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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Willa The Wonderful
Susan Milord
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley, Boston, MA 02116
0618275223 $15.00 1-800-225-3362
Willa wants to be a real fairy princess when she grows up complete with wings, wand, and fairy
dust. Her efforts to get a head start on her career land her in trouble in school, and in a fight with
her
best friend: is it worth it to pursue her dream early? A fine story of achievement and reality.
Richest Crocodile In The World
Daniel Postgate
Harper UK/Trafalgar Square
Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
0007103883 $14.95 1-800-423-4525
The richest animal in the world is a crocodile who has everything but still finds something
missing.
When he sees animal friends at a simple watering hole having fun, he realizes what he lacks and
what to do about it. A zany, fun title celebrates the value of friendship over material goods: the
illustrations are endearing and original.
Muhammad
Demi
Margaret K. McElderry Books
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689852649 $19.95 SimonSaysKids.com
Written and illustrated by award-winning children's book author Demi, Muhammad is a unique
and
superbly crafted picture book presentation of the religious and historical figure of Muhammad, the
man who brought the scripture and faith of Islam to the world. In keeping with Islamic tradition,
the
Prophet Muhammad and his family are not pictured directly; instead, a solid gold silhouette
represents Muhammad in the various simple, expressive color illustrations. The text succinctly
records Muhammad's life, faith, and his efforts to spread the word of God. Muhammad is highly
recommended for all ages and would make an excellent acquisition choice for school and
community
libraries wanting reliable materials to explain Islam to young American readers.
I Love Yoga
Ellen Schwartz
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
088776598X $9.95 tundrabooks.com
Accessibly written by yoga practitioner Ellen Schwartz, I Love Yoga: A Guide For Kids And
Teens
presents basic information about the history and present-day practice of yoga for flexibility,
fitness,
good health and great fun. Nicely illustrated by Ben Hodson and especially intended for young
readers and offering straightforward instructions for learning basic poses, I Love Yoga is an
excellent and recommended introduction to the practice of yoga for young readers of all ages and
backgrounds.
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
1-800-242-7737 www.amazon.com
Piers Harper's Little Lamb (0439544297, $15.95) offers a lovely soft-to-touch picturebook which
will appeal to the very young and their families. Little Lamb's love of hide-and-seek results in her
becoming lost how can she find her way home? A warm, enjoyable story with tactile benefits.
Nancy Minchella's Mama Will Be Home Soon (0439384915, $15.95) enjoys Keiko Narahashi's
realistic illustrations as it tells of a child who misses her absent mother and looks for her
everywhere. Her mother's return brings an unexpected surprise. Thomas Taylor's The Loudest
Roar
(043950130X, $15.95) tells of a small tiger who loves to sneak up on folks and roar. It's is
favorite
thing, but his victims think otherwise, and get together to teach the cub a lesson in this story of
cooperation and consideration. Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's How Do Dinosaurs Get Well
Soon?
(0439241-006, $15.95) explores illness and recovery through the eyes of a a dinosaur's world.
Sick
dinos have their own ways of handling illness in this zany story telling kids of different recovery
methods. Robert Munsch's Zoom! (0439187745, $13.95) enjoys Michael Martchenko's fun
drawings
as it tells of a girl who wants the fastest wheelchair in the store, much to the chagrin of parents
who
want her to slow down. Laurette's new wheelchair causes problems until a family emergency
makes
her the winner. Todd Mack's Princess Penelope (0439224365, $15.95) receives Julia Gran's
endearing drawings as it tells of a girl who believes she is a princess and so acts like one. Typical
characteristics of princesses are reviewed in this funny story of one spoiled child. Jon Muth's
Stone
Soup (043933909X, $16.95) pre-sents a Chinese story of three monks on a journey to discover
happiness. Their encounter with a harsh village leads to their teaching on how to make stone soup
and how to instill new courage and cooperation in hardened peoples.
Sunny
Robin Mitchell & Judith Steedman
Simply Read Books
501-5525 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6M 3W6
www.simplyreadbooks.com
0968876854 $15.95 1-604-727-2960
Sunny is an exciting children's picture book about a noisy summer day in the city. Sunny and her
friends listen to the wide variety of unusual noises, until Sunny has the grand idea to have a
"hootenanny" with laughter and drumming and excitement for all. Color photographs of adorably
dressed dolls illustrate this engaging, easy-to-read story, which is enhanced with an audio CD
featuring ten rousing songs for the entertainment of children ages 3 to 7.
Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Rd. Tarrytown NY 10591
$499.95 1-800-831-9881
Grades 7 and up will benefit from the How It Works, 3rd Edition (0761443149) encyclopedia set
covering the latest advancements in science and technology in its third updated edition. From
video
recorders and wastewater treatment plants to physics and plastics, this set offers bright,
contemporary color photos, diagrams and charts, and introductory materials suitable for reports.
Don't miss the second edition of America In The 20th Century (0761473645): each volume in the
13-volume set covers a 10-year range of history pinpointing major events, key historical figures,
and
different concepts. Both are recommended sets for both advanced elementary and middle school
grades.
Madalynn The Monarch Butterfly And Her Quest To Michoacan
Mary Baca Haque
Polar Bear & Company
PO Box 311, Solon, Maine 04979
www.polarbearandco.com
1882190521 $14.00 1-207-643-2795
Deftly written by Mary Baca Haque, Madalynn The Monarch Butterfly And Her Quest To
Michoacan is a bilingual storybook (Francisco Lancaster-Jones ably translates the English text
into
Spanish) for children ready to make the transition from picturebooks to more involved tales.
Tracing
the flight of a monarch butterfly and the fascinating array of wild creatures she meets during her
long
migration, Madalynn The Monarch Butterfly And Her Quest To Michoacan is an engaging read
warmly illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Emily du Houx.
Imagine A House
Angela Gustafson
Out of the Box
PO Box 19435, Minneapolis, MN 55419
0972684905 $16.95 www.ootbooks.com
Written and illustrated by a retired Peace Corps volunteer Angela Gustafson, Imagine A House: A
Journey To Fascinating Houses Around The World is a splendid picture book showcase for young
readers and showcases various twenty-two types of dwellings used by fifteen diverse cultures
worldwide ranging from igloos, to the tent houses of northern Africa and the Middle East, to
houses
on stilts such as those found in Southeast Asia, and much, much more. Full-color, photographic
illustrations complement the text and offer fascinating glimpses into different cultures.
NewView Almanac
Thomson Gale/The Gale Group, dist.
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535
1567116744 $49.94 1-800-877-4253
Now in an updated and expanded third edition, NewView Almanac is an impressive and "user
friendly" resource of facts about the world we live in, supplemented with over 2000 charts,
graphs,
and maps. From birth and mortality rates; to who spends the most on lotteries; to the top ten
foreign
air travel destinations, NewView Almanac is a wide-ranging and thorough compilation organized
by
subject matter (Health and Nutrition; Lifestyles and Pastimes; Politics and Government;
Population
and Vital Statistics; Drugs and Crime; Environment and Geography; Agriculture and Natural
Resources; Transportation and Energy; Money and Business; Science and Technology; Sports and
Records; Education and Learning) for easy lookup. NewView Almanac is a welcome addition to
school, community, and homeschooling library reference collections.
The Picturebook Shelf
Polly's Picnic
Richard Hamilton
Bloomsbury Publishing
175 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
1582348197 $16.95 bloomsbury.com
Polly has planned a fine picnic by the river, but uninvited guests of the wilder kind wreck havoc
on
her plans. How can she enjoy her largess with such greedy guests? Sophy Williams' fine realistic
watercolors make Polly's Picnic a particularly sparkling presentation.
Boxes For Katje
Candace Fleming
Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374309221 $16.00 1-888-330-8477
Written by award-winning picture book author Candace Fleming, and based on the real
experiences
of her mother, Boxes For Katje is an uplifting picture book whose story is set in Holland after
World
War II. The war has left behind immense devastation, yet Katje's pen-pal from America has sent a
package that is part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe. An inspirational story
grounded in history, Boxes For Katje is wonderfully enhanced for young readers with the artwork
of
Stacey Dressen-McQueen.
Clarion Books
215 Park Avenue South, NY NY 10003
Three excellent, different new picture books are recommended picks. Carll Cneut's Amazing Love
Story Of Mr. Morf (0618331700, $15.00) tells of a circus where everyone has someone to love
except tightrope walker Mr. Morf. His journey away from his circus to find a special friend leads
him to encounters with many who will not fit into his high-wire lifestyle in this whimsical story of
a
search for romance. Eve Bunting's Little Bear's Little Boat (0618974623, $12.00) tells of a bear
who loves his little boat until he outgrows it. Mama Bear explains things in terms of destiny in
this
sympathetic story of growing pains. Jackie French's Diary Of A Wombat (0618381368, $14.00)
tells
of an Australian wombat who is busy digging holes, sleeping, and training new human neighbors.
The form of a first-person diary with truncated descriptions is whimsical and delightful while
Bruce
Whatley's drawings are a delight. Highly recommended.
The Everything Seed
Carole Martingnacco & Joy Troyer
Beaver's Pond Press, Inc.
7104 Ohms Lane, #216, Edina, MN 55439
1592980082 $17.95 1-800-901-3480
The Everything Seed: A Story Of Beginnings is written by Carole Martignacco (an ordained
minister
serving the Unitarian Universalist Church of North Hatley, Quebec, Canada) and illustrated by Joy
Troyer (a Batik artist and seminary student). This the story of the very first seed, the one that
unfold
to become everything in the Universe. Author Carole Martignacco incorporates scientific theories
while acknowledging the spiritual aspect of all creation in a work that will resonate with young
readers of all religions and denominational backgrounds. The batik illustrations are beautiful,
simple,
elegant, and perfectly showcase a story of our beginnings that is as thoughtful as it is entertaining.
The Everything Seed is a very welcome and highly recommended addition to family, church,
school,
and community library collections.
Cinnamon & The April Shower
Amy Crane Johnson & Robb Mommaerts
Raven Tree Press
200 S. Washington St., Suite 306, Green Bay, WI 54301
0972019227 $16.95 raventreepress.com
Cinnamon & The April Shower is a bilingual (English/Spanish) picture book entertainingly written
by Amy Crane Johnson, superbly illustrated by Robb Mommaerts, and translated by Eida de la
Vega.
It's spring and the forest is filled with newborn animals and reawakened plant life. Pearl Squirrel,
Lewis Cardinal, Cheri Cardinal, and Cinnamon (a friendly black bear) engage in a flurry of activity
with their woodland friends when Solomon Raven warns them to seek shelter and while
explaining
the importance of rain for animal and forest survival. Children ages 4 to 8 will be informed even as
they are being entertaining with this carefully crafted book that is a "must" for school and
community bilingual picture book library collections.
Through The Heart Of The Jungle
Jonathan Emmett & Elena Gomez
Tiger Tales
202 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
158925029X $15.95 1-920-387-2333
Through The Heart Of The Jungle is the collaboratively effort of author Jonathan Emmett and
illustrator Elena Gomez. Young readers are taken on an adventure through the heart of the jungle.
They will find a buzzing fly is not alone because there is a spider waiting to gobble the fly. A toad
is
right behind the spider, and so on and on until the chain of predator and prey leads up to the lion!
The rhythmic text is perfectly showcased with lush, colorful artwork making Through The Heart
Of
The Jungle a popular and recommended addition to any personal or library picture book
collection.
Late For School
Mike Reiss & Michael Austin
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318-2112
1561452866 $16.95 peachtree-online.com
Specifically written by Mike Reiss for children ages 6 to 10 in order to demonstrate that getting to
school on time can be an adventure, Late For School is humorously illustrated by Michael Austin
in
perfect complement to the thoroughly entertaining text. Young readers will cheer on Smitty and
his
heroic efforts to beat the school bell, and will delight in the surprise ending! Late For School is a
welcome and recommended addition -- most especially for school library collections!
The Light Of Stars
Phyllis Glowatsky
Coastal Publishing, Inc.
504 Amberjack Way, Summerville, SC 29485
1931650187 $19.95 light-of-stars.com
Richly illustrated by Karen J. Stringer, and deftly written by Phyllis Glowatsky, The Light Of
Stars is
a gentle fable that will comfort and sustain children in times of sadness and loss. The Light Of
Stars
speaks to the rhythm of the sea, the cycle of birth, life and death, and how the light of the spirit
shines forever. A little girl and a small white dog wander a beach and discover the secret story of
the
starfish who are born from stars and play upon the ocean. When they become tired and lonely for
the
sky and no longer need their heavy bodies, their light returns to the heavens to shine upon all the
creatures of the earth. The Light Of Stars is sensitive, reassuring, and very strongly recommended
reading -- especially for children who have experienced the loss of a friend or family member.
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson & N. C. Wyeth
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689854684 $18.95 1-800-223-2336
Treasure Island is a picture book adaptation of the classic story of adventure, which has been
carefully abridged for younger readers. The expressive full-color, museum quality illustrations by
the
late N. C. Wyeth perfectly complement this great classic by the great nineteenth-century author
Robert Louis Stevenson. Treasure Island is very highly recommended for novice readers just
about
ready to graduate from picture book to reading to more involved and complex stories.
Squizzy The Black Squirrel
Chuck Stone & Jeannie Jackson
Open Hand Publishing, LLC
PO Box 20207, Greensboro, NC 27420
0940880717 $16.95 www.openhand.com
Written by Black civil rights activist and journalist Chuck Stone, Squizzy The Black Squirrel: A
Fabulous Fable Of Friendship is a children's picturebook with a deeper message. When a
seven-year-old boy makes friends with the only black squirrel in Fairmount Park, he learns that
relying on color to describe oneself or one's friends makes no sense. Enhanced withthe artwork of
Jeannie Jackson, Squizzy The Black Squirrel is a powerful parable for young readers ages 5 to 9
about embracing the virtue of open-mindedness.
Come Along, Kitten
Joanne Ryder & Susan Winter
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689831641 $15.95 1-800-223-2336
Written by award-winning children's author Joanne Ryder, Come Along, Kitten is a very simple
yet
wondrously charming picturebook about the friendly interaction between a big dog and a little yet
curious kitten. Gentle and heartwarming illustrations by Susan Winter perfectly showcase simple
rhyming words, and add a spirit of fun and adventure which permeate the pages of this delightful
picturebook which is especially meant to share the joy of discovery with the very young.
Poochie-Poo
Helen Stephens
David Fickling Books/Random House
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
www.davidficklingbooks.co.uk
0385750129 $14.95 1-800-726-0600
Written and illustrated by Helen Stephens, Poochie-Poo is the story of Victor, a puppy that is
ordinarily a very good little dog, but one day decides to "play baddies" with his puppy friend
Butch
who is small, bad, and loves being naughty! Baddies eat table leges, hid slippers, steal sausages,
and
are cool. but being a baddie isn't as easy as Victor thinks! Poochie-Poo is a cheerfully illustrated
picture book that will delight youngsters ages 5 to 8.
The Friendly Book
Margaret Wise Brown & Garth Williams
Golden Books/Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/kids
0307106438 $8.99 1-800-726-0600
The Friendly Book is the reprint of a "Big Little Golden Book" classic written by Margaret Wise
Brown and illustrated by Garth Williams. Of special note is the way the alliterative, repetitive, and
entertaining text of The Friendly Book is so useful in helping children ages 2 to 5 to
simultaneously
built vocabulary and reading skills. Also very highly recommended are two other newly reprinted
Gold Books classics: K. & B. Jackson and Gustaf Tenggren's The Saggy Baggy Elephant
(0375-825908, $8.99) and Tibor Gergely's The Great Big Fire Engine (0307103218, $8.99).
Three Samurai Cats
Eric A. Kimmel & Mordicai Gerstein
Holiday House, Inc.
425 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017
0823417425 $16.95 holidayhouse.com
Three Samurai Cats: A Story From Japan is a folktale from Japan retold for young readers by Eric
A. Kimmel and impressively illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. After a rat takes over his castle, a
canine lord knows that he needs the help of a samurai cat. The first one arrives, draws his sword,
charges the rat -- and is soundly defeated. The next samurai cat arrives in full armor -- but is also
defeated. Then an old, toothless, ragged-tailed cat limps to the castle -- but how can such a one
succeed where other younger, stronger, sword wielding samurai felines have failed? Three
Samurai
Cats is a elegantly wonderful picture book story that will utterly fascinate and thoroughly delight
young readers.
If the World Ran Out of B's
Samantha & Bill Shireman
Beyond Words
20827 N.W. Cornell Rd. #500, Hillsboro, OR 97124
1582700591 $15.95
What would happen if the world ran out of B's? With an emphasis on environmental conservation,
the Shiremans explore the impact of a 'B-free' world in a zany book which blends a rollicking
rhyme
with cartoons.
Stardusters
Ann Garrett, et al.
Moon Mountain Publishing
80 Peachtree Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852
www.moonmountainpub.com
0967792940 $15.95 1-401-884-6703
Collaboratively written by Ann Garrett and Gene-Michael Higney, and illustrated by Pattima
Singhalaka, Stardusters is the story of Arin and Avery, two young angels who set off a chain of
events that threatens the earth with disaster! Even the boss angel Sarge, can't get these two
squabbling little angels to get along with each other. But when Arin and Avery inadvertently spill
barrels of stardust and sends the stuff cascading toward earth, the two seek to avert a catastrophe
and begin to work together without quite realizing it. The stardust changes form and covers the
Earth with a blanket of cold, white flakes -- to the joy and delight of Earth's people. Out of this
experience both Arin and Avery realize the delightful benefits of cooperation. Stardusters is an
original, entertaining, cheerful, and altogether wonderful reading experience for children ages 4 to
8
and in preschool through third grade.
Adventures Of Riley: Tigers In Terai
Amanda Lumry, et al.
Eaglemont Press
PMB 741, 15600 NE 8th #B-1, Bellevue, WA 98008
0966225775 $15.95 eaglemontpress.com
Collaboratively written by Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwitz, and enhanced with the colorful
artistry of Sarah McIntyre who combines photos and illustrations, Adventures Of Riley: Tigers In
Terai is set in the lowlands of Nepal where young Riley explores this home of tigers, elephants,
and
other fascinating creatures with his Uncle Max. The text is enhanced with frequent sidebars
providing information on specific animals. There is an added bonus of "adventure stickers" and a
website where children can continue the adventure well beyond the pages of this particular book.
Approved by The Smithsonian Institution, The Wildlife Conservation Society, and The World
Wildlife Fund, Adventures Of Riley: Tigers In Terai is an approved and recommended addition to
personal reading lists, school, and community library collections.
Best Kind Of Baby
Kate Laing & R. W. Alley
Dial Books/Penguin Putnam
345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0803726627 $15.99 penguinputnam.com
Best Kind Of Baby is the successful collaboration of author Kate Laing and illustrator R. W.
Alley.
Sophie knows her mother is going to have some kind of baby -- but why a regular old human
baby?
An ordinary baby can't play like a puppy, or make funny noises like a monkey, or blow bubbles
like a
fish! The feelings and ideas of a young child coming to terms with the pending inclusion of a baby
in
the family is beautiful presented in this picture book story that is certain to entertain young
readers
preschool through first grade.
Doubleday
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
Angela McAllister's Night-Night, Little One (038532723, $15.95) provides warm and fine
drawings
by Maggie Kneen as it tells of a little rabbit who just can't sleep. Mommy tells Duffy about various
animals who come out at night instead of daytime in this sympathetic bedtime story. Ted Dewan's
Crispin And The Three Little Piglets (0385746334, $15.95) tells of a pig who isn't used to
sharing,
and the three little piglets who've joined his family. At first Crispin is miserable with their noise
and
messes, but slowly he grows to love his new siblings in this endearing tale.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 www.amazon.com
Janet Schulman's A Bunny For All Seasons (0373822569, $9.95) arrived too late for more timely
Easter mention, but any interested in rabbits will find this a year-round pleasure. Each of the year's
four seasons are celebrated from a young bunny's perspective, with gentle watercolors by Meilo
So
accompanying a very easy survey. Mary Morgan's Sleep Tight, Little Mouse (0373823085,
$12.95)
tells of a restless little mouse who is tucked in by his mother, but still can't sleep. His ideas of
what
might contribute to the ideal sleeping place makes for a lovely little story of a home's warm
attributes.
Who's Got Game?
Toni & Slade Morrison
Scribner
1230 Ave of Americas, NY NY 10020
0743222474 $16.95 www.amazon.com
"How can you say I never worked a day? Art is work. It just looks like play." Pascal Lemaitre's
funny cartoons illustrate this fun story of friendly conflict between an ant and his grasshopper
friend.
This rollicking rhyme/cartoon combination follows a series of conflicts between the two buddies
as
they test each other.
The Big Red Barn
Christa Galer & Jeffrey Galer
Purple Crayon Animation Studies, Inc.
0-115 Luce St SW Grand Rapids MI 49544
097064910X $11.49 www.pca3d.com
Creatively written by Christa Galer and energetically illustrated with a distinctive animation style
by
Jeffrey Galer, The Big Red Barn the debut title for Purple Crayon Studios (a computer animation
and graphics design company) in their "mushtoons", a family oriented children's cartoon book
series
who's main characters are animated mushroom children. Specifically, The Big Red Barn is an
entertaining and "kid pleasing" story about making friends. A family value based story that
children
preschool through first grade will find immensely entertaining, The Big Red Barn will prove a
very
welcome addition to any family, school, or community library picture book collection.
Viking/Putnam
345 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1-800-847-5515 www.amazon.com
Susan Middleton Elya's Oh No, Gotta Go! (0399234934, $14.99) will earn many a sympathetic
child's attention as it tells of a child who needs to go once the car pulls away from home. Spanish
and English bi-lingual presentations make for amusing paintings and a whimsical story line.
Charles
De Lint's A Circle Of Cats (0399036471, $16.99) receives Charles Vess' warm drawings as it tells
of
an orphan who lives miles from anyone, and who roams the forest as a friend of animals. When a
poisonous snake bites her, her cat friends come to the rescue in this warm story which will require
parental assistance or good picturebook reading skills. Jim Arnosky's Armadillo's Orange
(0399234128, $15.99) tells of a loner armadillo who keeps to himself, ignoring the neighbors as
he
hunts for grubs. He never bothers with them until his favorite burrow mark rolls away and he
must
figure out how to find his home without it.
Zoe's Hats
Sharon Lane Holm
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431
www.boydsmillspress.com
1590780426 $13.95 1-800-490-5111
Delightfully written and illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm, Zoe's Hats: A Book Of Colors And
Patterns is the picture book story of Zoe, a little girl who loves hats of all kinds -- floppy, flowery,
fancy, and funny. Zoe's Hats is particularly recommended as a pleasant and entertaining
introduction
for young readers to colors and patterns, each of which is enhanced with splendid illustrations and
a
simple, rhythmic text.
One Grain Of Sand
Pete Seeger & Linda Wingerter
Little, Brown & Company
1271 Av of the Americas, NY NY 10020
0316781401 $15.95 1-800-759-0190
Folksong singer, storyteller, and composer Pete Seeger wrote a lullaby in 1956 for his daughter
Tynia. Now that song, "One Grain of Sand", has been brought to life in a picture book for
children
with the superb and luminous artwork of Linda Wingerter. One Grain Of Sand: A Lullaby is
enthusiastically recommended reading -- especially for Pete Seeger fans with children of their
own.
Indeed, if a school or community library's acquisition budget can only afford the addition a single
picture book this season, then they could do no better than to make it One Grain Of Sand.
Buster
Denise Fleming
Henry Holt
115 West 18th Street, Y, NY 10011
0805062793 $15.95 henryholt.com
Buster is a dog who is used to being the center of attention -- until the introduction of a kitten
named Betty. Suddenly, Buster's happy days of engraved dishes, his own radio, and the
ever-adoring
"Brown Shoes" is turned upside down and he leaves his "Betty infected" home. At first the
outside
world is refreshing and gratifying -- but then night falls and Buster finds himself scared, alone, and
unable to find his way back home. That's when Betty (perched in a tree across town) serves as a
beacon for Buster to find his way back. From then on, Betty and Buster are the very best of
friends.
Denise Fleming's unique illustration style (she pours colored cotton pulp through hand-cut
stencils)
is as unique as her story of Buster and Betty is original and very highly recommended.
Lily's Garden Of India
Jeremy Smith
Gingham Dog/McGraw
8787 Orion Place, Columbus, OH 43240-4027
1577684915 $15.95 www.amazon.com
Kids ages 3-8 will delight in this story of a young girl who discovers India by exploring the
unusual
plants in her mother's exotic garden. Lily's survey of the plants comes to life when suddenly she is
transported to India to learn about the lives of three different Indian girls in this whimsical tale,
with
bright drawings by Rob Hefferan.
The Organic Adventures Of Tucker
Rey Ortega & Amanda Moeckel
Sun King Publishing
2464 Marconi Av, Sacramento, CA 95821
www.tuckertomato.com
0972834001 $9.95 1-916-487-7809
Innovatively written by Rey Ortega and brightly illustrated by Amanda Moeckel, The Organic
Adventures Of Tucker is a unique children's picture book that introduces youngsters to the
concepts
of organic gardening and natural foods. Original and entertaining, The Organic Adventures Of
Tucker is especially recommended for parents and teachers seeking to encourage healthy eating
habits and food choices in children ages 4 to 6.
A House With No Mouse
P. S. Tinsley & Luis F. Castro
Mousetime Books
7960 B Soquel Dr #297, Aptos, CA 95003
0972321314 $14.95 1-831-661-0684
Written by P. S. Tinsley with a rhyming text, A House With No Mouse is enhanced with 32 color
illustrations by Luis F. Castro and explores how common it is to live in a house with no computer
(or "computer mouse") -- and explains where children and families can go to use a computer in
any
community. Also available in a softcover edition (0972321322, $7.95), A House With No Mouse
is
especially and enthusiastically recommended for young readers ages 4 to 9.
Candlewick Press
2076 Massachussetts Avene
Cambridge, MA 02140
Sharon Darrow's story of Mary Shelly, creator of Frankenstein, comes to life in the picturebook
story Through The Tempests Dark And Wild (0763608351, $16.99), which will require good
reading skills or parental assistance for the picturebook crowd. Fact and fiction blend in this
survey
of Shelley's life and writing talents. Janet Pedersen's Millie In The Meadow (0763617253, $14.99)
tells of a calf who watches her friends being painted by an artist, learning art as his paintings come
together. Kids will learn the basics of how paintings are created in this simple story.
The Theatre Shelf
Smith and Kraus
177 Lyme Rd., Hanover, NH 03755
Two new collections of plays for young performers provide young adults with excellent,
contemporary works with refreshing twists. Craig Slaight edits Volume IV of New Plays
(1575253623, $16.95), choosing winners from A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory program and
presenting a diverse selection of plays ranging from Timothy Mason's celebrated Time On Fire,
about the lvies of New England young people and a young British officer in 1775 during the war,
to
Sarah Daniels' Dust, telling of a group of traveling students who become stranded on London's
Underground train. Kyna Hamill's They Fight (1575253224, $19.95) provides the basics with
plenty
of examples on sample stage fight scenes. The narrow focus enables youngsters to try out over
forty
scenes from classical to contemporary repertoire, chosen specifically for young actors and their
teachers. Scenes featuring diverse weaponry as well as scenes for women fighters set this apart
from
any other.
The American History Shelf
The American Flag
Shirley Jordan
Perfection Learning Corporation
PO Box 500, Logan, Iowa 51546-0500
www.perfectionlearning.com
0756911850 $8.95 1-800-762-2999
Part of the Perfection Learning Corporation's "Moments In History" series, The American Flag by
Shirley Jordan is a "reader friendly" history and chronicle of America's characteristic banner and
what it represented from the revolutionary war to the September 11th attacks. Full-color
photographs and straightforward text appropriate for below-grade-level readers requiring a high
interest/low vocabulary approach, make The American Flag informative, educational, and
highly
recommended. Also available in a hardcover edition (0756911850, $15.95) The American Flag is
quite suited to being a welcome and popular addition to school library collections and remedial
reading classroom curriculum materials.
Children's Encyclopedia Of American History
Smithsonian
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0789483300 $29.99 www.amazon.com
Beautiful photos compliment lively text to present a comprehensive guide and reference to the
events and ideas which have shaped the US. From big news stories to struggles for peace over the
decades, the Children's Encyclopedia Of American History packs in illustrations and
complimentary
text to make for a revealing, attractive reference for all ages.
The Biography Shelf
John Muir
Thomas Locker
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, #300, Golden, Colorado 80403
www.fulcrum-books.com
1555913938 $17.95 1-800-992-2908
John Muir: America's Naturalist is a picture book created and illustrated by Thomas Locker for
the
express purpose of biographically informing young readers naturalist John Muir's wisdom and
values
with respect to wilderness preservation. Beautiful full-color reproductions of Locker's richly
painted
landscapes perfectly complement the life and achievements of John Muir who wrote articulate and
enlightening descriptions of nature for the benefit of future generations. John Muir: America's
Naturalist is a true work of art, and would make an impressive, popular, memorable contribution
to
school and community library collections.
Polly Bemis
Priscilla Wegars
Backeddy Books
PO Box 301, Cambridge, ID 83610
0971081328 $18.95 1-208-d257-3810
Polly Bemis: A Chinese American Pioneer is the biography of the Pacific Northwest's most
famous
Chinese woman who lived in western Idaho for more than sixty years. After Polly's parents in
China
sold her, she was smuggled into the United States, purchased by a Chinese man, and brought to
Warren, Idaho. There she married Charlie Bemis in 1894 and settled with her husband on the
remote
Salmon River. Charlie died in 1922 and Polly died eleven years later in 1933. The informative and
attention engaging text by Priscilla Wegars is enhanced throughout with the inclusion of 29
black-and-white historic photographs, four modern color photos, a number of period background
images, illustration credits, acknowledgments, and a biographical note. It should also be noted
that
there is a website cited on page 25 which offers children, parents, and teachers diverse maps, math
and language arts lessons related to the book, action figure images to cutout and color, as well as
frequently asked questions about Polly Bemis. Polly Bemis: A Chinese American Pioneer is a
welcome and quite unique addition to both school and library American Biography
collections.
The Fiction Shelf
Hawksong
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Delacorte Press
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
0385730713 $9.95 www.amazon.com
Danica is an avian shapeshifter who has experienced war her entire life: war between her people
and
the serpiente shapeshifters. As heir to the avian throne she has a chance to make a change but
only
by pretending to be in love with the sepiente shapeshifter she distrusts. How far will she go to
bring
peace to both peoples? This fantasy will delight young adults looking for something different.
Tom Finder
Martine Leavitt
Red Deer Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
0889952620 $9.95 1-800-663-5714
Tom Finder by Martine Leavitt is a novel for young adults about Tom, a fifteen-year-old boy
living
on the streets. Unable to remember his past at first, Tom becomes gradually drawn into the
mysteries of the life he left behind as he strives to help another lost teenager -- and determine the
course of his life once and for all. Very highly recommended reading, Tom Finder is a strong and
emotionally written "coming of age" story.
House On Hound Hill
Maggie Prince
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
0618331247 $6.95 1-800-225-3362
Emily's new London home is frightening: from a haunted bedroom which drives her away from
her
brother's friendship to encounters with the supernatural beings who have suffered plague in the
past
on Hound Hill, Emily finds herself struggling for answers. Add the question of her mother's
growing
affection for a neighbor and the interests of a local society involved with the Hound Hill past and
you have a fine ghost story with many unexpected twists.
Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
$5.99 each 1-800-726-0600
To see these classic editions of Walter Farley's "Black Stallion" chronicles re-issued in affordable
paperwork with bright, appealing covers is uplifting. The dramatic watercolors invite new
generations to enjoy Farley's extensive line complimenting his original Black Stallion best-seller.
New to this set: Island Stallion (0384-843762), Black Stallion And Flame (038-4820205), Island
Stallion's Fury (0384-843738), Island Stallion Races (0384-843754) and Black Stallion
Challenged
(0384843711).
The Fisherman's Son
Marilyn Peake
1st Books Library
2595 West Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404-2782
1403397155 $12.50 www.1stbooks.com
Written for young adults, The Fisherman's Son is an original novel by Marilyn Peake about Wiley
O'Mara, a twelve-year-old boy, living on an island up north during the beginning of the nineteenth
century. Wiley befriends a dolphin and undertakes an incredible rescue mission, as well as a
memorable journey through the wonders of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Fisherman's Son is a
delightful and colorfully narrated tale which documents Marilyn Peake as a story teller of
considerable narrative skill.
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave of Americas, NY NY 10020
1-800-223-2336 www.amazon.com
Neal Shusterman's Full Tilt (0689803745, $16.95) deserves ongoing attention and
recommendation
for its vivid fantasy for older readers. Blake has always been the responsible one in his
dysfunctional
family, but his limits are tested when he and his brother enter a bizarre phantom carnival where
their
souls are the price of admission. He must take seven impossible rides in order to escape a dark
carnival nobody has ever emerged from in this engrossing fantasy. Margaret Peterson Haddix's
Among The Barons (0689839065, $16.95) joins others in the Barons series but provides a
seamless
introduction to the concept and settings, requiring no prior experience to enjoy. Just when Luke
has
begun to relax, safe in his new assumed identity which protects him from death, his 'brother'
shows
up to threaten his freedom. As a third child in a society which allows only two children per family,
Luke has a stake in finding out why his assumed brother is playing the game of knowing him in
this
tense thriller.
Heroic Adventure Of Hercules Amsterdam
Melissa Glenn Haber
Dutton/Penguin-Putnam
345 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0525471197 $16.99 www.amazon.com
Hercules is a ten-year-old who certainly doesn't live up to his weighty name: he's a human boy no
taller than a mouse. His parents threaten to send him to a regular school, so he decides to run
away,
discovering a city full of mice behind his bedroom wall and falling in love with their friendly ways.
All is not as peaceful as it seems in the mouse kingdom: when Hercules discovers a deadly secret,
it's
up to him to save his mouse friends.
The Preschool Shelf
K Is For Kissing And A Cool Kangaroo
Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
Orchard Books
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
0439531268 $15.95 www.scholastic.com
The collaborative effort of author Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees, K Is For
Kissing
And A Cool Kangaroo is an ABC book that offers young readers ages 2 to 6 with a delightful and
rhythmic text that covers all the letters of the alphabet. Filled from cover to cover with humor,
cheerful illustrations, and vocabulary development, K Is For Kissing A Cool Kangaroo is a perfect
addition to any family, preschool center, or kindergarten collection.
Free Spirit Publishing
217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
www.freespiritpress.com
Two new board books for preschool children combine simple behavioral messages enhanced with
charming and "kid friendly" illustrations. Hands Are Not For Hitting (1575421127, $7.95) teaches
that hitting is never okay and that there are a great many good things hands can do. Teeth Are
Not
For Biting (1575421283, $7.95) teaches that biting hurts and that there are better ways of coping
with frustration, mouth pain, or cranky feelings. Deftly written by Elizabeth Verdick and
wonderfully enhanced with the illustrative talents of Marieka Heinlen, Hands Are Not For Hitting
and Teeth Are Not For Biting are both wonderful additions to any family, preschool, daycare
center,
kindergarten, or community library board book collection.
The Audiobook Shelf
Imagination Studio Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
Two fine new CD audiobooks offer very different listening experiences for young audiences.
Andy
Griffiths' The Day My Butt Went Psycho (0807216194, $19.99) enjoys a lively and enthusiastic
narration by John Beach as it provides the rousing tale of a brave boy and his runaway butt. To
get
an handle on the bigger picture: Zack must ultimately save the earth from butts gone berserk.
Older
listeners will appreciate Meg Cabot's Haunted (08072-16224, $19.99), spiced with Alanna
Ubach's
fine voice as it tells of Susannah Simon, a mediator between the living and the dead. Her
first-person
story comes to life in this account of a teen who faces some unusual challenges from both the
living
and the dead. Both are very unusual plots and lively recordings certain to interest even those who
ordinarily aren't attracted to audiobooks.
Books in Series
Crabtree Publishing Company
350 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10118
1-800-387-7650 crabtree-pub.com
Two new additions to Crabtree Publishing Company's outstanding "The Life Cycle" series are
enthusiastically recommended for both school and community library collections. The
collaborative
effort of John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman, The Life Cycle Of A Snake (0778706907, $6.95)
describes the growth and development of snakes from birth to maturity. The simple text (ideal for
grades 2 through 7) is enhanced with illustrations and photographs and covers the life cycles of
different snake species, reveals why snakes hibernate during the winter months, shows how baby
snakes hatch from their eggs and survive without the aid of their mothers, details the differences
between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, shows how snakes capture prey and what the
dangers to snakes are. In The Life Cycle Of A Raccoon (0-778706915, $6.95), Crossingham and
Kalman team up to reveal the manual dexterity of raccoons, explain how cubs find a home range;
how a female raccoon prepares for birth; how cubs learn foraging techniques from their mothers;
how raccoons manage to survive in human cities; and what the dangers are to raccoons from
pesticides, pollution, and the destruction of habitat.
Chelsea House Publishers
1974 Sproul Road, Suite 400, Broomall, PA 19008-0914
1-800-848-2665 www.chelseahouse.com
The 'Sieges That Changed the World' series has three new titles: Tim McNeese's Stalingrad
(0791072304) covers the turning point in World War II, his Alamo (0791071014) surveys the
legends of the Alamo and its historic stand; and Constantinople (0791071022) tells of the ancient
city's struggles against attackers. All promise lasting library usage. For students of social issues,
none could better fuel debate than the 'Point/Counterpoint' series, and the addition of Alan
Marzilli's
Capital Punishment (0791073696) and Freedom To Speech by Alan Allport (079107370X)
provides
all the pro/con arguments necessary to spark a solid classroom debate. The 'Drugs: Straight Facts'
series is a recommended pick for any studying health and current issues. Heather Lehr Wagner's
Alcohol (0791072592, $22.95) surveys the history of alcohol as well as its effects on brain and
body, while Randi Mehling's Marijuana (0791072-630) covers the history of hemp and its
cultivation, and controversies surrounding its social and medicinal use. Excellent library
references.
Ozark Publishing/Central Programs, Inc.
PO Box 505, Bethany, MO 64424
wecare@centralprograms.com
1-660-425-3959 1-660-425-3929
Author David M. Sargent Jr. and illustrator Jeane Lirley Hoff, effectively collaborate in the
creation
of "Doggie Tales", a four volume series of picture book stories, each of which feature a canine
protagonist. Buffy's Revenge (1567638430, $19.95); Guard Dog Mary (156763849X, $19.95);
Autumn's Emergency (1567638457, $19.95); and Portia's Prank (1567638473, $19.95'); combine
a
simple and entertaining text with colorful artwork resulting in thoroughly engaging stories that
will
completely capture the interest of young readers preschool through first grade. Strongly
recommended for both school and community library collections, each of these four titles is also
available in a soft-cover addition ($6.95) which would well serve budget minded parents seeking
to
encourage their children in learning to enjoy reading and exercise their reading skills.
Ozark Publishing/Central Programs, Inc.
PO Box 505, Bethany, MO 64424
wecare@centralprograms.com
1-660-425-3959 1-660-425-3929 1-866-257-2500
$19.95 each, $380.00 per 20 volume series
Ozark Publishing specializes in producing two original series of twenty easy reader chapter books
each and that emphasizes character development in a series delightful stories featuring superbly
illustrated animal stories. Animal Pride: Series 1 features Amy Armadillo (mind your mama);
Brutus
The Bear (show respect); Bobby Bobcat (be a friend); Redi Fox (friendship; Greta Groundhog
(I'm
special) and other animal denizens each reflecting an aspect of character development. Animal
Pride:
Series 2 features Jack Moose (I need help); Kitty Cougar (temper, temper); Sherman The Sheep
(crybaby); Chip Chipmunk (tattletale); Odi Otter (cheater, cheater) and fifteen other critters in
stories that are as entertaining as they are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Although individual
titles in both series are available at $19.95 each, the emphatic recommendation for school and
community libraries is to acquire both twenty-volume series.
Advantage Books
1001 Spring Street #206, Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-888-238-8588 www.amazon.com
Thoroughly entertaining and enthusiastically recommended reading, "Phoebe Flower's
Adventures"
is a four volume series by Barbara A. Roberts depicting the adventures of a young girl named
Phoebe. Each story is enhanced with the black-and-white illustrations of Kate Sternberg. The four
titles comprising this outstanding series for young readers ages 7 to 10 include That's What Kids
Are
For (096603-662X, $5.95); Phoebe's Lost Treasure (0966036662, $5.95); Phoebe's Best Friend
(0966036697, $5.95); Phoebe's Tree House Secrets (0971460906, $5.95). Each of these stories is
exceptional and will help their readers to feel good about themselves, enhance their reading skills,
and deals with the "real world" kinds of situations that children identify with.
Mitchell Lane Publishers
34 Decidedly Lane, Bear, DE 19701
$19.95 each 1-302-834-9646
Very highly recommended for both school and community library collections, "Masters of Music"
is
a new series for grades 4 to 8 and readers ages 9 to 13 from Mitchell Lane Publishers showcasing
the lives of four composers, each of whom were hugely popular in their lifetimes and were to
prove
influential upon succeeding generations of music makers. Combining music, history, and culture
with
biographical information, and illustrated with both period art and historical illustration, the
48-page
titles (complete with sidebar stories, chronologies, historical timelines, bibliographies for further
reading, a glossary, and an index) include The Life And Times Of George Frideric Handel
(1584151927); The Life And Times Of John Philip Sousa (1584152125); The Life And Times Of
Johann Sebastian Bach (1584151919); and The Life And Times Of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1584152117).
Morgan Reynolds
620 S. Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27406
Two fine new titles by William Boerst will appeal on both the elementary and middle school grade
levels as they survey major inventors and researchers of the science world. Johannes Kepler
(1883846986, $23.95) tells of a 16th century student who became convinced the Sun was at the
center of the planets and set out to use math to prove and understand this revolutionary concept.
His discoveries of the laws of planetary motion founded the science of astronomy. Well over a
hundred pages provide a fine blend of biographical sketch and survey of 16th century science.
Tycho
Brahe (1883846978 , $23.95) tells of the 1500s Danish astronomer who made the most extensive
and accurate naked-eye observations of the stars of their times. He eventually turned over his
discoveries and work to Kepler, who continued his studies. Both titles survey accompanying
politics
and economic influences of the times as they focus on the interconnected lives of these two early
astronomers.
The Native American Shelf
Children Of Native America Today
Arlene Hirschfelder & Yvonne Dennis
Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02172
1570914990 $19.95 1-800-225-3214
The collaborative effort of Arlene Hirschfelder and Yvonne Wakim Dennis and specifically
intended
for young readers ages 7 to 12, Children Of Native America Today provides up-to-date facts on
tribal populations in the United States, along with information on Native American reservations,
communities, prominent individuals, and background on the history and modern cultures of the
many
Native American nations that inhabited the North American continent before the coming of the
Europeans. Enhanced candid photography, a map listing the geography of the many Native
American nations and culture groups, as well as resources for further reading, Children Of Native
America Today also includes a foreword by Native American singer and activist Buffy
Sainte-Marie.
Very highly recommended!
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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