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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
I'll Never Leave
Elaine Pease
PeasePod Books
4334 Vinca Ct., Boulder, CO 80304
0970227507 $14.95 www.amazon.com
Deftly written by Elaine Pease and memorably illustrated by Kerry Lee MacLean, I'll Never Leave
is
a splendidly delightful picturebook story of a little leaf and its desire to stay with the tree it
considers
home. A charming and original story, filled with colorful illustrations and hidden ladybugs children
can count, I'll Never Leave also features a section at the end of leaf facts and simple leaf activities,
such as making leaf prints, leaf rubbings, or capturing a leaf's water vapor. I'll Never Leave is a
simply wonderful picturebook that is as educational as it is entertaining.
The Benjamin Franklin Project
Joe Loesch
CRT Custom Products
7532 Hickory Hills Court, Whites Creek, TN 37189
1887729860 $16.95 crttoybox.com
Joe Loesch's The Benjamin Franklin Project is an interactive book and audio CD combination
specifically designed and produced for young readers. The book is filled with charming, full-color
pictures of three young people who get to learn a great deal about the inventive genius of
Benjamin
Franklin. Written in the style of a radio play, with each of three different main characters having
many lines, the book is brought to vivid life by the narrative CD. A special feature allows young
readers to take over the part of any character's lines; three additional tracks on the CD each
contain
the story minus the lines of a specific character, so that a young person can play the role of his or
her
favorite. A wonderful audio and visual combination to help educate about a great figure in our
nations history and promote language skills, The Benjamin Franklin Project is an excellent
multimedia gift for children and very highly recommended for family, school, and community
library
collections.
Gods & Goddesses In The Daily Life Of The Ancient Egyptians
Henrietta McCall
McGraw-Hill
8787 Orion Place, Columbus, OH 43240
0-87226-635-4 $18.95 1-800-722-4726
Gods & Goddesses In The Daily Life Of The Ancient Egyptians introduces a fine two volume
series
for ages 9 and older which provides an appealing survey of ancient Egyptian life and culture.
Large,
striking color photos and drawings bring early Egyptian culture to life in a title which is packed
with
explorations through photos and artifacts.
What The Orangutan Told Alice
Dale Smith
Deer Creek Publishing
P.O. Box 2594, Nevada City, CA 95959
096514528X $15.95 www.amazon.com
What The Orangutan Told Alice: A Rain Forest Adventure by environments Dale Smith is an
engaging, informative, entertaining, environmental novel written for young adults and thoughtful
conservationists of all ages. A story that relates human and ape, as much from the orangutan's
point
of view as that of Alice, What The Orangutan Told Alice is a meaningful story meant to make its
reader aware of the importance of the natural world. Also very highly recommended is Dale
Smith's
early novel What The Parrot Told Alice (0965145271, $11.95).
See-More's Workshop
325 West End Ave., New York NY 10023
Two picturebook blends of audio and written word encourage kids to read along with the audio
rendition of each story. Sandra Robbins' No Balloons Today (2-882601-30-0) tells of young
See-More, who loves the zoo and balloons, and who finds many adventures there with his buddy
Giant Jack. Robbins adapts an African story with How The Turtle Got Its Shell (34-3), which
appears in two color form illustrated by Iku Oseki. Kids with rudimentary reading skills will be
encouraged by the unusual stories and read-along opportunities afforded by these
combinations.
War? I'm Scared!
WeWrite Kids
WeWrite Corporation
300 Pakey Road, Springfield, IL 62707
1576350576 $8.95 www.amazon.com
War? I'm Scared! is a unique book written by kids, for kids, and published in the wake of the
September 11 attack on the American World Trade Center. Dealing with our great national
tragedy,
War? I'm Scared! does not condescend to young readers or belittle the magnitude of the terrorist
attacks, but rather takes a positive look at what kids can do to understand, cope, and help. An
invaluable addition to family, school, and community library collections, War? I'm Scared! is very
highly recommended for young readers alarmed and unsettled by today's national conflict and our
declared war on terrorism that permeates the television news broadcasts and newspaper
headlines.
Patrick Learns About Parkinson's Disease
Kim Gosselin & Tom Dineen
JayJo Books
PO Box 760, Plainview, NY 11803-0760
1-891383-18-3 $14.95 1-800-999-6884
Deftly written by Kim Gosselin and colorfully illustrated by Tom Dineen, Patrick Learns About
Parkinson's Disease is the heartwarming and story of young Patrick learning that his friend and
neighbor Mr. Jennings has something called Parkinson's disease. Together they learn about this
condition and how it affects the people to have it. The result is their understanding and acceptance
of this disability within the context of their lives and friendship. An excellent addition to grade
school and community library collections, Patrick Learns About Parkinson's Disease is especially
recommended reading for any child who has a family member or neighbor afflicted with
Parkinson's.
Also strongly recommended are two other outstanding JayJo Books titles for young readers:
Taking
Dyslexia To School (1891383175, $11.95) and Taking Down Syndrome To School
(1891383191,
$11.95).
Cada Nino/Every Child
Tish Hinojosa & Lucia Angela Perez
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901
0938317601 $18.95 1-800-566-9072
Ably written by Tish Hinojosa, Cada Nino/Every Child: A Bilingual Songbook For Kids is an
extremely vibrant and eye-catching picturebook enhanced with colorful illustrations by Lucia
Angela
Perez and featuring simple songs with enjoyable easy lyrics in both English and Spanish. The
songs
can be played on the piano or other instrument by anyone with average or better skill, and enjoyed
by the whole family. Each song features a brief passage in both English and Spanish introducing
its
origin and meaning. A great way to help young children learn two languages better and a most
enjoyable family activity, Cada Nino/Every Child is highly recommended for family, school, and
community library bi-lingual picturebook and songbook collections.
Blue Earth/Capstone Press
Box 669, Mankato, MN 56002-0669
$22.60/Each 1-800-747-4992
Kerry Graves' Pioneer Times (0804-3) provides a lively coverage of one-room schoolhouses used
in
pioneer times. Vintage black and white photos personalize the schools while activities and charts
support historical coverage in this 32-page title. During The Civil Rights Movement by Rachel
Koestler (0799-3) presents many striking photos of children in both segregated and newly
integrated
schools. Projects and insights abound. Both are highly recommended picks for elementary grades
2-4, personalizing the early school experience.
The Poetry Shelf
Rusty Nails & Astronauts
Robert Dunbar & Gabriel Fitzmaurice
Wolfhound Press
68 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, Ireland
0863276717 $20.00 www.amazon.com
Collaborative compiled and edited Robert Dunbar Robert Dunbar and Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Rusty
Nails & Astronauts is an superbly presented anthology of whimsical and enjoyable poetry for
children. Filled with captivatingly colorful as well as simple and entertaining black-and-white
illustrations, this anthology lyrical verses recite fairy-tale like short sagas of foxes, cows, icicles,
and
countless other everyday creatures and things. An engaging introduction to the joy of poetry for
young readers -- and with some that stir the older reader to serious thought and reflection. Good
Night: Will you leave the light, Tom? Just a while./You've already discovered what night
means/Now that the bars have come down from your cot;/Nothing to protect you but the
brittle/Cobwebby veil of sleep. Four a.m. scenes/And repeated stories are all we've got/To send
you
back to the enveloping peace./And where does it come from, this new disease/Of darkness, the
fear
of the night's unseen?/How many deaths have you witnessed on the small screen/Already, murders
while nappy-changing,/Shooting between bottles and Sudocrem?/No Care Bears can protect your
naked toes,/No Megan watch the sky while you doze. (Thomas McCarthy).
Someone Could Win A Polar Bear
John Ciardi
Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431
1590780124 $9.95 www.amazon.com
Someone Could Win A Polar Bear is a whimsical and fun book of storytelling poetry especially
suited for young readers. Illustrated with highly simplistic and abstract black-and-white
caricatures,
Someone Could Win A Polar Bear is lyrical, amusing, delightful, and highly recommended
storytime
or bedtime reading for little folks. The Rover: The rover arrived at a river./The river arrived with
a
roar./A ravine that the river had riven/Made its roaring reverberate more.//The river raved so that
the rover/Reviled it. "Rage, river," said he./"Though you rock the ravine you have riven,/Your
rage
is no is no ravage to me!"//Thus ever the revenant rover/Reverts to the rhetoric of man./Than
which,
though it roar like a raver,/What rock-wrecking river's rage can?
The Turtle Saver
Laurie Parker
Quail Ridge Press
P.O. Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
1893062325 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Cleverly written and nicely illustrated by Laurie Parker, The Turtle Saver is a delightful
picturebook
showcasing a rhyming text that tells the story in one, saga length poem, illustrated with unique
color
artwork in the style of paper cuttings. The long poem begins with a turtle who survives crossing
the
street with the help of kind-hearted motorist, continues with the flight of a dragonfly, and more in
a
chain of whimsical natural creatures. The Turtle Saver is a gentle book whose text-in-verse is
excellent for bedtime reading to a child by a parent, as well as being highly recommended for
children with good reading skills.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Ladybugs
Mia Posada
Carolrhoda Books
241 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
0876143346 $15.95 1-800-328-4929
Wonderfully written and charmingly illustrated by Mia Posada, Ladybugs: Red, Fiery And Bright
is
an educational picturebook especially designed to entertain and inform young readers. Its rhyming
verse text teaches the young reader about the life cycle of the ladybug, from egg to larva, to
molting
and eventually metamorphosing into the fiery red insect that everyone knows so well. Ladybugs
also
has a brief addendum that tells more basic facts about ladybugs, such as how farmers use them to
control aphids. A superbly crafted and presented book for young folks, Ladybugs is
enthusiastically
recommended for both school and community library collections.
Gareth Stevens
330 W. Olive #100, Milwaukee, WI 53212
$89.70/set 1-800-542-2595
Two fine series titles for elementary readers will appeal to grades 2-4 with sets of titles focusing
on
big cats and wild dogs. Tigers (0-8368-3029-6), Lynxes (3028-8), Lions (3027-x), Leopards
(3026-1), Cheetahs (3024-5), and Cougars (3025-3) each use full-page color photos to
supplement
basic animal facts. The Wild Dogs' series includes Jackals (3097-0), Red Foxes (3098-9),
Wolves
(3099-7), African Wild Dogs (3094-6), Coyotes (3095-4) and DINGOES (3096-2). Superbly
illustrated throughout, each volume promises to appeal to all youngsters who love animals.
Chelsea House Publishers
1974 Sproul Road, Suite 400, Broomall, PA 19008-0914
1-800-848-2665
These Horse Library' titles will appeal to grades 3-6 with easy readers about horses. Brent
Kelley's
Horse Breeds Of The World (0-7910-6652-5) explains the many breeds of horses from draft
horses
to miniatures, exploring their history. His Horse Care And Health (6653-3) will appeal to kids
who
own or maintain a horse, covering basic care and health concerns. Kent Baker's Thoroughbred
Racing (6654-1) explains the successful horses of the race world and the lives of jockeys who ride
them. Betty Bolte's Dressage (6656-8) may be too technical for the younger crowd, but any
young
horse owner who is interested in teaching a horse to communicate and show will find this
involving.
Jumping (6657-6) covers the finer points of jumping a horse and horse/rider teams. Mary Hull's
Horse In Harness (6658-4) tells of harness horses still used for agricultural work, Mary Hughes'
Western Riding (6655-X) details rodeo and Western range working horses, and Bill Felber's
Horse
In War (6651-7) details how horses have been used as a war tactic. Perfect for rural libraries and
young horse owners.
The Video Shelf
Old MacDonald Had A Farm
Madacy Entertainment Group
Andrea Blaine (publicity)
2235 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 905, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2J 5B5
MK3-0196 $6.98 www.madacy.com
One of the Madacy Entertainment Group's "25 Fun Songs For Kids", Old MacDonald Had A
Farm
is a wonderful, 30 minute video showcasing traditional favorites for young preschool viewers ages
2
to 5. From This Old Man, How Much is That Doggy In The Window?, and Skip to My Lou, to
Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush, Simple Simon, and For He's A Jolly Good Fellow, these
traditional songs and rounds are enhanced by a full color, live action presentation that will prove
to
be an immediate and popular favorite. Highly recommended for family, preschool, day-care
center,
and community library collections, Old MacDonald Had A Farm is also available in a DVD format
(MK2-6326, $14.98).
The Science Shelf
The Atlas Of Space
Jack Challoner
Copper Beech Books/Millbrook Press
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0761321578 $28.90 www.amazon.com
The Atlas Of Space is a gorgeous introduction for young readers ranging from element through
high
school to the fascinating science of astronomy. From the planets of the solar system to deep
space,
the Big Bang, and the human history of space exploration, the Atlas of Space covers the gamut of
basic knowledge about what lies beyond Earth's atmosphere. Filled with spectacular full-color
photography on virtually every page, charts, tables, graphs, and highly informational anecdotes,
The
Atlas Of Space is a first class reference and highly recommended for getting kids of any age
interested in the mysteries of astronomy!
Crabtree Publishers
350 5th Ave. #3308, New York NY 10018
$15.96 Each 1-800-387-7650
Six new Science Alive' titles collaborative written by Darlene Lauw & Lim Cheng Puay provide
facts, games, and hands-on activities to reinforce science facts for grades 4-5. Each volume
tackles a
different topic: Light (0-7787-0560-9), Motion (0-558-7), Electricity (0561-7), Magnets
(0563-3),
Heat (0559-5) and Sound (0562-5) each explain how science is a part of our daily lives. Each
includes fun, easy experiences demonstrating basic concepts. A fine survey.
The Picturebook Shelf
Flamingo Dreams
Donna Jo Napoli & Cathie Felstead
Greenwillow Books
1350 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10019
0688167969 $15.95 www.amazon.com
Sensitively written by Donna Jo Napoli, Flamingo Dreams is a color picturebook about a very
serious theme -- coping with grief. Told from the point of view of a child losing a father to a slow
bout with cancer, Flamingo Dreams is about accepting coming death, coping, and finding joy in
life.
With a marked art style by Cathie Felstead that is very similar to how young children themselves
draw with crayons, Flamingo Dreams is a touching and heartfelt book highly recommended to
help
young people through great loss.
Marion The Magnet's First Mission
Sharon Hackleman
High Vibrations Publishing
35285 Huntington Drive, Soldotna, AK 99669
0971534519 $14.95 www.amazon.com
Marion The Magnet's First Mission is a lively, energetic color picturebook for kids, written by
Sharon Hackleman and illustrated by John Blair Moore, starring a charming hero -- who also
happens to be a magnet. The message of this story of Marion's adventures is the importance of
creative thinking and harnessing the wonderful font of ideas within. An excellent storytime or
bedtime read to encourage self-expression in young people, Marion The Magnet's First Mission is
recommended for family, school, and community library picturebook collections for young
readers.
Who Put The Snarfdoodle In My Lunchbox?
Andrew L. Liput & Neil Chapman
Minerva Publishing Company
c/o Athena Press
1001 Brickell Bay Drive, #2202, Miami, FL 33131
193049355X $9.95 www.amazon.com
Who Put The Snarfdoodle In My Lunchbox? by Andrew L. Liput is a high-spirited children's
picturebook with charming black-and-white illustrations by Neil Chapman and features a naughty,
mischievous little monster. But the Snarfdoodle also helps children in need, by teaching them to
count or being their friend when they are lonely. Written in rhyming, singsong verse, Who Put
The
Snarfdoodle In My Lunchbox? is a cheery and delightful storybook for young readers.
The Bugliest Bug
Carol Diggory Shields & Scott Nash
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
0763607843 $15.99 www.amazon.com
The Bugliest Bug is an entertaining full color picturebook charmingly illustrated by Scott Nash for
young readers and features a talent show in the insect world in order to determine who will earn
the
proud title of 'The Bugliest Bug' of them all. Written in humorous verse by Carol Diggory Shields,
about a series of gifted entrants and culminating in an unlikely yet heroic winner, The Bugliest
Bug
is a cheery story to be treasured and read, and reread with young beginning readers.
Let's Go To Shul
Rikki Benenfeld
Hachai Publishing
156 Chester Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11218
1929628080 $9.95 www.hachai.com
Written and illustrated by Rikki Benenfeld for children who are being brought up in the Jewish
faith,
Let's Go To Shul is a kindly and charming picturebook that teaches very young readers about the
importance and fun of going to Shul on Shabbos morning. The gentle, earthy tones of the color
artwork and the simple rhyming artwork present such significant and joyful events as donning
special
clothes for Shul, kissing the Torah, and getting a delicious Shabbos treat. Let's Go To Shul is an
encouraging book, excellent for reading to children on the night before Sabbath morning. Also
very
highly recommended is Rikki Benenfeld's earlier picturebook written and illustrated for young
readers, I Go To School (0922613826, $9.95).
Dog Eared
Amanda Harvey
Doubleday & Company
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0-385-72911-1 $15.95 1-800-726-0600
Otis the dog is happily minding his own business in the park when a bully dog taunts him and
makes
him doubt his appeal to others. His ears suddenly seem too big: can he change his nature? The
story
is simple yet appealing and warm.
Daisy Comes Home
Jan Brett
Putnam
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0-399-23618-X $16.99 1-800-847-5515
Mei Mei has the happiest hens in China: she pampers them. But hen Daisy is not happy: she faces
bullying from the others and when she finds herself lost and away from home, she must remember
the attitudes of her fellow hens in order to survive. Brett's warm drawings are a beautiful
embellishment.
Good Morning, Sun
Jenny Kochersperger
Beyond Borders Books
420 E 120th Avenue, B-2 #206, Northglenn, CO 80233
0971588406 $16.95 http://www.beyondbordersbooks.org
Written and illustrated by Jenny Kochersperger, Good Morning, Sun is a delightful and colorfully
drawn picturebook for beginning readers. As the sun comes up, he says "Good Morning!",
"Buenos
Dias!", "Guten Morgen!" and similar greetings to nations around the world. A charming
international book, featuring bold full-color artwork and a simple yet highly enjoyable central
theme,
Good Morning, Sun is a highly recommended addition to family, preschool, day care center, and
kindergarten picturebook collections.
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
1-888-330-8477
Jeanne M. Lee's Bitter Dumplings (0-374-39966-2, $16.00) tells of three very different people
an
abandoned orphan, an escaped slave, and a hunchbacked old woman known for her bitter
dumplings
who discover each other and find their lives changed for the better. Good reading skills or
parental
assistance will aid in enjoyment of this Chinese folk story. Peter Sis' Madlenka's Dog (34699-2,
$17.00) tells of a New York girl and her pet. A child's-eye view of the world is once again the
highlight in this inviting story. Cari Best's Goose's Story (32750-5, $16.00) tells of a crippled
goose
who lands in a back yard. The first person story of a girl's concern for the goose is accented by
realistic pictures by Holly Meade in this story of a crippled wild animal's adjustments.
Ice Age Sabertooth
Barbara Hehner
Crown Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0375813284 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Superbly written by Barbara Hehner, Ice Age Sabertooth is both an educational and highly
entertaining picturebook for practiced young readers. It goes into amazing detail about these
powerful and deadly long-toothed predators of the ice age, their habitats, their prey, the probable
causes of their extinction, and their surviving feline relatives. Splendid, glorious, dramatic
full-color
illustrations by Mark Hallett enhance this picturebook presentation of a great and ancient member
of
the cat family. Ice Age Sabertooth is a simply fascinating and compelling nonfiction book certain
to
captivate youthful minds and imaginations!
Roaring Brook/Millbrook Press
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
1-800-462-4703
Four new picturebook titles are recommended picks. Liz Rosenberg and Peter Catalanotto's We
Wanted You (0-7613-2661-8, $16.95) tells of a husband and wife who adopt a child. A very easy
picturebook format emphasizes family relationships and imparts a message of love for adopted
children. Linda Glaser's It's Spring! (1760-0, $21.90) includes beautiful paper-cut illustrations by
Susan Swan as it provides a first-person account of Spring and its wonders. Activities are
encouraged as kids are invited to look around at Spring's special wonders. Ursula LeGuin's Tom
Mouse (2663-4, $22.90) pairs fun drawings by Julie Downing with the story of a brave young
mouse on his own. Tom decides to see the world when a hobo rat fills his mind with its wonders,
but
discovers an unusual travel companion along the way. Good reading skills or parental assistance
required. Ian Wallace's True Story Of Trapper Jack's Left Big Toe (2405-4, $24.90) tells of a
man
who has only nine toes. The tenth is supposedly in a can at the local saloon. Even in a town noted
for its tall tales, this is hard to believe, and Josh decides to find proof. All are fine stories.
Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite!
Diane deGroat
SeaStar Books/North-South Books
Media Masters (publicity)
11 East 26th St., New York, NY 10010
1587171287 $15.95 northsouth.com
Written and illustrated by Diane deGroat, Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite!
is
a lovely story about young raccoon, skunk, and porcupine children going to sleep-away camp for
the
first time. With the important moral message that it's okay to be afraid of the dark, yet the power
to
be brave lies within us all, Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite! is an excellent
and
recommended picturebook to prepare young children for the rigors of spending days and nights
away from home.
Vegetable Dreams
Dawn Jeffers & Claude Schneider
Raven Tree Press
130 E. Walnut Street, Suite 410, Green Bay, WI 54301
0970110758 $16.95 raventreepress.com
Written by Dawn Jeffers and beautifully illustrated by Claude Schneider, Vegetable Dreams is a
bilingual picture storybook, with text in both English and Spanish, for young readers. The warm,
full-color, impressionistic art brings to life a gentle story about a young woman who wants to
create
a wonderful garden for everyone to enjoy. A timeless tale about the virtues of sharing and
friendship,
Vegetable Dreams is a first-class picturebook and especially for youngsters learning English and
Spanish as they grow up!
Each Breath A Smile
Sister Susan
Parallax Press
P.O. Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
1888375221 $8.00 www.amazon.com
Each Breath A Smile by Sister Thuc Nghiem (Susan Swan) is a delightful picturebook based on
the
teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen master who has been nominated for the Nobel
Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This gentle and charming book, illustrated in cheerful
pastel colors, shows children how to relax and enjoy happiness through mindful breathing.
"Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out, I feel solid. Mountain, sold. / Breathing
in,
I see myself as space. Breathing out, I feel free. Space, free." A thoughtful, reverently spiritual
book,
highly recommended picturebook for young readers.
Liberty!
Allan Drummond
Frances Foster Books
c/o Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374343853 $17.00 www.amazon.com
Written and illustrated by Allan Drummond, Liberty! is an enthusiastic, full-color picturebook for
young readers about the Statue of Liberty, which France gave to the United States in 1886.
Telling
its story through the eyes of a young boy, Liberty! follows the great statue's steamship voyage
with
imaginative pen-and-wash artwork and enthusiasm for the treasure that is Liberty. Highly
recommended for both school and community library picturebook collections.
Loud Lips Lucy
Tolya L. Thompson
Savor Publishing House
83-55 Lefferts Blvd., 6E, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
0970829604 $16.00 www.amazon.com
Superbly written and colorfully illustrated by Tolya L. Thompson, Loud Lips Lucy is an engaging,
attention-getting, totally entertaining picturebook that draws young readers right into the story of
a
young girl who learns the value of listening. An educational note at the end informs youthful
readers
about laryngitis. Impressionistic, boldly colorful artwork brings this enthusiastic story to vivid life.
Highly recommended for family, school, and community library picturebook collections!
The Peanut Butter Jam
Elizabeth Sussman Nassau
Margot Janet Ott
Health Press
P.O. Box 1388, Santa Fe, NM 87504
092917335X $14.95 www.amazon.com
Engagingly written Elizabeth Sussman Nassau and nicely illustrated by Margot Janet Ott, The
Peanut Butter Jam is a very special picturebook for young readers that not only tells an interesting
story, but also educates them about the very real and sometimes dangerous problem of food
allergies. Foods such as peanuts and peanut butter, among others, can cause a potentially
life-threatening reaction to people with severe allergies, as this story of a young boy who gets
teased
by friends who don't understand demonstrates. A warm and instructive book, The Peanut Butter
Jam
is very highly recommended reading -- especially for young people who have food allergies or
friends with food allergies to such common edibles as soy products, eggs, milk, wheat, fish,
etc.
I Love My Little Storybook
Anita Jeram
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140
0763616982 $12.99 candlewick.com
Written and illustrated by Anita Jeram, I Love My Little Storybook is a charming, full-color
children's picturebook about young bunny rabbit who adores his storybook -- its look, its feel, and
best of all, the magical places it can take him to whenever he opens it. Simple yet endearing
hand-drawn illustrations add a special flavor to this wonderful story that celebrates the joy and
love
of reading. I Love My Little Storybook is an ideal addition to any family, school, or community
library picturebook collection.
Happy With Me
Leo Timmers
Smallfellow Press
1180 South Beverly Dr., Suite 320, Los Angeles, CA 90035
1931290083 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Happy With Me is an fully engaging and entertaining picturebook story written by Leo Timmers
and
filled with his amazing, artistic and slightly post-modern color illustrations about the joys and
fantasies a young boy has in his dreams. In dreams, the boy can become any creature he's read
about,
from a strong elephant to soaring bird to a deep-sea octopus. Happy With Me is enthusiastically
recommended as a truly delightful bedtime story for kids ages 3 through 6.
The Dancing Deer And The Foolish Hunter
Elisa Kleven
Dutton
345 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014
0525468323 $16.99 www.amazon.com
Written and illustrated by Elisa Kleven, The Dancing Deer And The Foolish Hunter is a delightful,
full color picturebook with a charming, original story. A hunter captures a dancing, talking deer -
but the deer explains that it can't dance without the singing of birds, and the bird's the hunter
snares
won't sing without the whistle of pine trees... ultimately, chain of events The Dancing Deer and
the
Foolish Hunter culminates in a valuable lesson about how silly it is to try to cage and isolate
separate
bits of nature. A funny, enjoyable, and satisfying read-aloud story, The Dancing Deer And The
Foolish Hunter is highly recommended for family, school, and community picturebook collections
for young readers ages 5 to 7.
Twice Yours
Nan Gurley
Zonderkidz
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310701945 $14.99 zonderkidz.com
Inspiringly written by Nan Gurley, Twice Yours: A Parable Of God's Gift is a powerful Christian
picturebook for children, about the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all human beings. Warmly
illustrated and enhanced with beautiful, full-color artwork by Bill Farnsworth, the gentle prose
and
spiritual method make Twice Yours a wonderful and memorable picturebook for young readers
ages 4 to 8.
"I Don't Want To Be Lunch!"
Michael Ambrosio & Bob Langan
LionX Publishing
705-2 E. Bidwell Street, #235, Folsom, CA 95630-3315
0971608504 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Charmingly written by Michael Ambrosio and vividly illustrated by Bob Langan, "I Don't Want
To
Be Lunch!" is a vividly presented children's picturebook, marked by boldly colorful illustrations
and
simple yet engaging prose. When a young squirrel who is nuts over tasty nuts disobeys his mother
and ventures from the safety of the tree, a big bear threatens to eat him for lunch! God himself
comes to the rescue in the form of a 15-foot squirrel in this enthusiastic and remarkable story. "I
Don't Want To Be Lunch!" is a welcome addition to any family, school or community library
picturebook collection for young readers.
Knopf
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
1-800-726-0600
Mavis Jukes' I'll See You In My Dreams (0-375-81518-X, $14.95) receives Stacey Schuett's
heartwarming and poignant picturbook story of a young girl who wants to say goodbye to her
favorite uncle, an airplane pilot who lies dying in a hospital across the country. As she journeys
across the country to be with him she imagines how she'd rather skywrite a beautiful message in a
plane in this gentle, comforting and personal story of personal loss. Carole Lexa Schaefer's Little
French Whistle (81569-4, $16.95) is enhanced by Emilie Chollat's whimsical drawings as it tells of
Louie, who likes to blow on his new Paris whistle even though it scares the animals. But then his
whistle takes on a very different meaning when Louie's friend changes how it sounds in this warm
and charmingly presented story.
Isaac's Dreamcatcher
Bonnie Farmer
Lobster Press
1620 Sherbrooke St. West, Suites C & D, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1C9
1894222466 $14.95 lobsterpress.com
Wonderfully written by Bonnie Farmer and delightfully illustrated by Anouk Perusse-Bell, Isaac's
Dreamcatcher is a thoughtful and gentle picturebook story about a young boy who dreads
naptime
because of a monster in his dreams... but the kindly teacher Miss Louise draws upon her Native
American heritage to fashion a "dreamcatcher" to filter out bad dreams and welcome in the good
ones. An enjoyable read for young children, Isaac's Dreamcatcher is a truly excellent picturebook
story for naptime or bedtime reading, alone or with a parent.
The Biography Shelf
Juliette Low: Girl Scout Founder
Helen Boyd Higgins
Patria Press
3842 Wolf Creek Circle, Carmel IN 46033
1882859081 $22.95 www.amazon.com
Written by Helen Boyd Higgins and enhanced with occasional black and white illustrations by
Cathy
Morrison, Juliette Low: Girl Scout Founder is the latest in the Patria Press "Young Patriot" series,
a
set of historical biographies that introduce young readers to great figures from history. Juliette
Low
introduces the reader to the young woman who believed "There's not one thing I can't do that
boys
can", and who eventually founded the Girl Scouts organization to cement her words. Very highly
recommended for school and community library collections for young readers, Juliette Low is
inspirational biography presenting a superb role model for young girls.
Raintree Steck-Vaughn Company
15 East 26th St., 15th fl., NY, NY 10010
1-888-363-4266 raintreesteckvaughn.com
"Scientists Who Mae History" is a new and informative eight volume biographical series for
young
readers showcasing seven men and one woman who had a fundamental and lasting impact on the
evolution and application of western science. This outstanding series commences with Mike
Goldsmith's Galileo Galilei (0739848453) showcasing the life and discoveries of the first true
scientist and a man who, in 1564, set the standard of scientific theories as being ably to be tested
by
experiment and modified by observation. Other volumes comprising this outstanding series
include
Stewart Ross' Alexander Graham Bell (0739844156); Paul Mason's Thomas A. Edison
(0739844148) and Isaac Newton (0739848453); Saviour Pirotta's Albert Einstein (0739848445);
Liz Gogerly's Marie Curie (073984413X) and Louis Pasteur (0739848461); and Cath Senker's
Charles Darwin (0739848437). Each volume's "reader friendly" text is profusely enhanced with
both
color and b/w illustrations. Although each volume is available separately ($18.98), the highest
recommendation for school and community library collections is to acquire the complete set
($151.84) for their students and young patrons.
The Fiction Shelf
Angel Up My Sleeve
Ezra Scott
Fontanel Books
Box 29234, Santa Fe, NM 87592
0970904878 $14.00 www.amazon.com
Dana finds herself in a changed and unfamiliar world when a sudden illness and a strange visitor
carry her into a land of demons, angels, and magical battles. From changing crumbs into gems to
learning about balance and managing fears, this provides inspirational adventure and fine
fantasy.
George Speaks
Dick King-Smith
Roaring Brook/Millbrook Press
2 Old New Milford Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804
0-7613-2519-0 $14.95 1-800-462-4703
Readers ages 7-9 will appreciate this whimsical story of a precocious four-year-old who has a
large
vocabulary and plenty to say. When the secret of George's speech gets out, surprising pressures
mount in this whimsical story of a genius child.
Farthing Wood Collection 3
Colin Dann
Trafalgar Square
Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0-09-941724-3 $9.95 1-800-423-4525
Kids in grades 8-adult will appreciate this omnibus edition of stories about the animals of Farthing
Wood; especially audiences who enjoyed Watership Down and Redwall books. This includes
Siege
Of White Deer Park, In The Path Of The Storm, and Battle For The Deer Park under one cover,
providing a lively account of animals who confront their world with courage.
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl
Evelyn Horan
AmErica House Publishing
PO Box 151 Frederick, MD 21705-0151
1588517055 $19.95 www.amazon.com
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl: Book One by Evelyn Horan is an engaging highly recommended
historical novel for young readers and set in the Lone Star State in the 1880s. Twelve-year-old
Jeannie has to face hard work daily and true dangers from the Old West, from rattlesnakes and
mountain lions and the threat of a tornado to horse thieves and a school bully. A fascinating and
highly enjoyable story about life in the Old West, Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl is a welcome
addition to school and community library collections.
Quality Concealed
Betty Briggs
Sunrise Selections
P.O. Box 51602, Provo, Utah 84605-1602
0965630714 $9.95 www.amazon.com
Quality Concealed by Betty Briggs is the engaging a story written for young adult readers features
a
sixteen-year-old girl whose plain, ordinary gelding can't quite match the exotic Thoroughbred of
her
best friend, and who must juggle school and equine obligations with her growing interest in a
handsome young fellow student. When a neighbor of uncertain motives moves next door, events
spiral toward a jumping contest and a deep rift between friends. An appropriate addition for
school
and community library YA collections, Quality Concealed is a wonderfully written, gentle,
thoughtful, adventurous yet poignant story especially recommended for pre-teen and teenage
girls.
Delacorte Press
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
1-800-726-0600
Fans of Face On The Milk Carton and Cooney's related novels about a teen who discovers she
was
stolen as a baby will appreciate What Janie Found (0-440-22772-0, $5.99), which continues the
story. Here Janie has discovered keys to her kidnapper's location even as her beloved father is
endangered by a heart attack. Should she keep his secret or confront her captor? Helen Ericson's
Harriet Spies Again (0385327862, $15.95) provides a companion volume to Harriet The Spy,
albeit by a
different author. An older Harriet is in eleventh grade and still pursuing mysteries. While her
character has changed she isn't the isolated youngster of the original title her interest in
sleuthing
has only expanded. Readers will find this a satisfying continuation of Harriet's misadventures.
Mr. Pine's Mixed-Up Signs
Leonard Kessler
Purple House Press
1625 Village Trail, Keller, TX 76248
1930900031 $16.00 www.amazon.com
Written and illustrated by Leonard Kessler, Mr. Pine's Mixed-Up Signs is a delightful and highly
recommended storybook for beginning readers. When the sign maker Mr. Pine loses his glasses,
he
mixes up where the signs should go. A classic that has is now again made available to a new
generation of young readers with this 40th Anniversary edition, Mr. Pine's Mixed-Up Signs is an
hilarious and thoroughly fun book for young folks!
Over The Edge
Gloria Skurzynski & Alane Ferguson
National Geographic Society
1145 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
0792266862 $5.95 www.amazon.com
Highly recommended for young adult readers ages 8-12, Over The Edge is a fun, exciting
suspense
novel collaborative written by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson, and is the latest entry in the
"Mysteries In Our National Parks" series. When Olivia Landon receives a threatening, anonymous
e-mail after announcing her disputed plan to save and protect the endangered condors of Grand
Canyon National Park, a trail of computer evidence leads to personal peril! Over The Edge is
fast-paced read, with the added bonus of slipping in some educational information about one of
America's greatest natural parks.
Knopf Publishers
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
1-800-726-0600
Two excellent titles present classics by familiar, tested authors. Dick King-Smith's Funny Frank
(0-375-81460-4, $14.95) enjoys illustrations by John Eastwood as it tells of a young chicken who
longs to be a duck. Frank doesn't behave like his siblings and his mother eventually abandons him
to
his dream of being a duck. A heartwarming tale emerges. Roald Dahl's Danny The Champion Of
The World (81425-6, $15.95) enjoys Quentin Blake's drawings as it tells of a boy who lives in a
gypsy caravan and enjoys a warm relationship with his parents. The appearance of this classic in a
new, handsome hardcover assures new generations will enjoy.
Tribes Of Redwall Badgers
Brian Jacques
Philomel
375 Hudson St., 15th fl, NY, NY 10014
0-399-23852-2 $8.99 1-800-847-5515
Tribes Of Redwall Badgers may not be suitable for library lending, with its pullout color poster,
but
will prove a fine parent's pick and will also appeal to school libraries for classroom enjoyment.
This
is recommended for prior young fans of the Redwall series: it provides a guide to the characters
of
the Badger Lords, covering the laws, language, and secrets of their tribes. An appealing, colorful
presentation.
Half-Human
Bruce Coville
Scholastic
555 Broadway, New York NY 10012
0-590-95944-1 $15.95 1-800-242-7737
Nancy Springer, Jane Yolen, Coville, and others contribute to a powerful fantasy collection
revolving around the theme of young adults who are only half human. From a scarecrow to a
fallen
angel, these are unusual characters who face basic conflicts of their nature. The very different
plots
and characters make for an involving collection packed with twists & surprises.
Replica: Virtual Amy
Marilyn Kaye
Bantam Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0-553-48749-3 $4.50 1-800-726-0600
Amy fears the organization which is monitoring her moves and endangering her fellow clone
friends
then she discovers a computer game which is all too real, and finds even more danger lies in the
path away from her observers. No prior familiarity with the series is necessary in order to become
quickly involved in this story of a cloned girl whose life is one of mystery and deception.
Understanding Buddy
Marc Kornblatt
McElderry Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0-689-83215-X $16.00
New boy Buddy White is strange: he won't talk, smile, or interact with them; yet only Sam knows
that the new boy's mother was killed in a car accident three months earlier. When Sam tries to
defend Buddy without revealing his secret, he finds himself in trouble with friends who fail to
understand either boy. A moving story of sadness and struggle and friendship.
The Only Outcast
Julie Johnson
Tundra Books
P.O. Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887764886 $6.95 tundrabooks.com
A finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award and the Ruth Schwartz Children's Literature
Award, The Only Outcast by playwright and novelist Julie Johnson is a compelling and
entertaining
novel for adolescent readers ages 11 through 18, and set at a lake front at the turn of the century.
Fred is young man who is expected to "build his character" in a series of emotional adventures
and
personal trials in this most satisfying tale of growing up and coming of age. Highly recommended
for
school and community library historical fiction collections, Julie Johnston drew upon the actual
diary
of the real Fred Dickson to aptly recreate an memorable story of yesteryear in The Only
Outcast.
The Audiobook Shelf
The 101 Dalmatians
Dodie Smith
Random Audio
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
0-8072-672-5 $25.00 1-800-726-0600
This unabridged book on tape will appeal to a wide age range, from fifth and sixth grade listeners
into high school. Martin Jarvis provides a lively reading of Smith's classic story of a litter of
special
Dalmatian pups facing a kidnapping threat from the evil Cruella de Ville. A lively, fun story comes
alive in audio for all ages.
Other Lands/Other People
Muslim Child
Rukhsana Khan
Albert Whitman & Company
6340 Oakton Street, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2723
0807553077 $14.95 albertwhitman.com
Written by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Patty Gallinger, and with sidebars by Irfan Alli, Muslim
Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories And Poems is a selection of stories and poems
designed
to teach young readers about Islam. Muslim Child is emphatically not a proselytizing book, but
rather an informational one, designed to show young people how Islamic children live, what they
believe, and what the common practices of their faith are. A highly recommended and educational
book for children everywhere, in an increasingly globalized world and in view of contemporary
world events.
The Library Reference Shelf
Boys' & Girls' Book Series
Diane McClure Jones & Rosemary Jones
Collector Books
Box 3009,Paducah, KY 42002-3009
1-57432-241-9 $19.95 1-800-626-5420
Young and old alike who collect series titles such as Nancy Drew or Curleytops will find the
Boys'
& Girls' Book Series to be an excellent guide to identification and values for notable series books,
from Black Stallion to Linger-Nots. Color photos of book jackets liberally pepper the guide's
basic
information on values and condition, making for a visually pleasing identification and collector's
reference.
Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001
1-800-831-9881
The latest library reference encyclopedias from this publisher are outstanding, promising to reach
a
wide grade range from 5 through middle school, and providing lasting references which will age
well. The Environment Encyclopedia set of 11 volumes (0-76147-182-0) provides an A-Z
reference
of articles on everything from acid rain to zoning concerns, covering economic, historical, and
scientific factors of environmental concerns. This is more than a concise listing of terms: each
environmental concern receives several pages of embellishment accompanied by color photos,
maps,
and drawings where appropriate. The set will prove an important, lasting reference. The
twenty-two
volume International Wildlife Encyclopedia (0-7614-7266-5, $499.95) may reach a more
specialized audience, but its updated appearance in its third edition promises both school and
public
libraries the opportunity to provide readers in grades 6 and up with a comprehensive coverage of
world wildlife and management issues. Fish, mammals, birds and reptiles are all covered in a title
which devotes several pages of facts on each listing. Sidebars of information provide at-a-glance
reference details on natural history while the color photos and details on habitat, habits, and
threats
to survival make for excellent report material. A younger audience from grades 4-6 will
appreciate
the Rain Forests Of The World set (7254-1, $329.95). The same attention to color photos and
facts
has been scaled down for the elementary level audience but still provides several pages of
information on world rain forest environments, making for fine report material. All are top picks
for
discriminating librarians seeking lasting reference materials which will be consulted again and
again.
Books In Series
World Almanac Library
330 W. Olive #100, Milwaukee, WI 53212
$26.60/Each 1-800-848-2928
The World Almanc "Library of the States" series provides kids in grades 5 and up with a factual
set
of reference volumes: one per state. The set includes the latest results of the 2000 census and
gathers facts from other authoritative sources, adding color photos and profiles of each state in
traditional Almanac style. Volumes received for the first batch include Florida, Wisconsin,
Washington, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Massachsetts, Michigan, California, North
Carolina, Texas, New York: all promise attention to facts and detail which make these top picks
for
reports.
The Cookbook Shelf
Emeril's There's A Chef In My Soup!
Emeril Lagasse
HarperCollins Publishers
1350 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10019
0688177069 $22.99 www.amazon.com
Emeril Lagasse hosts "Emeril Live" and "Essence of Emeril" (two of the most popular cable and
satellite television programs on "The Food Channel") and is the food correspondent for ABC's
"Good Morning America". He the prolific author of an acclaimed series of outstanding cookbooks
and is also the chef and owner of six critically acclaimed restaurants in New Orleans, Las Vegas,
and
Orlando. Now In Emeril's There's A Chef In My Soup!: Recipes For The Kid In Everyone, Emeril
turns his attention to a volume of 75 superbly presented recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and
snacks that are truly "kid friendly" in both their appeal and preparation. From Good-for-You
Garden
Pita Pockets with Egg Salad; Simply Sensational Tuna Salad; and It's A BBQ Chicken Wrap with
Quick-and-Crunchy Slaw; to Junior's Jambalaya; Nutty Buttery Green Beans; and Jessie's
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, There's A Chef In My Soup! is an enthusiastically recommended
compendium that is enhanced for young cooks with "how to" chapters on cooking basics and
kitchen safety.
All throughout history tyrants and fanatics have sought to control the flow of information with
the
burning of books. Literacy and libraries are the first lines of defense against imprisonment of the
mind.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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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