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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Growing Money
Gail Karlitz
Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Putnam
11835 West Olympic Boulevard, 5th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90064-5006
0843177020 $7.99 1-800-847-5515
Gail Karlitz's Growing Money: A Complete Investing Guide For Kids is an exceptional investing
guide in that it is written specifically to teach children (and adults!) how to make their money
work
for them. Covering savings in a bank, bods, stocks, and how to read the financial pages, Growing
Money is a superb guide - and since it's written simply enough for a young person to learn from, it
also makes excellent starter reading for adults who have never dabbled in investing before. The
prose text is in large type and very straightforward, but does not talk down to the reader.
Growing
Money is a superior and highly recommended introductory guide, especially for the young people
growing up in this brand new era of electronically transmitted investment capital.
Shaggy's Journey Through Grief
Julie Williams Stanick
Spirit Feather Publishers
1616, Fox Glen Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708
0971183902 $5.95 books@daytodayent.com
Julie Stanick's Shaggy's Journey Through Grief is a consumable workbook on the process of
grieving through a loss and designed for children 8-12 and older, but can easily and effectively be
used with younger children if an adult reads the text to them. Shaggy is an unhappy lion who lost
a
loved one, and his grief related feelings show are meant to show young children what is OK
(crying,
feeling angry or really bad) and what is not OK (never hurt others, never hurt anything, never hurt
yourself). Black-and-white illustrations and informative, entertaining workbook games include
pictures of Shaggy and friends that children can color, a word find, an imagination games, and a
crypto quote. Ways to help work through negative feelings such as writing in the sand, picturing a
beautiful place, or getting proper exercise are discussed and encouraged. Shaggy's Journey
Through
Grief carries the very highest recommendation for young people who have suffered the terrible
loss
of a friend or family member.
Cowboy In The Making
Will James
Mountain Press
Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0-87842-439-3 $15.00
It's difficult to peg the age range of Will James' Cowboy In The Making: as kindergarten and first
grade picturebook readers will find it too hard, but parents may find it just fine for assisted
reading.
Young readers and those in grades 2-5 will appreciate this story of an orphan boy who develops
some unusual friendships in his travels. James' pen and ink drawings and four color paintings
enhance this slim book's appeal.
Camp Of Champs
Jeanna Thomas
Charm Publications
Box 20318, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269
http://www.charmpublications.com
0970111843 $6.95
Written by Jeana Thomas, Camp Of Champs is a children's picture book about water safety,
illustrated by Lisa Allen Triefenbach in vivid color. Since drowning is the second leading cause of
accidental death for children under age 14, the message of SAFE - Stop and Find an Adult before
you Enter the water is a welcome "must" for every young child, regardless of whether he or she
already knows how to swim. Camp Of Champs teaches children to wear a life vest while learning
to
swim, to always have someone good at swimming watching, and never to chase after a toy that
falls
into the water. The eye-catching, playful, full-page illustrations help drive home the potentially
life-saving message of water-safety. Camp Of Champs is a superb gift book excellent for being
read
aloud to very young children, and more importantly, carries the highest recommendation for its
contribution to child safety.
I've Got Mail!
Robert Messinger
Little Mai Press
102 River Dr., Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
http://members.aol.com/lmaipress
189323701X $12.95 1-973-331-9648
Brightly illustrated by John Salerno, and engagingly written by Robert Messinger, I've Got Mail!
is a
clever storybook for children about a four-year-old girl who enjoys learning about the family
computer from her father's knee. More than anything else, young Laura wants an email account of
her very own. The entertaining, bouncy rhymes beg to be read aloud, and the warm, simplistic
illustrations bring the charming story for life. Recommended for family, school, and community
libraries, I've Got Mail! is an excellent selection to help introduce the youngest minds into the
exciting world of the personal computer.
Skipping School
Sherry Salant & Tony Comparato
Storywriter Press
330 Clayton Oaks Dr Ellisville MO 63011
0971295204 $6.95 1-636-391-6734
Delightfully written by Sherry Salant and charmingly illustrated by Tony Comparato, Skipping
School is a colorful, funny, very original picturebook about a young woman who dreams of
skipping
school when the alarm clock wakes her up. She fantasizes about all the things she could do while
taking a day off, from watching TV to cooking to playing sports, but in the end she has to go -
because she's the teacher! A delightfully silly read-aloud book, illustrated with goofy but loveable
caricatures in full color, Skipping School is very highly recommended for young readers -- and
their
teachers!
Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Rd. #400 Broomall PA 19008
1-800-848-2665
A wide age range will delight in Maurice Horn's three-volume Women In The Comics series
(0-7910-5910-3, $125.00/set); they provide a fine historical overview of the changing face of
female comic book characters and their makers, blending black and white reproductions of strips
with new chapters and information on the latest strides made by women in the comics. The
separation of the comics and their makers by era allows for a fine chronological review of the
changes. Harold Bloom's Agatha Christie (5921-9, $36.95) blends biography with a literary
coverage of Christie's extensive mystery works. From her poetry and short stories to a
posthumous autobiography, Christie produced far more than just the mystery genre: this outlines
her works and provides essays by many notable literary analysts.
The Fiction Shelf
Operating Codes
Nick Manns
Little, Brown
1271 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
0-316-60465-8 $15.95 1-800-759-0190
Graham and his sister know that their new home is haunted by soldiers from the past; but the past
invades their new lives as their father is put on trial for a security breach and the family must
adjust
to shame and community judgement. Can lessons from the past affect their future in their new
home?
A ghost story mingles with real-life challenges, here.
Red Deer Press/Raincoast Books, dist.
Box 5005, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, T4N 5H5
$6.95 each 1-800-663-5714
Author Ted Staunton has written two new books in the Red Deer Press "Monkey Mountain"
series
about the lives of the children of Hope Springs -- a small town populated by quirky characters,
enlivened with daring intrigues, and fraught with troublesome mysteries. In Princess
(0889952426,
$6.95) Beth Harvey's mother wants her to receive the attention and admiration of everyone in
town.
The trouble is that May Beth dreads the spotlight and the fancy dresses involved. She'd rather
draw
pictures, wear jeans, and own a horse! When Mary Beth and her mom end up auditioning for the
annual musical show, events come to a head with Mary Beth needing to convince her mother to
accept her for who she really is! In Second Banana (0889952418, $6.95) we find that Ryan
Sweeney
is the uncertain accomplice of the notorious school prankster Travis Bee. Ryan doesn't have any
close friends, and he wonders whether Travis may be someone to join with, but Travis' practical
jokes are notoriously unpredictable. Ryan soon learns that even a trusted accomplice can be the
victim of Travis' practical jokes. He doesn't want to be Travis' second banana, but who else will
buddy up with him? Ted Staunton writes with a lively wit and his stories are fraught with humor
and
totally believable protagonists. Also very highly recommended are Staunton's earlier volumes in
this
outstanding series: Two False Moves (0889952051, $6.95); The Monkey Mountain Monster
(088995206X, $6.95); and Forgive Us Our Travises (0889952078, $6.95).
Taggerung
Brian Jacques
Philomel
345 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0-399-23720-8 $23.99
Sawney Rath have awaited their new leader as long as their clan can remember: now they have
one
in the form of "Taggerung", who will lead them to victory against the Redwall crowd. Familiarity
with the author's prior Redwall books will lend an appreciation and immediacy to this ongoing
Redwall story of animals facing clan struggles and changes.
Witch Child
Celia Rees
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140-1338
0-7636-1421-1 $15.99 1-800-526-0275
In 1659 Mary's grandmother is hanged as a witch and she escapes to America - only to find the
same
threat face her abroad. With the town rising in fear over witches Mary faces a growing conflict
between her Puritan disguise and her real nature. History blends with the supernatural in this
satisfying story.
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY NY 10003
1-888-330-8477
Jean Ferris' Of Sound Mind (0-374-35580-0, $16.00) is a striking story of a boy whose family is
deaf. He serves as interpreter and often as the semi-head of household in a silent world where his
parents often struggle with hearing people and daily living challenges. Theo wants to go away to
school - but how can he leave his dependent family? A striking story of coming of age and
disability.
Valerie Hobbs' Tender (37397-3, $18.00) creates a realistic story in the form of Liv, who has
lived
with her beloved grandmother all her life. When her grandmother dies and she's turned over to a
gruff, unknown father, she finds an overwhelming number of changes affects her life - and new
friendships are formed. Both are strong in characterization and plot.
How Do I Love Thee
Lurlene McDaniel
Bantam
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0-553-57154-0 $9.95 1-800-726-0600
Three stories under one cover blend McDaniel's proven track record for presenting stories of
teens
struggling with illness with an added touch of romance. A girl with a genetic disorder which keeps
her in the dark falls in love with Brett, who is determined to make her life better. Dana must
choose
between two brothers - one she loves, and one who loves her, but who has a short predicted
lifespan. Laura's weak heart always brings her in touch with death but death passes her and strikes
another close to her, and she must adjust. All are moving stories of change.
Drummer
George C. Richardson
Writer's Showcase/iUniverse.com
5220 S. 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595153593 $9.95 www.iuniverse.com
George Richardson's Drummer is a young adult historical fiction novel set during the American
Civil
War. A young slave, Johnny Jackson, escapes and runs to a Union infantry unit when he learns
they
are camped only five miles north of the Confederate rebels. He befriends a young white drummer,
and marches with the Union Army back to Frederick, Maryland, but is not allowed to join the
white
unit as a drummer. His disappointment gives way to more perils on a hazardous journey to
Baltimore, with his freedom always in jeopardy, until he succeeds in joining the First Pennsylvania
Colored Infantry and becomes a drummer for Company A. Johnny's battles and travails are
destined
to change his life in this powerful, adventurous, and sobering read which is very highly
recommended for teenage and young adult readers.
Viking Press
345 Hudson, NY, NY 10014
Christine McDonnell's Ballet Bug (0-670-03508-4, $14.99) tells of Bea, who thinks ballet is
boring
until a slumber party movie awakens her passion for dance. She enters a ballet class and learns the
real challenges of dance as she struggles to catch up with her peers and faces a pair of vengeful
twin
competitors. Jean Thesman's A Sea So Far (89278-5, $15.99) is set in 1906 and tells of a an
Francisco shaken by earthquake. Two teen girls - one poor, one wealthy, face many changes as a
result - and encounter one another in a new working relationship which challenges their values. A
changing, absorbing plot.
Orion The Skateboard Kid
Juanita S. Raymond
Leland F. Raymond
CyPress Publications
Box 2636, Tallahassee, FL 32316-2636
www.cypress-starpublications.com
0967258502 $9.95 1-850-576-8820
Orion The Skateboard Kid is a marvelous short novel of a young skateboarder and her friends,
who
are nearly run over and encounter trouble with the law just for practicing their favorite sport in a
parking lot. Looking at the Milky Way, Orion realizes that what she and her friends need is a safe
place just for skateboarding; together, they resolve to build a skateboard park and bike path in
northern Florida. Illustrated with particularly striking color images of constellations that serve as
metaphors parallel to Orion's struggle, Orion The Skateboard Kid is a heartening story of civic
responsibility and the hard work involved in making a cherished dream come true. Enthusiastically
recommended for school and community library collections Orion The Skateboard Kid is
entertaining, engaging reading for 4th and 5th grade level students.
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY NY 10020
Stephen Roos' Gypsies Never Came (0-689-83147-1, $15.00) tells of a small town, a kid with a
deformed hand, and a collection of secrets which eventually involves Augie the secret-keeper
himself. A fine story evolves of close-knit secrets, insecurities, and the power of friendships.
Marguerite Henry's King Of The Wind (84697-5, $21.00) receives newfound embellishment in a
deluxe reprint edition illustrated by Wesley Dennis and worthy of gift-giving. The black and white
drawings lend character and intimacy to this ever-moving horse story.
Dial/Delacorte
345 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
Brad Strickland's Tower At The End Of The World (0-8037-2620-1, $16.99) continues the
Bellairs
story and characters, this time returning to the House With A Clock In Its Walls to present a new
threat from the banished wizard. A vacation brings the family in contact with a new threat to the
world in this satisfying supernatural thriller. Robert Cormier's Rag And Bone Shop (0385729626,
$15.95) holds very adult themes: a seven-year-old girl is murdered and a twelve-year-old must
answer to charges in this story of a young person's involvement in murder. Almost too
realistic but with a moving plot and surprising outcome. Peter Dickinson's Ropemaker
(0385729219, $15.95) tells of grandparents who has special powers, and children who set out
with them on a quest far from home to seek a man who can renew a long-gone magic. Personal
strengths and underlying magic abilities come to life in the course of this riveting journey.
The Science Shelf
Dinosaur Encyclopedia
American Museum of Natural History
DK Inc.
95 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
0-7894-7935-4 $29.95 www.dk.com
This new reference has been researched and authenticated by scientists from the American
Museum
of Natural history and comes packed with the latest findings about prehistoric animals. A
CD-ROM
for interactive learning is coupled with pages of gorgeous color photos recreating the appearance
of
dinosaurs, showing skull and fossil findings, and including outstanding color and detail not to be
found in more casual approaches. The American Museum of Natural History's Dinosaur
Encyclopedia is very highly recommended for school and community library collections, as well as
a
beautiful gift item for the holiday season.
Kid's Visual Reference Of The World
Blackbirch Pres
c/o The Gale Group
PO Box 9187 Farmington Hills, MI 48333
1-56711-579-9 $49.95 1-800-877-4253
The Blackbirch Press' Kid's Visual Reference Of The World is a very fine four-volume set
covering
the latest developments in science and invention will appeal to middle school collections which
want
to replace aging references with something new. Jenny Tesar and Bryan Bunch's set includes
many
color sidebars of intriguing information, a wealth of contemporary color photos, and facts which
lend to reports. The set will prove useful from grades 5 well into middle school. Blackbirch's Kid's
Visual Reference Of The World packs in over 2,500 maps, charts and photos covering geography
facts on almost every nation on the planet. The same age range will find this most useful with its
many graphs, charts, maps and color photos. Both are highly recommended picks, promising to
hold
lasting interest and reference quality.
The Atlas Of Oceans
Linda Sonntag
Copper Beech Books
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0-7613-2452-6 $28.90
The Atlas Of Oceans is a superbly presented guide to the world's oceans and covers how they
work
and where they are in the world, from currents and waves to different depths and attempts to
explore the world's oceans. Geography and science classes will find The Atlas Of Oceans very
useful
for the elementary grade students with its many photos and an alluring narrative structure.
The Christmas Shelf
The Christmas Promise
Susan Bartoletti
Scholastic
555 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
0-590-98451-9 $15.95 1-800-242-7737
In Susan Bartoletti's The Christmas Promise, a young girl and her poor father have little to share
on
Christmas, but they have their love and trust, even when the authorities threaten them for their
wayward lifestyle. David Christiana's captivating and sensitive drawings showcase this very fine
story of family Christmas spirit.
Christmas Makes Me Think
Tony Medina
Lee & Low
95 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
1-58430-024-8 $16.95
The young narrator in Christmas Makes Me Think is excited about Christmas and all the presents
he
can anticipate - until he begins to wonder what will happen to those who don't have much. His
growing concern for others leads to some decisions which will really celebrate the Christmas spirit
for others in this gentle lesson illustrated by Chandra Cox.
Christian Crafts For Christmastime
Kathy Ross
Millbrook
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0-7613-1620-5 $24.90 1-800-462-4703
Kathy Ross' Christian Crafts For Christmastime isn't just another collection of pleasant Christmas
projects, but a Christian-oriented crafts guide designed to reinforce religious concepts through
hands-on projects which tell the story of Jesus and Christmas. All the projects begin with a
Biblical
message and the usual crafts lists of materials and step-by-step instructions.
Red Boots For Christmas
Bridgestone Multimedia
c/o Alpha Omega Publications
300 North McKemy Avenue, Chandler, AZ 84226-2618
1563715910 $12.95 1-800-523-0988
Perfect for the holiday season (and delightful viewing year round), Red Boots For Christmas is an
animated story of Hans the shoemaker. While working alone in his shop, with no family and few
friends, Hans has never learned the true meaning of Christmas. When he mocks the townspeople's
merry preparations to celebrate the Nativity, he is visited by an angel promising him a very special
gift. Hans makes a beautiful pair of Red Boots, and learns the joys of sharing, fellowship, and the
true spirit of Christmas. Red Boots For Christmas is wonderful viewing for children of all ages,
and
perfect for celebratory gift giving.
The Uproar in Bethlehem
Michal Hudak
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814627749 $14.95 1-800-858-5450
Michael Hudak's The Uproar In Bethlehem is a Christian children's picture book that adapts the
biblical story of the three shepherds who traveled to pay homage to the infant Jesus upon his birth.
At the end of the book is the music for the hymn Gloria, perfect for setting upon a piano to play a
short sing-a-long. The exuberant, colorful illustrations bring the story alive with extra excitement.
The Uproar In Bethlehem is a joyful book for reading to (and with) young children.
Putnam/Simon & Schuster
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1-800-847-5515
Patricia Hooper's A Stormy Ride On Noah's Ark (0-399-23188-9, $15.99) is a recommended pick
for any searching for a different picturebook option for holiday reading. How did the animals in
Noah's ark get along during the long voyage? This tells of the animals who face sharing under
tight
conditions - and a hilarious rollicking rhyme reinforces the events. Teri Sloat's Hark The Aardvark
Angels Sing (23371-7, $15.99) tells of aardvark angels who manage to help the mail carriers
delivery all the good cheer during the holiday season. Set to the Christmas song, this certainly is
something different. Hilary Knight's Twelve Days Of Christmas (0-689-83547-7, $17.00) tells of a
bear who struggles with an overabundance of holiday gifts from her sweetheart. Whimsical
animals
parade in each scene as poor Bedelia struggles with a house increasingly filled with odd gifts. The
illustrations are especially whimsical. All are highly recommended picks: something different for
the
holidays.
Books in Series
Benchmark Books
99 White Plains Rd. Tarrytown NY 10591
Two sets of books for elementary grade levels are recommended library picks. The 'Kaleidoscope'
series ($15.95 Each) for grades 3 and older uses large print and color photos to illustrate topics of
science and technology. Darcy Lockman's Computers (0-7614-1045-7), Robots (1047-3),
Internet
(1046-5), and Computer Animation (1048-1) all provide simple facts about emerging
technologies.
Roy Gallant's Water (1040-6), Minerals (1039-2), Fossils (1041-4) and Rocks (1042-2) each
examine history and science. For an excellent set of basic science experiments for grades 4-6,
don't
miss John Farndon's 'Science Experiments' series ($16.95 each). Separate books provide details
on
Magnetism (0-7614-1343-X), Flight (1342-1), Levers, Wheels And Pulleys (1341-3), Gravity
(1340-5), Human Body (1339-1) and SOLIDS, Liquids And Gases (1338-3). All use large color
step-by-step photos and simple materials to illustrate science concepts.
Gareth Stevens
330 West Olive, #100, Milwaukee, WI 53212
1-800-542-2595
Two fine sets of books will delight picturebook readers. The 'Inside Look' series ($17.95 each)
explores science and technology using cutaway diagrams and pictures which lend to greater
understanding. Inside The Human Body (0-8368-2901-8), World Of Animal Life (2902-6), World
Of Flight (2903-4) and Prehistory (2900-X) each provides clear discussions and dramatic artwork
with cutaway illustrations. The oversized 'History News' series ($16.95 each) continues
expanding,
with each page presenting a newspaper-like 'history' which reads like the front page. Revolution
(2878-X), Medicine (2877-1), In Space (2876-3) and Explorers (2875-5) present lively renditions
of
important historical events. All are recommended picks for discriminating library collections.
The Library Audiobook
Shelf
Anne Of Green Gables Collection
L.M. Montgomery
Listening Library
1540 Broadway, NY NY 10036
0-8072-0646-6 $32.00 1-800-726-0600
Megan Fellows, who stared as Anne Shirley in the TV productions, narrates three stories in a
classic
collection taken from three Anne books. Anne Of Green Gables introduces the spunky orphan,
Anne
Of Avonlea tells of Anne's newfound role as a schoolteacher, and Anne Of The Island follows
Anne
away from home and in love. All come alive in an audio format.
Chivers Audio
Box 1450, Hampton NH 03843-1450
1-800-621-0182
Three involving audios are recommended picks for young adults. Christian Rodska provides an
involved reading of Robert Swindells' Egyptian Gods And Pharoahs (0-7540-5238-9, $18.95),
with
his British theater background lending to stories about the Egyptians retold with flair. Steven
Pacey
narrates Paul Jennings' Thirteen Unpredictable Tales (5236-2, $32.95), which presents unusual
stories of the supernatural and mystery. From a world stuck on fast-forward to a see-though boy,
this brings alive stories which even adults will appreciate. Sarah Greene narrates Look Out, Secret
Seven by Enid Blyton (5249-4, $18.95), adding her TV background to this intriguing story of the
Seven and Scamper the spaniel as they chase thieves. All are fine listens for teens.
The Picturebook Shelf
Small, Not Tall
Francine Poppo Rich
Blue Marlin Publications
823 Aberdeen Road, West Bay Shore, NY 11706
0967460220 $16.00 bluemarlinpubs.com
Simply but effectively written by Francine Poppo Rich and beautifully illustrated by Thomas P.
DiFilippi, Small, Not Tall is a heartwarming picturebook about a young boy who wants his small
life
to be bigger. His toy car, his feet, and his stool are too small, and he can't reach anything beyond
the
sink faucet. But then he learns something really terrific about being small that makes it special.
The
gentle, slightly abstract illustrations and short, simple sentences make Small, Not Tall an excellent
book for young readers just getting started and perfect for parent/child bonding and bedtime
reading.
Crinkles The Cricket
Kay Helgerson & Chris Volion
L'Kayle Publishing
2479 Big Creek Terrace, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
0967638771 $14.00 1-770-469-1264
Cheerfully illustrated by Chris Volion, Crinkles The Cricket is a lively and original story for young
readers by Kay Helgerson and features a little cricket who is deeply unhappy as he tries to imitate
what other animals can do. Finally Crinkles discovers what his unique talent as a cricket --
something only crickets can do! Highly recommended for family, school, and community library
collections, Helgerson's rhyming text is wonderfully showcased by Volion's colorful artwork.
The Legend Of The Valentine
Katherine Grace Bond
Zonderkidz
5300 Patterson Avenue, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310700396 $14.99 www.zonderkidz.com
Engagingly written by Katherine Grace Bond and impressively illustrated by Don Tate, The
Legend
Of The Valentine: An Inspirational Story Of Love And Reconciliation Is A Thoughtful, Christian
picturebook recommended for children ages 4-8. The story is about a young boy, Marcus, whose
daddy is in jail and who gets teased by kids at school because his skin is dark, a different color
from
theirs. Marcus doesn't see much use in celebrating Valentine's Day, until his granny tells him the
story of Saint Valentine - a man who was thrown in jail, yet who refused to recant his faith in
Jesus
Christ. The Legend Of The Valentine is at its core deeply powerful story about loving one's
enemies.
Rosanna: The Rainbow Angel
Gerard A. Pottebaum
Treehaus Communications
Box 249, Loveland, Ohio 45140-0249
1886510539 $16.95 1-800-638-4287
Rosanna: The Rainbow Angel is a delightful, colorful children's picturebook about a bespectacled
young African-American angel who can fly anywhere in the blink of an eye - but whose poor
eyesight often lands her in situations that would try the mettle of the best angels. Today her quest
to
find what lies at the end of the rainbow leads her to an isolated young boy who is forbidden to
keep
a kitten as a pet. When she gives him the chance to look through her glasses, he sees the world as
only an angel can - with hope and promise for a better future. Rosanna: The Rainbow Angel is a
truly heartwarming story for young children. Also strongly recommended are author Gerard
Pottebaum and illustrator Mary Jo Scandin's picturebooks, Gloria: The Christmas Angel
(1886510385, $18.95) and The Stray (1886510547, $16.95).
Kingdom Of The Sun
Jacqueline Mitton & Christina Balit
National Geographic Society
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688
079227220X $16.95 www.ngs.org
Kingdom Of The Sun: A Book Of The Planets a truly exciting picturebook that takes young
readers
on a cosmic tour through the solar system. Published by the National Geographic Society,
Kingdom
of the sun is filled with scientific facts about each planet as well as mythological lore about the
gods
after whom the planets are named. The color illustrations of the ancient gods and their planets
against the backdrop of space are particularly striking, and the eye-catching use of shiny gold foil
makes Kingdom Of The Sun a picturebook that compels admiration. The last two pages feature a
short glossary and a table of facts about the sun, moon, and planets. Wonderfully written by
Jacqueline Mitton and superbly illustrated by Christina Balit, Kingdom of the Sun is a truly
beautiful
gift book, superb for sparking an interest in science and astronomy in young people, and very
highly
recommended.
The King of Skittledeedoo
Patricia Rust & San Wei Chan
The Rust Foundation for Literacy
12021 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 924, Los Angeles, CA 90025
1885848005 $15.00 powerforkids.com
Now in its second edition, Patricia Rust's The King of Skittledeedoo is an exciting children's
picturebook (with no relation to Skittles brand candy). The vibrant drawings by San Wei Chan
depict the king, his land and his subject in simple yet colorful shapes. The enjoyable text is entirely
in
rhyme, and tells the story of a king with a problem - his kingdom has burned to the ground! He
can
no longer prove himself the king, for he can't even read or write simple words such as "mother."
But
two children take the king to school where he learns his three R's and qualifies to become King
again. The King of Skittledeedoo is a highly enjoyable and entertaining story with a positive
message
for young folks, and best of all, proceeds from its sale advance the cause of literacy
worldwide.
Burger And The Hot Dog
Jim Aylesworth & Stephen Gammell
Atheneum
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0-689-83897-2 $16.95
The burger and hot dog had a fight one day - and other food groups soon enter the world of
talking,
walking foods. From boppin corn which loves to dance until they pop to an orange who falls in
love
with a lemon, Burger And The Hot Dog provides whimsical rhymes by Jim Aylesworth and
Stephen
Gammell's fun drawings.
The Little Squeegy Bug
Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson
Winslow Press
115 East 23rd St, 10th fl., NY, NY 10010
1890817902 $16.95 winslowpress.com
The Little Squeegy Bug is a children's picture book collaboratively written by Bill Martin Jr. and
Michael Sampson, and with colorful illustrations by Patrick Corrigan featuring soft, muted hues
around a theme of deep blue evening sky. This charming and entertaining tale for young readers is
about a courageous little squeegy bug who doesn't know what type of insect he is or where he
came
from; he is looking for something special to distinguish himself from the other insects, until his
quest
leads him to wise spider, who gives the squeegy bug a starlight and gives him the name Firefly.
The
Little Squeegy Bug is a heartwarming, highly enjoyable story to read aloud to young children
right
before bedtime.
Snow In Jerusalem
Deborah da Costa
Albert Whitman & Company
6340 Oakton Street, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2723
0807575216 $15.95 1-800-255-7675
Snow In Jerusalem is a thought-provoking children's picturebook written by Deborah da Costa
about two young boys who live in Jerusalem's Old City - Avi in the Jewish Quarter and Hamudi in
the Muslim Quarter. Though neither boy knows it, both of them are caring for the same, beautiful
white stray cat. One day the boys follow the cat across the boundaries between the city's quarters,
and something wonderful happens, as unexpected as a snowfall in Jerusalem. The muted, softly
blurring yet endearingly memorable color illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
bring to life this gentle parable. Snow In Jerusalem is an uplifting, very highly recommended
children's story with a core message of hope and love.
A Fiddle For Angus
Budge Wilson
Tundra Books
Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0-88776-500-9 $16.95 tundrabooks.com
Ages 6-9 will find A Fiddle For Angus to be a captivating story of a young boy's determination to
learn the fiddle. Susan Tooke's art is realistic and appealing as they tell of a young boy born into a
musical family who learns how to participate.
The Chinese Violin
Madeleine Thien
Whitecap
351 Lynn Avenue, North Vancouver, BC V7J 2C4
1-55285-205-9 $15.95 1-888-980-9852
Joe Chang wonderfully illustrates Madeleine Thien's The Chinese Violin, a gentle ethnic story of
Lin
Lin and her father, who immigrate to canada from China with a treasured traditional Chinese
violin
in hand. The violin brings good luck, until one day it's broken. Can they still adjust to life in their
new country without it?
If The World Were Blind...
Karen Gedig Burnett
GR Publishing
P.O. Box 217, Roseville, CA 95678
0966853040 $17.00 grandmarose.com
If The World Were Blind... is an especial picturebook written by Karen Gedig Burnett and
illustrated
by Laurie Barrows for the purpose of teaching young readers about judgement and prejudice.
Every
two-page spread of the book is initially colored black, with only people's words and thoughts as
well
as main text standing out. Every two-page spread then folds out into a long mural twice the length
of the open book, which brings the words in darkness to vibrant, colorful life, showing the people
of
all shapes and sizes who are thinking or saying the words that were printed on darkness before.
While the foldouts make If The World Were Blind... more delicate than an ordinary picturebook,
it
is much sturdier than a pop-up book, and the format soundly drives home the book's conceptual
message - that if people were not so quick to judge based on what they see at first glance, then
everyone could learn and accept more from one another. "If the world were blind it wouldn't
matter
if someone were/short or tall, large or small, had an athletic body or a potbelly, perfect teeth or a
toothless smile.../...it would matter only that they were / honest and fair." Very highly
recommended
for school and community library collections.
The Great Pig Search
Eileen Christelow
Clarion Books
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
0-618-04910-X $15.00 1-800-225-3362
In Eileen Christelow's picturebook story The Great Pig Search, Bert and Ethel's pigs escape on
their
way to market and their owners receive a postcard with one message: "OINK". Now they decide
to
head to Florida in search of their wayward pigs - and Bert seems to see them everywhere in this
whimsical, fun story.
Quit Waking Us Up. We're Trying To Sleep!
Scarlet Honeycutt
Brunswick Publishing
1386 Lawrenceville Plank Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868
1556181949 $16.95 1-434-848-3865
Quit Waking Us Up. We're Trying To Sleep! is a charming children's picturebook written by
Scarlet
Honeycutt and illustrated by Cindy Aarvig about two sisters who want to sleep, but their friends
keep waking them up in a variety of eccentric, mischievous ways. The muted, soft, colored-pencil
style illustrations have a central hue of light pink. The simple drawings, colors, and the gentle
rhymes of the text about trying to go to sleep make Quit Waking Us Up. We're Trying To Sleep!
an
especially appropriate and recommended bedtime story for young girls.
The Yellow House
Susan Goldman Rubin
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
0810945886 $17.95 abramsbooks.com
The Yellow House: Vincent van Gogh & Paul Gauguin Side By Side is a children's color
picturebook about the how two legendary artists, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, lived
together in a Yellow House the south of France in 1888, and shared ideas about their painting.
Yet
they set about their artwork in very different ways; for example, Vincent painted what he saw
while
Paul painted from his memory and imagination. The Yellow House is not only an enjoyable story,
but also an excellent introduction to the world of art for young readers. The vibrant color artwork
strives to emulate a spark of the creative genius that van Gogh and Gauguin themselves poured
into
their life's work. The last two pages of The Yellow House consist of short biographies of the
famous
artists. An ideal gift book selection, The Yellow House is highly recommended gift book for
inquisitive and artistic young minds.
Cassandra's Angel
Gina Otto
Illumination Arts
P.O. Box 1865, Bellevue, WA 98009
0935699201 $15.95 cassandrasangel.com
Cassandra's Angel is a powerful picturebook. Written in lyrical rhyme by Gina Otto and strikingly
illustrated by Trudy Joost in full color, it tells the story of Cassandra, a young girl who is
constantly
being told by adults that she can't do anything right. But after she endures repeated verbal assaults
that wear down her spirit, her very own angel visits her and gives her a new perspective on herself
and others. Cassandra's Angel is a truly wondrous and uplifting story which is very highly
recommended for both children and adults.
Orchard Books
555 Broadway, New York NY 10012
1-800-242-7737
Rhonda Gowler Greene's Jamboree Day (0-439-29310-3, $15.95) tells of a celebration among the
animals and those who journey to the party. Big, bright color illustrations by Jason Wolff pack a
lively account of a forest-wide event. Teri Daniels' Math Man (29308-1, $16.95) features Timothy
Bush's whimsical drawings as it tells of a class which visits the Mighty Mart looking for math
problems. A healthy dose of math savvy ranges from dividing a watermelon to fit in a fridge to
dividing family snacks. The realistic, practical applications of math is refreshing.
Golden Books
888 Seventh Avenue, NY, NY 10106
1-212-547-6700
Patricia Rae Wolff's Cackle Cook's Monster Stew (0-307-10682-9, $9.95) receives S.D.
Schindler's
amusing, fun illustrations as it tells of a creative monster cook and a pet monster on a search for
some unusual ingredients. Poor Igor hates shopping for the illusive monster stew recipes - as
much
as his owner loves to cook it - in this zany and fun story. The classic Gingerbread Man (10681-0,
$9.95) receives new embellishment with Bonnie and Bill Rutherford's simple, fun drawings. Any
who want an updated title will find this contains all the attraction of the classic tale. Jack Kent's
There's No Such Thing As A Dragon (10214-9, $9.95) tells of a mother who refuses to believe in
dragons - even when her son finds a small one. Ignored, the dragon grows until he fills the entire
house by noon. A hilarious fantasy. Lynn Cullen's Godiva (41175-3, $14.99) receives Kathryn
Hewitt's gorgeous, warm drawings. It requires parental assistance or some reading know-how for
the very young but tells the story of a young lord who seeks the perfect wife - only to fall in love
with a poor girl with very different values. A haunting, beautiful story.
Knopf/Random House, Inc.
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
1-800-726-0600
Kathryn Lasky's Starring Lucille (0-517-80039-X, $14.95) receives Marilyn Hafner's fun drawings
as it tells of a pig who gets a tutu from her grandmother and begins practicing for her debut. Her
siblings almost ruin her show in this gentle story of rivalry. Cristina Garelli's Forest Friends' Five
Senses (0-375-81308X, $14.95) receives fun, simple drawings by Francesca Chessa as it tells of
the limited senses of five animal friends who learn about their deficiencies and how to overcome
them. A simple story of acknowledging limitations.
Pavilion/Trafalgar Square
Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1-800-423-4525
Two whimsical 'Farmer George' stories by Nick Ward present large-size print and simple
illustrations to attract those in grades 2-3. In Farmer George And The New Piglet (1862055211,
$13.95), Farmer George can't really afford a new mouth to feed, but he brings home a piglet
anyway
- a talented piglet who only wants to be in the house - and keeps finding a way to do it. Farmer
George And The Snowstorm (516-5, $13.95) tells of a snowy evening and a lamb in distress. The
rescue is dramatic and involving in this gentle story.
Viking/Dial/Philomel
Tedd Arnold's More Parts (0-8037-1417-3, $15.99) tells of a kid who hates linguistic references
to
body parts, such as lending a hand. Figures of speech come alive as the horrified youngster
struggles
to maintain his parts against the challenges of language. Ronald Dahl's Even More Revolting
Recipes
(03515-7, $17.99) receives Quentin Blake's drawings as it presents yet another book of terrible
dishes. This actually is a recipe guide, despite its collection of gruesome dishes. Rosemary Wells'
Bunny Party (03501-7, $15.99) presents Max and Ruby who decide to celebrate Gandma's
birthday
with a party. Ruby has invited seven stuffed-toy guests, Max wants to invite his toys, and a
struggle
with an accurate guest count ensues. Jane Hissey's Old Bear (0-399-21401-1, $15.99) requires
reading skills or parental assistance but invites kids to appreciate the story of an old worn-out
bear
who may be forgotten in the attic. It's up to his animal friends to try to reach the attic to rescue
him.
Hissey's Old Bear's Surprise Party (23709-7, $15.99) tells of the old bear who becomes a painter.
Can his animal friends follow suit in his success? These are whimsical, fun stories.
The Music Shelf
Little Proto And The Volcano's Fire
Odds Bodkin
Rivertree Productions
PO Box 410, Bradford, NH 03221
1-882412-34-6 $14.95 CD
Kids ages 4 and older will thrill to Little Proto And The Volcano's Fire, a delightfully entertaining
musical story which presents four songs sung in character voices with vocal effects and an
accompanying guitar. Dinosaur characters face changes in friendship and acceptance when a
volcano erupts, in this fun and thoughtful story.
Daddy-O Daddy!
Woody Guthrie
Rounder Records
One Camp St., Cambridge, MA 02140
11561-8087-2 $16.98 www.rounder.com
Daddy-O Daddy! is an impressive and entertaining collection of fifteen recordings for young
listeners composed by the folk music legend Woody Guthrie and performed by a series of
outstanding artists. A "must" for all Guthrie fans, as well as highly recommended for children and
their families the selection range from Wood Guthrie's performance of Howdy Little Newlycome
(2:38), to Kim Wilson's performance of New Baby Train (6:03); to Cissy Houston's Sleep Eye
(5:40).
Folk Song Lullabies
Phil Rosenthal & Family
Amerian Melody
PO Box 270, Guilford, CT 06437
AM-CD-5119 $13.50 1-800-220-5557
Phil Rosenthal is a veteran folk/bluegrass musician who has won more tha twenty awards from
such
diverse organizations as the Parents' Choice Foundation, the American Library Association, and
the
National Association of Parenting Publications based on his recordings for children and families.
In
Folk Song Lullabies, Rosenthal is joined by his wife Beth and their children naomi and Daniel (as
well as some special guests) to weave a magical musical CD compendium of folk song lullabies
that
inlcude fifteen superbly performed and recorded productions ranging from The Riddle Song
(2:55);
Hush Liittle Baby (1:26); and Mandolin Dreams (3:22); to Evening Song (3:17); Down in the
Valley
(4:22); and Golden Slumbers (3:23). Also very highly recommended for family, school, and
community library children's music collections is Phil Rosenthal's A Folk Song Christmas
(AN-CD-5120, $13.50)
Ants In My Pants
Gunnar Madsen
Gee, Spot! Records
Beth Blenz-Clucas (publicity)
PO Box 11575, Berkely, CA 94712
GSR004 $14.95 gunnermadsen.com
Gunnar Madsen's Ants In My Pants offers wildly entertaining and highly recommended selections
for
kids that range from Elvis-style "rock & roll" to Western swing and pop-powered funk. The lively
and engaging songs include Welcome To My Fog (4:13); Don't Shake Hands With A One-Eyed
Pirate (2:25); Tuna Fish (2:11); Old Baloney (2:46); Like Two Coconuts (1:12); And The
Children
Rolled (2:38); Ballad Of The Lonesome Rider (2:58); Lonely Dog Tango (3:29); I Am Loved
(3:29); Are We There Yet? (4:03); Mayonnaise And Pumpernickel Bread (1:53); Home On The
Range (2:39); and the title piece, Ants In My Pants (2:32).
The Biography Shelf
Rourke Publishing LLC
PO Box 3328, Vero Beach, FL 32964
www.rourkepublishing.com
Rourke Publishing's outstanding biographical series by Ann Gaines, "Discover The Life Of An
Inventor", showcases six important Americans whose discoveries impacted their time and laid the
foundation for our modern world. Enhanced with full color as well as black and white
photographs,
large text, timelines, glassary, and detailed index make the text highly accessible to young readers
who will learn how these men and women came to create their inventions and how those
inventions
have improved life over the years. Featured American inventor ersonalities and their discoveries in
this oustanding series includes Thomas Edison (1589521226); Alexander Graham Bell
(158952117X, $18.60); Hedy Lamarr (1589521196); Henry Ford (158952120X); The Wright
Brothers (1589521218); Eli Whitney (1-589521188, $18.60). The entire "Discover The Life Of
An
Inventor" set ($111.60, trade/ $77.00, school/library) is strongly recommended for both school
and
community library collections.
The Artbook Shelf
Rembrandt
Ceciel de Bie & Martin Leenen
Getty Trust
1200 Getty Center Dr. #500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
0-89236-621-4 $19.95 www.getty.edu
Beautiful full-color drawings, photos, and reproductions of major works of art offer children a
way
to explore Rembrandt and his works. Rembrandt blends biography with artistic insights for grades
4-6 and beyond, providing bright pages of art and fun drawings and color. Highly
recommended.
The Bilingual Shelf
Ruben's Rainbow
Carlos Harrison
Globo Libros
4720 42nd St, 5th fl. Sunnyside NY 11104
0970695306 $15.95 globolibros.com
Ruben's Rainbow/El Arco Iris de Ruben is a bilingual full color picturebook for children. The text
by
Carols Harrison is written in both English and Spanish on each page, and it comes with a
read-along
audio CD that has three tracks: one in English, one in Spanish, and one in both English and
Spanish.
The warm and engaging story, artfully illustrated by Grizelle Paz, is about a young boy who is
missing color from his life until he goes out and brings home a rainbow in his cap. The sentences
of
Ruben's Rainbow are of moderate length without being too complex, making it a superb book to
help young children learn how to be bilingual. Highly recommended for family, school, community
center, and public library collections.
Iguanas In The Snow
Francisco X. Alarcon, author
Maya Christina Gonzalez, illustrator
Children's Book Press
2211 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
0892391685 $15.95 www.cbookpress.org
Iguanas In The Snow And Other Winter Poems is an impressively presented bilingual children's
picturebook in English and Spanish. Each two-page spread features a different free-verse poem in
both languages by Francisco Z. Alarcon, and is jubilantly illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
with simple, exciting color artwork. Iguanas In The Snow/Iguanas en la Nieve is especially
recommended for young people learning to read in both the English and Spanish languages.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Hedgehog Haven
Deborah Dennard
Soundprints
353 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851
1568999879 $15.95 1-800-228-7839
The latest in the outstanding Soundprints "Wild Habitats" series of storybooks (each of which has
been authenticated by environmental experts) Hedgehog Haven is a beautifully illustrated
children's
picturebook by author Deborah Dennard and artist Robert Hynes about the day in the life of an
ordinary hedgehog. Unlike many children's books which anthropomorphize animals into
cartoon-like
figures who walk on two feet, talk, or have other human characteristics, Hedgehog Haven looks
closely at a natural, insect-eating hedgehog in a typical hedgerow within Great Britain. The
true-to-life bent of this hedgehog story makes it educational as well as entertaining, and the fine,
full-color illustrations bring the exploits of a small mammal to glorious life. This enthusiastically
recommended storybook for school and community library collections, and is also available with a
read-along audio cassette and stuffed animal toy.
The Library Video Shelf
The Potty Project
Smartkids
Penton Overseas
2470 Impala Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
1-56015-892-1 $15.95 1-800-748-5804
This engaging and motivating video was developed by a pediatrician who provides parents with
the
tools necessary to help very small children learn basic potty training. Yes, a baby can be started on
toilet training in the first few months of life: The Potty Project tells how.
So Smart! Colors
The Baby School Company
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 330341, Coconut Grove, FL 33233
0966015193 $14.95 1-800-663-2741
So Smart! Colors combines a full color, 30 minute video with an interactive CD-ROM to provide
preschoolers ages 1 through 4 with a lively and engaging introduction to the phenomena of color.
Combining animation with storytelling, the toddlers are presented with seven narrated,
color-related,
fun-filled short stories that entertain even while they inform. So Smart! Colors is enthusiastically
recommended for family, preschool, and community library video collections!
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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