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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch
Tolya L. Thompson, author
Terence Gaylor, illustrator
Savor Publishing House Inc.
P.O. Box 701, Citrus Heights, CA 95621
9780970829672, $16.95, www.SavorPublishing.com
"Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch" presents a classic dilemma faced by a child
who is tempted to taste a forbidden food (because of food allergies). Written in hypnotic verse,
"Fabulous Me, Piper Lee and the Peanut Butter Itch" fails to listen to her internal angel's warning
admonitions, and tries just one blissful taste of forbidden peanut butter bliss. What happens next?
First it tastes yummy, but then Piper Lee begins to wiggle, scratch and twist because she has an
itch ...everywhere! Then her lip swells, her nose itches, and she begins to wheeze, while her
better self comment "This is definitely not good!" A rash begins to show on Piper Lee's face and
it is time to call her Mom, who diagnoses the cause and begins the treatment with a special shot
and a trip to the ER. There the medical staff help and observe her while her symptoms go down
and she begins to breathe normally. What lessons did she learn? "Peanuts are not good for me. (I
wear this bracelet so all can see)." "If bad reactions come my way, epinephrine can save the day. I
must get the shot right away. This is what the doctors say." Ebullient, joyous, colorful
illustrations help underline the message, and Piper Lee carries the day, with the help of MeMe
and Mom. An African-American heroine projects unstoppable energy and courage in dealing
with the tricky task of living with a food allergy.
Remarkable Minds
Pendred E. Noyce
Tumblehome Learning Inc.
PO Box 171386, Boston, MA 02117
www.tumblehomelearning.com
9780990782902, $18.95, 192pp, www.amazon.com
For centuries, women have risen above their traditional roles to pursue a new understanding of
the natural world. "Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine"
introduces young readers ages 12 and older to the lives, sayings, and dreams of sixteen women
spanning over four centuries and chronicles their contributions to mathematics, physics,
chemistry, astronomy, and medicine. Some of the notable women portrayed in the book include
French mathematician Marie-Sophie Germain, known for her work in Elasticity theory,
differential geometry, and number theory; Scottish chemist Elizabeth Fulhame, best known for
her 1794 work 'An Essay on Combustion'; and Rita Levi-Montalcini, who, with colleague
Stanley Cohen, received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of
nerve growth factor. "Remarkable Minds" offers inspiration to all girls and young women
considering a career in the sciences. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine" is specifically
designed for young readers ages 12 and older, and for use with students in grades 7 to 12.
"Remarkable Minds" is very highly recommended, especially for school and community library
biography and science history collections.
Spirit Training
Dr. William L. Conwell
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781480813250 $11.99, www.archwaypublishing.com
Spirit Training: A Book of Ethics for Black Teens is a guide designed to help black teens tackle
common challenges whether at school or in their communities, and creates a powerful training
program in a book that is based on traditional African values and principles of living and
resisting negative influences in the world. One could deem this a philosophical piece, a
psychological self-help guide, or a set of insights into African cultural values; but it also uses
brain science in combination with ancient traditions to encourage teens to examine their
foundations of their beliefs and pair them with experiences. Chapters tackle such topics as
developing fearlessness, understanding the wider ramifications of sharing, and preparing to be a
hero in the world, with suggested activities encouraging teens to think about themselves and their
worlds in a different light. The result is a special kind of guide that skirts the line between
spiritual, philosophical and psychological details to provide teens with solid information that
juxtaposes questions about belief systems to insights on values.
Lucy in the City
Julie Dillemuth, author
Laura Wood, illustrator
Magination Press
PO Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090-2984
www.maginationpress.com
9781433819278 $14.95 hc / $9.95 pbk
Lucy in the City: A Story About Developing Spatial Thinking Skills is a children's picturebook
with an underlying lesson about problem solving and learning "spatial thinking" skills - the
ability to analyze spatial relationships and navigate or react to one's environment. When Lucy the
raccoon follows her family into the city for nighttime scavenging, she doesn't pay much attention
to where they are traveling and accidentally gets behind. How can Lucy find her way home? With
the help of a friendly owl, she uses her mind to carefully reason how to retrace her steps. "She
sniffed again. Popcorn. Lucy knew that scent. She had smelled it along the way. If she could find
it again, she would be one step closer to home." At the end of Lucy in the City are four pages of
notes to parents/caregivers/professionals and five pages of activities for young readers (including
encouragement to draw things around Lucy, or solve a maze). Highly recommended.
The Economics Shelf
M is for Money
Debbie and Michael Shoulders, authors
Illustrated by Marty Kelley
Sleeping Bear Press
Suite 200, 315 East Eisenhower Parkway
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
9781585368174 $16.99 www.sleepingbearpress.com
M is for Money: An Economics Alphabet is an ABC book designed to teach young readers about
the basics of economics. Each letter entry features a brief rhyming verse, and an extensive, fact-
filled sidebar. For example, complementing "W is for World Trade // People all around the world
trade / for products that others make: / Japanese electronics, German cars, / and tasty Swiss
chocolate cake." is three sidebar paragraphs expanding on concept of world trade. Cheerful color
illustrations enhance this educational book crafted to appeal to both beginning readers learning
the alphabet and older children who are curious about how money and trade work. Highly
recommended.
The Biography Shelf
Stay Strong: A Musician's Journey from Congo
Natalie Hyde
Clockwise Press
9780993935121 $12.95 pbk
9780993935138 $8.95 ebook www.clockwisepress.com
The first book of the "Arrivals" nonfiction series for about the lives of immigrants and refugees
(intended for young adult readers ages 12 and up), Stay Strong: A Musician's Journey from
Congo tells the true-life story of Gentil Misigaro, who grew up in Congo amid violence,
suffering, fear, and death. For fifteen years he and his family moved from country to country
seeking to escape war and horror, traveling from their village in Congo to Rwanda and the
Uganda. In the process, Gentil found strength and meaning in music; when his family was
accepted to a new home in Canada, Gentil envisioned music as bringing transformative change
for the better to his adopted homeland. A handful of black-and-white photographs, a list of
resources (including websites offering ways that kids can help), and an index round out this
unforgettable story of survival and hope.
The Science Shelf
Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet
Buzz Aldrin with Marianne J. Dyson
National Geographic Press
145 - 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20036-4688
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426322068, $18.99, 96pp, www.amazon.com
Space is still the final frontier and Mars continues to make news and attract generations of young
people. A fascinating and informational book, "Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red
Planet" by hero-astronaut Buzz Aldrin with Marianne J. Dyson challenges curious kids ages 8 to 12 to think about Mars
as not just a faraway red planet but as a possible future home for Earthlings! What will your new
home be like? How will you get there? What will you eat for breakfast? Find out what life might
be like far, far from Earth as you navigate your way through this fun and fascinating book. What
kid wouldn't want to blast off with him on this (literary) journey! Of special note is the inclusion
of hands-on 'kid friendly' science experiments. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet" is profusely illustrated and
enthusiastically recommended for students in 3 to 7, and should be a part of every school and
community library collection for young readers.
Junk Drawer Chemistry
Bobby Mercer
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613731796, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Bobby Mercer has been sharing the fun of science for more than two decades as a high school
physics teacher. He now presented "Junk Drawer Chemistry: 50 Awesome Experiments That
Don't Cost a Thing", a 224 page compendium of fun and educational science projects that can be
done with ordinary materials often found laying around the house. Kids ages 9 and older will
learn how to turn an old LED flashlight into an Energy Drink Tester using aluminum foil and
electrical tape; mix cornstarch and water to make Non-Newtonian Goo; use a 9-volt battery and
thumbtacks to break water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen; create edible Sweet Crystals
from a saturated sugar solution; construct your own Three-Penny Battery from galvanized
washers, pennies, vinegar, and scrap cardboard; and so much more! "Junk Drawer Chemistry"
showcases 50 great hands-on experiments that can be performed for just pennies or even free!
Each project has a materials list, detailed step-by-step instructions with illustrations, and a brief
explanation of the scientific principle being demonstrated including atoms, compounds,
solutions, mixtures, reactions, thermodynamics, acids and bases, and more. Very highly
recommended for family, school, and community library instructional reference collections, it
should be noted that "Junk Drawer Chemistry" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.39).
The Parenting Shelf
Family Changes: Explaining Divorce to Children
Azmaira H. Maker, Ph.D., author
Polona Lovsin, illustrator
Aspiring Families Press
12625 High Bluff Drive, Ste. 104, San Diego, CA 92130
9780996194105, $14.95, www.AspiringFamilies.com
"Family Changes: Explaining Divorce to Children" is an excellent resource to help children ages
4-8 to understand and process the experience of divorce and separation of their parents. "Family
Changes" uses the empathetic story characters of Zoey Bunny and Mama Bunny and Daddy
Bunny to tell a story of a young bunny adjusting to separation and divorce of her parents. These
characters and the story framework make it comfortable for a child to think about different
emotional responses, feelings, and questions they have about the divorce/separation. Written by
an experienced clinical psychologist, "Family Changes" addresses many of the issues commonly
raised by children of divorce, such as guilt, fear, responsibility, uncertainty, doubt, abandonment,
and more. The bunny characters, tender, expressive illustrations, and gentle dialogues in the story
are framed to encourage a child's participation and exploration of their feelings and fears relating
to divorce. Some helpful responses and techniques for quieting anxieties are suggested in the
wise and touching narrative, and there is a list of further therapeutic Process Questions for Adults
to Discuss With Children suggested at the end. "Family Changes: Explaining Divorce to
Children" is a valuable, sensitively written story for families and children experiencing divorce
and separation.
The Bilingual Shelf
The Great and Mighty Nikko! A Bilingual Counting Book
Xavier Garza, author/illustrator
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas, El Paso, Texas 79901
9781935955832, $7.95, www.cincopuntos.com
From southern Texas bursts the bilingual counting adventure, "The Great and Mighty Nikko!" By
an award winning author, artist and storyteller, "The Great and Mighty Nikko!" is a fabulous big
screen comic book counting escapade, with Nikko wrestling with his many masked wrestlers
(toy) on his bed (instead of going to sleep). Hispanic boys who are learning to count, read, and
draw will adore "The Great and Mighty Nikko!" It's masked luchadores who make up the mighty
Luche Libre Ring prove no match for the great and Mighty Nikko. Fortunately, Nikko's mother
observes in the end that even the great and might Nikko, king of Lucha Libre, needs to sleep once
in a while. Brilliant graphic images of masked luchadores alternate with bilingual large speech
balloons, as the reader is completely drawn into the bedcover world of Lucha Libre, home base
of the Great and Mighty Nikko. Could counting or reading in two languages be any more
fun?
The Three Billy Goats Gruff/Ttizi Chqqh Chq'i Taa'ii
Rebecca Hu-Van Wright, storyteller
Ying-Hwa Hu, illustrator
Star Bright Books
13 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
9781595727299, $6.99, www.starbrightbooks.com
This new bilingual version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" is beautifully presented in Navajo
and English, with warmly expressive, humorous illustrations of the main story characters: Three
different sized goats, a rickety wooden bridge, and the mean Troll. The story proceeds with a
reassuring pace and repetition, with the smallest goat crossing the bridge first to try to reach the
visible better grazing on the other side. When the goat trip-traps across the rickety wooden
bridge, The mean Troll roars "WHO'S THAT CROSSING MY BRIDGE?" And later, he
threatens, "I'M GOING TO GOBBLE YOU UP!" Fortunately the little goat is able to persuade
the Troll (who is evidently not very bright) that he should not bother eating him because he is so
little, but he should wait for his brother, a bigger goat. The story proceeds according to an ancient
inevitable formula to the happy ending (for the goats). This new Navajo/English version of an old
fairy tale is refreshing and enticing, presenting the Navajo narrative at the top of each page,
followed by the English version. Of course the fantastic illustrations help declare and emphasize
the story line, and an audience of small readers everywhere will embrace the familiarity of this
delightful, timeless chestnut, so lovingly re-told, with a new Navajo flavor.
The Fiction Shelf
Jake's Balloon Blast
Ken Spillman, author
Chris Nixon, illustrator
Star Bright Books
13 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
9781595726827, $4.99, www.starbrightbooks.com
"Jake's Balloon Blast" is an early chapter story about a boy who dreams of flying. From the
"Jake" series for elementary readers, "Jake's Balloon Blast" is the exciting tale of an imaginative
boy who works to bring his dream to life, even though there are some snags along the way.
Involve a friend, draw up some diagrams, develop a plan, try some experiments, what could go
wrong? Kids will be thrilled by Jake's can do attitude, even if they can predict problems with his
flying balloon plan and design. Jake's Dad does not realize the significance or reality of the
balloon blast plan until Jake is seen drifting aloft by his Nana, who sees both sides of the fun
escapade. Zany, action packed black and white drawings add to the appeal of "Jake's Balloon
Blast," and young readers will have no problem with keeping pages turning. The character of
Jake evokes admiration for durability and determination, while seeking his dream of flying.
Wandering Woolly
Andrea Gabriel, author/illustrator
Arbordale Publishing
612 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite A2, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arbordalepublishing.com
97816285555855, $17.95, www.ArbordalePublishing.com
"Wandering Woolly" is the Ice Age story of a baby mammoth named Woolly, who got separated
from her mother and aunties' herd when she went exploring near the ice-filled river during spring
thawing time. Little Woolly fell through the edge of glacier ice into the raging river and got
carried downriver on the current. Soon she found a log to rest and hold on to, but she could not
leave the river yet. As she sped by on her wild ride, she glimpsed a huge ground sloth, grazing in
the trees, a hunting American lion, a giant beaver, a short-faced bear mother and cub, and a
Clovis human village with hunting dogs, a saber-toothed cat family, and more. Woolly was tired
and hungry and missed her mother's milk. Finally Woolly was able to get to the river shore
safely, but she was a long way away from her mother and herd. Listening to her mother's and
aunties' rumbling voices with her feet, Woolly was able to work her way back to her mother and
herd safely. They were overjoyed to see her and Woolly was glad to be underneath her mother's
warm furry legs and safe again. Stunning paintings depict Woolly and her adventures in Ice Age
North America over 4,000 years ago. A For Creative Minds Section at the end of "Wandering
Woolly" shows a sequencing puzzle demonstrating the expanding and shrinking of the glacier
covering North America between 42,000 years ago and 6,000 years ago. Another game shows
pictures and descriptions to help compare mammoths with elephants. Additional information is
provided about the Clovis people and other extinct Ice Age animals depicted in the story. An
interesting question to resolve is when, approximately, did Woolly live? The answer can be
determined (in thousands of years ago) by the other extinct species examples she encountered on
her river journey (since the giant ground sloth went extinct 13,000 years ago, little Woolly must
have lived more than 13,000 years ago, although mammoths did not become extinct until 4,000
years ago.) "Wandering Wooly" is a fascinating fictional account of a woolly mammoth's
experience in Ice Age North America over 13,000 year ago. Written simply, enriched with
stunning imaginative artistic scenes, this beautiful book will appeal to young readers ages
4-8.
The Dragonfly Club: A Friend In Need
Mari Ringness, author
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
P.O. Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878397785, $12.95, www.northstarpress.com
"The Dragonfly Club" is a short, inspirational chapter story about an unlikely friendship between
two fourth-grade girls, Grace and Tillie, that blossoms into the Dragonfly Club, whose rhyming
motto is: "The Dragonfly Club will help those in need, always succeed, and be forever friends
with no need to bleed." Overcoming shyness and timidity, Grace becomes close to Tillie, a three
foster home placement survivor who is determined to tackle new challenges positively. Other
friends become part of the group and all are united in an unselfish project to raise funds for a
bicycle for Tillie. Bonds are formed, vows exchanged, and friendship flourishes among four girls
until the inevitable day for Tillie's departure to a new home looms. Simultaneously, a new
candidate for admission to the Dragonfly Club, Sammy J., is introduced by Tillie. Although it is
difficult, all four members vote acceptance and Sammy completes her admission requirement by
capturing and freeing a dragonfly, while promising to help others, according to the Dragonfly
Club Code. Secret tree house meetings, special codes of conduct, and supportive friendships all
figure in the plot and action of "The Dragonfly Club," an imaginative and appealing story in a
series that promises to ensnare the interests of middle grade girls and others who face the
enormous challenge of growing up and becoming humane.
Dropping In
Geoff Havel
Fremantle Press
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9781925162219, $9.95, 120pp, www.amazon.com
An ideal and certain to be popular addition to school and community library General Fiction
collections "Dropping In" is an action-packed middle-grade story that explores friendship,
bullying, and living with a disability. Ian and Warren, better known as Sticks and Ranga, are best
friends. They live on the same street, go to the same school and love the same things, like
skateboarding and PlayStation. When new kid James arrives in class in his wheelchair, Sticks
isn't sure they can be friends. But Sticks quickly discovers they have a lot in common. Cerebral
palsy stops James from doing some things but it hasn't dulled his sense of humor -- and he's
pretty brainy, too. Soon James becomes an inseparable part of the Sticks, Ranga, and James
show. Exceptionally well written and a thoroughly absorbing from beginning to end, "Dropping
In" is very highly recommended for young readers ages 9 to 12 and students in grades 4 to 7.
Head of the River
Pip Harry
University of Queensland Press
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9780702253263, $17.95, 204pp, www.amazon.com
Tall, naturally talented, and the offspring of Olympians, superstar siblings Leni and Cristian
Popescu are set to row Harley Grammar to victory in the annual Head of the River race. With six
months until the big race, the twins can't lose. Or can they? When Cristian is seduced by the easy
route of performance-enhancing drugs, and Leni is suffocated with self-doubt, their bright futures
start to fade. Juggling family, high expectations, study, break-ups, new relationships, and wild
parties, the pressure starts to build. As the final moments tick down to the big race, will they
make it to the start line or will they plummet from grace? "Head of the River" is a terrifically
entertaining read and especially recommended for teens ages 12 to 18 and in grades 7 to 12. Very
highly recommended for both school and community library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Head of the River" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.59).
The Farmerettes
Gisela Tobien Sherman
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 2M5
http://secondstorypress.ca
9781927583647, $12.95, 348pp, www.amazon.com
In "The Farmerettes', six girls just out of high school live together during the summer of 1943 on
a farm as part of the Canadian Farm Service Force, doing the work of the men who are off
fighting the war in Europe. We follow the stories of Helene, who sends her wages home to
support her single mother; Peggy, a flirt who spends her time writing to her soldier beaux;
Binxie, whose rich family doesn't approve of her; Isabel, who pines over her fiance, who is off
fighting; Jean, whose family farm has been taken over by the "farmerettes," as they became
known; and the mysterious X, who of all the girls feels the most out of place. Friendship,
romance, hardship and heartbreak shape their summer, all against the backdrop of the World War
II. "The Farmerettes" by Gisela Tobien Sherman is the stuff of which award-winning BBC
television series are made! Impressively well written from beginning to end, "The Farmerettes" is
a thoroughly absorbing read and very highly recommended for both school and community YA
fiction collections for young readers ages 13 to 18.
The Anthropologist's Daughter
Vanessa Furse Jackson
Barking Rain Press
c/o BRP Publishing Group
PO Box 822674, Vancouver, WA 98682
www.barkingrainpress.org
9781941295137, $19.95, 210pp, www.amazon.com
After the death of her mother, ten-year-old Imogen Hearne moves from London with her older
sister, Rosalind, and her father to Farleigh, a rural village in North Devon where her father's
family has deep roots. Her father hides his grief by burying himself in his work at the university,
while Rosalind vents her anguish by acting up and running off with friends leaving Immy to fend
for herself. To pass the time, Immy decides to take after her father and become an anthropologist,
studying the different ways that people manage grief. As she wanders through the village and the
countryside to study the locals, she watches, listens, and makes notes, looking for clues she can
use to bring her fractured family back together again. "The Anthropologist's Daughter" by
Vanessa Furse Jackson is an impressively well written and genuinely moving prequel to "The
Revolving Year" (9781935460824, $13.95 PB, $2.99 Kindle, 232pp) making it a very welcome
reunion with familiar and much-loved characters and places. "The Anthropologist's Daughter" is
enthusiastically recommended for school and community YA Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Anthropologist's Daughter" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($2.99).
Meli's Way
Meredith Sue Willis
Montemayor Press
PO Box 546, Monpelier, VT 05675
www.montemayorpress.com
9781932727159, $15.95, 196pp, www.amazon.com
Tired of her upscale private academy in New York City, fourteen-year-old Meli Rossi transfers to
Ciudad City School of the Future, which provides an individualized curriculum, an opportunity
to make real friends, and insights into her mother's unconventional background in the 1960s.
Meli is a self-identified weird teenager who prefers exploring a museum to attending classes at
school wanted the transfer so that she could study ancient Chinese ceramics and make friends
even weirder than she is. But home life with her mother gets ever so much more complicated, as
does her social life with her peers. Ultimately Meli must face one of the darkest aspects of the
wider world she now finds herself living in. "Meli's Way" is a deftly crafted and inherently
absorbing read from beginning to end, making it very highly recommended for personal reading
lists, as well as school and community library YA Fiction collections.
Mechanica
Betsy Cornwell
Clarion Books
c/o Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547927718, $17.99, www.hmhco.com
Mechanica tells of a girl's terrible stepsisters, who call her 'Mechanica' to demean her because
she has a knack for inventing things, learned from her mother. Now that her mother is gone,
these stepsisters run amok and Nicolette is helpless against them - until she discovers a secret
workshop in the cellar and uses it to build new possibilities fueled by her mechanical talents.
This retelling of the classic Cinderella tale with a twist holds many expansions on the theme and
embeds its characters with a contemporary flavor that young adult teen leisure readers will love.
The juxtaposition of fantasy and social commentary is delightful, as is the unexpected twist that
leads Nicolette to desire more from life than either escape or romance can bring.
Switch
Ingrid Law
Dial Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
345 Hudson Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780803738621, $16.99, www.penguin.com
Switch provides a companion story to the Newbery Honor winner Savvy and is especially
recommended for fans of the prior book. Here Gypsy Beaumont holds special plans for her
'savvy' - a talent that strikes every Beaumont on their thirteenth birthday - but when she actually
receives her talent, it's not what she expects. To make matters even more complicated, the savvy
knacks are changing suddenly, and it's up to Gypsy to use her strange new talent to make things
right in her family. This engrossing fantasy is a delightful pick for middle to high school readers
looking for a different flavor in their stories; especially tales of the unexpected.
Simon and Schuster
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Kevin Sands' The Blackthorn Key (9781481446518, $17.99) tells of Christopher Rowe, a happy
boy who loves to solve codes and puzzles and who is an herbal apprentice working with Master
Benedict Blackthorn, a notable apothecary. When a murderer of London's chemists arrives too
close to home, Christopher must use all his abilities to not only stop them, but work with a
terrible secret he uncovers in the process. The result is an engrossing story filled with twists and
turns, recommended for teen leisure readers who like fantasy and mystery alike. Alison
McGhee's Firefly Hollow (9781442423367, $16.99) receives a peppering of lovely color
drawings by Christopher Denise throughout as it follows a young Firefly who isn't content with
flying around Earth, but wants to touch the moon. Cricket also dreams about using his voice for
something more. And soon the two leave their beloved Hollow to pursue their impossible dreams
in a saga for ages 8-12 which is reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows. Dreams, friendships,
and extraordinary adventure compels the animal and insect protagonists of Firefly Hollow to high
goals in this compelling saga.
The Picturebook Shelf
MOMSTER
Laura Jensen-Kimball, author
Peter Mahr, illustrator
Wackystackbooks
9780996364607 $19.99 hc / $3.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Intended for children ages 4-10, MOMSTER is a rhyming picturebook with a strong message
about the importance of respecting other people enough to apologize for and work to redress
one's wrongdoings. When a lazy young boy ignores his mom's request for help, choosing to
watch a television cartoon rather than aid her with groceries or clean up his own mess of dropped
potato chips, she turns into a frightening MOMSTER, with squid-like tentacles and a hideously
terrifying face! Only an apology for being so thoughtless, combined with action of doing needed
household chores, can bring Mom back. "Her loving eyes were calm, the claws were now
retracted- / I realized her transformation was caused by my rude actions." Exuberant color
illustrations bring this silly-scary moral lesson to life! Highly recommended.
Kyle Goes Alone
Jan Thornhill, author
Ashley Barron, illustrator
Owlkids Books Inc.
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781771470759 $17.95 www.owlkidsbooks.com
Kyle Goes Alone is a children's picturebook about learning independence, from the perspective
of a young three-toed sloth in its natural habitat. Like all sloths, little Kyle moves very slowly. He
eats leaves slowly, and his body digests so slowly that he only has to "go" once a week! Kyle has
now grown big enough to make the weekly trip to the forest floor and back on his own, but
traveling down there and back by himself is a frightening prospect. Fortunately, the other
creatures of the rainforest are happy to encourage him! Colorful, stylized illustrations enrich this
simple and heartwarming storybook, and the final two pages teach inquisitive young minds a few
more facts about sloths and rainforest camouflage. Highly recommended.
The Deer with the Purple Nose
Wayne L. Brillhart
Wan Lee Publishing
9780985804206 $19.95 www.wanleepublishing.com
The Deer with the Purple Nose is a children's picturebook illustrated with breathtakingly
beautiful nature photography. Author and photographer Wayne L. Brillhart's personal surprise at
photographing a deer with a purple nose is retold as a mystery from the point of view of two
English Settlers, Rusty and Purdy, who talk to backyard birds to solve the conundrum. A photo-
glossary identifies the different bird species that make an appearance, in this storybook with such
striking images of wildlife that adults will enjoy browsing it just as much as little ones! Also
highly recommended is Brillhart's previous nature photography picturebook for children, "The
Mystery at the Birdfeeder".
A Lucky Author Has A Dog
Mary Lyn Ray, author
Steven Henry, illustrator
Arthur A. Levine Books
c/o Scholastic, Inc.
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999
9780545518765 $16.99 www.scholastic.com
A Lucky Author Has A Dog is a children's picturebook about the bond between and a female
author and her dog (neither of which are named in the story). The dog wakes the author up in the
morning with his kiss, and encourages the author to exercise regularly by going out for a
vigorous walk. But then one day the author gets up early on her own for a special occasion: "...it's
Author Day at Fred C. Underhill School!" The author fields questions from curious grade school
students, but at the end of the day, she is always happy to come home to her beloved dog.
Charming color illustrations add the perfect touch to this quintessential dog-lover's
storybook.
Stunno's Surf Adventure
Mark Reside, author
Tina Jacobson, illustrator
Mark Reside, publisher
P.O. Box 1465, Sale Victoria Australia 3850
9780992547608, $ 14.95, www.stunno.com.au
"Stunno's Surf Adventure" is a unique, exciting, fantastic tale of a surfing echidna, or Australian
spiny anteater. Told in bold down-under surfer slang, with action verse and authentically
decorated Australian animal characters, "Stunno's Surf Adventure" is bound to strike a welcome
chord of recognition among young readers age 6 and up. The exciting narrative verse is
intoxicating and inviting, as are the original elaborate illustrations. An action example of the
surfer term laden tale follows: "Holding his breath, he takes off in the pocket, ...a solid six-footer
moving like a rocket. A clean bottom turn and then up the face. Smacks the lip hard and slows
down the pace. Stunno keeps busy watching the curl. The barrel is coming, water starts to swirl.
He stalls the board and gets in position. In the tube now, a clean exit his vision. Woohoo! ...in the
green room! Locked deep in the barrel ... Boom! The wave buckles and spits from the inside.
Blasting the surfer along on his ride. Well, Stunno was so stoked he just had to share it. He had
made the barrel... and didn't wear it!" These exotic surf term- laden wave action descriptions are
equally brilliantly illustrated with peculiar Aussie verve and spirit. Fortunately at the end of
"Stunno's Surf Adventure" there is a helpful defining Glossary, explaining much of the
Australian surfer's terminology, adding even more enjoyment to a young reader's exciting dip into
the life of a fabulous spiny surfer of Australian waves. To further inspire and support the growing
crop of young "gromms" or Australian surfers, a portion of the sales will be donated to the
Australian Surfrider Foundation. In addition, for every 1000 books sold online, the author
promises to donate a further, $1000 to a local board rider's project in Australia. So the invitation
to enjoy the exotic experience of an exciting Australian surf ride comes laced with a promise of
continued support for young surfers in this fabulous area. "Stunno's Surf Adventure" has its own
web site, complete with Stunno books, greeting and post cards, an ideal gift pack combination for
young surfers and others who enjoy exotic ocean adventures.
Monster Needs Your Vote
Paul Czajak, author
Wendy Grieb, illustrator
Mighty Media Kids
c/o Mighty Media Press
9781938063633 $16.95 www.MonsterNeeds.com
Part of the delightful "Monster Needs" rhyming picturebook series about a young boy and his
friendly, blue-furred monster pal, Monster Needs Your Vote touches on the complex world of
politics! Monster is too young to vote; he dreams of running for president but his campaign
garners little attention. He is almost ready to quit, until he spots a "Closing" sign that changes his
mind."''The library is closing. / That's a crime that can't take place! / To fail on education is a
national disgrace!'" Monster is still too young to run for president, but he learns about the
importance of getting out one's message and making a difference in the community. As with the
entire series, the distinctive color artwork Monster Needs Your Vote come alive. Highly
recommended!
The Little Kids' Table
Mary Ann McCabe Riehle, author
Mary Reaves Uhles, illustrator
Sleeping Bear Press
Suite 200, 315 East Eisenhower Parkway
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
9781585369133 $16.99 / $11.98 Kindle www.sleepingbearpress.com
Also available as an ebook, The Little Kids' Table is a rhyming picturebook about a group of
children who attend a family gathering and dinner at their grandmother's house. Their table is
lively, and things only get more chaotic when grandma's dog Daisy comes crashing through! "I
bet if grown-ups were granted three wishes, / one would be to give up those fancy dishes. // And
go back to the days when they were able / to sit again at the little kids' table." Colorful, cartoony
illustrations bring this exuberant story to life.
Once Upon a Rainy Day
Edouard Manceau, author/illustrator
Owlkids Books, Inc.
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781771471510, $17.95, www.owlkidsbooks.com
"Once Upon a Rainy Day" is the story of a story, that starts over every time the same way, except
when it rains. The whole story never happens on a rainy day because all the characters who make
up the story action stay comfortably inside their storybook homes when it is rainy. The narration
of "Once Upon a Rainy Day" is perhaps an alternative story, leaving the reader to imagine how
the story would be shown if it were not a rainy day. Actually it is quite an intriguing story, and
the illustrations showing a setting, the forest, with raindrops, the props, such as a bicycle, and the
various homes of the main characters, Mr. Warbler, the Big Bad Wolf, Oscar the pig, Amadeus
the hare, Niles the flying squirrel, and Popof, the big mouthed bear. Without giving anything
away, it is safe to say the sunshine story always begins as a chase between the Big Bad Wolf and
all the other animals, and it always ends.....with the wolf.....in the cabbage patch. Then all the
friends sing together: "First he tried to catch us, Then he swore he'd gut us, Next he vowed to
gobble us up. But he couldn't pull it off! Now he's in the cabbage patch... The wolf has met his
match!" Then the Rainy Day story ends with a note... "Actually, the rain has stopped now. The
sun is out.. Mr. Warbler has left to wake up the Big Bad Wolf. This time, the story can start for
real...." At this point, there is an infinitely tempting opportunity for the reader to ....tell the story
his way! "Once Upon a Rainy Day" is a tricky, sly little tale that teases its readers to try out their
own creative muscles and make their own story. All the rainy day illustrations are in on the total
effect, which is scrumptious fun for all, allowing the readers to make up their own images of
each fantastic character, a very satisfying pursuit.
The Menino, A Story Based On Real Events
Isol, author/illustrator
Elisa Amado, translator
Groundwood Books
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781554987788, $19.95, www.groundwoodbooks.com
"The Menino" is an English translation of "El Menino," written originally in Spanish by the
multiple award-winning author, Isol, also an accomplished advertising illustrator, professional
singer, and a comic book writer. It is a book about the experience of welcoming a new human
being to a family. The Menino arrives naked and squalling, small and wondrous, needing to sleep
so much because he has been on a long voyage. Where did he come from? Is he still dreaming?
He seems unfamiliar with his small new body. The Menino comes equipped with a noisy siren
that goes off unpredictably, reminding someone to feed the Menino, clean the Menino, lull the
Menino to sleep, play with the Menino, or just love the Menino. You get to guess which thing
works each time. The Menino comes equipped with eyes, a nose, ears, and a mouth, all of which
have amazing uses. The Menino has a sophisticated waste disposal system that is quite efficient.
Gradually the Menino learns many things about all his equipment and functions. The Menino is
mysterious, and different from any other Menino, though meeting other Meninos is fun. The
Menino is a mirror, in front of which it is useless to pretend. The Menino plays peek-a-boo,
grows teeth, gnaws everything, and begins to communicate in the language of his house. The
Menino has strong hypnotic powers, making people forget what life was like before he came.
One day the Menino learns something that changes him and makes him happy to be here. He
learns that everyone was once a Menino, and still has a Menino inside. This makes life on this
planet so much more comfortable. Amazing, amusing, intriguing, entrancing delicately
expressive layered ink drawing illustrations in a limited pallet of sepia, gold, orange, and white
complete "The Menino," a story that could be for children or it could be for adults, or it could be
for everyone.
That Squeak
Francois Thisdale, illustrator
Carolyn Beck, author
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8
9781554552931, $17.95, www.fitzhenry.ca
"That Squeak" is a story of treasured boyhood memories of summer bike rides to a special, secret
place with a special friend. But the squeak of the seat, which had reminded Joe of everything that
was good about their shared bike rides, may come to share a different symbolism, for his friend
Jay does not return to ride his bike in the spring weather. The two boys had worked hard together
to oil the squeak but it never went away. It was just his squeak, said his smiling friend, now gone.
It is all too heartbreaking for Joe, come back to visit the unclaimed bicycle of his friend.
However, this time, another boy, Carlos, joins Joe and offers to help fix up Jay's bike with him.
Feeling deep suspicion, anger, resentment, and pain, Joe does not gracefully accept Carlos' help
and interest. He is convinced Carlos wants to steal Jay's bike, because he is poor. Also, it is too
painful to share his memories of his friend Jay with a new friend. The story unfolds gradually, an
unlikely flowering, and ends in beauty that is both healing and uncertain. Sensitive water color
paintings convey the nuances of feeling in the relationships of Joe with Jay and Carlos.
Eventually Carlos and Joe become unlikely close friends, and even though this may not last,
because Carlos may have to move away, the friendship and the shared, stolen bike rides are like a
soul's treasure, stored up to last a lifetime. "That Squeak" is a moving experience on many levels,
some beyond speaking. It is a transformational story that gently stimulates inner growth of the
heart. Boys and girls of different ages may deeply appreciate "That Squeak," as will the adults
who are privileged to read it.
The Specific Ocean
Kyo Maclear,author
Katty Maurey, illustrator
Kids Can Press Ltd.
2250 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY 14150
9781894786355, $17.95, www.kidscanpress.com
"The Specific Ocean" is a transparent child's vacation story that is sheer poetry in motion from
start to finish. Illuminated by delicate, pastel mixed media illustrations, "The Specific Ocean"
communicates feeling states, from the viewpoint of young girl, in stages of surrender to the
mighty experience of the Pacific (or "specific") Ocean. A girl and her brother are taken to an
ocean vacation cottage from their city home by their parents. The girl does not want to go. She
has to go, so she mopes and tries very hard not to have a good time. Finally she dips and plays in
the ocean with her brother, finding it to be a moving and refreshing experience. Gradually she
becomes entranced, enchanted by the daily experience of the presence of the specific ocean, her
private name for the Pacific Ocean. Although she longs to take the ocean home with her in a
bowl, to claim it as hers, her brother tells her this is not possible because it would diminish the
ocean, and she considers that and agrees. She decides to leave the ocean whole as it is, for next
time. Then, after an amazing trip back to her life in the city, she realizes she has carried her
awareness of the specific ocean deep inside herself, where it is uniquely hers...."Calm. Blue.
Ruffled Gray. Playful. Green. Mysterious. Black. Foggy. Silver. Roaring. White. No matter
where I am this specific ocean will be with me." In "The Specific Ocean," the translucent
narrative and the ocean-colored fantasy illustrations team together seamlessly to produce a
haunting, immersing experience that conveys the deep, rejuvenating sense of submerging in an
interior ocean. "The Specific Ocean" can be read by middle grade or younger children and their
parents as an encouragement to embrace new experiences, or it can be entered, like a magical
alternate reality, soothing, pulsing, and embracing like the ocean. Adults will fall under the
hypnotic spell cast by words and images just as readily as children if not more so.
The Nesting Quilt
Cathryn Falwell, author/illustrator
Tilbury House Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, Maine 04861
9780884484189, $16.95, www.tilburyhouse.com
"The Nesting Quilt" is a beautiful book for children in a family due to welcome another new
sibling. Maya is busy helping her mother and her Nana prepare for the birth of a new baby. Nana
tells Maya it is like nesting, when the birds prepare for their families to hatch. Nana and Maya
love watching the birds nesting. Maya thinks of the different nests she has seen them build, from
a huge eagle's nest to a tiny, silken hummingbird nest, each one adapted perfectly to the baby bird
or birds who will be sheltered there. Nana and Maya are intrigued by a little finch making a nest,
when Maya decides she would like to make a nest for her new baby brother or sister. To make it
soft for the baby, it will not have sticks and leaves. Instead, Nana helps Maya plan to make a very
special fabric quilt nest for the new baby. First Maya creates a special drawing of her quilt nest
for the baby. Then they look at quilt patterns, collect and cut out different colored fabrics, and
arrange pieces of fabric to look like Maya's drawing. Nana teaches Maya how to sew the tiny
pieces in the quilt patches together. This is hard, but Nana and Mama help, and Maya sews and
sews. One day finally, the new baby, a brother, is born. He is soft and hungry, like a baby bird.
Maya shows the family her beautiful nesting quilt gift for the baby, and Mama lays him down on
it. Her baby brother smiles up at Maya to show how much he likes his first gift from her. Maya is
excited to hear baby bird chirps from the little finch nest too. What a soft, comfortable nest she
has made to welcome her new baby brother. At the end of "The Nesting Quilt," there are simple
illustrated instructions for making a small quilt for a special friend or toy, suitable for a child
with basic hand sewing skills, using adult help. A younger child could help pick out colors and
help lay out patterns for the quilt. All of the warm, tender illustrations for "The Nesting Quilt"
were made from cut pieces of fabric and paper, glued in place to create images, and illustrated
with colored pencils, watercolors, thread and felt-tip pens for additional detail. "The Nesting
Quilt" is both a sibling preparation story and a craft inspiration for children. It is very sensitively
expressed and presented, with family members and friends of different skin colors represented
for love of diversity.
Funky Little Monkey
Debbie Buttar, author
Christopher Davis, illustrator
GMEC Publishing
PO Box 4470, Lake Tahoe, NV 89449
9780979430251, $14.99, www.amazon.com
"Funky Little Monkey" is a jazzy, dancing, entrancing song story in verse with dazzling bright
illustrations of the swiftly moving funky little monkey. He skates, hops, shakes, moves, and
dances through the forest and the streets, amazing all the other animals with his endless energy
and moves. The rollicking lines of verse are perfectly complemented by the action animal
paintings in funky pinks, greens, yellows, and other bright colors. Finally the funky little monkey
dances into the flamingo's dance studio where he performs his best dance yet for the entire town;
the Funky Little Monkey Disco Dance! Children will adore the fast moving pages covered with
dancing images and jazzy words. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Funky Little
Monkey" will be donated for the medical treatment of children suffering from cancer or
autism.
Stanley At School
Linda Bailey, author
Bill Slavin, illustrator
Kids Can Press Ltd.
2250 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY 14150
9781771380966, $17.95, www.kidscanpress.com
"Stanley At School" is another title in the popular Stanley series which appeals to so many young
fans with its exuberance and doggy-centered outlook and life experience. Stanley is a loyal dog
who is curious about school, where he knows children, not dogs, go every day. What do they do
there all day? Stanley discusses the issue with his canine friends at the dog park, Alice, Nutsy,
and Gassy Jack. The consensus is the dog friends will stage an exploration of school together,
sneaking out of their yards the next day. A hilarious adventure ensues, with funny, fabulous
illustrations of all four dogs bravely tackling the school exploration. They discover there are two
wonderful things about school: Kids, and lunch! However, the dogs make a terrible mess, and are
chased by a man with a broom, and taken to the Principal's office. She is the top dog! They are
terrified of her! What will she do? The very smart top dog principal has a perfect solution to the
chaos of four dogs invading her school, and the dogs leave, obeying her command, covered with
paint spots and food scraps and scuffle marks, having had a wonderful time. That was the last
school visit for Stanley and friends, but is it over for all the other doge? Now that the word is out
that school equals kids, food, and running, a few other dogs may want to try it out...... This
remarkable canine series will star with kids, dogs, and grownups too.
Jimmy Handstand
Sylvia Karalis, author
Linda Cowen, illustrator
thewordverve, publisher
9781941251294, $10.00, www.thewordverve.com
"Jimmy Handstand" is a quirky, zany little story about a boy who decided to improve his day by
turning the world upside down and walking on his hands for a day. Hi first handstand began
because he needed to cheer up his little sister Lily to stop her crying. When that worked, he
became determined to keep working at staying in his unique handstand for the whole day, though
it was difficult and he fell frequently at first. There were advantages to being upside down in a
handstand position, Jimmy found. He discovered things around the house that were unseen or
lost, like his toy car, or his mom's favorite earring. Except for his sister's discarded vegetables
(eeuuuu), it was like a treasure hunt. Still there were many things that were awkward or
impossible to do while standing on his hands, like getting the mail, petting his dog, catching a
baseball, eating dinner, brushing his teeth, etc. Very funny pictures of Jimmy attempting to do
many things in his handstand fill the pages of "Jimmy Handstand." Finally at the end of the day,
his dad helped him to brush his teeth by picking him up and spinning him right side up. Since
Jimmy was getting tired anyway, that was fine. Who knows what new adventures await Jimmy
Handstand after this fun and challenging upside down day of experiences? A surprise twist
ending involves the introduction of....Lily Handstand! "Jimmy Handstand" is an exciting, fun,
imaginative story with stimulating ideas and colorful illustrations that challenges young readers
and their families to think outside the box.
Where is Rusty?
Sieb Posthuma, author/illustrator
Bill Nagelkerke, translator
Gecko Press
c/o Lerner Publishing Group
241 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1607
www.lernerbooks.com
9781927271452, $16.95, www.geckopress.com
"Where is Rusty?" is a charming story about a an amazing shopping expedition to a mall by a
mother and three assorted young ones. The only difference is, this is a world of many different
kinds of dogs. Rusty, cautioned by his mother to stay together with Toby and Henrietta, is very
easily distracted from the group because he follows his nose. However, when he looks around to
find his mother, she is not there. Fearing pickup and lockup by the sinister appearing watchdogs,
Rusty flees through the ventilation pipes! Where is he? His sobbing mother dog puts out a Lost
Dog announcement on the loud speaker of the mall. However, Rusty has hidden in a box and
can't hear the call for a small white fox terrier with a red collar to report to Lost Dogs on the third
floor. Picture after ornate picture requests the reader, "Where is Rusty?" Young readers will love
rising to the challenge of locating Rusty on each page among mannequins, lamps, stuffed
animals, furniture, and more. Finally an amazing announcement is heard: "A small dog has been
found in the lighting department, sales desk 23." Mother, Toby, and Henrietta dash to the display
to reclaim Rusty. Home safe and resting on his mother's lap, Rusty doesn't hear her reminding
him to stay with her next time, for he is too busy dreaming of the dog biscuit machine. Originally written in Dutch, "Where is Rusty?" is a creative adventure in an imaginary shopping
world of civilized dogs who resemble humans very much in their diversity and in their capacity
for expression. Creative artistic expression best defines the features of the dog's world in "Where
is Rusty?"
Totally Tardy Marty
Erica S. Perl, author
Jarrett J. Krosoczka, illustrator
Abrams Books for Young Readers
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781419716614, $16.95, www.abramsyoungreaders.com
Ready for a back-to-school audience with punctuality and time management challenges built in,
"Totally Tardy Marty" entertains school age readers with a fascinating series of dazzling
distractions that plague Totally Tardy Marty. Marty is routinely met by Never-Late Kate at school
with his tardy slip no matter what the excuses or delays might be. An interesting twist occurs one
day when Marty is rescued from a tree (by replacing a fallen ladder) by Kate. The two become
friends, even though it was Kate's first tardy slip. Discovering this amazing new friendship
encourages Marty to be early the next day! Thereafter, Marty is helped by Kate to be more
punctual, even if it means pulling him along in a wagon. At the end of "Totally Tardy Marty" is a
handy list of Kate's and Marty's Top 5 Points For perpetual Punctuality. These include selecting
and setting out the next day's clothing the night before, packing your backpack the night before
and leaving it by the front door, setting an alarm or two, no hitting snooze, and not skipping
breakfast, or making it mobile, like Toast -on-a-rope! Hilarious, colorful, quirky illustrations
provide amusing commentary on the morning's events that occur to delay and detract "Totally
Tardy Marty." Children age 5 and up will love this helpful story about a lovable, creative boy
who makes a friend.
i love you more than moldy ham
Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis, author/illustrator
Abrams Books for Young Readers
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781419716461, $14.95, www.abramsbooks.com
"i love you more than moldy ham" is a squeaky, slimy, yucky version of the "I love you more
than" rhyming stories often read to young children. Some truly great, disgusting images arise in
verse, illuminated by deeply disturbing drawings of yucky, squishy substances and creations in
bilious yellow, green, and purple. All things lead to a heartfelt expression of child (monster?)
mother love in the final lines: "'I made you dinner, Mother dear!' Mummy gives a happy cheer.
We squeeze each other, oozing love (also secretions unheard of). Happily we sit to eat. Dinner
smells like sweaty feet! Green fog rises as we dine... We dig in and life is fine. You are mine and
yours I am - I love you more than moldy ham!" This mildly alarming love story has unlimited
appeal for little boys and also some little girls.
Roar!
Julie Bayless, author/illustrator
Running Press Kids
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762457502, $16.95, www.runningpress.com
"Roar!" is a superbly imaginative midnight moonlight adventure story for preschool audiences or
children ages 3-7. Against a deep midnight blue/purple background, a small yellow lion cub
asleep in an unlikely tree wakes up with a tiny "Roar!" Trying to waken first mother, then father
lion, the cub's tiny roar only elicits a "Snore!" response. A series of funny encounters with first
some hippos, then some giraffes, and finally some underground rabbits leads to a bigger and
bigger "Roar!" which delights the lion cub's newfound friend, the brown rabbit, who responds,
"More!" The two friends pursue multiple midnight romps and adventures with their two word
conversations, finally returning home to the lion family asleep in the tree as the orange sun is
rising. An adorable portrait of the two unlikely friends asleep ("snore") on top of daddy lion ends
this moonlight adventure that will become a bedtime bonanza of entertainment for preschool
children. The sparse, expressive, rhyming call and response is perfect for pre-reading skills
practice and fun.
Uh-Oh Octopus!
Ellie Van Lieshout & Erik van Os, authors
Mies van Hout, illustrator
Lemniscaat Publishers
P.O. Box 4066, 3006 AB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
9781935954392, $17.95, 32pp, www.amazon.com
"Uh-Oh Octopus" is a charming underwater tale about a small octopus faced with a home
invasion dilemma: Apparently a fish with a very large tail had taken over his cozy undersea
apartment! Fearful of confrontation, Octopus swims to all his different undersea friends to ask
their advice, which is conflicting, scary, and confusing. It all makes Octopus feel seasick. Finally
the sea whispers to Octopus, "How about you? What would you do?" Octopus admits, "I would
go to the tail and ask him politely to leave." The exciting twist in the story comes when Octopus
follows his heart, for he discovers a beautiful surprise that challenges his former assumptions.
The delicate underwater illustrations of Octopus and all his sea creature friends and associates is
exquisite. "Uh-Oh Octopus!"is translated from the original Dutch to English in this stunning
children's publication.
The Boy Who Stopped Time
Michael A. Massa, author
Pritali Joharapurkar, illustrator
Mirror Publishing
6434 W Dixon Street, Milwaukee, WI 53214
9781612252803, $12.99, www.pagesofwonder.com
"The Boy Who Stopped Time" is a deeply sensitive fable about time, and a boy's love-motivated
effort to stop the rapid passage of it. Anthony, the boy, lived in an Italian village high in the
mountains, where everyone knew everyone else. Anthony became fearful of the passage of time
when he learned that his grandfather was ill and did not have long to live. Discovering many
concerns of different characters with the running out of time, Anthony decided to ask Brother
Martin's help to stop the hands of the village steeple clock at 12 midnight so that no one would
die or have to worry about running out of time. What happens after that is an immensely
enlightening experience for Anthony. The morning after the steeple clock was stopped at
midnight, morning still came, the sun still rose. As the day began, Anthony learned from his
father and his mother that time could not be stopped, but that there would always be love, more
love than the stars in the sky. So, although the acceptance of mortality is painful, Anthony went
to sleep last night with the vision of the stars and moon in the night sky, sure that although time
could not be stopped, love was always present and would endure. Touching color illustrations
show Anthony in his battle with time, finally accepting the love of his family. This is a very
touching story for young readers.
King Red and the White Snow: And Other Tales for Children
Reg Down
Lightly Press
6187 Greenhaven Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831
www.tiptoes-lightly.net
9781515042303, $11.95, 44pp, www.amazon.com
King Red is a red king, everything is red, his cape, his crown, even his little finger. One winter's
day it snows. The snow is the whitest King Red has ever seen and he just has to go a-walking. So
begins the first of six tales centered on the wonderful world of color, a world children experience
as vivid and full of life. Inside you'll find The Rosy Princess and the yellow Elf, The orange
Gnome from Spain, the melancholic Boo-hoo Blue and more, all. Come visit! Beautifully
illustrated in watercolor, "King Red and the White Snow: And Other Tales for Children" by
author/illustrator Reg Down is eminently suitable and highly recommended for children in
kindergarten through grade 3. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to both school and
community library children's Picture Book collections, it should be noted that "King Red and the
White Snow: And Other Tales for Children" is an ideal bedtime picture book acquisition for
families as well. Also very highly recommended are Reg Down's earlier children's books: The
Tales of Tiptoes Lightly (9781453806340, $14.95 PB, $9.95 Kindle, 104pp); Eggs for the
Hunting (9781470030018, $14.95 PB, $9.95 Kindle, 108pp); and The Treasured Cave
(9781492832409, $16.75 PB, $9.95 Kindle, 172pp).
How the Trees Got Their Voices
Susan Andra Lion
Satiama
PO Box 1397, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
9780983268758, $16.95, www.satiama.com
How the Trees Got Their Voices has received eleven national book awards and as soon as young
readers and their parents pick up this picture book, it's easy to see why it's a standout. On the
surface it provides a gentle visual story of how Mother Earth gave the trees their names and
voices - but on another level, it encourages realization of the interconnected ecology of all living
things and emphasizes these relationships in a book packed with unique full-page color drawings,
fun facts, and descriptions of nature's processes which make for evocative, fun visual reading:
"Grasses chattered on and on, pushing the news farther and even farther, bending and bowing in
waves." The result is a lovely read recommended for kids with basic reading skills and for
parental read-aloud for those still in the early learning stages.
BetterNot! And the Tale of Bratsville - Teaching Morals and Manners
Gene Del Vecchio
BetterNot! Enterprises, LLC
200 E. Del Mar Boulevard, Suite 304, Pasadena, Ca. 91105
9780692471050, $15.99 HC, $9.99 PB, $5.99 Kindle, www.amazon.com
BetterNot! And the Tale of Bratsville opens unexpectedly, in a "small town with deep swamps all
around...a strange, eerie place..." : the perfect introduction to invite kids ages 4-8 to embark on a
journey that pairs a rollicking rhyme with the tale of a town where the kids are just out of control.
Roderick Fong's drawings add a realistic but fun touch to accompany the story of a town gone
wild ... as indicated by its name, Bratsville. Neither threats nor punishment works with these
kids: what will? Perhaps a touch of magic is needed! Teaching basic morals and manners in a
picture book is quite a trick if the end result is to be entertaining and thought-provoking to truly
reach kids. The tendency in many picture books which attempt this goal is a preachy tone: but not
here. Under Del Vecchio's hand the town comes to life, the dilemmas of frustrated parents are
neatly charted, and the solution lies in an unexpected route involving one BetterNot. It's a
challenge to take this message in a new direction; but BetterNot! And the Tale of Bratsville
succeeds by using a powerful blend of color illustration and written word that deftly hones in on
unacceptable behaviors and extraordinary solutions. Parents using this for read-aloud will be
equally delighted by the story's fresh, vivid approach which features many unexpected moments
that makes it a top, highly recommended read!
What Pet Should I Get?
Dr. Seuss
Random House
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
9780553524260, $17.99, www.randomhousekids.com
What Pet Should I Get? presents another engaging Seuss title just when one thinks they've all
been done: a manuscript discovered in 2013 in a box in his office now sees the light of day for
old and young Seuss fans and newcomers as well. The whole process of a kid choosing a pet
lends well to the classic Seuss rhyme and approach, making for an engaging story of children
who considers birds, dogs, cats, fish, and more, and find it difficult to pick just one from all the
many different options. A fun classic Seuss dilemma evolves with fine results.
We Forgot Brock!
Carter Goodrich
Simon and Schuster
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor, New York, NY 10020
9781442480902, $17.99, www.kids.simonandschuster.com
We Forgot Brock! presents the dilemma posed by Phillip's parents, who say that Brock is
'imaginary'. But Phillip and Brock are best friends who do everything together - until Brock is left
behind at the fair, one day. Can an imaginary friend rescue himself - and can a real friend solve
the problems of his imagination? A winning story with lovely full-page illustrations makes this a
vivid winner with a different focus than the usual story of an imaginary pal receives.
This is Sadie
Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad
Tundra Books
75 Sherbourne Street, 5th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5A 2P9
9781770495326, $17.99, www.tundrabooks.com
This is Sadie tells of a little girl with big dreams and ideas, and follows a precocious child who
on one level seems to employ common devices to play with, but who in actually hones a very
active imagination. As readers follow Sadie through these dreams, they receive a fun story of a
girl who is not only fearless but not afraid to apply her imagination in ways that enrich her life
and play. Parents choosing this for a read-aloud will also find This is Sadie a different, fun
production!
Felix Stands Tall
Rosemary Wells
Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9780763661113, $14.99, www.candlewick.com
Felix Stands Tall tells of Felix, who has a new best friend in brave Fiona, who leads him to
dream of winning the first prize at the Guinea Pig Jubilee talent show. There's only one thing in
their way: bullies. Can Fiona and Felix find the key to winning the competition and facing their
fears? The signature Rosemary Wells illustrations brings Felix and his concerns to life in another
engaging, fun story of courage and vision.
...and Nick
Emily Gore, author
Leonid Gore, illustrator
Simon and Schuster
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.kids.simonandschuster.com
9781416955061, $17.99, 40pp, www.amazon.com
...and Nick receives delightful drawings by Leonid Gore as it tells of four brothers - Rick, Mick,
Vick and Nick, and how little Nick differs from his siblings. His brothers are confident and have
life planned out, but Nick the mouse has no idea about many things in life, and is called a 'late
bloomer'. He can't ride his bike as quickly, holds fears his brothers don't harbor, and chooses gifts
for his mother that may not be entirely appropriate. A sweet surprise lies in store for the young
reader who also suspects they may not have their siblings' prowess in life.
The Green Musician
Mahvash Shahegh
Wisdom Tales Press
1501 E. Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
9781937786427, $16.95, www.wisdomtalespress.com
The Green Musician receives fine color drawings by Claire Ewart and will reach ages 6 and up
with a picture book story retelling a classic 1,000-year-old Persian story found in the Persian
"Book of Kings". Barbad the musician lives in long-ago Persia and his goal is to play before the
king: something that may be impossible due to a jealous rival. His solution is unique and fosters
the idea of innovation and determination for young audiences. Picture book collections strong in
folk stories from around the world will find this a fine addition.
Toys Meet Snow
Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky
Schwartz and Wade
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
9780385373302, $17.99, www.randomhousekids.com
Toys Meet Snow comes from the creators of the Toys trilogy and presents the fun story of
curious toys who decide to go outdoors to play in snow. Lumphy, StingRay and others are back -
but in a new picture book format that provides their adventures to a younger audience. Kids will
delight in an easy reader that romps them through the world of toys that not only come to life, but
can't contain their curiosity about the world.
Penguin Books
c/o Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com, www.amazon.com
Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers' The Day the Crayons Came Home (9780399172755, $18.99)
provides a fine new Crayons story that contains a special 'glow in the dark' drawing as it tells of a
colorful group who asks Duncan to rescue them from sofas, seated parents, a washing machine
snafu, and more. It's evident the crayons have more than their fair share of problems as they
encounter the human world - and it falls to Duncan to help them out in yet another winning, fun
story of crayons on the move. Karma Wilson's Duddle Puck the Puddle Duck (9781462449275,
$17.99) receives lovely color illustrations by Marcellus Hall as it tells of one Duddle Puck, who
clucks, honks, and even imitates other animal sounds uncommon to a duck's beak! It may be up
to other barnyard animals to teach him the right language - with the wrong results. Ages 4-8 will
find this a fun picture book read filled with zany moments and whimsical adventure. Judy
Schachner's Dewey Bob (9780803741201, $17.99) tells of Dewey Bob Crockett, a cute raccoon
who loves to collect things. One would think he'd have everything he needed with so many
beautiful objects; but the one thing he lacks is a friend. It should be easy to apply the same
collecting skills - but, apparently they don't fit this particular goal. A bonus CD read by the
author compliments a lovely title with its engaging, fun art.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Attack on Titan: The Harsh Mistress of the City Part 2
Created by Hajime Isayama
Ryo Kawakami, author
Range Murata, illustrator
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993292 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
The second in a two-part, stand-alone series intended for readers ages 12 and up, Attack on
Titan: The Harsh Mistress of the City Part 2 is a novel set in the science fiction universe of the
"Attack on Titan" franchise of books, manga, anime, and video games. Monsters besiege
humanity from all sides, isolating the Quinta District. Their murderous attacks have left the
inexperienced young garrison soldier Rita Iglehaut in charge by default. Desperate to keep her
people alive and her city self-sufficient, she feels that the only way to avoid catastrophic anarchy
is to rule with a merciless iron fist. As her methods become more and more ruthless, no one is
more shocked than her former childhood friend Mathias Kramer. A handful of black-and-white
illustrations intersperse this story of dire peril, struggle for survival, and the terrible toll of war.
Highly recommended, along with its predecessor, "Attack on Titan: The Harsh Mistress of the
City Part 1" (9781941220627, $10.95).
Freddy and Mrs. Goodwich
Adena Trevor, author
Chelsea Trevor, illustrations
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781499057126, $15.99, www.amazon.com
"Freddy and Mrs. Goodwich" is the latest title in the Freddy series about a boy who makes
excellent pancakes. The Freddy books are appealing for their innovative plots and their funny
characters. Created by an intergenerational team of grandmother and granddaughter, "Freddy and
Mrs. Goodwich" is a fantastic pancake adventure, in which Freddy gets to fly with a witch on her
broom to her home to help teach her to make wonderful pancakes. Mrs. Goodwich loves Freddy's
pancakes, which she pronounces "delishomposhus," a great improvement on her pancakes which
taste like rotten eggs. But flying to the charming, eccentric house of Mrs. Goodwich is just the
beginning of the adventure. Freddy finds that Mrs. Goodwich has some very eccentric ideas of
pancake ingredients and utensils. However, he perseveres with her help, and they eventually
originate some passable pancakes which Mrs. G. finds very acceptable. Then it is time to catch
the broomstick before it flies out the chimney and return home for tea. Waving to the geese, the
two fly home and look forward to many more happy meals of eating delishomposhus pancakes
and Mrs. Goodwich's maple syrup. Delightful, childlike crayon portraits present important scenes
on the pages of the latest Freddy pancake adventure story, adding fun to the family story that
interweaves fantasy and reality.
Autumn of Elves
Joanne Vruno, author
North Star Press
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302
9780878397976, $12.95, www.northstarpress.com
"Autumn of Elves" is book two in the Seasons of Elves series for middle grade chapter book
readers. Sourced in nature and seasonal activities and observations, "Autumn of Elves" continues
a relationship exploration between sisters Aly and Emily and a magical, alternate world known as
the kingdom of Ijus, full of fantastic creatures including elves, gnomes, trolls, fairies, tree sprites
and more. Aly is both thrilled and alarmed to discover her 10 year old sister, Emily, also has
magical powers and is to become another guardian of the creatures of Ijus. The two sisters have
an ally in their grandmother, who shares their bond with the magical world. Many dangers and
adventures challenge the sisters in their guardianship-in -training activities and roles. They also
discover a network of new friends, and some unseen enemies. Being a protective guardian is a
big job, as is learning to train and use your special magical powers, while keeping secret the
existence of both the magic and the fragile realm to which the guardian sisters have been granted
access. The sisters learn much about responsibility and the duty to place the needs of the elf
colony above private aims. "Autumn of Elves" is a fast- moving, exciting, fantasy sequel with
lots of parallel opportunities for young readers to experience challenges, definition of core
values, and growth. Just the right balance of unpredictability and security interlace the complex
plot, both challenging and enticing young readers to chase the story to its mostly happy ending.
Young heroines will enjoy identifying with the protector roles of the sister guardians in "Autumn
of Elves," and will be eager for the third volume of the Seasons of Elves series, which is
hopefully forthcoming.
Tales of Mr. Snuggywhiskers: The Autumn Tales
C. F. Crawford, author
L. H. Crawford, illustrator
Lauco Press
9780692324929, $11.00, 166pp, www.amazon.com
When Hallie and Cory cross a magic branch that shrinks them to mouse size, they make the
acquaintance of Mr. Snuggywhiskers -- the friendly, well-spoken mouse who lives in the tallest
tree in their backyard. From the day that Hallie discovers his tiny red door to the moment that
Hallie and Cory realize their mysterious connection with Mr. Snuggywhiskers, they find out how
enchanting the world of Mr. Snuggywhiskers can be. Impressively well written and illustrated,
"Tales of Mr. Snuggywhiskers: The Autumn Tales" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from
beginning to end and very highly recommended for personal, school, and community library
collections for children. Also very highly recommended is the second in what will prove to be an
enduringly popular series by the Crawfords, "Tales of Mr. Snuggywhiskers: The Winter Tales"
(9780692484326, $11.00, 160pp).
Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath
Annette Oppenlander
Lodestone Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781846949739, $12.99, 299pp, www.amazon.com
When fifteen-year-old nerd and gamer Max Anderson thinks he's sneaking a preview of an
unpublished video game, he doesn't realize that ee's been chosen as a beta, an experimental test
player; that ee's playing the ultimate history game, transporting him into the actual past:
anywhere and anytime; and that survival is optional: to return home he must decipher the game's
rules and complete its missions -- if he lives long enough. To fail means to stay in the past
forever. Now Max is trapped in medieval Germany, unprepared and clueless. It is 1471 and he
quickly learns that being an outcast may cost him his head. Especially after rescuing a beautiful
peasant girl from a deadly infection and thus provoking sinister wannabe Duke Ott. Overnight he
is dragged into a hornets' nest of feuding lords who will stop at nothing to bring down the
conjuring stranger in their midst. "Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath" is a science fiction
time travel action/adventure novel that will grip the reader's total attention from beginning to
end. Very highly recommended for school and community library YA fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($0.99).
The Audiobook Shelf
Treasure Hunters: Secret of the Forbidden City
James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, authors
Read by Bryan Kennedy
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478959663 $23.00 www.HachetteAudio.com
Treasure Hunters: Secret of the Forbidden City is the unabridged audiobook rendition of an
exciting children's adventure novel in the "Treasure Hunters" series. The treasure-seeking Kidd
family earns a living by searching for long-lost precious artifacts, but when the mother is
kidnapped by pirates, a race against time begins to save her! Action, adventure, and intrigue
combine is this choice pick for public and school library children's audiobook collections. 4 CDs,
5 hours. Also highly recommended are previous audiobook in the "Treasure Hunters" series:
"Treasure Hunters" and "Treasure Hunters: Danger Down the Nile".
The Music CD Shelf
Simpatico
Renee & Friends
One Melody Records
$13.98 CD / $9.99 digital www.reneeandfriends.com
Titled after an English word meaning "congenial" or "likeable", Simpatico is a family-friendly
album created by singer-songwriter Renee Stahl and a crossover assortment of musical friends,
including Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Lisa Loeb, Colin Hay, Glen Phhillips, Chris Ballew,
Jeremy Toback and more, a.k.a. "Renee & Friends". The original songs embody love,
reassurance, and the joy of sharing of personal friendships. Varied and delightful, Simpatico will
please listeners of all ages with its heartfelt melodies. The tracks are "Gather Round", "Precious
One", "You Were Meant To Be", "Are We There Yet?", "Starfish and Coffee", "You & Me", "I
Am Not Afraid", "Happiness", "Wherever You Go", "This Bright Dream", "Dream About the
Moonlight", and "Right Here Now."
Come Bien! Eat Right!
Jose-Luis Orozco
www.joseluisorozco.com
Smithsonian Folkways
c/o Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
PO Box 37012, MRC 957
Aerospace Building 704-A, Washington, DC 20013-7012
$16.00 CD / $9.99 download www.folkways.si.edu
Created by multiple award-winning educator and musician Jose Luis Orozco (whose honors
include a Notable Award form the American Library Association) and produced by Grammy
winner Quetzal Flores, Come Bien! Eat Right! is a bilingual Spanish/English children's album
designed to teach young children about good nutrition and healthy diets. The first nineteen tracks
are original, educational songs with Spanish lyrics; the second nineteen tracks are the same songs
with English lyrics. A 40-page booklet with bilingual notes rounds out this engaging,
educational, and high-spirited music album, enthusiastically recommended for public and school
library children's music collections. The songs are "Thanksgiving", "Clean Hands", "The Food
On My Plate", "Eat Right", "Tasty Colors", "The Fruit Conga", "Veggies", "Fresh Salad",
"Juanito's Chicken", "Let's Go to the Sea", "Compadre, Buy Me a Coconut", "The Legumes
Dance", "Milk", "Chocolate", "Oatmeal", "Whole Grain Bread", "Tortilla", "Snack", and
"Water".
Get on Board!
Alex & The Kaleidoscope
Privately Published
$9.99 www.alexandthekaleidoscope.com
Emmy Award-winning performers Alex & The Kaleidoscope (featuring Alex Mitnick) present
Get on Board!, an original children's music album filled with storytelling songs that invite the
listener to observe and learn from the surrounding world. Filled with positive social messages
about everything from learning about insects to responsible recycling, Get on Board! is highly
recommended. The tracks are "Alex & The Kaleidoscope Theme Song", "Get On Board", "Insect
Tourists", "Vegetable Garden Town", "Outside", "Manners In The Kitchen", "Dino Rangers",
"Shark Tank", "Tell Me A Story", "Peach Tree", "Marshmallow", "Recycle", "Oh, Won't You Sit
Down", "Leading the Way", and "Choo Choo!". 44 min.
The DVD Shelf
The New Stone Soup in American Sign Language
Featuring CJ Jones, Michelle Banks, and David Rivera
DawnSign Press
6130 Nancy Ridge Dr., San Diego, CA 92121
9781581212600 $15.95 www.dawnsign.com
Part of the "Once Upon a Sign" DVD series created especially for deaf children, The New Stone
Soup in American Sign Language is a playful story about traveling magicians who hope to earn
their daily bread entertaining people in a local village. The villagers enjoy the show but won't
share their food - so the trio of performers concocts a plan to encourage the community to share
and contribute! The New Stone Soup in American Sign Language is performed entirely in
American Sign Langue, but also has a voice-over and English subtitles. A "fun signs" recap of
key signs from the stories is also included, the better to help kids learn ASL! 25 min., region-free
DVD.
The Beginner's Bible, Volume 4
StarVista Entertainment
c/o Time Life
PO Box 11016, Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1016
$9.95 www.time.com
The Beginner's Bible, Volume 4 continues an animated children's DVD depicting famous stories
from the Bible. In Volume 4, cartoon portrayals retell four classic tales. "The Story of Joseph &
His Brothers" is about a young man, sold into slavery by his own siblings, whose God-given
talent for interpreting dreams helps him save all of Egypt; "The Story of Daniel & the Lion's
Den" follows Daniel's steadfast adherence to his faith, even when confronted with the prospect of
martyrdom to hungry lions; "The Story of the Battle of Jericho" is the saga of how the tribes of
Israel conquered Jericho and claimed the promised land; and a bonus tale "The Story of Jonah &
The Whale" is about Jonah, commanded by God to spread the faith to the sinful Ninevites; Jonah
seeks to escape his calling aboard a ship, but when a storm destroys the vessel God sends a
friendly whale to rescue Jonah. The Beginner's Bible is an excellent way to introduce young
Christian children to timeless Biblical tales. 120 min.
The Multimedia Shelf
Autumn: Leaves Fall From the Trees!
Lisa Bell, author
Emily Brooks, illustrator
Cantata Learning
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
9781632902603 $33.99 hc / $7.95 pbk www.cantatalearning.com
Ideal for young people ages 3-8, Autumn: Leaves Fall From the Trees! is a children's picturebook
celebrating the fall season with simple, delightful illustrations and a sing-along song. The song is
on an accompanying CD, but readers can also visit www.cantatalearning.com/access-our-music
to listen to and sing along with the song. "We pick pumpkins from the vine. / Soon we will have
pumpkin pie. // And above it all are flying geese, / migrating south in a V." The last few pages
offer a recap of the song's lyrics, written musical notation for the song, a brief glossary of the
more difficult words (such as "migrating"), and a few guided reading activities. Autumn: Leaves
Fall From the Trees! is an excellent seasonal giftbook for little ones.
Hiawatha and the Peacemaker
Robbie Robertson, author/songwriter/musician
David Shannon, illustrator
Abrams Books for Young Readers
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781419712203, $19.95, www.abramsbooks.com
"Hiawatha and the Peacemaker" is a stunning musical and narrative retelling of a treasured
Mohawk tale of the origin of the Six Nations, the Iroquois Confederacy, or the Haudenosaunee,
people of the Long House. The two main characters in the tale, Hiawatha and the Peacemaker,
are thought to be real persons who lived in pre-Columbian North America in the fourteenth
century. The tale is told in haunting cadences, mysteriously illuminated by the fabulous artwork
of Caldecott award -winning artist David Shannon. The tale of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker
emerges as a series of dangerous quest journeys, to teach different members of the Five Nations
of the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Seneca the message of peace, forgiveness, and
love between persons of all nations, an ending of fighting, hatred, and war. Hiawatha began his
strange quest with the Peacemaker after he lost his wife and three daughters to the evil actions of
Tadodaho, Chief of the Onondaga. Each journey to each different nation presents danger and
obstacles, but Hiawatha assists the Peacemaker, who speaks with an impediment, by being his
spokesperson and delivering his powerful message. Finally the Four Nations begin to paddle as
one nation, and Hiawatha comes to the dwelling of Tadodaho. In an unforgettable encounter
inspired by the holy man Peacemaker's vision, Hiawatha understands the horrible illness of
Tadodaho and in compassion creates for him a healing potion for medicine. Miraculous
transformations occur through the magical healing powers of forgiveness, and eventually the Five
Nations join together as one Nation, and Tadodaho is transformed into a protective eagle who
would be the keeper of peace and protector of all the people. "Hiawatha and the Peacemaker" is
also performed as an incredible song by Robbie Robertson and associated artists, included in a
CD with the book. The background Historical Note, Acknowledgements, and Author's Note all
add to the beauty, clarity, and complexity of this tale of "Hiawatha and the Peacemaker." Richly
textured and flawlessly presented, it's important message is as powerful today as when it was first
created, long ago.
Jennie Jenkins
John M. Feierabend, author/adaptor of song lyrics
Ashley, Maurer, illustrator
GIA Publications
7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 N. Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781622771394, $16.95, www.giamusic.com
"Jennie Jenkins" is a stunning new adaptation of an old traditional children's song with
British/Scottish origins. Filled with brilliant colored portraits of many birds of different colors
who come to visit, "Jennie Jenkins" recounts the traditional song lyrics with a rainbow theme, as
Jennie, the nesting mother bird, receives visits and offers of different colored ribbons from five
different birds of white, red, black, blue, green, and purple ribbons. Each offer is politely
countered and finally accepted by Jennie with a different refrain, until the final page, when her
five baby birds appear, wearing five different ribbon bow gifts from the friendly birds. At the end
of the song story, a page of music animates the verse, with a reference for a free mp3 version of
the song at giamusic.com/jennie. Further background about the song "Jennie Jenkins" gives
different versions, games, and uses that have been used with versions of "Jennie Jenkins."
"Jennie Jenkins" is a lovely illuminated traditional song book that is meant to be sung, shared and
played with children. The elements of refrain, variation, repetition, and surprise developments are
all taught and experienced in a fun, interactive, natural way.
Zar and the Broken Spaceship
Dinosaur O'Dell, author
Santiago Germano, illustrator
Dino O'Dell, publisher
www.DinoODell.com
9781495142697, $15.99, www.BookBaby.com, www.ReadingReptile.com
"Zar and the Broken Spaceship" is a provoking illustrated story about making contact with a
visiting space alien in a repairable downed spaceship. Zar is the three-eyed, two-mouthed green
alien and three adventurous boys are his discoverers and alien intermediaries. The verse, rhyming
narrative of "Zar and the Broken Spaceship" is singsong because it is in fact the lyrics of a fun
song of the same title which can be listened to on iTunes or watched on Youtube. Author
Dinosaur O'Dell is a children's musician and storyteller, and former preschool teacher. Exciting
illustrations in slightly retro shades of deep sea aqua, lime green, brown and coral portray the
mysterious Zar's encounter with his three young friends, whom he enlists to help him fix his
broken spaceship. Here is the song lyric that describes what the boys need to do to help Zar fix
his spaceship: "Push these buttons with you're your finger, your foot, your elbow, your knee, your
nose, your bottom, and your tongue. Push the buttons even faster. Even faster. Even faster."
Clearly the song has actions children will love to imitate in a growing frenzy of joy. "Zar and the
Broken Spaceship" is the first in projected series which is planned to encourage values of
teamwork, cooperation, and celebration of diversity for young children. For a fun, educational
experience, enjoy reading "Zar and the Broken Spaceship" with your favorite Earth child.
The Travel Shelf
Nate & Shea's Adventures in South Africa
Carrie Whitten-Simmons, author
Equator Creative Media
87 W. State, Phoenix, AZ 85021
9781496024527, $9.99, www.TravelWithKids.tv
"Nate & Shea's Adventures in South Africa" is a jam-packed, 42 page, profusely illustrated
Junior Explorer Guide from the well known successful TV series, Travel with Kids. This
multiple award winning series "immerses dis in history, culture, and nature" of the exotic places
they explore and visit. Nate and Shea are real live boys who host the TV series, Travel With
Kids, seeing many exciting countries in exotic locations. In South Africa, Nate and Shea learn
about history of the country from the arrival of Dutch explorers in the 1600s to the recent history
of apartheid and the work and legacy of Nelson Mandela and others. They also learn about tribal
customs and traditions of two tribes of native South Africans, Zulu and Xhosa. They even tackle
mini language lessons in three separate languages: Afrikaans, Zulu, and Xhosa, and they also ate
typical South African foods, such as braai, and pap. Wonderful photos of many South African
animals, birds, and even sharks are exciting reminders of the many wild animals living in this
country. Throughout the pages of sights and history and experiences, there are small excerpts
from the travel journals of Nate & Shea, plus QR codes that allow kids to watch video clips for
action animation of the narrative text. "Nate & Shea's Adventures in South Africa" is stimulating,
exciting, educational, and fun, the perfect way to become a junior explorer and a global citizen.
Additional titles in this highly recommended travel series include: "Nate & Shea's Adventures in
Hawaii (9780615918808)," "Nate & Shea's Adventures in Italy (9781495211935)," and "Nate &
Shea's Adventures in Peru (9781515023128)."
The Lonely Planet Kids Travel Book
Lonely Planet Kids
c/o Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781743607749, $19.99, www.amazon.com
Children ages 8 to 12 can take a world tour through 200 countries with this newly updated and
expanded edition of "The Lonely Planet Kids Travel Book: Mind-Blowing Stuff on Every
Country in the World", which is loaded with thousands of amazing facts on wildlife, how people
live, sports, hideous and mouth-watering food, festivals and a wide range of other quirky insights
on every page. Every single country gets its own dedicated page, and a mix of photography and
beautiful illustrations brings each land to life. Perfect for keeping young explorers entertained at
home or on the road, "The Lonely Planet Kids Travel Book" is an extraordinary, informative, and
entertaining recommendation for family, school, and community library collections.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Mighty Mole and Super Soil
Mary Quattlebaum, author
Chad Wallace, illustrator
Dawn Publications
12402 Bitney Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781584695387 $16.95 www.dawnpub.com
Mighty Mole and Super Soil is an educational children's picturebook about moles, commonplace
mammals known for their burrowing skill. Alternating between a simple story about a day in the
natural life of an ordinary mole, and fascinating facts about moles in general, Mighty Mole and
Super Soils is brought to life with lavish, striking color illustrations, and further enhanced with a
handful of pages packed with scientific facts about moles and soil, as well as suggested learning
activities. "Is Soil Dirt? Soil scientists say that dirt is soil that is out of place, similar to the
definition of a weed as a plant out of place (even a rose in a cornfield is a weed)." Highly
recommended, especially for public and elementary school library children's collections.
A Friend for Lakota
Jim and Jamie Dutcher
National Geographic Kids
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20036-4688
Media Masters Publicity
9781426320828 $16.99 www.nationalgeographic.com
A Friend for Lakota: The Incredible True Story of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying is a children's
picturebook presenting the incredible true story of a wild wolf names Lakota, picked on by others
of the pack, who makes a protective friend in the wolf Matsi. Matsi blocks the other wolves' nips
and tugs when things get too rough, enabling Lakota to grow and thrive as one of the family.
Captivating, full-color photography illustrates this inspirational story of animal friendship, highly
recommended for wolf aficionados of all ages.
Winnie and the Red Winniebago
Lisa Domeny, author
Quick Guide Publishing Services
http://www.quickguidepublishingservices.com/contact-us
9781508895688, $12.95, www.tgo.quickguidepublishingservices.com
"Winnie and the Red Winniebago" is a heartwarming story, first of a Team Golden Oldies series
about adopting and loving a senior pet like Winston, a senior rescue golden retriever. Winnie
loved going forth every day to have adventures, but one day he had to be taken to the vet because
of a sore foot. At first he had to wear a special sock to protect the sore foot, but finally, the vet
said Winnie could not walk on the foot if it was to get better. This made Winnie very sad. How
could he have adventures if he could not walk? His owner hugged him and reassured him they
would think of something. Soon a mysterious box arrived which excited Winnie. Could this
really be for him? It was a special little red wagon, to carry Winnie anywhere he wanted to go. It
was his own special WINNIEbago. Once more he could set off to visit people in nursing homes,
make sick people smile, even go out for walks and canoe rides with his family. Winnie's special
red WINNIEbago proved that even an old rescue dog with a sore foot can still have happiness
and great new adventures every day. "Winnie and the Red Winniebago" is a true story with real
color photos of Winnie and his family. It is a wonderful story for young children ages 3-5
because it demonstrates that a caring family and society does not discard an elderly or
handicapped pet, or person, but continues to value them and their quality of life. The author has
founded Team Golden Oldies in Australia, a group dedicated to adopting senior dogs and
providing them with a safe, loving home at the end of their good lives.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's The Call of the Osprey (9780544232686, $18.99) features lovely,
full-page color photos by William Munoz as it documents three scientists and their research
efforts in and around Missoula, Montana as they study ospreys. While this is presented as an
80-page color 'diary' of writings and photos documenting their progress and is recommended for
picture book readers in grades 3-6 with good reading skills, many an adult with an affection for
ospreys will find the photos and documentation equally compelling, making it a recommendation
for young reader and adult holdings alike (the compelling jacket cover is suitable for general
collection display, so the audience isn't limited to the children's section only!). Sy Montgomery's
The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk (9780544232709, $18.99) follows the
work of renowned octopus scientist Jennifer Mather, whose work is directed towards exploring
the mental capabilities of the octopus, an intuitive animal that may hold the capability for
remarkable thought processes. This book follows her investigation and delves into the natural
history of the octopus, blending lovely color photos with fine science throughout.
Mad About Monkeys
Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books/Nobrow, Ltd.
9781909263574, $19.95, www.flyingeyebooks.com
Mad About Monkeys is simply delightful: with gorgeous monkey-laden end pages and color
drawings throughout, it explores the nature and species of monkeys from around the world and
provides clear contrast between different kinds of monkeys. From fierce to friendly, these
monkeys have different habits, habitats, and reputations, and Mad About Monkeys is the perfect
introduction for young picture book readers with basic reading skills seeking a natural history
about all monkeys.
The Self-Help Shelf
What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake
Claire A.B. Freeland, PhD and Jaqueline B. Toner, PhD, authors
Janet McDonnell, illustrator
Magination Press
PO Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090-2984
9781433819308 $15.95 www.maginationpress.com
Clinical psychologists Claire A.B. Freeland, PhD and Jaqueline B. Toner, PhD present What to
Do When Mistakes Make You Quake: A Kid's Guide to Accepting Imperfection, a consumable
self-help book for children ages 6-12 (and parents) about learning how to cope with the prospect
of making and recovering from mistakes - so that one is free to try and discover new things.
Pages have black spaces encouraging children to write down their feelings or other exercises.
"Kids who don't like to make mistakes have an especially hard time when things don't work out
the way they'd hoped. But failure is a lot like an itch you don't scratch. It bugs you, maybe for
quite a while, but slowly and surely, the itch begins to go away. Once you feel better (the itch
goes away), shift your focus from the failure to how hard you tried and what you might do in the
future. That's an example of getting perspective." Highly recommended as an invaluable
resource, especially for children whose strong perfectionist tendencies hold them back.
Speak Up!
Halley Bondy
Zest Books
35 Stillman Street, Suite 121, San Francisco, CA, 94107
9781936976768 $15.99 www.zestbooks.net
Colorful illustrations and photographs intersperse Speak Up! A Guide to Having Your Say and
Speaking Your Mind, a self-help book created especially for young girls navigating middle
school and junior high. Girls often feel voiceless and powerless; Speak Up! is about learning to
share one's important thoughts and considerations. More than just a self-esteem book, Speak Up!
also addresses the cultural factors that hold girls back and overtly or subconsciously pressure
them to be quiet. "Any abuse, inappropriate behavior, or bullying by teachers or administrators
should be reported immediately. Tell your parents or another trusted adult, and they should report
the behavior to the principal or superintendent of the school. An adult should know whether or
not something illegal has taken place, and if so, he or she should also contact the police." A
wealth of website resources peppers this modern guide to learning how to be respectfully
assertive, highly recommended especially for parents to share and discuss with their middle-
school daughters as well as for children's public and school library collections.
1-2-3 A Calmer Me
Colleen A. Patterson, M.A. and Brenda S. Miles, Ph.D., authors
Claire Keay, illustrator
Magination Press
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433819315, $14.95, www.apa/prg/pubs/magination.com
"1-2-3 A Calmer Me: Helping Children Cope When Emotions Get Out of Control" is an
appealing children's book that teaches a simple relaxation exercise to help a child calm down
when angry feelings seem overwhelming. In soothing verse, with simple instructions the mantra
is taught: "1-2-3 a calmer me/ 1-2-3 I hug me/ (Give yourself a BIG hug, nice and tight!) 1-2-3
relax and b-r-e-a-t-h-e/ (Take a BIG breath and let it out s-l-o-w-l-y...) 1-2-3 a calmer me
(Pretend your arms are jelly and let your hug s-l-i-d-e away.)." Repeating this simple calming
exercise helps a child slow down her body and allow her angry feelings to evaporate into the air.
Gentle, expressive illustrations of a child going through the calming exercise steps use a series of
rainbow colors in pastel hues to underline the calming progression. Even the numbers, 1-2-3 are
colored yellow, green, blue. The calming exercise is shown in a variety of situations for the same
little girl, playing alone, playing with others, when frustrated at school, upset at sports games
outcomes, all are opportunities for the successful use of this self-calming exercise when
overcome by mad or angry feelings. An additional Note to Parents, Teachers, and Other
Grown-Ups explains further the philosophy behind teaching and using this mantra, and what to
do before and after teaching and using it with a child struggling to control his/her angry feelings.
"1-2-3 A Calmer Me" is a most helpful book to give children a tool that will help them release
and control their uncomfortable emotions or angry feelings, helping them prevent meltdowns and
upsets.
The Psychology Shelf
Peter & Lisa: A Mental Illness Children's Story
Charles Katz & Linda Baron Katz, authors
Mitchi Suico, illustrator
Page Publishing, Inc.
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 100 New York, NY 10309
9781634171434, $15.95, www.amazon.com
"Peter & Lisa" is the story of two people who suffered different mental illnesses: bipolar disorder
and depression, and how they were able to recover with therapy, medication, and love and
support. The crippling effects of both kinds of mood disorders are described accurately, and the
process of getting help through hospitalization, evaluation, proper medication, therapy and
treatment is explained. During both peter's and Lisa's rehabilitating and recovery from their mood
disorders, the need for substitute care for Lisa's daughter, Nancy, and Peter's dog, Pit is met by a
close, concerned friend. Peter and Lisa became good friends who understood each other's
disabilities. Eventually they both recovered, were able to work part time, marry and become a
family. "Peter & Lisa" is a story based on truth with a happy ending. Reading it will help children
understand more about mental illness and how it can be treated.
The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Voices Across the Lakes
Anita Pinson
Pine Lake Press
6559 Windmill Lane, West Bloomfield, MI 48324
9780615728438 $17.95 www.pinelakepress.com
Winner of a Moonbeam Children's Book Award, Voices Across the Lakes: Great Lakes Stories
and Songs is a picturebook anthology of brief historical fiction stories connected to beloved folk
songs of the Great Lakes region in America. Each story-song combo stands by itself, and the
classic songs are presented with full musical notation. Charming illustrations and a wealth of
historical asides provide context to this wonderful anthology, ideal for sharing with little ones
during storytime or music class. The included story-songs are "Canoe Song", "Barges", "Erie
Canal", "Follow the Drinking Gourd", "Weevily Wheat", Roll Loggers, Roll", "Shenandoah",
"There's a Ford V-8", "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", and "Down the River". Highly
recommended!
The Hunter's Promise: An Abenaki Tale
Joseph Bruchac, author
Bill Farnsworth, illustrator
Wisdom Tales
P.O. Box 2682, Bloomington, Indiana 47402
9781937786434, $16.95, www.wisdomtalespress.com
"The Hunter's Promise" is a reverent retelling of an Abenaki (or Wabanaki) traditional tale that
also is found in wisdom traditions of several other indigenous nations in Northeastern North
America, including the Iroquois and the Algonquin, as well as perhaps the Penobscot
Passamaquoddy, and Micmac people. "The Hunter's Promise" is not just a story of trust and
betrayal, the clouding of commitment by enchantment. It is also a reminder of the sacred
obligation of hunters and all beings to honor the gifts of animals and plants to sustain life. If this
balance and sacred trust between hunter and natural creation is forgotten, or dishonored, the
whole world is disordered and broken. In "The Hunter's Promise," a fine strong young hunter
goes deep into the northern forests to make a winter camp and find good hunting. The meat and
skins he will bring back to his family and people in the spring will sustain them a long time.
However, although the hunter is skilled and fortunate in his hunting, he is lonely in his winter
camp home. He longs for a partner. Returning to his lodge one day, he discovers the fire burning,
the lodge cleaned, and food prepared for him in a wooden bowl. No one can be seen. Again in the
morning he finds food prepared, and work done to prepare for his day of hunting. This continues
for seven nights and days, when a silent young woman appears and serves his food to him. She
stays with him all winter, saying in the spring when he prepares to leave, "Mikwalme," or,
"Promise to remember me." The hunter promises and she leaves, walking into the forest. The
story continues with the young hunter returning to his village with great celebration, where he is
asked to marry a wife. Remembering his promise, the hunter declines. When he returns to the
north to hunt another season, his woods wife appears with a boy he recognizes as his son.
Another successful winter of hunting follows. This time when the hunter returns to his village in
the spring, the chief asks him to marry his daughter, who is a young woman accustomed to
getting what she wants. Her powerful spirit helper, the poohegan, or Canada jay confuses the
hunter so he forgets his commitment to his other wife and son. When he prepares to return to the
north for a winter hunt, his new wife insists on accompanying him. Reaching the campground,
the hunter sees his first winter wife and two sons, names Wadzo and Sibo. Remembering at last
his promise, the hunter accuses his second wife of tricking him, while his winter wife and son
walk away into the forest, disappointed that he did not keep his promise. Leaving his snowshoes
and axe keep in a spruce tree trunk, the hunter walks into the snowy forest. When the chief's
daughter attempted to follow him, she found no man's tracks, but only the tracks of four moose,
iawak mozak. "The Hunter's Promise" is stunningly illustrated with warm autumn colors of
northern forests and Wabanaki and the moose and animals, by a famous, multiple award-
winning illustrator, Bill Farnsworth. "The Hunter's Promise" is a beautifully told Wisdom Tale
appropriate for children age 6 and up.
The Seedless Trees: A Fairy Tale
Christina Waymreen, author
John Nikolouzos, illustrator
Seaway Press
9780996013208, $12.99, www.amazon.com
"The Seedless Trees" is a chapter fairy tale fantasy quest with magic transformations, nature
protective spells, trials, puzzles, and obstacles to the attainment of an enlightenment that is part
of a return to normal reality. Prince Lester begins his quest with his horse, Windell, to rescue his
beloved Princess Anna, who is enchanted within a tree because of her request that it be
transplanted for her. Finding his way filled with traps and tricks and hidden retributions, Prince
Lester is determined to discover a way to free Princess Anna from the enchantment of the tree.
Miraculous transformations, unwritten rules of passage, trials of hunger and thirst, and fear of
death all must be experienced, accepted, and overcome in Prince Lester's quest. "The Seedless
Trees" works recurring elements from many traditional tales of myth and fantasy from different
sources. Striking color illustrations reveal some of the complex imagery explored in the 44 pages
of "The Seedless Trees," and help to decorate the complicated development of the difficult quest.
Finally, Prince Lester succeeds in the most difficult trial of his quest - discovering what the cruel
Mistress of Trees fears most - lightning. His sacrifice of hunger and thirst and bravery and
determination allow him to restore the past and find his beloved Princess Anna once more. "The
Seedless Trees" is intriguing chapter fantasy, appealing to middle grade readers age 10 and
up.
The Christian Shelf
My Kiss Won't Miss!
Lesley Dahlseng, author
Mirela Tufan, illustrator
Whetword Press LLC
PO Box 492, Alexandria, MN 56308
9780615987040, $17.99, 32pp, www.amazon.com
A wonderfully entertaining bedtime or anytime story, the beautifully illustrated picture book "My
Kiss Won't Miss" demonstrates the constant and pursuing love of a mother when her son sneaks
out of bed and hides. Her commitment is this: "If I can't catch you for a kiss, I'll blow a kiss and it
won't miss." There is no hiding place to which her kiss cannot be blown. Yet in the end, a love
even greater than a mother's is revealed! This original story by Lesley Dahlseng is inspired by
Romans 8:38-39 which states that nothing can separate us from the love of God. The illustrations
by Mirela Tufan impressively capture the universal quality of God's love with their diverse
character depictions. Very highly recommended for family, preschool, and community library
picture book collections, "My Kiss Won't Miss!" will offer both adventure and comfort
appropriate for children ages two to five.
A Gift for Matthew
Nick Muzekari, author
Masha Lobastov, illustrator
Ancient Faith Publishing
PO Box 748, Chesterton, IN 46304-0748
9781936270927 $18.95 http://store.ancientfaith.com
A Gift for Matthew is a children's picturebook about the Orthodox Christian tradition of
iconography - praying to God in a manner that involves an icon (a symbolic image of Jesus,
Mary, or a saint). A young boy named Matthew visits a monastery, where he learns from a monk
who draws and paints icons. And when he comes home, he discovers a special gift in his
backpack: a lovingly crafted icon of Saint Matthew. A sample "Iconographer's Prayer" on the
final page rounds out this thoughtful introduction to the Orthodox Christian style of prayer.
The Judaic Shelf
The Passover Surprise
Janet Ruth Heller, author
Ronald Kauffman, illustrator
Fictive Press
http://www.fictivepress.com
9781927663172, $11.50, www.amazon.com
The Passover Surprise" is a middle grade chapter story that deals sensitively with complex issues
like fairness, sexist thinking, working hard to sort out complex problems and issues within a
family setting, relying on strong religious and cultural values within the framework of Judaism.
Lisa is the heroine who is hurt by her father's decision to award a coveted stamp book to her
younger brother Jon, perhaps because he is the younger son while she is the older daughter. Some
wonderful pages describe first how Lisa felt, and then how she evaluates her options and
strategies to attempt to explain her reaction to her father, whom she loves. "The Passover
Surprise" tackles many difficult issues of prejudice, racism, misogyny, and fairness, even
including bullying. All development is influenced by the strong Jewish faith and values of Lisa
and her family. The story takes place in the 60's, and has a definite period flavor to it, which is
underlined by the quietly charming black and white illustrations. "The Passover Surprise" is
filled with wonder and hope, even in times of dreadful hardship and disappointment.
The Geography Shelf
Australia to Zimbabwe: A Rhyming Romp Around the World
Ruth Fitts, author
Love the World Books
4424 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC 20007
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9780996249577, $24.95, www.australiatozimbabwe.com
"Australia to Zimbabwe" is an alphabetical, rhyming romp around the world, with a different
country for each letter of the alphabet. Packed with colorful onsite photos of scenic sights, ethnic
recipes, informative sidebars, activity pages, and geographical/historical maps of association,
"Australia to Zimbabwe" condenses lots of accurate information about each country into just over
300 pages of fascinating world data. Some of the world tour countries include: Australia, Brazil,
China, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Vietnam, and nineteen more. With language charts and
common expressions translated to English, country related crafts, games, and recipes, "Australia
to Zimbabwe" is a fun, action and fact -packed virtual tour of 26 vital countries of the world that
children in grades 3 and up, ages 8 and up, will enjoy and assimilate. Here is a sample verse from
Japan: "Miso soup is a favorite for breakfast, Bento boxes make for a fun lunch, (They're so cute
in their artful arrangement, they're almost too pretty to munch!) (P.126)." With key phrases and
expressions, printed in varied appropriate eye-catching types, accompanied by cheery color
mini-snaps of miso soup, bento box, cherry blossoms, and more, Japan is expressively described
in imaginative couplets and type and pictures. "Australia to Zimbabwe" is a great contribution to
students of global communities and global citizenship awareness.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
My Mommy, M.S. and Me
Stephanie Garcia, author
Lyle Jakosalem, illustrator
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781499076356, $31.99, www.amazon.com
"My Mommy, M.S. and Me" is a book that helps explain symptoms and characteristics of
multiple sclerosis in an innovative way through use of a gaming system metaphor, offering
nonthreatening information about the complex disease in a manner compatible with a child's
viewpoint. The author is a parent and a life coach, who has attempted to share information about
MS with her children. Using bright cartoon family illustrations with superhero characters in
costume and ninjas, "My Mommy, M.S. and Me" makes a convincing use of the gaming system
metaphor to explain some of the disabling symptoms of MS. The storyteller is a boy named
Julian, who has a brother Jaylen, and a mother with MS. He describes her fight with the disease
like this: The ninja fighters inside a person's body with MS can attack the CNS (Central Nervous
System) by mistake, causing damage to the neurons and myelin. A person with MS can go to the
Dr. for medication to help deal with these nasty little ninja fighters when they seem to be doing
too much damage. A team of MS destroyers help in many ways to battle the many symptoms of
MS. A powerful tool is the boy's understanding of why his mother feels so tired, because of the
battles going on inside her body. He has the power of perception, detection, and protection,
which help him to understand and remind her when she needs extra rest time. "My Mommy,
M.S. and Me" ends on a positive note with suggestions for ways of coping with a parent's
disabling symptoms, and a superhero's promise, "See you next time!" "My Mommy, M. S. And
Me" seems accessible to children age 10 and up, or younger with extra explanations.
The American History Shelf
Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation
Peggy Thomas, author
Stacy Innerst, illustrator
Calkins Creek
An imprint of Highlights
c/o Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
9781620916285 $16.95 www.boydsmillspress.com
Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation is a children's picturebook about how President Thomas
Jefferson expanded the young nation of America. Jefferson is well-known for doubling the size
of America in just one day. "To free up the port [of New Orleans] and prevent France from
establishing a colony in the west, Thomas sought a peaceful solution by sending James Monroe
to France to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans. To Thomas's surprise, France offered to sell
the entire Louisiana Territory. Could a president purchase land on behalf of a nation? No one was
sure. Some said it was not in his power. Others complained it was a waste of money. But
Thomas's bold action reaped a country twice its original size." Details about Jefferson's personal
life (he was an avid gardener) and his legacy remembered to this day enhance this educational
and accessible glimpse into a turning point and a major figure in American history. Highly
recommended, especially for public and school library collections.
The Poetry Shelf
Jumping Off Library Shelves
Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrated by Jane Manning
WordSong
An imprint of Highlights
c/o Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
9781590789247 $16.95 www.boydsmillspress.com
Jumping Off Library Shelves: A Book of Poems is a children's picturebook of brief poems by a
diversity of authors. Each poems celebrate the public library, and the joy of discovering the
endless possibilities contained within books. Charming color illustrations enrich this wonderful
read-aloud anthology. "For search engines, this key is your starter. / SS Library hums. It's a cinch!
/ By exploring the world, how much smarter / You are without moving an inch."
The Social Issues Shelf
The Prince Who Was Just Himself
Silke Schnee, author
Heike Sistig, illustrator
Plough Publishing House
www.plough.com
c/o Handlebar Publishing
9780874866827 $16.00 HandlebarPublishing.com
The Prince Who Was Just Himself is a children's picturebook parable about Down syndrome.
The titular Prince Noah is a child with Down syndrome; unlike his peers, he is small, has a
distinctively different appearance, and can't quite do everything that his brothers can. But when
the ferocious knight Scarface invades the kingdom, only Noah can disarm him, through
compassion and simply being himself. A final page offers more information about Down
syndrome to young readers and adults alike. The Prince Who Was Just Himself is a fairy tale that
doubles as a helpful introduction to teach young people about Down syndrome, including that
important fact that people with Down syndrome are quite capable of living long, happy, and
helpful lives.
Books in Series
Native Nations of North America series
The Child's World, Inc.
1980 Lookout Drive
Mankato, MN 56003
$32.79 list / $22.95 library www.childsworld.com
Featuring reinforced library binding and full-color photography throughout, Native Nations of
North America is an anthology designed to teach young readers in grades 3-6 about native
peoples who live on different regions of the continent. Each book touches upon multiple major
native nations in a given region, describing their history, culture, and life in the modern day. A
brief glossary and index round out each volume. Accessible and reader-friendly, Native Nations
of North America is enthusiastically recommended for middle school and public library
children's collections. The individual titles are "Native Nations of the Northwest Coast"
(9781634070331) and "Native Nations of the Plains" (9781634070348) by Anita Yasuda;
"Native Nations of California" (9781634070294) and "Native Nations of the Southeast"
(9781634070355) by Therese Naber; "Native Nations of the Great Basin and Plateau"
(9781634070317), "Native Nations of the Northeast" (9781634070324), and "Native Nations of
the Southwest" (9781634070362) by Barbara Krasner; and "Native Nations of the Arctic and
Subarctic" (9781634070300) by Marie Powell.
What Does It Mean To Be Kind?
Rana DiOrio, author
Stephane Jorisch, illustrator
Little Pickle Press
3701 Sacramento Street #494, San Francisco, CA 94118
9781939775092 $17.95 www.littlepicklepress.com
Fifth in the award-winning "What Does It Mean To Be...?" series, What Does It Mean To Be
Kind? is a picturebook created to help teach children basic values of empathy, consideration,
politeness, and the Golden Rule - the importance of treating others as one would like to be
treated. Examples of kind deeds include "...picking up trash that isn't yours. // ...allowing yourself
to make and learn from mistakes. // ...noticing when someone is sad and taking the time to
understand why. // ...caring for those less fortunate than you are." Gentle color illustrations of
children learning to be polite and helpful round out this excellent, read-aloud character building
book. Also highly recommended are the previous books in the series, "What Does It Mean To Be
Global?" (9780984080601), "What Does It Mean To Be Green?" (9780984080618), "What Does
It Mean To Be Present?" (9780984080687), "What Does It Mean To Be Safe?"
(9780982993866). The sixth book in the series, "What Does It Mean To Be An Entrepreneur?"
(9781939775122) is fortcoming in January 2016.
Your Money - How Money Works
Gerry Bailey and Felicia Law, authors
Mark Beech, illustrator
Norwood House Press
PO Box 316598, Chicago, IL 60631
9781599537184, $29.27, www.norwoodhousepress.com
"Your Money: How You Spend Your Money and Why" is a succinct, informative and cheerful
book about financial literacy for middle grade students, with clear explanations of such basic
concepts as a definition of currency or money, and various ways of saving, earning, and spending
money. Topics of allowances for kids, other income, choices for use of money (spend, save, or
give away), and finally borrowing and budgeting are presented and expanded, with helpful tables,
sidebars, graphs and illustrations. Debt and credit are also topics of discussion, with added
information on the development of electronic money and the possible future end of physical
money. Final helpful quote: "So the more you know about money, the better you'll be able to deal
with it. And the more you understand it, the more control over your money you'll have (p.59)." A
discussion page, additional resources including websites, and glossary are also included. This is a
great basic financial text for kids age 10 and up. Other titles from the How Money Works series
that are also highly recommended include: "Country Money: How Countries Spend Their Money
- And Why" (9781599537191, $29.27) by William Whitehead, Felicia Law and Gerry Bailey,
"World Money: How the World Spends Its Money - And Why" (9781599537207, $29.27) by
Gerry Bailey and Felicia Law, and "Family Money: How Families Spend Their Money - And
Why" (9781599537177, $29.27) by William Whitehead, all titles of the series illustrated by Mark
Beech.
Let's Play!
Nancy B. Hertzog, Ph.D., Ellen Honeck, Ph.D., & Barbara Dullaghan, M. Ed., authors
Prufrock Press, Inc.
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, Texas 78731
9781618214508, $10.95, www.prufrock.com
"Let's Play!" is a brightly photo-illustrated early education exploration title from the Smart Start
Series, for children ages 3-5. Encouraging parents and child caregivers to "discover and explore
the everyday world with your child," "Let's Play!" suggests using three types of open ended
questions for children: creative, critical, and mathematical. Examples of each type of question are
suggested throughout the book. Each page has a page of titled narrative facing a page of color
photo illustration. Some of the everyday play topics include playing in the rain, playing in the
backyard, playing in the snow, playing in a box, playing at the playground, and playing on the
sidewalk. Each topic has three questions suggested in the areas of creative, critical and
mathematical thinking. At the end of the book are more Extension Questions for all topics, and a
further reference for ideas at the website. "Let's Play" is a fantastic, fun teaching resource for
parents and caretakers of young children that helps kids learn easily from fun play activities.
Engaging color photos of children from different racial/ethnic backgrounds are incorporated
throughout the book, helping to teach inclusion. Additional titles from the Smart Start Series that
are also highly recommended include: "Around My House!" (9781618214492, $10.95), and Let's
Go to the Market!" (9781618214515, $10.95), both titles also by Dullaghan, Hertzog, and
Honeck, authors.
Top Secret Files: The Cold War
Stephanie Bearce
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618214195, $8.95, 128pp, www.amazon.com
The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in
the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc
(the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact). Poison dart umbrellas and cyanide guns
were all a part of the arsenal of tools used by spies of the Soviet KGB, American CIA, and
British MI6, but kids won't learn that in their classroom history books! With "Top Secret Files:
The Cold War" by Stephanie Bearce, students in grades 4 to 7 will learn about the true stories of
the Cold War and how spies used listening devices planted in live cats and wristwatch cameras.
Young readers ages 9 to 12 will discover how East Germans tried to ride zip lines to freedom,
while the Soviet spies known as the Cambridge Four infiltrated Britain, and how U.S. and Soviet
rockets raced to the moon. "Top Secret Files: The Cold War" readers can make their own
submarines and practice writing secret codes. It s all part of the true stories from the "Top Secret
Files: The Cold War". Very highly recommended for school and community library collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Top Secret Files: The Cold War" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($6.92). It should also be noted that outstanding "Top Secret Files" series
from Prufrock Press also entails four other enthusiastically recommended titles: "Top Secret
Files: The American Revolution" (9781618212474, $8.95 PB, $7.15 Kindle); "Top Secret Files:
The Civil War" (9781618212504, $8.95 PB, $6.32 Kindle); "Top Secret Files: World War I"
(9781618212412", $8.95 PB, $7.57 Kindle); "Top Secret Files: World War II" (9781618212443,
$8.95 PB, $6.47 Kindle).
Examining Shipwrecks, from Examining Disaster Series
Hayden Wedge, author
The Oliver Press, Inc.
c/o Clara House Books
Charlotte Square, 5707 W. 36th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55416
9781934545676, $24.95, www.oliverpress.com
"Examining Shipwrecks" is one of eight titles in the new Examining Disasters series for students
in grades 4-8, packed with dramatic full color photos, illustrations, diagrams, charts, sidebars,
and information about historical shipwrecks around the globe. What causes shipwrecks, and why
do we want to study them? "Examining Shipwrecks" covers core information in an exciting, high
interest presentation, with five chapters, a list of the top ten worst shipwrecks, a glossary and
further information section in 48 pages. Chapter 1 covers the Sewol Ferry Disaster which
happened off the coast of South Korea on April 16, 2014. The following chapters are how Ships
Float, How Ships Sink, Studying Shipwrecks, and Making Ships Safer. The role of national and
international Coast Guards is highlighted, and some history of sailing technology is incorporated.
"Examining Shipwrecks" is an exciting summary of ocean ship disasters that will engage the
interest and increase scientific inquiry abilities of middle grade students. Other titles from the
Examining Disasters Series that are also highly recommended include: "Examining Bridge
Collapses" (9781934545621, $24.95) by Myles Barry, "Examining Airplane Crashes"
(9781934545614, $24.95), by Andrew Hatch, "Examining Volcanic Eruptions" (9781934545683,
$24.95) by Jen Melin, "Examining Pandemics" (9781934545669, $24.95) by Nina Rolfes,
"Examining Oil Spills" (9781934545652, $24.95) by Anna Dalton, "Examining Hurricanes"
(9781934545645, $24.95) by Sabrina Kidd, and "Examining Earthquakes" (9781934545638,
$24.95) by Jacob Yang. All volumes are hard bound for library and reference use.
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com, www.creativepub.com
Three 'Creative Kids' series titles begin with 'Complete Photo Guide' and provide powerful visual
references for any who want to involve the entire family in artistic projects, and adopts an
unusual 'whole family' approach to support this objective. Janith Bergeron and Christine Ecker's
Sewing (9781589238237, $22.99) provides fifteen projects designed with boys and girls in mind
in a range of difficulty levels from beginners with no familiarity with sewing to more advanced
users. Tips on basic hand sewing advocate making simple but easy products such as a tooth fairy
pillow or a 'scrappy card', using these projects to explore the basics of using a sewing machine.
Kids then advance to more complicated projects, from a kimono to boys' shorts. Amy
Kopperude's Bead Crafts (9781589238220, $22.99) surveys beading basics for the same range:
beginner to kids who already hold some beading skills. The focus here, too, is on building new
skills with each project, inviting adults and kids to work together on such productions as seashell
wind chimes, friendship charm pins, and more. Crochet by Deborah Burger (9781589238558,
$24.99) also begins with the basics and moves into family-oriented projects such as producing a
colorful drawstring bag or a useful water bottle net. The result is a fine gathering of projects
especially recommended for any who want to encourage and build family connections and new
skill sets.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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