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Children's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
9 Of 1: A Window To The World
Oliver Chin
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
158394043X $12.95 www.amazon.com
Especially recommended as supplemental reading for students of contemporary international
studies
arising from the current "war on terrorism", 9 Of 1: A Window To The World is a graphic novel
style history about a teacher who assigns nine students to interview a variety of people, and in the
process they learn an amazing selection of diverse perspectives and ways understanding the world
about them. Educational, fascinating, even-handedly informative, and suitable for all readers of
ages
and backgrounds, this contemplative read accessibly explores the many ways in which humans live
their lives in an upbeat and engrossing manner.
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
1-800-242-7737 www.amazon.com
Priscilla Burris' Five Green And Speckled Frogs (0439354897, $12.95) provides the lively story
of
five green frogs in a hilarious rhyme which counts down from the number five. Add very bright
speckles which don't come off in the learning and you have a highly recommended, zany math
story.
Shana Corey's Players In Pigtails (0439183057, $16.95) tells of one determined girl who follows
her
dream to become a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. This reads like
fiction but presents the facts of the League's origins, with Rebecca Gibbon providing realistic
drawings. Pippa Goodhart's Pudgy:a Puppy To Love (0439456-991, $15.95) enjoys Caroline
Church's simple drawings as it tells of a lonely little puppy who meets a lonely little girl and learns
about friendship in unexpected places. Jean Marzollo's riddles come to life in the I Spy Ultimate
Challenger (0439454-018, $13.95), a book of picture riddles which offers photos paired with
challenging riddles even adults will enjoy. Greg Tang's Best Of Times (0439210445, $16.95)
collects math strategies that multiply, with Harry Briggs providing the zany drawings. The intent
is
to simplify the concept of multiplication, and many an adult will find Tang's technique fascinating,
imparting powerful techniques for multiplying numbers easily.
X-Men Ultimate Picture Book
Kathleen Duey
Big Guy Books, Inc.
Carlsbad, CA
1929945248 $15.95 bigguybooks.com
X-Men Ultimate Picture Book is a wonderfully illustrated storybook based derived from the
live-action X-Men movies (which are in turn based upon the popular comic book series) about
mutant human beings with amazing power who are struggling to find a place for themselves in a
world filled with often paranoid, powerless fellow humans -- and their evil mutant counterparts to
whom human life is worthless. Stunning full-color, cinema-quality photography superbly
illustrates
the story, which is relatively straightforward, yet at a reading level eminently suitable for young
readers who are just about ready to make the transition from picturebooks to young adult novels.
The X-Men Ultimate Picture Book is recommended for its strong, mature story and would make
an
exciting collectible for X-Men fans of all ages.
Trafalgar Square, dist.
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1-800-423-4525 www.amazon.com
Two fun picturebook stories are recommended picks for the young. Ros Asquith and Selina
Young's
Mrs. Pig's Night Out (Hodder, 0340817070, $17.95) tells of a pig who is going out. Her kids
don't
want her to leave them but their enjoyment of their evening without her speeds her return home
in
this story of children left with their father for an evening. Dawn Piggot's Gregory And The Magic
Line (Orion, 1842550640, $17.95) presents the zany story of a boy's magic pencil and the magic
line
which wants to get out of the pencil case. Its desire to grow and change involves the boy in its
evolution and teaches kids about shapes.
Geography Of The World
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014
078948594X $29.99 www.dk.com
Recently revised and superbly illustrated with full-color photographs and art on every page,
Geography Of The World: The Essential Family Guide To Geography And Culture is an informed
and informative, country-by-country, "user friendly" reference for home and school. Geography
Of
The World offers a straightforward survey of terrains, nations, and cultures all around the globe.
Enhanced with full-color, detailed maps referencing the latest border changes between nations,
and
up-to-date information concerning climate, literacy, life expectancy, health care, ethnic groups,
agriculture and industry, recent history and more, Geography Of The World is superb and highly
recommended school and community library resource suitable for all ages.
Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 www.amazon.com
Barbara Park's chapter book Junie B. First Grader: Cheater Pants (0375823-018, $11.95) tells of
a
girl who is against cheating, but who wonders if copying another's homework is really wrong
after
all, it's not a test. There are finer definitions of 'cheating' which Junie must consider in this funny
story of a first-grader facing some moral challenges. Two by Lois Lenski return original 1937
classics to print for new generations and their parents. The Little Sailboat (0375810781, $11.95)
tells of Capitain Small and his dog Tinker, who spend the afternoon enjoying his little sailboat.
Nautical jargon and easy reading action make this an inviting book for kids just exploring chapter
book titles. Her Little Airplane (037581079X, $11.95) follows the same line of plot: this time Mr.
Small has become a pilot, and knows everything about flying a little airplane. Kids receive basic
insights on planes and flight in this cute story. Ellen Stern's I Saw A Bullfrog (0375821732,
$15.95)
uses the names of real animals as a guideline for zany plays on words. Stern takes bullfrogs,
catfishes, and others and does a Dougal Dixon-style of melding zany ideas and animals. Add a fine
rhyme to the pot and you have a beautifully seasoned blend of lovely drawings and imaginative
insights. Keith Faulkner's Piggy's Belly Button (0375821775, $12.99) features a format which
may
not lend to library durability; but parents will want this for their kids. Piggy's mom warns him not
to
push his belly button, but Piggy doesn't listen in this silly story which offers a surprising
ending.
ABC Math Riddles
Jannelle Martin & Freddie Levin
Peel Productions
PO Box 546, Columbus, NC 28722
0939217570 $13.95 1-800-345-6665
ABC Math Riddles by Jannelle Martin is a challenging ABC book that quizzes young readers with
a
riddle rhyme to guess a word for each letter of the alphabet. Fun to read, embellished with inviting
color illustrations by Freddie Levin, and featuring captivating brain-teasers that make readers of
all
ages pause to think a little. v _ _ _ _ _ _ l: I start with a V, there's an L at the end./I'm straight up
and down and I never bend./Like a skyscraper high,/I point to the sky./Power poles point up like
me./What, oh what, can I be?
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th St, New York, NY 10011
1-800-722-7202 www.bdlev.com
An Illustrated Treasury Of Read-Aloud Classics For Young People (1579122884, $14.95) is
comprised of ten-minute selections drawn from some of the best loved novels and stories deemed
appropriate for parent/child sharing. These wonderful tales range from the classic fairytales of the
Brother Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, as well as excerpts from "The Black Stallion",
Rudyard Kipling's "Just-So Stories", and Frank L. Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz".
Full-color illustrations (many of them replicated from the original editions of the books from
which
the stories are drawn) superbly enhance these "kid friendly" tales of wonder. An Illustrated
Treasury
Of Read-Aloud Poems For Young People (1579122892, $14.95) showcases more than one
hundred
poems ideal for parents to share with their children, and for children to introduce themselves into
the
beauty, wonder, and lively fun of poetry. The poets range from the famous to the obscure and
include such lyricists as Maya Angelou, Lewis Carroll, Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandberg, and
Edward
Lear. These two outstanding and inexpensive titles from Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers are
enthusiastically recommended additions to any family, school, or community library collection for
children.
Ice Age Mammals Of North America
Ian M. Lange & Dorothy S. Norton
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878424032 $20.00 1-406-728-1900
Ice Age Mammals Of North America by Ian M. Lange informatively presents the latest
understanding modern-day science has of the North American mammals that thrived during the
Ice
Age. Diagrams, color illustrations by Dorothy S. Norton, and a wealth of knowledge of species
both
extinct and enduring fill the pages of this educational resource, written for young adults, and very
highly recommended as a fascinating introduction to wildlife of thousands of years gone by for
readers
of all ages.
The Health Issues Shelf
Mommy Stayed In Bed This Morning
Mary Wenger Weaver & Mary Chambers
Herald Press
616 Walnut Ave., Scottdale, PA 15683
0836191501 $12.99 1-800-759-4447
Very highly recommended for school, community, and family counseling center library
collections,
Mommy Stayed In Bed This Morning: Helping Children Understand Depression by Mary Wenger
Weaver is a superbly written and emotional, instructive picture book showing a pre-schooler
learning
to cope with his mother's struggle with severe depression. Young David's grandparents, doctor,
teacher, pastor, and church family all help him understand and face the daily reality of depression
in
this quite serious story, which is wonderfully enhanced by Mary Chambers heartfelt
illustrations.
Princess Alopecia
Yaacov Peterseil & Avi Katz
Pitspopany Press
40 East 78th St, Suite 16D, NY NY 10021
0943706254 $8.95 1-800-232-2931
Winner of the Gold Triangle Awards 2000 of the American Academy of Dermatology, Princess
Alopecia by Yaacov Peterseil is the story of Alopecia, a young woman with long, beautiful hair.
Yet
when her hair suddenly begins to fall out Alopecia feels horrible about herself, and about losing
her
chance to play Princess Rapunzel in the school play! Her teacher sees what is happening and calls
a
class meeting to make Alopecia feel better. A heartwarming story written especially for children
ages
6 through 10 who find themselves having to deal with the condition of alopecia, Princess Alopecia
is
nicely enhanced throughout with the supportive artwork of Avi Katz.
The Philosophy Shelf
Philosophy For Kids
David A. White, Ph.D.
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
1882664701 $29.95 1-800-998-2208
Philosophy For Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder... About Everything! is an
educational guide by David A. White (Adjunct Associate Professor of Philosophy, DePaul
University) specifically for young readers and their teachers and homeschooling parents about
philosophical debates concerning values, knowledge, reality, and critical thinking. Brief
introductions to the teachings of famous philosophers throughout history, issues of basic logic and
reasoning, notes and suggestions "for further thought" and more fill this unusually well presented
and mind-expanding educational resource.
The Money Management Shelf
CashCow Kids
Lisa Jordan and Sheri Provost
Abacus Publishing
2930 Geer Road, Suite 174, Turlock, CA 95382
0972855521 $19.95 cashcowkids.com
Cashcow Kids: The Guide To Financial Freedom At Any Age! by Lisa Jordan and Sheri Provost
is a
straightforward and helpful guide for parents wanting to teach their children how to earn money,
then save it judiciously, spend it wisely, and treat their personal finances responsibly. From
preschool piggy banks, to saving for college and charitable giving, CashCow Kids covers the all
of
the financial management basics in a highly accessible and enjoyable manner suited for children of
all
ages and economic backgrounds. Very highly recommended reading and offering crucially
important
financial life lessons for parents and young folks everywhere, CashCow Kids is packed with tips,
tricks, and techniques from cover to cover and will prove to be an invaluable guide to helping
children to learn how their dreams can be translated into real-life experiences resulting in a
lifetime
of financial freedom, opportunity, and accomplishment.
The Fiction Shelf
Escaping The Giant Wave
Peg Kehret
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY, NY 10020
068985272X $15.95 1-800-223-2336
Kyle is looking forward to the family's Oregon vacation, but when an earthquake starts a fire in
their
hotel and leaves he and his sister stranded, the adventure really begins. As the two struggle to
escape
a tsunami, vacation time becomes a confrontation with nature, life and death in this gripping,
fast-paced adventure story.
Daughter Of The Wind
Michael Cadnum
Orchard Books
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
043935224X $17.95 1-800-242-7737
Teen Hallgerd is known for her beauty, Gauk is a would-be warrior, and the two find their lives
and
destinies entwined as both face tests of their courage and will. Set in Viking times, Daughter Of
The
Wind brings alive a world of the past and uses two strong protagonists' ambitions and desires to
add
spice and fire to the plot.
Tales Of Glarney
J. Liddell
Trafford Publishing
2333 Government Street, Suite E, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8T 4P4
1412003431 $14.95 www.trafford.com
Tales Of Glarney is a heartwarming and original novel by Julie Liddel for young adults about
Simon,
a young boy whose hobby of collecting insects leads him to discover a new world filled with life
and
wonder. An element of the fantastic which is somewhat reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland as it is
deftly woven by the author through narrative telling of this "kid friendly" story of adventure and
growth. Tales Of Glarney is very highly recommended for readers of all ages.
The Flying Dragon
Len Lamensdorf
SeaScape Press
1010 Roble Ln, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
0966974115 $24.95 seascapepress.com
Book Three of Len Lamensdorf's "Will To Conquer" series, The Flying Dragon is an exciting
novel
for a young adult readership and follows the continuing adventures through time of young French
teens Willi and Louise. The two become guests of the Kennedys, yet their implacable enemy has
followed them, and they are forced into conflict with ruthless killers and racists. An in-depth,
fully-fleshed saga, The Flying Dragon is an adventurous and absorbing for all ages. Also very
highly
recommended are the first two books in the "Will To Conquer" series, The Crouching Dragon
(0966974158, $19.95) and The Raging Dragon (0966974174, $22.95).
The Folklore/Mythology Shelf
The Day The Rabbi Disappeared
Howard Schwartz & Monique Passicot
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
0827607571 $9.95 1-800-234-3151
Winner of the National Jewish Book Award among many other prizes and recognitions, The Day
The Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales Of Magic is an inviting retelling by Howard
Schwartz
of magical tales from Jewish holiday folklore. Gentle, inviting, and reverent reading for all ages,
warmly illustrated in black-and-white by Monique Passicot, The Day The Rabbi Disappeared is
enthusiastically recommended for young readers of all ages and faiths.
Celtic Mythology
Catherine Bernard
Enslow Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398
0766022048 $20.95 www.enslow.com
Written for young readers ages 11 and older, Celtic Mythology showcases classic legends that
arose
from the Celts, one of the great founding cultures of European civilizations whose origins can be
traced back to the second millennium B.C. and whose original homeland was near the Rhine,
Rhone,
and Danube Rivers. As the Celts engaged in a massive migration across Europe, Ireland,
Scotland,
and Britain, they took their traditional stories with them. Expertly and informative compiled and
edited by Catherine Bernard, Celtic Mythology is the perfect introduction for young
contemporary
readers to the body of folklore and mythos that characterized the Celtic people. Also very highly
recommended are the other fine titles in the outstanding Enslow "Mythology" series for young
readers: American Indian Mythology (0766014118); Chinese Mythology (0766014126); Egyptian
Mythology (076-601407X); Gods And Goddesses In Greek Mythology )0766014088); Inuit
Mythology (0766015599); Mayan And Aztec Mythology (0766014096); and Roman Mythology
(0766015580).
Legends Of The Martial Arts Masters
Susan Lynn Peterson
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
0804835187 $7.95 1-802-773-8930
Complied by third-degree black-belt and award-winning author Susan Lynn Peterson, Legends Of
The Martial Arts Masters presents a series of great folklore tales about historical and legendary
figures associated with the martial arts. The brief, yet exciting, retellings of legendary figures will
stir
the hearts and minds of young readers with inspirational passion. With an especial appeal to
those
with an interest in the martial arts, Legends Of The Martial Arts Masters is a thoroughly engaging
and enthusiastically recommended read for all ages.
Other Lands, Other People
Land Of Morning Calm
John Stickler
Shen's Books
40951 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538
1885008228 $16.95 www.shens.com
There are very few picturebooks on Korean culture for kids, which alone makes Land Of Morning
Calm stand out for ages 7-12; but its other fine features include an organization by 19 topics
ranging
from holidays and arts to religions and home life, and beautiful visual displays of each by Soma
Han.
Land Of Morning Calm is a lively, educational and highly recommended presentation.
The Picturebook Shelf
The Henhouse
Carol Shorey Dean & Sandra Dunn
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, Maine 04843-0679
0892726091 $15.95 downeastbooks.com
The Henhouse: A Ture Story Of Life On A Maine Farm is based on a personal childhood
adventure
of author Carol Shorey in a charming, instructive story of a young girl who begs her father to let
her
help him take care of the chickens. There, young Carol encounters the sights, sounds, and smells
of
hundreds of roosters and hens -- and is pecked by aggressive roosters until her father comes to the
rescue, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her away to safety. Very highly recommended for
school and community library collections, this thoroughly entertaining picture book story is
wonderfully illustrated in watercolor artwork by Sandra Dunn.
The Thanksgiving Door
Debby Atwell
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
0618240365 $15.00 1-800-225-3362
Deftly written and colorfully illustrated by Debby Atwell, The Thanksgiving Door is the
entertaining
story of a family preparing their Thanksgiving celebration in the restaurant they own and run.
When
suddenly two strangers walk through the door unwittingly left open, the children try to scare away
the undesired customers. But Grandmother in her wisdom invites them as guests and the children
learn some sage lessons about what the Thanksgiving holiday spirit really means.
Tom Mouse
Ursula K. Le Guin & Julie Downing
Roaring Brook Press
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0761326634 $22.90 1-800-462-4703
Tom Mouse by Ursula K. Le Guin is the story of Tom, a brave young mouse who dares board a
train for the thriving city of Chicago. Tom befriends a young woman who, unlike most, does not
shriek or shoo at the sight of a mouse; a friendship blossoms, that is wonderful enough to make a
mouse dance. The soft color illustrations by Julie Downing add a friendly touch to this thoughtful
and highly commended picturebook for young readers.
Mayflower 1620
Plimoth Plantation et al.
National Geographic Society
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688
0792261429 $17.95 www.ngs.org
The collaborative effort of the Plimoth Plantation, authors Peter Arenstam, John Kemp, and
Catherine O'Neill Grace, and photographers Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson, Mayflower
1620:
A New Look At A Pilgrim Voyage is a superb picture book retelling of history for young people,
about the voyage of the Mayflower ship and the lives of the colonists who braved hardship for a
new
future. Gorgeous, full-color photographs capture reenactments of how life aboard the Mayflower
was like, and the down-to-earth text presents the events of history in detail. An enthusiastically
recommended and enthralling educational read, Mayflower 1620 is ideal for young readers
seeking
to broaden and improve their knowledge of American colonial history as well as their basic
reading
skills.
Rachel's Gift
Richard Ungar
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887766161 $19.99 tundrabooks.com
Set in Biblical times, Rachel's Gift By Richard Ungar tells of a young Jewish woman who, just as
Passover approaches, has received the special gift of a recipe for amazing and delicious matzo ball
soup. They hope that the soup's fragrance will lure Elijah the Prophet to their home, and bring
them
good fortune. Many neighbors come, but could any of these ordinary people be the great prophet?
Richard Ungar's superbly executed illustrations are awash in color and bring this spiritual picture
book tale to life in the mind's eye of young readers ages 7 to 10.
Frogazoom!
Linda S. Day & MyLinda Butterworth
EcoFiction Books
1721 Canoe Creek Road, Oviedo, FA 32766-8533
www.daytodayenterprises.com
1890905038 $16.95 1-359-9356
A collaborative story by Linda S. Day and MyLinda Butterworth, Frogazoom! is an adventurous
story about a trio of stinkbugs that have to elude a hungry frog named Og -- or become his
dinner!
Cheerfully told, with slightly loopy yet playful color illustrations by MyLinda Butterworth,
Frogazoom! is a fun and highly recommended picture book for young readers ages 4 to 8 which is
enhanced with a glossary of basic ecology facts and bog animals of Florida bogs.
A Circle Of Friends
Giora Carmi
Star Bright Books
42-26 28th Street, Suite 2C, Long Island City, NY 11101
1932065008 $15.95 1-800-788-4439
A Circle Of Friends is a warm and caring wordless story which is "written" and illustrated by
Giora
Carmi. When a young boy anonymously donates his snack to a homeless man, he begins a cycle of
goodwill that reverberates and expands in a great circle of kindness. A Circle Of Friends is
distinctive in that it is told entirely through illustrations - which have the powerful characteristic of
being in black and white with a single color highlight. A truly rapturous and inspiring picture
book,
A Circle Of Friends is strongly recommended for inclusion in school and community library
picture
book collections.
Suki's Kimono
Chieri Uegaki & Stephane Jorisch
Kids Can Press Ltd.
2250 Military Rd, Tonawanda, NY 14150
1553370848 $15.95 kidscanpress.com
Suki's Kimono is the heartwarming picture book story by Chieri Uegaki of Suki, a young girl
determined to wear her favorite blue cotton kimono to school because it is a cherished gift from
her
beloved grandmother. Suki's friend warns her that it seems weird, but young Suki is determined to
follow her own heart. A delightful tale Suki's Kimono is an exuberant story which is wonderfully
enhanced for young readers with the brightly colored illustrations of Stephane Jorisch.
Unique Monique
Maria Rousaki & Polina Papanikolaou
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
PO Box 8515, La Jolla, CA 92038-8515
1929132514 $15.95 1-800-968-1930
Unique Monique is an engaging picture book story by Maria Rousaki about a young girl who
wants
to be different - and the school uniform she has to wear doesn't help with her problem! So when
she
finds an old trunk belonging to her mother, she finds ways to bend the rules and truly stand out.
No
matter what she tries, the principal keeps banning her... until the braces a dentist appointment
places
on her teeth makes her truly "unique Monique." A lighthearted story with whimsical and
wonderful
color illustrations by Polina Papanikolaou, Unique Monique shows young readers age 5 to 9 a fun
side to having to wear teeth-straighteners.
The Deliverance Of Dancing Bears
Elizabeth Stanley
Cygnet Books/ISBS, dist.
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
1875560378 $22.50 www.isbs.com
Named an honor book of The Children's Book Council of Australia, The Deliverance Of Dancing
Bears is a wonderful picture book story written by Elizabeth Stanley for young readers having
intermediate level reading skills. This very highly recommended account is about a captive bear
who
forced to dance, and who clings to hope, even though the degradations of her daily life cause her
spirit to ebb. It is a kind-hearted peasant who liberates the bear and who reminds all of those
watching of an important moral lesson about dignity and life. Elizabeth Stanley's touching and
emotional color artwork highlights and enhances her original and involving parable.
Dinosailors
Deb Lund & Howard Fine
Harcourt Children's Books
525 B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495
0152046097 $16.00 1-800-221-2477
Dinosailors is an original, exuberant and fantastic picture book with a singsong rhyming text by
Deb
Lund and gigantic, full-color, whimsical illustrations by Howard Fine. An outrageously
entertaining
and joyfully presented picture book story with truly memorable artwork, Dinosailors fun for
reading
aloud to young dino fans and would make a welcome and popular addition to any community,
school, or family picture book collection.
Chicky Dicky's Animal Pancakes
Jennifer E. Sheehan
Bumples
37 Naromake Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854
0970095295 $15.95 www.bumples.com
A distinctively written and illustrated picture book by Jennifer E. Sheehan, Chicky Dicky's Animal
Pancakes (the fourth title in an original series about the animals from Bumpleville) finds Miss
Bumples and all of her animal friends cooperating in a joint project to make animal shaped
pancakes.
From the mischievous beaver, to the love-struck chickens, to the tail-swishing alligator, everyone
chips in with the different chores in this wonderfully entertaining tale for children ages 3 to 8.
Also
very highly recommended are the other Miss Bumples titles: Miss Bumples Lands On Earth
(09700975260, $15.95); Miss Bumples Moves To Bumpleville (0970095201, $15.95); and Griffy
Giraffe's Accident (097009521X, $15.95).
Dial/Dutton/Penguin Books
345 Hudson, New York NY 10014
1-800-847-5515 www.amazon.com
Leslie Baker's You Bad Dog! (0525471-278, $15.99) tells of large, friendly rottweiler and a
mischievous little terrier who are best friends despite conflicts. The little dog always wants to
play,
and the big dog takes the brunt of its mischief in this funny story of dog pals on the tail of
adventure.
Erica Silverman's When The Chickens Went On Strike (0525468625, $15.99) adapts a Rosh
Hashanah tale by Sholom Alichem as it tells of a boy who overhears some chickens planning a
strike.
As chickens are an essential ingredient of his Russian village custom, it's up to the boy to help the
villagers get them back. Michael Garland's Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook (0525471332,
$16.99)
tells of Zack, who is sure second grade will be boring until he meets his new teacher, who has a
knack of literally bringing stories to life. Large-size people drawings are zany and fun in this
whimsical story of literacy fostered. Also good for back-to-school is Karma Wilson's Sweet Briar
Goes To School (052527674, $16.99), the gentle story of a skunk who stinks. The other kids
make
fun of her smell; it's up to Sweet Briar to make them see her inner beauty. All are different, fun
tales.
There's A Frog In My Throat!
Loreen Leedy & Pat Street
Holiday House
425 Madison, New York NY 10017
0823417743 $16.95 holidayhouse.com
There's A Frog In My Throat! is one of the most engaging picture books received this season: an
illustrated survey of zany animal sayings, from lucky and odd ducks to one-liners about birds,
bears,
and more. Expressions are explained and the artwork is simply gorgeous in this visually packed
picturebook.
Joe-Joe's First Flight
Natasha Anastasia Tarpley & E.B. Lewis
Knopf/Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
0375810536 $15.95 1-800-726-0600
E.B. Lewis provides realistic and warm watercolors to accompany this story by Natasha Anastasia
Tarpley of segregation in the 1920s. Young Joe-Joe has always wanted to fly an airplane, but his
first lesson never seems to happen despite his father's work at the local airport. His determination
to
fly makes for a warm story for kids with good picturebook reading skills.
Small One's Adventure
Doris L. Mueller & Parker Fulton
All About Kids Publishing
6280 San Ignacio Ave., Ste. D, San Jose, CA 95119
0971027811 $16.95 www.aakp.com
Small One's Adventure is an original and gentle children's story by Doris L. Mueller about the
youngest elephant in the herd, who wants to show the bigger and older members just how
grown-up
she is - but learns the hard way that rushing into adulthood isn't the way to go, and moms and
dads
really do have a wealth of experience to draw and learn from. A thoughtful tale, brought to life
with
color artwork by Parker Fulton that evokes the plains of Africa, Small One's Adventure is a
welcome and recommended addition to family, community, and school library picture book
collections.
The Man With Bad Manners
Idries Shah
Hoopoe Books
Box 381069, Cambridge, MA 02238-1069
1883536308 $18.00 www.amazon.com
Rose Mary Santiago illustrates this first Hoopoe Books title by Idries Shah to be set in the West,
for
kids 3-8. A young boy decides to reform an ill-mannered neighbor and finds in himself a newfound
skill for resolving conflicts in this warm, inviting story of resolution.
Julia Wants A Pet
Barbro Lindgren & Eva Eriksson
R&S Books
c/o Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York 10003
912965940X $15.00 www.raben.se
Julia Wants A Pet is a gleeful picture book story by Barbro Lindgren of a young girl who years
for a
pet so much she takes a baby carriage out every day to look for one. Wild animals fly away at her
approach, yet when she meets a small boy she has inspiration. The simplistic, earthy fairy-tale
quality
of the illustrations by Eva Eriksson add visual life to this charming tale.
John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders
Christopher Canyon
Dawn Publications
PO Box 2010, Nevada City, CA 95959
158469050X $8.95 1-800-545-7475
John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders presents a picture book version of the hit song by John
Denver enhanced with and adapted text and brilliant color illustrations by Christopher Canyon.
The
charming story presents the adventures of a young girl enjoying the outside world and the thrill of
life. A rapturous experience meant to be shared between young and old, John Denver's Sunshine
On
My Shoulders is a inventive and charming tribute to a fondly memorable tune.
Freight Train/Tren De Carga
Donald Crews
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
1350 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10019
0060562021 $15.99 1-800-242-7737
A Caldecott Honor Book, Freight Train/Tren De Carga is a bilingual English/Spanish picture
book
written by Donald Cres and enhanced with his starkly minimalist yet impressive color illustrations.
Very simple phrases showing the inevitable journey of a freight train make Freight Train/Tren De
Carga a very highly recommended "read-aloud story" to share with the very young just beginning
to
grasp their first words in both languages.
It's Winter
Linda Glaser
Millbrook Press
Two Old New Milford Rd., Brookfield CT 06804
0761317597 $21.90 www.amazon.com
It's Winter is the third book in a highly recommended series of four titles on the various seasons,
and
is packed with insights about winter, beautiful cut-paper art work, and suggestions for activities
to
enhance an appreciation of the season. All this comes in the form of a first-person story of a girl
who
observes and appreciates the pleasures of winter.
Go! Go! Maria!
Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley
McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
0689832583 $16.95 SimonSaysKids.com
Go! Go! Maria! is the second picture book in the outstanding "Growing Up Stories" picture book
series written by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley. Go! Go! Maria! is a warm
and educational story about what one-year-old children are like. Following the adventures of a
young girl living the second year of her life, it has many asides teaching its readers how
one-year-old
children are, to the slow process of learning to walk, to thumb-sucking, potty training, and more.
Go! Go! Maria! is recommended for young readers as a thoroughly enjoyable and informative
read
which highlighted throughout with playful full-color illustrations. Also very strongly
recommended
for school and community library collections is the first volume in the "Growing Up Stories"
series:
Hello Benny! What It's Like To Be A Baby (0689832575, $16.95).
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140-1338
1-800-526-0275 www.amazon.com
Three whimsical, fun new books are different from the norm and will stand out among
picturebooks.
John Hegley's My Dog Is A Carrot (0763619329, $12.99) paints some absurd and fun images in
the
guise of free rhymes and a zany subject. Hegley's 'dog' is a carrot, an octopus awakens beneath
the
sea and focuses on a clock, and other odd topics will delight kids with an affection for silliness.
No
eye-catching color drawings here: just fun, outrageous topics. Timothy Basil Ering's Story Of
Frog
Belly Rat Bone (076-3613827, $16.99) provides a dark-colored picturebook with handwritten
pages
as it tells of a boy's find of a strange, wonderful box filled with magic. The boy's ignorance of his
find leads to trouble in this enticing fantasy. Martin Waddell's Hi, Harry! (0763618020, $14.99)
tells
of a very slow tortoise who wants to play with someone but his friends are all too fast. Will he
ever find a friend as slow as he? An engaging, fun easy reader.
The Biography Shelf
Tree Of Life
Peter Sis
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374456283 $18.00 1-888-330-8477
Tree Of Life is the complex biography of Charles Darwin will reach ages 8 and up: those with
good
reading skills attracted to pictures. From views of Darwin as a schoolboy to reviews of his
naturalist
theories, this uses many intricate drawings to cover Darwin's achievements no bright colors here,
just facts and images paired with solid text.
Rider In The Sky
John Hulls
Crown/Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
0375811060 $16.95 1-800-726-0600
Samuel Cody grew up on the Western frontier: as a young boy he was fascinated with kites and
years later in England re-discovered his passion for them, eventually joining the ranks of the
Wright
Brothers and other early pioneer flyers. John Hill's biography for young readers, Rider In The
Sky,
tells of Samuel Cody's many achievements and captures the underlying influences on his life.
Say It With Music
Nancy Furstinger
Morgan Reynolds
620 S. Elm St. #223, Greensboro, NC 27406
1931798125 $21.95 1-800-535-1504
This lively biography of American composer/musician Irving Berlin holds almost 130 pages of
biographical background, covering his early immigration to the US in 1893, his teen years in New
York, and his determination to make a better life through music. His many achievements make for
a
lively, encouraging read packed with plenty of information appropriate for school reports for
middle
school and advanced elementary readers.
The Poetry Shelf
Earthmates
Patricia Hubbell & Jean Cassels
Marshall Cavendish Corporation
99 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown NY 10591
0761450629 $15.95 1-800-831-9881
Earthmates is an evocative collection of brief yet lyrical poems by Patricia Hubbel celebrating the
creatures that live upon this big wide world, ranging from Canadian geese, to brilliant fireflies,
motionless barnacles, squatting toads and more. Realistic color illustrations by Jean Cassels
superbly
enhance this wonderful showcase of rhyme for all ages. Starfish: I hold you/in the stretch/of my
fingers//little brother//in our fiveness/we are/one.
The Stone Lamp
Karen Hesse & Brian Pinkney
Hyperion Books
114 Fifth Ave., 14th floor, NY, NY 10011
0786806192 $18.99 1-800-759-0190
The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories Of Hanukkah Through History is the collaborative effort of Karen
Hess and Brian Pinkney which presents eight truly moving free-verse poems wonderfully
capturing
the experiences of imagined children who lived through very real historical events during the
season
of Hanukkah. From twelfth century England, to thirteenth-century France, the infamous
Kristallnacht, and emergence of twentieth-century Israel, each voice represents difficult times,
perseverance, survival, and tradition. Slightly abstract yet vividly evocative artworks embellish
this
timeless tribute to holiday and faith. Sometimes, a flame can be utterly extinguished./Sometimes, a
flame can shrink and waver, but/sometimes a flame refuses to got out. it flares up from the faintest
ember to/illuminate the darkness,/to burn in spite of overwhelming odds.//So burns the Light of
the
Jewish people./So burn the Lights of Hanukkah.
The Music Shelf
Crayola Music Box
The Countdown Kids
Madacy Kids
Andrea Blain (publicity)
6 Lansing Square, Suite 121, Toronto, ON, Canada, M2J 1T5
056775394325 $9.98 1-416-756-2800
Crayola Music Box is comprised of two music CDS with 50 cheerful songs, a lyric booklet, a 50
page coloring book, and 8 crayola crayons to present a playful activity resource for young
children
ages 2 to 6. Enthusiastic performances of classic favorite tunes such as "The Ants Go Marching",
"Sing a Song of Sixpence", "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" and more combine with the upbeat coloring
book featuring images of dancing, happy animals for fun and relaxation making Crayola Music
Box
ideal as a rainy day activity or just for fun anytime!
The Video/DVD Shelf
All By Myself: "Taking Care Of My Pet"
Ladybug Productions/All By Myself
Andrea Blain (publicity)
59 Washington Street, #245, Santa Clara, CA 95050
www.allbymyself.com
0971543453 $14.95 1-866-408-5437
All By Myself: "Taking Care Of My Pet" is second volume of the innovative, educational, five
volume video series designed to help children ages 3 to 8 learn basic life skills. The simple steps of
feeding, grooming, and exercising a variety of animal companions are warmly illustrated with the
help of the charming animated host, Buddy the Ladybug. Highly recommended for little folks with
beloved furry household friends. 30 minutes, color. Also highly recommended is the first title in
this
outstanding, "kid friendly" series is All By Myself: Getting Dressed ($14.95).
Know The Code At School
Attainment Company Inc.
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
www.AttainmentCompany.com
1578614872 $79.00 (school version)
1-800-327-4269 www.amazon.com
Winner of the Parent's Choice 2003 Approval Award among many others, Know The Code At
School is a DVD intended for children in grades 1-6, and offers a simple social skill training
program
that, in six brief video segments, teaches young people about basic values and expected behaviors
in
an educational setting. The segments are "A Day at School" (27 min), "Dion Scores!" (13 min),
"Tameka and the Bully" (9 min), "Charles Get Teased" (13 min), "Shana and the Secret" (11 min),
and "Kristi's First Day" (10 min). An excellent introduction to the rigors and social environment
of
school life and dealing with common hardships and highly recommended for elementary school
curriculum resource library collections, there is also a very highly recommended home version
($19.00) suitable for parents to use with their children.
Make Baby Laugh!
The Make Baby Laugh! Company
PO Box 6376, Evanston, IL 60204
www.makebabylaugh.com
0972682517 $17.95 1-866-444-2487
Make Baby Laugh! is a heartwarming and entertaining 75 minute long, full-color, live-action
DVD
which is specifically meant to be shared between babies and their parents. Scenes of happy infants
and toddlers enjoying play with family members and friends promote laughter, excitement, and fun
in
this merry visual treat. Enthusiastically recommended for family Video/DVD collections, there is
also a "helpful insights" guide included to parents and their babies get the most out of this merry
video for joy and bonding.
Welcome To Northpoint
Fort Fun Productions
1211 Sunset Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46807
0974076805 $16.95 www.ftfun.com
Welcome To Northpoint is a lively and entertaining DVD for viewers ages 5 to 9 and which
blends
computer animation with miniature backgrounds in order to create a wonderful and original
adventure story for children. Set in a small town, Welcome To Northpoint shows a group of good
friends weaving grand fairy tales from the shapes of the clouds. A delightful and exuberant 27
minute viewing experience encouraging the virtues of creativity and imagination, Welcome To
Northpoint would be a welcome and popular addition to school and community library
Video/DVD
collections.
In Search Of Character: Courage
Live Wire Media
3450 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
LW-ISC-8 $69.95 livewiremedia.com
In Search Of Character: Courage is volume 8 in the "In Search Of Character" video series, which
emphasizes core virtues to help teens in grades 6-12 learn how to make respectful and responsible
life choices. A sneak peek behind the scenes at the Dr. Mike Radio Show, hosted by professional
educator Dr. Mike and the compassionate Anika Noni Rose, reveals the troubles and challenges
facing young people who learn and practice the values of good character. A discussion guide with
"how to use this video" notes is included in this thought-provoking 30 minute video about the
critical importance of cultivating the inner strength to do the right thing. The other titles ($69.95
each) comprising this highly recommended series include: Trustworthiness (LW-ISC-1); Respect
(LW-ISC-2); Responsibility (LW-ISC-3); Fairness (LW-ISC-4); Caring (LW-ISC-5); Citizenship
(LW-ISC-5); Honesty (LW-ISC-2); Diligence (LW-ISC-9); and Integrity (LW-ISC-10). The
entire
10 video set is available for $649.50 (LW-ISC-Series)
Star Spangled Baby!
Mopo Home Entertainment
$14.98 www.jukeboxadventures.com
Star Spangled Baby! is a lively and full color video for babies and toddlers ages 8 months and up.
Classic Americana songs including America the Beautiful, Jimmy Crack Corn, O When the Saints,
Yankee Doodle, and more -- all combined with engaging, colorful displays teaching little ones
about
basic shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and stars in this enriching quality
experience. Star Spangled Baby! is perfect for parent/child bonding actvities.
Fun With Colors
Fun With Languages Company
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 4546 Hialeah, FL 33014
$16.99 www.funwithlanguages.com
Intended for infants and babies ages 6 months to 48 months, Fun With Colors is an
award-winning,
multilingual DVD that helps children learn two languages by identifying objects and colors.
Helping
youngsters assimilate basic words in English and either Spanish, French, or Portuguese to a
background of relaxing classical music and interactive encouragement to recite, Fun With Colors
is
an educational joy to share and a highly recommended addition to family, preschool, kindergarten,
and day-care center Video/DVD resources.
Infantastic Lullabyes, Volume 1 & 2
V.I.E.W. Video
34 East 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010
0803026005 (volume 1) $19.98
0803026129 (volume 2) $19.98
1-212-674-5550 www.view.com
Infantastic Lullabyes: Volume 1 & 2 is a superbly composed and presented two volume set which
is
ideal for parent/child bonding. Now in a DVD deluxe edition format, each Infantastic Lullabyes
features colors, shapes, and songs to soothe babies with enjoyable tunes, simple colors and
shapes,
games to identify animals and objects, and more. A bonus birthday celebration video is included.
Encouraging learning, and promoting quality togetherness time with simple interactive exercises
meant to be shared between parent and child, Infantastic Lullabyes: Volumes 1 & 2 is
enthusiastically recommended -- especially for first-time parents of infants. Each DVD is 55
minutes
and includes thematically appropriate bonus features.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Discovering Sharks And Rays
Nancy Field & Michael Maydak
Dog-Eared Publications
Box 620863, Middleton, WI 53562-0863
0941042332 $7.95 www.dog-eared.com
The collaborative effort of author Nancy Field and illustrator Michael Maydak, Discovering
Sharks
And Rays is an brightly entertaining and informatively educational introduction to the fantastic
creatures of the deep for young readers. Facts, stickers, crossword puzzles, realistic color
illustrations and more fill the pages of this engaging, informative and curiosity-stimulating activity
book which is ideal for rainy day and extended car trip pastimes, as well as homeschooling
supplementation for Wildlife Studies curriculum segments.
The Audiobook Shelf
Soundprints
353 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851
www.amazon.com
Soundprint's "Studio Mouse" series of thick, puffy board books with CD packages will appeal to
kids ages 6 months to 5 years with a durable package which defies young ripping fingers and sets
of
rollicking songs and rhymes parents and kids alike will enjoy. If You're Happy And You Know It
(159069211X, $10.95) presents the classic nursery rhyme teaching kids how to express
happiness;
and I'm A Little Teapot (1590692039, $10.95) joins other puffy book rhyme/board book
packages
Jack Be Nimble (1590692071), Little Miss Muffet (1590692152), Hey Diddle Diddle
(1590692195)
and Rub-A Dub-Dub (1590692233, $10.95). These are all designed to promote physical and
mental
development through loved common nursery rhymes: parents who interact with their kids in this
program will find the books are fun reinforcers of key words and teaches both movement and
language through song.
Books in Series
Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Road, Broomall, PA 19008
Harold Bloom's "Bloom's Critiques" are in-depth literary techniques and reviews of both the
works
and lives of major writers should be standard reference material for any in-depth literary library:
these carefully edited texts provide powerful studies which are recommended picks for both high
school and many a college library. New additions to his Major Novelists' series: George Eliot
(7026-3), which provides a literary critique of Mill On The Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch and
Daniel Deronda, and Thomas Pychon (7030-1), surveying V, Crying Of Lot 49, Gravity's
Rainbow
and Mason & Dixon. New to his comprehensive series blending biography with critical analysis
are
Ralph Ellison (6374-7) and Albert Calus (7381-5), while three new study guides for his Major
Poets
series add A. E. Housman (7392-0), Poets Of World War I (7388-2) and E. E. Cummings
(7391-2).
College-level audiences in particular will appreciate the weightier 'Modern Critical Views' series
which offers in-depth analysis on the works of selected authors. New to this series are Thomas
Pychon (7445-5), Leo Tolstoy (7444-7), Doris Lessing (7441-2) and Norman Mailer (7442-0).
All
provide high-quality literary techniques which contrast information and provide students with fine
research and focus.
The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Shelf
The Three Vests: The New Brilliants
Robert Bowman
Smart and Smarter Publishing
PO Box 475, Orondo, Washington 98843
0971353026 $7.95 www.threevests.com
The Three Vests: The New Brilliants is an exciting, fantastic adventure story by Robert Bowman
for
young adults about Samantha Banks, Juan Ramirez, and George Luisi, three young people who
(while exploring a cave) discover a hidden Chest of Light with three arcane treasures. The Gift of
Flight, the Gift of Knowledge, and the Gift of Invisibility are all wondrous, yet they come with the
terrible responsibility to confront an horrific unknown evil. The Three Vests is recommended as
being an especially enthralling read for teens about inner strength under extraordinary
circumstances.
No culture can prosper, no society can remain intellectually free unless the citizenry values
literacy
and the arts above and beyond simple commercial exploitation.
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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