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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Big What Are Friends For? Storybook
Sally Grindley & Penny Dann
Kingfisher
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
0753455560 $16.95 www.amazon.com
The Big What Are Friends For? Storybook is a compendium of heartwarming tales about
friendship
between animal pals as well as the ups and downs of their everyday life. Packed with a treasury of
thoroughly enjoyable short stories by Sally Grindley, and soft color illustrations by Penny Dann
that
blend with and enhance the entertaining text, The Big What Are Friends For? Storybook makes
for
excellent bedtime reading.
60 Clues About... Guys!
Roxanne Camron
Lunchbox Press
701 Greymoor Place, Southlake TX 76092
0967828554 $8.95 lunchboxpress.com
60 Clues About...Guys! A Guide To Feelings, Flirting, And Falling In Like/Love by Roxanne
Camron is a "reader friendly" guidebook written especially for teenage girls who feel clueless
about
the young men they meet and socialize with. From understanding how guys tend to think (less
likely
to talk at length and/or about their feelings, etc.), to surviving crushes or breakups, 60 Clues
About...Guys! is a simple, practical, recommended supplement to the important things about guys
that girls need to know.
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
Jane Bull's bright Cooking Book (0-7894-8834-5, $12.99) is not to be missed: there aren't very
many recipe or cookery books for kids on the market, and this one packs in simple, delicious
dishes
to accompany full-color photos of completed results. Enticing and fun. Manini Chatterjee and
Anita
Roy's Eyewitness: Islam (0-7894-8870-1, $15.99) is also an essential reference for grades 3-5: it
provides color photos of the scenes and religious meanings of Islam, and is particularly strong in
its
efforts to explain different Islamic belief systems in different cultures. Both are bright, inviting
titles.
The World According To Dad
C. M. Mantis
Lindos Books
17956 Canby Road, Leesburg VA 20175
0967287510 $12.00 www.worlddad.com
The World According To Dad For Teenagers: A Manual For The Good Life by C. M. Mantis is a
"user friendly" self-help guide for teenagers, designed to assist them in developing a positive
attitude, and making a happy and fulfilling life for themselves. Emphasizing the importance of
personal responsibility, opening one's mind and heart to God through any spiritual path, and
guarding oneself against the treacherous shoals of sex, drugs, peer pressure, and much more, The
World According To Dad For Teenagers is strongly recommended as a serious guidebook for
teen
life, showcased with a positive, accessible message of what truly constitutes the "good life".
Generation Fix
Elizabeth Rusch
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, Oregon, 97124
1582700672 $9.95 1-800-284-9673
Compiled and written by Elizabeth Rusch, Generation Fix: Young Ideas For A Better World is an
impressive anthology of true-life stories of young people whose ideas and tireless efforts are
helping
to change the world for the better. Presenting upbeat, positive role models ranging from a
14-year-old boy who started a successful "Breakfast Bonanza" cereal drive for food pantries, to a
10-year-old girl who started a support program for homeless kids called AfterShare Kids, to a
16-year-old girl who invented a sensor to monitor sulfur dioxide (the most destructive component
of
acid rain), Generation Fix is very highly recommended for young readers of all ages, especially
those
with an interest in participating in resolving contemporary social and environmental issues.
If I Found A Wistful Unicorn
Ann Ashford & Bill Drath
Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
1561452718 $8.95 1-800-241-0113
Long out of print, If I Found A Wistful Unicorn had the honor of being the first title ever
published
by the Atlanta based Peachtree Publishers back in 1978. Now a 25th Anniversary edition has once
again made this wonderful and enthusiastically recommended little volume available to a new and
appreciative generation of young readers (and adults too, for that matter!). Ann Ashford's simple
but
elegant poem that explores the heart and core of what constitutes love is superbly enhanced by the
endearing artwork of Bill Drath. If you only have time to sit down with a child to read one
picturebook story poem -- make it Ann Ashford and Bill Drath's If I Found A Wistful
Unicorn!
The CD-ROM Shelf
The Learning Company
6401 Kaiser Dr, Fremont, CA 94555
1-800-564-2587 www.riverdeep.net
Two new and innovative learning games for ages 5 to 8 have been released by The Learning
Company and would make highly popular supplementary curriculum additions to any classroom
or
homeschooling program. In StarFlyers: Alien Space Chase (0763061352, $19.99), it seems that
Alien Ambassadors (who look a lot like pets) are lose at school and must be rounded up. In
StarFlyers: Royal Jewel Rescue (0763070289, $19.99), Mom's jewelry is lost and the StarFlyers
must rescue the Royal Jewels. Both StarFlyers: Alien Space Chase and StarFlyers: Royal Jewel
Rescue present all of the benefits of cd-rom computer technology as each of them present eight
cognitive skill enhancing games; twelve printable activities; off three separate levels of challenge;
include "kid friendly" movies; and offer young players with an arcade-style computer game fun
that
is both intellectually stimulating and down right fun!
Thomas S. Klise Company
PO Box 317, Waterford, CT 06385
$49.95 each 1-800-937-0092
Two new and outstanding CD-Rom productions from the Thomas S. Klise Company are highly
recommended for school reference resource collections and ideal for homeschooling curriculums.
Speaking Of Spelling (provides learners of all ages a full-color, narrated presentation specifically
designed to enhance spelling skills. Cartoon characters outline specific spelling rules while a
variety
of educational games, puzzles, and activities enable the student to test their individual progress in
an
entertaining and informative manner. Also included in a Resources section are printable files, a list
of
the most frequently misspelled words, testing opportunities and more. Plurals -- No Problem!
focuses on forming the plurals of English singular nouns that are not always intuitive and can
occasionally be quite complicated. Students are presented various plural forms and guidelines in
creating plurals. A full-color and narrated, cartoon-based presentation presents the general rules
of
pluralization. A variety of games, puzzles, and activities enhance the students ability to master the
information regarding plural formation. The Resource section includes printable files, lists of
tricky
pluralizations, and more. Both Speaking Of Spelling and Plurals--No Problem! are enhanced for
the
classroom teacher with complete Curriculum Packages that is are part of the two programs.
The History Shelf
Roman Amphitheaters
Don Nardo
Franklin Watts/Scholastic
555 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
0531120368 $24.00 1-800-242-7737
Roman Amphitheaters by Don Nardo is a fascinating and well-researched study for young readers
about the history of amazing Roman architectural structures such as the Colosseum, embellished
with full-color photographs and illustrations. Touching upon the history of Rome, and showcasing
both the splendor of the ampitheaters and the cruelty to which they were sometimes put, Roman
Amphitheaters offers children an amazing glimpse into history itself. Also highly recommended
are
two other titles in the Franklin Watts series about famous architectural structures of antiquity:
Greek
Temples (053112035X, $24.00) and Pyramids Of Egypt (053120359X, $24.00).
The Language Studies Shelf
Mas Espanol con Ritmo
Carmen Filipi & Alvaro Morello
Galileo Publishing
1621 E. Malibu Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
0971809801 $21.99 1-800-484-9644 ext. 0161
Mas Espanol con Ritmo (More Spanish with Rhythm) by Carmen Filipi and Alvaro Morello, is a
book and audio CD combination that teaches and reviews basic Spanish with 22 cheerful songs.
Written for elementary and middle school bilingual curriculums, Mas Espanol con Ritmo presents
easy-to-absorb lyrics and an upbeat music which effectively helps to reinforce vocabulary in a fun
and exciting way. Mas Espanol con Ritmo is highly recommended for classroom and home
schooling supplementary resource to for young people engaged in learning the Spanish
language.
The Activities Shelf
Slumber Parties
Wilhelminia Ripple & Kathryn Totten
Oakbrook Publishing House
PO Box 2463, Littleton, CO 80161-2463
0964993902 $19.95 1-888-738-1733
Compiled by Wilhelmina Ripple with the assistance of Kathryn Totten, and illustrated by Heather
Anderson, Slumber Parties: What Do I Do? is a fun and activity-filled resource book for kids,
offering a compendium of ways to enjoy and make the most of a slumber party experience, and is
enhanced with tips for having successful co-ed slumber parties. From creating unique hats and
invitations, to tasty and simple recipes, to simple short stories to share and games like the Pillow
Jousting Tournament, Slumber Parties is a great planning resource for an unforgettable night of
fun.
Crazy Eights And Other Card Games
Joanna Cole & Stephanie Calmenson
Alan Tiegreen, illustrator
SeaStar Books/North-South Books
1123 Broadway, #800, NY, NY 10010
1587179504 $14.95 1-800-722-6657
Crazy Eights And Other Card Games is a straightforward, "kid friendly" guide to simple playing
card
games that children of all ages can easily learn. Black-and-white illustrations and step-by-step
instructions about the rules of games like Casino, Concentration, War, Twenty-One, Beginning
Rummy, and a great many more guarantee that a deck of cards can be a family fun activity, as
well
as an ideal solution to children entertaining themselves when they must be indoors during
inclement
weather.
Courtney's Creative Adventures
Courtney Watkins
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
0316607150 $14.95 1-800-759-0190
Compiled and illustrated by Courtney Watkins, Courtney's Creative Adventures is a fun and
exciting
book packed from cover to cover with creative activities for young people. Color drawings and
photographs illustrate suggestions for entertainments ranging from scavenger hunts, to creating
puppets, to simple games shared with friends, and much, much more. Courtney's Creative
adventures is enthusiastically recommended as being a great counter to summer vacation
doldrums,
holiday blues, and an excellent "anytime" antidote to boredom!
The Science Shelf
In And Out Of Your Mind
Dale Carlson
Bick Publishing House
307 Neck Road, Madison, CT 06443
1884158277 $14.95 bickpubhouse.com
Written by ALA Notable book author Dale Carlson, In And Out Of Your Mind: Teen Science
Human Bites presents scientific ethical and moral dilemmas in layman's language that any young
reader (our older reader for that matter!) can understand. Written especially for teenagers and
young
adults, yet very relevant to anyone pondering the problems of science and the limits of humans, In
and Out of Your Mind discusses evolution, physics, the brain, DNA, environment, and most
importantly, the ethics of modern-day medicine, genetics, and how humans are treating the
biosphere. An ideal addition to school and community library collections, In And Out Of Your
Mind
offers frank, cut-no-corners discussions of hot-button issues that will shape the future of the
world.
Gareth Stevens
330 W. Olive St., Milwaukee, WI 53212
$22.60/Each
These bright, new Discovery Channel: School Science' titles from Gareth Stevens each hold a
little
over thirty pages of information and are based on the popular TV channel's discovery show
themes,
helping kids in grades 5 and up to learn basic concepts. New to this batch in the series: Human
Biology (0-8368-3214-0), covering how the human body works; Health (3213-2), revealing
informed decisions in the health process; Fish And Amphibians (3212-4), telling about underwater
creatures; Birds (3210-8), Evolution (3211-6), Insects (3215-9), Reptiles (3219-1), Plants
(3218-3),
Mammals (3217-5), and Invertebrates (3216-7). Each features attractive, eye-opening covers and
an
array of facts with bright color photos to attract attention and hold young reader interest.
Space Flight: Crossing the Last Frontier
Jason Richie
The Oliver Press
5707 W. 36th St., Minneapolis, MN 55416
1881508773 $21.95 1-800-865-4837
Space Flight: Crossing The Last Frontier provides an introduction to the fascinating history of
space
exploration. Written by Jason Richie specifically for young readers, Space Flight offers a factual,
easy-to-understand, informative narrative enhanced with black-and-white photographs, Space
Flight
is an excellent and highly recommended instructional reference to the wonders and science of
modern space exploration recommended for readers age 10 to 15.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Crows!
Laurence Pringle
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431
1-56397-899-7 $15.95
Bob Marstall illustrates a picture book coverage of a creature well-known to most US kids: what
will be less known is the intriguing facts herein; from the fact that crows have over twenty distinct
communication sounds to how they deal with danger. An intriguing coverage helps kids take a
second look at the crow.
Other Lands, Other Peoples
People Of Russia And Their Food
Ann Burkhardt
Capstone Press
818 N. Willow St., Mankato, MN 56001
1-56065-435-X $TBA
People Of Russia And Their Food features almost fifty pages of basic information on Russian
peoples and their heritage blending basic demographic information with a focus on food and
culinary
history, making for a diverse title that kids will appreciate. Recipes and insights make for a book
parents will want to choose for both educational and participatory cooking experiences with
kids.
The Fiction Shelf
Lady Knight
Tamora Pierce
Random House
0375814655 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Keladry of Mindelan has finally become a knight but her subsequent experiences aren't what she
expects from the job. Assigned to oversee a refugee camp during a war, she finds herself faced
with
visions of a future she might be able to change if she abandons her duty to do so. An involving
story of hard choices and realities.
Red Sand, Blue Sky
Cathy Applegate
Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
1558612785 $13.50 feminsitpress.org
Set in the outback desert of Australia, Red Sand, Blue Sky by Cathy Applegate is an engaging and
entertaining novel for young readers about a chance meeting and friendship between two young
girls, lonely Amy Wilson from Melbourne and Lana, an Aboriginal girl. Together, the girls
discover
that a thief is robbing a sacred Aboriginal site, and they must gather the courage to perform a
rescue
mission, with a life at stake. Red Sand, Blue Sky is highly recommended reading and would make
an
excellent addition to school and community library collections.
Lost And Found And Other Stories
Rachel Yaffe
Merkos Linyonei Chinuch
770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11213
0826603300 $12.00 1-877-483-7567
Lost And Found And Other Stories by Rachel Yaffe is an entertaining and enlightening anthology
of
short stories written specifically for preteen readers and drawing from Jewish history and
experience.
Each tale is centered upon character of a young woman struggling to hold on to Jewish identity in
a
turbulent and often terrible world. From a young woman caught in the terror of the Nazi
oppression
and extermination during World War II, to young women learning the Talmud, to dilemmas
concerning raising enough money to ransom a king, to the wistful ties of childhood friendship, to
contemporary highschool girls torn between the siren call of peer group popularity and the
demands
of their personal conscience, Lost And Found And Other Stories is an involving, absorbing
anthology and very highly recommended reading.
Chasing Fire
Earl Fleck
Holy Cow! Press
PO Box 3170, Mount Royal Station, Duluth, MN 55803
0930100530 $12.95 1-218-724-1653
Chasing Fire: Danger In Canoe Country is an enthralling young adult novel by Earl Flack about
13-year-old Danny Forester who sets out with his family setting for a grand canoe adventure. But
while in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, they find that a deadly forest fire places all
lives in jeopardy and forces them to make harsh choices in this gripping, highly recommended
adventure.
Rex
Fred Yager
Hannacroix Creek Books
1127 High Ridge Road, PMB 110, Stamford, CT 06905-1203
1889262889 $25.95 1-800-431-1579
Rex: A Novel by Fred Yager is an exciting adventure for young readers about a unique friendship
and childhood bonding experience between a young boy named Davy, and Rex - a creature that
has
been long thought extinct on our world. A charming and heartwarming story, that belies a lifelong
love of dinosaurs, Rex is a true joy to read and a welcome addition to family, school, and
community
library collections. Rex is also available in a trade paperback format (1889262811, $15.95).
Kids On The Case
Shirley Young Levitt
Beaver's Pond Press
5125 Danen's Drive, Edina, MN 55439-1465
$4.95 each, www.beaverspondpress.com
With her outstanding series, "Kids On The Case", author Shirley Young has created eight
superbly
written and engaging mystery stories which will specifically appeal to young readers ages 8
through
11. In these enthusiastically recommended works (each of which presents a particular ethical
problem), young readers follow the adventures of Mary Ann Page and her best friend Kolleen
Kelly
as they solve mysteries uncovered at their school and in their neighborhood of Pine Bend,
Minnesota. Highly recommend for personal, school, and community library collections, the "Kids
On
The Case" series includes: The Sinkhole Mystery; The Boyfriend Mystery; The Skeleton Key
Mystery; The Missing Person Mystery; Behind The Garden Gate Mystery; The Ethics Problem
Mystery; The Unusual Burglary Mystery; and Kids On The Case Mystery.
Where The White Oak Speaks
Ann Fritz Hackett
Acorn Press
PO Box 6956, McLean, VA 22106-6956
0967608902 $17.95 acorn-press.com
Where The White Oak Speaks by Ann Fritz Hackett is the story of Jacob, a young boy's journey
into
the forests around his home, stepping into a new experience of wonder nature, unexpected
adventure, and inner learning born of natural curiosity, -- along with unlikely new friends .
Warmly
written and thoughtfully presented, Where The White Oak Speaks is enthusiastically
recommended
reading and a charming story about opening one's heart to the wisdom of nature and the world
around us.
The Misspellers
Michael J. Martineck
Our Little Secret Press
Box 1234, Grand Island, NY 14072-8234
0972097805 $8.00 1-716-870-3673
Carlin and Jack agreed to water some plants for a neighbor while he was away. That's when they
discovered that the house smelled of rotten cabbage, burnt onions and wet dogs, while inside
there
was no phone, no tv, and not even a single electric light. Still, that wasn't to be their biggest
surprise
-- not when they entered and discovered that science and magic don't mix! Michael J. Martineck's
The Misspellers is an original and entertaining novel which is especially recommended for young
readers ages 9 to 12.
Goats Don't Brush Their Teeth
Trina Wiebe
Lobster Press
9 St. Nicholas Street, Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 1W5
1894222598 $5.95 www.lobsterpress.com
In Trina Wiebe's delightful story for young readers, Goats Don't Brush Their Teeth, Abby is a
young
girl who spends a week on her grandmother's farm where there's a lot to do including a new
animal
to take care of, a garden to tend, and a big barn to play in. So there's no reason for her little sister
Tess to be following her around! But then when Tess disappears somewhere every day, Abby gets
curious. And there's apparently something wrong with Gran too. It in trying to find out about
Tess
and Gran that Abby comes to learn that keeping secrets can sometimes lead to trouble. Goats
Don't
Brush Their Teeth is highly recommended as a splendidly written story that will engage the total
attention of young readers from first page to last!
Angel Factory
Terence Blacker
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689851715 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Thomas Wisdom has everything a boy could hope for a loving family, popularity, and a perfect
life
until he opens a secret file on his father's computer and discovers a secret which could change
not
only his world, but the rest of the world. Boundaries of good and evil as defined by intentions
mingle
with supernatural undertones in this riveting, fast-paced story that proves hard to put down.
Windy
Robin Mitchell & Judith Steedman
Simply Read Books
501-5525 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6M 3W6
096887682X $14.95 simplyreadbooks.com
Windy debuts a new series collaboratively produced by Robin Mitchell and Judith Steedman
which is
specifically designed for pre-readers and early readers ages 3 to 7. Windy is a little girl who loves
to
fly her big, blue kite on wonderful windy days. One day, when the wind blows her kite away,
Windy
sets off to find it -- and a delightful adventure ensues. A highly recommended and entertaining
read,
Windy is enhanced with easy and complete do-it-yourself instructions for making a kite, along
with
playful maps to trace Windy's adventure.
The Music Shelf
Fun And Games
Ben Rudnick
Ben Rudnick And Friends
c/o Beth Blenz-Clucas Publicity
5505 SW Illinois St, Portland, OR 97221
LUR 004 $14.95 bethbcpr@home.com
With the musical support of Jeff Bird and Margo Timmins (members of the Cowboy Junkies
band),
Fun And Games wonderfully showcases the lively musical performances of Ben Rudnick is this
outstanding CD collection of music for children. The original lyrics and melodies comprising this
highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library music shelves includes:
Sally Salamander (3:12); Swinging on a Star (2:12); Spin (4:14); Sailor's Hornpipe (3:11);
Twisting
Low (4:41); Blackberry Blossom (2:23); Macaroni & Cheese (3:36); Hopscotch (3:07); Jessica's
Song (4:22); Sheik Scruggs (2:33); Sun Showers (3:17); and Everything is Alright (4:52).
The Guess Who Zoo
Howard Eisenberg & Sherwin Kaufman
Guess Who Gant Records, Inc.
144 W. 80th Street, NY, NY 10024
GWGR-0001 $14.95 guesswhozoo.com
In the flawlessly produced compact disc, The Guess Who Zoo, children are provided with thirteen
lively, entertaining, original, and interactive songs. Featuring lyrics by Howard Eisenberg and
music
by Sherwin Kaufman, The Guess Who Zoo is an original, fully engaging, and enthusiastically
recommended entertainment with "fill in the blank" musical guessing games ideal for children ages
1
to 7. My coat is bright and speckled/My favorite lunch is leaves/I daintily nibble down below/Or
high
on the tallest trees/My neck is as long as a light pole/It makes little children laugh/When I stretch
it
out to lick your hand/You'll know I'm the __________.
Happy Lemons
Ralph Covert
Ralph's World
1658 North Milwaukee Avenue, #284, Chicago, IL 60647
3-70044 $15.98 www.ralphsworld.com
Children will truly enjoy the toe-tapping music and "sing along" lyrics of Ralph Covert's latest
collection of upbeat, funny, and exuberant tunes for young listeners. The original compositions
comprising this highly recommended addition to any family, school or community library
children's
music collection include: Belly Button; Sammy the Dog; Things that I Like; Pony Boy; Say Hi to
the
Animals; Clean Up; Dinosaur Rumble; The Muffin Man; What's New Pussycat?; Barnyard Blues;
Betty Batter; Boy Who Cried Wolf Sheepishly; Puddle of Mud; Riding with No Hands; and the
title
piece, Happy Lemons.
The Folklore/Fairytale Shelf
Bears Make Rock Soup & Other Stories
Lise Erdrich & Lisa Fifield
Children's Book Press
2211 Mission St, San Francisco CA 94110
0892391723 $16.95 cbookpress.org
Bears Make Rock Soup And Other Stories is a highly recommended children's picture book of
original tales written by Lise Erdrich (a member of the Turtle Mountain and of Plains Ojibway)
and
illustrated with paintings by water colorist Lisa Fifield (member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin). The distinctive and colorful art wonderfully complements the brief, unique,
fairytale-like
narratives of creatures of the earth and sky.
Pajaro Verde
Joe Hayes & Antonio Castro L.
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901
0938317652 $16.95 cincopuntos.com
Pajaro Verde: The Green Bird is an enchanting bilingual English/Spanish fairy tale about
many-eyed
sisters and an enigmatic prince named Pajaro Verde. Illustrated with beautifully rendered and
realistic color artwork of fabulous scenes and events, Pajaro Verde is an unforgettable picture
book
story for young readers and would be a welcome addition to any school or community library
collection.
The Sailor And The Sea Witch
Preston McClear & Nicholas Dollak
Malibu Books for Children
48 Broad St., #134, Red Bank, NJ 07701
1929084110 $16.95 MalibuBooks.com
Illustrated in superbly executed watercolors by Nicholas Dollak, The Sailor And The Sea Witch is
a
unique fairy tale by Preston McClear about a love between a mysterious sea witch and the sailor
who lived for the sea. A haunting, wistful story, The Sailor And The Sea Witch is enhanced with
an
addendum that includes a fascinating vignette teaching young readers this picture book was
made.
Kokopelli's Gift
Kathleen Bryant & Michelle Sisneros
Kiva Publishing
21731 E. Buckskin Dr, Walnut, CA 91789
1885772297 $15.95 1-800-634-5482
Wonderfully illustrated by Michelle Tsosie Sisneros, Kokopelli's Gift is a charming and highly
recommended fable by Kathleen Bryant about a famous female figure of Native American Pueblo
lore known as Kokopelli the Flute Player. The extraordinary color paintings enhance the simple
yet
effective narrative to bring this engaging story to life for young readers age 5 to 10.
Brigid's Cloak
Bryce Milligan & Helen Cann
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
0802852246 $16.00 1-800-253-7521
Brigid's Cloak: An Ancient Irish Story is the tale of one of Ireland's beloved saints, who receives a
wondrous blue cloak as a little girl. Years later, she is still wearing the now-ragged cloak as fate
and
wonder lead her to a crowded inn within the town of Bethlehem, where she meets the baby Jesus
Christ and his family. Deftly written by Bruce Milligan, and beautifully illustrated by Helen Cann,
Brigid's Cloak is highly recommended for young readers as a compassionate and charming story
with mystical color illustrations.
Froggie Went A-Courtin'
Iza Trapani
Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
1580890288 $15.95 1-800-225-3214
Froggie Went A-courtin' is a thoroughly delightful and highly recommended children's picture
book
by Iza Trapani and based on the traditional, merry song of the same name. Warm and jubilant
color
illustrations by Trapani bring to life this simple and enjoyable tale about a frog searching for
someone to be his wife, until a lady frog comes to him. The final page presents a simple, sheet
music
rendition of the popular ditty for budding musicians.
The Picturebook Shelf
Mole And The Baby Bird
Marjorie Newman & Patrick Benson
Bloomsbury Children's Books
175 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10010
1582347840 $16.95 bloomsbury.com
Mole And The Baby Bird is the color picture book story of a mole who finds a young wild
creature
in need and tries his best to look after it. But wild creatures are not pets, and soon Mole must
accept
that the bird he sheltered can't stay with him forever. Written by Marjorie Newman and illustrated
by
Patrick Benson is highly recommended as a gentle parable with an important life lesson for young
readers.
Worry Wart Wes
Tolya L. Thompson & Juan R. Perez
Savor Publishing House
Upper Access (publicity)
Lefferts Boulevard., 6E, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
0970829612 $16.00 1-866-727-7898
The second book in the "Smarties Series" from Savor Publishing House, Worry Wart Wes is the
story of a stressed out young boy. Told in singsong rhyme by Tolya L. Thompson, and brought to
life with vibrant color illustrations by Juan R. Perez, Worry Wart Wes shows how a young boy
named Wes learns to counter rising pressures with simple relaxation techniques - taking a deep
breath and then blowing out the awful thoughts and stressors inside. A "smartie" note for both
kids
and parents at the end of Worry Wart Wes offers wisdom about the negative effects of too much
stress in children.
Charles Addams Mother Goose
Charles Addams
Simon & Schuster
0689848749 $19.95 www.amazon.com
This gorgeous rediscovered treasure is a wonderful spoof on the original Mother Goose, lending a
macabre feel to the classic warm rhymes. Black and white illustrations as well as color drawings
provide quite a different interpretation of the rhymes youngsters with some maturity familiar
with
the old favorites will find this a treasure as will their parents.
The Story Of Mortimer Ant
James R. McNab & Connie Ridley McNab
Pentland Press
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
1571972897 $13.95 1-800-948-2786
The Story Of Mortimer Ant is a vibrant picture book written by James R. McNab, and illustrated
by
Connie Ridley McNab's color drawings which resemble the artwork style of the wee folks
themselves. With a story text cast in a simple, enjoyable rhyme, The Story Of Mortimer Ant is a
highly recommended and exciting adventure for young readers in which Mortimer Ant and family
come to a picnic and make an amazing new friend.
A Day With Nellie
Marthe Jocelyn
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887766005 $15.95 tundrabooks.com
A Day With Nellie is a delightful picture book written and illustrated by Marthe Jocelyn for young
readers about the numerous choices young Nellie must make in her day, from what to wear to
what
to do. Strong, playful color illustrations resembling paper cutout models make this a particularly
vibrant and happy tale for beginning readers.
White Crow
Maggie De Vore & Jeffrey De Vore
Gently Worded Books
PO Box 1326, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1326
0970894031 $17.00 http://www. gentlywordedbooks.com
White Crow is an imaginative and entertaining picture book story of a young Native American
boy
named Little Buffalo and his white dog, Nopad, who embark on a journey in search of the
mysterious white crow and its secrets. An enthralling story with abstract yet memorable color
artwork, White Crow is a recommended addition to school and community library picture book
collections.
Good Night, Animals
Lena Arro & Catarina Kruusval
R & S Books
c/o Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
9129656540 $15.00 1-888-330-8477
Good Night, Animals is a thoroughly enjoyable bedtime story about Bubble and Pearl, two young
children who are sleeping in a tent outdoors at night for the first time. But strange noises from
outside the tent attract their attention in this remarkable and humorous picture book written by
Lena
Arro and lovingly illustrated with gentle color artwork by Catarina Kruusval.
My Grandma Lives At The Airport
Rebecca Rudner & Leroy Morvant
Red Hill Press
PO Box 2053, Carbondale, CO 81623
0970821700 $19.95 1-970-963-4968
Written by Rebecca Rudner, My Grandma Lives At The Airport is a delightful children's
picturebook about keeping in touch with family when they live a long way apart. Illustrated by
Leroy
Morvant with simplified yet vivid color artwork, My Grandma Lives At The Airport is the tale of
Shelby, a young girl who always meets her grandmother at the airport and so concludes that
grandma lives there, offers an eye-opening look for young readers at the value of family bonds
even
across great distances.
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow
Washington Irving & Gary Kelley
Creative Company
Box 227, Mankato, MN 56002
1568461453 $20.00 www.amazon.com
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow is a classic haunting story has been redone in picturebook format
to
appeal to a younger audience here. Excellent reading skills will still be required of grades 3-5,
who
will find the full-page color drawings an added plus to absorbing Irving's classic story of a
community's haunting.
The Brave Little Seamstress
Mary Pope Osborne
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY NY 10020
0689844867 $16.00 1-800-223-2336
A little seamstress kills seven flies with one blow and sets off to tell the world of her
accomplishment, which she stitches on the back of her coat. When a giant sees her coat and
believes
7 with one blow' means seven giants felled, trouble erupts in this whimsical take-off on the
traditional story. Giselle Potter's drawings are fun.
In Flanders Fields
Norman Jorgensen, author
Brian Harrison-Lever, illustrator
Sandcastle Books/Fremantle Arts/ISBS
5824 N.E. Hassalo Street, Portland, OR 97213-3644
1863683690 $22.95 1-800-944-6190
In Flanders Fields is a profound and moving picture book story for young readers about a simple
act
of Christmas tenderness and compassion toward a helpless robin, on one of the worst killing fields
of
World War I. A profound story by Norman Jorgensen that does not trivialize the horror of war,
and
brought to life by Brian Harrison-Lever in a stroke of visual genius in which the injured robin adds
the only splash of color to the black-and-white illustrations, In Flanders Fields is a welcome and
highly recommended addition to any family, school, or community library picture book collection
for
young readers.
The Teacher Who Would Not Retire
Shiela Sustrin & Letty Sustrin, authors
Thomas H. Bone III, illustrator
Blue Marlin Publications
823 Aberdeen Road, West Bay Shore, NY 11706
0967460239 $16.00 bluemarlinpubs.com
The Teacher Who Would Not Retire is a cheery picture book about a retiring first grade teacher
who makes every effort to stay involved with her students, disguising herself as a cafeteria cook, a
firefighter, a window washer, and much more, yet the students always recognize her by her ballet
slippers. An enjoyable story collaboratively written by Sheila and Letty Sustrin, with easygoing
and
fun color illustrations by Thomas H. Bone III, The Teacher Who Would Not Retire would prove
an
especially welcome and popular addition to any elementary school library picture book
collection.
Saving Sinbad!
Michael Foreman
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
PO Box 8515, La Jolla, CA 92038-8515
1929132344 $15.95 1-800-968-1930
Written and illustrated by Michael Foreman, Saving Sinbad! is a truly enchanting children's picture
book about life in an English fishing village, as told from a humble dog's point of view. A daring
rescue amid the pounding surf during a raging storm forms the high point of this enjoyable
narrative.
Saving Sinbad! is a highly recommended addition to school and community library picture book
collections for young readers.
The Smushy Bus
Leslie Helakoski
Millbrook Press
0761313982 $TBA
There's no room for the 12 first graders on the bus they'll have to divide themselves into groups
to
get under each of its four seats. Math is the underlying lesson of The Smushy Bus, a zany title in
which a too-full bus must be appropriately packed by its driver.
Ollie Jolly, Rodeo Clown
Jo Harper
Westwinds Press/Graphic Arts
PO Box 10306, Portland, OR 97296-0306
1558685529 $15.95 www.amazon.com
Ollie Jolly has always been happy but today he's sad. His teacher as assigned an essay to make him
think about his future career and he has no idea what to write until a rodeo comes to town.
Good
reading skills will lend an appreciation of Ollie's adventures with the rodeo, which solve his
assignment dilemma.
The Great Cheese Squeeze
Bryan Ballinger & Keith Lango
ZonderKidz
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310705061 $14.99 zonderkidz.com
Written and illustrated as a collaboration between Bryan Ballinger and Keith Lango, The Great
Cheese
Squeeze: A Gruntly & Iggy Adventure is a remarkable and very highly recommended children's
picture book about Gruntly, a prairie mouse with a passion for sculpting "cheese toes", and Iggy,
his
froggy friend. This gentle tale about the power of cooperation is wonderfully brought to life with
color illustrations that appear like photographs of incredible, three-dimensional sculpted and
crafted
scenes of the wacky characters and their world. The Great Cheese Squeeze is a treat for the eyes,
as
well as an engaging and original story for young readers.
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
Nicole Rubel's No More Vegetables! (0-374-36362-5, $16.00) will strike a bell with many a child
forced to eat vegetables. Ruthie decides to go on a strike and eventually her mother gives in but
her plan to involve Ruthie in gardening has an unexpected side result in this whimsical story. The
large-sized drawings are fun. Barbara McClintock's Dahlia (31678-3, $16.00) excels in
old-fashioned drawings and an appealing story line. Charlotte gets a package from her aunt which
holds an unwanted gift: a delicate doll. Charlotte doesn't like dolls she likes digging in dirt and
being a tomboy. But the doll works its magic on her in this gentle story.
The Best Call Of All
Lieba Rudolph & Pesach Gerber
Merkos Publications
291 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
0826600265 $12.00 1-718-778-0226
The Best Call Of All is a rhyming Judaic picture book written for young children by Lieba
Rudolph
about the day of rapture when the Moshiach (a Jewish term for Messiah) comes at last, and
famine,
crime, and cruelty disappear from the world. Illustrated by Pesack Gerber with warm color
artwork
offering a look into global redemption, The Best Call Of All is a simple, entertaining, yet profound
glimpse into a wonderful religious vision of world peace and harmony.
Tub Toys
Terry Miller Shannon, et al.
Tricycle Press
PO Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
1582460663 $14.95 www.tenspeed.com
Collaboratively written by Terry Miller Shannon and Timothy Warner, Tub Toys is a rhyming
picture book for beginning readers, filled with bright and goofy full-color pictures drawn by Lee
Calderon, about the fun of taking a bath in a tub crammed full of toys. Tub Toys is greatly
recommended as a whimsical and fun book which is especially excellent for reading to young
children right before or after bath time.
Roaring Brook Press
2 Old New Milford Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804
Two new picturebooks provide different themes and approaches to stories. Jan Greenberg and
Sandra Jordan's Action Jackson (0-7613-2770-3) tells of an American artist who begins work on
a
soon-to-be-famous canvas with a twist. Lyrical text follows the way Jackson Pollock works,
from
initial prowling around the canvas seeking inspiration to handling the paint. An unusual approach
to
exploring art. Liz Rosenberg's On Christmas Eve (2707-X) presents a snowstorm that keeps three
children from reaching their aunt's house by Christmas Eve. How will Santa find them now?
Warm
illustrations for a realistic dilemma.
Guri and Gura
Rieko Nakagawa & Yuriko Yamawaki
Tuttle
364 Innovation Drive, North Claremont VT 05759-9436
0804833524 $10.95 www.amazon.com
Two field mice discover an egg in a field but it's too big to carry home. They just love to cook
and
eat food so leaving the egg in the field isn't an option they'll have to discover an innovative
method of handling the problem. The drawings are simple, warm and yet enticing.
Last Night I Left Earth For Awhile
Natalie L. Brown-Douglas
New Voices Publishing
PO Box 560, Wilmington, MA 01887
1931642052 $14.95
Written and illustrated by Natalie L. Brown-Douglas, Last Night I Left Earth For Awhile is an
enjoyable picture book for beginning readers about how dreams can take a child anywhere, from
the
deep blue seas to out among the stars. A simple rhyming prose enhanced with soft color
illustrations
of beautiful and fantastic scenes make Last Night I Left Earth for Awhile an entertaining bedtime
appropriate story for reading aloud to (and with) young children.
Atheneum/McElderry Books
Two new titles are inviting, different reads for young picturebook learners. Matt Novak's No
Zombies Allowed (0-689-84130-2, $16.95) tells of some annoying monsters which plague two
witches intolerant of their bad habits. It's Halloween again, and they are planning another party if
their guests can behave themselves. Margery Cuyler's Skeleton Hiccups (84770-X, 14.95) also
celebrates the season, posing the problem of a skeleton with one problem. Eating sugar, holding
one's breath: nothing seems to help until his friend Ghost comes up with a final idea. S.D.
Schinder's
zany drawings excel and enhance this whimsical story.
Books in Series
The Child's World
PO Box 326, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Three new series titles by this publisher provide young picture book readers with important
information suitable for either supplemental classroom reading or reports. The Level Two
Wonder
Books series on major holidays ($21.36/EA) provides invaluable information in large print for
Level
Two readers. Each book holds almost twenty five pages with simple details on holidays: Fourth
Of
July (1-56766-954-9), Halloween (955-7), Valentine's Day (957-3), Thanksgiving (956-5),
Kwanzaa (025-8) and Hanukkah (024-X) each cover the basics of rituals associated with that
holiday. Books in the expansive Our Cultural Heritage' series ($27.07/each) provide 30 pages of
focus on different immigrant experiences. New to the series: Italian Americans (153-X), Arab
Americans (150-5), Chinese Americans (149-1), Mexican Americans (156-4), Irish Americans
(155-6), Japanese Americans (154-8), Native Americans (152-1), German Americans (151-3),
Vietnamese Americans (160-2), Swedish Americans (159-9), Russian Americans (158-0) and
Polish
Americans (157-2). Each book explains the history of the immigration and how experiences and
motivations differed between groups. The recommended Journey to Freedom' library
($25.64/each)
expands with fine new additions to this Afro-American history, each holding 40 pages of
information. Abolitionists (644-2), Langston Hughes (647-7), Nelson Mandela (648-5), Ku Klux
Klan (646-9), Zora Neale Hurston (649-3) and Harlem Renaissance (645-0) each provide picture
book readers with basic introductions and information. All are very highly recommended
elementary
grade level picks.
Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Rd. #400 Broomall PA 19008
These series titles are recommended picks for grades 5-7: each balances research and facts with
plenty of color photos and maps for reader interest. New additions to Battles That Changed the
World' ($22.95/each) include Samuel Crompton's Tenochtitlan (0-7910-6681-9) and his Hastings
(6680-8) and Waterloo (6683-5), Richard Worth's Midway(6686-X), Saratoga (6682-7) and Tet
Offensive (6688-6), Earle Rice Jr.'s First Battle Of The Marne (6685-1), Gettysburg (6684-3) and
Normandy (6687-8) and David Califf's Marathon (6679-7). Each holds almost a hundred pages of
information and includes a bibliography and chronology, making them perfect for supplemental
reading assignments and reports. The People at Odds' series ($22.95 each) expands with Israel
And
The Arab World (6705-X), England And India (6708-4), Native Americans And The United
States
(6707-6), India And Pakistan (6709-2), and Balkans (6710-6). Each of these holds a little over a
hundred pages detailing the history of country conflicts, the interactions of different people, and
the
issues that are both ongoing or changed. For good contemporary biographies to stimulate leisure
reading and more interest in reports, choose Elizabeth Sirimarco's Steven Spielberg (6714-9),
Charles Shields' George Lucas (6712-2) or Joe Ferry's Rob Reiner (6717-3): each provides a little
over a hundred pages covering the extent of childhood and adult experiences with a special focus
on
how each came to their chosen career. The series on Your Government: How It Works ($20.75
each) quite simply should be a staple of any elementary or middle school library. The books each
present a little over fifty pages of facts focusing on a different area of government. Daniel
Harmon's
Food And Drug Administration (6791-2) and Environmental Protection Agency (6792-0) each
cover the issues which led to the agency's creation; Rich Mintzer's National Transportation Safey
Board (6794-7) and National Institutes Of Health (6793-9) each focus on how small ideas grew
into
major protective institutions; and Mrtha Hewson's Electoral College (6790-4) and Andrea
Canavan's Federal Aviation Administration (6795-5) each tell how different regulatory branches
were established. Many an adult will find these essential brush-up histories, as well.
Roaring Brook Press
Two Old New Milford Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804
1-800-462-4703
Two new stories from this publisher provide young picturebook readers with solid, exciting plots.
Ross MacDonald's Another Perfect Day (0761326596) tells of a lucky man who enjoys his job as
Chief Flavor Tester for a superior ice cream company's productions. There's a twist to his
seemingly
normal life, though and kids will delight in his antics from awakening through the work day.
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's You, Me And The Big Blue Sea (07613228068) holds an unusual
format: a mother relates the story of their ocean crossing to a young son who was a baby during
the
event. She believes he doesn't remember anything but her son has some surprising memories.
Whimsical drawings bring both these books to life with something different in the way of design
choices.
The Video Shelf
Weston Woods Studios/Scholastic
143 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
http://www.scholastic.com/westonwoods
Three new titles from Weston Woods are enthusiastically recommended additions to any school
or
community library children's video collections. Space Case (EMPV397VCC, $60.00) is based on
the
James Marshal picture book story where peculiar things happen when a creature from outer
spaces
visits Earth on Halloween and it meets a young boy by the name of Buddy McGee and his friends.
In
James Marshal's Merry Christmas Space Case (EMPV398VCC, $60.00), Buddy McGee very
eagerly anticipates a promised Christmas visit from his UFO friend. In How Do Dinosaurs Say
Good
Night? (EMPV611VCC, $60.00), Jane Yolen narrates her picture book story (wonderfully
illustrated by Mark Teague) about bedtime rituals. There will be no pouting, shouting, moping or
moaning when the light goes out in this lively tale animated by Maciek Albrech and enhanced with
music by Jerry Dale McFadden. All three of these outstanding titles are also available from
Weston
Woods in book/cassette and book/CD combination formats.
Mighty Machines
At The Construction Site
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Andrea Blain (publicity)
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48048
http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com
SV12192 $9.99 www.amazon.com
Mighty Machines At The Construction Site is a video/toy combination ideal for youngsters ages 3
to
8. In this 30 minute, full color video, children are presented with a wealth of informative and fun
facts about the heavy equipment used on a hospital construction site ranging from bulldozers to
dump trucks. Kids will learn how holes are dug, concrete poured, and much, much more. They
will
also visit a skyscraper construction site and watch huge cranes lift heavy machinery 30 stories into
the air in this superbly produced and presented, live-action adventure enhanced with fun songs,
informative narration, friendly characters, and more! Also very highly recommended are the other
two videos in this "Mighty Machine" series: Mighty Machines In The Harbor ($9.99) and Might
Machines At The Racetrack ($9.99).
The Biography Shelf
New York's Bravest
Mary Pope Osborne
Knopf
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
0375821961 $15.95 www.amazon.com
This isn't a focus on 9/11 but a survey of firefighting in the 1840s and the heroism of one of the
bravest, Mose Humphreys. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher's paintings of old New York bring
this
biography to life in this exploration of a well-known American tall tale.
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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