February 2008 vol 16 no. 6
BayViews
143
A different slant on children’s book reviews!
The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California
Ratings
OUTSTANDING:
Outstanding in its
presentation of the
genre, including style,
consistency, design,
accuracy, and consideration of audience. Books
receiving this rating will
be considered for the
annual Distinguished
Book List.
ADDITIONAL:
Competent, but may be
excelled in its field by
other books. A useful
addition to most library
collections. Reviewers
who wish to distinguish
books at the high or low
range of the broad
ADDITIONAL category
may use the terms HIGH
ADDITIONAL or LOW
ADDITIONAL to so
designate.
UNSATISFACTORY:
Contains so many
weaknesses in style,
content, and/or book
design that it is not
recommended for
general library purchase.
Addy, Sharon Hart. Lucky Jake
Wade Zahares, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Houghton, 2007. [36]p. $17.00 978-0-618-47286-4
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-3
Jake wants a dog, but when his pa finally finds a gold nugget and they are able to afford one, he can
only find a pig. So he buys the pig and names him Dog. Thus begins a series of “lucky” events that
illustrate the author’s message that luck is comprised mostly of recognizing opportunities and
capitalizing on them by working hard. “Pa grinned and said, ‘That sure was lucky,’” is the ironic refrain
that continues throughout as Jake and Pa get results from their hard work, undercutting any
didacticism. The illustrations, done in pastels, steal the show. With surprising color combinations and
stylization, they evoke the old West, especially the purples and oranges of sunset. Although the
illustrations are large, because of the odd perspective and colors, this book would be better shared oneon-one.
Laurie Willhalm, Oakland PL
Armstrong, Alan. Raleigh’s Page
Tim Jessell, Illus.
Fic.
Random, 2007. 328p. $16.99 978-0-375-83319-9, PLB $19.99 978-0-375-93319-6
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-9
Inspired by his teacher’s fascination with America, 12-year-old Andrew, an English farm boy, is
excited when he learns that his father has arranged for him to learn to serve as a page to his childhood
friend Walter Raleigh who, in 1860 England, is a court favorite of Queen Elizabeth. Like Andrew,
Raleigh is fascinated by the New World and dreams of settling in America and claiming its fabled
riches of gold, pearls, and rich soil for England. Through Andrew’s eyes, young readers will catch
glimpses of daily life and customs in early England along with the strong intolerance for Catholicism.
As Andrew studies to be accepted as a page by Raleigh, they will also learn about the deceptions and
intrigues of English court life, similar in many ways to the lobbying that exists in the United States
today. Andrew’s ocean voyage on the Tyger to America as one of Raleigh’s representatives, the
explorers’ brief, almost disastrous stay on Roanoke Island, and the unkind treatment of the Indians,
will open readers’ eyes to the often unpleasant and cruel realities of colonialism. Well-developed
characters, both real and imaginary, and the author’s attention to historical detail make this period
of our history come to life, and readers will feel disappointed when the story comes to a rather abrupt
end. B/w drawings and detailed author notes also contribute to a greater understanding of the time.
Cathy Francioch, Oakland PL
Titles with ‡ are being considered for the annual Distinguished Book List.
143
144
February, 2008
Bausum, Ann. Muckrakers: How Ida Tarbell,
Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose
Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative
Journalism
Photos.
Non-fic.
National Geographic, 2007. 112p. $21.95
978-1-4263-0137-7, PLB $32.90 978-1-4263-0138-4
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-12
Focusing on three journalists who were founders of the field of
what is now known as investigative journalism, Ida Tarbell,
Upston Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens, Bausum writes an inspiring
and persuasive argument for the contributions of the profession. A
foreword by Daniel Schorr and personal introduction by Bausum
initially clues the reader to the fact that this account does not aspire
towards impartiality. The writing style is dramatic and
compelling, focusing on investigations of Standard Oil’s business
practices, governmental corruption, and conditions for workers in
the meat packing industry. These revelations are made more
relevant to young readers by relating the politics of that era to those
of the present day. Although the text itself does not provide enough
information for report writers, the large amount of back matter
provided (timeline, resource guide, bibliography, research notes,
citations, and illustration credits) fills many holes. The text is
enhanced by many b/w photos and quotations from the people
being profiled.
Helen Bloch, Oakland PL
Best, Cari. What’s So Bad About Being
an Only Child?
Sophie Blackall, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Farrar, 2007. [32]p. $16.00 978-0-374-39943-6
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-2
Rosemary Emma Angela Lynette Isabel Iris Malone is tired of
being an only child in this gently humorous picture book. There are
too many adults paying too much attention to her and not enough
kids for her to play with. Unlike other picture books on this topic,
however, Best and Blackall give the story a new twist—Rosemary
solves her problem by adopting a large number of animals to be her
companions. In both text and illustration, Rosemary has a
distinctive and mischievous personality. That personality is
highlighted by the palette chosen by Blackall; Rosemary is
depicted with brighter, more intense hues than other characters and
her face overflows with expression. Other humorous details
abound, and Blackall’s use of perspective adds interest.
Helen Bloch, Oakland PL
Bolden, Tonya. George Washington Carver
Photos.
Non-fic.
Abrams, 2008. 40p. $18.95 978-0-8109-9366-2
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-6
George Washington Carver has intrigued people for many years.
He was a real “innovator in agriculture”—a phrase used by many
writers. Bolden’s simple but comprehensive text provides a clear
picture of just what the amazing man achieved. Born during the
Civil War and raised by the Carvers, his thirst for learning took him
to a school for blacks and on to wherever he could go to learn more.
The photos, some original, some reproductions, show his
paintings, his laboratory, his botanical drawings, and more. He
was known as the “Wizard of Tuskegee,” or more commonly as
“The Peanut Man,” but was not really pleased with the titles.
Although he has been honored in many ways, many AfricanAmericans have berated him because he never protested
segregation. They claimed that whites made him famous because
he was a “non-threatening Negro.” This biography should be
easily accessible to young readers. For a loftier and beautifully
poetic glimpse of Carver, remember Marilyn Nelson’s Carver, A
Life in Poems (Front Street, 2001).
Martha Shogren, Retired
BayViews: A different slant on children’s book reviews is published eleven times a year by the Association of
Children’s Librarians of Northern California. ©2008. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronics or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by
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ISSN 1045-6724
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BayViews, previously published as ACL Reviews,
annually contains approximately 2500 book reviews covering the entire range of books for children and young adults
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Bondoux, Anne-Laure. Vasco, Leader of the Tribe
Y Maudet, Translator.
Fic.
Delacorte, 2007. 336p. $15.99 978-0-385-77363-2
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90378-3
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 5-8
Vasco, a wharf rat, has lost his family to human exterminators who
are systematically ridding the city of vermin. He manages to save
three little ones from his tribe plus a strange rat almost caught in
the raid. He dreams of finding a safe place for all of them, plus a
group of rats that he has gathered around him. They escape by
freighter, then train to what seems to be a tropical land where men
are denuding the rain forest. They encounter many dangers along
the way, not just humans but other animals and rat packs as well.
There are many bloody battles and harrowing escapes. Not all the
rats agree with Vasco’s hopes to find a place where they can live
in peace and harmony with other rats and animals. In the end,
however, because he perseveres in his efforts, the goal is reached.
The translator is obviously not a fluent English speaker and often
uses rather ponderous or awkward words where something more
common would be better. The story seems overly long and could
seem a bit preachy, but it has lots of action. It might appeal to
Redwall fans without the medieval setting.
Martha Shogren, Retired
Bray, Libba. The Sweet Far Thing ‡
Fic.
Delacorte, 2007. 819p. $17.99 978-0-385-73030-3
PLB $20.99 978-0-385-90295-3
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 8-ADULT
In Libba Bray’s conclusion to The Great and Terrible Beauty
(2005) trilogy, the magic of the Realms has been bound to Gemma,
and she alone can decide what to do with it: unite its inhabitants,
secure it for the Order, or keep it for herself. Those who want the
magic, from the obvious Rakshana and the Order to the surprising
Pippa and her new following, haunt Gemma as she struggles with
what it means to wield such power. The book is necessarily long
as Bray ties up past plots points and weaves together stories from
Gemma’s two worlds: Spence Academy boarding school,
complete with secret doors to the magical Realms, and life in an
oppressive Victorian society, including her forthcoming debut.
Further adding to page count (a whopping 819 to be exact) are
Bray’s vivid descriptions of the magical world that grows darker
and more foreboding with each passing day that Gemma fails to
make a decision about the magic, but the level of detail just adds
to the intrigue and growing anticipation of her choice. Both story
lines—Gemma and her friends’ place in society and their place in
the Realms—are interesting enough to stand on their own, though
they come together for the book’s conclusion in what appears to be
a final battle for good and evil. Bray does a skillful job of drawing
Gemma’s growing power and confidence, including a masterful
chess scene with Lord Denby, and her writing captures the
Victorian time and setting perfectly (“…it’s a particularly lovely
145
day. We set up camp along the mossy bank beside the river. We are
allowed to take off our stockings and boots and run barefoot over
the cool grass, and that alone is heaven” (page 593)). Readers of
the first two books will eagerly turn pages to learn the fates of
Gemma, Felicity, Ann and Pippa, not to mention the dashing
Kartik and evil Circe, but this novel is riveting enough to be read
on its own.
Kelly Keefer, San Leandro PL
Bredeson, Carmen. What Is the Moon?
Photos.
Non-fic.
I Like Space! Series.
Enslow, 2008. 32p. PLB $22.60 978-0-7660-2946-0
UNSATISFACTORY
GRADES 1-3
Is there something about the word “orbit” that first graders won’t
understand? I think they will, so why doesn’t the author use the
appropriate term instead of “The moon is a giant rock that goes
around Earth?” That is just one example of the simplistic text that
is the flaw of this book, done in a question-answer format; there
just isn’t enough information. On the other hand, the book design
is very inviting, with a combination of color photos and cartoon
cutouts. There are brief sidebars done in orange “stars” that add
interest, and there is an index, table of contents, list of books and
websites, and glossary. The solar system is a standard report topic
in second and third grade but this won’t fill the bill.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Brown, Don. Train Jumper
Fic.
Roaring Brook, 2007. 122p. $17.95 978-1-59643-218-5
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 5-8
After his father’s death in the lumberyard, Ed “Collie” Collier’s
older brother goes to work but becomes a drinker and abandons the
family. Fourteen-year-old Ed decides to track him down and
chooses the only means open to him, riding the rails. On his
journey, Ed is coached by Scarecrow, a veteran hobo, and
befriends Ike, a “darkie” boy his own age. Collared by “bulls” and
imprisoned at an evangelical mission, the boys make their escape
and ride the rails through tunnels, dust storms, and other perils of
the Great Depression. Along the way, they must also deal with
racist attitudes that test their friendship. The premise for Ed’s
journey, his brother’s abandonment, needs more development to
be fully credible. Filled with non-stop action, this short novel
packs so much historical information into Ed’s adventures, it
could be used in American History units. In an appended note, the
author describes aspects of the Great Depression, explains his use
of the terms “darkie” and “jig,” and recommends a few books, a
film and website for those who want to investigate further.
Linda Perkins, Berkeley PL
146
Cate, Annette LeBlanc. The Magic Rabbit ‡
Annette LeBlanc Cate, Illus. Pic. Bk.
Candlewick, 2007. [32]p. $15.99 978-0-7636-2672-3
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-1
Ray the street magician and his bunny assistant are the best of
friends, doing everything together, until one day an accident
during a show sets Bunny loose in the big city. Poor Bunny
wanders alone for hours, until he sniffs out a trail of glittering stars
which leads him back to Ray, despairingly lonely on the empty
subway platform. Pen and ink illustrations add a unique feel to this
story of sudden loss and wonderful rediscovery of two close
friends. Readers will feel an attachment to the lost bunny and be
happy that he manages to find his way home to Ray.
Joshua Rees, Daly City PL
Chima, Cinda Williams. The Wizard Heir
Fic.
The Heir Series.
Hyperion, 2007. 458p. $17.99 978-1-5231-0487-2,
PB $8.99 978-1-4231-0488-9
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-10
Sixteen-year-old orphan Seph McCauley knows that there is
something different about him—he seems to have certain
“powers” that cause bad things to happen. His legal guardian sends
him from boarding school to boarding school, but his latest, the
Havens in Maine, is unlike any other that he’s been to. Here, he
discovers that the headmaster, Leicester, has all of the other wizard
students locked in a spell with the ultimate goal of overthrowing
the main wizard governing body. Seph is anxious to learn more
about his powers, but not at such a cost, so he runs away and finds
a new home with a group of warriors and wizards that may have
known his parents. A companion piece to The Warrior Heir
(Hyperion, 2006), this is an overwrought, overly ambitious beast
that gets exciting once Seph gets to the Havens boarding school,
but then quickly loses steam when Seph deserts the school not even
halfway through the novel. Characters who, apparently, are the
main focus of The Warrior Heir show up here to aid Seph on his
quest to defeat Leicester and uncover the identity of the mysterious
Dragon (is he Seph’s father? Maybe not…). Though this one can
be read without having experienced the first, if one is so inclined
to delve into Chima’s world, the first would be essential reading to
partake of the entire mythology. At over 450 long pages, only the
strong and dedicated to teen-targeted, contemporary wizard
fiction need apply.
Eric Barbus, San Francisco PL
Choldenko, Gennifer. If a Tree Falls at
Lunch Period
Fic.
Harcourt, 2007. 218p. $17.00 978-0-15205-753-4
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-8
Kirsten, a naive, newly unpopular Caucasian girl, is one of the first
people African-American Walker Jones meets on his first day at an
February, 2008
expensive, nearly all-white middle school in Marin County.
Alternating chapters tell their stories as their lives collide in
unexpected ways. Kirsten and Walk are astonished to discover that
they share a biological father, though experienced readers will
guess this surprise long before they do. Choldenko pulls her
punches, making the book a bit unrealistic; the adults are all
reasonably mature about their awkward situation (Kirsten’s
mother finds out about Walker’s parentage during the book as
well), Kirsten discovers a talent she didn’t know she possessed,
and justice is served to the school’s queen bee. Kirsten and Walk
are well characterized, as are several secondary characters.
Kirsten tells her story in first person, while Walker’s story is in
third person; this device serves to make their narratives more
distinct from each other. Readers will enjoy this look at racism and
identity in a California middle school.
Allison Angell, Benicia PL
Clement, Nathan. Drive
Nathan Clement, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Front Street, 2008. [32]p. $16.95 978-1-5907-8517-1
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-K
Computer generated graphics dominate this attention grabbing
Big Rig story about a dad leaving for early work in his truck,
picking up and delivering his load, and then returning home to play
catch with his son. Very few words per page drag the eight
sentences out over several pages each, as each fragment tells the
activity of the page. “Daddy stays busy, and watches out for
others,” shows all the needed shifting and steering for driving, and
then demonstrates his friendly waving to the kids in a passing car.
The adult reading this aloud will likely need to add and embellish
the provided text in order to keep the story going and reduce rapid
page turning.
Joshua Rees, Daly City PL
Cohn, Rachel and David Levithan. Naomi
and Ely’s No Kiss List
Fic.
Knopf, 2007. 230p. $16.99 978-0-375-84440-9,
PLB $19.99 978-0-375-94440-6
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 9-12
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s second collaboration doesn’t
have quite the magic of their first, Nick and Norah’s Infinite
Playlist (Random House, 2006), but it is still a great read that teens
will love. Told in chapters alternating in narration between Naomi,
a strong-willed Manhattan teen, her best friend Ely who lives
across the hall, and several other friends, the story unfolds after Ely
breaks his and Naomi’s no-kiss list and kisses Naomi’s boyfriend.
Although they have been best friends as long as they can
remember, Naomi is unable to forgive Ely for this act and their
friendship falls apart. Naomi’s confidence and brassiness is
sometimes hard to believe, but at her core she is a vulnerable and
relatable girl with whom readers will identify, and Ely is fun and
BayViews
sweet. The cast of other characters ranges in believability and
likeability but overall creates a fun story.
Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland PL
Colfer, Eoin. Airman
Fic.
Hyperion, 2008. 412p. $17.99 978-1-4231-0750-7
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 8-12
From the creator of the Artemis Fowl series comes an entirely
different type of epic adventure, an historical action adventure
instead of modernistic fantasy. Conor Broekhart begins life as the
boy born in an 1890s Paris hot-air ballon, thus beginning his
lifelong love of flight. Conor first experiences flight, at age nine,
via a hastily created parachute used to save himself and a friend
from a fire. Fifteen-year-old Conor becomes entangled in royal
espionage in a tiny island kingdom as Conor’s tutor is framed to be
the king’s killer and Conor ends up in a horrible diamond mine (all
while believing that his father hates him and wishes him dead).
Conor survives a few years in the prison mine, masterminds his
escape, builds a couple of flying devices, reunites with his family
and rescues the kingdom from a tyrant. Colfer manages to fit a
huge amount of detail into this modestly thick book, but fails to
make the tale riveting. Readers of Artemis Fowl are unlikely to
hang on through the first 2/3 until the story gets interesting, but
those who want to know about the flying man on the cover may
continue slogging through and be rewarded with a fast and exciting
conclusion.
Joshua Rees, Daly City PL
147
Chanukah is cheerfully highlighted in this unusual holiday
offering. A young girl spends a couple of nights with her aunt who
“just moved here from Mexico” and is introduced to the
celebration that marks the beginning of the new month. A custom
reserved for women (rewarded for their refusal to contribute the
golden calf, according to Jewish tradition), Rosh Hodesh takes on
special meaning at Chanukah, and DaCosta and Mosz team up to
produce an evocative portrayal of this multicultural festival.
Mosz’s purple and gold crayon and watercolor illustrations
feature characters with large, dreamy eyes against a background of
dreidel-shaped piñatas and cookies, “Feliz Januca” banners, and
whimsical menorahs. DaCosta’s first-person text, if a bit static,
aptly conveys a child’s wonder at new experience and the warmth
of a growing bond with a beloved adult.
Jane Courant, Oakland PL
Doder, Joshua. Grk and the Pelotti Gang
Fic.
The Grk Books Series.
Delacorte/Random, 2007. 202p. $14.99
978-0-385-73360-1, PLB $17.99 978-0-385-90375-2
UNSATISFACTORY
GRADES 4-7
This well-written story deals with a child’s grief following the
death of her much loved grandmother. Magdalena, who appears to
be about seven years old, has bonded with her ailing grandmother
over their shared love of the sea turtles who arrive on the shores
near their home for their annual egg laying ritual. Crowe’s prose
wet this reviewer’s eyes, as Magdalena moves from angry grief to
acceptance of her grandmother’s passing, particularly when she
discovers the intended meaning behind her words, “ I’ll always be
with you, Magdalena, especially at turtle time.” At the same time,
readers learn from the story and Postier’s skilled acrylics about the
life cycle of sea turtles, the dangers they face when coming ashore
to lay eggs, and the hatchlings’s first journey to the sea.
Lucy Meinhardt, Independent
Three notorious sibling criminals have robbed all of the biggest
banks in Rio and three young people in England decide that it is up
to them to catch the thieves. Tim, Max, and Natascha (the last two
of whom are orphans that have recently come to live with Tim and
his parents) and their dog, Grk, steal Tim’s parents’ credit card and
buy tickets to Brazil. There they are treated as royalty (it was Max
and Natascha’s father who initially captured the Pelotti gang and
put them in prison), and Tim sets off with Grk by his side to catch
the robbers himself—aided by a couple of young street urchins that
have attempted to hold him for ransom. Plot hole after plot hole
opens up, the point of view shifts awkwardly, and characters that
we are led to believe are important are left by the wayside. The
Pelotti brothers themselves open the book but then aren’t heard
from again until the middle, Max and Natascha seem to just be
along for the ride, never getting the justice that they seem to crave
they are craving—in fact, once the kids get to Rio the book
becomes a travelogue of Brazil. Even Grk himself oftentimes feels
like an afterthought, never being the central character, but as
someone who is along for the ride and only occasionally
mentioned. A sequel to A Dog Called Grk (Delacorte, 2007),
which should probably be read first in order to get a handle on the
relationships between the three young people (which isn’t really
explained here), this one’s just a dog.
Eric Barbus, San Francisco PL
DaCosta, Deborah. Hanukkah Moon
Ering, Timothy Basil. Necks Out for Adventure
Crowe, Carole. Turtle Girl
Jim Postier, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Boyds Mill, 2008. [32]p. $16.95 978-1-59078-262-0
ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-3
Gosia Mosz, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Kar-Ben, 2007. [24]p. $17.95 978-1-58013-634-1
ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-2
The monthly Sephardic Jewish celebration of the new moon, or
Rosh Hodesh, which always falls during the eight days of
Timothy Basil Ering, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Candlewick, 2008. [48]p. $16.99 978-0-7636-2355-5
ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-2
A bed of wiggleskins (clams) keep their necks tucked in, down in
the mud, to avoid danger. One daring wiggleskin literally sticks his
148
neck out and almost lands in the soup pot, but he ends up saving the
rest of them. Tim Ering’s artwork is surreal and whimsical, in the
same style as his The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone (Candlewick,
2003). It sometimes takes a moment to figure out what is
happening in the pictures, but they completely capture the action,
and the landscaped backgrounds are beautiful. The story itself
borders on the didactic, with its explicit message about sticking
one’s neck out for adventure, and the twists in this story are
predictable as well.
Josh Lachman, Berkeley PL
Gardner, Sally. Magical Kids: The Strongest
Girl in the World and the Invisible Boy
Sally Gardner, Illus.
Fic.
Dial, 2007. 200p. $15.99 978-0-8037-3158-5
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-4
February, 2008
Gregory, Nan. Pink
Luc Melanson, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Groundwood, 2007. [32]p. $17.95 978-0-8889-781-4
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-2
All the girls at school have pink, pink, pink, but not poor Vivi. One
day she finds the most beautifully pink doll in the window of a store
and decides to scrimp and save until she can buy it. Unfortunately
she mentions the doll to her wealthier classmates which leads to a
sad surprise. While this thoughtful story nicely explores the
difficulties that children can face in the world of material desires,
the wordy writing falls somewhat flat. Although many pink-lovers
may pick this title up once, many will not return to it.
Claire Sue, Benicia PL
Grimberg, Tina. Out of Line: Growing Up Soviet
Two short novels, originally published separately in England, are
gathered together in this edition. One reads the first story, and then
flips the book over to read the second. In The Strongest Girl in the
World, Josie Jenkins discovers she is able to lift anything. A fasttalking promoter gives her a contract, and eventually Josie must
decide how she will use her gift. In The Invisible Boy, young
Sam’s parents win a trip to the moon and become lost in space.
Sam, imprisoned by his evil neighbor, becomes invisible with the
help of a new friend. Both these titles are easy to read and will
charm young readers moving from transitional books to chapter
books. Black and white line illustrations by the author help the
stories flow nicely.
Kathy L. Haug, Richmond PL
Gourley, Catherine. Flappers and the New
American Woman: Perceptions of Women from
1918 Through the 1920s
Photos.
Non-fic.
Images and Issues of Women in the 20th Century Series.
21st Century, 2008. 144p. PLB $38.60 978-0-8225-6060-9
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 5-7
Gourley describes how perceptions of women changed, both
because of their actions and because of the media, from 1918 until
the beginning of the Depression. Her readable account covers a
wide range of topics, from flappers and movie stars to vacuum
cleaners and personal hygiene. Not all of Gourley’s examples are
drawn from her chosen time period; she quotes a magazine article
from 1912 and occasionally brings in examples from the early
1930s. She points out that many advertisers aimed their products
at the middle-class white market, but that does not excuse her own
bias toward the affluent and white here; after all, the series does not
limit itself to advertisements, and contemporary accounts from
more diverse ethnic, racial, and economic groups certainly exist.
The layout is attractive, but sidebars and extra sections are
occasionally difficult to follow. An index, source notes,
bibliography, and list of further readings are included.
Allison Angell, Benicia PL
Photos.
Non-fic.
Tundra, 2007. 217p. $22.95 978-0-88776-803-3
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-8
When she was a child growing up in Kiev in the Soviet Union, Tina
Grimberg and other Jews could not safely practice their religion.
Now a resident of Toronto, Canada, she has been a rabbi since
2001. She relates family stories and brings her relatives, friends,
people in the building, and teachers to life as she tells about events
(and everyday non-events) to readers who may be unaware of the
difficulties—and fun—in the USSR. When there was a thawing in
the “Cold War,” her family left the home of their ancestors to
breathe more freely elsewhere. Life without connections in the
Soviet Union often meant lack of hospital care, small choices for
food, decent housing, shoddy clothing lacking variety. Many
people had privileges, “connections”; many more lacked any
choices. Education was excellent and whatever could be provided
went to the young first. Family other than the immediate family,
language, customs, culture were all left behind. They made the
hard choice—or would remaining have been the hard choice? The
light that Grimberg casts on the Soviet Union and Soviet ways is
not all harsh, but life was hard. The reader would have been helped
by a glossary and a cast list showing who was related to whom.
This is an interesting book and presents a lively picture of life
centering on one family.
Ruth Gordon, Independent
Harper, Charise. When Randolph Turned Rotten
Charise Harper, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Knopf, 2007. [24]p. $16.99 978-0-375-84071-0,
PLB $19.99 978-0-375-94071-5
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-2
Randolph turns rotten with jealousy when his best-friend, Ivy, gets
an invitation to a girls-only beach party from her cousin. Randolph
stuffs junk into Ivy’s suitcase as a dirty trick and while he sits home
feeling guilty, the extra junk ends up helping Ivy. The humor of the
story outweighs its few contrivances and bright acrylic
BayViews
illustrations conveys a wealth of action with great, very simple
expression. Narration, dialogue bubbles, and other cartoon
conventions keep the book fresh and funny.
Josh Lachman, Berkeley PL
Headley, Justina Chen. Girl Overboard ‡
Fic.
Little, 2007. 339p. $16.99 978-0-316-01130-3
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 8-ADULT
149
bus driver? Run for president? Be a teacher? Feed the elephants
(but what about cleaning up after them)? Simple sentences in what
appears to be hand-written text pair with large hand-carved wood
blocks in a book well suited for reading aloud to 4- and 5-year-olds.
The simplicity of the large-format presentation is slightly
misleading—older preschoolers will be more apt to appreciate the
humor in Sally’s fantasies than the young ones.
Elizabeth Overmyer, Retired
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Like every child of narcissists, 15-year-old Syrah Cheng,
snowboarder of professional aspirations, has been trained to
mistake image and performance for personal worth. Daughter of
a Seattle-based telecommunications billionaire and anorexic
socialite mother, Syrah is jerked from her world of mountain
freedom when she mangles her knee in an avalanche. In this wellplotted, vividly characterized, present-tense drama, Syrah deals
with absent parents, cold stepsiblings, the mysteries of friendship,
usury romance and, ultimately, the acceptance of what fate has
bestowed in service of embracing a destiny undergirded with selfknowing. Pressures on contemporary young American women are
epitomized by Syrah’s life in the objectifying cultures of extreme
wealth and familial obedience. Her coming-of-age in mind, body,
and soul is thus immensely satisfying.
Carolyn Edwards, Turning Pt Educ Services
Hiscock, Bruce. Ookpik: The Travels of
a Snowy Owl
Bruce Hiscock, Illus.
Non-fic.
Boyds Mills, 2008. [32]p. $16.95 978-1-59078-461-7
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-4
The story of the first year in the life of a snowy owl begins with his
birth on the Arctic tundra. The author-illustrator has lived in the
Arctic, and his close observation of his subject shows he knows
Ookpik intimately. We follow the young owl on his first winter
journey South as he hunts for mice and lemmings, deals with a rival
owl, dodges a pickup truck on a Canadian farm, and finally settles
for the winter in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State,
where he is greeted by a group of birdwatchers, probably the
author’s family. Vivid watercolor illustrations in a picture book
format bring to life this magnificent bird as we follow him on his
journey of survival.
Pauline Hale, Independent
Huneck, Stephen. Sally Gets a Job
Stephen Huneck, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Abrams, 2008. [26]p. $16.95 978-0-8109-9493-5
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-2
Few families with dogs will be able to resist the opening line of
Stephen Huneck’s new Sally title: “It’s a lucky dog that has a
family, and it’s a lucky family that has a dog.” This audience will
also particularly enjoy following Sally’s train of thought as she
considers the possibility of getting a job—could she be a school
Jeff Kinney, Illus.
Fic.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series.
Abrams, 2008. 224p. PB $12.95 978-0-8109-9473-7
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 5-8
The second year of middle school is bad enough without having to
write in a diary as well. It wouldn’t be so bad if on the front it said
“Journal,” but it doesn’t. Greg Hefley writes and draws his
adolescent thoughts with honesty and lack of shame. He is clearly
a middle school student, somewhat amoral, wanting to appear cool
and popular but never quite knowing how, and conflicted about
just about every relationship in his life. The voice is as authentic
as the first in the series (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Abrams, 2007), but
this sequel lacks some of the charm and surprise of the original.
Although smiles abound, there are no laugh-out-loud moments.
The build-up to the revelation of the secret from the previous
summer, the secret that Rodrick holds over Greg for months, is
much greater than the secret itself. All that being said, Greg is a
character who will ring true for pre- to early teens, a good
alternative for those who cannot quite give up Captain
Underpants.
Laurie Willhalm, Oakland PL
Kizer, Amber. One Butt Cheek at a Time: Gert
Garibaldi’s Rants and Raves
Fic.
Delacorte, 2007. 295p. $15.99 978-0-385-73430-1,
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90439-1
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 9-11
One Butt Cheek at a Time gives the readers a chance to get into the
head of 15-year-old Gert Garibaldi via diary entries and firstperson narration. Gert is a “brain” trying to fit into the world of
high school alongside her best friend and his brand new boyfriend.
While some of Gert’s thoughts and writings are laugh-out-loud
funny, most of them are so self-obsessed that even young teens will
tire of them. Kizer’s attempts at writing a novel from the point of
view of a clever teenaged girl fall short and fail to show depth. The
reader never relates enough to Gert to understand her motivations
or care about what might happen to her. The fun cover might draw
teens in, but the story may leave them cold.
Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland PL
150
Kushner, Ellen. The Golden Dreydl
Ilene Winn-Lederer, Illus.
Fic.
Charlesbridge, 2007. 126p. $15.95 978-1-58089-135-6
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-6
Sara would rather celebrate Christmas than Chanukah, and she
finds the dreydl game boring. But her Tante Miriam’s gift of a
golden dreydl eventually propels Sara into a fantasy world where
she tries to help save a girl, who insists that she was actually the
golden dreydl in Sara’s world. At first, Sara’s foray into this
alternate reality seems nonsensical, with the girl repeatedly asking
the baffled Sara what letter she landed on. Demons kidnap the little
girl and Sara encounters both The Fool and the backwards-living
Demons in an effort to rescue the child. It is here that the story
resembles a Phantom Tollbooth style tale, with fantastical
elements being used to impart deeper meaning: “Demons like to go
backward, for they do not like things to change and grow” (p. 57).
Readers will enjoy the silly banter between Sara, The Fool and,
later, the Demons. There are portions of the book that would have
been more interesting had they been more fully fleshed out. The
pencil illustrations are intricate and wiry but more effective in
their depiction of animals than people. Unfortunately, many of the
references in the book will be lost or incomprehensible to Gentile
readers. There is a glossary and list of terms relating to Jewish life
and culture, but the more complicated concepts are left out. At the
end, readers will be left unsure as to whether Sara ever came to a
greater appreciation of her culture and faith.
Erica Glenn, Berkeley PL
Lamba, Marie. What I Meant
Fic.
Random, 2007. 312p. $16.99 978-0-375-84091-5,
PLB $19.99 978-0-375-94091-0
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 7-ADULT
Sangeet Jumnal, 15, lives in suburban Philadelphia with her
parents and younger sister. There is a strong influence of her
father’s East Indian heritage in their home, from food and family
relationships to cultural beliefs. Sangeet’s life is that of a typical
American teen with all the usual teenage angst. Her best friend
Gina isn’t talking to her anymore, and she has no idea why. Her
parents won’t let her date, and she really does want to go to the
heavy metal concert! Sangeet has to deal with some added
complications when her emotionally unstable aunt Chachi
(father’s brother’s wife) comes to live with them, and food money,
and personal items begin to disappear. Her parents are convinced
that she has an eating disorder and is stealing stuff from the house,
and they force her to go to a therapist. Sangeet’s frustrations and
misunderstandings will strike a sympathetic chord with teenagers
everywhere. Readers will also enjoy the unique bedtime story that
Sangeet weaves for her little sister using situations from her own
life, giving us an insight into what is going on in her mind. Some
aspects of this story are awkward and lack cohesiveness.
Secondary characters lack depth and some expert editing might
February, 2008
have made the storyline more efficient (presently 312 pages!).
Despite this, the story will appeal to teens. The Indian angle is
authentic and realistic, and fans of Narendra Dhami’s Bindi Babes
series will enjoy the depth that it brings to the story.
Armin Arethna, Berkeley PL
Lat. Town Boy ‡
Lat, Illus.
Graphic.
Roaring Brook, 2007. 192p. PB $16.95 978-1-5964-3331-1
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-10
With humor and understatement, Lat explores the universality of
the teenage experience in this sequel to Kampung Boy (First
Second, 2006). Set in the Malaysian town of Ipoh in the 1960s, Mat
lives first in a boarding house and then with his family. Rock and
roll, school, girls, movies, and the teenage pasttime of hanging out
are all depicted in a sweet and comical way. The slice-of-life story
focuses on Mat’s friendship with a Chinese boy, Freddie, who
shares his interests, and it ends when Freddie goes to England to
continue his education. Lat’s b/w line drawings have a loose and
free style and often include caricatures. A close perusal of the
details yields many humorous touches.
Helen Bloch, Oakland PL
Lawrence, Iain. The Castaways ‡
Fic.
Delacorte, 2007. 245p. $15.99 978-0-385-73090-7,
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90112-3
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 5-12
Taking up where The Cannibals (2005) left off, Tom Tin and his
mates are aboard an abandoned ship hoping to sail to England,
when two evil castaways they rescue lead them into high
adventure. Like the Jacky Faber stories by L. A. Meyers, this book
is filled with a wonderfully odd assortment of characters, from the
rotten-toothed, pig-like Mr. Moyle, one of the castaways, to
Charlotte, the charming little daughter of the king who would have
enslaved them. These characters combined with vivid description,
colorful language, and a raucous plot add up to a first rate tale. The
twists and turns of the plot, keep the reader guessing. One can feel
the breeze, smell the briny and experience the exhilaration of life
at sea. Lawrence has scored again with the conclusion of the
adventures of Tom Tin.
Sherrill Kumler, Retired
Lin, Grace. The Year of the Rat
Fic.
Little, 2007. 182p. $14.99 978-0-316-11426-4
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-5
Pacy (also known as Grace) feels like everything is fine just the
way it is. Her best friend, Melody is Taiwanese- American, so Pacy
is no longer the only Asian student in her grade. But the Year of the
Rat symbolizes change and new beginnings, and soon, Melody and
her family will have to move 3,000 miles away. Lin describes the
BayViews
tension Pacy feels in having to explain her culture to her non-Asian
friends, standing up for the new boy everyone makes fun of, and
not wanting to be seen as the same as him (and therefore not fitting
in) just because they are both Asian. Pacy tells her story in a
comfortable style that seems as though we are reading entries from
her diary. Stories told by Pacy’s parents about Chinese legends and
family from China as well as events such as Pacy’s cousin’s
wedding conveniently give Lin a platform for explaining bits of
Taiwanese and Chinese culture to readers. Lin also illustrates the
book with small black line drawings that could be from the aspiring
writer and illustrator Pacy and helps further the parallel between
real life author Lin and protagonist Pacy. Both The Year of the Rat
and its precursor, The Year of the Dog (2006), can be a mirror for
younger Chinese girls who do not have enough opportunity to see
current-day versions of themselves reflected in the pages of a
book.
Erica Glenn, Berkeley PL
Lindenbaum, Pija. Mini Mia and Her
Darling Uncle
Pija Lindenbaum, Illus.
Fic.
Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, Translator.
R & S, 2007. [32]p. $16.00 978-91-29-66734-9
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-3
Originally published in Lindenbaum’s native Sweden, U.S.
readers are lucky to have Mini Mia! Precocious and funny, Mia
loves her darling uncle, but does not at all love his partner, Fergus.
Making her feelings quite clear with a variety of tricks and pranks
played on the unsuspecting man, Mia eventually learns, after some
forced time together, that he is not all bad. The story is a bit long
and text heavy for the youngest of children but funny enough to
draw in those who are slightly older. The bright watercolor
illustrations are charming and odd. The story’s focus on Mia’s
feelings for her uncle’s partner instead of on the relationship itself
make this an age appropriate and delightful way to bring the
subject of loving gay relationships into children’s literature.
Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland PL
Llimós, Anna. Easy Bead Crafts in 5 Steps
Nos & Soto, Photographers. Non-fic.
Enslow, 2008. 32p. PLB $22.60 978-0-7660-3082-4
UNSATISFACTORY
GRADES 3-4
In a disappointing effort, Llimós provides 14 crafts that are
supposedly easy. However, many details are left out since the book
must conform to the series title “Easy crafts in 5 steps.”
Measurements are not given, nor does the author mention the
gauge or type of wire used. Materials lists are very loose, e.g.,
“plastic beads, wire, pliers.” Some of the problems include:
directing the crafter to glue a tissue paper garland on a bead,
without showing the crafter how to make it; requiring a slip knot
without showing how to tie one; creating flower stems with elastic
string rather than wire; insufficient instructions for making
earrings; and failure to provide estimating techniques to figure out
151
how much “thin rope” would be needed to make a belt.
Experienced crafters could use this, but it is unsuitable for
beginners.
Kathy L. Haug, Richmond PL
Lunde, Darrin. Hello, Bumblebee Bat
Patricia J. Wynne, Illus.
Non-fic.
Charlesbridge, 2007. [28]p. $15.95 978-1-570-91374-7,
PB $6.95 978-1-570-91464-5
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-3
First-time author Lunde’s book was named a 2007 Theodor Seuss
Geisel Honor book for the most distinguished book for beginning
readers. This science book describes the Bumblebee Bat, first
found in Thailand in 1973, and “as light as a dime.” Lunde wrote
an accurate non-fiction book that is truly easy to read, assisted by
Wynne’s full color ink, watercolor, and pencil artwork that gives
the impression that this is a picture book. The expressive artwork
shows the animal up close, finding a balance between accuracy and
child appeal, and depicts the nighttime setting by using a deep blue
background. The text is a conversation between the reader and the
bat: “Bumblebee Bat, how small are you? My body is one inch
long. I am six inches wide when I spread by wings.” Useful
enough for a primary grade report, this will also appeal to older
children who are learning English and kids who cannot get enough
books on animals. This duo also published Meet the Meerkat
(Charlesbridge, 2007).
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
MacIntyre, R. P. and Wendy. Apart
Fic.
Groundwood, 2007. 176p. PLB $18.95 978-0-88899-750-0,
PB $9.95 978-0-88899-834-7
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 9-ADULT
When 16-year-old Jessica places a classified ad in the Globe and
Mail newspaper, she finds not the father she was searching for, but
a pen pal in Sween, the 17-year old boy who answers her ad.
Opposites in stature (his family is wealthy, hers depends on her
father’s ill-gotten gains) and geography (she lives in rural New
Brunswick, he in suburban Saskatchewan), they find a kinship in
sharing their family secrets. Over the course of the novel, Jessica
and Sween reveal their deepest hopes and fears, offering each other
an unexpected sounding board for the serious issues in their lives.
While this epistolary novel may have local appeal in the Canadian
provinces where it takes place, the writing feels too unrealistic and
stilted to connect with high school teens, and the epistolary device
doesn’t sufficiently develop the character of Sween. For example,
when he suddenly falls out of touch and then reveals that he has
spent some time in a hospital for bi-polar disorder, it seems more
gimmick than expected character development. The ending, which
culminates in Jessica and Sween’s first meeting, is strong and
surprising, but can’t compensate for the affected writing and
limited regional appeal of this title.
Kelly Keefer, San Leandro PL
152
Mankell, Henning. A Bridge to the Stars
Laura Thompson, Translator. Fic.
Delacorte, 2007. 169p. $15.99 978-0-385-73495-0,
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90489-6
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-6
Joel Gustafson and his father live in a small town in northern
Sweden. The father was once a sailor but is now a logger. Joel’s
mother abandoned them when Joel was quite young and his father
will not answer any questions or tell him anything about her. Now
at 11, he develops secrets of his own in his desire to be someone.
Joel is somewhat of a loner and has a vivid imagination. He forms
a secret society of one to follow a dog he envisions rising to the sky.
When he does befriend a new boy in town, Ture, the boy turns out
to be a negative influence and puts Joel’s life in danger. In his night
travels Joel discovers the reasons behind the town oddballs and
befriends them. At long last, Joel comes to understand his father’s
budding romance with the person Joel considers the town slut, his
own fantasies, and to a degree why his mother left. The translation
is really very fine. However, the translator is definitely English:
mum for mom, bloody—a very English swear word—and other
phrases as well. There is to be a sequel: Shadows in the Twilight,
due July 2008.
Martha Shogren, Retired
Matthews, L. S. The Outcasts
Fic.
Delacorte, 2004. 259p. $15.99 978-0-385-73367-0,
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90382-0
UNSATISFACTORY
GRADES 6-7
February, 2008
book, I was surprised that it was not cited in the further reading
section of the endnotes. This war story starts with a young fellow
who does not have a clue about war and armies. He joins the
Chicago Zouaves, a regiment famous for their drilling prowess and
unusual uniforms. He then learns about drilling, discomfort,
extreme injustice, and death. He gets wounded, survives, and
becomes lame. The book dismisses the horrible memories and
permanent injury in a few sentences. The book has a reasonably
good glossary. It also has an incomplete further readings list.
Though the story is an accessible length for reluctant readers and
would fit the 4th grade historical fiction assignments, it is clearly
unsatisfactory.
Odette Batis, Richmond PL
Mitchell, Stephen (Retell.). The Ugly Duckling
Fic.
Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, Illus.
Candlewick, 2008. [40]p. $16.00 978-0-7636-2159-9
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-5
Mitchell’s retelling of Andersen’s classic tale follows well-known
earlier translations from the Danish quite faithfully. The suffering
of the rejected swan and his ultimate triumph and the many
characters who scorn him on his journey are all preserved intact
along with most of Andersen’s dialogue and descriptions. The
oversize format and the very large and lavish paintings that
illustrate birds and animals in an English countryside are striking
but sometimes overwhelm the gentleness and the subtle humor of
the text.
Pauline Hale, Independent
Morgan, Michaela. Bunny Wishes: A Winter’s Tale
Five troubled English school children go on a field trip with their
class and fall into a parallel universe in which they meet with large
mushrooms, dizzying heights, panthers, crocodiles, and the like.
Part of the adventure is learning to be resourceful; the other is
seeing their own futures and thus becoming more responsible.
This well-meaning story, even intriguing in its premise, contains
some nicely descriptive writing but is painfully dull largely
because the plot is flimsy and we care nothing for the characters.
Carolyn Edwards, Turning Pt Educ Services
McGowen, Tom. Jesse Bowman:
A Union Boy’s War Story
Fic.
Historical Fiction Series.
Enslow, 2008. 160p. PLB $27.93 978-0-7660-2929-3
UNSATISFACTORY
GRADES 3-6
What a Boy Saw in the Army: A Story of Sight-seeing and
Adventure in the War for the Union by Jesse Bowman-Young and
Frank Beard was originally published in 1894 as a 404-page tome;
it was republished last year by Kessinger Publishers. Jesse
Bowman-Young also wrote a best-seller on Gettysburg, was a
Methodist pastor, and is listed in Who’s Who. This new book
seems to try to capitalize on his fame. I so easily found the original
Pic. Bk.
Caroline Jayne Church, Illus.
Chicken House/Scholastic, 2007. [28]p. $16.99
978-0-439-91812-1
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-1
Valenteenie and Valentino are happy little bunnies who frolic with
their neighbors through all the seasons, especially winter, “when
your dearest wishes can come true” (page 9). When they post their
wishes on a hollow log, as is the custom, complications ensue, and
the bunnies fear their wishes will go unheard. Of course,
everything turns out just preachy. The underlying messages about
the joy of giving and the value of friendship over possessions are
duly delivered, and the final pages form a greeting that would do
Hallmark proud. As slight as the plot may be, Caroline Jayne
Church’s mixture of collage and cartoon art is truly charming, and
preschoolers through 1st grade will be engaged by this as a readaloud. Overall, this fluffy little tale of neighborly friendship
presents a perfect, Santa-less December.
Susan White, Oakland PL
BayViews
Morgan, Michaela. Clinton Gregory’s Secret
Bruce Whatley, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Abrams, 2008. [32]p. $15.95 978-0-8109-9364-8
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-1
153
Patton, Christopher. Jack Pine
Cybèle Young, Illus.
Non-fic.
Groundwood, 2007. [28]p. $18.95 978-0-88899-780-7
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-5
Clinton Gregory has a very active imagination. His stuffed dragon
and tiger, toy dinosaur, and even his posters and bedspread all
become characters with which he has a very busy play week. The
oil illustrations are charming with dragons and dinosaurs worthy
of classic fairy tales, and a near-sighted toad reminiscent of Arnold
Lobel’s. This is an engaging read-aloud, and children
enthusiastically review the first picture of Clinton’s bedroom
where all Clinton’s ideas are inspired.
Susan White, Oakland PL
Found throughout Eastern Canada, New England, and the Great
Lakes states, the Jack pine is a “nurse tree.” Useless for logging,
short and twisted, it offers shelter for the seedlings of larger trees.
The Jack pine is celebrated here in graceful blank verse and
illustrated with collage and delicate copperplate etchings. This is
a beautifully designed book with evocative text that will likely be
ignored by young readers but will be an intriguing work for
discussion if introduced in a classroom setting.
Pauline Hale, Independent
Neff, Henry H. The Hound of Rowan
Pendziwol, Jean E. Marja’s Skis
Henry H. Neff, Illus.
Fic.
The Tapestry Series.
Random, 2007. 414p. $16.99 978-0-375-83894-1
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-9
Max McDaniels is a remarkable boy. He becomes part of the age
old battle between good and evil when an old Celtic tapestry that
isn’t really there begins to glow. Shortly thereafter, he receives an
invitation to the Rowan Academy. This fancy prep school will
train him to refine the old magic that he has shown signs of having
in his veins. Despite the Irish folklore in the story set in New
England, there are very real similarities to the Harry Potter series.
The author’s illustrations introducing each chapter are just enough
visual stimulation for a page turner of a story.
Odette Batis, Richmond PL
Noyes, Deborah. When I Met the Wolf Girls
August Hall, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Houghton, 2007. [41]p. $17.00 978-0-618-60567-3
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-7
Jirina Marton, Illus.
Fic.
Groundwood, 2007. [32]p. $17.95 978-0-88899-674-9
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-4
Life is difficult for Marja’s hard-working Finnish family in the
Canadian northwoods, and it becomes even harder when her father
is killed in a lumbering accident. He had always assured Marja,
who longed to be bigger and stronger, “When you are strong inside,
you can do anything.” Struggling to survive, the family takes in
boarders, and Marja skis to school where she learns how to speak
English, figure sums, and write letters. On her way home one day,
Marja hears a pile of logs crack the river ice and sees their boarder
Arvo plunge into the frigid water. Recalling her father’s words,
Marja courageously uses her skis to help Arvo escape the freezing
water. The illustrations, rendered in oil pastel, have a fuzzy quality
that fits the Canadian winter setting but may not attract children.
Despite the uneven pacing, the story provides an interesting view
of remote Canadian life and features a brave and resourceful girl.
Linda Perkins, Berkeley PL
Peters, Julie Anne. Grl2grl
Seven-year-old Bulu narrates this picture book for older readers,
telling of the time when the Wolf girls were found in the jungle and
brought to the orphanage in a little town in northwest India. Taken
from the true story of two young girls found living with wolves in
the Indian jungle in the 1920s, this shows how unhappy Kamala
and Amala were at the orphanage and how they snarled at Bulu’s
attempts to make friends with them. One sister died within the
year, and the other died about 10 years later, but they never became
comfortable with their new surroundings, and they never spoke or
smiled, always missing their previous life and family. An author’s
note at the end of the book tells the true story of the “wolf girls,”
with a photograph and a tiny list of sources. The acrylic
illustrations, mostly in somber greens and browns, are unevenly
done with faces being inconsistent. Bulu’s story may be most
interesting to adults. The format of the book does not seem to fit
the story. This book may serve to get older children interested in
further researching feral children, but it is likely to be a shelf-sitter.
Armin Arethna, Berkeley PL
Fic.
Little, 2007. 151p. PB $11.99 978-0-316-01343-7
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 9-12
Julie Anne Peters has written a wonderful book of short stories
about a variety of young women dealing with a variety of topics
including abuse, coming out, gender identity, and simple young
love. The stories range in length, but all cover a great depth with
simple glimpses into the mind of teenaged girls. It’s hard to
imagine a young woman, especially a young lesbian woman, that
wouldn’t relate to something in the book. Sweet, honest, and
sometimes brutal, this exploration of young emotions is well
written and emotionally satisfying.
Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland PL
154
Pressler, Mirjam. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie ‡
Erik J. Macki, Translator.
Fic.
Front Street, 2007. 207p. $16.95 978-1-932425-84-0
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 8-12
Johanna’s grandfather built up the largest clothing store in Munich
and amassed a vast fortune with his own hands—so the legend
goes. Johanna makes a trip to Israel with her journalism class.
This year, as their contribution to the school annual, they are going
to interview eight Jewish women who were once students at the
very prestigious school Johanna attends. When she meets Meta
Levin, whose family once owned the store, Johanna’s comfortable
world comes crashing down around her. She must find out if what
she has heard is true. She enters into mighty clashes with her
father, especially when her grandfather commits suicide and her
father, the only heir, inherits everything. Her mother cautions her
to “let sleeping dogs lie,” but she cannot. As a background to the
story, there is much about the Nazis and their distribution of Jewish
property to loyal Nazi officers as well as treatment of the Jews.
Johanna’s turmoil concerns just that—her grandfather was one
who benefited greatly from this largesse and, as her father points
out, so has she. What should she do? How can she accept a life
built on such cruel injustice? Her concerns are palpable. You can
empathize with her, but what about her family—there is empathy
for them as well. How can she make amends to Mrs. Levin? In an
excellent translation, this offers a different examination of events
in Germany before and after the Holocaust.
Martha Shogren, Retired
Prevost, Guillaume. Book of Time
Fic.
William Rodarmor, Translator.
The Book of Time Trilogy Series.
A. Levine/Scholastic, 2007. 218p. $16.99
978-0-439-88375-7
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-7
After his father goes missing, Sam finds a mysterious stone
pedestal in the basement of his dad’s bookshop. By fitting a coin
into a slot on the pedestal Sam is transported through time to a
World War I battlefield, a village of monks about to be pillaged by
Vikings in Nova Scotia, and a tomb in ancient Egypt. Sam
eventually figures out that his father is being held captive in
Dracula’s castle but is unsure how to find his way through time to
get there as the pedestals appear to be governed partly by thought.
The adventures that Sam has at various places in time, in addition
to being overly convenient (Hey, there’s a coin right over there that
will help me leap through time again!), seem to be completely
random and unrelated. Originally published in France, this is the
first tome in a trilogy, so the possibility still exists that these events
may all come together in the forthcoming installments. The most
interesting development doesn’t come until the very last page as
Sam finds a desperate message from his father in a photograph
from a library book, but the rest is pretty typical and lacking in any
February, 2008
real excitement. Young fans of time travel fiction may find
something worthy of their attention here, but others will likely find
themselves waiting for things to get interesting.
Eric Barbus, San Francisco PL
Rinaldi, Ann. Come Juneteenth: A Novel
Fic.
Harcourt, 2007. 246p. $17.00 978-015-205947-7
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-11
Thirteen-year-old Luli and Sis Goose, 16, have been raised like
sisters even though, officially Sis Goose is a slave owned by Luli’s
Aunt Sophie. Set in Texas at the end of the Civil War, this is a story
about Texas slave-holding families and how they delayed for over
two years announcing the Emanicipation Proclamation to their
slaves and letting them know they were free because they feared an
uprising and a loss of labor on their large, productive lands. June
19, 1865, the date they were finally forced to announce the end of
slavery, is celebrated as Juneteenth. Through Luli’s eyes
primarily, it is also a story of her brother Gabe’s love for Sis Goose
and the tragedy that the family’s failure to tell the truth brings to
the entire family. It would be a good book to open a discussion
about this unfortunate event in our history. An author’s note and
a bibliography of fairly recent historical publications do little to
explain exactly where the author researched the background for
her story.
Cathy Francioch, Oakland PL
Rinck, Maranke. The Sweetest Kiss
Pic. Bk.
Martijn Van Der Linden, Illus.
Lemniscaat/Boyds Mills, 2007. 32p. $16.95
978-1-59078-519-5
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-5
When a crystal ball informs a frog prince that he must choose his
princess, he decides to meet all candidates and choose the one who
is the sweetest. The reader meets an outlandishly dressed animal
suitor in each double-page spread and learns her insecurities about
being the chosen princess. The language choices make this a very
odd, if not difficult, read. However, the art and clothing choices for
the animals are nothing less than stellar. The ending thankfully
puts some sense to it all but may still turn off a child not looking
for a unique twist. While certainly not for everyone, some readers
will revel in its magical curiosity. Derrick DeMay, Oakland PL
Robinson, Sharon. Slam Dunk!
Fic.
Scholastic, 2007. 151p. $16.99 978-0-439-67199-6
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-6
Eleven-year-old Elijah, also known as Jumper, adjusts to life at his
new school, plays basketball, and runs for student council in this
sweet sequel to Safe at Home. Author Robinson tells Jumper’s
story with long sections of dialogue and broad strokes of character
BayViews
development, making this a good choice for reluctant readers. She
also creates a world where people get along nobly and easily. The
problems the kids experience, both with each other and in their
families, are painlessly resolved through sage advice from wise
elders or by lucky circumstance. Instead of focusing on conflict
between the characters, Robinson teaches the values of good
sportsmanship and playing as a team. In spite of its obvious
lessons, Slam Dunk! is a pleasing story of sports and school,
offering recognizable characters and situations.
Karen Roy, Richmond PL
Ross, Kathy. Fairy World Crafts
Nicole In den Bosch, Illus.
Non-fic.
All-Girls Crafts Series.
Millbrook, 2008. 48p. PLB $25.26 978-0-8225-7509-2,
PB $7.95 978-0-8225-9024-8
ADDITIONAL
GRADES K-4
Over twenty different craft projects are detailed in this easy-tofollow book. Projects include several costume items, including a
fairy skirt that could double as a hula skirt, wings, and magic
wands. There are also decorations, such as a fairy refrigerator
magnet, and items for play including a fairy house made from an
oatmeal box, and doll clothes. Nearly all of the projects use
materials found around the house, and a few will need an adult’s
help, but many can be made by a primary grader. The step-by-step
instructions and watercolor and ink illustrations clearly show how
to make each project. Girl Scout leaders or other recreation leaders
who work with girls may find this useful, or those looking for
things to do at a slumber party or a fairy-themed birthday party may
want to use some of the ideas.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Rubin, Susan Goldman. Delicious:
The Life and Art of Wayne Thiebaud
Non-fic.
Chronicle, 2007. 108p. $15.95 978-0-8118-5168-8
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-8
Imaginative book design and many well-chosen color
reproductions provide a fine introduction to the work of this wellknown California artist. Although there is some biographical
information, the emphasis is on the artist’s work and his evolution
as a painter. While looking at a painting on the facing page, the
reader learns about the technique, the style, and the ideas in the
work. Younger children will enjoy browsing through the pages—
each a different color—and will like the famous paintings of
cupcakes and gumball machines. Older readers, especially art
students, will also appreciate the portraits and abstract landscapes
of Bay Area scenes by an artist, at 87, still growing. Extensive
bibliography.
Pauline Hale, Independent
155
Rushby, Pamela. Discovering SuperCroc
Photos.
Non-fic.
National Geographic Science Chapters Series.
National Geographic, 2007. 40p. PLB $17.90
978-1-4263-0186-5
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 3-5
National Geographic continues this great series with an eyepopping excursion into the past when SuperCroc, a gigantic
crocodile, roamed the Earth. The reader follows paleontologist
Paul Sereno to the Sahara Desert as he uncovers the fossilized
remains of a crocodile ancestor that appears to have been twice as
large as the largest croc living today. Nearly every page in this
small format book has a sharp color photograph or diagram which
greatly helps the reader understand and imagine this beast of the
past. The writing is both clear and conversational, and combined
with the fascinating subject matter, it will draw all kinds of
dinosaur and scary monster lovers. Not only will developing
readers learn a plethora of new science terms, but they will have a
fun romp through the croc-infested swamps of the past.
Denise Schmidt, San Francisco PL
Savage, Jeff. David Beckham
Photos.
Non-fic.
Amazing Athletes Series.
Lerner, 2007. 32p. PLB $23.93 978-0-8225-8834-4
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-4
A very brief but fairly up-to-date biography of David Beckham is
filled with photos, a busy and colorful layout, language that gushes
with admiration, and a large font type for early or struggling
readers. What it does not contain is enough information for
students wanting to write a report on Beckham or those wanting to
learn more about soccer. There are numerous quotes, none of them
attributed, a list of Beckham’s career highlights, a glossary, and a
very short index. A list of further readings and websites is not very
helpful. It lists only three juvenile print titles about Beckham and
three websites. Two of the websites are official team websites
geared toward selling tickets and sports paraphernalia to adults.
The third, Sports Illustrated for Kids, does not list major league
soccer on its home page. A paperback edition, published by First
Avenue Editions (978-0-8225-8975-4, $6.95), will be available in
February 2008.
Helen Bloch, Oakland PL
Schubert, Ingrid. Like People
Dieter Schubert, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Lemniscaat/Boyds Mills, 2008. [32]p. $16.95
978-1-590-78576-8
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-K
The Schubert husband and wife team have crafted a well laid out
storybook overview of the similarities between parents and their
offspring, regardless of species. The detailed illustrations depict
156
a wide variety of animals and their offspring (horses, manatees,
lions, kangaroos, rats, etc.) in many different stages of
development and all behaving very friendly around one another.
Starting with “Animal parents are everywhere,” the text and
illustrations proceed through the full cycle of courtship, housing,
birth, feeding, bathing, adoption, learning and teaching, playing,
and finally growing up to begin the whole cycle over again. Its
simplistic facts of life may be appreciated by some parents for oneon-one sharing, but many pages need further explanation, and the
small illustrations make for problematic group reading
Joshua Rees, Daly City PL
Shanahan, Lisa. The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious
Year I Truly, Completely Lost It ‡
Fic.
Delacorte/Random, 2007. 297p. $15.99 978-0-385-73516-2,
PLB $18.99 978-0-385-90505-3
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 7-9
In this humorous, charming, and truthful book, 14-year-old
Gemma Stone hates calling attention to herself in any way. Unlike
some of her other family members whose tantrums or “birketts”
have a way of appearing regularly, Gemma has actually vomited
at the pressure of speaking publicly. Change is afoot however,
when she tries out for this year’s school play, The Tempest; she is
attracted to two very different boys; and her sister becomes
engaged to a man with an unusual family. Gemma is an
enormously appealing, fully realized character whose growth
throughout the hilarious but poignant narrative is authentically and
humorously detailed. Other characters, even minor ones, are
treated respectfully; the depiction of their human foibles makes
them more than simple stereotypes. The Shakespearean backdrop
allows the author to more fully explore issues of class, character,
and forgiveness in a light-handed, nondidactic manner. Originally
published in Australia as My Big Birkett (Allen & Unwin, 2006),
this is Shanahan’s first try at writing for young adults. The bubblegum pink color scheme, girly cover picture, and new title created
by Delacorte are misleading. Although funny and very enjoyable
to read, this a well-written story with both strong narrative and
character arcs.
Helen Bloch, Oakland PL
Stevens, April. Waking Up Wendell
Tad Hills, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Schwartz & Wade/Random, 2007. [32]p. $15.99
978-0-375-83621-3, PLB $18.99 978-0-375-93893-1
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-2
A sequence of noises awakens the porcine inhabitants of Fish
Street, beginning with a little bird at #1, whose “Tweet-tweet-tata-ta-tweeeet….” arouses the sleeping Mr. Krudwick at #2, whose
dog Leopold’s barking “Rappity-tappity-tap!” wakes up Mrs.
Musky at #3….and so on through to the final awakening of the
eponymous character in #10, who turns out to be a baby pig. The
anthropomorphized characters are delightfully portrayed in Tad
February, 2008
Hills’ cheerful, brightly colored pencil and oil paint illustrations,
and the sequential story provides a playful counting opportunity.
Children may also enjoy repeating the onomatopoetic noises
which are rendered in large hand-written letters across the doublepage spreads.
Jane Courant, Oakland PL
Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious
Benedict Society
Carson Ellis, Illus.
Fic.
Little, 2007. $16.99 978-0-316-05777-6,
PLB $6.99 978-0-316-00395-7
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 6-8
“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” Many
children answer this advertisement, but only four—Reynie,
Sticky, Kate, and Constance—are selected. They are sent to
Mormansen Island to thwart the plot of an evil man to take over the
world.” Reynie is well characterized, but the other three
(especially Constance) are not as fully realized. Readers will not
mind; although some of the characters grow during the book, the
book’s strength is its over-the-top plot and how the characters
work together to save the world. Stewart’s clever wordplay and the
puzzles he leaves for the reader to solve will add interest, as will
Ellis’s sketches at the beginning of each chapter.
Allison Angell, Benicia PL
Suen, Anastasia. Wired
Paul Carrick, Illus.
Non-fic.
Charlesbridge, 2007. 32p. PLB $16.95 978-1-570-91599-4,
PB $6.95 978-0-570-91494-2
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-5
Suen attempts to explain how electricity travels from the
hydroelectric plant to your house and mine, and she almost
succeeds. Each large two-page spread has a great mixed media
illustration by Carrick and one to four paragraphs of explanatory
text. Suen uses simple language to explain how water turns large
turbines to create electricity, how the electricity is “stepped up”
and “stepped down” at substations and travels on wires into our
homes. She explains many great facts about how many megawatts
travel in the lines and how the wiring in houses is laid out.
However, since the text is relatively brief and the artwork does not
always clearly demonstrate how actions occur, this science reader
was left confused on a variety of points and had to use the Internet
to figure out how electricity actually IS stepped up, what a switch
looks like inside, and how completed circuits run through houses.
This book is a good first start on introducing household electricity
but may spark more questions than it answers.
Denise Schmidt, San Francisco PL
BayViews
Thach, James Otis. A Child’s Guide to Common
Household Monsters
David Udovic, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Front Street, 2007. [32]p. $16.95 978-1-932425-58-1
ADDITIONAL
GRADES PRE-1
In the tradtion of Robert Crowe’s Clyde Monster (Dutton, 1976),
in which the parents of a young monster help him deal with his
bedtime fear of humans, Thach’s latest story similarly helps dispel
a child’s bedtime fears. The child here finds that the monster she
fears under her bed is hiding there because it is afraid of the
monster in the closet. Thach uses rhymed verses to tell his tale of
fearful monsters all over the house culminating in the sixth—a
monster in the basement who is afraid of the child. Surely children
seldom consider that a monster might fear them; this silly notion
will go a long way to dispel their fears of monsters and other
unknowns. Udovic’s realistic pastels carry the story well, showing
monsters that are more giggle-provoking than frightful.
Lucy Meinhardt, Independent
Thomas, Peggy. Farmer George Plants a Nation
Layne Johnson, Illus.
Non-fic.
Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills, 2008. 40p. $17.95
978-1-59078-460-0
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-6
While there are many books about George Washington for
children, this is the only one that focuses entirely on his life as a
farmer. Not only was he interested in all kinds of crops for eating
and utilitarian uses, he tinkered with fertilizers, plows, barns—all
with the idea of efficiency and increasing yields. While he was
perfecting his farm, he was a general and later a president. There
are many quotes throughout that reflect his love of the land and his
country. The illustrations are oils on canvas. The artist spent a
great deal of time at Mount Vernon where all George’s planting
took place and used it as the backdrop for the numerous paintings.
Martha Shogren, Retired
Urban, Linda. A Crooked Kind of Perfect ‡
Fic.
Harcourt, 2007. 214p. $16.00 978-0-15-206007-7
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 4-7
Urban’s first novel has an engaging plot, interesting characters,
and child appeal that makes for a great classroom readaloud or
book discussion choice. Fifth-grader Zoe longs for a piano, but her
father buys her an organ instead— only an accordion could be
worse. After a few lessons, she is entered in the Perform-O-Rama
with other students of the organ. Her workaholic Mom and
agoraphobic stay-at-home dad are well-developed alternatives to
the cardboard-character parents too often depicted in fiction for
middle graders. Because Zoe’s best friend is a quirky boy named
Wheeler, this should appeal to both boys and girls, and the tensionfilled ending at the music competition is a page-turner.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
157
Urbigkit, Cat. The Shepherd’s Trail
Cat Urbigkit, Photographer. Non-fic.
Boyds Mills, 2008. 32p. $16.95 978-1-590-78509-6
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 2-5
Urbigkit’s third book on sheep herding covers some of the same
ground as the earlier books (A Young Shepherd, Boyds Mills, 2006,
and Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep, Boyds
Mills, 2005). In this new title, the focus is on the shepherds, who
live a quiet, solitary life. Many are immigrants from Mexico,
Nepal, Mongolia or are Native American. Some of the factual
information on lambs, like the docking of their tails, was covered
in the earlier books. All of Urbigkit’s books have strikingly
beautiful color photographs of the animals and people on the range,
from the harsh winters to the busy shearing season. A map
concludes the book, showing the Western United States where the
sheep grazing takes place. Buy only if there is demand for this
topic, especially if you have either of the two earlier books.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Van Wassenhove, Sue. The Seldom-Ever-Shady
Glades
Sue Van Wassenhove, Illus. Non-fic.
Wordsong/Boyds Mills, 2008. [32]p. $17.95
978-1-59078-352-8
LOW ADDITIONAL
ADULT
First-time author Van Wassenhove uses poetry and quilting to
present a variety of birds of wildlife in the Everglades, mostly
birds. Unfortunately, the keen observation that shines through
both text and art is not matched by child appeal. The poetry is
uneven and uses a vocabulary more suited to adults than children,
e.g. The profile of the skimmer proves he’s mandibly strong…”
and “Depleted hoards in winter grow to swarms in June heat/
Bloodthirsty as the panther with a bite more discreet.” The first
poem continues for 4 pages; others are shorter but no more
communicative. Some birds are identified briefly, others not at all.
The quilts are certainly impressive, but more so to adults, one
expects. The multiplicity of patterns and colors that make up the
pieces of a quilt here distract from the overall presentation, so that
the image of many of the birds depicted is overly complicated. The
publisher suggests an age range of 8 to 12, but one wonders how
many children of this age will pick up this book which focuses on
a very specific environment in a presentation that seems geared to
younger readers.
Elizabeth Overmyer, Retired
Various. Cowboy Stories
Barry Moser, Illus.
Fic.
Chronicle, 2007. 181p. $16.95 978-0-8118-5418-4
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 8-12
Twenty well-chosen stories transport readers to the Wild West of
the American cowboy. An essay published in 1929 on the
usefulness of the bandana, a light story about a good-hearted man
158
who accidently becomes part of a notorious outlaw gang, and
Elmore Leonard’s story of Wild West law “Three-ten to Yuma”
are all at home in this strong collection. Collectively, the twenty
stories from both men and women of different time periods create
a complex portrait of the American cowboy and a vivid rendering
of the setting and mood. Each story succeeds individually as well,
thanks to the solid writing of this lineup, which includes writers
such as Annie Proulx, Louis L’Amour, and Stephen Crane. Barry
Moser’s high contrast engravings add the perfect atmospheric
touch, and like the cowboys themselves, his serious illustrations
are tough, rugged, and unflinching. Needless to say, fans of
westerns will find much to enjoy here. Those new to the genre will
be hooked by these well-crafted stories of gunslingers, tricky folk,
and brave individuals. An introduction by Peter Glassman
intelligently explores the cowboy icon in relation to other
legendary figures Robin Hood and King Arthur’s knights. Lyrics
to the classic song “Home on the Range” close this volume on just
the right note.
Sugene Yang-Kelly, Berkeley PL
Wallace, Rich. One Good Punch ‡
Fic.
Knopf, 2007. 114p. $15.99 978-0-375-81352-8,
PLB $18.99 978-0-375-91352-5
OUTSTANDING
GRADES 7-12
With a winning track season ahead, Michael Kerrigan, 18, writer
of obits for the Scranton Observer and a budding journalist, faces
a life changing decision when four joints are found in his school
locker. The tightly constructed novel presents a real moral
dilemma for Michael. He’s a likeable young man who honors his
friendships. He seeks help, getting conflicting advice, but
ultimately makes up his own mind. The characters are well
rounded; for example, his childhood pal’s father, a drunkard and
supposed child beater, has a good reason for his drinking, is not a
molester, and talks sensibly to Michael about life. As the dust
jacket aptly states, “Vivid, spare prose and action-packed scenes…
take the reader on an exhilarating run through the streets of
Scranton and into the mind of a teen torn between loyalty and
ambition, honesty and a determination to win.” A hopeful ending
caps the story of Michael’s struggle.
Sherrill Kumler, Retired
Wiles, Deborah. The Aurora County All-Stars
Fic.
Harcourt, 2007. 242p. $16.00 978-0-15-206068-8
HIGH ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-7
House Jackson is the star pitcher for the local baseball team, but he
broke his arm last year. Will he be able to pitch again? And will
the annual Fourth of July game be canceled because of the town’s
anniversary pageant scheduled on the same day? Wiles brings a
distinctive Southern flavor to her stories and characters,
previously seen in Each Little Bird That Sings (Harcourt, 2006)
and Love, Ruby Lavender (Harcourt, 2001). For example, the
bulldog is named Eudora Welty, and there are kids named Honey,
February, 2008
Cleebo, and Finesse. Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is a running
theme of the book, as are quotations from old baseball players like
Sandy Koufax. Wiles creates a very believable male main
character, and this will be great as a classroom read-aloud or for a
book discussion group.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Wingard-Nelson, Rebecca. Division and
Multiplication
Non-fic.
Math Busters Series.
Enslow, 2008. 64p. PLB $27.93 978-0-7660-2876-0
ADDITIONAL
GRADES 4-8
Were you absent the day they taught division or multiplication?
Then you may find this book very helpful. This handy book clearly
explains how to do these common math problems. The graphs and
charts visually depict many of the concepts, and the scattered
cartoon art adds interest. Topics covered include estimating,
rounding off, the distributive property, remainders, word
problems, decimals and fractions, improper fractions, and
integers. The “Math Busters” series is aimed at middle and high
school students, based on the cover photos, but the instructions are
easy to follow. Even some adults will find this useful. There is an
index, and two books and three websites listed for further reading.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Withrow, Sarah. Be a Baby
Manuel Monroy, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Groundwood, 2007. [32]p. $17.95 978-0-88899-776-0
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES TOD-PRE
Simple and sweet, this illustrated lullaby by a Canadian author is
reminiscent of older picture books from the 1950s and 1960s with
its wonderful gouache illustrations of a baby playfully exploring
its environment throughout the day. Unfortunately, the
illustrations and text do not always fully match (“be a big-vroom
motorbike,” but there are no vehicles on the page) and the text on
other pages may be beyond listeners (“but if you rain on me, please,
then be a soft warm breeze”). This gentle read may sooth young
toddlers but may confuse preschoolers trying to understand the
illustration and text combinations.
Joshua Rees, Daly City PL
Worth, Richard. Puerto Rico in American History
Photos.
Non-fic.
From Many Cultures, One History Series.
Enslow, 2008. 128p. PLB $31.93 978-0-7660-2836-4
LOW ADDITIONAL
GRADES 5-8
If a student needed to write a report on the history of Puerto Rico,
this could serve as an uninspired supplementary source, but it will
not be useful for a state or country report since it doesn’t include
information about the people, religion, money, geography, and so
forth. The book begins with a recounting of the “Revolt at Lares”
BayViews
159
in 1868, then jumps back to the visit by Columbus and his
interaction with the Taino Indians. It goes on to explain how
Puerto Rico eventually became a commonwealth of the United
States, but the narrative is boring and written in simple sentences
so it sounds choppy. There are color and b/w photos every other
page, and backmatter includes an index, timeline, glossary, and
chapter notes.
Penny Peck, San Leandro PL
Yi, Hu Yong. Good Morning China ‡
Hu Yong Yi, Illus.
Pic. Bk.
Roaring Brook, 2007. [32]p. $16.95 978-1-59643-240-6
OUTSTANDING
GRADES PRE-1
“Seven o’clock in the morning,” begins this captivating ode to an
array of early morning activities in a Chinese park. The clean
elegance of the simple text—“Someone is resting by the lotus
pond….others are exercising….a couple are pushing
hands….three are stretching”—is matched by the charm of the
richly colored illustrations that are at once stylized and lifelike.
Hong Kong artist Hu Yong Yi’s warm gold, red and brown hues,
together with her physically expressive figures, simplified to
suggest childlike bodies even in the depicted adults, contribute to
the visual appeal. A final, foldout spread—skillfully designed to
survive repeated openings—offers a panorama of the entire
community as viewed in the prior individual groupings.
Jane Courant, Oakland PL
Index
Airman 147
Apart 151
Aurora County All-Stars 158
Be a Baby 158
Book of Time 154
Bridge to the Stars 152
Bunny Wishes: A Winter’s Tale 152
Castaways ‡ 150
Child’s Guide to Common Household Monsters 157
Clinton Gregory’s Secret 153
Come Juneteenth: A Novel 154
Cowboy Stories 158
Crooked Kind of Perfect ‡ 157
David Beckham 155
Delicious: The Life and Art of Wayne Thiebaud 155
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 149
Discovering SuperCroc 155
Division and Multiplication 158
Drive 146
Easy Bead Crafts in 5 Steps 151
Fairy World Crafts 155
Farmer George Plants a Nation 157
Flappers and the New American Woman: Perceptions .. 148
George Washington Carver 144
Girl Overboard ‡ 149
Golden Dreydl 150
Good Morning China ‡ 159
Grk and the Pelotti Gang 147
Grl2grl 153
Hanukkah Moon 147
Hello, Bumblebee Bat 151
Hound of Rowan 153
If a Tree Falls atLunch Period 146
Jack Pine 153
Jesse Bowman: A Union Boy’s War Story 152
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie ‡ 154
Like People 155
Lin, Grace. The 150
Lucky Jake 143
Magic Rabbit ‡ 146
Magical Kids: The Strongest Girl in the World .. 148
Marja’s Skis 153
Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle 151
Muckrakers: How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, .. 144
Mysterious Benedict Society 156
Naomiand Ely’s No Kiss List 146
Necks Out for Adventure 147
One Butt Cheek at a Time: Gert Garibaldi’s .. 149
One Good Punch ‡ 158
Ookpik: The Travels of a Snowy Owl 149
Out of Line: Growing Up Soviet 148
Outcasts 152
Pink 148
Puerto Rico in American History 158
Raleigh’s Page 143
Sally Gets a Job 149
Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades 157
Shepherd’s Trail 157
Slam Dunk! 154
Sweet Far Thing ‡ 145
Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, .. 156
Sweetest Kiss 154
Town Boy ‡ 150
Train Jumper 145
Turtle GirlJim Postier, Illus. 147
Ugly Duckling 152
Vasco, Leader of the Tribe 145
Waking Up Wendell 156
What I Meant 150
What Is the Moon? 145
What’s So Bad About Beingan Only Child? 144
When I Met the Wolf Girls 153
When Randolph Turned Rotten 148
Wired 156
Wizard Heir 146
160
February, 2008
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February, 2008
February 2008 vol 16 no.1
BayViews
163
BayNews
Articles and features of interest to children’s librarians
The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California
✍
NEWS & NOTES
Mark Your
Calendar
Upcoming Events for Children’s Librarians
BayNews Needs You!
BayNews welcomes any articles, news, ideas on storytime, or
programs, etc. Just send any articles as a Word attachment to
Penny Peck at [email protected].
Sat., Feb. 23, 2008
Performers’ Showcase
9 a.m.
Fremont Main Library
Fri., Mar. 14, 2008
ACL Meeting
9 a.m.
Berkeley Public Library
Fri., Apr. 25, 2008
ACL Institute
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
San Francisco Public Library
Tillie Olson Documentary
On February 18 at 7 p.m., there will be a showing of the
documentary Tillie Olson, a local author. It will be shown at the
California Theater in Berkeley; tickets will be sold at the box
office.
Otter Awards Dinner
The Northern California Children’s Booksellers Association
annual Otter Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, March 22.
Guest speakers include Professor Stephen Krashen, author of The
Power of Reading, picture book author-illustrator Mark Teague,
and author Ying Chang Compestine. For tickets, contact your
local independent bookseller.
Contributions Welcome
Send all contributions for BayNews to Penny
Peck, San Leandro Public Library, 300 Estudillo
Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577. If you have a
suggestion, a letter to the editor, an interesting
article of interest to ACL members or children’s
librarians, contact Penny. Be a participant, earn
a byline, read about yourself and your colleagues
right here each month.
American Indian Youth Literature
The American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate
of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the recipients of its American Indian Youth Literature
Award. This new literary award was created as a way to identify
and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about
American Indians. Books selected to receive the award present
Native Americans in the fullness of their humanity in present and
past contexts.
163
164
Picture Book
Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and
Freedom by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridge. Cinco
Puntos Press, 2006. A beautifully inspired story of a friendship
between Martha Tom, a Choctaw girl and Li’ Mo, a slave boy and
how their relationship brought wholeness and freedom to Mo’s
family and also to many slaves. Bridge’s illustrations enhance the
story of the joy of friendship, the light of faith, and the leadership
of children.
Middle School
Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation
and Beyond, by Joseph Medicine Crow. National Geographic,
2006. This appealing autobiography of Dr. Joseph Medicine
Crow (Absarokee) is a winner with young and old. The author
recounts his adventures and training as a traditional Crow warrior
and his service as a decorated WW II veteran. Walk, run, and ride
with him to learn first-hand about real life on the Crow reservation
before, during, and after encounters with newcomers. In a text that
is not preachy, Joseph Medicine Crow tells how he overcame many
challenges to fulfill his role as Chief of the Crow Nation.
Young Adult
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman
Alexie, Little Brown Publishers, 2007. A realistic, bittersweet yet
humorous look at the life of Arnold, a Spokane Indian teenager
making his way in life on the reservation while attending an allwhite high school. Alexie brings to life the challenges many
young native people experience as they learn to navigate and
balance Indian life in a modern non-Indian world. Part autobiography, Alexie’s Arnold reminds us of the complexities of coming
of age, bigotry, bullies, loyalty to family, and the meaning of love.
In the near future, an American Indian Youth Literature Award,
free downloadable bookmark and brochure will be made available
on the AILA website at www.nativeculturelinks.com/aila.html.
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
February, 2008
Preschool
Storytime Ideas
by Penny Peck
San Leandro Public Library
Last month, BayNews began listing suggestions for storytimes
to go along with the “Catch the Reading Bug” summer reading
theme. Of course, you can (and should) expand the theme to
include other topics besides insects. To me, it naturally lends
itself to all types of science and environmental themes, including
habitats, recycling, nature, etc. Those titles marked T will be
suitable for a toddler storytime as well as the traditional preschool
storytime.
Butterflies
Many of us read Eric Carle’s THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR on a regular basis for storytime. Use that as the foundation
of a whole storytime on butterflies. For a craft, one of the simplest
projects is a butterfly made from a coffee filter. Use watercolor
paints to decorate the coffee filter (the filter paper causes the paint
to run and looks beautiful). Then, use a pipe cleaner to a cinch the
coffee filter in the middle to form the wings and curl the ends of
the pipe cleaner to form antennae.
Carle, Eric. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.
Listeners will chant the days of the week, the food items, and
the repeated “but he was still hungry!” when reading this
storytime classic. T
Swope, Sam. GOTTA GO! GOTTA GO!
A little caterpillar knows she needs to get to Mexico but
doesn’t know that is she is going to become a Monarch
butterfly.
Brawley, Helen. PERCIVAL THE PLAIN LITTLE
CATERPILLAR.
A book about colors that has a great story about how a
caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
Penn State University announced the 2008 recipients of the
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award. The winner was
BIRMINGHAM, 1963 by Carole Boston Weatherford (Wordsong/
Boyds Mills Press).
Millbourne, Anna. THE BUTTERFLY.
Lovely soft watercolors illustrate this very simple look at a
butterfly’s life cycle.
Honor Books
Edwards, Pamela Duncan. CLARA CATERPILLAR.
An ususual story about a cream-colored, plain butterfly who
finds out she is just as good as the colorful butterflies.
BLUE LIPSTICK: CONCRETE POEMS by John Grandits
(Clarion Books), and THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF
APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS by Joyce Sidman (Hougton
Mifflin).
Kroll, Virginia. BUTTERFLY BOY.
Set in Mexico, a boy and his grandfather look for butterflies.
Horacek, Petr. BUTTERFLY, BUTTERFLY.
Lucy’s garden is full of various insects, including butterflies.
BayViews
Tarbett, Debbie. TEN WRIGGLY, WIGGLY CATERPILLARS.
Pop-ups and 3-D elements highlight this counting book. T
Ants
Be sure to sing “The Ants Go Marching” at the start and at the
end of this storytime! For a craft project, you could make an egg
carton ant, as seen at http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/
mant.htm or make a 4th of July ant centerpiece, seen at http://
www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/kids-crafts/
ant-picnic-centerpiece.html for a more elaborate craft project.
Climo, Shirley. THE LITTLE RED ANT AND THE GREAT BIG
CRUMB.
In this Mexican fable, an ant thinks he needs help lifting a
crumb of cake, so he asks various animals to assist him.
Nickle, John. THE ANT BULLY.
After squirting ants with his water gun, Lucas shrinks to the
size of an ant to feel what it is like to be bullied. This book was
made into an animated film in 2006.
Wells, Rosemary. MAX’S ABC.
Escaping from the ant farm, Max’s ants crawl over everything
in this alphabet book. T
Heap, Sue. ANTS IN YOUR PANTS.
In this rhyming counting book with flaps, ants in pants end the
simple story. T
Pinczes, Elinor. ONE HUNDRED HUNGRY ANTS.
While marching to a picnic, the 100 ants form different groups
to show readers how to count by tens, or twenties, etc.
Edwards, Pamela Duncan. THE WACKY WEDDING: A BOOK
OF ALPHABET ANTICS.
At the wedding of two ants, various animals in attendance
experience several accidents at the reception.
Mizumura, Kazue. THE WAY OF AN ANT.
An ant tries to climb a hill as high as the sky.
Poole, Amy. THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER.
This retelling of Aesop’s fable is set in China and tells of a
hard-working group of ants who prepare for the winter, while
Grasshopper does nothing to get ready.
McDonald, Megan. ANT AND HONEY BEE—WHAT A PAIR.
Ant and Bee dress up for a costume party.
Prince, Joshua. I SAW AN ANT ON THE RAILROAD TRACK.
The engineer tries to stop the train before it runs over an ant.
Van Allsburg, Chris. TWO BAD ANTS.
After they venture out on their own, two ants realize they need
to return to the safety of the colony.
165
Bees
Start by singing “I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee”
then move on to some of these great picture books. For a craft,
make the bumblebee paper plate craft located at:
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/bumblebee/plate.htm
Carle, Eric. THE HONEYBEE AND THE ROBBER.
A pop-up book with tabs and other moveable elements about
a bee who defends the hive from a bear out to steal the honey.
T
Ernst, Lisa Campbell. A COLORFUL ADVENTURE OF THE
BEE WHO LEFT HOME ONE MONDAY MORNING.
A concept book about colors. T
McDonald, Megan. ANT AND HONEYBEE—WHAT A PAIR!
The two insects choose costumes for a party with disastrous
results.
Smallman, Steve. THE VERY GREEDY BEE.
Lots of sound effects words are included in this amusing story
of a bee that eats too much nectar. T
High, Linda Oatman. BEEKEEPERS.
A girl helps her grandfather who is a beekeeper.
Yorinks, Arthur. HAPPY BEES.
With great rhymes, we hear about the easy life of the bee. T
Wong, Janet S. BUZZ.
A young boy hears a buzzing bee outside his window one
morning then hears all the other things that buzz like dad’s
shaver, the juicer, the garage door opener, etc. T
Lobel, Arnold. THE ROSE IN MY GARDEN.
A cumulative story about a bee, a snail, and other creatures on
the rose in the garden. T
166
Professional Reading for
Children’s Librarians
Cart, Michael and Jenkins, Christine A. THE HEART
HAS ITS REASONS: YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE WITH
GAY/LESBIAN/QUEER CONTENT, 1969-2004. Scarecrow Press, 2006. $42. ISBN 9780810850712.
Approximately 200 novels for teens feature GLBTQ (gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer) characters; starting in 1969
with John Donovan’s I’ll Get There, It Better Be Worth the Trip.
Although this looks like a reworking of someone’s Ph.D. dissertation, the main text of the book is an intriguing read. Michael Cart
is a great writer; he can make an academic study like this sound like
a conversation. The book includes footnotes, a timeline, an index,
a listing of the books by copyright year, and a chart showing the
narrative role of the gay characters.
The need for a study like this is clear since teens often look to
literature to “see” people like themselves or their friends for
validation. Cart and his co-author Christine Jenkins describe how
most gay characters were tragic (often dead by the end of the book)
in the 1970s, but that happens much less often now. The text of the
book is arranged in chapters by decade, starting with the 1970s,
moving on to 1980s with more gay parent/teacher characters and
the influence of AIDS, then on to the 1990s which the authors refer
to as “Was More Less?” Finally, on to the new century which
featured books with more positive, well-rounded characters.
The 1980s chapter focuses on the landmark book, Nancy
Garden’s Annie on My Mind, which featured non-stereotypical,
positive lesbian characters. It is a book that is a benchmark: a
standard that other characterizations can be measured against.
There are many other books described in detail, which made me
want to find and read those I have not read. But the detailed
descriptions are not too plot-heavy, so they can serve as booktalks
with some modifications.
Cart and Jenkins conclude with an accounting of how many of
the authors of these GLBTQ books have gone on to win the
Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award for Young
Adult Literature. This is just one way of demonstrating that most
of these books are well-written and are likely to stand the test of
time. If you serve on teens and do readers’ advisory, this is a mustread.
—Penny Peck
San Leandro PL
February, 2008
BayViews
167
ACL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, February 8, 2008
Berkeley Public Library
Meeting called to order by President Kathy Shepler at 9:20 a.m.
Morning guest Karen Crow, a library assistant (Stockton Public Library) and student (San Jose State University School of Library
and Information Science), was introduced and welcomed.
Book reviewing was led by Allison Angell until 10:30 a.m. Denise Schmidt led the distinguished books discussion until 10:40 a.m.
Book reviewing reconvened, ending at 11:00 a.m.
Board Meeting called to order by Kathy Shepler at 11:15 a.m.
Corrections to the minutes: Please note the correct spelling of the guest at January’s meeting: Diane de Lara.
Treasurer’s Report: Sherry Kumler reported that there was $11,814.47 in the account.
Committee Reports:
Distinguished Books: The distinguished books round-up was held on January 27 at Penny Peck’s house. It was a wonderful
opportunity to share opinions about books with a group of impassioned readers/reviewers. Denise reported that there are 60 titles on
the 2007 list. A new chair is needed for 2008. Responsibilities include keeping track of distinguished books; organizing the
roundtable; assigning, editing, and compiling annotations; and publishing the final list. The job averages about 1-2 hours/week.
Institute: Laurie Willhalm reported that Linden Tree Bookstore will participate at the Institute. An online registration form is now
available on the ACL website. Laurie will contact library systems who receive Early Learning Family (ELF) support, as registration
fees should be covered under the terms of the grant.
Performers’ Showcase: Elizabeth Overmyer asked for help stuffing packets after the meeting. The timing of the showcase was
discussed. Several members preferred that it be scheduled earlier in February to avoid a crunch in getting out summer reading
materials.
Editorial: New editors are needed because Jane Courant and Nina Lindsay are no longer available. Elizabeth Overmyer agreed to
share editing responsibilities with Erica Siskind. At least one (ideally two) more volunteers are required. It’s an easy way to
contribute to ACL without having work outside the meeting. ºAll it requires is a grammatically-inclined brain and a pencil. Speak to
Erica if you’re interested.
Membership: The printed version of the membership form enclosed in BayViews has some errors. Sherry Kumler will make
corrections.
Nominating: none.
Yahoo/Wiki/Web: Problems with the Wiki appear to be resolved.
Humbug Witch: Looking for teen novels with strong prologues. Recommendations included “The Book Thief,” ‘True Confessions
of Charlotte Doyle,” and the recently reviewed “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.”
Book Reviews: Allison Angell is trying to finish up all 2007 review books. She asked that those with unwritten reviews from 2007
focus on those books likely to receive outstanding or high additional ratings, as well as reviews of books that are of local interest.
Looking ahead, more people are needed to review young adult books. If you are interested, please let Jenny Rockwell know.
168
February, 2008
Announcements
The documentary “Tillie Olson” will play at the California Theater in Berkeley on February 18.
Reading the World will be held at the University of San Francisco on February 15 and 16. http://www.soe.usfca.edu/departments/
ime/rtwconf/conference.html)
News from the Northern California Children’s Booksellers Association: The Association offers $500 grants towards youth literacy
projects. Applications are now available. The Otter Awards Banquet is coming up on March 22, 2008 at San Francisco’s Hotel
Nikko. Steven Krashen, author of “The Power of Reading” will be the featured speaker. For further information on the dinner or
the grants, contact Kathy Shepler ([email protected]).
Book reviewing was led by Allison Angell from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
New distinguished books discussion was led by Denise Schmidt from 12:30 to 12:35 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Jenny Andrus.
Please contact Jenny at [email protected] with questions or comments regarding the minutes.