Month: August 2011

Book Review: A Storm Called Katrina by Myron Uhlberg

| Tasha

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A Storm Called Katrina by Myron Uhlberg, illustrated by Colin Bootman

This is the heartfelt fictional story of Louis, a 10-year-old boy living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits.  When the storm hits, no one is really worried, until it worsens.  Then there is no time for the family to gather any belongings except Louis’ horn.  When they leave their home, they find a piece of porch floating and Louis and his mother climb aboard.  His father pushes the porch with them safely on top.  On the way, they saw disturbing things: a dog they are unable to rescue and a body floating by.  When they finally got out of the deeper water, they headed for the Superdome with the rest of the crowd.  His father went in search of food and water, leaving Louis and his mother in the seats.  But when some people got rowdy, they moved to a safer part of the Superdome.  The question becomes how will they ever find Louis’ father again?

Beautifully written and illustrated, this book bring images from the flood to life.  Uhlberg manages to write in an unflinching and honest way, while still keeping his young audience clearly in mind.  There are difficult issues here, but they are presented in a way that can be glossed past or more deeply explored.  Uhlberg also manages to build moods very skillfully from the storm itself to the days of waiting in the Superdome, there is a constant sense of hope.

Bootman’s artwork is exceptional.  He evokes fear, concern, but above all love and hope in his images.  The paintings play light against dark throughout, until the climax of the theme at the end of the book. 

A personal and powerful look at the impact of Hurricane Katrina, this book would work well in a classroom setting and for any child wanting to learn more about the hurricane.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

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Review: Rapunzel by Sarah Gibb

| Tasha

Rapunzel

Rapunzel by Sarah Gibb

I must admit that I usually mentally shrug when new versions of classic fairy tales are released.  There are so many versions out there, that it takes something special to get my attention.  Well, Gibb’s new Rapunzel is special indeed.  She takes the classic story and simplifies it without losing any of the romance or drama of the original.  There are no parts of the story that will be missed, somehow she edited and simplified without any loss of plot points.  That alone is rather brilliantly done.

But then add in the remarkable illustrations that are delicate, romantic and simply lovely.  They create a world that readers are happy to enter and to linger in.  They include small details that are very engaging.  I found myself looking at tiny details with the book up close to my face, just absorbed by the world Gibbs created in this book.  The illustrations move from pink and rosy to dark and mysterious, even threatening.  Gibbs uses colors very effectively as well as silhouettes.  Just when readers get used to the silhouette illustrations, you turn the page for an airy illustration of Rapunzel’s tower.  Turn the page again, and you are journeying through an amazing forest with the prince.  It’s a world that embraces, changes, and creates such moods.

Highly recommended.  If you are going to read one new version of a fairy tale this year, choose this one.  Remarkable.  Appropriate for ages 5-8, and older romantics.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Review: Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

| Tasha

apple pie abc

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

A small black-and-white dog desperately wants a piece of apple pie in this alphabetical story.  It all starts with a girl making A for apple pie and a happily sleeping dog.  But as soon as the pie is in the oven with B for bake it, the dog is very interested in the pie.  Then the pie must C for cool it and D for dish it out.  Though the girl gets to eat some pie, the dog must make due with just a crumb.  But after that one delicious crumb, he just can’t stop thinking about eating pie!   This cheery picture book mixes the alphabet with an alphabetical storyline more robust than in other books that try this technique.  Readers will love the many ways the dog tries to get pie and then the very satisfying and delicious conclusion.

Murray has created a book that really works the alphabet into the story.  Even without the alphabet as part of the book, this story and the writing would stand on its own.  That’s something that can rarely be said about an alphabet picture book.  The writing is kept very simple and solid.

Murray’s illustrations are a treat in this book.  They have a natural, old-fashioned quality to them that makes the book warm and inviting.  Add the apple pie element, and you have a book that feels like a classic picture book yet still has a modern perspective too.

A delight of a picture book that will satisfy yet leave young readers eager for seconds.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

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NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

| Tasha

From a group of titles nominated and then voted on by over 60,000 people, here are the top 10 titles in NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy books.  You can click here to see the entire Top 100 list. 

My biggest gripe with the top titles are that there is not a single female author in the bunch.  The first female author appears at #20 and is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  That is followed closely by Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.  But then there is another large gap until Anne McCaffrey appears at #33 with Dragonflight.

I know it was a democratic voting process, but I still think it shows how dominant male writers are in sci fi and fantasy despite such amazing female authors.  Sigh.  We have a long way to go!

Note:  the list does not include horror or teen books, but teen readers enjoy fantasy and science fiction for adults, so I thought the list still had a place here on my blog.

Top 10

   

1. Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

3. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

   

4. The Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert

5. A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R. R. Martin

6. 1984 by George Orwell

7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

  

8. The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

9. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Review: Bake Sale by Sara Varon

| Tasha

bake sale

Bake Sale by Sara Varon

Cupcake owns a bakery and his life has a certain routine to it.  Wake up at 6:30 am, head to the bakery, bake, and then open the shop at 9:00 am, work until 4:00 pm, then spend time with his friend, Eggplant.  Eggplant is planning a trip to Turkey to visit his family, who happen to know the very famous chef, Turkish Delight.  When Eggplant invites Cupcake to join him on the trip, Cupcake has to work hard to make more money and pay for it.  As he tries new things, his delight in baking returns.  Perhaps the solution to his struggles is closer to home than he thought!

Varon is the author of the very successful, Robot Dreams.  While this graphic novel doesn’t have the power of that book, it is still a great read that children will respond to.  The book also includes seven recipes for food that Cupcake makes in the book.  All of Varon’s books have a winning quirkiness to them.  Here you have Cupcake who creates cupcakes for other people to eat.  A bit strange, but that’s what makes Varon’s worlds so intriguing.

Her illustrations are just as clear and charming as always.   The characters are expressive, funny and interesting. The text is fanciful and fun, often meandering a bit rather than driving the story forward.  It reads and seems as if readers are really looking at Cupcake’s life.

A whimsical graphic novel that is not too sugary at all.  Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Reviewed from copy received from Roaring Brook Press.

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Review: Brownie & Pearl Take a Dip by Cynthia Rylant

| Tasha

browniepearl

Brownie & Pearl Take a Dip by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brian Biggs

It’s a very hot day.  After sitting in front of the fan with lemonade, Brownie and Pearl decide to head for the pool.  Time for swimsuits, a beach ball and sunglasses.  They head to their small pool that is just the right size for both of them.  It feels so nice, but then Pearl leans in a little too close and gets a lot wetter than she wanted to.  In the end, it still feels nice to have a dip, but also nice to spend time drying out in the sun.

Rylant has created a very cheery series for toddlers.  Brownie and her pet cat Pearl have small adventures that very young children will relate to and understand.  Rylant has an ear for simplicity in her writing, creating a book that is simple but tells a full story.

Biggs’ illustrations are equally warm and friendly.  They are large, bright and warm.  The colors are rich and vibrant, creating a book that would work well for a group of toddlers as well as one-on-one.

A great pick for a hot summer day, this book will be enjoyed by children ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Beach Lane Books.

Also reviewed by

Board Book Reviews

| Tasha

i feel happy yoon little book

I Feel Happy by Salina Yoon

Explore emotions in this board book.  The book comes with one puzzle piece that has a rotating wheel.  The piece is the face of the child and children can rotate the mouth so that the face shows different reactions.  Turn pages in the book, and different situations are explained.  The child can then show the emotion that they would feel in that situation.  The puzzle piece is attached to the book with yellow ribbon.  It’s a novelty book that would work well in public libraries thanks to the durability of the piece and the pages.

It’s a Little Book by Lane Smith

A version of It’s a Book that is perfect for the toddler set.  Here you have the donkey and gorilla in diapers, exploring what a book is.  Is it for chewing?  Is it for wearing?  Is it for flying?  Each time the donkey comes up with an idea, the gorilla gives it a “no.”  Until the end, “It’s a book, silly.”  None of the controversy of the first book but all of the charm.  And yes, it did take a lot of effort to call the character “donkey” here.

Review: The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg

| Tasha

one only stuey lewis

The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg, illustrated by Cambria Evans

This series of stories are about Stuey’s time in second grade.  Stuey is not a confident kid, often choosing to just not even try before has a chance to fail.  When he starts second grade, Stuey pretends to be sick because he can’t read as well as he thinks he should be able to.  But Stuey is also creative.  When his mother tells him he can only trick-or-treat on their block, he comes up with a cunning plan to get plenty of candy.  But things do go wrong, like when he doesn’t get put on the same soccer team as his  best friend and instead is put on a team with a girl in his class who drives him crazy.  But in the end, it all works out and second grade becomes something that Stuey never wants to end.  After all, who knows what will happen in third grade?!

Schoenberg has written this book at just the right level for young readers.  She has infused the story with humor, making the book very appealing to children.  It also helps that the chapters read almost as separate stories about Stuey, so it can be tackled one chapter at a time.  She also clearly sets the premise for each chapter, creating tension and driving new readers to figure out how the story ends.

Stuey is a very likeable character, filled with doubts and concerns just like any real kid.  He is also inventive, which gets him both in and out of scrapes.  Stuey shows steady growth through the stories and readers will not be surprised to find that he loves second grade by the end, even though the short book started with him dreading it.

Evans’ illustrations are fun-filled and friendly.  The black-and-white images do a lot to break up the text into more readable pieces. 

A great pick for readers who are leaving the beginning readers and ready to tackle chapter books.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar Straus Giroux.

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Hunger Games Sequel Scheduled

| Tasha

With all of the hype and interest in The Hunger Games film, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Lionsgate has already scheduled the release of the sequel. 

Catching Fire, the movie, is scheduled to be released on November 22, 2013.  Put it on your calendar! Winking smile

Via /Film