The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin.

This very popular author of fantasies for adults has written a story for children.  It is the story of Adara, a child born in the depth of one of the coldest winters ever.  The same winter that killed her mother.  Now at age seven she lives with her father, brother and sister as the springs continue to shorten due to the ferocious winters.  Adara is a cold child both in personality and in temperature.  She can hold the ice lizards because her bodyheat is so low and she can play out in the snow without much protection.  Each winter, Adara longs for her birthday to come so that she can see the ice dragon flying.  As she grew older, Adara grew more comfortable with the dragon and now flies on his back into the sky. 

But war is coming to Adara’s farm, and she will be tested along with the rest of her family.  When her father refuses to leave the farm until it is too late Adara must face her greatest fear and have her icy coldness truly tested.

The book is exactly the right level for third and fourth graders.  It has illustrations on some of the pages, fairly large text size, and nice short chapters.  Even better, it is a serious fantasy novel that will invite young readers into a world of danger and dragons.  There are some issues with tone at times, where there is a sense that the author is addressing child readers rather than writing for them.  But those areas are brief and do not interfere with the storyline.  Adara is a wonderful heroine who despite her chilly demeanor will have young readers enjoying her adventures. 

Recommended for children moving from readers to full chapter books, especially those who enjoy dragons, fantasy and fairy tales. 

Don’t Touch My Hat! by James Rumford.

Sheriff John keeps the town of Sunshine civilized in his ten-gallon hat.  He wouldn’t let anyone touch it, because he thought it was the key to keeping the peace.  But his wife begins to get jealous of the hat, even though she loves hats herself, especially ones with large colorful feathers.  She had just purchased a new one when Sheriff John faced a wild night in the town.  When he grabbed his hat in the dark, he grabbed his wife’s instead.  So he learns that it is him not his hat that keeps the town safe.

The fun of this book is reading it aloud.  The western drawl is written right into every page, so you will be sounding like an old cowhand in no time.  Children will adore the western theme as well as the spectacle of the sheriff in his wife’s very feathered and rainbow colored hat. 

A sure winner, share this with preschoolers and kindergarteners. 

New Clothes for New Year’s Day by Hyun-Joo Bae.

Entrancing illustrations and a poetic but accessible text make this one quite a gem.  A young Korean girl is celebrating the new year with new clothes.  Readers follow her excitement as she puts on each piece of the traditional dress.  This may sound like a slow-moving book, but the eagerness of the character and her struggles to dress herself make it very friendly.  It is a book that easily removes barriers and examines cultural dress. 

The illustrations are at once both traditional and modern.  The young girl is pictured in a fresh way as she struggles to dress, while traditional patterns make up the background of many of the illustrations.

A wonderful New Year’s read, this is a friendly and accessible book on Korean dress and culture.

The Twin Princes by Tedd Arnold.

Tedd Arnold has long been one of my favorite authors for children.  He captures the rumpus and joy of childhood in his spiraling art and child-friendly language.  In this new book, he has created a medieval story where twin princes vie for the chance to be king.  One brother, Fowler, is a real villain who cheats at everything.  His brother, Henry, is the hero of the story: good to everyone, honest and caring.  The story pits the two against each other in a race with a twist.  Add to the twist the fact that it is a riddle for the children reading the book to solve and you have a winner of a book on your hands!

With puns galore, his usual accessible artwork, and mysteries and twists, this book will fly off the shelves.  Add to it the medieval theme, and you have a book that can be used in many, many storytimes and units.  Friendly and easy enough for kindergarteners, I could see sharing this with older elementary as well due to the great puns and the riddle. 

The Chicken-chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington, pictures by Shelley Jackson.

This first-person picture book is about a little girl who chases Big Mama’s chickens even though Big Mama has told her not to.  She has one favorite chicken in particular, Miss Hen, who always manages to just escape her hands.  Try though she might, she can’t lay a finger on Miss Hen, though she gets temptingly close.  Feathers fly, squawking is heard, but no hen.  Then Miss Hen seems to disappear and hide very quietly.  When she is finally found, she has a surprise of her own.

This book is amazing.  The voice of the first person is strong and individual.  The charm of the storyline cannot be easily summarized because it is so simple, but the voice lends it a richness that makes it much more than a simple story.  Add to that the collage and paint art of Jackson and the book is taken to yet another level.  I loved the fact that the different hens are made up of all different types of paper and that action is captured so amazingly in the illustrations.  They not only support the story, but add even more action and movement to it.

Add this one to your chicken storytimes, but realize that it is about so much more.  It could easily be used in a unit on responsibility or just for a treat for children.  Remember to read it aloud, because the language of the book calls for it.  Lovely.  One of the best of the year.

Reviewed by Fuse #8 in March.