Book Reviews

Review: Little Dog Lost by Monica Carnesi

| Tasha

little dog lost

Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic by Monica Carnesi

Children along the banks of the Vistula River were the first to spot the little dog floating on the ice floes.  Firemen tried to help rescue the dog, but were unable to reach him before the river carried him away.  The river carried the dog into the Baltic sea where a ship arrived.  The crew members tried to rescue the dog, but it proved difficult.  At one point, the dog even slipped into the water but managed to pull itself back up onto the ice.  Finally, the crew managed to get a boat into the water and move close enough to the ice the dog was on and rescue him.  After warming up and getting dry, the dog was adopted by the crew and named “Baltic.”

This true story of a dog on the ice inspired the author to create a picture book demonstrating the heroism of both man and dog.  Unlike many nonfiction books, this is one that can be used with preschoolers and even toddlers.  The story is kept very simple, with only a few sentences on each page, making it move ahead quickly.  Add to that the drama of the floating dog and the fear that he will not survive and you have a picture book that is a real treat to read.

Carnesi’s artwork echoes that same child-friendly simplicity with its fuzzy dog.  The round-faced people are equally charming and inviting to young readers.  My favorite part was turning to the final page that tells more details about the rescue and recognizing the man holding Baltic from his depiction in the book. 

This entire work is charming, great fun to read, and also an inspiring story.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Nancy Paulsen Books.

Review: Up, Tall and High by Ethan Long

| Tasha

up tall and high

Up, Tall and High by Ethan Long

A group of birds talk about who is tall, who is high in the air, and who is up in a tree in a series of very short chapters.  Birds compare their height by insisting that they are the tall one.  The ending of that story comes with a short bird who is definitely not small.  The high in the air story is about a bird who can fly and a penguin who can’t, but a solution is found.  Up in a tree is a story about a little bird who is up in a tree and a larger bird who decides to join him there.  Each of the stories is short, clever and has a lot of humor.

The book is endearingly simple with bold lines and bright colors.  There are only a few words per page and many pages have no words at all.  Definitely designed with toddlers in mind, these three short stories are filled with a cheerful attitude.

Ideal for small children, these are stories that have the color, friendliness and humor to be a hit.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.

Reviewed from copy received from Penguin Group.

Review: Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

| Tasha

putting makeup on the fat boy

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright (Link to InfoSoup record)

Sixteen-year-old Carlos has always wanted to be a makeup artist to the stars, so when his friend suggests that he start out at a makeup counter in Macy’s as a first step, he immediately takes action.  The makeup business may seem glamorous on the outside, but as Carlos discovers it filled with jealousy too.  When Carlos gets on the bad side of his new boss, he has to try to figure out how to make things right again.  Unfortunately, that probably does not include taking a star up on doing her makeup on her TV show.  Carlos has other problems too, including a close friend who won’t talk to him after some expensive boots are ruined, his sister getting beat up by her boyfriend, and his own crush on a classmate.  This book explores the world of a gay teen who has a dream, is not afraid to fight for it, and steps beyond any stereotypes and into a place all his own.

Wright has written a dazzling character in Carlos, a boy who is not afraid of big dreams, drama and fabulous clothes.  Carlos at times can be very self-centered and focused on himself rather than others, but this aspect of him is honestly written and true of any teen who is looking to succeed at their wildest dreams.  Carlos could at first be read as a gay stereotypical character, but as the book continues readers see past the gay makeup artist and into the heart of a real person.

The writing here is straight-forward and reads with great ease.  The story has enough tension to keep it moving, deals with deeper subject matter than makeup and great clothes, and looks into the world of a boy who is out and proud.  Those around him in his family are supportive, but others are less so, something we see in modern society today.  Again, the book is real and honest about acceptance but also points to the importance of being true to oneself.

The winner of the 2012 Stonewall Book Award, this is a book that opens minds, invites in dreams, and is absolutely as fabulous as a pair of Stella McCartney boots.  Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon & Schuster.

Review: Pip’s Trip by Janet Morgan Stoeke

| Tasha

pips trip

Pip’s Trip by Janet Morgan Stoeke

This sequel to The Loopy Coop Hens returns to the Loopy Coop Farm and the hens, Pip, Midge and Dot.  When they watch the farmer’s truck drive away, the hens start to wonder what it would be like to take a ride in it.  Pip thinks that it might be fun and climbs into the back of the truck.  But the other two hens decide that they will go get Rooster Sam to go with them, leaving Pip in the truck alone.  Pip gets worried, she feels a vibration and it gets noisier.  So she hides under a blanket and misses the whole wide world passing by.  When the truck quiets down again, she peeks from under the blanket and finds herself on the farm, safe and sound.  Unfortunately, when she climbs down, she discovers that she really didn’t have the adventure she thought she did.

Written as a picture book with short chapters, this book would work well as both a picture book and an easy reader.  The text is large, simple and very friendly.  There is also a rich vein of humor through the entire book, especially when readers will realize early in the story that Pip did not actually take a ride in the truck. 

Stoeke’s art is just as simple as her prose.  Done in washes of color and strong black lines, the illustrations are almost coloring-book style.  The hens have their own unique personalities that are shown both in their visual and audible reactions to things.  In addition, both the story and illustrations show the love between the three hens and their support for one another. 

A sweet and simple book about adventures and friendship, this is one ride that young readers will be happy to go on.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Dial Books for Young Readers.

Review: Another Brother by Matthew Cordell

| Tasha

another brother

Another Brother by Matthew Cordell

Davy was an only child for four years.  His parents paid close attention to everything he did and loved it all.  It all changed when Davy got a little brother, Petey.  Petey distracted Davy’s parents from everything he did!  And if Petey wasn’t bad enough, more little siblings started to arrive until Davy had 12 brothers!  All of them copied whatever Davy did.  They played with the same toys, had the same things for breakfast, walked like he did, and even ran after him when he tried to escape.  It drove Davy crazy.  But what would happen when those same little brothers decided not to copy Davy anymore?  It just might be worse!

Cordell’s zany book has an awesome sense of humor.  The book takes having a little brother to an extreme with an entire flock of brothers messing up Davy’s life.  Children with younger siblings will immediately recognize the truth of the story behind all of the humor.  Add in the references to vomiting, potty and burping and you have a picture book that is sure to be a hit when read aloud. 

Cordell’s illustrations are fine-lined and detailed.  They will work best with small groups or one-on-one since much of the humor is visual.  The rainbow-dotted sheep, the small details of their lives, and the touches like the balloon in front of the moon towards the end of the book all add up to a book that is designed to be adored and read again and again.

An outstanding pick for children dealing not with new infants but with the annoying little brother that follows them everywhere, though the humor alone will give it universal appeal.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Feiwel & Friends.

Review: I Lay My Stitches Down by Cynthia Grady

| Tasha

i lay my stitches down

I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery by Cynthia Grady, illustrated by Michele Wood

This collection of poems tell the story of slavery in America from the points of view of many different slaves.  There is the poem of the house slave who breaks some dishes, the story of the Underground Railroad, children being sold away from their parents, whipping, and much more.  Still, Grady manages to also weave into the stories softer moments of learning, art, and music.  They all focus around slavery and its ugliness, despite the beauty that the slaves create.  The message is the same in the illustrations, a wrenching mix of brutality and beauty that speaks directly to the difficult subject matter.

Grady’s poems are built with references in each poem to spiritual, music and quilting.  The poems are brief and powerful, filled with language that soars and lifts despite the horror of the subjects.  This dance of harshness and loveliness makes the poems particularly compelling.  Following each poem is a paragraph or two of explanation about that aspect of slavery or references made in the poem.

The illustrations are done in paint, but directly reference quilts.  Quilt patterns form the ground, walls, water and sky.  The people are woven into the quilts, surrounded by the art form.  It conveys a certain beauty as well as a sheltering feeling that would be missed if the illustrations had a bareness or minimalist nature.

Brutal, beautiful and educational, this book uses poetry to create a memorable book about slavery in America.  Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy received from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Spring Board Book Round Up

| Tasha

A new crop of board books has popped up filled with spring warmth and wishes:

The Little Gardener by Jan Gerardi

Part of the Teenie Greenies series, this board book focuses on what it means to be a gardener and the responsibilities that come with it.

Told in rhymes, the book has sturdy flaps that little fingers will find irresistible.  Adding to the feel of an environmentally friendly read, the reverse side of each flap is in a raw cardboard.

Filled with color, flaps and plenty to look at and learn about, this is a vibrant board book that is sure to get the littlest ones out in the dirt.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

 

Little Bunny by Lisa McCue

From the Fuzzytails series, this book has a classic appeal with illustrations that hearken back to the Golden Book days.

Fuzzytail Bunny is headed somewhere.  Is he going to the forest?  The playground?  To the pond?  The meadow?  No.  He’s headed back home, to sleep piled up with his brothers and sisters in a snuggly heap.

This book has a jaunty rhythm that ends with a snuggle.  Just right to share with a busy toddler.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

 

Duck & Goose: Here Comes the Easter Bunny! by Tad Hills

Just what we needed to add to our Easter collections: a Duck & Goose Easter book!  Duck and Goose decide that they will hide so that they can see the Easter Bunny hide the eggs.  They try different spots, but the pond is too cold, the tree is too high, and the mud heap is too, well, muddy.  They finally decide on disguises, but are so tired from all the running around that they fall asleep and miss the Easter Bunny.  But not to worry, Easter has come after all.

Filled with Easter eggs and plenty of springtime fun, this book will be a hit with Duck & Goose fans and may bring new ones to the series.

Reviewed from copy received from Schwartz & Wade.

Princess Baby by Karen Katz

A board book version of the picture book first released in 2008, this is another successful reworking of a Karen Katz book.

Here, a little girl is tired of not being called by her real name.  Her parents use cute nicknames for her like Cupcake, Pumpkin, and Buttercup.  But she insists that they should call her by her real name.  She then dresses in a crown, sparkly shoes, a cape, and her parents then realize that the name she prefers is “Princess Baby” and she must be treated like royalty too.

A clever book about names and playing pretend.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

Review: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George

| Tasha

difference between you and me

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George

Released March 15, 2012.

Jesse wears fishing boots every day.  She cuts her hair short and rough with a Swiss Army knife.  She spends her time writing manifestos for her National Organization to Liberate All Weirdos and then papering the high school with them.  Emily is one of the popular girls and vice president of the student council.  She wears her hair in a ponytail, likes sweaters with buttons, and has a boyfriend.  So what in the world could Jesse and Emily have in common?  Just that they like to make out in the bathroom of the library once a week.  Jesse yearns to have a more open relationship with Emily, but Emily is very comfortable in the closet and in denial.   When Jesse gets in trouble at school, she meets Esther, a girl who is also a weirdo and has a lot in common with Jesse.  The two of them start working against a corporation trying to come into their community and school.  Unfortunately, Emily is helping that corporation sponsor the school dance.  Both girls have to decide what is most important to them: principles or love.

George has written a courageous book here.  The characters are deeply felt, beautifully rendered and gorgeously human.  Jesse is a strong lesbian character who also makes mistakes and is caught in a situation where she has to keep someone else’s secret.  The tension that creates tests her relationship with her parents, her best friend, and herself.  Emily is a study in contradictions that she speaks aloud, lives and breathes.  She is a complicated character, awash in a mix of confidence in public and self-doubt in private.  Esther is a surprising character, added after the reader thinks the book is going to focus on two girls only.  She and Jesse have much in common, including mothers who had breast cancer.  That piece of information notches neatly into the two girls’ characters, offering further depth.

Intriguingly, George has chosen to write Emily and Esther’s sections of the book in first person.  Jesse is seen in third person, something that is distancing.  I found the switch from one tense to another disconcerting at times, and wished that I could have known Jesse from inside as well as the other girls.

The world that George has created is populated with unique characters, adults and teens alike.  It is a celebration of people who are different, living lives that are complicated, filled with emotion, and grounded in principles.  I saw people I knew, people like myself, and people I wanted to meet and befriend. 

Perhaps what I loved most about this book is its sensibilities.  The characters are who they are, struggling with issues larger than themselves, but not deterred at all.  It is a book that encourages teens to take action, change their communities, and speak up for what they believe in.  Appropriate for ages 15-18.

Reviewed from ARC received from Viking Books.

Review: Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod

| Tasha

maudie and bear

Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod and Freya Blackwood (Link to InfoSoup)

Through five short stories, readers get to know Maudie and her best friend Bear.  Maudie is a little girl who is always planning the next thing for them to do.  She can be bossy, definitely has opinions, and yet has a charm that is hard to resist.  Bear certainly does not resist at all, instead helping Maudie plan their next escapade.  The pair have a series of adventures from a bike ride that is more about fashion than exercise to a very Goldilocks-like encounter to dancing under the stars.  The two are not without friction, having to apologize occasionally for things that go wrong.  They are a cheery pair to read about and one wishes for a Bear of their very own.

Ormerod’s writing is simple and lovely.  She captures stories in a few words, selecting them for impact and ease.  Then she adds a wry sense of humor and a little twist at the end of each tale that add to the appeal of the book.  The friendship of the two is shown as complex yet completely natural.  It works particularly well that the friendship is not perfect or easy, but real.  The stories have just enough action and interaction in them to make them a pleasure to read, but not too long or too short.  Like Goldilocks, these are just right.

Blackwood’s Illustrations are stellar.  She captures the winning attitude of the text, creating a book that is welcoming in its obvious warmth and cleverness.  The largeness of bear makes one want to cuddle up for days and the ever-moving Maudie is a perfect foil.  The two together are the perfect pair, ready for any adventure that comes their way.

Originally published in Australia, this book’s old-fashioned feel combined with its sunny nature is very inviting for young readers.  Appropriate for ages 3-5. 

Reviewed from copy received from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.