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Book Reviews Use the alphabetical list to locate articles by author's last name. |
Discovering a Publisher: Several New Books You Should Know About 
Another Find
ANOTHER “New” PUBLISHER
Too Good to Miss, Briefly Noted
The following are a few sentences about books which attracted our attention
this publishing year. They are well worth a much longer review
but we hope these brief annotations will send you to the books, to
see for yourself, why we were impressed.
Abbott, Tony. Kringle . Scholastic 2005.
Writing back story, the lead up to a well-known story or event, has become a major interest of writers today. And here we have an extremely able spinning out, to a total of 317 pages, of the events leading up to the brief widely-known St. Nicholas tale.
The book opens with a tranquil, though, fear-filled scene of Merwin, an old woman, caring for the 12 year old, who will grow up to be Kringle. In the ensuing goblin attack, Merwin is killed and Kringle sets off with only his father's cloak and Merwin's staff to comfort and protect him. Goblin devastation is everywhere and it is only because of the kindness of the tribe of elves, led by Vindalf, that Kringle is able to go on numerous adventures in an amazingly complex, engagingly-written account of humans, elves, and Marie, an orphan. Magic, as in the rune stones, abounds, and the plot is complicated by goblins and pirates. Scary scenes abound: the cave filled with captured children guarded by varguls, is one example.
Improbable things happen: a sledge crafted from parts of a pirate ship sails up a frozen river; goblins are constructing a huge monster named Grunding and their evil intent is only offset by the appearance of Oliphas, a great antlered, flying creature. When asked how he is able to fly, he responds: "Spirits of those who have died before their work is done have found a voice in me and my kind." (p 216) It is up to Kringle to regroup the scattered elves to do battle against the goblins. Approaching the battle, Kringle discovers he can use the missing rune to stop time and defeat the goblins, on the last night of the year. The final confrontation with the monster the goblins have crafted results in the release of the stolen orphan children which have been forced to power it. Though the goblins are defeated and banished underground, they vow to return each longest night of the ensuing years. In the end, Merwin (who hasn't been killed) is able to reunite with Kringle, who makes his journey each longest night when time stands still and goblins who return are held at bay.
Weaving together such an improbable array of creatures and adventures sounds difficult, but this is deft writing and the reader is propelled from event to event, needing to find out what happens next. In the end, the story of Kringle and the night journey with flying reindeer is unimportant. It is the epic journey and the conflict between good and evil within this elaborated story which is important and so satisfying.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Adkins, Jan. Up Close: Frank Lloyd Wright. Viking, 2007.
Part of a continuing series, this may well elicit a question from young readers: “Who’s Wright?” Others in the series (Robert Kennedy, Oraph Winfrey, and Johnny Cash) are far more widely known among adolescents than is this iconoclast who changed the direction of architecture. A strength of the book is that it continually sets the sometimes incomprehensible Wright career decisions into a larger context. An example is the thorough look at the Chicago World’s Fair buildings, which set off an epic style struggle between classicists and Wright’s forward looking tenets.
The book contains sufficient technical explanation, without overwhelming. For example, an explanation of staff (a materials used in the fair buildings) and Wright’s contact with it, leads to an understanding of his life-long exploration of “inexpensive, quick, unusual building solutions.” Wright’s evolution from older styles such as Queen Anne, apparent in his early works, through his prairie houses, the cast concrete California houses, and into his Usonian ideas, are all described as he evolved a “uniquely American architecture.”
Unconstrained by conventions, Wright was widely reviled by his critics for weaknesses in his buildings, by creditors for his profligate ways, and by neighbors in the fertile valley where his extended ancestral Jones family lived for his morals. He was always the center of his own universe. Adkins creates many effective turns of phrase to capture readers’ attention. Writing about the planting pots Wright often designed, regardless of his clients’ indifference to them, Adkins calls these “vast, expensive, custom-made cauldrons big enough to sleep in.” Though Adkins’ fondness for his subject is always apparent, he doesn’t minimize Wright’s shortcomings, describing him as “one of the most graceful hucksters the United States ever produced.” Despite his glib ability to delude his clients for his own benefit, his influence was worldwide: Adkins reports on Wright’s continuing contacts with Germany and Spain.
The tragedies which dogged Wright are included: Taliesin burned twice, the first time taking the lives of six people. These tragedies are appropriately described for the intended age group. Adkins also deals forthrightly, but age-appropriately, with the scoundrely abandonment of Wright’s first wife, and his subsequent involvements with three other women, finally finding in Olgivanna, the Montenegran, the stable, managing anchor his tumultuous life needed. Surely this book will start young readers on their way to becoming the adult Wright devotees which are so numerous, and vocal in their approval of their hero, warts and all.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Arnold, Caroline. Illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge 2007.
The illustrations and text complement each other very nicely in this creatively organized non-fiction book about marine mammals. Most of this book is dedicated to ocean marine mammals with only a brief mention of freshwater mammals like the beaver and river otter. Each page briefly and accurately explains such things as how marine mammals swim or specific types of saltwater marine mammals. There is a helpful glossary defining such terms as baleen, flukes, and slipstream. However, most helpful are the brief definitions of words like tusks and whiskers that are on most pages. These brief definitions also include descriptive illustrations. The illustrations are beautiful as well as accurate.
Racine Zoological Society
Aston, Dianna. An Egg is Quiet. (ill by Sylvia Long.) Chronicle Books, 2006.
In an elegantly over-sized format (double page spreads are ll”xl7 l/2”), artist Long provides pastel, lushly detailed watercolor illustrations for the simple text. A list of qualities (ie: an egg is shapely) is accompanied by more detailed information telling interesting, little known facts (ie: some sharks do begin life as eggs). Ample white space showcases the wide variety of subtle color differences among eggs and the pages are large enough for the artist to show size differences effectively. Comparisons are helpful: it would take 2000 hummingbird eggs to equal the size of a single ostrich egg. The book stretches children’s thinking: who would think an egg is “artistic?” Aston did, and Long shows that so effectively. The book is an unexpected delight.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Avi. The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (And an Even Smaller Ant) Illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Harcourt, Inc. 2004
Avi has penned another great book for young readers, a modern fable. Avon the Snail reads a book everyday and loves reading about other creatures and the adventures they experience. It seems they always come back happy. Avon concludes that he must have adventures in order to be happy. As he prepares for his journey he meets Edward the Ant, who soon becomes his friend and joins Avon on his adventure. Through each short chapter, the author relates part of the adventure as Avon and Edward explore a branch - the two friends set off down the branch, they get lost and meet a variety of small creatures including a mouse they believe to be disguised as a dragon. When Avon and Edward have traveled half the length of the branch, Avon wakes up and notices that the spot they had spent the night looked “rather like his own neighborhood”. Edward explains to Avon, "You see, Avon, it all depends on you. If you want it to be different, it will be different. Don't look at the world with your eyes but with your heart." Throughout the narrative, Avi includes references to beginning and end, here or there, thick and thin, and gives the reader something to think about and discuss. Once the two Friends reach the end of the branch they share their thoughts, "The end of the branch," said Avon, mostly to himself. "The beginning of the sky, said Edward, mostly to himself,” Alas, the adventure is not over once the friends reach the end of the branch, as they know they must turn around and return home. Tricia Tusa's engaging pen and ink sketches are interspersed throughout the text. A delightful little book that provides a thought provoking, yet entertaining story.
Roxane Bartelt
Kenosha Public Library
Avi. I Witness: Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859: A Tale of the Old West. Hyperion Books for Children, New York, 2008.
The second in Avi’s new, solidly-researched historical fiction series, Hard Gold is the story of 14-year old Early, youngest son of a farmer faced with potential bankruptcy related to railroad expansion. To help pay the family’s debts, Early’s uncle, Jesse, has gone to Colorado in search of the gold rumored to have been found at Pike’s Peak. Early eventually follows Jesse to Colorado as a hired hand to a barber, his wife and teenage daughter, as they travel west for improved financial prospects. Written as Early’s personal narrative, balanced with his diary entries, his point of view colors the story of westward expansion from a young teen’s perspective. Plenty of dialogue moves the story forward, yet, unlike many historical narratives, it written in plain English, free from colloquialisms and unfamiliar syntax. Numerous historical photographs, drawings and maps connect Early’s story to concrete, historical facts. Weaving these facts together is a fascinating story of hardship, romance and suspense. What are Jesse’s underlying motives? What about the man who followed Early in search of Jesse and his potential involvement in a bank robbery? Is there really gold at Pike’s Peak? With relatively short chapters, this book is a relatively quick read for intermediate and middle school readers. My 6th grade reviewing companion enjoyed the story, yet doubts its appeal to the average student without the nudge of an assignment or recommendation. The story is a perfect companion to the study of gold rush component of westward expansion. Recommended for grades 4-7.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI
Beaty, Andrea. Iggy Peck, Architect . Illustrated by David Roberts. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2007.
"Iggy Peck, is an architect and has been since he was two, when he built a great tower - in only an hour - with nothing but diapers and glue." - So begins this delightful new picture book celebrating individuality, persistence and the importance of following your dreams and talents. The conflict begins when Iggy's building becomes disruptive and his second grade teacher discourages his passion. It is not long, however, before Iggy's talent for building together with his classmates' teamwork becomes critical to saving the entire group from being stranded on an island - all because Iggy coordinates the building of a suspension bridge out of shoestrings, fruit roll-ups, etc.
The rhymes and rhythm of the story make it a very fun read aloud. Although the vocabulary is somewhat advanced, it gives children exposure to new words to decipher in context. Complementing the text are fantastic full color drawings. David Roberts supports Beaty's premise that we all have special gifts by depicting each child in Iggy's class as an individual. The cover, title page and ending pages are overlaid on graph paper - as an architect uses to demonstrate scale. The characters are cartoon-like, yet include much detail. Bold elements of fabric add a collage-like feel to the artwork. The settings are simple, yet include remarkably detailed drawings of prominent styles of architecture. Fun elements of Iggy's work include the St. Louis Arch made of pancakes and coconut pie, and churches and temples made from peaches and apples. Teachers and librarians looking for a great story to emphasize individual gifts and talents will find this story a perfect fit. Children selecting the book alone will marvel at the detail, enjoy the cleverly placed text, and have fun with the rhymes
Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WI
Bennett, Holly. The Bonemender . Custer, Washington: Orca Book Publishers, 2005.
Resigned to spinsterhood, and content, Gabrielle lives a settled life at her father's castle in the town of Verdeau, and practices her gift of hand-healing. "She let her eyes close, her breathing even and slow. With her mind still and focused, Gabrielle sent her awareness flowing down to the swollen, torn tissues. Her hand tingled as the warm light flowed through her. The world around dimmed, until there was nothing but the small body under her hand, the light and the healing." Change is signaled by the advent of Feolan of the Elves of Stonewater, and his badly injured friend. Over the lengthy time of recovery, the healer and the ambassador come to care for each other. With difficulty, Gabrielle bids Feolan goodbye. Her short human lifespan and Feolan's long-lived Elven existence will not suit. The calm sunny mood of the book's beginning is slowly turned to foreboding, shown in the escalation of tension and the dread preparations leading to war. The threatened invasion of the Greffaires brings the lovers together again, and both are honed in the fires of war. Readers feel for the oppressed populace of the Greffaires, and know not everyone hungers for war. "It was an appalling country. Feolan had never before conceived of a place where oppression was the common condition of life, but in Gref Oris nearly everyone, it seemed, walked in fear. Only soldiers and the richest nobles traveled and spoke freely. Everyone else labored under the emperor's fist." The mystery surrounding Gabrielle's birth is happily resolved, and the lovers' reunion brings hope and healing to the book's conclusion. There is enough adventure to maintain reader interest, as Feolan goes under cover in the enemy stronghold, and they capture Gabrielle, but the war is not seen in terms of adventure. The losses of war are not sensationalized; nor are they ignored. A sequel, Bonemender's Oath , is planned.
Holly Sanhuber
Muskego Public Library
Benz, Derek, and J. S. Lewis. Revenge of the Shadow King. New York: Orchard Books, 2005.
Subtitled, “The Grey Griffins, Book I,” this adventure fantasy starts with a group of friends who meet to play “Round Table,” a fantasy card game, and ends with a struggle to save the Earth from otherworldly invasion. With his parents’ divorce, Max Sumner’s foundation seems shattered. His personal disorientation is exacerbated by the appearance of fey creatures, both good and evil, in his small Minnesota town. Max also has points of stability: his friends, Iver, the children’s “Game Master,” and Logan, Max’s family’s driver, who trains him in kung fu. The Grey Griffins, Max’s friends and classmates, meet in Iver’s antiquities shop to play “Round Table,” never realizing the playing cards have power beyond their printed images. Action is non-stop, with an uninterrupted series of magical events and battles. Oberon, the powerful ruler of the Shadowlands of Faerie, is planning to lay waste the world. His Slayer Goblin’s attack, the possession of a troubled bully by an evil demon, a fountain that spews slime, an attack of birds reminiscent of Hitchcock, and the rise of a deadly forest all challenge the children. Language is appropriately used; the kids’ being slangy, and Iver’s and Logan’s grave, measured, and formal. The imagery is sometimes quirky and original: “Roscoe was an enormous hunting dog that Harley had received for his sixth birthday. The dog was as big as a tank, ferocious as a lion, and had developed an unfortunate taste for postal workers and truck tires.” Contrast this with the description of a “Spriggan” of the otherworld: “. . . a rumpled creature . . . resemb[ling] a cat, drenched and angry after an unwanted bath. It was the color of fireplace soot . . . [T]here was a short jagged beak, and the fur atop the creature’s head (if fur it was) shot out in a tangled mass of spikes. There was intelligence and mischief captured in giant eyes that shimmered like moons in a starless sky.” Tough Harley, brainy Natalia, and asthmatic Ernie, who is braver than he thinks, need to call on all of their resources to defeat the threat. At book’s end, questions remain unanswered, and the victory feels tenuous at best.
Holly Sanhuber,
Muskego Public Library
Bobrick, Benson. Fight for Freedom, the American Revolutionary War. Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Atheneum, 2004.
This book has four wonderful distinctions. A side bar of quick facts, visuals in historical engravings, paintings and etchings, an enclosed story per page, and maps. A side bar of quick facts tells the reader bits of personal data for each two-page spread. Each double page is an entity unto itself and could send students to do Internet searches for biographies, or historical data on the battle occurring in that state. One is overwhelmed with the number of French, Polish, Native Americans and militia bands that participated in the eight years of the war. Wouldn’t it be great if Bobrick’s book inspired this topic to again be made into a TV series? It acquaints us with the sacrifices that currently few know unless they have served in the military. There is a special section devoted to the Women of the Revolution, including much more than the traditional solo of Betsy Ross by adding Mol Flanders and Mary Ludwig Hayes, Martha Washington and others. Students will complete the book with an appreciation of the length of the struggle for independence and a sense of wholeness to the record.
Beverly Beyers
School Library Media Specialist
Bishop, Nic. Spiders. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2007.
This book about spiders would be best suited for middle school children because there is a lot of text involved. Though the language used is easy to understand, each page has lots of words on it and it can get a bit lengthy to read. However, the information is all accurate and there are a lot of interesting facts to learn from the book. There are amazing, large, close-up photos of spiders that help children to learn about insects as well as appreciate them. The blurb in the back of the book about the research the author put into this book is very impressive. The index and glossary were also beneficial. After reading this book, children will feel informed and awed – especially by the pictures. Smaller children would enjoy that aspect as well as the colorful entertaining layout of the book but they will most likely find it too long to sit through.
Heather Egerer
Racine Zoological Society
Brewster, Hugh. CARNATION, LILY, LILY, ROSE. Kids Can Press 2007.
Books for children about art are often surveys across time periods, for example, ART UP CLOSE. FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN by Claire d’Harcourt (Chronicle 2000). Others are in-depth looks at the life and work of a single artist, as in WHAT MAKES A CASSATT A CASSATT? (MMA/Viking l994). Still others are arranged by topic: LOOK! BODY LANGUAGE IN ART, by Gillian Wolfe, (Frances Lincoln Books,2004).
This provides an unusual insight into the life of a single artist, John Singer Sargent, and just one of his paintings. Sargent is best known as the most superlative American painter of portraits of wealthy patrons in the late k800s and early l900s. Many of these portraits showed off his male patrons’ importance and the beauty of the women.
Yet he also created this charming informal depiction of two young girls, which in the author’s words was “the most talked about painting in London that season (l887).” Taking factual details like the names of the village where the real family and their neighbors lived, the author embroiders a believable fictional account of how the young girl narrator, Kate, might have felt when Sargent, with his “bristling black beard” arrived by boat on the Thames.
Beyond the focus on the “Carnation…” painting, the book includes many other preliminary sketches and finished paintings by Sargent, some vintage photos, and a work by an artist related to the family, Alma Tadema. Brief factual captions accompany the main narrative, to explain the visuals. The full color art on every opening is effectively laid out with wide margins inviting a reader into this effective introduction to Sargent and his life and work.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Brannen, Sarah S. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. Putnam, 2007.
Delightfully low key, this shows how well the author understands young children. Chloe sees the world revolving around her, with a young child’s self-centeredness in resisting change in relationships she enjoys. Uncle Bobby announces his intention to get married to Jamie, identifies the reason they want to do this, and how it will change (or not change) Chloe’s relationship to Bobby. After experiencing the additional benefits of having another uncle, Jaime, Chloe consents to be their flower girl, providing there is carrot cake at the celebration. She is reconciled as they dance at the reception: “That was the best wedding ever….I planned it all from the beginning.” A quiet book, this uses its guinea pig main character to unobtrusively teach an important lesson: despite our initial resistance to change, good things can happen when we are open to new ideas. Unlike several earlier books about the topic of same sex relationships, this one is more subtle and not didactic.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage Colleg
Carson, Mary Kay. Emi and the Rhino Scientist. (Photograph by Tom Uhlman) Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company 2007.
This book deals in depth on the breeding of Rhinoceros, specifically the Sumatran rhinoceros. There is a glossary in the back in case readers do not know some of the words. Although the book discusses the Sumatran rhinoceros in detail it also gives fact sheets on the other rhinos species. This is a great book for older children that are interested in animals. It touched on the conservation of animals and what readers can do to help. It has detailed photographs that made the book more personal with the readers and the animals.
Janelle Jensen
Racine Zoological Society
Catanese, P. W. The Brave Apprentice. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2005.
This book is one of the “Further Tales” series, that takes up where a well-known fairy tale has left off. In this case, it is “The Brave Little Tailor,” who, although aged, plays a role in the adventures of Patch, a tailor’s apprentice. When he saves his friend’s life and kills a troll, Patch finds himself regarded as a hero. Summoned by King Milo to wage war on a pack of marauding trolls, Patch always seems to make a hash of things, sometimes with tragic results. Slowly he proves himself, though treachery threatens, and disaster seems certain. Language is crisp, with the occasional neat turn of phrase or surprising word. Eyes “simmer” under heavy brows. Arrows “whine.” The trolls are truly disgusting: “Inside that crescent mouth, his black-red gums were populated by just a handful of jagged triangles, with black holes where other teeth had fallen out.” Readers will enjoy the battles, the nonstop action, and Patch’s slow maturation and growing confidence. The Thief and the Beanstalk and The Eye of the Warlock are other titles in the series.
Holly Sanhuber, Director
Muskego Public Library
Cooper,Wade. Scholastic Reader: Polar Animals Level 1. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2007.
The illustrations and text complement each other very nicely in this creatively organized non-fiction book about polar animals. Each page briefly and accurately explains how animals use certain body parts to help them survive in their habitat with a catchy rhyme. The beginning section titled reading together is very useful in helping parents interact with their children. There is a helpful glossary which details useful words and key words to help first time readers learn better. The quiz near the back is very useful in assessing what children learned from the book. The pages are made out of a heavy paper material so not to tear easily with younger children. This book had a nice layout and was not too long for younger children.
Heather Egerer
Racine Zoological Society
Craighead George, Jean. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. Frightful’s Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel. New York: Dutton Children’s Books 2007.
This book which is a continuation of My Side of the Mountain is a creative non-fiction book that has delightful illustrations. The book engages you in a story while also explaining true animal facts. For example, “The Baroness was out hunting, and since both parents feed the young, the Baron slipped out to get a mouse from the pantry.” This shows readers that both parents feed young weasels while keeping them involved in the narrative. The boy featured the story, Sam, shares his home with the wildlife and teaches children to respect them and their habitat. This story may not hold the attention of young children throughout the whole book, so is better suited for mature children. Furthermore, some of the vocabulary used is somewhat advanced. The end of the book demonstrates a great lesson- that the weasel didn’t harm the falcons but actually helped them learn how to fly.
Heather Egerer
Racine Zoological Society
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. Scholastic., 2007.
Gr. 5-9 Elijah Freeman was born in Buxton, Canada. Buxton was a settlement of freed slaves established by Reverend William King in 1849. Elijah’s claim to fame was that he was the first free child born in Buxton. The colloquial language will be difficult for struggling readers, but if they preserver, they will find an enjoyable, realistic story here. Elijah is based on the true community of Buxton, and the attitude of the community that everyone must become a good and productive citizen of Buxton. Elijah attends school and laments his Latin lessons and the fact that their Sunday school teacher is also their classroom teacher, and on Sundays, he might tell your parents what you failed to do that week. Elijah is a typical trusting boy, and when his trust causes Mr. Leroy to lose the money he saved to buy his family’s freedom, Elijah takes it on himself to try to get the money back. Elijah travels from Canada to Detroit Michigan to help Mr. Leroy. They find the thief, who was killed by slavers. For the first time Elijah witnesses the cruelty of slavers towards captured runaway slaves. He begins to understand the behavior and actions of the former slaves who make up Buxton. For the first time Elijah must make choices that put his own freedom at risk. Elijah becomes aware for the first time the true meaning of freedom. Elijah will never take the arrival of a runaway slave to Buxton for granted again. Freedom for his people has come at a high cost and Elijah will do what he can to keep their dream of freedom alive. This story, written about one of the darkest times in America’s history, comes to a satisfying conclusion through the actions of Elijah and the community who make up Buxton.
Lisa Langsdorf
Children’s Librarian
Kenosha Public Library
Cushman, Karen. The Loud Silence of Francine Green. New York: Clarion [Houghton Mifflin] 2006.
Newbery winning author Cushman, known for historical fiction, has published her most contemporary book to date. To adult readers of a certain age, her depiction of 1949-1950 will seem spot on: relief that the war is over, fear of Communism and the bomb, and strictly defined roles for males and females. The author’s portrait of Sister Basil the Great, rigid, fearsome teacher at All Saints School for Girls, makes readers aware of her self-satisfaction, complacency, lack of humor and inability to compromise. Francine tells the story in her own voice, clear-eyed, and fresh. Ironic commentary and fantasy scenes of “Dinner at the Greens” are very funny, as are the depictions of her airhead sister, Dolores, and her endearing little brother Artie. Under the influence of her outspoken friend, Sophie, she loses a sense of comfort, begins to question the status quo, and finally finds the courage to make her opinions known—unpopular as they may make her, and uncomfortable as that feels. An afterward explains the climate of fear, and the anti-Communist campaign of Senator Joe McCarthy. It might have been more effective for that information to have been interspersed with the action: a Russian émigré family is harassed, an actor is blacklisted and commits suicide, and Sophie’s father and she move away when he loses his job as a scriptwriter. Modern children may not identify with Francine’s concerns, but all readers can relate to her wish: “I stomped in puddles all the way home. I was not happy (splash!). I wanted the world to be clean and neat, black and white. I wanted the government to be right and fair, to keep us safe and out of war. I wanted communists to go back to Russia and get rid of their bombs. I wanted Americans to get rid of our bombs (splash!). I wanted the world to be like I thought it was when I was four or five. It was much too scary now that I was thirteen (splash! splash!).”
Holly Sanhuber,
Muskego Public Library
DeeDy, Carmen Agra (reteller). Martina. The Beautiful Cockroach . Illustrated by Michael Austin. Peachtree Publishers, 2007.
This wry tale tells a story about the wisdom of choosing carefully and listening to an elder (this in case Abuela, Martina's grandmother). Martina is a beautiful vision in her high-heeled bow-tied shoes and lacey mantilla. She is pursued by several suitors, each of whom who reveals his own real nature when Martina applies "the coffee test." When the tiny brown mouse, with a "voice like honey" comes calling, Martina finds him attractive and doesn't want to apply the test. But he turns the tables and in the process wins Martina's heart. How he knew about the test isn't revealed until the last line on the last page, a delightful surprise. An oversized (double spreads stretch to a full 221/2 inches wide) beautifully elegant format, provides ample room for the detailed fantasy art. A brief paragraph on the back flap copy provides some information about the "real" Cuban cockroach.
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ash . Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii. Boston: Houghton Mifflin 2005.
An oversized, horizontal orientation, with many black and white photos (some from earlier eras in which curious tourists flocked to the city), recent full color photos, maps, and additional information presented in marginalia has resulted in an exemplary production. Wide margins set off the concentrated amount of information, including sequence details drawn from the writing of Younger Pliny, whose uncle died in the eruption. The mistaken idea that lava flow did the destruction is corrected in the detailed description of the deluge of ash and pumice with surges of superhot gasses, which exceeded 900 degrees, Fahrenheit. When excavations began in l709, diggers discovered the deposits reached a depth of l2 feet.
This is also a story of the changing nature of excavations and conservation of remains from earliest digging when sites were looted of valuables and many skeletal remains inadvertently destroyed. Giuseppe Fiorelli made the breakthrough that if plaster casts of the skeletons were made, rather than removing them, much more accurate information about time and location of death, could be available. The effects of the eruption on nearby Herculaneum are described: though wind conditions allowed many residents to escape, subsequent eruptions leveled the city, depositing up to 65 feet of volcanic deposits, which during the l980s revealed over 300 skeletal remains. The book closes with a perplexing note: even though Vesuvius remains a potential threat, over l million people live in its vicinity today- a disaster waiting to happen?
The elegant production job is sure to engage many curious child readers in a time period and event few will know until they are lucky enough to discover this book.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Dillon, Leo and Diane. MOTHER GOOSE. NUMBERS ON THE LOOSE. 2007.
The synonym “elegant” comes immediately to mind for the Dillons’ art. They’ve had a long, highly acclaimed joint career, using a wide variety of mediums to illustrate myriad genres. The artistic collaborators have exerted the kind of control which allows them to pare the art of unnecessary elements, focusing in on essentials which will have the most dramatic visual impact.
Here the art is rich with decorative patterns; these are carefully played off against large areas of solid color, and even larger areas of plain, bright white. The pages are, as a result, never visually “nervous.” In addition to patterns within a given shape, the Dillons often repeat a shape so that another, larger scale pattern is created. In this, legs and arms, beaks and claws march across the double spread openings to create this second type of pattern. The restrained san serif type face in blocks with a few larger, colored serif words and numbers are a pleasant, unobtrusive accompaniment to the art. Among the many Mother Goose collections available, this is an especially important one for introducing young viewers to the idea of visual aesthetics. Use this with a book on a different topic, RAP A TAP TAP. HERE’S BOJANGLES—THINK OF THAT (Scholastic 2002) as a way to help children continue to think about and react to the artists’ use of pattern contrasting with white space.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Dowson, Nick. TRACKS OF A PANDA. Illustrated by Yu Rong. Candlewick 2007).
This depicts part of a panda’s life, from the birth of her cub through a problem of lack of food, to the finding of a new territory including ample food. The narrative, which predominates, is accompanied on each opening by a brief sentence or two of information about pandas in general. The watercolor illustrations reflect an Asian sensibility, the right choice since the mother panda lives “high on a mist-wrapped mountain in China.” The artists’ work is impressionistic and understated, making ample use of white space as contrast. An index helps those readers who want to find specific information, rather than reading the narrative through from beginning to end.
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Dunkle, Clare. By These Ten Bones. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2005.
Clare Dunkle has woven a tale from historical fantasy that is about the terrifying unknown. It is a tale about a werewolf with realistic descriptions about his life and how it affects those he comes in contact with. Dunkle takes us into the northern hills of Scotland long, long ago. “Trapped between those hills, like a long silver knife blade, lay the quiet waters of the loch, with the gray castle on its gravel shore and the flat, waterlogged bog land at its head.” (p11) We see the events unfold through the eyes of a young girl; Maddie is the only child of the village weaver. Into this quiet village arrive four strangers. One of them is a young man who does not speak to anyone but carves beautiful wood carvings. The villagers call him Carver and accept him into their village to carve wood utensils for them. Carver only speaks to Maddie when he does begin to communicate. Maddie finds herself falling in love with the Carver.
Strange events begin to happen in the village. There is something evil in the night that attacks the young wood carver. Maddie and her mother nurse him back to health. Then a baby is born disfigured and dies, the lady of the castle disappears mysteriously, and then Black Ewan is attacked and killed. The villagers believe that the Water Horse has come from the loch. Maddie is told a secret but is sworn an oath not to tell anyone about the evil that has come her village. She is torn between her loyalty to the oath and saving the lives of everyone in her village from the evil.
Maddie was also told that the way to stop the werewolf was to sacrifice herself willingly to die and that would save her whole village. Maddie is struggling with what she should do and talks with the village priest. “Here’s something the young don’t think of,” answered the priest. “We all of us have to die. This life is just a test to see what sort of person you’ll be, whether you’ll be honest and faithful or wicked and mean. The hardships that come with it are part of the test, and at the end of it, we die. Folk worry about that overmuch. They can’t see beyond this one, the life that we prepare for ourselves while we’re here.” (p150)
This is a book about coming of age for Maddie and her decision about sacrifice for those that she loves. The werewolf is actually a member of the society and his interactions affect those around him. Dunkle has written so that readers can feel that they are in ancient Scotland and feeling the emotions that the villagers are feeling at this time as the events unfold.
Kathy Myers
Carthage College, Hedberg Library
Durango, Julia. The Walls of Cartagena. Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008.
Validating the inherent value of human life, this relatively short historical fiction novel opens our hearts and minds to a little-known period of world history in 17th Century Cartagena. Fr. Pedro, later canonized as the patron saint of slaves, serves as the historically accurate anchor in the story, while other main characters are also based upon real people. The narrator, Calepino, is born a slave aboard a ship at port; his story is one of privilege, slavery, compassion and suffering. Thanks to the promise of Fr. Pedro to his dying mother, Calepino grows up privileged with one of the priest’s chief benefactors. Within this mining economy, dependent upon slave labor and riddled with disease, Calepino lives an easy life and receives a classical education. Fluent in languages, Calepino reluctantly becomes an interpreter for the priest, as he tends to the physical and spiritual needs of incoming slaves. As he works aboard the slave ships, Calepino’s quick mind and love of literature brings him to the attention of Dr. Lopez, the local physician. Taking him under his wing, Dr. Lopez asks Calepino to work with him within the leper colony. As the story unravels, Dr. Lopez is revealed to be a Jew who has escaped the Inquisition. The excitement builds as the authorities arrest Dr. Lopez, and Calepino must find a way to keep a promise within his own heart to help two slaves escape the brutality.
Based on careful historical research, Durango exposes the best and the worst of the human condition. Interweaving the Inquisition, pirates, lepers, slaves, and mines, the story takes these historical realities down to a personal level within the experiences of 13-year-old Calepino. As he exits his sheltered world of privilege and helps others, his character grows from immature and selfish to brave and compassionate. Scattered illustrations within enhance the story helping the reader to more clearly visualize the characters and setting. Thoroughly researched, the novel grabs the reader’s attention from the beginning and brings us into a world of hope within the midst of suffering. Recommended for students in grades 5-7.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI
Egan, Tim. Dodsworth in New York. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2007.
Ages 5 and up. Dodsworth planned to have an adventure in Paris, but he finds that Duck has stowed away in his trunk. Duck wants to have an adventure too. Dodsworth ends up having his adventure in New York City, while trying to catch Duck, who evades him at every turn. Beginning readers will begin laughing on the first page and keep giggling through the entire adventure as they look for duck who is hiding on almost every page.
Lisa Langsdorf,
Children's Librarian
Kenosha Public Library
Einhorn, Kama. My First Book About Insects. Random House Publishing, New York. 2007.
This book is a part of the Sesame Subjects® series - which is licensed through Sesame Street’s Sesame Workshop® - and stars popular characters like Grover, Elmo, and Oscar. It is intended for younger children, but it is filled with information older students may enjoy too. Reading this book is a little overwhelming because of all the information presented in the short twenty page book. Also, the thick, hard-to-tear pages are perfect for slightly younger children. The book provides a lot of educational items ranging from what insects eat to where they live. The book is very accurate and informative while keeping the reader engaged with bright colors, different fonts, and fun thought provoking questions. Close up pictures help children to be able to identify insects that they might see in their own backyard as well as some that are less common. Other redeeming qualities possessed by this book include counting and logic practice, introduction of new vocabulary words, and encouragement of the application of learned information. Good and bad qualities of bugs are discussed so a new respect and appreciation of theses animals are instilled. At the end of the book, the author includes ideas of activities for children and adults to do on their own to learn more about bugs but does not encourage actual capture or overt touching of the animals.
Stephanie Orvis
Racine Zoo
Ferris, Jean. Underground . Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2007.
Embodying the best elements of historical fiction and solid writing for children, Underground affords the reader a glimpse into the fascinating lives of slaves working in and near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky in 1839. Jean Ferris has taken skeletal knowledge of real slaves, Stephen Bishop, Charlotte Brown, and others, to create a wonderful story of budding love, the Underground Railroad, and the enthralling world of cave exploration. Charlotte, a 16 year old slave, befriends fellow slave and cave tour guide, Stephen Bishop. Together they explore not only the cave, but also the many facets of the meaning of "freedom" when Charlotte and Stephen become involved in helping slaves escape to freedom. As they fall in love, their work in the cave and with runaway slaves takes them into a world of difficult decisions, painful goodbyes, and hope for the future.
Narrated by Charlotte, the dialog and short chapters sustain a relatively fast reading pace. Details surrounding the early 19 th century tourism, the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the dire circumstances of escaping slaves are vivid, keeping the reader's attention with an aura of suspense concerning the future. The cover artwork, although dark, is remarkably detailed and captures the time and place of not only the cave, but also the allusions to freedom. The author's note about the real lives of Charlotte and, especially Stephen, leave the reader yearning to know more about early cave exploration and the important role slaves played in our national history. Highly recommended for children in grades 5-8.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI
Fox, Mem. WHERE THE GIANT SLEEPS. Pictures by Vladimir Radunsky. Harcourt, 2007
A pleasantly strange, dream-like haze permeates this slight tale which is mostly an enumeration of various sleepers (fairy, pirate, wizard, witches, goblin, pixies, dwarfs, dragon, ogre, elves). The main sleeper, the giant, is a composite figure, ie: hair of cotton ball trees, eyes and mouth of buildings. Each opening following the introductory spread features an circular closeup fragment from the first opening on the left, facing a full page spread on the right showing the character being described.
There are the usual Radunsky humorous touches; here the pirate mentioned in the text turns out to be a big-eared dog ensconced in his house, with the name “Pirate” above the door. Using gouache on a rough paper makes the art suitably soft-edged to support the sleeping/dreaming motif. Radunsky is often delightfully perplexing, as in THE MIGHTY ASPARAGUS (Harcourt 2004) for which he wrote the text and did the art. What is this fanciful tale about? It isn’t clear, but isn’t that better than some other books which are completely obvious?
John Warren Stewig
Carthage College
Gratz, Alan. Something Wicked: A Horatio Wilkes Mystery. Dial Books, Penguin Group, New York, 2008.
In his second book featuring amateur teen detective Horatio Wilkes, Alan Gratz has once again created an enthralling, multi-layered mystery paralleling a Shakespearian play – MacBeth. While the underlying plot and major characters involved in the crime mirror the classic play, the entire story is contemporary. Like the first book in the series, Something Rotten, Horatio Wilkes is visiting a friend, Mac, during the local Highland Games, a Scottish cultural festival. Mac, a bit of a hot shot, is completely manipulated by his older, beautiful girlfriend – Beth as she convinces him into taking on one daring stunt after another. After a fun visit to the palm reader, Mac becomes convinced that he will become “King of the Mountain” and winner of the highland games. His cousin, Banks, is predicted to eventually become the owner of the mountain. As Mac desperately strives to make the predictions come true, the mountain’s current owner, Duncan is viciously murdered. Horatio discovers the body and investigates the multi-layered motives of the people involved – including his good friend Mac.
The story is told from Horatio’s detective point of view with lots of dialog. Crude sexual remarks, although realistic in terms of young adult banter, will be offensive to some readers. Although familiarity with Shakespeare’s MacBeth is not required to understand the story, it does sweeten the tale for the reader if able to predict some events based on knowledge of character traits and events in Shakespeare. Adding to the appeal to today’s teens, some contemporary references and comparisons require a broad knowledge of 20th and 21st century popular culture to fully comprehend and will eventually date the book. The book will be especially popular after studying MacBeth and to students involved in Scottish cultural events – dance, bagpipe playing, etc. There is something here for both male and female readers with plenty of action balanced with a story told through dialog and complex personal relationships. Quotes and situations from Shakespeare anchor the story to a much broader historical realm. A solid, entertaining murder mystery recommended for high school students.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI
Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. The Bremen Town Musicians. Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. Translated by Anthea Bell. Penguin Young Readers Group. 2007.
Lizbeth Zwerger’s colorful drawings take the reader back in time with a misty sense of long ago. Soon to be abandoned (or worse) by their owners, a donkey, dog, cat and rooster set off together to the town of Bremen to become musicians. On their way they find the need for food and comfortable shelter, and discover a robber’s house. The animals devise a plan to frighten off the robbers. They succeed in not only scaring them off, but also keeping the robbers away for good.
The layout of the book makes excellent use of white space on the text page and wispy color in the illustrations opposite. Particularly innovative are the picture “thoughts” of the animals as they contemplate their fates with their owners and plan their encounter with the robbers. Although other renditions of this story are equally beautiful, Lisbeth Zwerger’s pictorial interpretation proves sometimes less is more when telling a story with pictures. An excellent addition to any picture book collection, particularly if your only version of this story is in a minimally illustrated anthology.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WI
Guy, Ginger Foglesong. My Grandma Mi Abuelita. Illustrated by Viví Escrivá. HarperCollins Publishers, 2007.
Beautifully illustrated, My Grandma, Mi Abuelita is a simple story told through pictures with straightforward, bilingual vocabulary words accentuating each page. A young boy and his sister travel by plane with their father to Mexico to visit their grandmother. The one or two word nouns and verbs are written first in Spanish, then in English. However, it’s not the words that tell the story, but the 2 page spreads of breathtaking watercolors. The love of the father and grandmother for the children is evident in the expressions on their faces. Moreover, the imagination and excitement of the trip is seen through the children’s eyes. Details enhance the story with the children’s pictures on the wall, a view of the world outside through the windows, the excitement of the American airport and beauty of the Mexican countryside.
Best shared individually with a child, the book is a wonderful addition to a family library or preschool, particularly in a community of bilingual families. Any young child could quickly learn the key words in the story and “read” it all by himself – enjoying not only the accomplishment of recognizing words – but also the story told through pictures. The stunning illustrations and multi-cultural focus make this book a recommended purchase for preschool children.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI
Hill, Stuart. Cry of the Icemark. Scholastic/Chicken House, 2005.
Although werewolves and talking snow leopards number among the species in this well-crafted first novel, fantasy is only one- lesser- strand in the lush tapestry. This is a coming-of-age novel, a story of war’s devastation, and a hymn to honorable and courageous humanity. Unlikely heroes include a fledgling queen and her advisor, the mysterious Oskan. At the beginning of the tale, both teens are unsure of their powers, and untested. Both face challenges and grow through grief and adversity. They have believable moments of fear and weakness, and must fight the desperate desire to thrust their burdens onto those older and more experienced. While the nearly 500 page book requires a reader with staying power, the author rewards his audience with rich descriptions of people, landscapes, weather, and battles. The king is described as a huge man, with a voice “…like a storm in the mountains, with a laugh like a rockslide…” (p ll3) A leopard runs “…with the grade and beauty of muscled water.” (p. 290) Hill also takes delight in his characters’ foibles, and their unique names. Valiant King Redrought’s fate is made more poignant when his massive warrior might is contrasted with his kindness, his fondness for pink fuzzy slippers, his affection for the palace kitten, his love for his daughter, and the care he takes in designing her education. While not fond of book learning, Thirrin Freer Stong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wild Cat of the North, has been trained as a doughty and fearless warrior. Her temper and pride are also fearsome, and she must battle both, searching for the diplomacy necessary to make alliances- the only way to arm the Icemark against invaders. Some writers see war as a grand adventure. Hill does not make that mistake. He shows war close-up, as a grim, bloody business, made necessary when the brutal General Scipio Bellorum, and his hoards of soldiers invade the Icemark. While the dichotomy may be too neat: total good threatened by total evil, the crafty vampires add some leavening. Hill also shows Bellorum behaving as a despicable bully, instead of merely telling the reader that he is one. With such careful preparation, the ending is satisfying and believable. It could be said about the inhabitants of the Icemark, as is written in the old Scots song, “Ye stood against them…and sent them homeward tae think again.” An accompanying CD holds an interview with the author, and readings from the book.
Holly Sanhuber
Muskego Public Library
Hodgkins, Fran. The Whale Scientists: Solving the Mystery of Whale Strandings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company 2007.
This book about whales would be best suited for middle school children on up to adults because there is a lot of content involved. This book provides very detailed accounts of whale triumphs and tribulations throughout the years. There are amazing photos that help to send the author’s written messages home. The beginning classification information is a very useful tool. The research the author put into this book is very impressive. The index and glossary were also beneficial. The ending of the book leaves you waiting and wanting to read more and stay current on whale efforts. The listing of other Scientists in the Field series books provides you with the opportunity to expand your horizons on different science topics. After reading this book, children and adults will feel informed and awed – especially by the pictures. This book would be an excellent resource for students to use as a reference for school reports on marine mammals. It also provides an educational background for students interested in studying science.
Heather Egerer
Racine Zoological Society
Hoffman, Mary. KINGS AND QUEENS OF THE BIBLE. (Illustrated by Christina Balit.) Holt, 2008.
Even for those readers with little or no connection to the Bible, this picture book deserves attention because of the sumptuous art by Balit. It accompanies and often predominates on every opening of the concise (three to six pp) retellings of the lives of four men and three women. Using a rather mannered, semi-abstract style, Balit employs clear, bright colors and repeated patterns to effectively bring to life a very different time in an unfamiliar environment.
There is certainly nothing uplifting in the stories about such characters as Queen Jezebel, whose perfidy makes her thoroughly despicable. Yet the stories illuminate these powerful rulers, who often disregarding the lives of the less powerful, and thus fell into conflict with God and his more faithful believers. Consequences for this were many and varied. Fans of Hoffman’s writing might want to dive into a much longer treatment (297 pp) and once again, a time and place unfamiliar to many readers: Umbria, Italy, in 1316. Her THE FALCONER’S KNOT (Bloomsbury 2007) explores the role of religion in life. The contrasts between the two teen protagonists, older people who complicate their lives, and the men and women in monastery and convent are clearly and convincingly drawn.
Hole, Stian. GARMANN’S SUMMER. Eerdmans, 2006.
The jacket art, done in photographic collage, a techniques used throughout this book, forces viewers to wonder: who is this child; why is he standing in water; and how does this introduce the way the story will unfold? An (unnamed) sense of temporality pervades this book, beginning on the opening spread: summer is coming to an end and with it, the lives of the grasshoppers and mosquitos mentioned. With this comes fear—a thread running through the book is: what makes each of the characters scared?
The art is deliciously strange: why is Garmann’s head too large for his body, why is Elvis riding on the bus which will take Garmann to school? Some parts of the art are naturalistic, but many parts are unusual. For example, look at the picture of the little boy with an x ray of his torso, including the butterflies mentioned in the text. The aunt’s dentures in a glass of water seem unsettlingly, though vaguely ominous, while the neighbor girls, Hannah and Johanna, are truly ominous looking.
When Garmann confronts the temporality of his aunts (“Are you going to die soon?”) this leads him to explore fear and the different things which make people scared. Many years ago, Maurice Sendak commented that the world can be a scary place for children, and the author deals effectively with this.
When readers finish the book, they’ll be aware that this is distinctive, not like any other picture book they’ve seen. And that alone is reason enough to recommend it. Most picture books don’t break boundaries: this one does. That’s undoubtedly one reason it was awarded the Bologna Ragazzi Award. Too few picture books cause readers to think in new ways. This one certainly challenges us to do that. The publisher is to be commended for bringing this to adventurous readers.
Horvath, Polly. The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane . Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007.
Two girls, cousins, orphaned after their parents die in a train accident, move in with their rich uncle on his mysterious, solitary island off the coast of Canada. Told from the varying perspectives of each girl, the uncle and occasionally the cook, we learn of the island's mysterious history as an air force training center. Determined to build an airplane from the parts scattered throughout the island, the girls learn to live as they grieve with their eccentric uncle and his servants. Beset by illness and eventually addition, each character grows and comes to terms with the tragedy in their lives and the lives of each other.
The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane is both an adventure and a tale of emotional survival. Behind the story, behind the characters, is an ongoing shadow of grief influencing everyone's thoughts and actions. Each character grieves someone different, and uniquely displays their emotions and coping mechanisms. Although profound sorrow permeates each character, Horwath uses humor and the covert exploits of the girls to lift the reader through the depression to a different world.
The differing narrators and indirect storylines may confuse younger readers. The ending is filled with many revelations and seems a little rushed. Questions about the future of the girls on the island will linger in the reader's mind. Immature readers will likely find themselves intrigued with the island, yet unable to make sense of the role of grief in the character development. Recommended for students in grades 7-10.
Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WIHostetter, Joyce Moyer. Blue. Calkins Creek Books, Boyds Mills Press, 2006.
The second World War was difficult for everyone, not only the soldiers and civilians in the midst of battle, but also American families at home. With the men at war, rations, etc. the lives of many families were turned upside down. Moreover, in addition to the war, many Americans suffered from the devastating effects of a polio epidemic. Blue is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl facing the disease and the war, facing the consequences of both.
Ann Fay’s father has gone to war. Life is tough in rural North Carolina and although her family is blessed with helpful neighbors, many adult tasks fall upon her. As the polio epidemic hospitalizes her young brother and her mother goes to stay with him, Ann Fay’s responsibilities continue to grow. When her brother succumbs to the disease and her mother falls into a deep depression, Ann Fay takes on the roles of both mother and father. Eventually developing polio herself, Ann Fay moves into the local polio hospital. As she begins her arduous recovery, she befriends a black girl. Although segregationist policies hinder their relationship, the two girls manage to maintain a strong friendship. With a satisfying, positive ending, Blue is an unforgettable story of a girl overcoming devastating obstacles.
The image and symbolism of the color blue carries throughout the story – as the color of the beautiful, yet strangling wisteria in the garden, a description of the sadness of Ann Fay’s family, and a statement of the prejudice ingrained in the lives of the Southern people. As the endnotes explain, the facts surrounding the circumstances of the story are historically accurate. The colloquial language of the South adds to the feeling of time and place. It is heart wrenching when Ann Fay’s brother dies, but that deep sadness is balanced by other hopeful and happy moments. An excellent companion book to the study of World War II, Blue is an outstanding addition to any historical fiction collection. Recommended for children in grades 6 and older.
Kristine Wildner,
Holy Apostles School,
New Berlin, WI