Going through ComingSoon this morning, I found a couple of news items of interest to those who read children’s lit.
Where the Wild Things Are no longer has a release date scheduled. This is after the release date had been moved back to 2009. Here’s an LA Times article with details.
PB Kerr’s Children of the Lamp will be adapted for the screen. Producer Nina Jacobsen will be on the project, which is great news because she was involved in Princess Diaries and Chronicles of Narnia.
Beware of the Frog by William Bee.
Just the cover alone warns you that this is no ordinary picture book, so don’t be reading this to kids who freak out easily. But kids who are a little older than most picture book readers and others who enjoy a good twist will completely adore this book.
Sweet Mrs. Collywobbles lives on the edge of a dark woods. Luckily, she has something to protect her from the odd things that may live in the woods. She has her pet frog. What will happen when the Greedy Goblin who loves to steal things comes out of the woods and heads for Mrs. Collywobbles house? Will he heed the Beware of the Frog sign on the gate?
I couldn’t spoil this book for you. You must head out and get a copy to see what happens next. The illustrations have a vintage style to them with modern pops. The voice of the book switches between near saccharine when talking about Mrs. Collywobbles to darkly sinister when creatures come out of the woods. It is a delight to read aloud and work with those voices as well as the twists of the book.
Highly recommended, this is the read-aloud of the year for me. This is the book I would hand to those worried parents who have to read in front of second and third grade classrooms. It will delight kids of that age, guaranteed. Younger children will a taste for the strange will also enjoy it.
Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre.
Ted, a young bear, bumped his knee as he got up and realized that he needed a doctor. Not seeing one anywhere, Ted decided instead to become a doctor himself. Now he is ready to deal with his mother’s possible case of the measles, his teacher’s probable mumps, and the many issues his principal faces. Somehow no one appreciates his help, until an incident at the playground shows exactly why every school has room for another doctor.
This book is a treat. The illustrations are boldly done with their bright colors and thick black outlines. Ted is a charming main character whose embodiment of his new role is believable and very funny. The writing in the book is frank and simple, adding to the humor. It is perfect for reading aloud, especially for a smaller group where the pictures can be enjoyed more fully.
Let’s hope that Doctor Ted will be making housecalls all across your neighborhood. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Ivy by Julie Hearn.
Ivy is an orphan being looked after by her aunt, uncle and counsins in Victorian England. She is sent to school, but lasts less than one day. In running from school, her life is turned upside down when she is snatched by Carroty Kate, a con artist who steals clothes right off of children’s backs. Kate sees potential in Ivy, who catches her eye because of her startlingly red hair. Ivy is pushed into the con-artist business and because she has nightmares is heavily dosed with laudanum to keep her quiet. Even as a teen, returned to her relatives, she is an addict, who struggles to make money to help support their family. Ivy is glimpsed by a young painter, who decides that she is his muse, and once again Ivy’s life takes a sharp turn into danger.
I enjoyed The Minister’s Daughter by Hearn and this second novel is equally as successful. Here Hearn has created a real historical fiction piece that doesn’t have the fantasy elements of her first novel. The grinding nature of poverty in Victorian England is successfully explored as is the nature of theft and conning people. Ivy is a vivid creation of a character who even to the reader remains aloof and distant, until she is ready to reveal herself. It creates a beguiling novel of subterfuge and intrigue that is nearly impossible to put down.
Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction. Appropriate for readers age 14-17.
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
This is a charmer of a novel by the author of the Magic and Madness trilogy. In New Avalon, almost everyone has a fairy of their own. The fairies are invisible and some people question whether they exist, but 14-year-old Charlie knows that hers does. Since she was tiny, she has been able to find a perfect parking space for whatever vehicle she is riding in. She hates it! Not only is it awfully inconvenient to always be asked to find someone a parking space, but she smells faintly of gasoline too. Why can’t she have a cool fairy like her friends? A fashion fairy? Or all-the-boys-like-you fairy? Maybe she can…
The lightness and freshness of this novel make it read like a frothy teen novel with little substance, but that isn’t the case. Underneath the humor there are more serious questions lingering about fairies, faith, and friendship for those who want a little more depth. Teens can read it on several levels, which means that it will appeal to a wide range of readers. The teen characters are interesting and always more than their fairies seem to be. The obsessive nature of the New Avalon society is a great commentary on American culture. A great part of the fun of the book is Larbalestier’s teen language that is unique to New Avalon but easily understood by all. It just makes the reading all the more enjoyable.
Recommended for teens age 12-15. Little handselling will be necessary for this one. It will fly off the shelves on fairy wings.
The fabulous Wisconsin Public Radio program Here on Earth is doing a program with the equally fabulous Megan Schliesman from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center and Jean Westmoore, NeXt Editor and children’s book reviewer for The Buffalo News. Sweet! If you miss the live show this afternoon, you can find past programs in their archive.
The focus is on using children’s literature to create an understanding of world citizenship in children. Both guests have provided lists of books and they also have links to other great online resources. As always, the CCBC does a wonderful job of focusing on books that are multicultural.
NPR has a wonderful piece on the clash of Marvel vs. DC heroes and their fans. It goes into the history of the films based on the comic books. The piece includes a clip from the 1978 Superman film which tugs even at this Marvel fan’s heartstrings.
So how about you? Marvel or DC?
Elissa’s Odyssey by Erica Verrillo.
This is the second book in the Phoenix Rising trilogy, following Elissa’s Quest. It continues the journey of Elissa after she and her friend Maya escape the evil Khan. Elissa and Maya are set to travel via river after surviving the heat and dryness of the desert. However, when Elissa heads to market for a gift to surprise her friend, she is drugged and robbed, missing the boat. Luckily, a young sailor finds her and offers her a job as a ship’s cook aboard the cobbled-together Swamp Maiden. So her adventures begin once again, this time surrounded by swamp, jungle and lots of insects.
In this second book, Elissa also discovers new powers. She had always been able to speak with animals, but now it seems as though plants will listen to her as well. Readers will continue to wonder as they did in the first book about who Elissa really is. Though they will be closer to the answer by the end of the book, the third book will be the one to tie up all of the loose ends.
Elissa is a strong girl heroine, who never sacrifices her girlhood to be a heroic figure. Instead, she finds her own way to solve problems and survive. She is always true to herself in every instance, which makes a refreshing change for a female character. The writing is easy to enjoy, making reading a pleasure. The pace on the Swamp Maiden may be unhurried, but the storytelling stays brisk and interesting.
This magical series will be embraced by fans of Tamora Pierce, who may be looking for another trilogy to read. Appropriate for ages 10-13.
School Library Journal has announced that Penguin is offering an e-book version of Savvy by Ingrid Law on a variety of tween sites. You can see my glowing review of Savvy here. This is one to point tweens to for sure!
