Flotsam

Flotsam
illustrated by David Wiesner
Clarion, 2006. 40 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $17.00

Annotation: When a camera washes up on the beach, the mysteries of the ocean are revealed in a most surprising way.

Summary: At the beach, a young boy is examining the bugs, crabs and other sand creatures when a huge wave deposits an old camera on the shore. The yellow-haired boy tries to find the owner to this mysterious underwater camera, but to no avail and so he takes the film to be developed. When the pictures are finally ready he discovers a world he never knew existed. The photos reveal all the magic that happens underneath the ocean's surface. He sees pictures of mechanical fish, octupuses sitting in living rooms reading books, turtles with whole towns made of shells on their backs and even little green men riding fish and meeting seahorses. But then he makes the most amazing discovery of all. He finds a picture of an Asian girl holding a picture of another boy, holding a picture of a girl who is holding the picture of yet another child! As he uses his magnifying glass he discovers the pictures date back far back in the past. Children from all over the world have been using this camera to take pictures of themselves and then sending the camera back to the sea for another child to uncover and discover the wonders of the ocean. The yellow-haired boy holds up the picture of the girl, snaps a picture of himself and then throws the camera back into the ocean, where it is found by a stingray and carried by seahorses to be discovered by another lucky child in the future.

Evaluation: Told strictly through illustration, Flotsam takes the reader on a magical journey through the wonders and mysteries of oceanlife. Weisner's imagination is deliciously fantastical as he creates a world where merpeople have fish named Spot (due to their spots of course) and ride on stingrays through the lampost lit jungle of the ocean floor. There is a combination of the real and the imaginary that delights the senses and turns the sometimes scary ocean into a place of thrilling discovery. The story is ever so clever and the images are bright and playful. The illustrations mirror the book's theme, being set in black-rimmed squares and rectangles, just like a photograph. Weisner's mode of storytelling, wherein children discover the camera and photograph themselves holding photos of other children, is ingenious and the book is simply irresistable.  I am in complete and utter love with this book and proclaim it absolutely and undeniably worthy of being a Caldecott winner. Weisner is no newcomer to the Caldecott and he has several winners and honors to his name and his books have been translated in over a dozen languages. However, he excels in wordless storytelling, where translation is unnecessary and Flotsam is a book that any child, anywhere can appreciate.

Significance: This title introduces readers to the mystery and magic of what lies beneath the ocean's waves. The ocean can be a scary place when you're unable to see what's happening, but Weisner offers an explanation of underwater life that wipes away the fear and creates a safe, playful interpretation instead. Whether it's absolutely true or not is just part of what makes the ocean so fascinating. With a little imagination, anything can be true.

Personal Choice: I was utterly enchanted by the deep red background cover, schools of tiny fish swimming by and the ever so mysterious porthole eye right in the center. As always, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but if it's a picture book, than you have to, right?

Awards: Caldecott Award Winner, 2007 / ABA - Book Sense Book of the Year: Illustration Honor, 2007

Strega Nona

Strega Nona
written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola
Simon & Schuster, 1975. 32 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $18.99

Annotation: When Big Anthony uses Strega Nona's magical pasta pot the whole town becomes endangered.

Summary: In the tiny Italian village of Calabria, Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) performed all sorts of magical potions for the villagers, but Strega Nona was getting old in need of someone to help her with her house and garden. Big Anthony applied for the job and did fine work, but Strega Nona warned him never to touch her big pot. One day Big Anthony spied Strega Nona making pasta in her pot from the window. Strega Nona sang a song and the pot began making pasta all be itself, then she sang another song and the pot stopped, providing just enough past for Strega Nona. It was magic! Big Anthony was delighted. One day Strega Nona had to travel to a neighboring village and as she departed, she warned Big Anthony not to touch her big pot. But Big Anthony did not obey and as soon as she left he sang the song and sure enough, the pasta started growing like magic. When he had enough, he sang the song to make the pot stop cooking, but he had not seen Strega Nona blow three kisses that day he spied on her through the window. The pasta kept growing, and growing and growing and growing until the entire village was overrun with the thick strands of pasta. Horrified, Big Anthony kept singing the song to make the pasta pot stop, but to his frustration it would not work without the three kisses he had never seen Strega Nona deliver. As the village was about to be destroyed, Strega Nona appeared and realized what Big Anthony had done. She immediately sang the magic song, blew three kisses and the village was saved. But, Big Anthony got in very big trouble and Strega Nona made sure his punishment fit the crime.

Evaluation: De Paolo does a fantastic job turning this Italian folktale into a charming story that readers in the present day continue to enjoy. His illustration style relies heavily on folkart and thus the tale and the illustrations complement each other perfectly. The images are subdued, a bit simple, but so engaging. I love how the strands of pasta curve and wind thickly around the villagers homes and belongings. De Paolo is spare in the illustration details, but if you look closely, the expression on Strega Nona's face as she returns to her village overrun with pasta is priceless.  As one reader relay's, "it is a fun blend of magic, fantasy and adolescent mischief". I have to agree. This title is a classic tale, ever popular and undenyingly relevant, despite it's having been published in the 70's. With a strong moral and excellent drawings, this title should remain a hit for years to come.

Significance: Big Anthony learns there is often a very good reason you are told not to do something and when he chooses to defy the rules he is forced to pay a high price for his disobedience.

Personal Choice: I learned this was one of de Paolo's most beloved books when I was reading about the Wilder award and I had to see what all the fuss was about. I found out it was published the year I was born! Shhh, don't tell--now it has a very special place in my heart.

Awards: Wilder Winner, 2011 / Caldecott Honor Award, 1976 / ALA Notable Children's Book / Kirkus Choice / Horn Book Honor List / Nakamori Prize / Brooklyn Museum & Public Library Art Books for Children Citation (N.Y.)

Bink & Gollie

Bink & Gollie
by Kate DeCamillo & Alison McGhee
illustrated by Tony Fucile
Candlewick Press, 2010. 81 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $15.99

Annotation: Crazy socks, pet fish and piles of pancakes are just some of the things that test Bink & Gollie's friendship.

Summary: Bink & Gollie are the best of friends but couldn't be more different. Bink is short and stout with crazy blonde hair that sticks up like straw-colored lightning bolts and Gollie is ever so tall and thin with short brown hair. One day the girls decide to go roller-skating as Gollie has a "need for speed". On the way they spy a sock store and Bink buys some crazy striped socks that Gollie is opposed to. Gollie asks Bink to remove them and promises to make her pancakes in return. Now Bink loves her pancakes, but she also loves her socks. What to do? The girls must compromise and Bink agrees to remove one sock in return for a short stack of pancakes. Later, Gollie realizes she hasn't had an adventure lately and by spinning her globe, her fingers stop in the Andes. And so she is off to climb the Andes mountains (all within the confines of her own home that is). But, Bink wants her to come out to play and the sign Gollie has tacked to the door saying she is on a journey and can't be disturbed doesn't deter Bink at all. She comes back again and again to try and entice Gollie off the mountains with promises of a snack. Sadly, it doesn't work and Bink must wait and wait until Gollie makes it to the top and lets her come in and share in the glory of a well-climbed mountain. Their final adventure involved a pet fish named Fred that Bink acquires at the local pet store. He is indeed a marvelous companion, but Gollie becomes slightly jealous that he seems to be taking top priority in Bink's affections. What will happen when the fish is thrown from his bowl in a roller-skating catastrophe? Well, you'll have to read it to find out whether Gollie saves the day or not.

Evaluation: This book would have charmed the pants of Dr. Seuss, it did for me! The language is clever, clever, clever. I love the way these girls talk to each other. It's a mixture of kid-speak, old-fashioned politeness and repetitive poetics. The storyline is fanastic and oh so funny and the accompanying illustrations are magical. Gollie lives in a tree house! But what makes the images pop are the bright spots of color on each page. The background buildings, couches, streets etc are all done in black and white while the girls (and their pet fish, socks and pancakes) are painted in full-bodied color. The girls have such distinct personalities and the artist's depiction of their physical differences reflects their inner individualism. The book is so very enticing because the protagonists are girls the reader can relate to, but at the same time there are magical elements (such as Gollie climbing the high snowy mountains of the Andes within the confines of her tree house) that make the story magical and fantastical. In essence it is simply genius and so very deserving of the Geisel award.

Significance: Although rewarding, friendship can be difficult and Bink & Gollie have to navigate several tests of true friendship. The book teaches readers about compromise, how to proceed when one of your friends is busy and can't come out to play and what to do when your friend suddenly acquires a more marvelous companion than you.

Personal Choice: Okay, I judged a book by it's title, but this one was so fabulous I had to read it. It was completely Dr. Seussical and after letting a young friend read it she admired it as well, although I think I might have been even more delighted than she.

Awards: Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner, 2011 / Junior Library Guild Selection / ALA Notable Children's Books for Younger Readers

What Can You Do with a Rebozo?

What Can You Do with a Rebozo?
by Carmen Tafolla
Illustrated by Amy Cordova
Tricycle Press, 2008. 32 pgs
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $14.95

Annotation: With a little creativity, a Rebozo can be used in so many different ways.

Summary: In Mexico, a Rebozo is used for so many different things. Traditionally it is used as a shawl for Mama, but it can also be wrapped around her body and used as a cradle for baby. A Rebozo can be used as a cave for brother during hide-and-seek or looped through a braid to make sister's hair prettier. Grandma uses her Rebozo to keep her warm during the Winter or it can be used to wipe up spills in the kitchen. With a little imagination it is used as a secret tunnel or a sash for pirates, a flying cape, or a long red slide. But the little girl loves to use it when she dances to her favorite song, "La Bamba". At evening time, when she is tired Mama  uses it to cover her as she tucks her in at night.

Evaluation: Tafollo and Cordova have created a magical picture book highlighting the creative uses one family finds for a Rebozo. The illustrations are reminiscent of Mexico with their vibrant, hot colors and you'll wish you could step into the pages and dance with the little girl or play hide-and-seek with her brother. And above all, you'll want to go out and find your very own Rebozo to experiment with.

Significance: A Rebozo is a foreign term for many of America's children and the book celebrates a small but significant part of Mexican culture. The title is a wonderful introduction for young readers who do not know what a Rebozo is, as well as being a fun adventure for children who do. The title celebrates Mexico's increasing influence on American culture and is a testiment to the beauty of the imagination.

Personal Choice: I absolutely loved Tafolla's What can you do with a Paleta? and when I found out she had another book with a similar theme (and one which had won a Pura Belpre) I was excited to experience more of her imaginative world.

Awards: Pura Belpre Illustration Honor, 2009

Me, Frida

Me, Frida
by Amy Novesky
Illustrated by David Diaz
Abrahms, 2010. 32 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $16.95

Annotation: Meet Frida Kahlo as she makes her home in San Francisco in this beautifully illustrated volume worthy of the artist herself.

Summary: Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico and married the famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera. She was a painter in her own right, but not as famous as her husband. When Diego was asked to paint several murals for the city of San Franciso, Frida accompanied him on the journey to the United States. Diego and Frida toured the city together as Diego searched for inspiration for his murals. However, Frida did not enjoy her time in the foggy city at first and whenever the two went to parties, Frida stayed small and silent beside her giant, ebulliant husband. After awhile Frida went exploring on her own and began to see the beauties the city had to offer. She gained more confidence and one day she burst into song, regaling the crowd with traditional Mexican folksongs. After that she went home and began her famous wedding portrait of Diego and herself. This was the first painting in Frida's new style, which is intimate and folkloric than her previous works had been and it has become one of her most beloved works of art.

Evaluation: Diaz's illustrations and Novesky's prose complement each other perfectly in this gorgeous biography of Frida Kahlo. Even though the illustrations are reminiscent of Kahlo's works--the cover is particularly similar to many of Frida's self-portraits--Diaz utilizes his own style. Each page is completely washed in a variety of colors that drip and swirl artistically together as only watercolors can do.  Diaz uses bright, deep jewel tones to celebrate Frida and her rich Mexican heritage. The colors range from deep blues and greens to vibrant oranges, violets and golds. He captures Frida's unique style of clothing and her iconic braids and each page is a new and fancifal scene in the life of these two famous artists. I especially loved the scene where Frida and Diego "fly" to San Francisco. The two are pictured flying through the air, holding hands with their eyes closed and heads raised to the wind as Frida clutches a suitcase in one hand. It opens the imagination and points out the humor and the nuances of the term, "fly". Above all, the book gives children a small taste of Kahlo's life and should encourage their interest in art history and instill a desire to learn more about this amazing woman.

Significance: Frida Kahlo is a celebrated artist and an important icon in art history. This biography introduces children to the wonder of Kahlo and teaches them that you can make your own dreams come true, even if there is someone in life who overshadows you.

Personal Choice: I used to teach a Humanities/English class and we were studying The House on Mango Street when I needed to find some artwork to complement the reading unit. I found the paintings of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera worked perfectly and since then they have always been artists of interest to me. I also began reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver in which the main character meets and works with both Frida and Diego and my interest was flamed even further.

Awards: Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, 2011

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same
by Grace Lin
Little, Brown & Company, 2010. 48 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Hardcover: $14.99

Annotation: It's fun to be a twin, but just because you look alike, it doesn't mean you are exactly the same.

Summary: Ling & Ting are Chinese-American girls who happen to be twins; however, they are quick to assure us that they are not exactly the same even if they look very, very similar. In the first chapter the twins receive a haircut and Ling sits very still, but Ting sneezes as her hair is being cut which causes the barber to cut a large chunk from Ting's bang. Now the girls are easy to tell apart. Then Ling & Tings have several adventures involving magic tricks, making dumplings, eating with chopsticks and going to the library. It's fun to be a twin and the girls vow to stay together always, even when a king gets involved.

Evaluation: This chapter book is a nice addition to a young reader's collection. The pictures are bright and colorful and I especially loved the humorous beginning and ending pages. Ling & Ting are grabbing sodas and popcorn at the beginning and the caption reads "Shhh! It is starting! -- "Oh No! Are we late?". The last page shows the girls with their drinks as one says, "Was that the end?" and the other replies "No, this is!" as if the girls are telling us the story of their lives and wanting a front row seat of the action. The girls are really darling and have different personalities which the stories showcase, demonstrating that even when people look alike on the outside they can be different on the inside and still remain friends.

Significance: The book honors a multicultural heritage in that the twin protagonists are Chinese-American. There is a chapter featuring the children making chinese dumplings which introduces young readers to an important element of Chinese culture.

Personal Choice: What can I say, I've always had a fascination with twins that started with the Bobbsey Twins and always wished to have a set some day. Sadly, I'll have to be content with those found in books. :)

Awards: Theodor Geisel Honor Award, 2011

26 Fairmount Avenue

26 Fairmount Avenue
written and illustrated by Tomie De Paola
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999. 57 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 9-12
Hardcover: $13.99

Annotation: Tomie can't wait for his new house on 26 Fairmount Avenue to be built, but will the big hurricane of '38 make his family's dreams disappear?

Summary: Tomie is 4 years old and his life is full of interesting adventures. It all begins with the big hurricane of 1938. Tomie and his family are living in an apartment and are hoping the big twister doesn't take their new house with it when it goes. Luckily, it's still standing and each chapter in the rest of the book details the interesting, funny adventures that little Tomie experiences as a boy. His mother takes him to see the first ever animated Walt Disney movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (at which he is disappointed that Walt hadn't read the book correctly). Tomie goes to kindergarten only to find out they don't teach you to read until first grade and thus immediately leaves in order to wait for next year. He visits with his Great-grandma nana (who is incidentally tied to a chair so she doesn't fall out) and they both happily consume chocolates only to find out later they just ate an entire package of laxatives. There are several other adventures, just as delightful as those, and it all ends with Tomie and his brother moving into their new home on 26 Fairmount Avenue.

Evaluation: In this splendid chapter book by De Paolo, the author creates a humorous and perfectly charming rendition of his own boyhood. He has wonderful stories to tell: the hurricane of 1938, watching the first Disney animation at the movies, his family's adventures building a new house and watching the year 1940 come in. It's gentle, engaging and a real treat that children today can exclaim over and make comparisons between their childhood and De Paolo's.

Significance: De Paolo grew up in a different era, but he takes some interesting experiences he had as a child and manages to make them appealing, verbally and visually, to children in the present day.

Personal Choice: I loved the idea of De Paolo naming the book after the house he lived in as a child. I think it's so much fun and so delightful when people name their houses (confession--my house is named Briar Rose Cottage).

Awards: Newbery Honor, 2000 / Wilder Winner, 2011

Soulless

Soulless: an Alexia Tarabotti novel
The Parasol Protectorate: Book 1
by Gail Carriger
Orbit, 2009. 384 pgs.
Science Fiction / Young Adult Fiction
Paperback: $7.99

Annotation: Not having a soul can be a disadvantage in Victorian London society, except when you're confronting vampires and werewolves, that is.

Summary: Alexia Tarabotti is enough to make any marriage-hungry mama despair. She's dark (thanks to her Italian father),  has a large nose, tends to be a bit of a  bluestocking and is missing quite an important appendage--her soul. Although the last is a matter her family is quite in the dark about. However, all things combined have left her in a state of spinsterhood, which is just fine as far as she's concerned--as long as she gets enough to eat. However, late one night at a society ball Alexia accidentally impales a vampire with her silver-tipped parasol and who should appear to mop up the mess but Lord Maccon, the alpha werewolf of the most respectable pack in London. The two are simply too stubborn and too much alike to get along, but as they (along with Lord Maccon's beta, Professor Lyall) attempt to discern just why a hungry vampire would attack a soulless creature, there begins an adventure that brings them together in highly romantic, highly inappropriate ways. As they soon find out, werewolves and vampires have been disappearing all over the city and so Alexia seeks Lord Akeldama's help, the oldest and most fashionably foppish vampire in London. But the two are unfortunately choloroformed and kidnapped one night and taken to the Hypocras Club, where dastardly experiments are taking place by scientists opposed to the rather civilzed vampires and werewolves who've integrated into society's highest echelons. It is there they meet up with Mr. MacDougall, (the American scientist who was really quite fond of Alexia) and the  man-made automaton. In spite of ensnaring Lord Akeldama, the scientists are perhaps even more pleased they have a truly soulless human upon which to experiment. But when Alexia is thrust into the chambers of Lord Maccon--in his most ferocious full-moon state of werewolfdom--so that they can measure the effects of her soullessness, life becomes wildly unpredictable and it turns out to be a decidely unfortunate move on the part of the scientists. All ends happily though, at least for Alexia and Lord Maccon, and there is even an appearance by Queen Victoria herself, with a blessing (or command) for the two to marry. Do they comply, you ask? You'll have to read it to find out.

Evaluation: I completely understand why the Alex committee proposed this title as vampires, werewolves and the like are quite the thing at the moment. However, I wasn't overly impressed and I'd honestly never recommend it to a teen. The plot is fun, has high energy and a nice regency romance feel to it. However, the novel is far too lascivious for my tastes, let alone appropriate for teen consumption as far as I'm concerned. But, the incorporation of steampunk elements: steam-powered torture chambers, electricity experiments, Dr. Lyall's glassicals and flying dirigibles, make the novel ripe for the current fashion. I suppose Alexia is a likeable character (of course one does have to root for her and Lord Maccon to acknowledge their mutual attraction) and there are the occasional moments of humor which make the novel fun to read, if not deserving of a place on my bookshelf.

Significance: Vampires, werewolves and ghosts, oh my! Yes, the combination of popular monsters, welded together with the steampunk genre, is all the rage at the moment and the reason this book found itself on the Alex committee's radar.

Personal Choice: You should never judge a book by it's cover, but I did. I loved the victorian dress on the cover model and her adorable steampunk top hat with goggles. Plus, she had a parasol and what girl doesn't love a good parasol (with accompanying gears and whatnots). The steampunk genre holds a bit of fascination for me after reading Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and I was excited to tackle another book in the genre. It's just too bad this wasn't quite the one for me.

Awards: Alex Award Winner, 2010

Big Red Lollipop

Big Red Lollipop
by Rukhasana Khan
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Viking, 2010. 40 pgs.
Reading Levl: ages 4-9
Hardcover: $16.99

Annotation: When Rubina is invited to a birthday party, will she be forced her to take her little sister?

Summary: When Rubina is invited to her very first birthday party, (Ami is puzzled as to why they would celebrate the day of your birth) her little sister, Sani, begs to go. Ami tells Rubina that if she wants to go she must take Sani, but Rubina knows no one else will have their little sister there. But, she reluctantly drags her along and sure enough, everyone thinks she is weird. The girls play games and eat birthday cake and are given a big bag full of goodies at the end of the party, complete with a large, delectable red lollipop. Sani gobbles hers up, but Rubina wants to save hers. However, the next morning she awakes to find Sani has eaten most of her red lollipop as well! Life is so unfair and Rubina is very angry. But Ami scolds her and tells her she must share. Later on though, Sani receives an inviation to a birthday party and the girls' little sister Maryam begs to go, creating the same dilemma all over again. Ami says both Rubina and Maryam must acompany Sani to the party, just to be fair. Luckily, Rubina is mature enough to realize this will be tragic for Sani and so she convinces Ami that Sani must go alone as the culture dictates. After the party Sani brings home a big green lollipop and gives it to Rubina as a peace offering and the girls are friends again.

Evaluation: The storyline is wonderful and discusses the hardships, as well as the joys, that having a sister brings. It is especially interesting as the family is Arab-American, with the mother garbed in a hajib and Middle-eastern dress while the girls wear American clothing. There is a bit of culture misunderstanding when the mother decides all the girls must go to a party if one of them is invited. It demonstrates the solidarity of Middle-eastern family life and offers a rare glimpse into what must be commonplace for the author and unusual for an American audience. The illustrations are irresistible, and the cover art is especially eye-catching with its bright primary colors and the red lollipop that covers Rubina's eye is artfully placed. I loved inner cover at the beginning and end of the book with their multi-size circles of all different patterns and colors: poka-dots, stripes, checks and spirals. The colors are bright and fun and Ami's saris are so alluring with their fancy patterns and exotic design. The story and the illustrations work together beautifully to create a well-awarded picture book that's sure to be a winner, now and in the future.

Significance: The story's protagonist is an Arab-American which makes the book a welcome addition to a world that is currently in the midst of turbulent political and emotional battles. The story serves to humanize a people and culture that is often misunderstood and demonized. It's an important work and perhaps our mutual culture's children will learn to understand and accept one another, even when the adults can do nothing but fight.

Personal Choice: Let's be honest, I have a sugar addiction and if it's a book about candy, I'm there.

Awards: Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner, 2011 / Children's Notables, 2011 / Golden Kite Award Winner for Picture Book Text, 2011

Kitten's First Full Moon

Kitten's First Full Moon
written and illustrated by Kenvin Henkes
Greenwillow Books, 2005. 40 pgs.
Reading Level: Baby - Preschool
Hardcover: $17.99

Annotation: Kitten desperately tries to reach the bowl of milk she sees in the sky, not realizing that she's chasing after the moon.

Summary: When Kitten spies the full moon in the sky she immediately thinks it must be a bowl of milk and so she tries to lick it, capturing a bug instead. And thus begins a rollicking adventure that takes her across fields and fences and even near a pond where the moon is reflected in the water, causing kitten to see another giant bowl of milk that she is again unable to sip. Finally she returns back home, hungry, tired and wet only to find an actual bowl of milk has been placed outside for her to drink.

Evaluation: The illustrations are all in black and white and the story is really darling. However, I must admit that I was a bit shocked to see that Henkes actually won the Caldecott for the illustrations. They don't communicate anything special and the only one that actually appeals to me is the cover illustration. I'd really like to have been on the Caldecott committee that year in order to hear the committee deliberations and to see what other options they had to work with. Final note, it's okay, but not stupendous and I'm still shaking my head over this award winner.

Significance: For the most part, children are fascinated with animals, especially baby ones and this story places a treasured creature at the heart of the plot. We also see kitten learning a lesson that everything is not always what it seems to be and that is something we all must learn sooner or later.

Personal Choice: I wanted to read this book because a friend and artist neighbor of mine is working with Kevin Henkes on a project and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about his style.

Awards: Caldecott Winnter, 2005 / ABA - Book Sense Book of the Year: Illustration Honor, 2005

April and Esme: Tooth Fairies

April and Esme: Tooth Fairies
by Bob Graham
Candlewick Press, 2010. 36 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 3-8 pgs
Hardcover: $16.99

Annotation: April and Esme are tooth fairies who desperately want to convince their parents they are old enough to collect their very first tooth.

Summary: April gets a call on her cell phone from Daniel Dangerfield's grandmother saying a tooth needs collecting. They fly home to convince their parents they are old enough, at 6 and 7, to collect their very first tooth. Mom and Dad are reluctant, but finally give permission if the fairies are very careful, especially of the new highway. As the fairies spy Daniel's house they scoot under his doorway and follow the trail of toys up to Daniel's bedroom. Uh-oh! Daniel wakes up, but the fairies carefully close his eyelids and whisper in his ear that they are spirits of the air and he has only dreamed them. They exchange the coin for his tooth and fly successfully home, welcomed by mom and dad with lots of hugs and wing crackles. They've passed their first tooth test and are ready for a good day's sleep.

Evaluation: I can't say enough about Graham's utterly charming tooth fairy tale. The mixture of technology and magic is simply delightful as April, a 7-year-old tooth fairy, receives tooth communication orders via cell phone. It's a combination of old and new world magic. The images are nice and whimsical with details that simply charm your socks off. At one point the girls' mother is getting ready and turns her blowdryer up so April can float on the cloud of air it produces. And the toilet has a picture of a chicken on it! I was enchanted by the teapot the girls' mother uses for a bath and the tiny little sink is a beautiful golden thimble. And the humor can be appreciated by adult and child alike; Daniel's tooth has been placed in a cup of water and as the girls leave they go and visit his grandmother, who has her false teeth placed in a cup besisde her bed as well. April reminds Esme that they don't take those kind of teeth, though. Ta-da! And the tiny touches Graham adds to his images add lots of interesting character details, such as Esme's glasses and their dad's hippy-esque ponytail, two things you wouldn't normally expect of fairy creatures. And these fairies hang their collected teeth from the rafters of their tiny little stump home (established in 1691). In essence, it's charming, fanciful and a perfect explanation of just how tooth fairies really work in this day and age.

Significance: Losing your teeth and setting them out for the tooth fairy to collect is a right of passage for all young ones and this story addresses a common occurrence that everyone can relate to.

Personal Choice: I remember when I first learned the truth about the tooth fairy and I wanted to see Graham's interpretation of the "truth". Plus the cover art was so enchanting!

Awards: Charlotee Zolotow Honor, 2011 / Children's Notables, 2011

Thank You Bear

Thank You Bear
written and illustrated by Greg Foley
Viking, 2007. 32 pgs
Reading Level: ages 3-7
Hardcover: $15.99

Annotation: Bear finds it difficult to convince his friends he has found the perfect box.

Summary: One morning Bear finds the perfect box. In his excitement, he wants to share this treasure with all of his friends, including: Monkey, Owl, Fox, Elephant and Bunny. No one seems to appreciate his find as much as Bear does though, and he begins to wonder whether or not his box is really so great after all. However, Mouse comes along and is just as entranced with the perfect little box as Bear was and he feels buoyed up again by her admiration and approval as she curls up inside and pronounces it "the greatest thing ever".
Evaluation: The book is very simply laid out. The words are large and bold and the images are sparing. Every other page is washed with a block of color, on which the words are overlayed and the opposing page presents the image of Bear with his box the animal of the moment. I loved the book's message, but wasn't as impressed with the artwork. However, perhaps the simplicity works for a young child and message's innate truth deserves to be told.
Significance: We are all surrounded by those who would rain negativity on our choices or our very person. That is why having a friend appreciate us and our work is such a treasure. Bear is lucky to have found such a friend in Mouse. Would that we all have someone to get as excited with us over our finds as Mouse does.

Personal Choice: I wanted to read this book because who didn't love their stuffed bear growing up?

Awards: Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner, 2008

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking Trilogy, Bk 1
by Patrick Ness, narrated by Nick Podehl
Candlewick, 2008. 496 pgs
Young Adult
Hardcover: $18.99

Annotation: Todd will soon be a man on New World, but when he finds out the truth about his town, will he survive the chaos to reach his 13th birthday?

Summary: Todd Hewitt is just a month shy of his 13th birthday, the age when he will be proclaimed a "man" on New World. He and his guardians (Bed and Cillian) live in Prentisstown, in a futuristic society on a planet where everyone's thoughts--including the animals--can be heard just as plain as if you were thinking them aloud. Dubbed "the noise" this overwhelming cacophany rules the lives of the men in Prentisstown, and only the men, because the germ which caused men's thoughts to become audible managed to kill all the women, including Todd's mother. But, one day Todd hears something in the swamp that causes him to panic--silence. Silence is unheard of in Prentisstown and when Todd finds out what is causing the silence it's anyone's guess who is more frightened, him or the teenage girl looking back at him. But when he rushes off to tell Ben and Cillian, chaos breaks out and before Todd knows what's happening, the sheriff is calling for an accounting of what happened in the swamp and his guardians have thrust a backpack with his mother's journal into Todd's arms and urge him back to the swamp, telling him that he must read the book, the accompanying map and make his way to Haven--a town he never knew existed. Confused, Todd runs, taking his dog Manchee into the swamp with him where he encounters the girl again and the two soon realize they must stay together in order to save their lives because Aaron, the town holy man, seems intent on killing them both. Todd and Viola form a tentative companionship as they strive to stay one step ahead of Aaron and the men of Prentisstown, who, for whatever reason, want to ensure Todd never reaches Haven. It's a treacherous, painful journey for them both and along the way Todd learns that everything he's been told about Prentisstown and New World has been nothing but a lie. And whether or not he will be forced to use the knife Ben gifted him to defend himself or to make himself into a man is the most important decision Todd might have to make.

Evaluation: Patrick Ness creates a fascinating society on New World and Todd and Viola are fragile, sympathetic protagonists. The idea of "the noise" is a clever implement and the fact that Todd is just as much in the dark about the true nature of New World as the reader creates an exciting tension as we desire to know the real state of affairs just as much as he does. The pacing is excellent and the non-stop action as the teens struggle to make it to Haven is riveting. But, it is the narrator who makes the book come to life. Podehl is a genius at vocal personification and each character has substance. He does spot-on accents and every human, animal and alien has a different rhythm and different quality. I especially loved the Podehl's singing voice: strong, tantalizing and nostalgic as he gives voice to the folksong, "Early One Morning...on don't deceive me, oh never leave me", that Todd's mother and guardian used to sing to him. He does lovely immitations of the "spackle", the alien life forms native to New World and does an excellent Manchee impersonation. Overall a delightful book and a superb narrator made this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I was only disappointed in the swearing, which was too harsh for my tastes. But the ending! I was absolutely stunned and heartbroken when the book ended as I hadn't realized it was the 1st in a trilogy. It's such a cliffhanger and I am waiting for the second book with great anticipation.

Significance: "The Knife of Never Letting Go" addresses several relevant themes for a teenage audience. First, the author uses "the noise" as a means to discuss the overwhelming and nonstop proliferation of constant information we currently contend with. Another major theme is the issue of when a child becomes a man and what is it that makes him a man--is it simply reaching a birthday or is it through choice, decision and action? Then there is the pain of losing one's parents, learning to trust someone new and trying to survive when all the cards seem stacked against you. The grandest argument Ness puts forth is the idea that we all 'fall' and what makes the difference is whether we get back up again. Using biblical themes of the fall and a possible atonement give this book more depth and catapult it into award-winning territory.

Personal Choice: I love, love, LOVE great audio books and when I saw this had won the Odyssey Honor, as well as several other awards I was immediately enticed.

Awards: Odyssey Honor, 2011 / Booktrust Teenage Prize / Guardian Award / James Tiptree, Jr. Award, 2008

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Please Ignore Vera Dietz
by A.S. King
Knopf, 2010. 336 pgs.
Young Adult Fiction
Hardcover: $16.99

Annotation: When Charlie dies, Vera Dietz is the only one who knows the mystery behind his death, but will she find the courage to share the truth?

Summary: Vera Dietz and Charlie Kahn have been best friends since they were four years old. They hike in the woods, climb the Master Oak and even build a tree house together. But each have their secrets to keep. Vera never tells anyone that Mr. Kahn abuses his wife and Charlie never tells anyone that Vera's mom is an ex-stripper, until they reach high school that is. Then Charlie begins hanging out with the detentionheads, falls into the evil clutches of Jenny Flick and everything changes. He starts to believe the lies Jenny tells him and soon Vera and Charlie's friendship is a thing of the past, solidified when he hits Vera--exhibiting the traits he never wanted to inherit from his father and ensuring that Vera will never talk to him again. But Vera does talk to him one last time--the night the pet store burns down and the night that Charlie dies. "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" is the history behind the mystery of Charlie's death, his acquaintance with a creepy pervert and his slow slide into loserdom and lostville. But it's Vera's story too and she must work out her own demons as she finishes up her senior year and works full time as a pizza delivery techinician, all the while trying to come to terms with Charlies' betrayal, his death and her mother's leaving when she was twelve years old.

Evaluation: King tells a horrible story in a remarkably compelling manner. She rotates chapers from alternative points of view: Vera, Charlie (now dead), the Pagoda (a town landmark) and Vera's dad. It all works amazingly well and each chapter provides another piece of the puzzle that King slowly helps the reader put together. It's dark, dark, dark and yet there are wonderful moments of humor and triumph. Vera is sarcastic, smart, tough, but emotionally fragile and trying to survive this craziness. She's a superb protagonist and someone to love, even if you can't relate to her crazy life and especially if you can. I loved Vera's use of her vocabulary words and the way she would say "Parsimonious. Here is me using parsimonious in a sentence. My dad is so parsimonious he won't buy anything without a coupon." Vera and her dad have a fascinating relationship, but all the peripheral characters are well-wrought too. We have Mr. Dietz: Zen master who can't get over his wife's leaving and reader of self-help books; James: Vera's pizza 23-year-old pizza colleague, make-out partner and booz-buyer; Marie: the pizza manager with crazy teeth but a sweet disposition; the animal lovers at Zimmermans; Bill Corso: the deadbeat jock who can't read, Mr Kahn: wife-beater and stultifier of all dreams; and then there are all the people Vera delivers pizza to. King excels at character creation. In effect, "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" is pure genius.

Significance: It's a gripping story, horrifying and deadly serious as it tackles teen alcoholism, perversion, abuse, drugs, love, death and all the terrors we wish young adults never needed to know about, but sadly do. The book discusses destiny and whether or not we are forced to follow in our parent's footsteps because of our genes or whether we can break the cycle and live our own dreams. It portrays a teen-parent relationship as fallible, but ultimately salvageable and honors some adults, even when others are complete idiots. It is real, honest and definitely not for the faint of heart.

Personal Choice: One of my best friend's last name is Dietz and she urged me to read the book and tell her what I thought before she dared read it. My advice to her?...don't read it if you're in the mood for something light and fluffy because you won't find it here. It's a heavy, edgy story but stunning and eventually hopeful and one that deserves high honors.

Awards: Printz Honor Award, 2011

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Illustrated by Brian Floca
Flashpoint, 2010. 48 pgs
Reading Level: ages 9-12
Hardcover: $17.99

Annotation: Learn about the inspiration behind Martha Graham's most famous ballet in this beautifully illustrated work of poetic luminance.

Summary:  For more than 60 years, audiences have delighted in Martha Graham's famous ballet, Appalachian Spring. Ballet for Martha tells the story of it's creation and the collaboration that took place between three amazing artists: the famous musician Aaron Copland, Martha herself and the artist, Isamu Noguchi. This informative children's book traces the history of a new kind of ballet, where the "legend of American living" was to be danced out on stage, celebrating Springtime and the marriage of a young pioneer couple. Copeland's famous musical score lent the ballet inspiration and his penned notation at the top of the music "Ballet for Martha" lent the book it's name. Each stage of the ballet's creation is documented, from the costume choices and stage design to the reception the ballet received on opening night in 1944.

Evaluaton: Brian Floca's lustrous watercolors perfectly complement the stunning and poetic cant of this fascinating history of Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring. The title is a welcome addition to history in general and the arts specifically, finishing with wonderful biographies of all three collaborative artists: Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi. It is an outstanding work of nonfiction and much deserves the Siebert Honor.

Significance: Appalachian Spring enjoys a loving and prominent place in the history of modern ballet and Copeland won the Pultizer Prize with this famous musical score. This book is a beautifully rendered history of a significant event in the history of the arts and deserves a prominent place in any library.

Personal Choice: Having a background in ballet and modern dance I was anxious to read more about Martha Graham and learn about her famous Appalachian Spring. I love Aaron Copeland's music and was thrilled to learn more about his use of "Tis a Gift to be Simple..." in the ballet score.

Awards: Robert F. Siebert Informational Book Honor, 2011