a poetic voice with images that evoke nature in all of its beauty, this book is one to be treasured.

Galbraith’s writing is leisurely and lovely, lingering on each of the moments that spread seeds across nature.  She explains each instance in detail, offering noises, specific plant names, and building moments that readers themselves can feel and be in for a bit.  She also skillfully blends in animals in each setting, bringing it further to life.

Halperin’s style works very well with this subject matter.  She plays with light and dark, draws the animals and plants described in the text.  Through her fine-lined and gently colored images, nature comes to life.  One of her most successful pages is early in the book, capturing the movement of the wind in colors and lines.

A natural, lovely look at seeds and planting in the wild, this book is a gorgeous tribute to wilderness.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

Also reviewed by:

50 Books Every Child Should Read

| Tasha

British Education Secretary Michael Grove says that children aged 11 should be reading 50 books a year to improve literacy.  So The Independent asked five people to offer up their top ten picks, my comments are in the parentheses behind:

Philip Pullman’s Picks

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. (Lovely, childhood memories here.  I used to open the books to look at the illustrations and dream a bit.)

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner.

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. (This is one with lots of memories for me.  Read aloud to me and my brothers at the breakfast table.)

Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken. (Love that an Aiken is included.  My favorite of hers is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.)

The Owl Service by Alan Garner.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. (The wordplay here is tremendous.  One of my favorites that I must have a copy of at all times.)

Moominsummer Madness by Tove Jansson. (My brother was Moomin mad as a kid, and he wasn’t a huge reader so that was big.  As the book hoarder in the family, I have his well-loved copies of the series.)

A Hundred Million Francs by Paul Berna.

The Castafiore Emerald by Hergé.

Michael Morpurgo’s Picks

The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Just William books by Richmal Crompton.

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde.

The Elephant’s Child From The Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling.  (The language here is so lovely as it always is with Kipling.)

Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson. (Another breakfast favorite for us growing up.)

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.

The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson-Burnett. (Tasha Tudor’s illustrations really made this book sing.  I love the transformation of a girl through a garden.)

Katy Guest’s Picks, literary editor for The Independent on Sunday

Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah.

Finn Family Moomintroll (and the other Moomin books) by Tove Jansson. (Moomin again!)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein. (Oh yes, so glad to see this included.  Children should read the books before they see the films.)

The Tygrine Cat (and The Tygrine Cat on the Run) by Inbali Iserles.

Carry On, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr.

Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett.

The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson.

John Walsh’s Picks, author and Independent columnist

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

Mistress Masham’s Repose by TH White.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. (There was a time when I was captivated by this book.  I read it often.)

How to be Topp by Geoffrey Willams and Ronald Searle.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz.

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier.

Animal Farm by George Orwell.

Michael Rosen’s Picks

Skellig by David Almond.

Red Cherry Red by Jackie Kay.

Talkin Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah.

Greek myths by Geraldine McCaughrean.

People Might Hear You by Robin Klein.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

Einstein’s Underpants and How They Saved the World by Anthony McGowan.

After the First Death by Robert Cormier.  (My favorite Cormier book by far.  This is a haunting, powerful read.)

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. (Loved the lightness of this book that had great depth as well.)

Beano Annual.

And for those of you wondering why adults can’t be held to a similar standard, you will enjoy Philip Hensher’s article.  For librarians, it also has a great take on the importance of libraries on reading habits.

Review–In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer

| Tasha

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In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully

Bauer has created a poetic picture book that explores the concept of March coming in like a lion and going  out like a lamb.  A lion enters a boy’s home and tromps mud across the floor.  But when the air turns warmer, the lion sneezes mightily.  On that breeze, a lamb comes in and the grass turns green.  But what will happen to the snowy lion now that spring has arrived?  Will he disappear?  Not him!  Meanwhile, the lamb is frolicking and bringing in new babies to greet the spring.

The verse is light and free, creating a poetic, friendly picture book for young children.  The idea of the lion not leaving, but instead lingering in a warm patch of sun and purring is a lovely one.  While the lamb is breezy and light, the lion asleep happily is what lingers with me afterwards, waiting for winter to return.

McCully’s art echoes the freedom of the verse and the lightness of the subject.  She uses a light touch on her lines, a freedom in her colors, and a lushness as spring returns. 

Welcome spring and the end of March with this book and hope along with all of us in Wisconsin that the snow will finally come to an end!  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Holiday House.

Also reviewed by BooksForKidsBlog.

Review–Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand

| Tasha

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Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand

Mole wakes up and tries to figure out if spring has arrived.  He sniffs the air, tiptoes past Bear’s room and then squishes mud under his feet.  He knows that spring is here.  But when he tries to wake up Bear to let him know, Bear just keeps on snoring.  So Mole comes up with a way to get Bear to wake up.  It involves gathering eggs, milking a cow, churning the milk, pouring, mixing, and baking.  When he presents Bear with his surprise though, Mole is the one so tired from his efforts that he is snoring.

Hillenbrand has created a charming picture book from a very simple concept, making a book that is ideal to share with toddlers.  Sounds have been sprinkled nicely throughout the book, energizing the story.  With only a few lines per page, the pacing of the book will work well read aloud to small children.   Towards the end, the pacing picks up even more as Mole works on his idea to wake up Bear.

The artwork in the book adds to the story’s cozy feel.  The mixed media illustrations have a warmth thanks to their soft lines and homey subject.  Filled with small touches, a complete world is created where friendship between a mole and bear makes perfect sense.

Add this to your spring story time pile, especially if you read to the smallest of children.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

Trash–The Movie

| Tasha

 

Trash, the novel by Andy Mulligan, is in the works to become a feature film.  Screenwriter Richard Curtis and director Stephen Daldry are teaming up for the movie, which gives me hope for the film.

Via /Film

Review–Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

| Tasha

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Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Ari has always stood out with her silver hair and teal eyes.  Now after years in foster care, she is on a quest to discover what happened to her parents.  Her long-dead mother, who committed suicide, left her a message.  Run!  Ari heads to New 2, what has become of New Orleans after several devastating hurricanes and after some wealthy families purchased the land from the United States to make their own domain.  It is where Ari was born and where she must return to learn the answers about not only her parents but herself.  When she reaches New 2, Ari finds a place that accepts people who are very unique and different, like herself.  For the first time ever, she feels she might have found a place she can belong in and maybe even love in.

Keaton writes with a beautiful clarity, creating a setting and characters that are vivid and compelling.  Ari is a protagonist that teens will relate to easily.  She is deadly, fascinating and unique.  Her voice is strong, her actions make sense, and the truth about her is a delight to discover.

One of the strongest characters in the book is New 2, the destroyed city that serves as a haven for the paranormal.  Keaton renders New 2 in prose that is filled with imagery, lovingly detailed and places readers right inside the city alongside Ari.  Those who know New Orleans will recognize it under the ruins, others will be drawn to the city in new ways.

With so many paranormal romances available, one grows jaded reading them.  Don’t make that mistake with this title which keeps the genre fresh and enjoyable.  Fans of Twilight and Hunger Games will find a well-written story to long after here.  Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon Pulse.

Here is the book trailer:

Book Review–Press Here: A Fresh, Simple, Marvelous Idea

| Tasha

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Press Here by Herve Tullet

Press the dot on the cover and launch yourself into a journey where a book responds to your touch without any flaps, popups or electronics.  Follow the directions on each page, turn the page and see what happens next!  This is a book that is so simple in concept and beautifully executed in design.  Readers will enjoy making the dots big by clapping their hands, moving the dots around the page by shaking the book, and turning off the lights by pushing the yellow dots hard.  This is a simple, beautiful book that shows us that the pleasure of reading is universal.

Hand this to any child and they will grin as the pages turn.  While this won’t work for a group of children, it is an ideal book for a handful to share or for a parent to share with a child.  Toddlers especially will enjoy this book and the effect they have on it.  This book is pure delight.

Get your hands on this one to see for yourself, or take a look at the video below to see more of the pages in the hands of children.  Appropriate for ages 2-5.

 

Also reviewed by:

Peeta and Gale Cast

| Tasha

 

Entertainment Weekly has the news that Josh Hutcherson has been cast as Peeta in the upcoming Hunger Games film.  Liam Hemsworth has been cast at Gale.  So we have our two male leads.  I’m very interested now in who will be playing some of the secondary but vital characters.