Book Reviews

Arbor Day Square

| Tasha

Arbor Day Square by Kathryn O. Galbraith, illustrated by Cyd Moore

Everything in the prairie town is brand new because the town itself has just been built by settlers.  There is a church, stores, and a school, but what is missing is trees!  Everyone donates coins to send east for trees to plant.  When they arrive, Katie is alarmed at how small the trees are, but her father reassures her that they will live and grow.  Katie helps her father plant the trees, even a special dogwood in memory of her mother.  Year after year, the town gathered on Arbor Day to plant more and more trees.  Katie now came with her own daughter to celebrate the day and linger under her mother’s tree. 

This picture book is based on the creation of Arbor Day in the new state of Nebraska in 1872.  Ideal for release in April, this book is a glimpse into the history of Arbor Day and the importance of planting trees.  Galbraith’s text is simple and at times poetic.  She uses repeating phrases and rhythm subtly and effectively.  Particularly effective is having Katie as the protagonist of the story and the lens through which readers view the history and the planting.  Moore’s illustrations are soft with a lovely vintage tone to them that suits the subject.  The transformation from dusty prairie to a lush green  filled with trees is reflected in the illustrations with a nice gradual palette change.

Pick this one up for Arbor Day!  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

The Quiet Book

| Tasha

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska

There are many kind of quiet.  Quiet can cozy.  Quiet can be tense.  Quiet can be worth savoring.  Quiet can be gone in a flash.  This book celebrates the many kinds of quiet, offering examples of the many moments of quiet in a day.  Starting with the quiet of being the first one awake, the book ends with the quiet of being sound asleep.  In between, readers will find examples of quiet that are funny, surprising and poignant.  This is a simple premise executed with great finesse.

Underwood’s one-per-page examples of quiet each end with the word “quiet.”  As you read through the book aloud, you will discover which of the examples make you hush your words even more and which examples are exuberant despite the silence.  Deftly done, the examples are varied and interesting.  Liwska’s illustrations add to the gentle humor, offering visual examples of quiet.  Her pencil and digital images are soft and witty at the same time.

Recommended for bedtime reading, this book is perfect for snuggling under the covers and reading to a little one.  Happy cuddles!  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

Check out the websites of Deborah Underwood and Renata Liwska

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I Don’t)

| Tasha

Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don’t) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley

Miss Brooks is a librarian who loves books.  She tries to share her enthusiasm for books with the children, but Missy is having none of it.  Then comes Book Week!  And Missy is asked to wear a costume and tell the class why she loves her favorite book.  Missy is certain that she will never fall in love with a book, but Miss Brooks remains sure that she will.  Book Week arrives and Missy has yet to find a book she likes.  They are either too flowery, too yippity, or too furry.  Miss Brooks sends more and more books home with her but she complains about them all.  Her mother tells her she is as stubborn as a wart.  Wart?  And Missy is off to find a book about warts where she finds and falls for Shrek!

Yes, this book does my librarian heart good, but it is also told with a great sense of humor.  Missy while dismissive and grumpy is also written with just the right tone.  Readers will wonder if there really is a book for this kid!  The book reads aloud well, and I can see librarians using it and then asking for a chance to find each kid the right book for them.  What a great way to sell our services!

Emberley’s art is a hoot.  I adored all of the costumes of Miss Brooks as she tries to get kids excited about books.  I particularly love the way that Missy is depicted with her overalls, woolly hat and glasses.  She is purely an individual and it shows. 

Recommended for any librarian to read and glow about, this book is also just right for kids who don’t think books are cool.  They just might love this one!  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

The Firefly Letters

| Tasha

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle

I have adored Engle and her poetry since first reading her Poet Slave of Cuba.  This historical novel told in verse tells the story of early Swedish feminist Fredrika Bremer and her travels in Cuba.  While in Cuba she inspires and changes the lives of two women, a slave named Cecilia and a wealthy young woman named Elena.  At first amazed and shocked by the freedom Fredrika demonstrates, Elena warms to her as she begins to understand that the future could be different than just an arranged marriage.  Cecilia finds in Fredrika a woman who looks beyond her slave status and a role model for hope.  Told in Engle’s radiant verse, this is another novel by this splendid author that is to be treasured.

As with all of her novels, Engle writes about the duality of Cuba:  the dark side and the light, the beauty and the ugliness.  Once again she explores the horrific legacy of slavery without flinching from its truth.  Against that background of slavery, she has written a novel of freedom.  It is the story of a woman who refused to be defined by the limitations of her birth and her sex, instead deciding to travel and write rather than marry.  Fredrika is purely freedom, beautifully contrasted with the two women who are both captured in different ways and forced into lives beyond their control. 

Beautifully done, this book is an excellent example of the verse novel.  Each poem can stand on its own and still works to tell a cohesive story.  At times Engle’s words are so lovely that they give pause and must be reread.  This simply deepens the impact of the book.  Engle also uses strong images in her poems.  In this book, fireflies are an important image that work to reveal light and dark, as well as freedom and captivity.

Highly recommended, this author needs to be read by those who enjoy poetry, those who enjoy history, and those who simply are looking for great writing.  Appropriate for ages 11-14.

Reviewed from library copy.

My Brother Charlie

| Tasha

 

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Callie and Charlie have always been together because they are twins.  They have a lot in common: music, football, loving their dog, and their curly hair.  But they are also very different.  Charlie often seemed distant and never returned affection.  Mommy was worried and took Charlie to a doctor who diagnosed him with autism.  Callie wished that she could join Charlie in his mental world, that he would play more with her.  Sometimes he is right there with her and enjoying it, but often he isn’t.  Callie began to understand that her brother sees things differently.  He may find it hard to tell you how he feels, but when it matters most he does find the words.  And best of all, Charlie loves you for who you are inside.

This very personal book reflects the lives of the mother and daughter authors who are both activists and educators about autism.  The book is far from being another of those celebrity books that misses the mark.  Instead this book really educates children about autism and about differences.  It explains autism simply and frankly but with great love and understanding as well.

Evans’ illustrations add a warmth and appeal to the book with their mixed media.  The thick brush strokes and fine lines are visually appealing as are the deep colors.  The art adds to the appeal of the title.

Highly recommended for library collections, this book will offer information and hope for families dealing with autism.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The Easter Egg

| Tasha

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

Jan Brett turns her prodigious talents to an Easter story!

Hoppi the rabbit is now old enough to participate in the egg decorating competition.  Each year the rabbits decorate Easter eggs and the winning bunny got to help the Easter Rabbit hide the eggs.  But Hoppi needs a great idea for his egg, so he hops around to visit the other rabbits.  Each bunny is doing something unique and interesting and inspires Hoppi to try their technique.  As he visits, each rabbit offers him a scrap of material or a tool as well as ideas.  Hoppi tries to come up with the perfect idea, but is distracted by the distressed calls of some robins.  One of Mother Robin’s eggs fell out of the nest on onto the forest floor.  Hoppi knew just what he had to do and sat gently down on the egg with his warm fur.  Hoppi sat and sat and sat on the egg, unable to create an egg of his own for the Easter Rabbit.  But the Easter Rabbit knows just what makes the perfect egg for Easter!

Done in her signature style with one main image on a two-page spread and two smaller images on each side, this book celebrates Easter, spring, art and creativity.  It is also about self-sacrifice and giving to the community.  Brett has created a book that never becomes overly sweet.  A large part of this is her attention to minute details that make the rabbits realistic, the forest come alive, and the individual eggs masterpieces.  I also appreciate her use of wild plants and flowers as the framing for the illustrations.  Brett’s use of repetition as Hoppi travels the village of rabbits allows for a real surprise when Hoppi discovers Mother Robin and the egg. 

This book will work well with a group, though the tiny details are worth lingering over and discussing within a family or very small group of children.  Appropriate for ages 3-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Penguin.

Out of My Mind

| Tasha

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody is eleven years old and has never said a single word.  She also has a photographic memory so she remembers being a baby, remembers every show she has ever seen on TV, remembers the commercials too, remembers songs, factoids, everything.  All those words are trapped in her head, unable to be released.  Her parents know she is bright, but how could anyone know just how smart Melody actually is with her cerebral palsy being all that they can see?  At school she is in the classroom for those with special needs where the quality of instruction varies from year to year. One year she was subjected to the alphabet over and over again along with a CD of nursery rhymes.  Pure torture!  So when Melody realizes that she needs a computer to help her talk, everyone had better be ready to hear what she has to say!

This in-depth character study is beautifully done.  Melody is a character with charisma, brilliance and a sassy attitude that is integral to her personality.  Despite being unable to speak, Melody will speak deeply to any reader who takes the time to meet her.  Draper does not sugarcoat Melody’s disability.  She does not make the people around Melody too perfect and good.  Instead everyone is human, especially Melody. 

Draper brought me to tears several times in the novel.  From spectacular moments of Melody speaking to the cruelty of other children, this book offers such highs and lows.  And through it all, living it all, we have Melody, a true heroine, an amazing person, and someone we all should get to know.

The cover is wonderful with its fish out of water theme and a direct tie to the storyline.  I love the contrast of the pale blue and bright orange, because Melody is such a flash of bright color in the novel.

This will make a brilliant read aloud for a classroom of 5th or 6th graders.  It will also be adored by single readers who will find Melody a person worth spending time with.  Appropriate for ages 9-13, this book is a real winner.

Reviewed from library copy.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

I Love Bugs!

| Tasha

I Love Bugs by Emma Dodd

This brightly colored book is a cheerful exploration of the world of insects that is less about scientific accuracy and more about an adoration of our six-legged friends.  The book moves quickly from bug to bug, from “jumpy leapy bugs” to “slimy crawly creepy bugs.”  All are appreciated for their differences until the end when a spider appears!  It is a great twist that children are sure to enjoy.

Dodd’s art is what really takes this book beyond a run-of-the-mill insect book.  Filled with bright colors, an eager child to guide us, and plenty of bug-eyed insects, young readers will feel right at home.  Her illustrations are thick lined and beautifully patterned, bringing the essence of grass, dirt and bugs directly to the reader.

Dodd’s language here is bouncy and pure fun.  She offers rhymes that have a real spring about them.  Since she doesn’t name the insects, children will be eager to name them themselves from caterpillars to ladybugs to grasshoppers.

Add this to a toddler story time and then set out on a bug hunt together.  It could just be cut outs around the children’s room.   This would pair wonderfully with nonfiction picture books about specific insects that will offer enticing details.  Appropriate for ages 1-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

13 Treasures

| Tasha

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison

After being tormented by fairies and waking her mother in the middle of the night, Tanya is sent to stay with her grandmother in her dilapidated manor house.  Tanya sees fairies at her grandmother’s house too: they fill the grandfather clock and make mischief in the kitchen.  But fairies are nothing compared to the dangers of the woods that surround her grandmother’s house.  As Tanya struggles to come to terms with her second sight, she is helped by several unlikely allies, including the local witch woman, the annoying son of the manor’s caretaker, and a girl has had far worse luck with the fairies.  Will Tanya be able to solve the mystery that surrounds her with their help? 

Harrison excels at creating an immersive world that truly is brought to life through her writing.  Her attention to small details and willingness to truly describe settings have helped make a world that is tangible.  Exploring the manor house, one can almost smell the dust of neglect, see the encroaching ivy.  The fairies are offered with just enough detail to make sure readers remember that they are not friendly, sweet butterfly-like creatures.

Harrison also has a good ear for dialogue, which helps complete her world building.  Tanya is a tough but also friendly girl who is trapped in a nightmare no one else can see.  The tense relationship between her and her grandmother is written in actions rather than explanations.  There are plenty of tense moments, strange events, and bizarre happenings to keep the pages moving briskly.  For me though it was a book to savor, a world I longed to linger a bit more in.

There is plenty to love here.  It is a book of evil fairies that works for children who are not ready for Holly Black and Melissa Marr yet.   Beautiful writing and  incredible world building.  Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from ARC received from Little Brown.