 |
Book Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Children's
Bookwatch |
Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Hanging On To Max
Margaret Bechard
Roaring Brook Press
2 Old New Milford Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804
0761315799 $15.95 1-800-462-4703
Sam's girlfriend is pregnant and wants to give up the baby, so it's up to Sam to take custody when
his son is born. But it's Sam's senior year of high school: and he also must face up to the financial
responsibilities of having a baby. Hanging On To Max is highly recommended reading for young
adults as a realistic and engrossing story of a teen's difficult decisions.
Dreamsong Of The Eagle
Ted Andrews & Deborah Hayner
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571742948 $16.95 1-800-766-8009
Written by Ted Andrews and enhanced with the full color artwork of Deborah Hayner,
Dreamsong
Of The Eagle is a unique storybook for intermediate to advanced readers. A mute girl and a
clumsy
boy are outcast and shunned among their home village. They retreat to a secret shelter in the
woods,
and care for animals who come to them. Then one day an injured eagle changes everything
forever,
in this thoughtful and engaging fairytale for young readers.
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
Two new Star Wars titles will tie in to the ongoing fascination with the series: they require good
reading skills but kids in grades 2-3 will find them accessible, as will others. Star Wars Attack Of
The Clones Visual Dictionary (0789485882, $19.99) is packed with images and descriptions of
peoples, technology and events from the movie. From an overview of Jango Fett and his armor,
profession, and weaponry to a history of the Seperatists, this is a gorgeous presentation packed
with
color and intrigue. Curtis Saxton's Star Wars Attack Of The Clones: Incredible Cross-sections
(0789485745, $19.99) provides a series of cross-sections illustrated by Hans Jenssen and Richard
Chasemore, from the Jedi Starfighter to the Republic assault ship. Details are as intricate as
though
these were real vessels; from identification of weaponry location to a 'data file' box on
manufacturer,
estimated speeds, and other specs. Both recommended for avid Star Wars fans who can't get
enough.
My Picture Dictionary
Diane Snowball & Robyn Green
Mondo Publishing
980 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10018
1879531569 $8.95 1-888-886-6636
Compiled by Diane Snowball and Robyn Green, My Picture Dictionary is a charming and
delightful
collection of basic words, each with its own simple, playful color picture, designed to expand the
vocabulary of very young readers. Most of the words in My Picture Dictionary are nouns. The
vocabulary is limited yet brightly represented, and a bonus booklet offers a simple collection of
nursery rhymes, many of which use the Picture Dictionary's words. An excellent resource for
beginning readers, My Picture Dictionary is highly recommended for family, day care center,
preschool, and kindergarten collections.
The Children's Encyclopaedia Of Arabia
Mary Beardwood
Stacey International
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060
190098833X $29.95 www.amazon.com
This 152-page encyclopedia is a highly recommended pick for any who want to focus on the
history
of the Middle East: the editor has spent years teaching in the region and this provides easy access
to
knowledge. Sections on past, traditional life, flora and fauna and present-day Arabia covers
everything from culture to natural history and packs in color photos and illustrations. A gorgeous
presentation promising to reach a wide age range.
Sometimes I Feel Awful
Joan Singleton Prestine
McGraw-Hill
8787 Orion Place, Columbus, OH 43240
1577686802 $15.00 1-800-722-4726
Sometimes I Feel Awful focuses on a child's rough day, with a first-person presentation exploring
how a positive day turns negative. The focus is on emotions and how they develop, and how
communications become scrambled. Sometimes I Feel Awful will prove the perfect title for an
introduction to kids on emotions and feelings. Highly recommended.
The Official M&M's History Of The Calendar
Larry Dane Brimmer & Karen E. Pellaton
Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02172
157091432X $6.95 1-800-225-3214
Cleverly conceived by Larry Dane Brimmer and colorfully illustrated by Karen E. Pellaton, The
Official M&M's History Of The Calendar traces the history and development of the calendar from
prehistorical notches on bone and tracing the migratory patterns of the mammoths, to utilizing the
phases of the moon and positioning of the sun. Ideally suited to young readers ages 7 to 10, the
M&M characters Red and Yellow serve as engaging guides to this informatively fascinating and
thoroughly enjoyable approach to the history of the calendar. The Official M&M's History Of The
Calendar is also available in a hardcover edition (1570914311, $16.95).
The Audiobook Shelf
Monterey Soundworks
566 St. Charles Dr.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Two excellent classics for young adults appeal on audio format, providing a full-case
dramatizations
and artfully narrations based on and drawn from two classic stories. Lucy Montgomery's Anne Of
Green Gables (1569945330, $16.95) uses high drama to capture the story of lively orphan Anne,
who comes to live with a quiet, elderly family. Mark Twain's Prince And The Pauper
(1569945373,
$16.95) receives an excellent abridged performance telling of a prince who exchanges places with
a
very poor boy. Both offer excellent radio show-style productions kids will appreciate.
The CD-ROM Shelf
Stuart Little Learning Adventures
Riverdeep
6401 Kaiser Drive, Fremont, CA 94555
0763071412 $19.99 www.riverdeep.net
Featuring the popular children's book and movie character of the charmingly mouse Stuart Little,
this superbly presented and totally fun educational software was specifically and successfully
designed to help children ages 3 to 7 to learn math skills, reading skills, and more. Pairing
educational activities with fun-filled interactive adventures, this two CD-ROM set (Stuart Little:
His
Adventures In Numberland and Stuart Little: His Adventures In Worldland) offers 39 engaging
activities covering language arts, mathematics, and critical thinking exercises. The CD-ROM
format
allows for progress tracking, printable activities, games, report cards for Parents, multiple skill
levels, and "auto-leveling". Stuart Little Learning Adventures is enthusiastically recommended for
home school, day-care center, preschool, kindergarten, and first grade curriculum
supplementation.
The Picturebook Shelf
Blabber Mouse
True Kelley
Dutton
345 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0525467424 $15.99 1-800-847-5515
What can one do with a friend who talks all the time and doesn't know how to keep a secret?
Blabber Mouse's friends still like him but not his mouth. So they get together and decide upon a
solution to the problem in this zany story.
Henry Holt & Company
115 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011
1-888-330-8477 www.amazon.com
Three inviting picture books provide warm stories to young readers. Betsy Byars' Little Horse
(0805064133, $15.95) enjoys illustrations by David McPhail as it tells of a little horse who falls
into
a river and is separated from his home. McPhail's black and white drawings bring this story to life
in
a title recommended for kids with rudimentary reading skills or parental assistance. David
McPhail's
Teddy Bear (0805064141, $15.95) tells of a little boy and his bear who are always together.
When
the bear is accidentally lost, a child is heartbroken and an unexpected new owner emerges. Robin
Muller's Badger's New House (0805063838, $15.95) tells of Badger, who loves his cozy little
cottage until a huge storm damages it. He gives it away when he can't repair it, but the little house
isn't so easy to forget and the new house doesn't equal it in this warm story of home.
How High Can You Fly?
Janie DeVos & Renee Rejent
River Road Press
Box 1214, Kimberling City, MO 65686
0966327624 $16.95 1-417-739-3452
How High Can You Fly? is a charming picture book artfully written by Janie DeVos brought to
life
with simple and abstract yet vibrant full-color illustrations by Renee Rejent. A young bird meets a
variety of creatures on God's precious earth, each of which has its own unique talent or gift, but
the
bird likes its own gift of flight best of all in this simple yet delightful easy reader book.
A Prayer for the Earth
Sandy E. Sasso & Bethanne Anderson
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rte. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
1879045605 $16.95 1-802-457-400
Winner of the Publishers Weekly "Best Book" award, A Prayer For The Earth: The Story Of
Naamah, Noah's Wife is a gentle and entertaining children's picturebook retelling of the story of
Noah's Ark... but from the perspective of Noah's wife! The engaging text by Sandy Esignberg
Sasso
is enhanced with simple yet brightly colored paintings by Bethanne Anderson in this wonderful
and
recommended story of survival, love, and faith in God.
The Chocolate Train
Joanne Kornfeld & Barbara Mason Rast
Earthkids Publishing
PO Box 1005, Medford, NY 11763
http://www.earthkidspublishing.com
097046293X $12.95 1-631-289-4322
Written by Joanne Kornfeld and showcasing the colorful artwork of Barbara Mason Rast, The
Chocolate Train is a fantastic children's picturebook about a chocolate train that chugs along in a
magical world of candies, marshmallows, and gumdrops. An thoroughly enjoyable tale enhanced a
simple recipe for making chocolate mold candies (an activity that should be practiced with adults),
can bring a great deal of fun and delicious desserts as well as an entertaining and highly
recommended reading experience for young children.
Soccer Mom From Outer Space
Barney Saltzberg
Dell Dragonfly Books/Random House
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0440417589 $6.99 .randomhouse.com
Soccer Mom From Outer Space is a wild and enthusiastic picturebook written and illustrated by
Barney Saltzberg that, with whimsical delight, pokes fun at how heavily involved some parents
get
into their children's games. The night before a young girl plays her first soccer game, her father
confesses the true story of the soccer mom from outer space - who became transformed into an
alien! Soccer Mom From Outer Space is highly recommended as a joyful, lighthearted, and
fun-to-read tale.
Substitute Teacher Plans
Doug Johnson & Tammy Smith
Henry Holt and Company
115 West 18th Street, NY, NY 10011
0805065202 $16.95 www.henryholt.com
Doug Johnson's Substitute Teacher Plans is an engaging picture book showcasing the charming
story of a substitute teacher whose class day plans get mixed up with a list of recreational
activities,
making for the most exciting day of school ever! Meanwhile the teacher uses her list of class
activities to guide her day off, and learns that fun and relaxation can come from learning too.
Remarkably illustrated with incredible, vivacious, colorful three-dimensional scenes created by an
artist Tammy Smith, Substitute Teacher Plans is a blast of a book for young readers just beginning
to attend school.
Eaglet's World
Evelyn Minshull & Andrea Gabriel
Albert Whitman & Company
6340 Oakton St., Morton Grove, IL 60053
0807589292 $15.95 albertwhitman.com
Ably written for young readers by Evelyn Minshull and illustrated by the superb artwork of
Andrea
Gabriel, Eaglet's World is the powerful story of a bald eaglet, hatched from an egg, who must
grow
up and accept the challenge of leaving the comfort and safety of his nest. An informative,
engaging
story, enhanced at the end by a page of facts about bald eagles to educate young readers, Eaglet's
World is an ideal and welcome addition to family, school, and community library picture book
collections.
Where Does The Wind
Cindy Rink
Dawn Publications
PO Box 2010, Nevada City, CA 95959
1584690402 $7.95 1-800-545-7475
Deftly written and illustrated by Cindy Rink, Where Does The Wind Blow? is a simple and
enjoyable
tale for children about the wind's connection among people, places, animals, and things all around
the world. With its breezy, inviting color artwork featuring the blue sky, Where Does The Wind
Blow? is highly recommended as a wonderfully delightful book celebrating the links between us
all.
There's Always Room for One More
Ingrid Schubert & Dieter Schubert
Front Street Books
20 Battery Park Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
1886910774 $15.95 frontstreetbooks.com
The collaborative effort of Ingrid and Dieter Schubert, There's Always Room For One More is a
thoroughly lighthearted tale about a beaver who builds a boat - and then discovers that one animal
friend after another wants to get on and ride down the river too! A gentle tale, warmly illustrated
and charmingly told, children will find There's Always Room For One More to be a delightful
picture book reading experience.
Are You Ready for Bed?
Jane Johnson & Gaby Hansen
Tiger Tales
202 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
1589250176 $14.95 1-920-387-9994
Written by Jane Johnson for young children ages 3 to 6, Are You Ready For Bed? is enhanced
with
the warm and comforting illustrations by Gaby Hansen in a highly recommended picture book
about
Mrs. Rabbit and her struggle to help her bunny child go to sleep. When at last she finally coaxes
her
littlest bunny to rest, suddenly another of her children can't sleep in this gentle, good humored
story
which is ideal naptime and bedtime reading by parents.
Something Is Not Quite Right!
Ralf Butschkow
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
PO Box 8515, La Jolla, CA 92038-8515
1929132298 $13.95 1-800-968-1930
Written and illustrated by Ralf Butschkow, Something Is Not Quite Right! A Find-the-mistake
Picture Book is an engaging picture book for young children. Each of the colorful, cartoon-style,
full-page-spread illustrations contains a host of unusual "mistakes" (for example, a snowman in
the
oven, a giraffe peeking out of a boat), for young readers to spot and find on their own. There is a
simple, visual answer key at the back of this thoroughly enjoyable, creatively original, highly
recommended picture book for kids.
My Big Brother
Valorie Fisher
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY NY 10020
0689843275 $14.95 1-800-223-2336
Valorie Fisher's My Big Brother is an enjoyable easy-reader picture book, illustrated with vivid
photographs and celebrating the relationship between toddler and bigger brother. A charming
book
for beginning readers that is colorful, fun, and touched with love, My Big Brother is an
enthusiastically recommended addition to family, school, and community library picturebook
collections for beginning readers.
The Wherewolf?
Jackie Leigh Ross & Steve Ko
All About Kids Publishing
6280 San Ignacio Avenue, Suite C, San Jose, CA 95119
061511427X $16.95 www.aakp.com
Enhanced with the superb full-color artwork of Steve Ko, Jackie Leigh Ross' The Wherewolf? is
the
picturebook story of a creature with a forest-wide reputation for being mean and scary - but as he
gets older, he becomes more and more forgetful. A young girl discovers him when he becomes so
forgetful he loses his way home, and she resolves to help him in spite of his bad reputation. A
heartwarming story of friendship, The Wherewolf? is highly recommended recreational reading
for
children.
Walking With Henry
Thomas Locker
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, #300, Golden, Colorado 80403-1672
1555913555 $17.95 fulcrum-books.com
Written and illustrated by Thomas Locker, Walking With Henry is a warm and resplendently
beautiful picture book based on the life and works of Henry David Thoreau. Majestic painted
landscapes showcase simple descriptions drawn from and inspired by the man who loved to walk
in
the wilderness. Walking With Henry is a highly recommended and heartwarming tribute suitable
for
young readers of all ages, and aptly serve to introduce the life and work of America's most famous
and enduringly popular naturalists.
Skeleton Hiccups
Margery Cuyler & S. D. Schindler
McElderry/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
068984770X $14.95 1-800-223-2336
A simple word text by Margery Cuyler is wonderfully illustrated by S. D. Schindler making
Skeleton
Hiccups a highly recommendable and spooky picture book for young readers just learning to
sound
out their first words. The playful theme of a skeleton plagued with hiccups and the ingenious cure
his ghost friend discovers make for a thoroughly delightful tale that is especially in keeping with
the
Halloween season.
Finny Finds Friends In The Forest
The Tini Sisters, authors
Erin Marie Mauterer, illustrator
Atori Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 125, Olyphant, PA 18447
0967845939 $18.95 readmeatori.com
Collaborative written by The Tini Sisters and enhanced with the lively, full-color artwork of Erin
Marie Mauterer, Finny Finds Friends In The Forest is a "letter-sound, listen and retell" adventure
picture book written expressly to help children improve their reading skills, as well as entertain
them.
In addition to the whimsical text, which features plenty of alliteration of words starting with the
letter "f", Finny Finds Friends In The Forest features a page of "retelling pictures" which children
can use to retell the story in their own words, a brief section of "facts about fish" to emphasize the
difference between the make-believe fish in the story and real fishes in the world. Enhanced for
young readers with an audio CD of sing-along songs, Finny Finds Friends In The Forest is a
brightly
colored, child friendly tale that is fun to read aloud!
The Bye Bye Pie
Sharon Jennings & Rurh Ohi
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
121 Harvard Ave, #2, Allston, MA 02134
1550417851 $6.95 1-800-387-9776
The Bye Bye Pie is a simple, joyful, enthusiastically recommended children's picture book written
by
Sharon Jennings, illustrated by Rurh Ohi, and features a heartwarming tale of two young children,
their beloved grandmother, and a "pie go bye-bye" lost in a mishap, yet replaced with a delicious
secret recipe. The recipe is on the back cover of a book - it involves mixing pecan pie with
chocolate
sauce and whipped cream for an irresistibly sweet dessert!
From Poppa
Anne Carter & Kasia Charko
Lobster Press Limited
1250 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West, #2200, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 4W8
1894222024 $16.95 lobsterpress.com
From Poppa is an enjoyable full color children's picture book for young readers who can
effortlessly
handle easy reader books and are ready for a slightly more detailed story. The heartwarming color
illustrations by Kasia Charko wonderfully enhance Anne Carter's story of a young girl and her
beloved grandfather who teaches her how to create a lifelike wooden duck over the course of a
winter. A wistful and gentle tale of family, From Poppa is highly recommended for family, school,
and community library picture book collections.
Trevor's Wiggly-Wobby Tooth
Lester Laminack & Kathi Garry McCord
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
1561452793 $7.95 peachtree-online.com
Entertainingly written by Lester L. Laminack and enhanced with the bright and lively artwork of
Kathi Garry McCord, Trevor's Wiggly-Wobby Tooth is a charming color picture book about a
young boy with a wobby tooth about to be lost. His friends warn him of painful ways a tooth can
be
lost, until Grandma Sally shows him how to cook taffy, which can be used in a much more fun
way
to pull a tooth. Trevor's Wiggly-Wobby Tooth is highly recommended for young readers as a
lighthearted and thoroughly enjoyable children's storybook.
The Adventures Of Little Johnny Diamond Private Eye
Clay Titus & Chuma Okoli
Catalyst Moon
20510 Hampshire Rocks Drive, Houston, TX 77450
0971349606 $12.95 1-281-829-5221
Illustrated with the simple, soft, crosshatched color sketches of Chuma Okoli, The Adventures Of
Little Johnny Diamond Private Eye is an engaging children's picture book about a young boy who
solves a mystery of stolen bicycles. Clay Titus' gentle and captivating tale is very strongly flavored
with realism and the importance of bringing vital evidence directly to the police. The Adventures
Of
Little Johnny Diamond Private Eye is a superb selection for budding mystery lovers ages 5 to
10.
The Sleepy Little Star
Kymberli W. Brady & Eddie Moreno
Get Graphics Publishing/Kymzinn, Inc.
23236 Lyons Avenue, Suite 216, Santa Clarita, CA 93121
0971175802 $14.95 www.kymzinn.com
The Sleepy Little Star is a good-natured children's book about a young star who doesn't want to
go
to sleep at bedtime. So Papa Moon takes the Sleepy Little Star on a journey all over the world,
showing children everywhere who count on stars to guide their darkest hours. Gently and
thoughtfully written by Kymberli Brady and enhanced with the artwork of Eddie Moreno, The
Sleepy Little Star picturebook is perfect for reading aloud at bedtime.
Skuborm And His Super Hat
Greg Atkinson & Melanie Ford Wilson
Red Hare Press
Upper Access (publicity)
Suite 1015, 246 Stewart Green, Calgary, Alberta T3H 3C8
0973052708 $9.95 redharepress.com
Enhanced with colored illustrations by Melanie Ford Wilson, Skuborm And His Super Hat is a
unique and highly recommended picture book with its story told in rhyming verse by Greg
Atkinson
about an ordinary boy in a whimsical town ("population unknown minus two") with a most
unusual
hat. Skuborm hates his name more than anything else, and wants to be just an ordinary Norm - but
when he finds a way to become ordinary and unspecial, he realizes how much more important it is
to
be himself.
Books in Series
Gareth Stevens
330 W. Olive #100, Milwaukee, WI 53212
The Gareth Stevens' 'Countries of the World' series adds to the growing set of references covering
individual countries and earn ongoing mention as an excellent resource for grades 6 and older
who
do reports on geography. Ismail's Nigeria (0836823370, $29.26), Balcavage's Saudi Arabia
(0836823389, $29.26), NgCheong-Lum's Netherlands (0836823362, $29.26), Kemaland and
Kuo's
Turkey (0836823419, $29.26), Hull's Scotland (0836823397, $29.26) and Wagner's Sweden
(0836823400, $29.26) each include maps, glossaries, bibliographies including books, videos and
web sites, and indexes. Lower grade levels 2 and older receive a set tailored to them in "Welcome
to
My Country" series which expands with the timely additions of MacKnish and Berg's Ethiopia
(0836825241, $23.93), Garrett and Frank's Costa Rica (0836825233, $23.93), Yip and De Silva's
Cambodia (0836825225, $23.93), Yip and O'Shea's Iran (083682525X, $23.93), NgCheong-Lum
and Jensen's Portugal (0836825268, $23.93), and Wynaden and Cherry's Thailand (0836825276,
$23.93). All of these volumes comprising the "Countries of the World" and "Welcome to My
Country" series are top picks.
Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Rd. #400 Broomall PA 19008
Two reference sets compiled and written by Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Ed. will provide libraries with
lasting, comprehensive collections which will appeal to student researchers. History Of American
Presidential Elections 1789-2001 (0791057135, $385.00) packs information into a quality
11-volume hardcover set, including extensive articles and research into the history and quality of
American elections. The goal was to provide a comprehensive coverage of events authored by
notable historians and political scientists: the result is an in-depth reference which deserves a spot
in
any collection serious about American history. Likewise for History Of U.S. Political Parties
(0791057305, $250.00), a 5- volume set reviewing party origins and interactions from 1989 to
modern times. Each of these outstanding reference sets offers scholarly articles and include
references for quick research. Each is a highly recommended addition to school and community
libraries as basic, lasting choices for budget-minded reference collections.
Twenty-First Century Books
Two Old New Milford Road
Brookfield, CT 06824
A number of new releases promise diverse topics and lasting relevance for middle to high school
library collections. Kieran Doherty's Marjory Stoneman Douglas (0761323716) provides middle
school readers with a strong 142-page biographical coverage of the woman who learned to
appreciate the wild Everglades, and who made it her mission to protect them. Jim Haskins' Toni
Morrison: Telling A Tale Untold (0761318526) provides the same audience with a 144-page
biographical sketch of the writer who faced issues of racism with her words. Karen Zeinert's
Women
In Politics (0761322531) provides a review of women in American government, surveying the
history of women's participation in politics. Ted Gottfried's Road To Communism (0761325573)
charts the rise and fall of Communism in the Soviet Union. It's the first of a projected 4-book
series
covering the history of the Soviet Union and its beliefs. Gottfried's Stalinist Empire (0761325581)
is
the second in the series and focuses on the tyranny of Stalin, blending an in-depth biography with
a
review of the lives of people under his rule. Wendy Murphy's Orphan Diseases (1919-0) tells of
individuals afflicted with unusual diseases, from drawfism to cystic fibrosis and autism. Histories
of
controversial treatments blend with surveys of political issues surrounding the treatment of
disease.
Edmund Lindop's America In The 1950s (0761325514) provides a survey of American culture
and
politics in the 1950s. Insights into the changing course of American sentiments and experience
make
for an excellent contemporary history.
Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Rd. Tarrytown NY 10591
Two sets are ongoing, recommended picks for discriminating libraries seeking lasting reference
materials for grades 4-6. Raymond Bial's 'Lifeways' series continues to focus on the lives of
selected
Native American tribes. Powhatan (0761412093, $22.95), Shoshone (0761412115, $22.95), Inuit
(0761412123, $22.95) and Nez Perce (0761412107, $22.95) each present a little over a hundred
pages blending color photos and details about how the tribes lived. "AnimalWays" is a series will
appeal to the same age range with books focusing on the natural history of selected animals.
Gloria
Schlaepfer's Cheetahs (0761412662, $19.95), Paul Sieswerda's Sharks (0761412670, $19.95)),
Rebecca Stefoff's Bears (0761412689, $19.95), Paul Fleisher's Ants (0761412597, $19.95) and
Deborah and John Behler's Snakes (0761412654, $19.95) each present a little over a hundred
pages
of animal backgrounds and facts. Both sets are highly recommended, lasting picks.
Mitchell Lane
34 Decidedly Lane, Bear, DE 19701
Four new additions to the Mitchell Lane 'Science: Unlocking the Secrets' series profile achievers
in
science, medicine and technology and continue to blend strong biographical and technical details
in
46-page offerings designed and written for young readers in grades 4-6. John Bankston's Gerhard
Domagk And The Discovery Of Sulfa (1584151153, $17.95) surveys the scientist who discovered
the important applications of sulfa and Susan Zannos provides three strong biographies: Chester
Carlson And The Development Of Xerography (158415117X, $17.95), covering the inventor of
the
photocopier; Paul Ehrlich And Modern Drug Development (1584151218, $17.95) covering
research
on bacteria, and Godfrey Hounsfield And The Invention Of Cat Scans (1584151196, $17.95),
revealing the explorer of x-rays. All are excellent, accessible biographies.
Blue Earth/Capstone
Box 669, Mankato, MN 56002
The 'Coming to America' titles are 32-page picturebook surveys of ethnic group early immigrant
experiences allows kids to delve into their family roots through an understanding of how and why
each group came to America, and how their experiences differed. Ann Todd's Italian Immigrants
(0736807969) covers the wave of four million immigrants who came to and helped build America
between 1880-1920; Megan O'Hara's Irish Immigrants (0736807950) tells of the Potato Blight
which threatened Ireland and caused its residents to flee between 1840-1920; Kay Olson's
Norwegian, Swedish And Danish Immigrants (0736807985) tells of a hundred years during which
almost 3.5 million left Scandinavia immigrated to the US, Kay Olson's Chinese Immigrants
(0736807934) reveals the Chinese experience from 1850-1900, Helen Frost's German Immigrants
(0736807942) reveals the millions who left Germany to come to America between 1820-1920;
and
Rosemary Wallner's Japanese Immigrants (0736807977) tells of Japanese immigrants to the US
between 1850-1950. All are excellent explorations of different immigrant experiences.
The Biography Shelf
Patrick: Saint Of Ireland
Joyce Denham & Diana Mayo
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
0829418180 $14.95 1-800-621-1008
Written by Joyce Dunham and nicely illustrated by Diana Mayo, Patrick: Saint Of Ireland is an
ideal
picturebook biography introducing young readers to the life of Patrick, Ireland's patron saint who
returned to the land of his captivity preaching a message of Christian love and faith. Presenting
the
three-leafed shamrock as a metaphor for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Trinity of God, Patrick
spread his teachings despite opposition from those who worshiped pagan gods. A powerful
rendition
of a man whose faith left its mark on history and a highly recommended addition to family and
parochial school library collections.
Rebecca, A Maryland Farm Girl
Diane Leatherman
Crossing Kansas
Box 315, Cabin John, Maryland 20818
0966586115 $7.95 www.amazon.com
Rebecca, A Maryland Farm Girl is the true story of a young girl in Maryland in the late 1920's and
early 1930's, who, after the death of her mother in a tragic accident, had to labor at grueling farm
chores and hike several miles to the school bus. The strain of her daily responsibilities brought
about
seemingly insurmountable barriers to her education. Very highly recommended for young readers,
Rebecca, A Maryland Farm Girl is a poignant and compelling story of struggle and hardship,
especially acute for demonstrating the harsh conditions of the past to young people who have
grown
up in relative comfort and have no idea how hard their grandparents had to fight for the privilege
of
an education.
Forgotten Memories
Art Rodriguez
Dream House Press
2714 Ophelia Court, San Jose, CA 95122
0967155525 $12.95 1-408-274-4574
Capably written for teenage readers grades 7 through 11 by Art Rodriguez, Forgotten Memories
is
the story of his having been a young man growing up amid difficult conflicts in San Jose,
California.
From life-threatening risks such as drowning and knife fights, to the cutting harshness of
vituperative
words, Forgotten Memories reflects the drama of learning how to survive, grow, and accept
personal responsibility. Forgotten Memories is recommended as a powerful coming of age story.
Also highly recommended is the Art Rodriguez previous memoir, East Side Dreams.
Cherrytree Books/Trafalgar
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
$17.95 Each 1-800-423-4525
A US library will have to have regular courses on British history to make The Cherrytree Books'
"British History Makers" biography series a popular choice for kids, but any elementary-level
library
with such background will find these will appeal to ages 9-12, blending color illustrations with
fine
32-page biographies of major British leaders. Leon Ashworth's Queen Elizabeth 1 (1842340719)
and his Winston Churchill (1842340727) each blend fine color photos with plenty of biographical
detail on lives and achievements. These also will find a home in collections where papers are
regularly assigned on major world leaders. Their color will appeal, but there are plenty of facts
suitable for reports.
Morgan Reynolds
620 S. Elm #223, Greensboro, NC 27406
Two excellent biographies for grades 4-6 read like fiction but cover the real events of major
figures
in history. Lisa Aldrich's Cyrus Mccormick And The Mechanical Reaper (1883846919, $21.95)
tells
of an early Virginia farm boy who takes up his father's challenge of trying to build a mechanical
reaper and succeeds with a revolutionary invention. William Schoell's Remarkable Journeys
(1883846927, $21.95) tells of the life of French writer Jules Verne, who dreams up exotic
adventures in space in an era where his father forces him to study law. Both are lively, revealing
coverages especially suited to reluctant biography readers who enjoy reading fiction for its
drama.
The Fiction Shelf
That Dog
Jane Weinberger
Windswept House Publishers
PO Box 159, Mt. Desert, Maine 04660
1883650577 $8.00 1-207-244-7149
That Dog is a delightful, easy reader anthology of stories written by Jane Weinberger about a
loveable dog who gets into far too much mischief for his own good. These stories were originally
published in a weekly magazine some forty years ago. Highly recommended reading for young
dog
lovers everywhere, these charming tales have clearly survived the test of time, and are as engaging
and captivating today as they were when some four decades ago.
Partners In The Wilderness
Ed Kienzle
Jetbak Publishing
1829 Bluegrass Circle, Cheyenne, WY 82009
0971368325 $7.95 1-866-815-3015
Partners In The Wilderness: Travis's Choice by Ed Kienzle is the engaging story of Travis
Driskoll, a
twelve-year-old Wyoming boy whose adventurous hunting trip turns into a nightmare when his
father is attacked by a bear. Befriending the spirit of a legendary explorer, Travis learns
independence and survival skills as he undertakes the perilous quest to save his injured father's
life.
An engrossing adventure from cover to cover, Partners In The Wilderness: Travis's Choice is
highly
recommended for young readers ages 12 through 18.
Maddie
Sylvia Tomlinson
Redbud Publishing
PO Box 4402, Victoria, TX 77903
http://www.redbudpublishing.com
0972029303 $12.95 1-361-572-8898
Maddie is Sylvia Tomlinson's gentle story for young readers about the life of an intelligent,
strong-willed twelve-year-old girl responsible for her share in the never-ending upkeep of her
family's farm. First in a planned series about family farm life, Maddie is an empathetic, emotional,
and meaningful tale addressing the challenges of growing up in a changing world. Enhanced with
illustrations by Ginny Cartmell, Maddie is highly recommended reading for boys and girls ages 9
to
12.
Close To The Heart
Diane Gonzales Bertrand
Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press
University of Houston,
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
1558853197 $9.95 1-800-633-ARTE
Close To The Heart by Diane Gonzales Bertrand is a novel for young adults about Jessie Medina,
a
career woman working for a boy's school. The challenges of Jessie's job and of the alumni
association president revitalize both her professional and personal life, but to make the most of
herself she must first confront the fears hidden in her heart. An appealing and thoughtfully
characterized story, Close To The Heart is welcome and recommended reading for children ages
15
through 18.
Image Of Deception
Betty Briggs
Sunrise Selections
PO Box 51602, Provo, UT 84605
0965630722 $9.95 1-801-489-9517
Heather is a 17 year old city girl from Utah who finds herself in Montana and intrigued by her the
Taggert family mystery that involves Charlie's Taggert's mysterious death some twenty years
earlier.
Heather is compelled to unravel the story of what really happened -- even if it means risking her
life
for the sake of new friends. Image Of Deception is the second volume of a planned trilogy for
young
readers that is characterized by deftly written dialogue, memorable characters, and unexpectedly
gifted storytelling. Also highly recommended is the first volume of the series, Quality Concealed
(0965630714, $9.95).
The Stories Of Juana Briones
Glenda Richter
Bookhandler Press
3597 Lomacitas Lane, Bonita, CA 91902
0970037902 $14.95 bookhandler.com
The Stories Of Juana Briones is a rendition of a California pioneer, a citizen of Spain, Mexico,
and
the United States. She was unique in that, unlike most other women of the era, she owned land
when California became part of America and many other Hispanic families lost their land. Juana
Briones contested the loss of the family estate, took her case to the United States Supreme Court,
and won -- even though she could not read or write. Her amazing life story, told through her own
eyes as if to her grandchildren, makes for a powerful narrative of a positive role model, highly
recommended especially for young readers ages 8 to 11.
Days Of Gold
Ardyce Czuchna-Gurl
Oak Woods Media
PO Box 19127, Kalamazoo, MI 49019
0881960128 $12.905 1-888-289-0922
Marianne is 12 and her brother Thomas is 14 when they find themselves alone in Seattle at the
beginning of the great 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. With a little food from their family grocery
story
but with no wilderness experience, they set out for the Yukon to find their prospecting father who
hasn't been heard from for more than a year. Will Marianne and Thomas find their father, will they
survive the threatening arctic winter, tall mountains, wild rapids, and unscrupulous adults?
Fortunately they also encounter kindness and generosity, as well as discovering an unexpected
courage and endurance within themselves. Days Of Gold is a superbly written and highly
recommended adventure novel for young readers ages 9-14.
Jinxed
Dale Luckwitz
SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.
440 Friday Road, Pittsburgh PA 15209
http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com
1563152800 $7.95 1-412-821-6211
Kidnaped by the "Prince of Chaos", Rumold Jinx, the three young adventurers Nicholas, Darrance
and Rachel find themselves in the wondrous kingdom of Eurekala and swept up in an attempt to
stop Jinx and save human creativity. If they fail they and the rest of the kingdom are doomed to
become little more than mindless robots under the control of Jinx. Dale Luckwitz's Jinxed is a
deftly
written fantasy adventure that will appeal to younger read who enjoys high adventure in a kind of
Harry Potter world!
Pure Dead Wicked
Debi Gliori
Knopf/Random House
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
0375814116 $15.95 1-800-726-0600
Blend magic, humor, and story revolving around a family's household disaster and the creation of
500 miniature pink, naked clones and you have Pure Dead Wicked, a zany novel semi-rooted in
the
reality of a family facing house problems with a difference. Young adults who appreciate humor
and
fantasy blends will appreciate this funny story just in time for Halloween.
A Rose For Melinda
Lurlene McDaniel
Bantam Books
1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036
0553570900 $4.99 1-800-726-0600
Melinda dreams of being a great ballerina and her talents take her well on the way to her goals
until leukemia steps in. Now she's battling for her life, and her story appears here in the form of
letters between 3 friends affected by her struggles. A Rose For Melinda is a strongly
recommended
as an involving, dramatic story of friendships and illness.
The Angel Factory
Terence Blacker
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY NY 10020
0689851715 $16.95 1-800-223-2336
If aliens invaded Earth with the intention of saving humankind from its self-destructive traits,
would
humans accept the limits to freedom to destroy? Thomas Wisdom seems to have the perfect
family
life until he discovers their real identities and his own key role in helping to save the planet from
itself. His one friend can only help him if he betrays his family in The Angel Factory, a moving and
highly recommended story of the future.
Kotuku
Deborah Savage
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Ave. South, NY NY 10005
0618047565 $16.00 1-800-225-3362
Charlotte has no desire to leave her Cape Cod roots or home since her best friend Wim died: she
just
wants to be left alone with her job grooming horses. When an elderly aunt with mental problems
and
a last wish for her life comes to live with them, and a visitor from New Zealand stays on their
property and evokes romantic feelings, Charlotte finds her life changing despite all she can do to
resist. An evocative, gentle story of loss and survival.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Beautiful Moments In The Wild
Stephanie Maze, editor
Moonstone Press
7820 Oracle Place, Potomac, MD 20854
097077687X $15.00 1-312-573-2070
Deftly edited by Stephanie Maze, Beautiful Moments In The Wild is a superbly presented picture
book for young readers and features gorgeous natural photography of animals of varying colors.
A
splendid introduction to the color scheme and a dazzling array of creatures from red ladybugs to a
green tree boa to a transparent glasswing butterfly, Beautiful Moments In The Wild is
distinguished
and recommended addition to school and community library collections.
The Theatre Shelf
Dramatizing Greek Mythology
Louise Thistle
Smith & Kraus
300 Bedford St., Manchester, NH 03101
1575252937 $19.95 1-800-895-4331
Aspiring young actors and highschool drama classes planning on dramatizing mythology will find
Dramatizing Greek Mythology to be an essential guide to the process. Teachers and recreational
leaders receive plays suitable for all kinds of students including newcomers to English. Five
Greek
myths provide classes with up to 35 parts, covering the major myths of Hercules, Orpheus, and
the
Olympian gods and providing not only dialogue but suggestions for props, rehearsal schedules,
and
insights on how to produce a play.
The Preschool Shelf
One! Two! Three! This Book's For Me!
Stuart Samuel
Jupiter Scientific
415 Moraga Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611
0965517659 $11.95 jupiterscientific.org
Written and illustrated by Stuart Samuel, One! Two! Three! This Book's For Me! is a simple yet
enjoyable counting picture book presenting the numbers 1 to 10, illustrated with simple, bold
color
pictures. A fine read-aloud rhyme text helps reinforce the concept of numbers in young people's
minds, One! Two! Three! This Book's For Me! is especially recommended for children ages 2 to 5
and an excellent addition for family, day-care center, preschool, and kindergarten collections.
What Do Animals Do On The Weekend?
Lauren Faulkenberry
Novello Festival Press
310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
0970897243 $17.95 novellopress.org
What Do Animals Do On The Weekend?: Adventures From A To Z is a delightful color ABC
book
for preschool and kindergarten readers written and illustrated by Lauren Faulkenberry. Each letter
of
the alphabet features an associated animal doing something whimsical with plenty of alliteration,
such as "Kangaroos get their kicks when they kayak in Kenya. Kevin keeps paddling across the
lake
while Kyra plays her kazoo." Fun and fascinating facts are tucked away at the bottom of the page
of
each entry, such as "A kayak is the same kind of boat that Eskimos first built to hunt whales
thousands of years ago. Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa."What Do Animals Do On The
Weekend? is a highly enjoyable and enthusiastically recommended alternative alphabet book.
The Fairytale/Folklore Shelf
Rabbit And The Dragon King
Daniel San Souchi
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431
1563978806 $15.95 1-877-512-8366
Based on a Korean folk story and illustrated in vibrant colors with art by Eujin Kim Neilan is this
lively story of a dragon king who rules the oceans but is a hypochondriac who worries constantly
about his health. He becomes convinced that eating a rabbit's heart will cure all his troubles, and
it's
up to a threatened but brave rabbit to prove otherwise in this lively story.
The Elfree Stories
Anne Muller
The Collins Press/Dufour Editions
Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
1903464056 $8.95 1-800-869-5677
Deftly written by Anne Muller, The Elfree Stories is a charming selection of enchanting,
lighthearted
short stories about an elf who introduces himself as Elfree of the Leaf. Simple black-and-white
illustrations by Muller adorn the pages of this brief yet inviting and mystical collection of tales.
Elfree himself tends to speak in singsong rhyme, making The Elfree Stories an excellent and
enjoyable story to read aloud. Highly recommended for young readers as well as bedtime parental
story telling.
Little Red Riding Hood
Perrault & Sarah Moon
Creative Editions
123 S. Broad St., Mankato, MN 56001
1568461437 $17.95 www.amazon.com
Fans of artistic photo books for kids will find this an intriguing contemporary treatment of the
Red
Riding Hood classic. Here a little country girl faces urban and rural threats on her way to
grandmother's house, only to find her grandmother has been replaced by an evil wolf. The sad
ending for Riding Hood is dramatic and revealing, providing a realistic twist on the fairy tale.
The Science Shelf
Our Galaxy And The Universe
Ken Graun & Suzanne Maly
Ken Press
4001 North Paseo de los Rancheros, Tucson, AZ 85745
1928771084 $15.95 www.kenpress.com
Collaboratively written by Ken Graun and Suzanne Maly, Our Galaxy And The Universe is an
ideal
introductory science picture book on Astronomy for young people who have intermediate to
advanced reading skills. Individual and fully illustrated pages describe the birth of stars and
galaxies,
black holes, the electromagnetic spectrum, and more. A superbly crafted book for introducing
young
people to mysteries of the cosmos and the wondrous discoveries of astronomy, Our Galaxy And
The
Universe is the second volume of the Ken Press "21st Century Astronomy Series". Also highly
recommended is the first volume of this outstanding astronomy series for young readers, Our
Earth
And The Solar System (1928771025, $15.95).
The Kingfisher Young People's Book Of The Universe
David Lambert & Martin Redfern
Kingfisher
95 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0753453274 $24.95 1-800-497-1657
The Kingfisher Young People's Book Of The Universe is a vividly illustrated, 224-page, reference
book for young readers which is filled from cover to cover with scientific facts enhanced with
more
than 450 color photographs. From plate tectonics, to evolution of life, to the wonders of the solar
system and the galaxy, and a great deal more, The Kingfisher Young People's Book Of The
Universe
is a dazzling and enthusiastically recommended introduction to the spectacular wonders, diversity
and vastness of existence for inquisitive young minds.
A Handful Of Lightning
Ernie Batson & Mark Batson
Sun R.A.Y.S., LLC.
417 Clovr Lane, Fort Collins, CO 80521
0970288026 $TBA 1-888-220-7393
Specifically written for children ages 5 to 12, A Handful Of Lightning: Full Participation Science
Experiments For Young Scientists showcases a series of fun, safe, and informative hands-on
experiments designed to teach children about basic principles of the physical sciences. The "kid
friendly" experiments are organized into sections on Air and Water (pressure, Bernoulli's
Principle,
and more); Earthy Sciences Weather (recycling, pollution, gardening); and Physical Science (light
and sound, chemistry, magnetism, and more). All of the experiments meet the Colorado State
Science Standards and National Science Content Standards and are ideal supplements to any
classroom or home schooling curriculum. A Handful Of Lightning is highly recommended for
parents, teachers, science fair coordinators, and anyone else charged with the responsibility for
teaching elementary school aged children about the wonders and uses of science and
experimentation.
Dinosaur Field Guide
Thomas Holtz Jr. & Michael Brett-Surman
Jurassic Park Institute/Random House
100 Universal City Plaza Bldg. #1280-9, Universal City, CA 91608
0375812938 $10.99 1-800-726-0600
Promising high interest and educational quality alike is this dinosaur 'field guide' for all ages,
which
packs in museum-quality dinosaur illustrations, expertise by two paleontologist authors, and
details
on dinosaur digs and places to see fossils in the field. Web sites, museums, and bibliographies are
also included in this highly visual, appealing guide.
The Fossil Factory
Niles, Gregory & Douglas Eldredge
Roberts Rinehart
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
1570984174 $10.95 1-800-462-6420
The Fossil Factory is an engaging and informative guide for kids of all ages about the wonders of
evolution and the search for fossils. From digging up fossilized bones to learning from living
animals,
The Fossil Factory is a superbly crafted and fun exciting and educational introduction to natural
science in general, and paleontology in particular.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- so is a library card.
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
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design