Month: January 2014

Review: Who Goes There? by Karma Wilson

| Tasha

who goes there

Who Goes There? by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Anna Currey

On this bitter cold day in Wisconsin, it’s a treat to review a book that has a little mouse preparing for the winter cold.  Lewis lived alone in the base of a tall tree.  He prepared for winter by stuffing his home with leaves, twigs and grass.  Once he was cozy inside though he realized that something was missing.  Then he heard a noise that wasn’t the wind.  It was a scratching and tapping noise.  Lewis shouted “Who goes there!” but no one answered.  Could it be a cat?  An owl?  A bear?  As the noise repeated, Lewis continued to yell.  Eventually, he was out in the wind and night investigating the sounds.  Lewis will discover not only what is making the sound but exactly what he is missing too.

Wilson, author of the very popular Bear Snores On series, has another winning animal character.  Lewis is a gutsy little mouse who shouts at strange noises and then investigates them despite his fears.  Wilson uses lots of repetition here, making it perfect for sharing aloud.  The noises always have the same pattern of sounds and Lewis always shouts back the same reply.  This helps build tension in the story as well, just enough for little ones to be fully engrossed in the tale.

Currey’s illustrations have a great play of contrasts between the warm light of Lewis’ hole filled with tiny furniture and nuts and the wild blue of the outside at night.  Both are equally lovely, the browns and golds of Lewis’ home shine while the deep blues of the outside glimmer with moonlight. 

A perfect bedtime read for a cold day, this book is also a great choice for autumn story times.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Margaret K. McElderry Books.

2013 Best Children’s Fiction

| Tasha

Here are my picks for the best children’s fiction of the year.  Let me know what yours were with a comment!

bluffton counting by 7s doll bones

Bluffton by Matt Phelan

Strong characterization, a glimpse of summers gone by, and one amazing true story create a graphic novel that is pure radiance.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

This is a tragic story with an indomitable heroine that will leave you smiling through the tears.

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Friendship, a creepy doll, and adventures, what more could one want in a book!

flora and ulysses fortunately the milk garden of my imaan

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by K. G. Campbell

A great read-aloud, this unlikely superhero pair are sure to fly off the shelves.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Skottie Young

Hilarious, wacky and wonderful, get this into the hands of elementary aged kids now.

The Garden of My Imaan by Farhana Zia

Filled with giggles between girlfriends, this book reveals the warmth of family and faith in a completely approachable and joyful way.

great trouble hokey pokey hold fast

The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson

This is a dark and thrilling novel that will not let you escape until the epidemic is over and the mystery solved.

Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli

Gloriously fun to read, this book was impossible for me not to love.  Spinelli writes with a lovely playfulness and yet beneath it all is truth.  A truly outstanding read for middle graders.

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

Another fine offering from Balliett, get this one into the hands of her fans.  It will also be great choice for reading aloud in classrooms with its wordplay and strong African-American characters and family.

jinx life of ty listening for lucca

Jinx by Sage Blackwood

Blackwood has written an impressive fantasy novel for middle grade readers that is both dazzling and dangerous.

The Life of Ty: Penguin Problems by Lauren Myracle, illustrated by Jed Henry

Perfect for both reading aloud and for a child reading on their own, this book will be enjoyed by fans of the Stink series as well as those who like Clementine.

Listening for Lucca by Suzanne LaFleur

This lovely book transcends genres with its mix of mystery, historical fiction, and fantasy.  It’s a winning combination.

one came home real boy rooftoppers

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Beautiful with a strong heroine, this book is a dazzling read for tweens.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

Ursu weaves such beauty into her books.  She lingers over small things, taking the time to build a world in which her characters live.

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

Profoundly original and filled with shining prose, this novel is a wondrous read.

salt seraphinas promise thing about luck

Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War by Helen Frost

An exquisite verse novel that fills history with real people and war with real loss.

Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg

This is a powerful look at the Haitian earthquake through the eyes of one extraordinary young woman.

The Thing about Luck by Cynthia Kadohata

A beautiful and intense look at a Japanese-American family struggling with an interesting lifestyle and just surviving a year of bad luck.

water castle year of billy miller

The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Complex and multilayered, this middle grade book will be embraced by historical fiction, science and fantasy fans.

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

A tip top chapter book, this one is destined to be a classic.  I’d think that sharing it would be a great way to start any 2nd grade school year.

Review: Jinx’s Magic by Sage Blackwood

| Tasha

jinxs magic

Jinx’s Magic by Sage Blackwood

In this second book in a trilogy, Jinx’s entire life has changed since his death.  He can now listen to the voices of the trees in the huge Urwald forest and they tell him things.  But his life is also in danger still.  The Bonemaster has been defeated but Jinx’s master, Simon believes he is stronger than the bindings that surround him.  Yet none of the other magic wielders of the Urwald will help Simon keep the Bonemaster restrained.  Jinx is sent to Samara, a land reached via a portal in Simon’s house and also the place where Simon’s wife lives.  Jinx must find a way to enroll in the school in order to discover the magic he needs to save their own world.  But magic is forbidden in Samara and Jinx may put the Urwald at risk as he desperately tries to save it.

Blackwood takes her already impressive world and adds onto it with Samara, a desert land where knowledge and magic intertwine.  She also deepens the readers’ understanding of the Urwald and its own sort of magic.  This interplay between different types of magic and societies makes for a book that is rich and layered. 

Blackwood also takes time to develop Jinx’s own character further, pushing him to reach the extent of his power and yet also allowing readers to see that there is more there as well.  Jinx is a hesitant hero and never quite believes he is doing the right thing along the way.  Even as his power grows, he remains fully the same character and yet changes and grows in a real way throughout. 

A web of magic and mystery, this book is a fitting follow up to one of my favorite reads of 2013.  Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from digital galley received from Edelweiss and Katherine Tegen Books.

Review: The Secret Pool by Kimberley Ridley

| Tasha

secret pool

The Secret Pool by Kimberley Ridley, illustrated by Rebekah Raye

Vernal pools are easy to miss, but also necessary to the life of many animals.  This nonfiction picture book explores the amazing things that happen in vernal pools throughout the seasons.  It begins with defining what a vernal pool is and then quickly moves into spring.  The fascinating lives of frogs are described, including the way they make it through the winter.  Soon salamanders join them and breed in the pool.  Tiny fairy shrimp appear too.  As summer comes, the eggs of the salamanders and frogs hatch and soon there are tadpoles and larvae in the pools.  Now the race begins to see if they can climb ashore before the pool dries up.  The vernal pool disappears and the animals that live there and were born there move away.  They will return again with the spring and the vernal pools.

Ridley has nicely created a book that can be used at two levels.  The larger text can be shared as almost a story about the pools.  Then the smaller text provides deeper information about the vernal pools and the animals.  Her words work together well, the simpler text offers a poetic voice to the factual information that serves to remind us how amazing all of this actually is.

Raye’s illustrations are lush and minutely detailed.  She offers both larger scale images of the animals and then others done with finer lines that show more details and more animals on the page.  You never know what you will see on the next page, and I guarantee a jump of surprise when you see the bullfrog with the tadpole hanging out of his mouth like a tongue. 

This book reveals a world right under our feet that most children never knew existed.  Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Reviewed from library copy.

2013 Best Children’s Nonfiction

| Tasha

Here are my 20 picks for the best of children’s nonfiction this year.  There were a lot that I didn’t read, so please share your favorites in the comments!

africa is my home brush of the gods eat like a bear

Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad by Monica Edinger, illustrated by Robert Byrd

Beautifully written and illustrated, this book gives a first-person account of the Amistad, looking beyond the revolt into the trial and what happened to one little girl caught in history.

Brush of the Gods by Lenore Look

This is a very impressive biography of an incredible artist that few children will be aware of before reading this book, making it perfect to share with children in art classes.

Eat Like a Bear by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

A glorious look at bears, this book is a fantastic introduction to a creature, its habitat and its diet.

etched-in-clay frog song

Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng

This powerful book informs middle grade readers about a man who could have been one of the many lost faces of slavery but who through art and bravery had a voice.

Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson

Beautiful, intriguing and great fun to read, this book is an impressive testament to the importance of frogs in our ecosystems.

henry-and-the-cannons lifetime

Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown

Strong and noteworthy, this picture book nonfiction title has history and also plenty of action and adventure.

Lifetime by Lola M. Schaefer

One of the most visually stimulating and smart concepts for a nonfiction picture book, this one is sure to beat the averages and be read more than once.

locomotive look up nelson mandela

Locomotive by Brian Floca

Gorgeous illustrations, fascinating facts and a clear love of the subject make this a riveting read whether you are a train buff or not.

Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Raul Colon

This picture book biography invites children to follow their own passions and get involved in science as well.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

This is the story of Nelson Mandela captured fully in a picture book that celebrates all of his accomplishments and what he stands for as a human being.  Beautiful.

on a beam of light parrots over puerto rico

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

A great read about a great man, this picture book biography should be welcomed by young scientists as well as in science classrooms.

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore

A dazzling nonfiction book that will be welcome in classroom discussions and units about conservation and environment.

picture a tree price of freedom primates

Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid

An awesome addition to any Arbor Day, Earth Day, tree-related or seasonal story time or unit, this book should inspire all of us to wonder about trees.

The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

This is a nonfiction picture book that is sure to inform children about an aspect of slavery that they will not have heard of as well as a tale of what a group of brave citizens can do.

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks

A great graphic novel, this is a stellar pick for school libraries and public libraries that will have children learning about scientific history without even realizing it!

rotten pumpkin splash of red

Rotten Pumpkin: A Rotten Tale in 15 Voices by David M. Schwartz, photos by Dwight Kuhn

Perfect for autumn and Halloween, this book will have kids looking at their slumping pumpkins with new eyes.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Another very successful collaboration of these two masters, this biographical picture book should serve as its own splash of red on every library’s shelves.

when the beat was born when thunder comes wild boy

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

A great nonfiction picture book biography, this book will help fill in gaps in library collections and will speak to the history of the music kids are listening to right now.

When Thunder Comes by J. Patrick Lewis

Strong and powerful, this book of poetry deserves to be shared widely and these names known and understood.

Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron by Mary Losure, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering

An engaging, wrenching read that brings history to life in the form on one amazing person.

Review: Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty

| Tasha

knock knock

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Every morning a young boy plays a game with his father.  His father knock knocks at the door and the boy pretends to be asleep until his dad is right next to him and they give each other a huge hug.  But then one day, his father isn’t there to play the game any more.  His father isn’t there to get him ready for school either.  Morning pass with no father.  The boy thinks that maybe his father is just there when the boy is at school, so he writes him a letter about how much he misses his dad and how much he expected to learn from him.  The boy waits for months and nothing happens, then one day he gets a letter from his father.  A letter that speaks to their separation but also one that encourages him to continue to live and knock on new doors.

Beaty’s text is deep hearted and searingly honest.  As his author’s note says, he had an incarcerated father who had been his primary caregiver as a young child.  So Beaty has revealed much in this picture book about the gaping hole left from a missing parent.  Yet the genius of this book is that it will work for any child missing a parent for any reason.  And I adore a book with such a strong connection between father and child.  Beaty manages to convey that in a few pages, leaving the rest of the book to reveal the mourning and grief of loss but also a hope that shines on each page.

Collier’s illustrations shine as well. Done in a rich mix of paint and collage, they are filled with light as it plays across faces, dances against buildings, and reveals emotions.  His illustrations are poetry, filled with elephants, showing the boy growing into a man, and the man turning into a father.  They are illustrations that tell so much and are worth exploring again after finishing the book.

This book belongs in my top picks for 2013.  It is beautifully done both in writing and illustrations.  I’m hoping it is honored by the Coretta Scott King awards and I’d love to see a Caldecott as well.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Jumping Penguins by Marije Tolman and Jesse Goossens

| Tasha

jumping penguins

Jumping Penguins by Marije Tolman and Jesse Goossens

This nonfiction book is filled with facts about different animals.  And not just any facts!  These are facts that are funny, amazing and memorable.  For instance, did you know a giraffe has no vocal chords?  That caterpillars throw their poop?  That crocodiles are cannibals?  That a flamingo can only swallow if its head is upside down?  Fifty animals are shown here with whimsical illustrations by the award-winning Tolman. 

Goossens masterfully selects facts that mix the incredible with the bizarre with the humorous.  The book is a wonderful mix of fictional depictions of the animals and scientific facts.  Due to the pile up of animals on the cover, I was expecting a fictional book rather than this page-turner of a book that gets you so intrigued that you have to keep on reading.

Tolman’s illustrations are beautiful.  She has such a unique style and one that works particularly well with animals and their diverse habitats.  With each, she seems to capture what makes them interesting and special.  At the same time, she mixes in furniture, hats, sun glasses and more.  So the animals look hip, silly or serious depending on the page.

Delightful, whimsical and a great choice for children who love animals, this book is appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Lemniscaat.

Top Picture Books of 2013

| Tasha

Here are my 25 picks for the best picture books from 2013! 

Battle Bunny building our house carnivores

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matthew Myers

These three gifted book creators truly channeled their inner children to create this book.  It is funny, smart and immensely creative

Building Our House by Jonathan Bean

Get this into the hands of young construction enthusiasts definitely!  But it has appeal far beyond that since it is a story of family at its heart.

Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat

Clever, funny and wonderfully inappropriate, this book asks us all to accept our inner or outer carnivores.

dark day the crayons quit deep in the sahara

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

One of my favorite picture books of the year, this book reads aloud perfectly, the tension growing and growing until it’s almost explosive.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

A colorful look at crayons, personalities and ultimately creativity, this picture book should be shared aloud with plenty of paper for coloring on.

Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

An accessible and beautiful look at a Muslim community that dazzles.

dusk everyone can learn to ride a bicycle

Dusk by Uri Shulevitz

A top holiday pick, this book is a lovely companion to Snow and stands on its own too.

Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka

A great pick for spring when children are sure to be longing to be out playing in the warmer weather, this book is a quietly inspiring read.

 flora and the flamingo fog island hank finds an egg

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

It turns readers into storytellers in a way that is engaging and free, just as this entire book is throughout.

Fog Island by Tomi Ungerer

Magical, dark, and filled with fog, this book would make a great story time paired with The Three Robbers.

Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley

Beautiful and charming, this little book is sure to become a favorite.  Time to curl up with your own little bear and enjoy.

have you seen my new blue socks hello my name is ruby

Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

Socks lost and then found, rhymes and rhythms, and a delight of a read aloud to share, this book has it all!

Hello, My Name Is Ruby by Philip C. Stead

A tiny but oh so impressive little bird will steal your heart in this vibrant picture book.

how to hide a lion if you want to see a whale inside outside

How to Hide a Lion by Helen Stephens

Too clever to be called sweet, this book is warm and friendly.  A perfect book to share with your big cat at home or to curl up like a lion and listen to.

If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Lovely, simple and filled with charm, this picture book is thoughtful, quiet and worth the wait. 

Inside Outside by Lizi Boyd

This lovely wordless book explores the changing seasons in a subtle and engaging way.

journey mighty lalouche

Journey by Aaron Becker

Beautifully done, this book is a gorgeous testament to the power of creativity and the amazing places that great art can take us.

The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Highly recommended, this picture book would make a stellar pick to read aloud to elementary classes thanks to its boxing, action and humor.

mr tiger goes wild mr wuffles

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

This is a stellar picture book.  Brown tells a story that all children can relate to, that of being too wild and too loud and not acting appropriately.  The storytelling is exemplary with perfect pacing and plenty of humor.

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

Beautiful and funny this is a wordless masterpiece.

my fathers arms are a boat nasreddine once upon a northern night

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrated by Oyvind Torseter, translated by Kari Dickson

Stunning in its writing and illustration, this is a picture book that is noteworthy and memorable.

Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse, illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer

Perfect for sharing aloud, this book is a friendly and funny introduction to Nasreddine.

Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

It is a quiet and lovely book, one to treasure and share.

pancho rabbit and the coyote tortoise-and-the-hare

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh

Tonatiuh writes with a strength here, each word seemingly chosen for its impact and power.  The importance of this sort of story for young children cannot be ignored.  This book carefully dresses the horrors of the story in folktales, but the purpose is still clear.

The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney

Quite simply, this is another masterpiece by Pinkney.  A must-have book for every library serving preschoolers.

Cybils Finalists 2013

| Tasha

cybils

The 2013 finalists have been announced for the Cybils Awards which are given to the best books in a variety of categories.  Great reads that are usually very unique and don’t match other award lists, so the result are books that are often fresh and always lots of fun. 

I will be serving on the final judging of the YA Speculative Fiction category.  I’m surprised to see I’ve only read one of them, so I have lots of reading ahead!