Newbery Predictions

In just a few weeks, a committee for the American Library Association (ALA) will announce their selections for the 2010 Newbery Award. This award is granted every year to the most distinguished works of literature for children. In honor of the upcoming award as well as of the conclusion of a great 2009 in children's literature, I'm going to try something crazy this year and make my own predictions for the award. Based on what I've read this year (and I've read a lot!) here are my picks:

Newbery Medal

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

The writing in this book is so incredibly clean and efficient. Every single word packs a lot of punch, and nothing is wasted or fluffed up. The story is deceptively simple, yet plenty complex enough to get readers to really think. The nod to Madeline L'Engel's A Wrinkle In Time with probably appeal to committee members as well, since the books is a much-beloved classic which won the Newbery Medal itself in 1963. Historical works have also been popular with the committee in recent years, only increasing this book's chances. In short: When You Reach Me is a nearly flawless book with interesting characters, great setting, and amazing writing that (even more amazingly) should appeal to most children.

Newbery Honors

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

This is a stunning, thought-provoking story of a boy with autism. The narration was absolutely perfect and really reflects Jason's (the main character) unique mindset. I loved getting inside this great character's head and seeing what makes him tick. The subject matter is serious enough to grab the attention of the committee but can be broken down into matters that concern children of all backgrounds: Friendship and finding a place to fit in. Here's hoping that the Newbery committe enjoyed this read as much as I did.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

This story is told much in the style of Richard Peck, an author who has been loved by the Newbery committee in the past. Another story of friendship (a popular theme this year among my Newbery picks), The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is one that might not jump out immediately to kids, but will appeal with some pushing for its very tasteful yet honest look at racism and race relations in the deep south. I loved the story's short chapters which will make readers feel a great sense of accomplishment as they tear through them quickly, while at the same time giving proper treatment to the book's meaty themes.

Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino

You may recall that several months ago I blogged about the wonders of this book and its similarities to Newbery Medal favorite When You Reach Me. In truth, the books are incredibly similar, with their historical settings and perfectly efficient writing. Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle was actually my personal favorite of the two. I loved its stunning look at the complex world of childhood friendships and petty hatreds, and the main character was perfectly drawn as an antagonistic protagonist. However, there's something about When You Reach Me that I can't quite put my finger on that make me think that it's the more likely candidate for the big medal and that Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle will get recognition with the silver Honors award.



Finally, here are a few other titles that didn't quite make my own cut, but have a decent shot at recognition. They help to round out my best-of-the-best list from 2009:

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
Positively by Courtney Sheinmel

Amazingly enough, I actually think that almost all of my Newbery picks for the year have a decent amount of kid appeal to them! Then again, that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I read an enjoyed them all. Does anyone else have other picks to add to the list?

Kids Internet Resources - Math

Are all of you getting geared up for Do Nothing But Read Day? I hope so! I know that I've got a nice long book lined up for my afternoon. :)

Meanwhile, I think it's time for another installment of Kids Internet Resources. Today's topic: Math.

A+ Math
This website has lots of great flash cards for those of us who need to brush up on our basic math skills - especially those pesky multiplication tables. There's also worksheets and a homework checker for more drills and math help, as well as a few fun math games.

Ask Dr. Math
Do you have a math question that's really stumping you? If so, then you can e-mail the students at Drexel University who run this website with your questions (just make sure that your question hasn't already been answered on the website first). This is a great place to get information on more complicated math skills, including theories and formulas.

Math Playground
Probably my favorite website of this bunch, Math Playground offers more games, flash cards, and worksheets for kids who need to brush up on their skills. But what I really love are the videos which walk you through how to solve different kinds of problems. This is great for when you just need to see exactly how something such as reducing fractions works one more time, or maybe need to have it explained in a voice other than your teacher's.

Do Nothing But Read Day

Sometimes it's hard to find time in your schedule to curl up with a book. We're all busy with school, work, or any of a myriad of other activities. Especially during this busy holiday season, who really has time to read everything they want? Well, a library student from UW-Madison (and, coincidentally, a friend of mine) mused about this conundrum one day on Facebook. The response was overwhelming. So many people shared this plight that Amanda decided to do something about it. She quickly started to spread the word about Do Nothing But Read Day (DNBRD), which she hopes will be a chance for people like her to catch up on all of that reading that they've been meaning to do.

DNBRD is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 20. The rules (which you are free to interpret somewhat loosely to fit your situation) are as follows:

Requirements:
-you must read more than one book (they can be short, and short stories count!)

-comfy clothing (jammies preferable)

-no shoes (slippers are ok)

-mugs of beverages and snacks

Optional:
-sleepy cat(s)

-blankies


Even if you don't adhere COMPLETELY to the rules (even Amanda has admitted that there's plenty of wiggle room there), I really urge all of you to try to participate. Take this opportunity to say, "Yes, I will read that book that's been sitting on my table for months!" or "Yes, I'll try a new author/genre! or "Yes, I will take time out of my busy schedule just for me!"

Be sure to also take a look at the official DNBRD blog. I believe that you can register to participate and even win some prizes. Amanda also has some great book recommendations - mostly teen stuff - if you need some ideas for what to pick up. She's also documented how the idea of DNBRD has spread so rapidly - people in Rhode Island, California, and even Poland and Australia are getting excited!

The Magician's Elephant

Apologies for the long delay in posting. Between holidays and a number of other things I haven't had time to do much reading, much less blogging. But better late than never, I'd like to share the latest book by much-beloved author Kate DiCamillo!

When Peter sees a fortuneteller's tent set up in the market, he knows exactly what he wants to ask: Does his sister live? And if she does, how can he find her? Peter had long believed that his sister had died, but a glimmer of hope compels him to believe otherwise. Sure enough, the fortuneteller assures him that Adele lives, and that an elephant will lead Peter to her. An elephant? How absurd! But on that same night, a magician who intended to conjure a bouquet of lilies before a full audience instead summons an elephant who comes crashing through the ceiling and lands in the lap of an unsuspecting noblewoman. Through a series of unusual events, Peter, the magician, and a host of other characters begin a journey of discovery as they uncover their place in the world.

Kate DiCamillo has created yet another stunningly simple, yet incredibly moving novel for young readers. Her prose is fluid and would be a joy to read aloud with a loved one. The old-world scene is drawn very well and the book's touching conclusion will wrap readers in a cozy feeling of happiness as everything comes together. I truly feel like this book needs to be read during winter in front of a fire while wrapped in a blanket. While not quite as brilliant as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, what ever could be?) and didn't make me sob like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician's Elephant can certainly find a place in the hearts of DiCamillo's fans.

Overall Grade: A

Kids Internet Resources - Science

Here's Part III of a look at some of the best resources on the Web for kids to explore! Today's topic: Science. While we already covered a specific area in this subject (animals) in a previous post, these websites take a fun and informative look at the sciences as a whole:

Kids Know It
This website is a portal to information on a number of topics, but the sciences are especially well-represented. Check out the pages about the human body, dinosaurs, astronomy, and more.

NASA for Students
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about outer space, space travel, and our atmosphere. Click here to jump straight to information and activities geared for kids grades K-4, or here for grades 5-8.

'Ology
"ology" is a suffix that means, "the study of." The American Museum of Natural History has interesting information about all kinds of 'ologies - Archaeology, paleontology, zoology, and more!

Science Fair Project Resource Guide
Need help getting your science fair project together? Put together by the librarians at the Internet Public Library, this website will help you with everything from choosing your topic to conducting research to displaying your project. You can also use the Internet Public Library to help you find more information on your topic - it's a great source for finding information on the Web!

The Yuckiest Site on the Internet
This website has everything you ever wanted to know about the grossest stuff out there - acne, bugs, mold, and more. The best part? It's all true, and they'll show you exactly how all of this stuff works.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had

Dit is a young boy who often feels a bit overshadowed by his large family. So when he hears that his town's new postmaster has a son just his age, Dit is very excited to have a friend to spend time with. Unfortunately things don't turn out quite as expected - When the postmaster arrives Dit discovers that not only is the boy who was supposed to be his friend a girl named Emma, but the family is colored. And in 1917 in the deep South of Alabama, this is a huge deal.

But as Dit gets to know Emma, he begins to realize that even though things aren't turning out quite as he planned they can still be great. Emma isn't very good at fishing and hates the idea of Dit hunting, but she can tell a great story. And maybe she isn't used to getting dirty or playing baseball, but she's willing to try. It turns out that Emma is actually a great friend, and she and Dit become unlikely companions for the summer. But when school begins in the fall, the two of them encounter prejudice for their friendship as they are forced to attend different schools and are teased by other children who Dit had considered friends. Once, Dit would not have questioned what these people are doing and would have even joined right in. But now that the teasing involves him and his friend, he begins to appreciate what it means to treat his fellow man with respect no matter who they are. But racism in Moundville doesn't happen to just these two children, and Dit and Emma soon become involved in a bloody conflict between the town's sheriff and its black barber. Can the two of them see that justice is done despite the town's prejudices?

This is yet another great first novel by newcomer Kristin Levine. She has crafted a touching novel that deals not only with racism in a manner that is easily accessible to children, but also with what it means to be a friend in an even more general sense. The story is somewhat episodic in nature, but many of the individual episodes build off of each other as the novel progresses. Somewhat similar in style to Richard Peck's much beloved books (A Long Way from Chicago, A Year Down Yonder, etc.) The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is an easy story to fall in to for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, tales of friendship, or multicultural tales. I'd definitely recommend this book to just about anyone - it'll find a place in your heart.

My one complaint as a librarian: The cover of this book isn't exactly kid-friendly. I have trouble imagining an 11-year-old being instantly drawn to it and I fear that the book will therefore be passed up, which is a shame considering the book's amazing quality. However, this is an easy one for me to booktalk and "sell" to kids, parents, and teachers vocally. Here's hoping that this extra effort will get the book into enough hands.

Overall Grade: A+

Into The Wild Nerd Yonder

High School sophomore Jessie finds herself torn between social cliques in the endearing Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern. Her two (former) best friends have gone punk-rock, while Jessie still prefers to wear her homemade funky skirts. Then one of her friends stabs her in the back by hooking up with her long-time crush. Desperately in need of some better friends, Jessie begins chatting with acknowledged geek Dottie in study hall. The question becomes: If Jessie agrees to help make costumes for Dottie's Dungeons and Dragons group, will she herself also be labeled as a geek? And is that really such a bad thing?

This is a quick, somewhat fluffy read that really appealed to me because of the premise. Heck, I remember being in high school and doing everything I could to hide my own geekiness for fear of being labeled. But what I really enjoyed most about this book was the way that Jessie deals with her changing relationship with longtime-friends Bizza and Char - she knows that they're treating her badly and that she needs to do something about it, but she's also scared to branch out of her comfort zone. Her reactions to this situation are very realistic, making her easy to identify with. It was also kind of nice to see that even though Jessie becomes part of the D&D crowd she doesn't transform overnight - her priority remains her relationship with the other people in the group, not necessarily the game they play. This is a great story about being OK with yourself and with your own interests and finding respect among your peers.

Overall Grade: B+

Wordless Picture Books

Not too long ago I posted about the Owly series of graphic novels and talked a bit about how these books are so accessible because of the fact that they contain almost no words and tell the story using only pictures and symbols. There are plenty of other books that use similar techniques, telling the story with art instead of words. Here are a few of my favorites:

David Wiesner is a master of the wordless picture book. He has numerous awards under his belt for such stories, including a whopping three Caldecott Medals and two Caldecott honors. While many of Wiesner's books are wordless and all are equally worth checking out (seriously, go and get your hands on Tuesday and Flotsam), my favorite is The Three Pigs, which won the Caldcott Medal in 2002. The book opens seeming to be the traditional story that we all know and love, but when the Big Bad Wolf arrives he huffs and puffs and blows the pigs right out of their story! The pigs find themselves in a place that seems to be behind their tale, and the three wander - and even fly - from story to story meeting other characters along the way. What few words there are in this book seem to be more of a part of the illustration to be explored along with the drawings, rather than a text that needs to be read aloud. Perhaps it's the former English major in me, but I love the way that this book explores the narrative process, seeming to discuss ways that the imagination brings together tales that don't initially seem to have any real connection. Just like we all do, the pigs float from story to story, exploring as much as they like and taking the parts that they really need with them back to their own lives. Besides, the illustrations themselves are pretty darn awesome, and I love the way that Wiesner uses different styles for each story that the pigs enter.

Overall Grade: A+

This year, one picture book that's been getting some Caldecott talk for 2010 is Jerry Pinkney's wordless retelling of The Lion and the Mouse. This beloved Aesop's Fable is told in gorgeous pencil and watercolor illustrations that portray both the Majesty of the lion and the Serengeti, but also the beauty and detail of smaller creatures like the mouse. The illustrations are simply stunning and will demand your full attention as you page through the story. Part of the beauty of illustrating this very familiar story wordlessly is that it becomes nearly effortless for children and their parents to put words to the story themselves as they look at the illustrations - and narrative retelling is one of the necessary skills that a child needs to have in order to be able to read effectively!

Overall Grade: A

You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum is an interesting tale by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman. A girl visits the famous gallery with her grandmother and ties her yellow balloon to the railing. However, the balloon escapes anyway and floats off to have its own series of adventures. Reproductions of paintings featured at the Met are included with Weitzman's pencil drawings as the girl and her grandmother look at them at the museum. The action in these paintings always seems to reflect the balloon's adventures, giving viewers two separate but parallel stories. Weitzman has created two other picture book that follow the same format where other art galleries are visited: the Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Gallery.

Overall Grade: A

Kids Internet Resources - The United States

As promised, here is Part 2 of my exploration of great websites for kids. Today's topic is the United States of America. The websites listed below give a good overview of how our government works, our history, and some information about each of the fifty states that make up this great nation.

American FactFinder Kids Corner
This is the children's page of the US Census Bureau's website. Here, kids can find all sorts of great statistical information about the fifty states.

America's Story from America's Library
This website is built and maintained by the Library of Congress, and provides an interactive look at American history with games and exhibits.

Ben's Guide to the US Government
This is by far my favorite website EVER for exploring the United States government. Learn about the three branches, how laws are made, and US citizenship with different portals of information geared for students of different grade levels.

Encyclopedia Britanica's Guide to Black History
This is a great portal to everything related to black history. Check out the great selection of video and audio clips, the timeline, and more.

Fifty States and Capitols
While this information does have some obnoxious adds, it also has one of the most comprehensive lists I've seen of quick facts about each of the 50 states.

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road

Ignatious B. Grumply was once the beloved author of the Ghost Tamer series of books for children, but he now suffers from a terrible case of writer's block and hasn't been able to write anything for twenty years. Hoping that a change of scenery might do him good, he decides to rent an old Victorian home for the summer while he works on the highly-anticipated 13th book. Unfortunately, Ignatious finds more than he bargained for when he arrives and realizes that when he had his lawyer sign the contract to rent the home, he unwittingly agreed to care for a boy named Seymour who was left behind by his parents while they toured Europe to make a series of presentations about how there is no such thing as ghosts. It soon becomes clear that Seymour's parents had a reason for leaving him behind - he is clearly convinced that a ghost is living in his home. Ignatious isn't happy to be sharing his abode with this child and is even more unhappy that Seymour keeps blaming all of the noise in the house on a ghost. What will it take to whip Seymour into shape? Or, more importantly, what will it take for Seymour and the ghost of Olive get Ignatius to pull it together?

This book, written and illustrated by the team of Kate and M. Sarah Klise, is a real winner. Told in a series of letters, drawings, and newspaper articles, the book's format is easily accessible, highly entertaining, and brilliantly executed. I enjoyed the book's humor, filled with snide jabs and delightfully punny names like Anita Sale (a realtor), Paige Turner (Ignatious' agent) and E. Gadds (Ignatious' lawyer). There's even a great sort of lesson thrown in at the end of the book about how everyone's life is a story that's sometimes better than fiction in a non-didactic manner. This moral is even more clever when you consider the book's narrative format - using written documents from real life to tell the story. How cool is that? Definitely a fun read for kids who like not-scary ghost stories, humor, and other books with interesting formats such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Also check out the sequel, Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road.

Overall Grade: A

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Author Gennifer Choldenko really struck gold with her 2005 Newbery Honor-winning book Al Capone Does My Shirts. Set in 1935, a boy named Moose Flanagan and his family move to Alcatraz island when his father takes a job as a prison guard there. Moose isn't thrilled about having to live isolated on an island with a bunch of convicts, but his parents have good reason for the move. Moose's older sister Natalie isn't exactly all there in the head, and their parents hope that they'll be able to send Natalie to a special school in San Francisco that works with kids like her and could maybe cure her. When they arrive on Alcatraz, Moose quickly learns that the Rock has many rules even for civilians like him. Things become more complicated when Moose makes friends with Piper, the warden's daughter, who comes up with elaborate schemes that break all of these rules and could land the two of them in big trouble.

Unfortunately, the Flanagans get some bad news: Natalie will not be accepted at the school they had hoped to send her to, even though they're sure that the school would be the best thing to help her. But what can they do about it? Not much...but maybe Prisoner 85, better known as Al Capone, could!

Overall Grade: A+

In the newly-released sequel Al Capone Shines My Shoes, things pick up right where they left off. Thanks to Al Capone, Natalie is leaving home to attend her special school. Moose is left with a string of his own problems though. Jimmy is jealous of one of Moose's baseball-playing friends from San Francisco. Annie wants Moose to spill his secret about Capone's help. Piper is constantly worrying about her mother and the new baby she is expecting, certain that she'll be ignored once the baby arrives, and takes all of her worry out on everyone else. One of the guards seems to have it out for him. Worst of all, Moose gets another message from Al Capone in his laundry: "Your turn." Capone clearly wants Moose to do something to return the favor for his services. Even though Moose knows that helping one of the convicts could mean major trouble for everyone, he doesn't exactly have a choice - after all, if Capone had enough power to get Natalie into her school, he could easily get her kicked out. How can he say no?

Overall Grade: A

These books are truly fascinating. The setting itself is very well drawn out, and Choldenko has clearly done her research about the time period and about life on Alcatraz. The characters themselves are brilliantly drawn and likable, and the dialogue is spot on. Natalie's character is especially intriguing. As you will see in Choldenko's excellent set of Author's Notes at the end of each book(which also include great historical information about Alcatraz), Natalie suffers from what we would today recognize as autism, but at the time when this book takes place they didn't have a word for her condition, so it is never used. Because of this, we get to really explore the ways that Natalie interacts with the world around her without being distracted by knowing what she suffers from.

The sequel is nearly as perfect as the original, and the author did a great job of creating a believable follow-up story that flows perfectly from the first. My only complaint is that while she hasn't lost any of her spunk, Piper was much less exciting to me as she was wallowed up in worry than when she's plotting to exploit her position as the warden's daughter and a citizen on Alcatraz for her own benefit. Despite this, the other characters are improved upon and given more depth and the style of writing remains as smooth and seamless as ever.

Kids' Internet Resources - Animals

I have a new project at work that I'm actually super-excited about: I get to re-do my library's webliography of awesome sites on the Web for kids. So basically I'm getting paid to play on the Internet for hours and spend time surfing the sites with the most awesome graphics, most fun games, and with the funkiest themes.

In all seriousness, this is an important job. After all, where's the first place many students today think to turn to when they want to know something? It's not often books anymore - it's the Internet. With trillions and trillions of websites out there, it good to have a few really awesome ones right at your fingertips. And just like with books, librarians really should be one of the first ones to go to when you're having trouble navigating the web and finding the information you're looking for.

To celebrate one of the most awesome side duties a librarian could have, I thought I'd share a few of the cool websites that I've stumbled upon. This week's theme: Animals!

Animal Planet
This is the website for the popular TV station Animal Planet. The link will take you directly to the portal for the site's Wild Animals section, with all sorts of pictures and information about the cool animals we share our world with. Check out the Animals A-Z list, as well as the Endangered Animals Guide. If you explore the website, you'll also find games, videos, and even some information on pet care.

ASPCA Animaland
The ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has a really great website for kids who want to learn more about how to properly care for a pet. Definitely a great resource for families who are considering acquiring a new pet, this site also spotlights real pets and careers working with animals, and also answers kids' questions about pet behavior.

Creature Feature
Part of the National Geographic for Kids website, the Creature Feature not only gives you fun facts about different animals, but also photos, videos, and maps indicating where in the world these animals live.

Oakland Zoo - Animals
The website for the Oakland Zoo not only has information about the zoo's hours and location, but also a great database of information on animals. Just find the kind of animal you're interested in (mammal, bird, reptile, etc.) and then select the specific species from the appropriate drop-down menu. Voila!

Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me

Tamara is having a rough summer. Her unaffectionate parents are at odds with her older brother and the house is full of tension. Worst of all, her best friend Kebsie recently left her foster home on Ramble Street without a word to live with her mother. Then Muscle Man McGinty arrives and begins telling outrageous lies - He's training for the 1972 Olympics, he has sung on Broadway, and the famous astronaut Neil Armstrong (who is about to take mankind's first steps on the moon) is really his uncle. Worst of all, no one but Tamara seems to be able to see through the lies. She dreams of the day that she can finally reveal Muscle Man for the two-faced fraud he is. Finally, opportunity knocks when Muscle Man challenges the entire street to a game of kickball. Tamara sees her opportunity - here's no way he can weasel out of this one!

Set in 1969, this brilliant book by debut author Nan Marino take nostalgic look at friendship during this year of change. Readers interested in the book's historical aspects will get to see the historical moon landing in action, as well as a glimpse of the Vietnam War on the home front. But most of all, this is a stunning portrait of grief. Tamara is a girl who is clearly hurting because of her family's gruffness and Kesbie's sudden disappearance, and Douglas McGinty (Muscle Man) is clearly a good target for all of her frustrations. Muscle Man has grief of his own, but Tamara fails to see anyone's problems but her own, making her a brilliantly flawed antagonistic protagonist.

A certain book that you may recall me reviewing awhile back (When You Reach Me) has been getting a lot of Newbery talk this year. Everyone I know who has read this book has loved it. If you enjoyed When You Reach Me, then you will likely also enjoy Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle. Heck, I come out and say that I think it's got its own reasonable shot at some Newbery recognition, and for many of the same reasons. They feature similar styles of writing - straightforward, efficient, and elegant without any wasted words. Both have an interesting historical setting, and both give us examples of the surprisingly complicated world of childhood friendships. I'd definitely recommend reading both books, but I have to honestly say that I have a bit of a personal preference for Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle. Where When You Reach Me is very complex in plot, Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle has a more straightforward plot that is instead complex in emotion. Besides, there's just something incredibly endearing about waiting to see a kid get his comeuppance during a game of kickball - and not being sure which kid you're hoping will get it.

Overall Grade: A+

Owly

I have yet another confession: I'm a sucker for adorable animals. Anything small and fuzzy or fluffy with big eyes will do.

And yet another confession: I'm a huge sucker for owls.

So you can only imagine my delight when I discovered Owly!

One of my favorite graphic novel series, created by Andy Runton, features an adorable little owl named Owly. Owly is incredibly sweet and generous and loves helping everyone around him in the forest. Unfortunately, Owly is also rather lonely living alone in his treehouse. One day he rescues a little worm and nurses him back to health. Wormy is very nervous at first - after all, owls usually eat little guys like him! But soon Wormy begins to realize that Owly is a good friend. Throughout the series Owly and Wormy have many adventures together, making new friends along the way and learning that friendship takes on many forms.

There's no denying that the artwork in these graphic novels is adorable. It's all done in black and white line drawings, and all of the characters are round and sweet and expressive. The characters' expressiveness is especially important when you consider the coolest thing about these books - they're practically wordless. Owly, Wormy, and their friends have lots of dialogue, but when you look inside the speech bubbles you'll see picture symbols instead of words. Why is that so cool? Because anyone can read it! You don't need to have an incredible vocabulary or be able to sound out words to appreciate this story since you just have to be able to interpret the pictures. That means that a child in Kindergarten who can't read yet, a 4th grader, a kid who grew up speaking another language, and these kids' parents will all be able to read and enjoy Owly together.

Just as an example, let's take a look at a page from Owly and Friends, which was created to celebrate Free Comic Book Day in 2008:

In the top panel, we see Owly standing amongst some potted plants and a greenhouse. Look at Owly's hands and the symbols in the speech bubble. By putting the two together, we can guess that Owly is calling for Wormy, who seems to be missing form this picture.

In the next panel, Wormy appears. He's made himself known, and the question mark in the speech bubble indicates that he has a question. Perhaps he's asking Owly what he wants.

Next, Owly tucks a scarf around Wormy's neck. The picture of the thermometer and the arrow, along with the scarf, indicate that Owly is explaining that the weather is getting colder.

In the bottom-left panel, Wormy's face is concerned. There's another question mark in his speech bubble, so he has a question. Look at the picture before the question mark - the plants all have their own scarves. Wormy seems to be asking if they'll give the plants their own scarves to protect them from the cold.

Owly answers Wormy's question in the last panel. There's a slash through the picture that Wormy had used to ask his question, so we can assume that Owly has said that they will not be giving the plants scarves. The next speech bubble illustrates a solution - they will put the plants inside the greenhouse during the winter.

See, that wasn't too hard at all! To read Owly, we just need to take clues from the illustrations and combine them with the symbols in the speech bubbles to understand their meaning.

So if you're looking for a comic with adorable characters, strong messages about friendship and generosity, and something accessible to a wide range of children, Owly is for you! The very first book in the series is Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer but each graphic novel stands strongly on its own and they can be read in any order.

Overall Grade: A+

Catching Fire

I'll admit it: Sequels make me very nervous, especially when the first book was amazing. Will the second installment meet my expectations? Will my predictions come true? Will the sequel be too predictable? Or will it feel cheap and rushed, like it was just a half-hearted attempt to capitalize on something that's already popular? I'm happy to report, however, the the (arguably) most highly-anticipated sequel of this year was a complete success!

Picking up only a few months after the conclusion of The Hunger Games, Katniss finds that despite the wealth that comes with being a victor in the Capitol's barbaric games, her life has become more complicated than it ever was. By defying the Capitol during the Hunger Games, she has created a spark that just might ignite the impoverished districts of Panem to revolt. The last thing that Katniss wants is to see her loved ones suffer because of her actions, but on her and Peeta's victory tour of the districts it becomes clear that there is nothing she can do to appease the Capitol or prevent the districts from being inspired by her defiance. Small fires of discontent have begun burning, and soon they will cause an explosion that will rock Panem off its axis. Is there anything Kaniss can do to stop things from spiraling out of control? And does she even want to? Is the threat to herself and to her family worth the risk?

Author Suzanne Collins has taken the world that she created in The Hunger Games and given it even greater depth. Character development is crucial in this book as new characters are introduced and old ones are expanded upon. Much of the book's initial action actually doesn't happen to Katniss - it happens around her and she reacts to it, reminding readers that the impending rebellion in Panem is clearly bigger than any one person. Despite all of the political problems Katniss faces, those who enjoyed the direct action in this trilogy's first installment will not be disappointed either, and those craving romance will find the love triangle between Katniss, fellow Hunger Games victor Peeta, and longtime friend Gale to be perfectly executed.

The only problem - the book's cliffhanger ending will keep readers on the edge of their seats, desperately waiting for the trilogy's final installment to come out in 2010.

Overall Grade: A+

The Value of Classic and Award-Winning Books

I've seen it happen many times before: A parent comes to the library and asks for help in finding some good, "classic" books for their child to read. This parent is very well-intentioned, and I give the parent a lot of credit for wanting his/her child to read high-quality books. But "classics" or even award-winners aren't always the answer. There are lots of other things to consider when selecting books for your children. This issue came up not too long ago when I was talking with a relative of mine, and I went on a bit of a tirade that I'd really like to share:



Just because a book is old doesn't mean it's good. And just because a book is new doesn't mean it can't be amazing. The thing to keep in mind too is that things change over time: Writing styles have evolved and changed, children's expectations of books have changed, society's values as a whole have changed, and our collective understanding of child development and children's needs has changed. This means that in 2009, children will not react the same way to certain "classic" books as they would have in 1959 or in 1909.

There's also the issue of children's interests. Fact: If you want your child to love reading, they need to read books that they love. Believe it or not, your child might not love Swiss Family Robinson or Tom Sawyer. Or maybe they do. But there are very few children who will like reading every single book an any given recommended reading list. That's just the way it is, and there's nothing wrong with that. Now in school, since there are certain lessons that need to be taught and a teacher can't cater to every child in his/her classroom, a child will inevitably be forced to read something that is not of interest. But that's the exception to the rule. And a teacher should always try to find the book that will get the lesson across AND appeal to the most kids because otherwise that lesson is going to be lost an a class full of kids. For recreational reading, kids should ALWAYS have some say in what they're going to be reading or it's not going to be fun anymore and they will learn to dislike reading.

Fact: Just because a book is "classic" or has won an award doesn't mean that children will love it. See above for the rant about why classics could potentially no longer be appealing.

Awards are another sticky issue, especially with the much-beloved Newbery Medal. This award is given annually by a committee of librarians to the most distinguished work of literature for children. However, the fact remains that these grown-ups are recognizing literary merit and quality of writing. Yes, this means that the books that win this award will certainly have excellent, or at least interesting/unique writing. But sometimes the topics of these books, or even the very style that is being recognized, is difficult or even unappealing to kids. Many (including myself) have criticized the Newbery for picking books very appealing to adults, but that don't always resonate with children. There are plenty of great award winners that I would definitely recommend to most children, but there are also plenty that just make you want to roll your eyes.

There is plenty of value to be found in any book. Even if the writing isn't award-worthy, and even if it's subject matter is "fluffy," every book has an opportunity to influence a child positively. Maybe loving a book will simply help a child learn to love reading and inspire him/her to find other books. Maybe the subject matter is teachable and discussable - I feel that this is always the case if you just look hard enough. No, not every book is brilliant. But there are plenty of solid, usable, teachable books out there that aren't on classic or award-winning reading lists. And I'm not saying that you shouldn't read classic or award-winning books either - there are plenty of amazing ones out there that will probably appeal to your child. Just think about why you're giving this to your child to read first.

When You Reach Me

Miranda is a 12-year-old girl, growing up in New York City in 1979. She is a latchkey kid living with her single mother and she adores the newly published book A Wrinkle in Time. Her best friend is a boy named Sal, fellow latchkey kid who lives in her building. But everything changes when one day, as they are walking home from school, Sal is punched in a seemingly random act of violence. After that, Sal stops talking to Miranda. Then a series of strange events begins that will change Miranda's life forever. First, the hidden spare key to her apartment is stolen. They she recieves a mysterious letter. Whoever sent her this letter seems to know things that will happen in the future, and forbodingly promises to save her friend's life. Miranda is understandibly skeptical at first, but as these things slowly begin to happen, she begins to realize that the letter-writer's knowlege is too great to be a coincidence. The stakes are high - but Miranda isn't really sure just how high until it is almost too late.

This is a brilliantly executed book, proving that there is no sophomore slump for author Rebecca Stead. The writing is efficient - every single word accomplishes something, and there's no fluffy filler. This keeps the pages turning quickly. It's very hard to place this book into any sort of genre - it's part historical fiction, part mystery, part science fiction, so there's something in here for everyone. The book is very character-driven rather than plot-driven, which will force readers to be somewhat patient as the story unfolds. However, those readers who are patient will definitely be rewarded in the end. This book's finale is phenominal, bringing together all of the pieces of the story and making everything clear in a brilliant moment of clarity.

Lots of references are made in this book to Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. You don't have to have read A Wrinkle in Time to enjoy this book, but I do imagine that those who read When You Reach Me might be interested in checking out this classic tale again or for the first time.

Overall Grade: A

Edit 1/20/2010: Congratulations to author Recebba Stead for winning the 2010 Newbery Medal for this wondeful book!

The Tale of Despereaux: The Movie

Yes, I realize that the animated film version of Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award-winning book The Tale of Despereaux was released a whopping eight months ago in December. But I could never bring myself to go and see it. Why? Well, the trailer scared me. I saw this short preview and became convinced that the movie would never be able to live up to one of my favorite children's books ever; that it would be ruined by an overabundance of goofy humor:



Well, not too long ago I finally saw the movie. And all things considering, it wasn't too bad! The movie itself is rather quirky and fun and if you allow it to stand alone, it's a pretty well put-together piece of children's cinema. And while the movie did a better job than I expected of staying true to the story, there are a few major discrepancies between the movie and the book however that will continue to bother me, namely:

Roscuro's back story is completely changed. In the book, Roscuro is different from the other rats simply because he is different. In the movie, Roscuro is different from the other rats because he's foreign. Perhaps because of this, I never really bought it that Roscuro ever ever really was evil - he was way too nice throughout the whole movie.

But except for the Roscuro problem, most of the changes that were made made a certain amount of sense for creating an exciting and interesting movie. Because let's face it - not all books translate well to the screen, and if you're going to try sometimes changes need to be made to account for the new format. But I will say that at its core, the film version of The Tale of Despereaux stays faithful to the idea that it's OK to be different, and that forgiveness is necessary for overcoming difficult times.

Overall Quality of Film: A-
Overall Faithfulness to the Book: B

The Willoughbys

The four Willoughby children come from an old-fashioned sort of family. Unfortunately, they are also laden with an old-fashioned sort of problem - their parents are simply dreadful. Things would be so much better for them if their parents would die, leaving the four of them as poor but deserving orphans. After all, all of the great stories feature orphans who overcome their situation to lead extraordinary lives. And so the children come up with a plan to make their dream come true, receiving help from an unusual nanny and a wealthy benefactor.

Many readers might recognize author Lois Lawry from her novels such as The Giver and Number the Stars. Her latest novel, however, is very different from her usual work. The Willoughbys' story is full of dry, snarky humor that fans of Lemony Snicket will probably find delightful. Many will also appreciate the parody of other "old-fashioned" stories to be found in this novel and the way that it plays off of some tried and true conventions of orphan stories. Definitely recommended for kids who are fans of Lemony Snicket or Roald Dahl, this is also a book that I would suggest as a good option for kids and parents to read together since many adults will greatly appreciate the book's parody.

Overall Grade: A

Buffy vs. Edward

For all of its amazing popularity, many have criticized Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga as being anti-feminist. They often cite that Bella cooks for her father and sacrifices college for the sake of her relationship with Edward - not to mention her eagerness to marry at a young age - when making this argument. Edward himself also bothers some readers, who say that he is incredibly overprotective and stalkerish.

I'm not here to make judgements either way about Twilight being anti-feminist or not. But I think that no matter how you feel about Bella's character and the Twilight saga you will probably get a massive kick out of this video, especially if you also remember a certain teen vampire slayer:



So what do you think about Twilight? Do you think it's anti-feminist? Is Bella a weak character? Is Edward creepy and domineering? If you admitted "yes" to any of these questions, is that necessarily bad? Does this video make you think a bit more about these issues? Which to you prefer - relatively docile and romantic Bella, or kick-but Buffy? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

The Crossroads

Changes are afoot for Zack Jennings. His father has just remarried and the three of them are moving from New York City to Zack's father's hometown in Connecticut. Zack is actually very excited about most of these changes. His new step-mother Judy is sweet and seems to be genuinely interested in Zack's life, unlike his late mother who only complained about how Zack was ruining her life. And maybe Zack will be able to make some friends in his new home, something that has always been difficult for him to do. At first, things seem to be going swimmingly, but strange things are happening. First, a tree in Zack's back yard, home to a memorial kept by old Miss Spratling for her dead fiance, is struck by lightning. Zack has a new friend in the form of local farm boy Davy and the two of them are building a tree fort in Zack's backyard, but Davy isn't able to help with any of the work. A plumber is called to fix the pipes in the bathroom of Zack's new house, but he returns later and tries to attack Zack. Slowly, Judy beings to uncover a a mystery surrounding a terrible car crash that took place fifty years ago at the crossroads near their new home, and realizes that there are a few connections between these past events and the strange things that are happening to her new family now. Could ghosts of the dead from this crash be haunting the crossroads? And why does Zack seem to be their target?

In his first novel for kids, Chris Grabenstein has created a mesmerizing ghost story. The chapters are told in alternating points of view, switching between Zack, Judy, Miss Spratling, the plumber, and the menacing ghost of Clint Eberhart. This allows the reader to see how the ghosts affect each of these characters in turn and how this mystery pulls each of them together. The story unfolds slowly but builds up plenty of intrigue to keep readers turning the pages. And let's face it - parts of this novel are just CREEPY, and a few scenes are somewhat disturbing and not for the faint of heart. I'm not normally a fan of ghost stories myself, but this one was very well put together and kept me rooting for Zack and Judy to finally bring these spirits to rest.

Overall Grade: A

The Big Splash

In his first novel The Big Splash, Jack D. Ferraiolo shows readers what we've always known - that middle school hallways are filled with thugs, bullies, and criminals out to extort the lowly. Franklin Middle School seems to be under the control of seventh-grade boss Vincent Biggio ("Vinny Biggs"), who has his hand in a ring of candy smugglers, forged hall passes, and most notoriously can easily have someone who displeases him condemned to "The Outs" by means of a squirt gun aimed in a place that would cause dreadful humiliation. But when Nikki - once Vinny's greatest squirt-gun assassin and one of the toughest, most feared people in the school - is herself put on The Outs, kid detective Matt Stevens is on the case. But who could have possibly done this to Nikki? Any of the hundreds of kids tormented by her or Vinny's gang had a motive. Matt must follow a series of clues to uncover exactly whodunnit.

This book was written in a style that imitates classic film noir - picture an old black and white movie involving a hard-boiled gumshoe, a gangster, and girls who are both beautiful and deadly - but is set in the halls of a middle school. As such, the narration is laden with crazy similes ("I felt like a diabetic at an ice cream buffet") that will make readers either laugh or groan, depending on their tastes . This book is a little over the top and and the characters are just a bit superficial, but readers who are willing to sit back and enjoy the show will likely revel in Matt's detective skills and the powerful mafia that controls his school.

Overall Grade: A-

The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes

Charlotte Hayes does not like dogs. It's not that she's afraid of them, or wishes that all dogs would disappear. She just doesn't consider herself to be a "dog person." But when her father, a man prone to sudden whims of fancy, comes home with a German shepherd, Charlotte finds herself to be the only person who seems concerned about the puppy's well-being. Beauregard is a good dog who just wants someone to feed him, play with him, and rub his belly, but no one in the family seems willing to give him as much love as he deserves. Even though Charlotte doesn't like dogs, she knows that Beauregard deserves a better home and sets off to rescue her own dog, determined to find the perfect new owners for Beauregard.

Written by Marlane Kennedy, this is a dog story like no other. No matter how you feel about dogs - whether you love them, hate them, or like Charlotte fall somewhere in between - you will find this story and its heroine to be sweet and smart. I appreciated Charlotte's complicated relationship with Beauregard, which I had never before encountered in a dog story. The subplots about Charlotte's mother and her postpartum depression and the independent older woman that Charlotte befriends are expertly worked in to the tale - touched on just enough to add interest, but they allow the main story of Charlotte's search for a new home for her dog to take center stage.

Overall Grade: A-

Love, Aubrey

This debut novel by Suzanne LaFleur tells the story of eleven-year-old Aubrey and the way she overcomes tragedy. When the story opens, Aubrey is living alone, subsisting on cheese and crackers and Spaghetti-Os. But what has happened to the rest of Aubrey's family? Why is she alone? Slowly but surely, it is revealed that a few months ago her father and younger sister were killed in a car crash. Though she and her mother survived, grief has haunted both of them and finally drove Aubrey's mother away in a state of broken confusion. Now Aubrey is forced to deal with the sorrow over loosing not only her father and sister, but also her mother who failed to take care of her. Things start to look up, however, when Aubrey's Gram shows up on the doorstep and begins the process of helping Aubrey pick up the pieces of her life. The two go back to Gram's home in Vermont where Aubrey makes friends with the girl next door, writes letters to her sister's imaginary friend, and slowly learns to talk about these tragic events and how they make her feel. But there is still a hole left in Aubrey's heart and she longs for her mother to reappear. When she finally does turn up, however, Aubrey quickly learns that rebuilding their lives will take more than simply being together.

This is a stunningly emotional tale of grief and recovery. There were several scenes that made me cry, and I'd definitely give this book to anyone looking for a good tear-jerker. Watching Aubrey's character open up and learn to discuss her feelings rather than bury them will certainly tug at reader's heartstrings. Aubrey's letters are excellent examples of her emotional catharsis - brief, but packed with so much emotion. More importantly, LaFleur seems to have creatd a very authentic eleven-year-old voice that balances maturity and love with developmentally appropriate selfishness.

Overall Grade: A+

Anything But Typical

Jason is a sixth-grader with autism. This means that he sometimes has trouble doing things that "neurotypicals" do naturally, such as reading people's facial expressions, handling crowds and loud noises, or coping with unstructured events. He is teased by his classmates and even by his own cousins for acting strangely, but they just don't understand the way that Jason's brain works. Jason takes some solace by writing his own stories and posting them online. It is here that he meets Phoenixbird, a girl who talks to him online about their writing. When Jason has the opportunity to attend a writing conference sponsored by the website where he posts his stories, he is excited to learn more about writing. But he is also very nervous when he learns that Phoenixbird will also be attending. How will react when she meets him in person? How will he react when he finally sees her? Will she react just as badly as his classmates when she learns of his autism? How will her reaction affect their friendship and even Jason's writing?

Jason will face all of these questions and more in the sunning story Anything But Typical by Norah Raleigh Baskin. This was a fairly quick read, but when I was finished I felt like I had been exposed to far more emotion than the books nearly 200 pages should be able to allow. The author has done an amazing job of getting inside the head of a child with autism, following his unique train of thought and making this condition accessible to those of us who know little or nothing about autism.

Anything But Typical is definitely my favorite book so far for 2009. It is a beautiful story about coping with family and friends and the desperate need that all middle-schoolers have to fit in.

Overall Grade: A+

Cute Kid Quotes

Here are a couple of really great/adorable/hilarious things that I heard come out of the mouths of children at the library this week:

"Excuse me, but do you have any books here?"

"I have to wait until I grow up, and then I can learn to write my name."



Meanwhile, our Summer Reading Program has officially begun! My library has been very busy getting kids registered, and in just a couple of days we'll get to see what all of these kids have been reading since school let out. If you haven't done so already, remember to go and visit your own local public library and ask about their summer programs for kids - and for grown-ups!

The Chosen One

Kyra is not yet fourteen years old, but she has already done a number of things that would not be tolerated in the religious society where she lives. She makes regular visits outside her compound's walls to visit the Mobile Library on Wheels and read the books that are forbidden by The Prophet. She has secret clandestine meetings with Joshua, the boy who she hopes to someday marry. But despite these transgressions, Kyra is very happy living with her father, his three wives, and her twenty brothers and sisters and does not normally question the religious traditions of The Chosen Ones. All of this changes, however, when The Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her uncle Hyram - a man who is more than 60 years old and who already has six wives. Desperate not to be forced into this unwelcome match, Kyra must make a choice. She can choose to stay close to her family and enjoy the life she has always known...or she can take a chance and strike out on her own, choosing a life for herself instead of one dictated by The Prophet and his Apostles. Neither choice will be easy, and both bring with them great dangers. Will Kyra accept the life that has been handed to her by The Chosen Ones? Or will she strike out on her own and forge her own destiny?

This was an incredibly powerful book. Author Carol Lynch Williams has done an incredible job of creating a character from a polygamist society which most readers will have little familiarity with and making it very real to the reader. Kyra is a powerful character, and the way that she is torn between the life that readers will want her to find and the life she has always known is incredibly believable. It can be very difficult to balance the moral values of the reading audience with those of characters who have very different standards, and Williams managed to do it perfectly in a way that keeps us rooting for Kyra to succeed, but also shows us how a person who has never known anything else would really feel if forced to make the choice. Parts of this book were incredibly difficult to read because of the violence and injustice that Kyra and her community face, but readers will keep turning the pages of this riveting story and emerge with feelings that match Kyra's strange combination of extreme sorrow and empowerment.

Overall Grade: A

The Girliest Book in the Library

The other day, I had what was quite possibly the funniest legitimate reference/reader's advisory question ever. A boy who seemed to be about 11 or 12 years old asked me to give him the girliest book in the library. Apparently he needed the book for a bet. I decided that while I probably didn't really want to know more about the bet it was probably mostly harmless, so I found the girliest book I could think of: A Princess Primer. This is a large pink and purple book laden with jewels that teaches young girls everything they could possibly want to know about being a princess. How much girlier can you get?

The boy agreed that the book was, indeed, very girly. But it wasn't quite what he was looking for - he wanted something closer to his own reading level. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this at first. I bought myself some thinking time by explaining that often, when girls get a little older, they're not necessarily into really girly things like princesses and ponies and fairies anymore. Then I remembered some of the really girly series that we have - things like Rainbow Magic and Tinkerbell. I took him over to the paperback spinners and we talked about some of the series that are written with girls in mind. This boy seemed pretty happy with that, so I left him to browse through these books.

About 10 or 15 minutes later, the boy came back to the desk with a big smile on his face, eager to show me his final selection. But what did he pick? Nothing that I showed him, that's for sure! The book he found came from the YA shelves, which are conveniently located near the spinners where I left him. The title? Braless in Wonderland by Debbie Reed Fischer. I'm not sure if the boy read the synopsis (the story is apparently about a girl who goes to Miami to launch her modeling career) or if he was simply taken with the title. Regardless of the reasons for his selection, this boy was clearly very proud of himself for finding such as "girly" book.

Ah, the minds of 11-year-old boys never cease to amaze me...

Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival

The bad news: Except for his spiteful great-grandmother, Newton Starker is the last of his line because of a strange curse - everyone in Newton's family has been struck by lightning and killed.

The good news: Newton has plans to ensure that he does not meet the same fate. He enrolls in in the Jerry Potts Academy of Survival, a school where the curriculum is focused around learning to take care of oneself and survive under harsh circumstances. Newton is sure that this school will be able to teach him what he needs to know to stay alive.

Between constantly checking the weather reports, making sure his kilt (the school uniform) is buckled correctly, and trying to make new friends, Newton certainly has his hands full. But will he really be able to break his family's generations-long string of bad luck? Will survival training really help, or will he need a little help from another source instead? And what does a little pig named Joséphine have to do with any of it?

The premise of this book and some of the characters are a little wonky, but it's really a lot of fun. The chapters are only a few pages long at most, making this a real page-turner as you absorb this story is short, satisfying chunks. Intermingled in this story are also sections from the Jerry Potts Survival Handbook, e-mails from Headmaster Dumont, and Newton's own list of survival rules. While I do wish that the survival school itself would have been played up more and greater descriptions of the classes included in the story by author Arthur Slade, Newton's own growth and the way he learns to accept love and friendship remain a touching focus to the narrative. And sweet little Joséphine, Newton's pet pig, will find probably find a very soft place to nestle in your heart.

Overall Grade: B+

Black and White

I've been meaning to do a post like this for a few months now, ever since it was announced that this year's Caldecott Medal was given to illustrator Beth Krommes for her work on the book The House in the Night. Often when we think of picture books, we imagine books filled with vibrant colors that will attract kids' attention. But there are lots of great books done in black and white as well! Here are just a few:

The House in the Night, written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes, is a cumulative rhyme (think of songs like "The Farmer in the Dell" and "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea" for other example of cumulative rhymes). As the story progresses, we follow a child through the house to her bedroom and watch her open a book and journey out into the night sky on the backs of the birds that emerge from it. This is a quiet, soothing bedtime story, and the black and white illustrations, which look like woodcuts, show the darkness of the night. However, some objects (the key, a lamp, the moon) glow with golden light, shining brightly against the blackness and creating a cozy space within this house.

Overall Grade: A

Another Caldecott Medal goes to author and illustrator Kevin Henkes for his book Kitten's First Full Moon. In this story, a kitten sees the full moon for the first time. Not understanding what it is, the kitten imagines that the moon is a giant bowl of milk and sets off to find it. The intrepid kitten unfortunately can never seem to catch up to the moon, and it is always out of reach. Will she ever find her bowl of milk? The illustrations in this story are done in gouache and colored pencil, which allows some absolutely brilliant shading that shows the dark of the night along with the light of the moon. Something about the big illustrations and the use of white space on the pages with words also makes this book feel very large, just like the world that Kitten finds herself exploring. This is a very sweet picture book that makes for a soothing read-aloud.

Overall Grade: A+

Chris Van Allsburg has done a lot of great picture books over the years, many of which are done in black and white. Among my favorites of his books is Zathura, the sequel to the award-winning book Jumanji. This this story, Walter is a young boy who is fed up with his younger brother Danny. But when the two of them find the game of Jumanji and a hidden second board, the two find themselves in a wild outer space adventure filled with such challenges as evil robots and lots of trouble with gravity. Will the two be able to finish the game? These black and white illustrations are highly textured when showing the inside of Walter and Danny's house, but the sky becomes an even, milky black when showing the vastness of outer space. Unlike the other books previously mentioned, the black and white illustrations are not necessarily soothing and the textured surfaces add excitement and interest to this adventure story.

Overall Grade: A

Wings

New author Aprilynne Pike will entrance teens with her brilliant debut novel Wings. Fifteen-year-old Laurel has started her first year in a new city and at a new school. Adjusting to these different surroundings is going surprisingly well, until Laurel wakes up one day with a giant flower growing on her back. The petals are beautiful, almost like wings, but Laurel is naturally concerned about this new development. She and her new friend David run a series of simple tests and conclude that Laurel may not be human, but rather a highly developed species of plant. A trip back to Laurel's old home brings her into contact with Tamani, who reveals that Laurel is actually a faerie who was sent on a mission as a young seedling to inherit the land from her adoptive parents so that the gateway to Avalon can remain under faerie protection. Laurel must do what she can to ensure that her parents do not sell their land to the creepy Mr. Barnes, all the while balancing her growing feelings for both David and Tamani.

This book just sucked me in. It's quite a page-turner, elegant and exciting at the same time. It will easily appeal to fans of Twilight since the two books have such a similar writing style and few like elements (the blending of our modern world with the fantastic, a heroine torn between two loves). The way that science was used to support the fact that Laurel is a faerie was very well thought out, and the scenes where Laurel and David worked together to figure out what was happening to her were some of my favorites from the book. The romantic tension was brilliant, and I loved the slowly budding romance between Laurel and David. And readers, if Laurel's draw to Tamani seems a little sudden and unwarranted, just keep reading - a reason will present itself in the end!

Overall Grade: A



I'm really hoping that there's a sequel in the works. The book was wrapped up in a satisfying way, but there's enough loose ends and romantic tension that this could easily turn into a short series. I haven't been able to dig up a reliable confirmation that Pike is working on a sequel, but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for one.

EDIT: Not four hours after I posted this review, Aprilynne Pike herself found it and left her comments! Many thanks to her for confirming that yes, there are sequels in the works for us to look forward to. Feel free to see what she had to say by reading the comments to this entry. While you're there, follow the links back to her blog to see what she has to say about writing, her family, other books and authors, and being a best-selling author.

GoodReads Widget

Hello everyone!

If you look to the right on the sidebar of this blog, you may notice that I've added something new. This widget shows the 20 books that I have most recently read. While I don't document every single book that I read on this blog, I am very, very good about keeping my GoodReads account updated, so if you're curious to see what else I've been looking at feel free to take a look. You can click on the books in the widget and see the book's page on GoodReads and even read my reviews. I don't always go into a lot of detail with these reviews, but it's usually a sentence or two explaining what I loved or didn't love about a book.

But if you read so many books, Sandy, then how do you decide which ones to talk about on this blog? Well, the process for picking books to talk about in detail isn't particularly scientific. I try to update the blog with a new book once a week, and I always try to pick books that I've read recently so that I can talk about them while they are still fresh in my mind. I usually try to pick books that stand out in my mind for whatever reason, either because I loved (or hated) it or because I thought it was truly unique in some way. Sometimes I select a book simply because I think it will be relatively easy to write about. But whatever the reason,just remember that there's a whole world of children's and teen literature out there to explore - dive in and check it out!

The Magic Thief: Stolen

Conn is a boy who isn't entirely sure of his age and has for years made his living on the streets of Wellmet picking pockets and locks. One day, he attempts to pick the pocket of Nevery, a wizard who had been banished from the city for twenty years. When Conn's quick fingers come up with Nevery's locus magicalicus - the stone that a wizard uses to focus his magic - Nevery is surprised that Conn isn't instantly killed by the stone's power. Curious, Nevery does something he's never done before and takes Conn in as his apprentice. Now Conn must work with his often difficult master to learn everything a wizard needs to know and find a locus magicalicus of his own.

Meanwhile, the level of magic present in Wellmet is quickly dropping. It soon becomes clear that without magic the city will die. Nevery is placed in charge of the investigation that will hopefully uncover the cause of this problem, but Conn instinctually knows that Nevery's conclusions aren't quite right. But what is a lowly wizard's apprentice to do about it, especially when his master won't listen and most of the other people in the city think of him as simply a gutterboy?

This is a great fantasy read, and I'd quickly recommend it to the youngest readers of Harry Potter. Author Sarah Prineas uses a lot of vivid descriptions to pull the reader into the story and has created an exciting cast of characters ranges from Benet, the hired muscle who knits and bakes, to the dutches who banished Nevery and clearly does not like magic, to the apprentice of another wizard who clearly does not have the city's interests at heart. The book is thick- just over 400 pages - but the font is large and the story is so exciting and the characters so engaging that many readers will fly through the book.

Overall Grade: A

There's also a sequel that's just recently hit stores! The Magic Thief: Lost picks up where the story left off and follows Conn's adventures as Nevery's apprentice.

Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado

Have I ever mentioned how much great non-fiction is out there for children and teens? Here's an example of a really engaging piece of work that I read recently:

Written by award-winning author Marc Aronson, Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado documents the life of - you guessed it - Sir Walter Ralegh. Those of you who paid attention during your English classes might remember that Sir Walter Ralegh was a great poet. Those who prefered History might recall that he sponsored England's first attempt at a colony in America, which ultimately ended in disaster. In this book, Aronson goes beyond thes traditional looks at Ralegh's life and discusses how this incredible man fits into England's history. Begining with Ralegh's lowly birth and concluding with his execution, this book describes how Ralegh constantly strove to find favor with his beloved Queen Elizabeth and would take on various roles of a soldier, poet, sponsor, and explorer to please her.

When I look back at what I knew about Sir Walter Ralegh and the time period in which he lived before reading this book and what I understand afterward, I cannot believe how much of a difference a change in perspective can make. It was fascinating to really see events such as Elizabeth I's reign and English colonization actually taking place at the same time - the connection between the two events is sometimes lost as the first is discussed in European history, which the latter is a major part of American history curricula. To help the reader make these connections, an excellent timeline can be found at the end of the book which lays out events from Ralegh's life alongside major events in English history, literature and the sciences, and The New World. Plenty of maps and paintings also enhance the text.

Definitely recommended for middle and high-school readers.

Overall Grade: A

Fablehaven

Kendra and Seth have to spend two weeks with their grandparents, who are a complete mystery since they almost never leave their home. When they arrive, Kendra and Seth discover that their grandparents' home is far from normal - it's a vast estate, with a huge mansion for a home, a housekeeper, a vast forest, and a swimming pool. Grandpa Sorenson has some rather strict rules in place, however, and some of these rules are just asking to be broken by the mischievous Seth. The more cautious Kendra, however, follows the set of clues left by her grandfather and makes a discovery. This is no ordinary estate. Grandpa Sorenson is the caretaker of a preserve for magical creatures. Kendra and Seth slowly learn more about the magical fairies and ingenious brownies who enhabit the preserve. Unfortunately, not all of the creatures found in Fablehaven are good, and on Midsummer's Eve Grandpa Sorenson is kidnapped by some imps looking for vengeance. It is up to Kendra and Seth to discover what happened to their grandfather and save Fablehaven from certain doom.

There is an awful lot of fantasy out there for kids to read, and this is one of my favorites. The story unfolds slowly and gently, and it takes quite a bit of time for Kendra and Seth to discover what Fablehaven really is. Yet this story's smooth pacing really reflects the way that children might actually make this sort of discovery - in stages with plenty of questions, rather than all at once with perfect understanding. The description found in this book is excellent and there are plenty of examples of vivid word choices that would make this book a lot of fun to read out loud.

Now that the story has been set up, it will be interesting to see where Kendra and Seth's adventures will take them next. Look for the next volumes in author Brandon Mull's delightful series, Rise of the Evening Star, Grip of the Shadow Plague, and Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary.

Overall Grade: A