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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Herd of Cows! Flock of Sheep!
Rick Walton
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586851535 $15.95 1-800-748-5439
Language play is presented in Herd of Cows! Flock of Sheep!, a fun storybook which tells of a
farmer who brings in his crop before a rainstorm and then settles down for a night of calm sleep.
When he faces danger, the entire barnyard tries to awaken him to trouble but he refuses to
awaken
to face the danger. Kids receive a subtle lesson in word play and animal names as they enjoy the
zany story of a farmer who just won't listen to reason (or noise!).
Jenny
David Weitzman
Roaring Brook Press
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0761325654 $24.90 1-800-462-4703
Kids in grades 3-5 will find Jenny: The Airplane That Taught America To Fly to be an easily
accessible picturebook story of the 'Jenny' the first airplane to be mass produced. An early pilot
explains the experience of flying the Jenny and the challenges which existed in bringing the plane
into mainstream American life, in this involving story.
Dalmatian Press
KSB Promotions (publicity)
Box 682068, Franklin, TN 37068-2068
1-615-724-2700 www.amazon.com
Written in rhythm and rhyme by Don Hoffman against a background of charming watercolor
illustrated by Todd Dakins, two terrifically fun self-esteem oriented picturebooks for preschool
readers ages 2 to 5 celebrate a toddler's life through the characters of Billy and Abigail. Abigail Is
A
Big Girl (1403701970, $2.99) shows that she has learned to say "Please" and "Thank You" and
can
do a lot of big kid stuff like sleeping in a regular bed instead of a crib, and eating at the family
dining
table instead of in a highchair. Billy Is A Big Boy (1403701962, $2.99) shows that he has learned
to
say his ABCs, can use the family bathtub instead of the baby bath tub, and can now eat with a fork
as well as a spoon.
Jakes And Dustin Take Off
Tilke Elkins & Friends
Woodley & Watts, Publisher
PO Box 1783, Sedona, AZ 86339
0968864805 $15.95 www.amazon.com
Jakes And Dustin Take Off is a combination story and activity book about a family of Soul
Transporters, people who help lost and forgotten souls recharge and return to their proper
owners.
Readers young of years or young of heart will learn facts about color (including blue foods and
rainbows!); trees and tree climbing; things that glow; lanterns and constellations; and much, much
more. Unique, unusual, lively, creative, informative, and thoroughly entertaining, Jakes And
Dustin
Take Off is an especially recommended addition to family, school, and community library
collection.
A Goo Idea!
WeWrite Kids
WeWrite Corporation
PO Box 498, Rochester, IL 62563
1576350584 $8.95 www.wewrite.net
A Goo Idea! by the WeWrite Kids is a simple, entertaining, and "kid friendly" story written by a
group of elementary school children specifically for young readers whose comprehension skills
have
are evolving past the level of picturebooks. A story about faith in oneself and learning how to
save
money, illustrated with playful, cartoony black-and-white pictures as well as some art from the
young authors themselves, A Goo Idea! is an enjoyable and fun read with a solid message for
young
people in a consumerism-oriented culture. Also very highly recommended for family, school, and
community library collections is the WeWrite Kids' State Fair Time Warp (1576350592, $8.95)
where the characters time-travel through the history of the State Fair.
The Huckenpuck Papers
P. J. Pokeberry
Viewpoint Press
PO Box 1090, Tehachapi, CA 93581
094396203X $8.95 www.amazon.com
The Huckenpuck Papers is the tale of a family's secret and a young girl's search for self-esteem.
Superbly written by P.J. Pokeberry for young readers ages 8 to 12, the wise and lovable animal
characters deal with serious subjects including pregnancy, sex, physical abuse, abortion, and even
suicide. A unique and very highly recommended addition for school and community library
collection, this fantasy fable is deftly and effectively written to assist the readers and their parents
when facing similar problems in the real world.
Ruben's Jungle
Carlos Harrison & Grizelle Paz
Globo Libros
PO Box 4525, Sunnyside, NY 11104
0970695314 $16.95 globolibros.com
The engaging sequel to "Ruben's Rainbow", Ruben's Jungle/La Selva de Ruben is a bilingual
picturebook written in English and Spanish by Carols Harrison, and is about a young boy's
dreamlike
adventure in a jungle filled with exotic animals. Simple color illustrations by Grizelle Paz
showcase
an engaging text (further enhanced with an accompanying "read-aloud" audio CD with a choice of
three tracks - one in English, one in Spanish, one reading both), make Ruben's Rainbow an
especially welcome and recommended treat for young children learning to read in either or both
languages.
Soundprints
353 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851
http://www.soundprints.com/
Kids ages 6 months to 5 years will find the Soundprints 'My First Mother Goose' titles to be very
easy readers and quite appealing, while parents who chose them to introduce kids to Mother
Goose
traditional rhymes will relish the large-size color drawings and bright, bold print. Included in this
set,
grouped by type of activity, are Twinkle, Twinkle (1568999322, $9.95), which presents
sleepytime
rhymes for evening; Humpty Dumpty (1568999313, $9.95), gathering story rhymes; Hey Diddle
Diddle (1568999194, $9.95), which features energetic rhymes for play; and Baa Baa Black Sheep
(1568999275, $9.95), rhymes perfect for sing-along. All are bright, appealing classics kids and
their
parents will love.
Hot Rods
Dennis Pernu
Capstone Press
2440 Fernbrook Lane, Minneapolis MN 55447
1560652533 $TBA 1-800-747-4992
Kids in grades 3-5 will relish Hot Rods, an easy reader profiling an appealing topic: hot rod cars.
Almost fifty pages of detail include larger print, plenty of color photos, a glossary of terms, and a
lot
of color for young car fans who appreciate classic cars. Many an older reader with language
challenges will find this appealing, as well.
My Jewish World
Robert Thum& Susan Dworski
Behrman House, Inc.
235 Watchung Av. West Orange NJ 07052
0874414784 $8.95 1-800-221-2755
My Jewish World: People, Places, Things, Actions is an informative and "kid friendly"
introduction
to the Jewish religion and culture written especially for young people. Individual chapters aptly
address Jewish prayers, celebrations, places such as synagogues and community centers, how to
be
properly courteous and respectful to rabbis and cantors, and much, much more. Colorful
photographs and simple activities round out this highly recommended educational resource for
young readers.
Knopf/Random House
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
1-800-726-0600 www.amazon.com
The owl knows snow is coming; moose can smell it in the air; and the bear begins looking for a
den
for the winter. Manya Stojic's Snow (0375823484 $15.95) uses easy text and bright illustrations
to
reach kids ages 3-6 with a basic story of seasonal changes and animal responses. An appealing,
simple reader. Pat Mora's Library For Juana (0375806431, $15.95) tells of a little girl who loves
words and who longs to go to school. She doesn't lose her love of words and reading, and
eventually becomes a nun who devotes her life to writing and learning. An appealing fictionalized
account of a real Mexican idol.
Mountain Jack Tales
Gail E. Haley
Parkway Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
1887905510 $14.95 www.amazon.com
Written and illustrated by puppeteer, storyteller, and children's author Gail E. Haley, Mountain
Jack
Tales is a simply wonderful collection of short stories written in the classic style of the great
folklore
yarns of old, and focusing on the adventurer called Mountain Jack, and his fantastic exploits
against
ogres, card sharks, stubborn witches, and even Old Man Death himself. Flavorful and upbeat
language mark this highly enjoyable, enthusiastically recommended compendium of original tall
tales
that are certain to entertain and please readers of all ages!
The Poetry Shelf
A Jar Of Tiny Stars
Bernice E. Cullinan, editor
Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
1563970872 $17.95 1-877-512-8366
Compiled and edited by Bernice E. Cullinan, A Jar of Tiny Stars is a celebration of poetry written
by
NCTE award-winning poets Arnold Adoff, John Ciardi, Barbara Esbensen, Aileen Fisher, Karla
Kuskin, Myra Cohn Livingston, David McCord, Eve Merriam, Lilian Moore, and Valerie Worth.
Each poem has a very special appeal for children. My Cat And I: When I flop down/to take a
rest/my cat jumps up/upon my chest.//She kneads my sweater/with her paws.../and sometime
seven
uses claws.//She rubs my chin/and purrs away, as if I am/a game to play! (Aileen Fisher)
Moxie Day And Family
Robert Pottle & Jonathan Siruno
Blue Lobster Press
RR1 Box 509, Eastbrook, ME 04634
0970956916 $9.95 bluelobsterpress.com
Moxie Day And Family is a rollicking compendium of poetry showcasing the lyrical talents of
Robert Pottle, buttressed by the energetic line drawings of Jonathan Siruno. While enhanced with
15
pages of "Poetry Bug" comic strips that amusingly teach young readers about various poetic
forms
and terms, the primary character is five-year-old Moxie Day and the various poetic forms
employed
in more than fifty lively poems. I Think I'll Leave My Snowsuit On: Last night I didn't sleep so
well./I tossed and turned all night./This morning I was snoring loud/and drooling, what a
sight./Woke up to see the bus outside,/waiting in the snow./My sister said, "Hey,
snore-o-saur,/come
on, it's time to go!"/Put on my snowsuit, boots, and hat/in a hurry scurry dance./Got to school,
my
faced turned red;/I forgot to put on pants!
The Reference Shelf
Kids Visual Reference Of The United States
Bob Italiano, illustrator
Blackbirch Press/The Gale Group
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535
1567116590 $49.94 1-800-877-4253
Kids Visual Reference Of The United States is an impressive and confidently recommended
reference for young readers which is enhanced with more than 2,500 graphs, charts, maps, and
photos covering the most important and interesting facts about every state in the union, and
includes
the District of Columbia, United States Possessions, and the United States territories of American
Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each entry
has
an "At A Glance" descriptive summary which includes a state nickname, its capital city, size and
population, statehood, electoral votes, number of congressional representatives (until 2003), as
well
as the state tree, flower, peace symbol, and highest point. Of special interest are the "Facts and
First"
and "Born In..." sidebars. Kids Visual Reference Of The United States is an essential, "kid
friendly",
core addition to any grade school or community library reference collections.
Awesome Internet Sites For Kids
Sandra Antoniani and friends
Ride the Wave Media, Inc.
14 Cross St, Dundas ON Canada L9H 2R4
0973102004 $14.99 www.smork.com
Awesome Internet Sites For Kids is a compilation of reviews on hundreds of the best websites for
children ages 5 to 13. Compiled by Sandra Antoniani with the help of friends, this compendium of
safe and appealing Internet resources can enable children to utilize their computers to learn, to
expand their interests, and to have fun. Also included are important tips on accessing the Internet
safely, responsibly and effectively. Special sections such as "Community Building" and "Save Our
Planet" reinforce the importance of being a responsible global citizen. Enhanced with entertaining
illustrations, fascinating facts, engaging questions, and useful activities, Awesome Internet Sites
For
Kids is a confidently recommended reference for any family seeking to safeguard their children
from
the hazards and depredations of the Internet, while assisting them to utilize and take full
advantage
of the wonderful resources available for homework, projects, sports, and hobbies, as well as
communication with friends and family.
The History Shelf
Explorers
Philip Wilkinson
Kingfisher
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
0753454521 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Explorers by Philip Wilkinson is the beautifully illustrated story of the men who explored the wide
and unknown world. From the Vikings who traveled the seas, to Marco Polo and his forays along
the great Silk Road into China, to David Livingstone trekking along the African Nile, to Francis
Drake who circled the globe in a wooden ship, to the Lewis and Clark expedition to the American
West, to the mountain climbing expeditions of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, to the deep
sea
excursions of Jacque Costeau, Explorers chronicles some of the most important explorations of
history. Highly recommended for both school and community library collections, Explorers is
enhanced with sections explaining how explorers planned and prepared for their trips, the tools
and
equipment they used, and the mapping techniques they employed and which were used by the
others
who came after them.
The Picturebook Shelf
Someone Took Vanessa's Bike
Maggie Moran & Chie Sasaki
New Voices Publishing
c/o KidsTerrain, Inc.
PO Box 560, Wilmington, MA 01887
1931642036 $14.95 1-508-347-5669
Written by Maggie Moran and charmingly illustrated by Chie Saski, Someone Took Vanessa's
Bike
is the picture book story of a young girl who loves her new bike and who can bike around the
neighborhood with her best friends, Kate and Beth. Then when her friends ask her to bike to their
favorite comic books story, Vanessa's mother doesn't want her to. The bike is brand new and
there
isn't any lock for it yet. Vanessa really wants to bike with her friends and promises to stay with the
bike and not go into the store leaving the bicycle unattended. But when she comes out -- the bike
is
gone! Someone Took Vanessa's Bike is highly recommended reading for children and will help
them
to understand that some decisions can have unpleasant consequences, and how to handle them
when
that happens.
Bear Wants More
Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman
McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY, NY 10020
068984509X $16.95 1-800-223-2336
A very hungry bear awakens in spring to find roots to eat but he wants more. Berries, clover,
and
fish aren't even enough, and it's up to caring friends to nourish his huge hunger in this enchanting
picturebook story. The bear drawings are both whimsical and appealing.
The Sulky Vulture
Sally Grindley
Bloomsbury
175 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
1582347948 $15.95 bloomsbury.com
Boris' friends see that he needs cheering up, but nothing is going right and Boris becomes even
grumpier. As each friend finds his efforts at cheerfulness thwarted, Boris becomes even lonelier
and
angrier, until it's time for parental intervention and affection. Michael Terry's drawings are
appealing
and fun.
The Witch Who Wanted To Be A Princess
Lois G. Grambling & Judy Love
Whispering Coyote
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
1580890628 $15.95 1-800-225-3214
Bella is a witch who dreams of big castles, silk gowns, and the jewels associated with princesses.
But when the Grand Wizard has forbidden any witch to turn themselves into a princess, Bella's
dreams are dashed. But clever Bella has another plan that might work -- marry a prince! And with
a
little online dating help that's exactly what Bella sets out to do. Lois G. Grambling's wonderfully
original story is very nicely illustrated by Judy Love. The Witch Who Wanted To Be A Princess is
spellbinding, hugely funny, and enthusiastically recommended reading for children preschool
through
fourth grade.
Whitecap Books
203 W. 15th, #108, Anchorage, AK 99501
1-888-980-9852
Karen Johnston's Mr. Bob's Magic Ride In The Sky (1552853944, $14.95) provides the rich
picturebook story of Bob, who dreams of flying and finds his dreams coming true with the help of
some friendly birds. Color would have added even more drama to this story, which features
mostly
full-page black and white drawings. Dianna Bonder's Accidental Alphabet (1552853942, $16.95)
is
whimsical, fun, and colorful: a cast of accident-prone animals stumble through the alphabet in
endeavors which range from apple pies stolen by ant armies to iguanas who indulge in insects. Fun
rhymes and stories abound.
Full Moon Rising
Joanne Taylor & Susan Tooke
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887765483 $16.95 tundrabooks.com
Susan Tooke's museum quality paintings perfectly showcase Joanne Taylor's gentle, lyrical story
explaining all of the phases of the moon and how time is measured by them in Full Moon Rising.
Young readers ages 5 to 8 will learn where the saying "once in a blue Moon" comes from along
with
many other stories from moon-based mythologies. Enthusiastically recommended for family,
school,
and community library picture book collections, Full Moon Rising is further enhanced with a list
of
names used for full moon's throughout the world, and which reflect the climate and seasonal
activities of different cultures.
"Oh, Brother!" Said The Mother of Tony Pepperoni
Naganuma-Galligan family
James Street Press/Diversity Inc.
Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
953 E. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53703
0970409885 $16.95 jamesstreetpress.com
Written and illustrated by members of the Naganuma-Galligan family (including eight-year-old Joe
and five-year-old Sam), "Oh, Brother!" Said The Mother of Tony Pepperoni is the story of Tony
Pepperonie who gets fed up with run-of-the-mill dinners and makes an unusual rhyming
concoctions
like "nectarines with jellybeans" and "fried eggs with frog legs". Lively, imaginative and fun, "Oh,
Brother!" Said The Mother of Tony Pepperoni is a unique and highly recommended picture book
addition for family, school, and community library collections.
Little, Brown & Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
1-800-759-0190 www.amazon.com
Lauren Mills and Dennis Nolan's Fia And The Imp (0316574120,. $15.95) requires reading skills
of
youngsters in grades 3-5, but presents a lively companion volume to Fairy Wings which continues
the fantasy setting. None of the fairies will help the woodkins store food for the winter except Fia,
the only one without wings. Fia's adventures and challenges make for exciting drama. Lisa
Wheeler's
Porcupine (0316989126, $14.95) presents a prickly love story with fun drawings by Janie Bynum
as
it tells of a lonely porcupine who pins for a companion. An endearing petting zoo romance
emerges.
Both are fine stories.
Kwanzaa Teddy: The Curious Bear
Lynda Anne Ball & Larry Johnson,
Angel Publications
310 Timberline Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
1889383112 $6.95 www.amazon.com
Written by Lynda Anne Ball and illustrated by Larry Johnson, Kwanzaa Teddy The Curious Bear
is
part of "The Adventures of KT" series created by Felicia Nelson and Ken Watts for young
readers.
Using a simply story of a family of teddy bears, this is an welcome and highly recommended
introduction for children to the traditions and symbols that are a part of the Kwanzaa holiday
celebration and include the "Seven Principles" of Kwanzaa: Unity (Umoja); Self-Determination
(Kujichagulia); Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima); Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa);
Purpose (Nia); Creativity (Kuumba); and Faith (Imani).
Winter Is
Ann Dixon & Mindy Dwyer
Alaska Northwest Books
c/o Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co.
Box 10306, Portland, Oregon 97296-0306
0882405446 $8.95 www.gacpc.com
With a simple and lyrical text written by Ann Dixon and illustrated by Mindy Dwyer, Winter Is
presents a perfect picture book celebration of the many moods of winter for young readers ages 3
to
6. Showing youngsters that Winter is both white and cold, dark and bright, and filled with winter
joys like ice-skating, snowman making, and downhill sledding, Winter Is presents a wonderfully
entertaining and highly recommended reading experience.
Elizabeth's Song
Michael Wenberg & Cornelius Van Wright
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 N.W. Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124
1582700699 $15.95 beyondword.com
Michael Wenberg's engaging and entertaining Elizabeth's Song is based upon the legendary
African-American folksinger, guitarist and songwriter, Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten, and is beautifully
enhanced with the superbly crafted artwork of Cornelius Van Wright. Elizabeth is an 11-year old
girl
who teaches herself to play guitar left-handed on a borrowed instrument. Eventually, she earns
enough money to guy a guitar of her very own and is inspired to write her first folk song "Freight
Train", which would go on to become a popular classic. It was Elizabeth's unique style of
left-handed playing (upside down and backwards) that gave rise to the term "cotton-picking", and
emerged as a guitar playing technique that would inspire a generation of musicians. Elizabeth's
Song
is a wonderful and prized addition to any family or community library picture book collection, and
is
especially recommended for an elementary school library's Black History collection.
Tippy-Toe Chick, GO!
George Shannon & Laura Dronzek
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollines
1350 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10019
0060298235 $15.99 1-800-242-7737
George Shannon's Tippy-Toe Chick, GO! is an engaging and recommended children's picturebook
about a resourceful little yellow chick who must use her cleverness and speed to outwit a fierce
dog
that is blocking the way to food for her whole family. An upbeat tale of finding one's hidden
strengths told with singsong prose and illustrated in vibrant colors by Laura Dronzek.
My Mommy, My Teacher
Johannah Bluedorn
Trivium Pursuit
PMB 168, 429 Lake Park Blvd., Muscatine, Iowa 52761
No ISBN $14.00 triviumpursuit.com
Written and illustrated by Johannah Bluedorn, My Mommy, My Teacher is the thoroughly
enjoyable,
full-color, children's picture book story about a young girl who learns from her family and her
mother how to work on a farm. The rich watercolor paintings, gentle tone, and love of life
pervading
this amenable story make My Mommy, My Teacher a warm and loving book ideal for reading
aloud
and sharing -- especially between mothers and daughters.
Elliot's Noisy Night
Andrea Beck
Kids Can Press
2250 Military Rd, Tonawanda, NY 14150
1553370112 $12.95 kidscanpress.com
Elliot Moose is worried when he hears strange noises in his house at night. Elliot's friend
Beaverton
explains that those noises are simply a loose shutter, floorboard creaks, or the furnace working.
Elliot begins to feel much better -- but later that night awakens to a new and scary sound of
shuffle,
thump, and swish. Beaverton didn't explain these new and frightening noises! Wonderfully written
and charmingly illustrated by Andrea Beck, Elliot's Noisy Night is a very highly recommended
picture book story about discovering that the scary things that go bump in the night are simply
ordinary things when seen in the light.
Prairie Rose And The Beaded Anthills
Roselyn O. Miller & Janet N. Miller
Dageforde Publishing, Inc.
128 East 13th Street, Crete, NE 68333
1886225907 $15.95 www.amazon.com
The collaborative effort of author Roselyn Ogden Miller and illustrator Janet Nelson Miller,
Prairie
Rose and the Beaded Anthills is a truly delightful children's picture book story about Prairie Rose,
a
young Native American girl who discovers a trail of ants carrying tiny decorative beads. Her
discovery leads to a hidden surprise and ultimately a cause for celebration for her whole tribe, in
this
highly enjoyable and enthusiastically recommended storybook tale illustrated with soft, shaded
black-and-white drawings.
Can You See Her?
Pauline Cormier
Daisy May Publishing Company
#205 - 780 Viscount Road, London, ON, Canada N6J 3T3
0968841309 $19.95 www.daisymay.ca
Entertainingly written and drawn by Pauline Cormier, Can You See Her? is a children's
picturebook
with humble color illustrations in a style reminiscent of what children themselves use. Can You
See
Her? challenges the young reader to spot a brother, a sister, and their dog Daisy in each picture.
An
appealing easy-reader text and the inviting visual puzzle in each picture make Can You See Her?
an
excellent skill-building book for young boys and girls just beginning to learn how to read and
discern.
I'll Fly My Own Plane
Jean Alicia Elster & Nicole Tadgell
Judson Press
Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
0817014071 $12.00 judsonpress.com
The third book in the "Joe Joe in the City" series, I'll Fly My Own Plane is a children's
picturebook
about a serious urban issue affecting families everywhere today. The young African-American boy
Joe Joe is offered an illegal way to make quick money to buy an fancy airplane by drug dealers,
but
in the end Joe Joe comes to realize that it is better to work at an ethical, if less lucrative honest
job
and fly the simiple plane his own father made for him. A very highly recommended picturebook
narrative written by jean Alicia Elster and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell, I'll Fly My Own Plane
capably addresses an all too real pressure affecting young inner city children exposed to drug use
and drug sales in urban environments today.
Oliver Twist Finds A Home
Nigel Gray & Andrew McLean
Univ. of Western Australia Press/ISBS
5824 NE Hassalo St., Portland OR 97213
1876268875 $22.50 1-503-287-3093
Based on the classic Charles Dickens book "Oliver Twist", Nigel Gray (a winner of the Dickens
Fellowship Award) has successfully adapted the Oliver Twist character in a new and engaging
picture book story for young readers in Oliver Twist Finds A Home. Charmingly illustrated with
color sketches by Andrew McLean, Oliver Twist Finds a Home traces the saga of an overworked,
underfed, and emotionally neglected nineteenth-century orphan who is determined to make a
better
life for himself. Oliver Twist Finds A Home is a very highly recommended addition to family,
school,
and community library collections for young readers.
Princess Backwards
Jane Gray & Liz Milkau
Second Story Press
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2R4
1896764649 $11.95 www.amazon.com
Princess Backwards is the story of Princess Fred who cannot quite adjust to life in her kingdom
where everything is the reverse of what we are used to. She struggles to do things the way
everyone
else in the kingdom does, but despairs at her clumsiness. But when the castle is threatened,
Princess
Fred realizes that her way isn't wrong -- it just different and may even save the day! A lively
picture
book story creatively written by Jane Gray and energetically illustrated by Liz Milkau, Princess
Backwards is a wonderfully entertaining and original addition to any personal, school, or
community
library picture book collection.
Mammoth
Patrick O'Brien
Henry Holt & Company
115 West 18th Street, NY, NY 10011
0805065962 $16.95 www.henryholt.com
Nicely written and superbly illustrated by Patrick O'Brien, Mammoth is an entertaining and
educational picture book filled from cover to cover with scientific facts about the mammoth, one
of
the largest creatures that ever lived, and an animal that died out around ten thousand years ago
with
the end of the Ice Age. Astutely illustrated in full color, and replete with information on what
mammoths ate, how they lived, and how their fossilized remains have been discovered today,
Mammoth is strongly recommended for school and community libraries as being an excellent and
"reader friendly" introduction for children into the fascinating study of prehistoric animals.
The Cookbook Shelf
Kids Can Cook Vegetarian Recipes
Suzanne Havala, MS, RD, FADA
Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
1570670862 $12.95 1-888-260-8458
Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Kids Can Cook Vegetarian Recipes is a truly "kid
friendly' compendium of delicious, nutritious, easy-to-make recipes that will attract the attention
and
approval of children. There are simple recipes ideal for beginners, party foods to make and share,
as
well as kitchen safety rules and helpful cooking hints. From Peanut Butter Bread; Black Bean
Soup;
Tofu Pot Pie; and Macaroni Salad; to Gram's Peach Cobbler; Baked Bananas; Cocoa Pudding
Cake;
and Popcorn Balls, Kids Can Cook Vegetarian Recipes is an ideal addition to any family's
vegetarian
cookbook collection!
The Audiobook Shelf
August House Audio
Box 3223, Little Rock, AK 72203
1-800-284-8784 www.amazon.com
These lively audio cds will intrigue the entire family as well as classrooms and youngsters ages
3-7,
providing folk stories on accessible cd format. Margaret Read MacDonald and Richard Scholtz's
Fat
Cat And Friends (0874836921, $14.95) provides a set of folktales from Panama, Denmark,
Nigeria
and other countries. Willy Claflin's Uglified Ducky (0874837014, $14.95) provides a lively blend
of
comedy and folk retellings of traditional fairy tales and new innovations alike. Claflin also
provides
his classic blend of humor and storytelling with Wolf Under The Bed (0874837057, $14.95), with
fun bedtime stories for kids; Carol Birch and others contribute to a selection of Carl Sandburg's
poetry and Roottsbaga Stories in Sandburg Out Loud (087483676X, $16.95), which blends
stories,
poems, and songs; Maynard Moose: Sleeping Beastly And Other Tales (0874837030, $14.95),
Maynard Moose: Tales (0874836999, $14.95), blending values into its variations on old themes,
inserting wacky humor into more classics the trademark of Claflin's narrative style.
Tell Me The Story Of Jesus
V. Gilbert Beers
Oasis Kids Audio
289 S. Main Place, Carol Stream IL 60188
1589260651 $9.99 1-800-323-2500
Tell Me The Story Of Jesus is a retelling of the life of Jesus is geared towards children, providing
stories of his birth and life and including references with each story for further enlightenment. Dr.
Mary Simon narrates these stories, which come alive in audio.
The ABC/1-2-3 Shelf
Chesapeake 1-2-3
Priscilla Cummings & David Aiken
Tidewater Publishers
PO Box 456, Centreville, MD 21617
0870335421 $11.95 1-800-638-7641
Chesapeake 1-2-3 is a counting picturebook for young readers, based around the theme of
Chesapeake bay and the boats, people, marine life and more that share in it. Cartoony color
illustrations by David Aiken and an upbeat rhyme by Priscilla Cummings help teach young
beginning
readers about the numbers one through ten. Also very highly recommended is Aiken and
Cummings'
Chesapeake A-B-C (0870335251; $11.95), a fine companion book for preschoolers.
A to Z of Seasons
Tracy Nelson Maurer
Rourke Publishing
Box 3328, Vero Beach, FL 32964
1589521951 $106.40 1-800-394-7055
Ideal for both school and community library collections, Tracy Nelson Maurer's A to Z of Season
is
wonderfully presented, highly recommended, "kid friendly", four book series which are illustrated
with full color photography and utilize the sights and images associated with the four seasons to
help
preschool and kindergarten children master the alphabet. The very highly recommended volumes
comprising this outstanding ABC series from Rourke Publishing include A to Z of Spring and A
to Z
of Summer (both of which use verbs in easy sentences for the beginning reader), and A to Z of
Autumn and A to Z of Winter, both of which emphasizes nouns to give novice readers the
information they need to know.
The Fiction Shelf
Save Our Star
Claxton Dong
Brown Swan Publishers
760 Redriver Way, Corona, CA 92882
097179930X $5.99 brownswan.com
In Save Our Star we are introduced to a group of kids from the year 2201. A black hole is headed
for the solar system and these kids have volunteered to travel back to the present day to try and
speed up progress so that an answer can be found which will save our solar system from certain
destruction. In writing Save Our Star, Claxton Dong presents a picture of the future in which
children can choose to work in jobs or get paid for attending school, can live with their parents or
on
their own, can vote, drive, and generally do the same kinds of things adults do. In this future, the
abilities of kids are appreciated! Highly recommended.
I Am Not Esther
Fleur Beale
Hyperion
77 West 66th St., NY, NY 10023-6298
0786808454 $15.99 1-800-759-0190
One of the most moving, strikingly original teen novels to come our way in a long time is this
candid
story of a young girl's sudden introduction to a religious cult. When her flighty mother brings
Kirby
to live with her aunt and uncle, it's to a strict religious world where little is allowed and much
regulated. Kirby's spunky spirit fights back at first; but she must learn to live within the family's
rigid
boundaries if she's to escape and find her mother. Eye-opening and vivid, this will keep readers
guessing until the end, and provides a sharply poignant picture of brainwashing and cult control as
experienced by a teen. Very highly recommended.
Paulo's Wall
Rachelle DeSimone
Perfection Learning Corporation
PO Box 500, Logan, Iowa 51546-0500
www.perfectionlearning.com
078915496X $5.95 1-800-831-4190
Paulo's Wall by Rachelle DeSimone is a high-interest, low-vocabulary novel of fourteen-year-old
Paulo Gomez trying to survive in a gang-plagued neighborhood. Paulo avoids the cholos and their
baggy pants, T-shirts, and bright tattoos. When two members of Tres Palmas spray-paint their
nicknames and the name of their gang on the concrete wall in front of Paulo's house, he knows
they
are claiming his neighborhood, his street, his wall. If his mother sees the graffiti she will want to
move into an apartment and Paulo would have to give up his dog Nikka. Paulo paints over the
graffiti that night, but it's back the next day larger than ever. Paul finds himself alone in a battle
that
escalates to include repeated vandalism, gang harassment, threats of violence, weapons at school,
and expulsion. Can Paulo succeed? Can the influence of the gangs be resisted? When tragedy
finally
strikes, will it bring peace to Paulo's wall? Very highly recommended.
Wrestle The Mountain
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Golden Triangle Books
c/o University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
0822957906 $9.95 1-800-666-2211
Set in the coal mines of West Virginia, Wrestle the Mountain is an entertaining "coming of age"
novel. Jed Jefferson Tate is an eleven-year-old boy who yearns for a better life than the constant
struggle for survival that his father faces in the mines. With help from his teacher and his aunt, Jed
must somehow find his own path. Then when a natural disaster puts lives in danger, everything
changes! Wrestle The Mountain is a compelling and heart-told story.
Born Confused
Tanuja Desai Hidier
Scholastic
558 Broadway, New York NY 10012
0439357624 $16.95 1-800-242-7737
Dimple Lala has spent her life resisting her parents' pressures to confirm to a rigid Indian social
standard, despite their American lives. Now they've arranged for her to meet a 'suitable Indian
boy'
for potential marriage and when she discovers his unique unsuitability, interest is aroused which
is
not easily quenched. Born Confused is a moving story of finding self and culture in a
multi-cultural
world.
Jack: The Story Of A Beaver
Shirley Woods & Celia Godkin
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
121 Harvard Ave., #2, Allston, MA 02134
1550417339 $14.95 www.fitzhenry.ca
Written by Shirley Woods and enhanced with occasional black-and-white illustrations by Celia
Godkin, Jack: The Story Of A Beaver is the story of a young beaver who, along with his three
siblings, learns quickly that even their lodge is not always safe because bears, wolves, bobcats,
trappers, and even birds of prey are a constant threat to them. Even with Mother, Father, the
yearlings, and their old uncle working hard to protect them, only Jack and his sister out of the
original litter of four survive to see their first summer of life on the pond. As Jack matures he
becomes a working member of the beaver colony felling trees, repairing the lodge, and foiling
trappers. Eventually it is Jack's turn to leave the colony, find a mate, and establish a home of his
own. Jack, The Story Of A Beaver is an accurate, entertaining, informative, and very highly
recommended true-to-life adventure that will thrill and educate young readers about the
fascinating
and resource beaver.
The Busybody Buddha
Margie Rutledge
Napoleon Publishing
1005-3266, Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3P6
0929141911 $8.95 1-877-730-9052
Written by Margie Rutledge for young readers ages 9 and older, The Busybody Buddha is an
exciting mystery about Abigail, Jacob and Ernest, three young people whose enjoyment of
summer
vacation is interrupted by an ominous message delivered through a small stone buddha. A
sometimes
whimsical, sometimes serious story of solving puzzles and overcoming challenges. Also very
highly
recommended is Margie Rutledge's first novel showcasing the adventures of Abigail, Jacob and
Ernest, The Great Laundry Adventure (0929141679, $7.95).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Looking At Animals With... Mr. Etch A Sketch
Edna Cucksey Stephens, et al.
Edco Publishing
2648 Lapeer Rd., Auburn Hills, MI 48326
0971269211 $9.95 1-888-510-3326
Collaboratively written by Edna Cucksey Stephens and Diane Norberg Farstvedt, Looking At
Animals With... Mr. Etch A Sketch is a unique and educational picture book for kids. It teaches
young readers basic facts about the food, habitat, and life cycles of common animals native to
North
America such as raccoons, bears, moose, and more. In addition, it features both photographs of
these animals and wondrously done illustrations by Tim George created on actual Etch A Sketch
screens. Looking At Animals With... Mr. Etch A Sketch is recommended as a delightfully
entertaining and deftly informative children's book featuring artworks that truly have to be seen to
be
properly admired and appreciated.
Cherry Hill's Horse Care For Kids
Cherry Hill
Storey Kids
210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580174078 $16.95 storeykids.com
Cherry Hill is a veteran horse trainer, breeder, and equestrian event judge, who for many years
taught university-level courses in horse management and training throughout the United States
and
Canada. Cherry Hill's Horse Care For Kids is an ideal book for young readers seeking to teach
themselves the essential of caring for their horses in a responsible manner. Beginning with
matching
the right horse to the young rider, and progressing through safe horse handling, grooming,
feeding,
stabling, and more, Cherry Hill's Horse Care for Kids is comprehensive, reliable, and thoroughly
"kid
friendly". If there is a young equestrian in your family, then he or she should have their own
personal
copy of Cherry Hill's Horse Care For Kids!
The Fairytale/Folklore Shelf
Fairy Tale Illustrations In Full Color
Rackham (Edited by Jeff Menges)
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
0486421678 $12.95 1-800-223-3130
Fans of Arthur Rackham's style of drawing from turn-of-the-century fairy tales will find Fairy Tale
Illustrations In Full Color an especially appealing collection reproducing over fifty of his
fantastical
drawings from rare early plates. Packed with appeal from cover to cover, Fairy Tale Illustrations
In
Full Color is a very highly recommended pick for all ages.
Lion Publishing/Trafalgar Square
Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1-800-423-4525 www.amazon.com
The four books of Celtic fantasy adventures by Fay Sampson which comprise the "Pangur Ban
Celtic Fantasies" series center around a magic white cat Pangur Ban and his friends, creating
classic
tales of princesses, lost kingdoms, witches and heroism. Begin the story with Shape-Shifter
(074594762X, $7.95), which tells of the naming of Pangur and his rescue of a princess. Book
Two,
Pangur Ban The White Cat (0745947638, $7.95), tells of the princess caught in the grip of a sea
monster. With his friends bewitched and trapped underwater, how can Pangur rescue them?
Finnglas
Of The Horses (0745947611, $7.95) tells of the princess' search for her beloved lost horse. Her
companions join her in the search for her friend. Finnglas And The Stones Of Choosing
(0745947603, $7.95) concludes the adventure, as Finnglas rides for her life and love.
How Marten Got His Spots
Debbie Finley & Howard Kallowatt, Jr.
Salish Kootenai College Press
c/o Montana Historical Society Press
PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620
www.montanahistoricalsociety.org
0917298926 $8.95 1-800-243-9900
Narrated by Kootenai elders and illustrated by Kootenai artists Debbie Joseph Finley and Howard
Kallowatt Jr., How Marten Got His Spots (co-published by the Kootenai Culture Committee of
Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Montana Historical Society Press) is an
impressive
collection of four traditional Native American tales presented for the entertainment of young
readers. In addition to the title story, the three other exciting and adventurous folklore tales are
"Coyote and Trout"; "Little Weasel's Dream"; and "Tepee Making"; the last of which instructs
readers in the ancient art, craft, and survival skill of Kootenai tepee making. An excellent and
fascinating book that will appeal to readers of all ages, How Marten Got His Spots is a welcome
and
highly recommended addition to school and community library Folklore and Mythology
collections.
The CD-ROM Shelf
Scooby-Doo! Case File #1: The Glowing Bug Man
Riverdeep, Inc.
500 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94947
0763071447 $19.95 www.riverdeep.com
Enthusiastically recommended for children ages 5-10, Scooby-Doo! Case File #1: The Glowing
Bug
Man is the first in an enjoyable, entertaining, "child friendly" software series featuring the popular
Hanna-Barbara cartoon characters of Scooby-Doo, Fred, Velma, Shaggy, and Daphne. Presenting
a
colorful, spooky mystery to solve about the mysterious Glowing Bug Man, the simple game
mechanics encourage deductive reasoning, critical thinking, as well as matching and sorting, in
this
wholesome interactive cd-rom adventure. Three levels of challenge enhance superbly designed
and
presented learning game for young Scooby-Doo fans. Ideal as a classroom and homeschooling
curriculum supplement, Scooby-Doo! Case File #1: The Glowing Bug Man runs on Microsoft
Windows only.
The Biography Shelf
Super Women In Science
Kelly Di Domenico
Second Story Press
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2R4
1896764665 $7.95 secondstorypress.on.ca
Compiled and written by Kelly Di Domenico, Super Women In Science is a collection of brief
biographies of remarkable women and their outstanding and influential scientific achievements.
Specifically written for young readers of all ages, and featuring great female minds ranging from
the
Hypatia (a mathematician of ancient times) to the brilliant twentieth-century physicist
Chien-Shiung
Wu, Super Women In Science is an inspirational book especially recommended for budding young
minds and an ideal selection for school and community libraries.
Books in Series
Crabtree Publishers
350 5th Ave. #3308, NY NY 10118
1-800-387-7650 www.amazon.com
Kids ages 8-10 will find the Little Mouse Biddle Mouse 'Yellow Bananas' books to be a fine
introductory series which features short chapters, stories by notable authors, and full-color
illustrations to accompany them. Penelope Lively's Dragon Trouble (0778709418) tells of a boy
who
decides to go for the truly unusual gift for a grandmother, Jacqueline Wilson's My Brother
Bernadette (077870940X) benefits from David Roberts' zany drawings as it tells of a younger
brother with big ideas and a funny name; Gillian Cross' Monster From Underground
(0778709353)
tells of a boy whose diary assignment turns into an exciting narrative; Helen Dunmore's Amina's
Blanket (0778709388) tells of a beautiful patchwork blanket sent to a war child; Michael
Morpurgo's Colly's Barn (0778709329) tells of a barn slated for demolition despite its importance
to
wildlife; Sam McBratney's Stranger From Somewhere In Time (077870937X) creates a
fascinating
science fiction adventure; Rose Impey's Who's A Clever Girl? (0778709302) tells of a pirate band
who wants a girl to do the chores; Morpurgo's Jo-Jo The Melon Donkey (0778709426) tells of a
hard-working donkey who doesn't like work, Jamila Gavin's Fine Feathered Friend (0778709396)
tells of a Mumbai boy who must leave his exciting city life one summer; Chris d'Lacey's Break In
The Chain (0778709310) tells of a magic polar bear who teaches kids about food chains, and
Michael Hardcastle's Soccer Star (0778709337) tells of a boy's excitement at being chosen for the
team. Each presents a little under fifty pages of stories and adventures to win reluctant
readers.
Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Rd. #400 Broomall PA 19008
1-800-848-2665 www.amazon.com
Harold Bloom's expanding series continues to demonstrate high quality, literary references critical
to
grades 7-12, and choices of subject which easily tie into ongoing, relevant curriculum. The
'BioCritiques' series blends comprehensive biographical sketches with critical analysis, focusing on
contemporary as well as classic authors well recognized in their fields. Each holds 112-128 pages
of
facts, from informative introductions and biographical sketches to original critical analysis
handling
the themes and symbols of the writer's productions. Add essays by others and a list of critical
works
about the author and you have a comprehensive reference set essential to in-depth research and
study. The new additions (at $25.95/each) include Toni Morrison (0791061809), Stephen King
(0791061787), Jane Austin (0791061841) additional titles include Maya Angelou (0791061779),
and Robert Frost (0791061833), William Shakespeare (079106171X), Stephen Crane
(0791063755), as well as William Faulkne (079106378X), and the Bronte Sisters (0791061876).
The new Thornton Wilder (0791070336, $22.95) adds to the 'Major Dramatists' series with a
comprehensive research tool covering Wilder's works. His major players are analyzed by different
critics, providing a fine survey of his works. Bloom's 'Major Poets' series provides similar focus
for
major contemporary poets. New to the series are Gwendolyn Brooks (0791068153), Elizabeth
Bishop (0791068137), William Carlos Williams (0791068145), and H.D. (079106817X). Each
provides important analysis of key poems and works. Bloom's Major Short Story Writers ($22.95
each) includes some hard-hitting works by major writers: Thomas Mann (0791068196), Italo
Calvino (0791078242), Jorge Luis Borges (0791068234) and Raymond Carver (0791068218)
each
provide fine critical introductions to the writers and their works, covering four to six selected
major
stories and offering different viewpoints by different critics on aspects of each work. The entirety
of
Bloom's creations should be considered essential t any well-stocked library harboring literature for
teens to adults.
Benchmark/Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Rd. Tarrytown NY 10591
1-800-831-9881 www.amazon.com
These four new editions to an expanding 'Rulers & Their Times' series uses a focus on rulers to
explore the history and culture of different peoples and eras, and will reach an audience of grades
5
through young adults with their 80-page histories. New to this series: Miriam Greenblatt's
Suleyman
The Magnificant & Ottoman Empire (0761414894, $28.50), telling of the leader's creation of an
empire; Loernzo De'medici And Renaissance Italy (0761414908, $28.50), telling of religious wars
and peasant life in the Renaissance; Charlemagne And Early Middle Ages (0761414878, $28.50),
revealing savage wars fought by Charlemagne's forces and Church affiliations, and Claire
Price-Groff's Queen Victoria And 19th Century England (0761414886, $28.50), exploring the
everyday lives of royalty and commoner alike. Fine color photos and a lively text make for an
involving series.
Enslow Publishers
PO Box 398, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
$152.50 1-800-398-2504 enslow.com
A new, superlatively presented ten volume series of biographies from Enslow Publishers
showcases
famous (and infamous) men of the American west. "Outlaws and Lawmen of the Wild West"
features: Allan Pinkerton; Billy the Kid; Butch Cassidy; The Dalton Gang; Doc Holliday; Jessee
James; Judge Roy Bean; Wild Bill Hickok; Wyatt Earp; and The Younger Brothers. Each
individual
title is enhanced for young readers grades 4 to 10 with a glossary, a bibliography, and an
index
Mitchell Lane
34 Decidely Lane, Bear, DE 19701
1-302-834-9646 www.amazon.com
Kids in grades 4-8 will find the Mitchell Lane "Latinos in American History" series to be an
appealing set, while teachers will enjoy the opportunity to focus on some minority figures and
major
figures in Latino-American history. Jim Whiting's Juan Ponce De Leon (1584151498, $19.95)
focuses on the Hispanic explorer's life and achievements; Kathleen Tracy's Mariano Guadalupe
Vallejo (1584151528, $19.95) considers the man who was one of California's founding fathers;
Lorenzo De Zavala by Tracy (1584151544, $19.95) tells of the Texas War of Independence and
his
importance to the state; Whiting's Hernando De Soto (1584151471, $19.95) reveals the explorer's
many achievements and discoveries. All are excellent, pairing plenty of facts with colorful
illustration.
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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