Word After Word After Word

May 20, 2010 | Tasha

Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan

Fourth grade was dull until the author-in-residence arrived. Ms. Mirabel brings a love of words and writing as well as her ready laugh to the class. Through the course of several months, she inspires five fourth graders to write, express themselves, and by doing that change their lives. The five characters are many for a book this slim, but through their writing they become very distinct. One of the greatest pleasures in the book is the poetry included throughout, giving us a clear understanding of each character and what they are dealing with in their lives. A charming book that will inspire us all to carry pen and paper and write to change our lives.

MacLachlan has created a book that is very accessible to young readers with its large font and small size. She has also managed to portray five characters who go to the same school but are individuals and clearly so. The character of Ms. Mirabel captures the wonder and inspiration children find in a visiting writer. It also shows what an impact such a free-thinking and open teacher can have. But most importantly, this book teaches children what writing can mean to a person, how it can impact their lives, and how important it is.

Slim and short, this book packs so much in a small wrapper. Pair it with Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook by Ellen Potter and Anne Mazer for a winning combination that will truly inspire young writers to create. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Reviewed from library copy.

Instructions

May 19, 2010 | Tasha

Instructions by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess

Making this poem into a picture book was pure genius, especially with illustrations by Vess. Gaiman takes one fairy tale and folk tale image after another and offers them up as instructions for your journey (in life, reading and magic). The book follows the journey of a cat-like creature who travels through a door into a strange world of myth and whimsy. Readers, young and old, will be charmed by beloved motifs, surprised by familiar yet strange moments, and ultimately completely satisfied as the journey comes full circle.

Gaiman’s poem reveals why he is such a beloved storyteller as he weaves together giants, dragons, wolves, toads and gems into a book that is about story, myth and our lives as well. Vess’s art adds greatly to the child-appeal of the poem, offering a vintage, classic fairy tale feel.

Highly recommended, this book will be best appreciated by readers who know about story and tales, because page after page they will be visiting beloved moments from books and stories. Get this into the hands of middle school kids who love to read, they will understand it, appreciate it, and let it guide them forward.

Appropriate for a very wide range of ages.

Check out this online version of the book read by Neil Gaiman from HarperKids:

Reviewed from library copy.

The Cardturner

May 19, 2010 | Tasha

The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker by Louis Sachar

Bridge, the card game, in a book for teens? Yes indeed, and done so well that you will wonder why more teen novels don’t center on chess and bridge.

Alton is looking forward to a bleak summer. His girlfriend dumped him for his best friend. He doesn’t have any money, so he will have to get a crummy job. And now his aging blind uncle has asked him to be his cardturner in bridge. With pressure from his parents, who are focused on the potential inheritance from his uncle, Alton takes the job. As he spends summer days in a strip mall, turning cards for his uncle, Alton learns the logic and drama of bridge. He meets his uncle’s former cardturner, the beautiful Toni, who helps him learn the game, even though his uncle believes it is best that he doesn’t know anything about it other than the names and suits of the cards. In the middle of the bridge and his dull summer, Alton discovers a romance filled with secrets that is finally satisfactorily resolved.

Sachar has such an ear for dialogue that it is as if you are listening to real conversations. There is never a stilted moment to pull you out of the novel. He also creates unique and fascinating characters. In this novel, the uncle, Trapp, is a great character. He is very complex and multifaceted, one of the best and most human elderly characters I have read in YA literature.

At the same time, Sachar is dealing with making bridge understandable and not dull for the layperson. He does this with a device of a whale, warning readers that a section filled with game details is coming. Readers can skip down to the boxed summary if they don’t wish to get all of the details. Me? I loved each and every detail of the game, even though I don’t play at all. The Appendix filled with even more details of bridge, though, was a bit too deep for me.

This unlikely teen novel makes bridge interesting, offers great adult characters, and has a fresh teen voice. Give it to fans of the author who will love the details and karma of the book. Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from library copy.

The Suburb Beyond the Stars

May 17, 2010 | Tasha

The Suburb Beyond the Stars by M. T. Anderson

Released June 1st, 2010.

This is the sequel to The Game of Sunken Places. If you haven’t read the first, you really must. Not only will you understand and enjoy this second one more, but they are both worth the time.

Brian and Gregory are hard at work designing Brian’s Game, but then Brian is attacked on the subway by a strange man and a monster. When the boys try to reach Gregory’s cousin Prudence there is no answer. The boys head out to find Prudence but they find much more than they or the reader ever expected: suburbia. Now the two friends must battle their way past strange singing children, perfectly manicured lawns, and roads that lead nowhere at all in order to find out what happened to Prudence and what is threatening the existence of our entire world.

I was all set to read the second book in the series, knowing that it would be Brian’s turn to create his version of the Game. Just as I was settling in with that as the main storyline of the book, Anderson took an unexpected swerve. I was suddenly reading a book I had not expected, much to my great delight. Anderson mixes humor with horror to jarring effect. The running gags had me giggling aloud while at the same time the tension and eeriness of the novel was mesmerizing. Anderson uses imagery to warn, shock and jab. In suburbia, Anderson has found the perfect setting for both his humor and his horror.

Get this in the hands of the readers of the first book, but make sure that new readers find this series. It is a marvelous mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror and humor that will appeal to middle school kids effortlessly. Appropriate for ages 12-15.

Reviewed from Advanced Reader Copy received from Scholastic.

The Weaver

May 13, 2010 | Tasha

The Weaver by Thacher Hurd, illustrated by Elisa Kleven

At sunrise, the weaver watches the whole world from above, her hands already at work. Her thread is formed from “trails of shooting stars, white clouds, and spiderwebs hung with dew.” She dyes the thread with morning colors from the world and then she begins to weave with her loom. She captures in her weaving, images from the day: kisses, laughter and love. As evening falls, her work is done and she dances across the earth spreading her tapestry over the world where it enters our dreams.

This mystical, beautiful picture book is filled with colorful and joyful imagery. Hurd writes with a confidence and gentleness that suit this book well. His writing is in poem form but without rhymes. Rather it is the gentle rhythm of the loom that is part of his text and weaves it seamlessly together.

Kleven’s artistic style pairs beautifully with this subject matter. Her softness and details play out beautifully in the vistas that we see. The tapestry itself is gloriously depicted, filled with colors and floating effortlessly in the air. It is weightless, semi-transparent, yet all important.

A perfect bedtime book, this is one to curl up with together and simply enjoy. I guarantee sweet dreams when tucked in with this blanket. Appropriate for ages 3-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar Straus Giroux.

Alfie Runs Away

May 13, 2010 | Tasha

Alfie Runs Away by Kenneth M. Cadow, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Alfie’s mother has gone too far! She wants to give away his favorite shoes and get him new ones. So Alfie decides to run away. As he packs his things, his mother makes helpful suggestions, like taking a water bottle, snacks and a flashlight. She gets him a bag to help carry his items, suggests he take his teddy bear and some books too. With all that to carry, Alfie can’t go far. But he does make it all the way deep into the backyard, still wearing his too-small beloved shoes. When he gets there, he has a drink, a snack, and takes his shoes off and puts his aching feet in the cool grass. When he takes them off, he puts them on his bear where they fit perfectly. Now the only thing missing was the hug he refused earlier. Luckily, his mother is headed out to see him with her arms open wide.

The tone in this book is spot on. Cadow both respects Alfie’s perspective on the situation and yet shows a loving, warm mother who allows Alfie to learn his own lessons. There are lovely moments in the book where Alfie’s mother gently suggests he not wear those shoes and when she offers to put his rejected hug in his bag to carry along with him. Cadow manages to show Alfie’s frustration and his mothers calmness side by side without either overshadowing the other.

Castillo’s illustrations feature the shoes in bright red as a focal point. She too balances the relationship of mother and son visually. Her illustrations have soft edges and feel cozy and warm. They ensure that children will not be alarmed at this boy running away. Alfie’s facial expressions really project his moods clearly, moving from his initial anger to contentment at the end.

I packed my bags and ran away as a little girl. All the way down the driveway and over to a bush in the neighbors yard. I had no idea my mother could still see me out the window. I was sure I had gone far, far away. This book captures the situation with simplicity and honesty. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar Straus Giroux.

Farm

May 12, 2010 | Tasha

Farm by Elisha Cooper

An inviting mix of vistas across flat farmland and isolated bits of the farm on white backgrounds, Cooper has created a book that really captures the seasons on a farm. From the family, animals, buildings and equipment to the everyday world of chores and work, this book is honest and accurate about farm life. Children will delight in the small moments of the farm, especially those involving the tractors and the animals. The book is laid out as a cycle, moving from spring through fall, encapsulating the growing season. This is a great introduction to farm life for children, both rural and urban.

Cooper’s text gives small details constantly, seeding the book with facts large and small about farming in general and about this family farm in particular. Simply telling the names of the different cats is time well spent and interesting. Cooper’s art is done with simple lines and earthy colors. His mix of landscape vistas with small images is dynamic and keeps the book fresh and interesting. Because of the small size of many of the illustrations, this book will be best used by one child at a time who will take the time to wonder along with Cooper about what animals are thinking and whether they are deep in thought when not eating.

This is a book to linger with, turn the pages back and forth, breathe in the country air, and also take your time thinking deep thoughts. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.

Also reviewed by Young Readers, Back to Books, and A Year of Reading.

Oh, Daddy!

May 12, 2010 | Tasha

Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea

Told from the point of view of a very busy little boy, this book highlights the antics his father with undergo to get his son moving along. In order to get him dressed, his father puts underwear on his head and asks if that is right. Climbing in the car window, gets him to get into the car quickly. Juggling carrots leads to the boy eating them eagerly. This is inspiration for parents, especially fathers, to get silly to get things done.

This positive and silly parenting style is a pleasure to read about. It got me thinking about the antics we would undergo when my sons were in preschool and Kindergarten. Laughter is a great way to speed getting dressed along. I always ended up with rabbit ears made out of sweatpants and my toes peeking out of tiny sleeves.

It is also nice to see a father depicted as this involved with his child and the mother making appearances but not as a featured character. There is no instance where the dad is not the one dealing confidently and positively with his son. Very refreshing to see.

Shea is the author of several successful picture books. His writing is filled with great short sentences that are simple but also filled with humor and a sense of fun. His illustrations are bright colored, simple and modern. This round blue family is sure to be a hit with preschoolers.

A perfect Father’s Day read, this is also a great book to read aloud just for laughs. Guaranteed to get you and your audience giggling. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from HarperCollins.

Children’s Choice Book Awards

May 12, 2010 | Tasha

The winners of the third annual Children’s Choice Book Awards have been announced by The Children’s Book Council in association with Every Child a Reader, Inc. Children from across the nation voted for their favorite books, author and illustrator. Here are the results: