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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Show; Don't Tell!
Josephine Nobisso & Eva Montanari
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978-1806
www.GingerbreadBooks.com
0940112132 $22.95 1-631-288-5119
Show; Don't Tell!: Secrets Of Writing by author and writing expert Josephine Nobisso is a
wonderfully shows young readers ages 7 and older a diversity of writing tips and strategies that
they
can use in their own efforts. Eva Montanari's artwork is a perfect supplement to Josephine's text.
Show; Don't Tell! is enhanced for young readers with a push-button sound feature as well. Fun
and
informative, Show; Don't Tell! is unique and highly recommended.
Treasure Bay
17 Parkgrove Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080
www.webothread.com
The "We Both Read" series from Treasure Bay offers hardcover books specifically designed to
help
parents encourage their children to read. Each title invites parents and children to share the
reading
of a story by taking turns reading aloud. Parents read the more complex text on the left-hand
pages
and children read the right-hand pages which have been written at one of five early reading levels.
each title was developed with reading education specialists and are intrinsically entertaining and
engaging for young minds. To become introduced to this innovative, outstanding, unique, and
highly
recommended series, consider Lulu's Lost Shoes (1891327550, $7.99) written by Paul Blankeship
and illustrated by Larry Reinhart and tells the story of a ladybug who is late for the school bus
because she can't find her shoes! and About Dinosaurs (1891327-534, $7.99) written by dinosaur
specialist Sindy McKay, illustrated by paleo-artist Robert Walters, and is the story of several
species
of ancient creatures and why the dinosaurs went extinct (except for those that evolved into
birds).
1000 Games For Smart Kids
Teora USA, LLC
KSB Promotions (publicity)
2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 870, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
www.teorausa.com
1594960011 $14.95 1-800-431-1579
1000 Games For Smart Kids is an inexpensive, comprehensive, and very highly recommended
371-page compendium of puzzles, mazes, and clever challenges specifically designed to provide
"pencil & paper" entertainment for children ages 4 to 10. The games do more than just keeping
the
kids quiet for a few hours on a rainy day or a long car trip! As they turn the pages and work the
games, they will exercise reading and writing skills, learn about new things, and enhance fine
motor
skills and experience intellectual stimulation as they color, link dot-to-dots, spot differences,
count,
observing, finding and linking pairs, add, subtract, and involve themselves in complex problem
solving. 1000 Games For Smart Kids is ideal for "rainy day indoors" and extended car trips.
Orchard Books
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
www.scholastic.com
Michael Molloy's House On Falling Star Hill (0439677403, $16.95) presents a satisfying fantasy
story as a boy's new home brings him to a stairway to another world. His encounter with legends,
the mysterious Sarre, and a world facing new threats makes for good reading with plenty of
unpredictable twists and turns. Joseph Bruchac's well crafted story Hidden Roots (0439353580,
$16.95) tells of a father's rages and their effect on a family. Pre-teen Sonny must find the courage
to
help his mother and stand up to his father in this realistic story of family troubles. Dietlof Reiche's
Freddy In Peril (0439531551, $16.95) presents the second adventure in his 'Golden Hamster'
series
for grades 4-6, with Joe Cepeda's engaging line drawings throughout. Brilliant hamster Freddy
faces
new challenges in the form of a mad scientist who wants to experiment on him, and a myriad of
mishaps and adventures evolve.
Celebrate Cricket
Marianne Carus, Editor
Cricket Books
332 S. Michigan Ave. #110, Chicago, IL 60604
0812626958 $24.95 www.cricketbooks.net
Thirty years of stories and art from the chronicles of the popular children's magazine "Cricket"
will
thoroughly delight both parents and kids with an impressive celebration of the magazine's 30th
birthday. Here are famous authors and artists side-by-side, from the Dillons and Jane Yolen to
Shirley Hughes and more, with fine stories and poems receiving the classic illustration quality in
both
black and white and color. Celebrate Cricket is a real winner.
Studio Mouse Inc.
353 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851
Email: info@studiomouse.com
Four quite surprisingly affordable boxed set packages from Studio Mouse pair board books with a
CD to provide some exceptional Disney basic learning presentations for the very young. Each set
of
small board books/cds provides fun learning sets which encourage read-along through musical cd
embellishment. Kindness Counts provides a set of six board books with CD (1590693647,
$12.99),
Disney's First Concepts (1590693655, $12.99) uses Winnie the Pooh and friends to explore the
basics of emotions and how to handle them; a related package in the highly recommended First
Concepts series (1590693639, $12.99) uses Pooh to teach ABCs, 123s, colors and more; and
more
stories in Disney's 'Princess: early Learning' sets cover themes from Snow White, Sleeping
Beauty,
Cinderella and more, covering shapes and colors. If it's a one-volume book you seek rather than a
boxed set of mini-books, Disney carries an oversized, thick board book/cd blend of 'musical
learn-aloud' invitationals in Princess Colors (1560693701, $12.99), Princess Shapes
(1560693698,
$12.99) Pooh's ABCs (1590693671, $12.99), and Piget's 1-2-3s (156069368X, $12.99): each are
enhanced greatly by the lively audio packaging and sturdy board book presentation. Or perhaps
choose the larger packaging less thick, but no less eye-catching or sturdy in Disney's slide-open
cd/board package My Princess Treasury (15606903736, $16.99), presenting tales from three
princesses' who learn valuable lessons on behavior as they move through adventures, Big Book Of
Alphabet Songs (1560693-744, $12.99), using music and singing to learn the alphabet, or
Cindarella's Birthday (1590693752, $12.99), another slide-open surprise package which focuses
on
birthday celebrations for Cinderella. All are fine packages suitable not for library lending so much
as
parental use and gift-giving at attractive prices.
Merriam-Webster' School Dictionary
Merriam-Webster Inc.
PO Box 281, Springfield, MA 01102
0877795800 $18.95 www.m-w.com
Now in a fully revised and illustrated edition specifically designed for students in grades 9 to 11,
Merriam-Webster's School Dictionary is an essential, core, and thoroughly "kid friendly"
reference.
With more than 100,000 entries providing authoritative definitions, spellings, and
pronounciations,
more than 1,000 clear illustrations and tables, and over 15,000 useage examples, the
Merriam-Webster' School Dictionary is a crystal clear, easy-to-use resource that presents solid
information without relying on excessively small font size to strain young eyes. Also very solidly
recommended is the Merriam-Webster's Intermediate Dictionary (0877795797, $17.95) for
middle
school students in grades 5 to 8.
The Picturebook Shelf
Stella And The Berry Thief
Jane B. Mason & Loek Koopmans
Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown NY 10591
www.marshallcavendish.com
0761451234 $16.95 1-800-821-9881
Stella not only likes to eat raspberries, she also grows the best and sweetest raspberries in the
county. It's Stella's pies and preserves that win the blue ribbon prizes at the state fair every year.
But
then one summer the berries in her garden start disappearing. Stella discovers that the berry thief
is
an enormous bear! What's to be done? Stella And The Berry Thief draws from the inspiration of
author Jane Mason's own childhood picking raspberries in the summer and seeing a great many
black
bears. Soft pastel illustrations by Loek Koopmans are a perfect accompaniment to a sweetly
charming and highly recommended picturebook story for young readers ages 4 to 8.
Holly The Christmas Collie
Melissa Draper
Acres Publishing
2204 Oliver Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405
AcresPublishing@mn.rr.com
0974108138 $22.95 1-612-374-5531
Nicely illustrated by J. elise Kraveanek, Holly The Christmas Colllie is author Mellisa Draper's
debut
children's picturebook written for 2nd through 4th grade young readers. The text is involved
enough
to stimulate a child's reading ability more than most picturebooks. The story, based on true
events,
tells of a young puppy struggling to find its place among a new family. Simple, sketchy color
illustrations add a heartwarming touch to this delightful storybook, which resonates with
Christmas
spirit all year round.
Davy In The Middle
Brigitte Weninger & Eve Tharlet
North-South Books Inc.
875 Avenue of the Americas, Rm. 1901, New York, NY 10001-3507
0735819335 $15.95 www.northsouth.com
Davy In The Middle is a delightfully entertaining and enthusiastically recommended picturebook
about a young rabbit who is fed up with being the middle child. Too big to play hop-on-pop with
his
little siblings, too small to go hiking with his big brother, but always called upon to do
middle-sized
chores such as baby sitting, he decides enough is enough and runs to his hideout to sulk. But his
family truly loves him, and engineers a surprise to show just how much. Davy In The Middle
features whimsical color illustrations by Eve Tharlet and a sympathetic message by author Brigitte
Weninger to counter all-too-common middle child blues.
The Sports Shelf
Indy 500
Nancy Roe Pimm
Darby Creek Publishing
7858 Industrial Parkway, Plain City, OH 43064
www.darbycreekpublishing.com
1581960212 $17.95 1-614-873-7955
Indy 500: The Inside Track by Indy 500 by Nancy Roe Pimm includes photography from The
Indianapolis Motor Speedway enhancing a text specifically written to engage the interest of young
readers ages 9 through 12. An information-packed guideline that teaches young readers about the
basic history of the Indianapolis 500 car races, the demands placed upon race car drivers, the
mechanical improvements that have made race cars safer and speedier, the meanings of the
various
flags, and much more, Indy 500 is as fascinating and educational for adults as it is for young
people.
The no-nonsense narration does not talk down to the reader, and the splendid full-color
photographs
highlight this
engaging introduction to the fast-paced auto racing world.
Soccer Dreams
Leah Lauber
WCI Press
6967 Sunset Drive South, South Pasadena, FL 33707
WWCSoccerDreams@aol.com
0974548006 $19.99 1-727-347-4440
Twelve year old Leah Lauber was more than an enthusiastic soccer fan -- she also landed a job as
a
Junior Reporter for the St. Petersburg Times covering the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cub.
Soccer
Dreams is the unique story of how for one year, a young girl covred the story of how the team
prepared for the event, and how they went on to win this prestigious soccer event. Written with
the
help and assistance of her family (Leah's yonger sister Nicole and her grandmother, Nanny Pat
Lauber, transcribed hours of Leah's interviews and recorded comments during seven different
sessions with almost every member of the women's team, and her mother, Rya, worked on the
book's cover design and her fahter sorted through hundreds of photos and scanned them into the
computer for use in illustrating the thoroughly engaging text), Soccer Dreams is "must" reading
for
all young soccer enthusiasts and would be a popular addition to any gradeschool, junior high, or
community library Sports collection.
Positively For Kids, Inc.
811 Kirkland Avenue, Suite 200, Kirkland, WA 98033
1-425-285-0428 www.positivelyforkids.com
Positively For Kids has published a new autobiographical series of books for children based on the
true life stories of famous athletes in diverse sports including football, basketball, baseball, etc. In
each title, author Greg Brown teams up with a particular sports star to tell an anecdotal style life
story that will engage a young readers total attention from first page to last. The twenty-six,
photographically illustrated and "kid friendly" titles ($15.95 each) currently comprising this
impressive and recommended series for school and community library sports and bibliography
collections include: Troy Aikman: Things Change; Bonnie Blair: A Winning Edge; Drew Bledsoe:
Make The Right Call; Mike Cameron: It Takes A Team; David Eckstein: Have Heart; John
Elway:
Comeback Kid; Doug Flutie: Never Say Never; Eric Gagne: Break Barriers; Brad Johnson: Play
With Passion; Eric Lindros: Pursue Your Goals; Dan Marino: First & Goal; Edgar Martinez:
Patience Pays; Gary Payton: Confidence Counts; Scottie Pippen: Reach Higher; Kirby Puckett:
Be
The Best You Can Be; Cal Ripken Jr.: Count Me In; Alex Rodriguez: Hit A Grand Slam; Kerri
Strug: Heart Of Gold; Sheryl Swoopes: Bounce Back; Mo Vaughn: Follow Your Dreams; Kurt
Warner: Keep Your Head Up; Kristi Yamaguchi: Always Dream; Steve Young: Forever Young;
Vince Carter: Choose Your Course; Eric Gagne: Break Barriers; and Brad Johnson: Play With
Passion.
The Alphabet Shelf
The Hidden Alphabet
Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press
Two Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
0761319417 $17.95 1-800-462-4703
It's hard to peg this presentation: Laura Vaccaro Seeger's The Hidden Alphabet's fold-out pages
mean it's unlikely to remain durable enough for library lending, yet its unique approach to an
artistic
look at the alphabet deems it of interest to an older audience than the usual alphabet book would
appeal to. Nonetheless, fans of artistic alphabet presentations will find The Hidden Alphabet easily
goes far beyond the usual a-b-c primer, inviting fresh perspectives on alphabet art.
A Is For Ark
Colleen & Michael Glenn Monroe
Storytime Press
KSB Promotions (publicity)
427 W. Main Street, Brighton, MI 48116
www.storytimepress.com
1889140171 $17.95 1-866-897-2665
Collaboratively written for children ages 4 and older by Colleen and Michael Glenn Monroe, A Is
For Ark: Noah's Journey is beautifully illustrated by Michael's four-color artworks throughout. An
alphabet picture book that associates each letter with an item or creature vital to Noah's
painstaking
preparations to weather the flood, A Is For Ark concludes with a brief version of the classic
Biblical
story in which Noah sends out a dove to discover dry land. A powerful blend of education and
parable, enriched with soft, friendly images.
The Fairytale/Folklore Shelf
Classic Fairy Tales
Scott Gustafson
Greenwich Workshop Press
c/o Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
086713089X $19.95 www.workman.com
Gustafson's previous books have proven long-time best-seller packing in rich art detail and classic
stories, and his Classic Fairy Tales is no exception, featuring ten top classic fairy tales edited by
the
artist and balancing fantasy prince/princess settings with real adventures. Recommended for
parents
and chiuldren as a solid read-aloud choice.
The Magical Worlds Of Harry Potter
David Colbert
Berkley Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
042519891X $12.95 www.penguin.com
Now expanded to include the latest Harry Potter title, Order Of The Phoenix, David Colbert's
collection of myths, legends and facts surrounding Harry Potter will delight any interested in the
sources of Harry's fantasy adventures. Harry Potter fans of all ages will find Magical Worlds Of
Harry Potter packed with fascinating facts about wizards, spells, and fantasy worlds relating to
Potter. Originally published in 2002, this new and expanded edition includes over sixty pages of
significantly updated material.
The Answered Prayer
Sharlya Gold & Mishael Maswari Caspi
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
www.jewishpub.org
0827607725 $9.95 1-800-234-3151
The Answered Prayer And Other Yemenite Folktales is a compilation of twelve Yeminite Jewish
stories selected from Mishael Maswari Caspi's extenstive collection of hundreds of such tales, and
translated into English when they were adapted by Sharlya Gold for young readers. Nicely
illustrated
in black and white byMarjory Wunsch, these Yeminite Jewish folktales include: The Wanderer;
Ovediah's Fortune; The King's Three Questions; The dreamers; Moshe the Miser; The Nagging
Wife; The Purchase; The Woodcutter; Ya'ish and the Protector; Elijah's Mercy; The Three Wise
Acts; and the title story, The Answered Prayer. This wonderfully presented and highly
recommended
collection is enhanced for young readers (as well as their parents and teachers) with a glossary of
yemenitie words and phrases, and a pronunciation guide to Yemenite names.
The Fiction Shelf
Blow Out The Moon
Libby Koponen
Little, Brown
1271 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0316614432 $16.95 1-800-759-0190
Feisty Libby leaves her New York home to move to the English country with her family, finding
herself anything but the 'proper lady' they desire. Her search for adventure in cold England, and
her
confrontation with a stuffy English school replete with proper English mannerisms, comes alive in
Blow Out The Moon, a tale of surprising adventures and growth.
Feed
M.T. Anderson
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140-1338
www.candlewick.com
0763622591 $7.99 1-800-526-0275
Titus is a teen who can no longer read, write or think for himself: a transmitter implanted into his
brain has taken away his decision-making processes and created a very directed world and life.
His
journey to the Moon to have fun leads to an encounter with Violet, a girl who challenges Titus'
life
and who is fighting the feed they all depend on. It is an engrossing story evolves.
Tyrconnel
Charles S. Furtney
The Local History Company
112 North Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
www.TheLocalHistoryCompany.com
0971183538 $17.95 1-412-362-2294
Enhanced with maps of the area, sketches, and photos showing the original Tyrconnel and
neighboring Covington Park Maryland farms, Tyrconnel: An Antebellum Adventure Along The
C&O Canal by Charles Furtney is the thrilling story of Army Lieutenant Jeff Shirley set out in
1859
on a secret mission to investigate mysterious and violent activity along the C&O Canal at the
Tyrconnel farm in the vicinity of Harpers Ferry, Maryland. There the young lieutenant encounters
John Brown and his band of rebels in their destined appointment with history on the eve of the
American civil war. A superbly written history fiction, author Charles Furtney pays meticulous
attention to history detail making Tyrconnel a welcome and highly recommended addition to any
school or community library collection.
Emily & The Intergalactic Lemonade Stand
Ian Smith & Tyson Smith
Amaze Ink/SLG Publishing
577 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
0943151961 $12.95 www.slavelabor.com
Emily is a little girl with a lemonade stand, a giant robot named Juicer, and a desire to own a
pony.
But apparently that lemonade stand is on one of the most prized pieces of real estate in the
universe!
Aliens are invading the earth and Emily is the only person who can defeat them! The collaborative
effort of Ian and Tyson Smith, Emily & The Intergalactic Lemonade Stand is a rollicking good
"comic book style" read for children, especially grades 2 through 5.
Fire Runner
Susie Yakowicz
JESS Press
PO Box 22521, Eagan, MN 55122
0965254631 $9.95 www.jesspress.com
It's 1893 and twelve-year-old Frank Cummings wants to play baseball but a farming accident left
him
unable to run. Then that royal pain Will Parker shows up to ruin Frank's summer. But Frank
stumbles across a secret about Will's family that will change everything -- just when Will becomes
trapped in a hardware story and a massive fire breaking out -- the worst in the history of Fargo's
history -- and it's up to Frank to save his nemesis. Fire Runner is a very nicely written and
thoroughly entertaining historical novel which is ideal for a young readers entertainment.
Dreadful Sorry
Kathryn Reiss
Harcourt
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
0152050876 $6.95 www.harcourtbooks.com
Nightmares can't turn real or can they? Teen Molly has always been plagued with nightmares of
drowning to the point that she jeopardizes her high school graduation and perfect academic
records by refusing to get into the water. When one of the boys in her dreams turns up in the real
world and nearly drowns her, Molly flees to her stepmother and father's new home in Maine only
to find the past follows closely behind. Kathryn Reiss has made a name for herself in previous
tales
of timeslip and supernatural events and Dreadful Sorry represents another powerful contribution
to
the genre.
The Fish In Room 11
Heather Dyer
Chicken House/Scholastic
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
0439579759 $15.95 www.scholastic.com
Toby has always lived at the hotel by the sea, where he's grown up as an abandoned child. His
meeting with Eliza Flot and her mermaid family complicates his life, however: soon Toby finds his
secret more than he can handle on his own, and changes begin. The Fish In Room 11 is a truly
endearing and whimsical story of a most unusual friendship.
Dell/Delacorte/Knopf/Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/teens
A number of new leisure read choices will attract teens year-round with notable plots and
unpredictable moments. Zilpha Keatley Snyder's Spyhole Secrets (0440417-082, $4.99) tells of
Hallie, who is having troubles facing her father's sudden death, a move to a strange old mansion,
and
new school. Her discovery of a forbidden attic 'spy hole' which allows her to peep into another life
not only takes her away from a depressing new life; it helps her focus on the needs of others in
crisis.
Add Snyder's usual touch of supernatural overtones and you have a different, moving story. Jan
Mark's science fiction story Useful Idiots (0385750234, $15.95) is set in a futuristic society of
2255
and presents a United Kingdom flooded by slow climate changes. A young graduate student's
discovery of a rare human skull relic leads him to an aboriginal tribe's strange experiment. The
plot is
complex and winding: mature, older teens are recommended readers. Meg Rosoff's How I Live
Now
(0385746776, $16.95) tells of war which breaks out in the 21st century, affecting a teen whose
visit
to little- known relatives in England becomes a desperate attempt to build family relationships and
survive in a failing world. Absolutely riveting. Christopher Paolini's Eragon (0375826688, $18.95)
provides an in-depth adventure story recommended for advanced young adult fans of fantasy.
Eragon's discovery of a polished blue stone in the forest brings a dragon hatchling to his life and
a
confrontation with a new world of magic and power. Author Paolini himself has long loved
science
fiction and fantasy stories and was just 15 when he wrote Eragon and self-published it with his
family's help: you'd never guess his age from the complex, polished result. Melissa Lion's Swollen
(0385746423, $15.95) is also a first novel: this telling of a woman searching for true love.
Samantha
not only can't seem to find real romance; she simply doesn't fit into the world and has a reputation
for being an average, 'easy' girl until a new boy's attention offers her a cance at a real
relationship.
Mitali Perkins' Monsoon Summer (038573123X, $15.95) tells of California-born Jasmine, who
heads to India during the monsoon season on a family trip. Visiting her mother's native country
isn't
Jasmine's idea of a great summer vacation, especially since it revolves around her mother's
volunteer
work but her growing relationship with an Indian girl changes both her life and her self-centered
focus. Nicola Morgan's Fleshmarket (038573154X, $15.95) deftly blends an historical 1822
setting
with the story of a boy who witnesses his mother's agonizing death at the hands of a savage
surgeon.
Mature teens will find this a heart-wrenching historical story of a slum boy who discovers years
later
the doctor is trafficking in bodies for experiments and will find Morgan's exacting story of
Edinburgh to be riveting if not wrenching. Bindi Babes by Narinder Dhami (0385731-779,
$14.95)
presents Amber, Jazz and Geena three sisters with reputations for being the coolest in school,
who
hide the grief of their mother's death. An aunt from India invites herself into their household at
their
father's okay and shakes their carefully constructed defenses: if only they can get her out of their
home by marrying her off, life can return to normal arm's-length. A funny story of self-defenses in
the face of grief. Sue Limb's Girl, 15, Charming But Insane (0385732147, $15.95) takes the form
of
a personals ad and a funny self-assessment by a teen of her own attributes and penchant for love.
Jess Jordan has a tendency to complicate her life: anticipate humor throughout her story.
Don't Touch Anything
James Valentine
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689868723 $14.95 simonsayskids.com
Playstation and X-box have nothing over the toy of the future: a time-travel device which allows
for
visits to the past. There's only one problem with Theo's enjoyment of the latest model: it appears
to
be defective, and his interactions with peoples of the past increasingly holds dangers of changing
the
future. The debut titles in the newe "Jump-Man Rule" series by James Valentine, Don't Touch
Anything provides quick action and unpredictable twists of plot, including romance, making it a
most unusual, satisfying adventure story recommended for ages 8-12.
Mystery Of The Missing Candlestick
June Weltman
Mayhaven Publishing
PO Box 557, Mahomet, IL 61853
www.mayhavenpublishing.com
1878044982 $23.95 1-217-586-4493
Two high school seniors drive to St. Augustine Florida in search of adventure but instead find a
mystery which revolves around an elderly man, a missing candlestick, and a Nancy Drew-like teen
investigator sure she can gain insights where the police have failed. Fans of Nancy Drew will find
the
in the Mystery Of The Missing Candlestick, June Weltman quite deftly paints an intriguing
protagonist whose determination to uncover clues is unceasing.
The Black Brothers
Lisa Tetzner & Hannes Binder
Front Street
862 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
1932425047 $16.95 frontstreetbooks.com
Black and white graphic novels are not typical publications for teens, but Lisa Tetzner's The Black
Brothers will surprise you: it most definitely is for this younger audience, revolving around the
story
of 13-year-old Giorgio who is sold to a chimney sweep in the city by a desperately poor father.
Giorgio has a secret society and a survival plan in this historical story of the 19th century, when
poor farmers sold their children across the Swiss-Italian border to work as sweeps.
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
www.scholastic.com
Scholastic has produced a heady stream of wonderful young adult fiction titles perfect for leisure
reading: captivating covers draw readers to unusual plots and strong characters. Alison Pollett's
Nobody Was Here (0439583942, $15.95) comes from a Manhattan author who experience many
of
the qualities character Penelope demonstrates. Set in 1981, Nobody Was Here tells of a prep
school
attendee who enters 7th grade facing too many new experiences, from the alienation of a former
best
friend to a new campus and class structure. Penelope's answer: drift further from a reality which
doesn't accept her. Anne Provoost's In The Shadow Of The Ark (0439442346, $17.95) comes
from
a Dutch author with prior successes to her name: Re Jama's family is forced to flee their home in
the
marshes, which is being flooded, to a new desert environment there to find a boat frame
abandoned. Romance and Biblical implications blend in a moving, different, entertaining story.
Elizabeth Kay's Back To The Divide (04396-34105, $15.95) features a classy 'divided cover' front
which opens to tell of a new fantasy adventure involving Felix, the return of villain Snakewood,
and
a threat to Felix's own parents. Swift action in the moving Back To The Divide sequel. Chris
Wooding's Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray (0439546567, $16.95) comes from a British author who
presents a fine story of early London haunting. A witch hunter tracks down the creates who lurk
in
old London, until an encounter with the beautiful but possessed Alaizabel changes his life and
vocation. Excellent surreal images abound in Haunting Of Alaizabel Cray. Jamison Findlay's The
Blue Roan Child (043962-7524, $16.95) tells of an orphan girl who lives and works among the
horses in the king's stables and is especially connected to a beautiful mare. Her quest to save her
beloved horse friend involves a challenge to trust in Blue Roan Child. M.T. Anderson's Game Of
Sunken Places (0439416-604, $16.95) comes from a notable writer and children's picture book
illustrator and tells of Brian andGregory, whose invitation to stay at a distant relative's strange
mansion involves them in a dangerous board game adventure. Trolls and other challenges mark a
tongue-in-cheek story filled humor and fun in Game Of Sunken Places. The new Jenny Nimmo
Charlie Bone title Charlie Bone And The Invisible Boy (0439545269, $9.95) will be a welcome
add
to the prior three books, which have claimed a growing audience of fans. Here Charlie encounters
a
new art teacher, a new student, and more strange powers involving invisibility. Charlie Bone And
The Invisible Boy does not disappoint! Dar Williams' Amalee (0439395-631, $16.95) is a
surprising
departure for an accomplished musician and songwriter: Dar Williams presents the story of
Amalee,
facing an increasingly complicated world of disorder and new changes when her father becomes
seriously ill. The first-person narrator brings readers into Amalee's life and concerns. Sally Prue's
The Devil's Toenail (0439486343, $16.95) tells of Stevie's chance to impress the new school gang
by setting fire to something. Stevie is afraid of fire, until a strange stone with special powers
brings
out the worst in him. The Devil's Toenail holds many moving moments and plots centering on
good
and evil conflicts on many levels. Blue Balliett and Brett Helquist's Chasing Vermeer
(0439372941,
$16.95) holds an odd cover art which invites kids to investigate further: when they do, they will
discover the story of unexplainable occurrences which bring Petra and Calder together; from the
vanishing of an invaluable Vermeer painting to a mysterious underground world. An intriguing
first
novel of investigation and supernatural implications. Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black return The
Spiderwick Chronicles to a new chapter with Book 4, The Ironwood Tree (0689859392, $9.95) .
Riddles, discoveries, and mysteries involve Simon, Jared and others in a plot which holds fantasy
and
satisfying twists and turns.
The Early Reader Shelf
The Pepins And Their Problems
Polly Horvath
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square W., NY, NY 10003
0374358176 $16.00 www.fsgkidsbooks.com
Polly Horvath's Pepin Family is anything but a usual family group: they get stuck on their roof,
searches for cheese in a cow which can only produce lemonade, hosts a 'neighbor-off' complete
with
dog throwers, and generally introduce a zany edge to living. Add Marilyn Hafner's fun black and
white drawings and you have The Pepins And Their Problems, a fine middle grade reader kids will
love.
The Aliens Are Coming!
Lisa Thiesing
Dutton
345 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0525472770 $13.99 www.penguin.com
In Lisa Thiesing's The Aliens Are Coming!, Peggy the Pig hears increasingly alarming radio
reports
about aliens who are coming closer and closer to her beloved home and wonders if there's more
she can do than locking the doors. Kids ages 4-6 will find this story totally engaging, holding 32
pages of action and color drawings which highlight her adventure.
Fitch & Chip: Who's Afraid Of Granny Wolf?
Lisa Wheeler
Atheneum
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0689849524 $14.95 www.simonsayskids.com
Lisa Wheeler's Fitch & Chip: Who's Afraid Of Granny Wolf? is a Level 3 'Ready to Read' chapter
book which focuses on enriching vocabulary and providing longer chapters to prior chapter reader
fans here adding colorful drawings by Frank Ansley to embellish the story of a fox who has a
piggy
friend over to dinner. Chip sees Granny Wolf DOES have very long teeth, and he's worried he'll
turn
up at the dinner table as more than a guest
Majesty From Assateague
Harvey Hagman
Tidewater Publishers
c/o Cornell Maritime Press
PO Box 456, Centreville, MD 21617
0870335529 $8.95 1-800-638-7641
Fans of Henry's Misty and other horse stories won't want to miss Harvey Hagman's appealing
Majesty From Assateague, including black and white illustrations by David Aiken and 76 pages of
action. Michael's parents were killed in a car accident and he's temporarily lost the use of his legs,
ending his soccer team involvements, so a concerned grandfather brings the boy to Assateague
Island, home to a herd of wild ponies, where one special pony captures his attention and
revitalizes
his interest in life. A gentle story of recovery and animal affection evolves.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd St, NY, NY 10022-5299
0060566256 $29.95 1-800-242-7737
Stephen Briggs performs The Wee Free Men, a fine unabridged story of Discworld in an engaging
audio recommended for young adult and adult listener alike. Armed with only a frying pan and
good
sense, would-be witch Tiffany is slated to be the defender of her home against the monsters of
Fairyland. Her journey into the forbidden kingdom will lead her against the forces of evil and on
the side of the unlikely Wee Free Men, a clan of tiny sheep-stealing six-inch-tall blue men. Briggs
adds a powerful narrative voice, here.
Listening Library, Inc.
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 www.amazon.com
Two excellent new guides from this Random House audiobook imprint are recommended picks
for a wide age range from audio cd fans in grades 7 to adult. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Shiloh
(14000-85004, $14.99) receives Peter Macnicol's warm and engrossing voice as it tells of a young
boy who rescues a dog in trouble against all odds. The story simply comes alive under audio
treatment as does E.L. Konigsburg's classic From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil Frankweiler
(140-0085020, $14.99), telling of a pre-teen who decides to run away from home to New York
City's Metro Museum of Art. Enjoy Jan Miner's talented actress background and voice, which
enhances The Mixed Up Files with classic dramatic embellishments as the two children make
good
on their museum hideaway plans and face an added mystery.
Books in Series
The Creative Company
123 S. Broad St., Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-445-6209 fax 507-388-2746
A new "What in the World?" series from The Creative Company debuts two simply outstanding
titles highlighted by a lyrical text enhanced with a superbly designed and implemented artwork
that
will totally engage the attention and interest of young readers grades 7 through 9. The Light Bulb
(1583412719, $19.95) by Jennifer Findel examines one of the 19th century's most influential and
culture changing inventions. The Mona Lisa (1583412727, $19.95) by Jill Kalz explores the story
behind one of the most famous paintings in the world, along with its creator, the famous inventor,
artist, and scientist, Leonardo da Vinci. Strongly recommended acquisitions for both school and
community library collections, both titles are hallmarked with a timeline and a survey of
contemporary events around the world which provide young readers with a genuine sense of
where
the Mona Lisa painting and the electric light bulb fit in terms of an historical context.
Morgan Reynolds Publishers.
620 S. Elm St. #223, Greensboro, NC 27406
1-800-535-1504 morganreynolds.com
Kids in grades 5-8 will find these fine biographical sketches suitable for report material, containing
plenty of detail and exciting facts. Dnna Getzinger and daniel Felsenfeld's Goerge Frideric Handel
And Music For Voices (1931798230, $24.95) tells of the life of Handel, a beloved composer of
the
18th century who toured around Europe before making his name in opera. His growing reputation
in
the art world was only preceded by his growing reputation as a benefactor of the arts, as Donna
Getzinger and Daniel Felsenfeld explore. Richard Wagner And German Opera (1931798249,
$24.95) also explores the life and contributions of a famous opera writer who both revolutionized
the art and who seduced the wives of his close friends. Getzinger and Felsenfeld again provide a
moving biographical sketch couched in the atmosphere and politics of Wagner's times. Their
survey
of Johannes Brahms And The Twilight Of Romanticism (1931798214) reveals an artist who spent
his life in the shadow of contemporary Beethoven, seeking to compose works in the style of the
master, yet ushering in a new era of modernizing traditional music forms. All three are highly
recommended pick for any solid music biography collection. Younger readers in grades 4-6 will
find
Earle Rice Jr.'s Point Of No Return: Tonkin Gulf And The Vietnam War (1931798168, $21.95)
offers more specific detail on the battle than most general books aimed for this audience but it
provides a vivid focus on just how the U.S. became embroiled in Vietnam, and should not be
missed.
Peggy Caravantes' An American In Texas: The Story Of Sam Houston (1931798192, $21.95)
tells
of one of the most colorful and under-covered characters in US history, who became a young
military hero only to find himself in isolation after his wife suddenly left him. Choosing to live an
isolated life with the Cherokee, he later became pivotal in the war to break Texas away from
Mexico. Cervantes also writes movingly in Marcus Garvey: Black Nationalist (1931798141,
$21.95), providing a fine biographial survey of the politics and life of Garvey. All are
recommended
picks.
Lerner Publications
241 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1607
1-800-328-4929 www.lernerbooks.com
Three outstanding nonfiction series for young readers from Lerner Publications are strongly
recommended as core additions to school and community library system collections. The new
second edition of Lerner's eight volume "Visual Geography Series" is offers a sixth grande reading
level and an updated text that will engage the interest of students in grades 5 through 12.
Enhanced
with impressive full color photography; maps, a glossary, timeline, index, table of contents,
bibliography, and lists for further reading, each individual title includes regional recipes, famous
people, sights to see, informational websites and more. The titles comprising this remarkably
informed and informative series include: Cambodia In Pictures (0822519-941, $20.95); Colombia
In
Pictures (082-2519968, $20.95); Ghana In Pictures (08-22519976, $20.95); Ivory Coast In
Pictures
(0822519925, $20.95); Guatemala In Pictures (0822519984, $20.95); Peru In Pictures
(0822519992, $20.95); Spain In Pictures (0822519933, $20.95); and United Kingdom In Pictures
(0822519-95X). Lerner's "Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks" are ideal for aspiring young cooks ages
9
through 16 which blend a background of regional information with easy-to-prepare and
thoroughly
delicious recipes that can be accomplished in any home economics classroom or family kitchen.
Replete with cooking and safety tips, as well as a metric conversion chart, the four titles
comprising
this impressive culinary quartet include Cooking The Brazilian Way (0822541114, $18.95);
Cooking
The Indonesian Way (0822541270, $18.95); Cooking The Turkish Way (0822541238, $18.95);
Cooking The Cuban Way (0822-541297, $18.95); and . Lerner's "Life on a Farm" series is
specifically written by Judy Wolfman and illustrative with color photography by David Lorenz
Winston to interest children reading on a third grade level of comprehensive with an interest level
appropriate to Kindergarten through fourth grade students. This charming four title series
includes
Life On A Chicken Farm (1575051915, $17.95); Life On ADairy Farm (1575051907, $17.98);
Life
On A Sheep Farm (1575051923, $17.95); Life On An Apple Orchard (1575051931, $17.95). All
of
the titles in each of these three superbly presented series are distinguished with a "reader friendly"
text enhanced with lively colored illustrations and would also hold a great appeal for
homeschooling
parents seeking to augment their own curriculums with worthwhile materials.
Capstone Press
PO Box 669, Mankato, MN 56002-0669
1-800-747-4992 www.capstonepress.com
The "World Mythology" series (0736825-622, $149.50) from the Capstone Press' Bridgestone
Books imprint is written at a second to third grade reading level and a grades two through five
interest level. Featuring full color illustrations, historical photographs, maps, charts, contextual
definiations of unfamilar terms, a glossary, thematically appropriate internet sits, a bibliography, a
table of contents, and an index, the ten titles comprising this superbly presented and confidently
recommended series for school and community library Mythology/Folklore and "Greco/Roman
History" collections includes Aeneas; Athena; Cyclopes; Diana; Hades; Hercules; Odysseus;
Poseidon; Venus; and Zeus. The "Going to School In History" series (0736808787, $143.58)
from
the Capstone Press' Blue Earth Books imprint is a unique, six volume series showing young
readers
grades 3 through 4 what it was like going to school during differnet times and eras of American
history. This superbly informative and illustrated series includes Going To School During The
Civil
Rights Movement; Going To School During The Civil War: The Confederacy; Going To School
During The Civil War: The Union; Going To School During The Great Depression; Going To
School In Colonial America; and Going To School In Pioneer Times. Young readers will learn
how
long the school year lasted, along with the games, crafts, and activities that students from each of
the time periods covered enjoyed as part of their school experience.
Crabtree Publishing Company
350 Fifth Avenue, #3308, NY, NY 10118
1-800-387-7650 www.crabtreebooks.com
"Disaster Alert" is a new series from the Crabtree Publishing Company specifically designed to
appeal to young readers ages 7 to 10. The focus of this inherently fascinating introduction to the
science that lies behind the creation of various natural disasters is what makes this series have a
particularly recommended appeal for family, school and community library "Nature &
Environmental
Studies" collections. The six titles comprising this distinctive series include Paul Challen's Volcano
Alert! (0778716023, $8.95) and Hurricane And Typhoon Alert! (077871-6074, $8.95); Wendy
Scavuzzo's Tornado Alert! (0778-716031, $8.95); Shilpa Mehta-Jones' Earthquake Alert!
(07787160-4X, $8.95); Lynn Peppas' Severe Storm And Blizzard Alert! (0778716058, $8.95) and
Wildfire Alert! (0778716066, $8.95). Enhanced with full color photography and illustrative
drawings, each individual title also informs the readers about the people who study, forecast, and
observe these phenomena in action; how to stay safe during a natural disaster (including what
goes
into an emergency kit); and provides a simple activity or suggestion for their own
observations.
Weigl Publishers Inc.
350 - 5th Avenue, #3304, NY, NY 10118
1-866-649-3445 www.weigl.com
The new and illustrated "Zoo Life" series (1590361482, 496.60) from Weigl Publishers is based
on
National Science Education Standards with each individual title of this six volume set following
the
life cycle of animals born at an American zoo. This highly recommended series include Project
Tiger
(Indianapolis Zoo); Project Elephant (Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium); Project Orangutan
(Memphis Zoo); Project Hippopotamus (Toledo Zoo); Project Polar Bear (Hogle Zoo, Utah); and
Project Otter (Saint Louis Zoo). Young readers grades 2 to 4 will be introduced to surprising
facts
called "Brain Boosters"; zoo issues, rules, and jobs; as well as animal related folk tales. Each
28-page book is enhanced with websites, information about animal organizations, a glossary, and
an
index.
Picture Window Books
5115 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 232, Minneapolis, MN 55416
1-877-845-8392 www.picturewindowbooks.com
The "Growing Things" series (1404801-065, $95.70) from Picture Window Books is hallmarked
by
colorful, cheerful artwork fully supporting an informative, "kid friendly" text ideal for children
ages
4 to 8, and preschool through second grade. These nonfiction picturebooks are enhanced with fun
and fascinating facts, diagrams, glossaries, and age-appropriate activities. The six titles comprising
this very strongly recommended series by author Susan Blackaby and illustrator Charlene DeLage,
for family, daycare center, school, and community library collections includes Buds And
Blossoms:
A Book About Flowers; Catching Sunlight: A Book About Leaves; Green And Growing: A Book
About Plants; Plant Packages: A Book About Seeds; Plant Plumbing: A Books About Roots And
Stems; and The World's Largest Plants: A Book About Trees.
D. W. Ink Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 5470, Huntsville, AL 35814
1-256-837-7788 Cwest200@aol.com
Written and illustrated by the team of C. Denise West Jones and Stephania Pierce Darby, the first
two volumes of a planned six picturebook series for young readers has been launched with the
publication of Koko And Friends: Born To Play--Destined To Win! (1892313006, $12.95) and
Koko And Friends: Friends??? Oh, Really!!! (1892313014, $12.95). Using anthropomorphized
ants
as their story characters, these are picturebooks with a social message. In Koko And Friends:
Born
To Play--Destined To Win! children will learn that in spite of what other people may say about
them, they are nonetheless very special and can accomplish great things in their lives. In Koko
And
Friends: Friends??? Oh, Really!!! the subject of peer pressure and choosing friends wisely is
stressed.
Recommended for family and community librry collections, the illustrations are of a color
cartoon-like quality and nicely embellish the simply and accessible text. Both books would make
excellent "read along" opportunitues for parent/child bonding while helping young minds grasp
the
concept of how important it is to do what is right regardless of the circumstances or the influence
of
others.
Rosen Publishing Group
29 East 21st Street, NY, NY 10010
1-800-237-932 www.powerkidspress.com
Under the Rosen Publishing Group's "Power Kids Press" imprint, three informative American
History series are ideal acquisition choices for community and school library high/low collections
for
young readers grades three through six needing a reading level of a middle second grade degree of
difficulty. "European Colonies in the Americas" (0823972836, $74.70) is a six title series by
Lewis
K. Parker exploring the reasons and effects of the European colonization of the Americas. The
photograhically illustrated individual titles include Dutch Colonies In The Americas; English
Colonies In The Americas; Portuguese Colonies In The Americas; Russian Colonies In The
Americas; and Spanish Colonies In The Americas. Photographically illustrated, the six volume
"Westward Ho!" series (0823972852, $103.50) by Emily Raabe consists of Buffalo Soldiers And
The Western Frontier; The Gold Rush: California Or Bust!; The Mexican-American War;
Pioneers:
Life As A Homesteader; Thomas Jefferson And The Louisiana Purchase; and The U.S. Cavalry
And
The indian Wars. The six titles comprising Arlan Dean's "Famous American Trails" series
(0823972895, $103.50) features The Morman Pioneer Trails: From Nauvoo, Illinois, to The
Great
Salt Lake, Utah; The Old Spanish Trail: From Santa Fe, New Mexico, To Los Angeles,
Calfironia;
The Oregon Trail; From Independence, Missouri, To Oregon City, Oregon; The Overland Trail:
From Atchison, Kansas, To Ft. Bridger, Wyoming; The Santa Fe Trail; From Independence,
Missouri, To Santa Fe, New Mexico; and The Wilderness Road; From The Shenandoah Valley To
The Ohio River. Ideal and strongly recommended additions to school and community library
American History collections, all of the individual titles in these three series are enhanced with an
index, a word count, a "Note to Librarian", and a listing of additional resources for further
study.
Mitchell Lane Publishers
1104 Kelly Drive, Newark, DE 19711
1-800-814-5484 www.mitchellane.com
There are now forty titles in the Mitchell Lane Publishers "Unlocking the Secrets of Science"
(1584151633, $718.00) series of books each of which profiles a 20th Century scientists in the
field
of medicine, technology, and science. With an interest level for young readers grades 4 to 10, and
a
vocabulary/reading level of grades 5 to 6, the individual titles are uniformly provided with a
chronology; a "Timeline of Discover"; a glossary; a bibliography for further studies; an index; and
thematically relevant websites. Filled with anecdotal information, as well as full-page, captioned,
black-and-white photography, the newest additions to this very highly recommended science
biography series include Linus Pauling And The Chemical Bond; Willem Einthoven; Edwin
Hubble
And The Expanding Universe; Henry Ford And The Assembly Line; Enrico Fermi And The
Nuclear
Reactor; Otto Hahn And The Story Of Nuclear Fission; Charles Richter And The Story Of The
Richter Scale; Philo T. Farnsworth: The Life Of TV's Forgotten Inventor; John R. Pierce: Pioneer
In
Satellite Communications; Lise Meitner And The Atomic Age. It should also be noted that any
individual series title can be acquired separately at $17.95 each for those school and community
libraries that have previously acquired earlier titles in this series and would like to complete their
collections.
Goblin Fern Press
3809 Mineral Point Road , Madison, WI 55705
1-888-670-2665 www.GoblinFernPress.com
Illustrated with simple, watercolor drawings by Tom Lowes, the new "Casey's World" series by
Kate
Stormer is a trilogy of original picturebooks featuring the author's own dog as the main character.
Casey is a small grey schnauzer and in A Stranger In Casey's World (0964766310, $16.95) her
canine friends help to rescue a little girl who has disappeared with a stranger. Along the way,
Casey
teaches her doggy sister, Reba, how to watch for things that "don't seem quite right". In Casey's
Four Holiday Celebrations (097220-9999, $16.95), Casey and Reba learn about Christmas,
Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Kwanzaa from Zack, the oldest and wisest dog in the neighborhood.
Casey's Unexpected Friend (0972209972, $16.95) is a charming story about a noisy little dog
who
begrudgingly welcomes a big new puppy into the house and learns about sibling rivalry, helping
others, and acceptance. Each of these original, delightfully written and highly recommended
stories
will help parents and childcare providers to teach very young readers such critically important
concepts as how to be safe around strangers, how to deal with sibling rivalry, and the differences
in
the December holidays.
Books are the tools from which civilizations are created, embellished, and preserved for future
generations.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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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