I neglected to mention in my mini-review of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites, by Heather Brewer, that Vlad is being hunted. He's a vampire. Of course he's being hunted. Be that as it may, he lives (remains undead?) to fight, avoid bullies, and continue having a crush on a girl.
In Ninth Grade Slays, Vladimir's uncle teaches him the secret vampire code for translating vampire writing. He also encourages Vlad to develop his mind-reading and mind-control skills. Over the winter break, Vlad's uncle takes him to Siberia for more training with the boisterous Russian vampire, Vikas. Before they leave for their trip, they learn a vampire slayer has been sent to Vlad's little town of Bathory in order to kill him. There are no encounters with the slayer before the Siberia trip, and Vlad is feeling pretty safe. After returning home, he is attacked by another vampire for no apparent reason. He survives, only to suffer a crushing betrayal by one he considered a friend.
The first book definitely had the feeling of a set-up for the series. Ninth Grade Slays doesn't feel so intermediate. There is forward motion, so fast sometimes that the plot nearly trips over itself. There were a couple of instances in which it seemed as though chapters or scenes had been shifted out of place, and these brought me to a grinding halt. Not good for an action-filled novel. On the other hand, I stayed up late and got up early to finish it!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Four Picture Books
Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story From Africa, by Jeanette Winter--Wangari Maathai is a real woman, born in Kenya in 1940. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in the biological sciences while studying in the United States. Upon returning to Kenya, she discovered that her beloved country had been deforested and was sadly lacking the means to keep itself healthy. This simply and beautifully illustrated picture book chronicles her efforts to re-forest Kenya, beginning by planting nine tree seedlings in her own yard. The text is spare and suitable for kindergartners, although some word choices will require explanation (scholarship, barren, and forester are among them). Ms Winter does not spare the truth for the sake of young ears and eyes. She tells of Wangari's beating at the hands of police, and the accompanying illustration shows Wangari bleeding from a small wound to her head as a policeman threatens her further with a club. It is not gory or grusome or gratuitous. The illustration is as spare and beautiful as the rest; it is simply unflinching. This book will provoke discussion of conservation and fair vs. unfair among even the youngest audience.
Ron's Big Mission, by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden--A fictionalized account of an incident in astronaut Ron McNair's childhood, this book has a special place on the SCBAN list as it takes place in Lake City, SC, in Florence County. The year is 1959. Ron, an avid reader, dreams of being a pilot. On this particular day, he has a goal closer to home. He wants to check out books from the Lake City Library. One problem: he is black. The Lake City Library has a policy preventing black people from checking out books. Some white patrons, familiar with Ron, offer to check out his books for him. He declines. In a show of peaceful resistance, he politely asks the circulation clerk to check to books out to him. She pretends not to hear. He jumps up on her desk and politely repeats his request. After the police and his mother are called to the library, the librarian has a choice to make. The story is told in language appropriate even for kindergartners, but like Wangari's story above, the authors are unflinching in their portrayal of segregation in small-town South Carolina. My five-year old cheered when Ron was handed his library card.
Mail Harry to the Moon!, by Robie H. Harris--On a MUCH lighter note... Anyone who's ever felt jealous of a younger sibling will appreciate this tale of a boy who feels his place in the family has been usurped by his baby brother. The unnamed older brother has perpetually drawn-together eyebrows as he contemplates all the recent changes in his life. Harry is in all the pictures; Harry eats big brother's banana; Harry spits up; Harry chews on big brother's toy gorilla. Each disaster is met by a plea from big brother to get rid of Harry somehow. Fed up with Harry screaming in the night, big brother screams back, "Mail Harry to the moon!" the next morning, no Harry. Big brother looks everywhere, but instead of doing a happy dance that his problems are solved, big brother goes looking for Harry. Where he finds him and how he brings him back are two delightful resolutions.
Turtle's Penguin Day, by Valeri Gorbachev--Youngsters love pretending and playing dress-up, and little Turtle is no exception. After his father reads a book about penguins to him at bedtime, Turtle dreams of being a penguin. The next day, Turtle finds an old black jacket and puts it on over his white pajamas and decides he is a penguin for the day. He brings the penguin book to school, and the teacher decides to have a penguin day. She reads the book to the class and they all play at being penguins. Mr. Gorbachev has given us a fun book with a variety of animal characters to accompany Turtle at school. The expressions on all the creature's faes are reminiscent of Richard Scarry, although the actual drawings are very different. A fun exploration of play-acting. Teachers will wish for the freedom to depart from lesson plans with the ease of Ms. Dog!
Ron's Big Mission, by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden--A fictionalized account of an incident in astronaut Ron McNair's childhood, this book has a special place on the SCBAN list as it takes place in Lake City, SC, in Florence County. The year is 1959. Ron, an avid reader, dreams of being a pilot. On this particular day, he has a goal closer to home. He wants to check out books from the Lake City Library. One problem: he is black. The Lake City Library has a policy preventing black people from checking out books. Some white patrons, familiar with Ron, offer to check out his books for him. He declines. In a show of peaceful resistance, he politely asks the circulation clerk to check to books out to him. She pretends not to hear. He jumps up on her desk and politely repeats his request. After the police and his mother are called to the library, the librarian has a choice to make. The story is told in language appropriate even for kindergartners, but like Wangari's story above, the authors are unflinching in their portrayal of segregation in small-town South Carolina. My five-year old cheered when Ron was handed his library card.
Mail Harry to the Moon!, by Robie H. Harris--On a MUCH lighter note... Anyone who's ever felt jealous of a younger sibling will appreciate this tale of a boy who feels his place in the family has been usurped by his baby brother. The unnamed older brother has perpetually drawn-together eyebrows as he contemplates all the recent changes in his life. Harry is in all the pictures; Harry eats big brother's banana; Harry spits up; Harry chews on big brother's toy gorilla. Each disaster is met by a plea from big brother to get rid of Harry somehow. Fed up with Harry screaming in the night, big brother screams back, "Mail Harry to the moon!" the next morning, no Harry. Big brother looks everywhere, but instead of doing a happy dance that his problems are solved, big brother goes looking for Harry. Where he finds him and how he brings him back are two delightful resolutions.
Turtle's Penguin Day, by Valeri Gorbachev--Youngsters love pretending and playing dress-up, and little Turtle is no exception. After his father reads a book about penguins to him at bedtime, Turtle dreams of being a penguin. The next day, Turtle finds an old black jacket and puts it on over his white pajamas and decides he is a penguin for the day. He brings the penguin book to school, and the teacher decides to have a penguin day. She reads the book to the class and they all play at being penguins. Mr. Gorbachev has given us a fun book with a variety of animal characters to accompany Turtle at school. The expressions on all the creature's faes are reminiscent of Richard Scarry, although the actual drawings are very different. A fun exploration of play-acting. Teachers will wish for the freedom to depart from lesson plans with the ease of Ms. Dog!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Just two quick ones...
Picture book: Bandit, by Karen Rostoker-Gruber--Bandit is a cat with a comfortable life. He has sunshine, carpeted floors, a fuzzy mouse, tuna. Suddenly, people come along and pick up the couch. They box up the books. Michelle grabs Bandit and puts him in the cat carrier and takes him for a much longer ride than just a trip to the vet. What's going on? Puns abound as Bandit contemplates the changes. The illustrations by Vincent Nguyen look as though they were lifted out of a large-scale comic book. By which I mean the pictures are line drawings colored in fine dots. Mr. Nguyen gives Bandit wonderful expression as the cat realizes his life is altering forever.
Juvenile book: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites, by Heather Brewer--This one is not on the SCBAN list for 2010-2011. I include it in the reviews because its sequel Ninth Grade Slays is on the list. I wanted to read them in order (I'm funny that way). Living quietly in upstate New York, Vlad has always known he is a vampire. The son of a vampire father and a human mother, he has never fed on the blood of a human (well, not counting the one bite of his best friend when they were eight). His mother's best friend made sure he and his father had a sufficient supply of expired or nearly-expired blood from the local hospital where she works. When Vlad's mother and father die in a mysterious flash-fire three years before the book opens, Nelly takes Vlad in to raise. Now in eighth grade, Vlad goes to school wearing lots of sunscreen, tussles with bullies, has a crush on a girl, and is still best friends with Henry --who, when Vlad apologizes for that bite when they were eight, simply says, "No problem. Just stay away from the cat or Mom will throw a fit."
Vlad's adventures begin when his English teacher disappears. The substitute, Mr. Otis, seems a little off. His behavior toward Vlad is suspicious at best, and our hero wonders if Mr. Otis knows his secret. More importantly--what does Mr. Otis intend to do with it?
Ms. Brewer tells Vlad's story with wit and style. There's not so much blood as to be off-putting, but readers who don't mind gore will not find it lacking. I am eagerly anticipating Ninth Grade Slays.
Juvenile book: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites, by Heather Brewer--This one is not on the SCBAN list for 2010-2011. I include it in the reviews because its sequel Ninth Grade Slays is on the list. I wanted to read them in order (I'm funny that way). Living quietly in upstate New York, Vlad has always known he is a vampire. The son of a vampire father and a human mother, he has never fed on the blood of a human (well, not counting the one bite of his best friend when they were eight). His mother's best friend made sure he and his father had a sufficient supply of expired or nearly-expired blood from the local hospital where she works. When Vlad's mother and father die in a mysterious flash-fire three years before the book opens, Nelly takes Vlad in to raise. Now in eighth grade, Vlad goes to school wearing lots of sunscreen, tussles with bullies, has a crush on a girl, and is still best friends with Henry --who, when Vlad apologizes for that bite when they were eight, simply says, "No problem. Just stay away from the cat or Mom will throw a fit."
Vlad's adventures begin when his English teacher disappears. The substitute, Mr. Otis, seems a little off. His behavior toward Vlad is suspicious at best, and our hero wonders if Mr. Otis knows his secret. More importantly--what does Mr. Otis intend to do with it?
Ms. Brewer tells Vlad's story with wit and style. There's not so much blood as to be off-putting, but readers who don't mind gore will not find it lacking. I am eagerly anticipating Ninth Grade Slays.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
But Wait! There's More!
In addition to the books discussed in the other two posts today, I have also read:
from the Picture Book list--Bark Park, by Karen Gray Ruelle; Big Bad Bunny, by Franny Billingsley; and What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby.
from the Juvenile Book list--Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson; and Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith.
Bark Park, by Karen Gray Ruelle--This picture book is reminiscent of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss. However, the text and illustrations do not have the whimsical, fanciful lilt of Seuss. The text is instead funny by its very real characterizations of different types of dogs ("Hot dog, dot dog, in the park." is accompanied by an illustration of a Dachshund and a Dalmatian walking on a path toward a dog park.). The illustrations are almost, but not quite, child-like. Ms Ruelle has created a book appealing to children which will make adults smile, as well.
Big Bad Bunny, by Franny Billingsley--Illustrated by G. Brian Karas, the story opens like a horror show. "Big Bad Bunny has long sharp claws. Scritch! Scritch! Scritch! But over in the Mouse House, everything is quiet. It's naptime, and Mama Mouse tucks her babies into bed." You just know BBB is on his way to the Mouse House to wreak destruction. Then you turn the page. You notice BBB is wearing yellow pants with pink polka-dots and what appear to be fuzzy slippers. Huh? Keep turning the pages. Back at the Mouse House... "But wait! Where is Baby Boo-Boo? Mama Mouse races into the forest." Grown-ups know what is coming, as do some of the more perceptive children readers. Do you?
What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby--This picture book is a departure from the other picture books I've reviewed, as it is non-fiction. It is not the only non-fiction on the list, but it is the first here on this blog! A photo-essay in book form, this is the story of how a family of bluebirds came to make their home in Ms Kirby's yard. The photos are beautiful and the text is clear and concise. My children were enthralled with the tale of the bluebirds, and the most memorable moment for them was learning how bluebirds clean out their nests. Be prepared for a happy chorus of "Ewww!" from your young listeners and readers. As the hatchlings learn to fly, we got the sense that we, too, were on the brink of something marvelous.
Moving along to the Juvenile list:
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson--One tends to forget that slavery in the United States was not isolated to the 19th century South. The year is 1776. Isabel and her sister, Ruth, are slaves in Manhattan, sold there from Rhode Island when the nephew of their former owner disregards his aunt's will to have the girls set free upon her death. Purchased by the Locktons, Loyalist supporters who play at being Patriots in order to keep their own fortunes afloat, the girls are mightily abused. While running errands one day, Isabel is approached by another slave with an offer of assistance if she will spy on the Locktons and report to the Patriot leaders. She is unwilling at first to risk anything for fear of losing what precious little she has, but events conspire to force her decision. Driven by her own dreams of freedom, she aids the Patriots, only to discover that not all of them dream of freedom for her and her fellow slaves. Her loyalties become divided and she finds herself caught in the maelstrom that becomes the American Revolution--completely against her will and for no personal benefit whatsoever. The book ends with a cliffhanger and a promise of another volume to follow.
Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith--I was disappointed in this novel. Ida Mae Jones is a girl living in Louisiana as the world is on the brink of the Second World War. She is the product of a black mother and father, although her father's heritage has given her skin so light, she could pass for white. Her father taught her to fly his crop-dusting airplane when she was much younger, and her grandfather takes her to Tuskeegee to test for her license, since they heard the administration there will give licenses to coloreds.
My problem with the book is that Ms Smith builds the tension of Ida Mae's fear of being discovered as a colored woman, but never takes that tension anywhere. There is no defining moment, no real climax to the story which will make her choose. Even at the end, when she writes a letter revealing her secret to a white man who had shown interest in her, she doesn't seem to have a whole lot of emotion riding on his response. Real life doesn't always call for us to define ourselves in a momentous way, but a good author WILL ask that of his or her characters. I don't believe Ms Smith asked that of Ida Mae.
from the Picture Book list--Bark Park, by Karen Gray Ruelle; Big Bad Bunny, by Franny Billingsley; and What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby.
from the Juvenile Book list--Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson; and Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith.
Bark Park, by Karen Gray Ruelle--This picture book is reminiscent of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss. However, the text and illustrations do not have the whimsical, fanciful lilt of Seuss. The text is instead funny by its very real characterizations of different types of dogs ("Hot dog, dot dog, in the park." is accompanied by an illustration of a Dachshund and a Dalmatian walking on a path toward a dog park.). The illustrations are almost, but not quite, child-like. Ms Ruelle has created a book appealing to children which will make adults smile, as well.
Big Bad Bunny, by Franny Billingsley--Illustrated by G. Brian Karas, the story opens like a horror show. "Big Bad Bunny has long sharp claws. Scritch! Scritch! Scritch! But over in the Mouse House, everything is quiet. It's naptime, and Mama Mouse tucks her babies into bed." You just know BBB is on his way to the Mouse House to wreak destruction. Then you turn the page. You notice BBB is wearing yellow pants with pink polka-dots and what appear to be fuzzy slippers. Huh? Keep turning the pages. Back at the Mouse House... "But wait! Where is Baby Boo-Boo? Mama Mouse races into the forest." Grown-ups know what is coming, as do some of the more perceptive children readers. Do you?
What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby--This picture book is a departure from the other picture books I've reviewed, as it is non-fiction. It is not the only non-fiction on the list, but it is the first here on this blog! A photo-essay in book form, this is the story of how a family of bluebirds came to make their home in Ms Kirby's yard. The photos are beautiful and the text is clear and concise. My children were enthralled with the tale of the bluebirds, and the most memorable moment for them was learning how bluebirds clean out their nests. Be prepared for a happy chorus of "Ewww!" from your young listeners and readers. As the hatchlings learn to fly, we got the sense that we, too, were on the brink of something marvelous.
Moving along to the Juvenile list:
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson--One tends to forget that slavery in the United States was not isolated to the 19th century South. The year is 1776. Isabel and her sister, Ruth, are slaves in Manhattan, sold there from Rhode Island when the nephew of their former owner disregards his aunt's will to have the girls set free upon her death. Purchased by the Locktons, Loyalist supporters who play at being Patriots in order to keep their own fortunes afloat, the girls are mightily abused. While running errands one day, Isabel is approached by another slave with an offer of assistance if she will spy on the Locktons and report to the Patriot leaders. She is unwilling at first to risk anything for fear of losing what precious little she has, but events conspire to force her decision. Driven by her own dreams of freedom, she aids the Patriots, only to discover that not all of them dream of freedom for her and her fellow slaves. Her loyalties become divided and she finds herself caught in the maelstrom that becomes the American Revolution--completely against her will and for no personal benefit whatsoever. The book ends with a cliffhanger and a promise of another volume to follow.
Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith--I was disappointed in this novel. Ida Mae Jones is a girl living in Louisiana as the world is on the brink of the Second World War. She is the product of a black mother and father, although her father's heritage has given her skin so light, she could pass for white. Her father taught her to fly his crop-dusting airplane when she was much younger, and her grandfather takes her to Tuskeegee to test for her license, since they heard the administration there will give licenses to coloreds.
But when we climbed out of that plane, Mr. Anderson looked at me and said, "You can fly, no doubt about it. But no woman's gonna get a license out of me. Go home, Miss Jones. You've failed."Now Ida Mae's dream is to save enough to go to the colored-owned Coffey School of Aeronautics in Chicago, where they teach both men and women. Working as a maid for a local family, her savings is growing slowly. After the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor is announced, her brother leaves medical school to join the Army so he can be a medic to colored units fighting overseas. Ida Mae can't stand to stay home and do nothing, so as soon as she hears about the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she determines to sign up. There are two problems with her plan. One, she has no license (thanks a lot, Mr. Anderson); and, two, she's colored. With the help of her friend, Jolene, Ida Mae determines to "pass" for the first time in her life. She succeeds in getting into the WASP training program.
My problem with the book is that Ms Smith builds the tension of Ida Mae's fear of being discovered as a colored woman, but never takes that tension anywhere. There is no defining moment, no real climax to the story which will make her choose. Even at the end, when she writes a letter revealing her secret to a white man who had shown interest in her, she doesn't seem to have a whole lot of emotion riding on his response. Real life doesn't always call for us to define ourselves in a momentous way, but a good author WILL ask that of his or her characters. I don't believe Ms Smith asked that of Ida Mae.
Whoops!
I realized this morning that I had a post I started about two weeks ago and never finished. I have finished it now, and it is up on the blog. Here is the next entry:
In addition to the five picture books I talked about in the previous post, I had also read two novels from the Juvenile list. They are The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry, and Brooklyn Bridge: A Novel, by Karen Hesse.
The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry--A Cinderella tale, this novel follows the adventures of Lucinda Chapdelaine, orphaned at a young age and sent to live with her uncle and his wife. When the uncle dies, Auntie turns fifteen-year-old Lucinda out without a penny. Throughout, I was struck by certain similarities to Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine. At least, there are similarities to the movie version of that book. There were other elements that seemed familiar from other sources, as well. I enjoyed the book, but was disappointed overall by the obvious use of fairy-tale conventions. The one true departure from convention, the revelation of the origin of the "fairy godmother," seemed too contrived, too fantastical and out of place. I would have been happier, I think, if this part of the story had been based strictly in the magical, not in the other-worldly. There were also several plot holes and unanswered questions left hanging at the end. A fun, fast read, but largely unsatisfying.
Brooklyn Bridge: A Novel, by Karen Hesse--This one tied up all its loose ends. Throughout the story of Joseph Michtom, a fourteen-year-old boy living in 1903 Brooklyn, there are plenty of threads. There are these many threads in all our lives. Ms Hesse doesn't overwhelm us with too many of them, but there are enough to give Joseph depth. He has the agony of a first crush, the joy of friendship, the loss of a beloved family member, the pride in seeing his sister succeed, and the amazement at seeing a mystery solved right in front of him. There is an under-story, a ghost story, placed in between the chapters. It is a story Joseph knows nothing about. Or does he? I plowed right through Brooklyn Bridge, eager to see it through. Well worth it.
In addition to the five picture books I talked about in the previous post, I had also read two novels from the Juvenile list. They are The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry, and Brooklyn Bridge: A Novel, by Karen Hesse.
The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry--A Cinderella tale, this novel follows the adventures of Lucinda Chapdelaine, orphaned at a young age and sent to live with her uncle and his wife. When the uncle dies, Auntie turns fifteen-year-old Lucinda out without a penny. Throughout, I was struck by certain similarities to Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine. At least, there are similarities to the movie version of that book. There were other elements that seemed familiar from other sources, as well. I enjoyed the book, but was disappointed overall by the obvious use of fairy-tale conventions. The one true departure from convention, the revelation of the origin of the "fairy godmother," seemed too contrived, too fantastical and out of place. I would have been happier, I think, if this part of the story had been based strictly in the magical, not in the other-worldly. There were also several plot holes and unanswered questions left hanging at the end. A fun, fast read, but largely unsatisfying.
Brooklyn Bridge: A Novel, by Karen Hesse--This one tied up all its loose ends. Throughout the story of Joseph Michtom, a fourteen-year-old boy living in 1903 Brooklyn, there are plenty of threads. There are these many threads in all our lives. Ms Hesse doesn't overwhelm us with too many of them, but there are enough to give Joseph depth. He has the agony of a first crush, the joy of friendship, the loss of a beloved family member, the pride in seeing his sister succeed, and the amazement at seeing a mystery solved right in front of him. There is an under-story, a ghost story, placed in between the chapters. It is a story Joseph knows nothing about. Or does he? I plowed right through Brooklyn Bridge, eager to see it through. Well worth it.
The first few
Okay, it's been a month since I decided to do this, and I have been reading a variety from the Picture Book and Juvenile lists.
First, the Picture Books:
The Dog Who Belonged to No One, by Amy Hest--This book is utterly charming. From the gentle illustrations by Amy Bates to the easy rhythms and rhymes of Ms. Hest's text, the book moved quickly without feeling rushed. The lonely little dog with crooked ears and the lonely little girl with the time-consuming task of delivering her family's baked goods to the town are in desperately in need of each other. My 5-year-old and my 7-year old both enjoyed this. But I think I liked it more.
The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen--My kids ask for this one over and over. Something about it really strikes a chord with them. Whether it's the repetitive text or the funny illustrations by Dan Hanna, I'm not sure. It definitely has the kid stamp of approval! The Pout-Pout Fish is grumpy and his face is permanently pouting. Through a series of encounters with other sea creatures who try to encourage him to smile, his frown remains. He does finally learn to smile, but I'm not going to give away the whole ending!
Skunkdog, by Emily Jenkins--The story of a dog with no sense of smell. Ms Jenkins made me think about how this particular "disability" really would be a disability for a dog. It would completely rob them of their social skills, considering how much dogs rely on their sense of smell for identifying features and creatures of the world around them. Dumpling is a dog clueless to her predicament. When her family moves to the country, she is left to explore new territory without the use of her nose. Of course, she encounters...a skunk. She immediately tries to make friends. The skunk is understandably wary and sprays Dumpling. Dumpling's family tries a variety of ways to get rid of the smell, but no sooner are they successful than Dumpling and the skunk meet again.
Bats at the Library, by Brian Lies--This book held little charm for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because as a librarian, I find the idea of flying rodents invading my space to be a little too creepy-crummy. The illustrations are meant to be cute, and they are, but the text feels forced to me, and there's no real storyline to follow.
A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems--I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems. My five-year-old sat still for it, but didn't seem particularly engaged. The illustrations held more attraction for her than did the poems. On the other hand, she doesn't have much experience with wandering through the woods, so her frame of reference for the material is limited.
I'll do mini-reviews of the two Juvenile novels I read in the next post.
First, the Picture Books:
The Dog Who Belonged to No One, by Amy Hest--This book is utterly charming. From the gentle illustrations by Amy Bates to the easy rhythms and rhymes of Ms. Hest's text, the book moved quickly without feeling rushed. The lonely little dog with crooked ears and the lonely little girl with the time-consuming task of delivering her family's baked goods to the town are in desperately in need of each other. My 5-year-old and my 7-year old both enjoyed this. But I think I liked it more.
The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen--My kids ask for this one over and over. Something about it really strikes a chord with them. Whether it's the repetitive text or the funny illustrations by Dan Hanna, I'm not sure. It definitely has the kid stamp of approval! The Pout-Pout Fish is grumpy and his face is permanently pouting. Through a series of encounters with other sea creatures who try to encourage him to smile, his frown remains. He does finally learn to smile, but I'm not going to give away the whole ending!
Skunkdog, by Emily Jenkins--The story of a dog with no sense of smell. Ms Jenkins made me think about how this particular "disability" really would be a disability for a dog. It would completely rob them of their social skills, considering how much dogs rely on their sense of smell for identifying features and creatures of the world around them. Dumpling is a dog clueless to her predicament. When her family moves to the country, she is left to explore new territory without the use of her nose. Of course, she encounters...a skunk. She immediately tries to make friends. The skunk is understandably wary and sprays Dumpling. Dumpling's family tries a variety of ways to get rid of the smell, but no sooner are they successful than Dumpling and the skunk meet again.
Bats at the Library, by Brian Lies--This book held little charm for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because as a librarian, I find the idea of flying rodents invading my space to be a little too creepy-crummy. The illustrations are meant to be cute, and they are, but the text feels forced to me, and there's no real storyline to follow.
A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems--I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems. My five-year-old sat still for it, but didn't seem particularly engaged. The illustrations held more attraction for her than did the poems. On the other hand, she doesn't have much experience with wandering through the woods, so her frame of reference for the material is limited.
I'll do mini-reviews of the two Juvenile novels I read in the next post.
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