Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
Little Old Bear and Patsy and the Pup, both written and illustrated by Hilda van Stockum
The first book I read that was written by Hilda van Stockum was called The Winged Watchman. I found a copy in a second hand bookstore in Berkeley, California and immediately bought it for $5.00. Published in 1962, it is a WWII story about the Dutch Resistance and the important part played by the windmills Holland is so famous for and I found it both well written and fascinating.
Hilda van Stockum began writing in 1934, when she published A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic, which was a 1935 Newbery Honor Book. Her last book, The Borrowed House was published in 1975. She hard a long career and was a very prolific writer and, now, Boissevain Books is reissuing some of her books for today's readers to enjoy.
Little Old Bear was also published in 1962. It is the story of a well-worn teddy bear who had lost his eyes and most of his fur and is living in an attic now that his owners have grown up. After the attic is given a good cleaning, the little old bear finds himself in the trash, much to his unhappiness. Thinking he is no longer good for anything, the bear finds himself pulled out of the trash and tossed around by a couple of boys. When they tire of the game they are playing with him, the bear is flung over a wall, and found by a little girl. But she decides he is not fun at her tea party, and once again, bear is tossed over a wall, hitting an old lady walking by on the head.
The lady takes bear home and sits him on the windowsill where he can look out the window and see all the kids playing with their new, fluffy teddy bears. Well, the bear, thinks, at least he has a home now. But then the old lady starts measuring him for a new suit of clothes so he can be donated to the church bazaar. Poor bear is feeling really alone, dejected and unwanted. And to make matters worse, along comes the lady's grandson with a brand new bear. And much to bear's surprise, little Benjamin takes one look at the old bear and decides that is the bear he really wants. Once again, the little bear has a home, a name, Jeremy, and a person who loves him.
This is a very sweet story, and is a perfect read-aloud for kids age 5 and older. I liked how the author shows that the old bear is still capable of bringing happiness to someone, after all its mistreatment and rejection. I did notice that when I read this to a young reader, she pulled her own toy a little closer. Readers who have read and loved The Velveteen Rabbit will certainly take Jeremy into their hearts and love his story just as much.
The black and white line illustrations were all done by the author, and though they are more than 50 years old, they are so classic and will still work for today's young readers.
Patsy and the Pup was originally published in 1950 and has a slightly more dated feel to it than does Little Old Bear, though I don't think that will be a problem for kids because the story is do charming and stand the test of time. Five-year-old Patsy has always wanted a puppy, so when one starts to follow her home, she is sure she will be able to keep it. Well, Mother had a different idea. She thinks the puppy probably belongs to someone else and the mailman recognizes it and says it belongs to Mrs. Murphy. So Patsy is told to return it to her.
But Patsy isn't in much of a hurry to get to Mrs. Murphy's house and neither is the puppy. And so they have some adventures on their way. First, they meet some school children, then the puppy runs across the street, and goes through a drain pipe. Then it chases a kitten into the school, where they cause all kinds of havoc, and the puppy eats the teacher's lunch.
As they finally approach Mrs. Murphy's house, the puppy starts pulling Patsy away from it, and right into the woods, where they get lost until they meet a hunter who helps them find their way out. Puppy still didn't want to go to Mrs. Murphy's, but they finally make it to the front door. Imagine Patsy's joy when she discovers that Mrs. Murphy doesn't want the puppy back. Now, to convince Mother that she is really able to take care of a dog. But, Mother thinks that Patsy has already proven herself and she is allowed to keep the puppy, which she promptly names Honey.
This is also a nice read-aloud for kids age 5 and over, but today's kids may be a little surprised that Patsy is allowed to wander around the neighborhood by herself. I could do that when I was young, but by the time my Kiddo came along, kids that young were rarely out alone. I don't think this will be a real problem, especially since the theme of wanting a puppy and being able to take care of it is what's important in the story. Most kids want a pet at some point and this is a good story to share with them while talking to them about being responsible.
Hilda Van Stockum shows how hard it can be to take care of a rambunctious puppy, but eventually Patsy gets the hang of it. Patsy and Honey's adventures are all illustrated with black and white line drawings done by the author. And I have read that Patsy and the Pup was based on van Stockum's daughter and her puppy, giving it its realistic quality.
I enjoyed reading both of these books and so did the kids I shared them with.
These books are recommended for readers age 5+
These books were sent to me by the publisher, Boissevain Books
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Julianna Swaney
Later, when Yasmin returns her book, she finds a very unhappy Book Uncle. His books still in their boxes, and holding a summons, Book Uncle has been told by the mayor that he must get a permit which he cannot afford in order to continue his free lending library.
At the same time, Yasmin discovers there is to be an election soon to elect a new mayor. Yasmin's friend Anil is rooting for Karate Samuel, a popular action movie actor, to win, but his is running against the current mayor, S.L. Yogaraja, or Mayor SLY for short, who seems to be the front runner.
Not willing to lose Book Uncle, Yasmin begins a grassroots movement to save his library, enlisting the help of friends, neighbors and her schoolmates, and finally getting a campaign promise from Karate Samuel that he will support Book Uncle. And it doesn't hurt that Yasmin and her fellow activists discover the real reason the the Mayor SLY issued the summons to get rid of Book Uncle.
Is it too late to help Book Uncle and save the Free Lending Library? Or can a grassroots movement begun by a 9 year-old girl really make a difference?
Book Uncle and Me is an absolutely charming story about a book worm turned activist. Yasmin is an chatty, energetic, sometimes sassy, other times caring and considerate character, a protagonist that readers will certainly be able to relate to. I loved seeing her struggle to find the meaning to the old Indian story Book Uncle gave her to read, and how she is eventually able to relate it to her attempts to save the library. And I think her dedication to the cause will serve as inspiration for young readers who may feel they can't make a difference.
Yasmin's story is also a nice slice of life story. Shopping with her mother, and a visit from her overbearing uncle are not really necessary to the fight to help Book Uncle, but at a nice dimension to the story. And along the way, readers are introduced to some wonderful Indian elements of Yasmin's everyday life, from her flip-floppy chappals to her neighbor who plays a a traditional Indian ghatam, a musical clay pot, to favorite Indian foods like coconut puttu, and the wonderful istri lady"who does peoples ironing for them (istri describe the flat iron she uses for ironing).
Book Uncle and Me is a book I highly recommend, with themes perfect for young readers - friendship, community, family and making a difference.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
An Eclectic Roundup of Christmas Picture Books for Very Last Minute Gift Giving
Christmastime in New York City by Roxie Munro
Universe Publishing, 2014, 32 pages, age 4+
I love Christmas in New York City - the lights, the decorations, the crowds, the outdoor markets, the delicious smells, the whole kit and kaboodle. Except this year. Between the endless construction on the Second Avenue Subway and the security around 57th Street and Fifth Avenue(Trump Tower), we have not desire to travel into midtown Manhattan. So we have been satisfying our Christmas in NYC needs with some of our favorite picture books and Roxie Munro has hit all the right spots in her beautifully painted tribute to it. Beginning with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, there is holiday skating in front of the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a visit to the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, even a four page spread of the Christmas department store windows at Lord & Taylor's, then on to the NYPL to say hi to the famous library lions, Patience and Fortitude, decked out in their holiday wreaths, among other sights. NYC is truly a wonderland during the holidays and Roxie has done her proud.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!
by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee
Cartwheel Books, 2016, 32 pages. age 3+
This is a board book that was originally published as a hardcover book. But it is by now a familiar format that kids will get right in the swing of. This is a perfect read aloud for younger readers. The easy rhyme, that repeats all the things the old lady swallowed as she eats new items will be quickly picked up by the kids, making is an interactive story for them. And it won't be long before the kids will begin adding their own ideas to the rhyme. The illustrations are silly fun, and kids really like looking at all the different items on each page, not to mention the surprise ending that reveals just why the old lady swallowed a bell. We certainly has lots of laughs reading this book, making it a fun Christmas story for the younger set.
Presents Through the Window: a Taro Gomi Christmas Book
written and illustrated by Tarao Gomi
Chronicle Books, 2016, 36 pages, age 3+
Poor Santa! Christmas Eve sure is a really busy night for him, there are just so many presents to be delivered before morning. To save time at each house, he just looks in the window to see who lives there and tosses in what he thinks is an appropriate gift. But, uh-oh, Santa, you should have slowed down and looked more closely because you left the wrong gifts for everyone everywhere. Kids will love looking through the cut-out windows with Santa, but when the page is turned, they can see Santa's mistake. No matter, it all works out in the end. This makes a great read aloud, and my kids loved trying to guess who really lived inside each house before turning the page and seeing what gift should have been left for them. The only hard thing for them to grasp was why Santa used a helicopter instead of a sleigh with reindeer.
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Scholastic, (2009) 2016, 32 pages, age 4+
Stick Man has been a favorite since it was first published in 2009. Stick Man's plight to return home to his family tree after going for a jog is told in a wonderful rhyme that never falters. No sooner does he begin his jog when he runs into a dog who need a stick to fetch, then a girl who is tossing sticks into the river with her friends, later, a swan who uses him to build a nest. There are more setbacks and escapes, each one taking Stick Man further away from his family tree, his Stick Lady Love and their three stick children. The seasons of the year go by and soon its Christmastime and Stick Man finds himself in a pile of fireplace wood. But it's Santa Clause to the rescue - well, after Stick Man first rescues Santa. A word of warning: this is a book that should be chosen with care as Stick Man's travails can be upsetting to some sensitive young readers.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by David Ercolini
Orchard Books, 2015, 32 pages, age 3+
Who doesn't love this Christmas classic, originally called A Visit from St. Nicholas. It is an oldie, but a goodie that was published anonymously in 1823. Later, in 1837, Clement C. Moore claimed credit as its author. It has been a family favorite from the start, with countless retellings over the years. The original poem never changes, but the illustrations do. David Ercolini's very stylized illustrations in this edition are bight, bold and colorful, with oversized decorations in the house, the yard, and even on the roof, where Santa finds a very oversized version of himself. The characters all have a robot-y feel to them, though my kids thought they looked more Lego- or Playmobile -ish. All the decorations and edible treats left out for Santa delighted my young readers, who spent time on every page talking about each one, and getting excited when they found decorations similar to what they have at home. Their favorite illustration - Santa's reindeer taking pictures of him with his blow-up self. A nice addition to the The Night Before Christmas oeuvre.
The Nutcracker adapted by Kate Davies, illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat
Candelwick Press, 2016, 12 pages, age 4+
In 1892, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his famous score The Nutcracker for a two act ballet that was choreographed by Marius Petipa and performed in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892. This beautifully illustrated version of The Nutcracker is based on the sets of that first ballet. The illustrations are done in a palette of oranges, yellows and blues, with touches of red and green for the Christmas trees. Many of the figures are done in silhouette with only touches of color, adding much to that dreamy atmosphere that permeates this tale. At the end of the book, there is an stunningly ethereal pop-up of the ball in the Land of Sweets. The book may seem a little text heavy at first, but the story is told so clearly and simply here that I think it shouldn't be a problem for most young readers. The tale of The Nutcracker all begins when Clara's Christmas Eve gift from her godfather Dr. Drosselmeyer is broken by her jealous younger brother, and her godfather promises that it will be good as new in the morning. That night, Clara dreams about helping the Nutcracker Prince defeat the Mouse King in a fight. Afterwards, the Prince takes her to the Land of Sweets. where he lives and Clara meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, who takes them to a ball where they dance until morning. In the morning, when she wakes up, Clara has a magical surprise waiting for her. A beautiful edition and a must read for anyone who may be going to see the ballet this Christmas.
The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Christmas by Rebecca Jones
Nosy Crow, 2016, 74 pages, age 5+
This book is brilliant - the designs are intricate enough to keep kids coloring for a while without frustrating them, and then, when the coloring is finished, there is the putting cards and envelopes together and finally, deciding who gets which one. With a little creativity, young artists can really personalize their preprinted cards and envelopes, and there is even a space for them to sign their work, so the recipient knows exactly who colored it. There are 24 cards and envelopes and a page of 24 jolly Christmas stickers that were used to seal the envelopes. We used colored pencils for these designs, since they are fine and delicate designs and crayons and markers don't work as well for that. This book is recommended for kids age 5+, but I found it worked better with kids age 7+ who have more developed fine motor skills, but that is just my personal opinion.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: 20th Anniversary Edition
written and illustrated by Tim Burton
Disney Press, 1993, 2013, 56 pages, age 5+
Set to the same rhyme as The Night Before Christmas (and how could it not be), the poem The Nightmare Before Christmas was originally written in 1982 by Tim Burton. It was made into a stop-action animated film in 1993, the same year that Disney released it in book form. The film has always overshadowed the book, but in my house, we like the book more. Jack Skellington is pretty tired and bored with things in Halloweenland. Down and dejected, he comes across three doors in the forest one day, and chooses to go through the Christmas tree door. He enters Christmas Town, where everything is bright, cheery and happy. Jack decides he would like to be Santa that year, and has the real Santa kidnapped. You can imagine the havoc the ensures, as Jack flies through the air on a coffin driven by skeleton reindeer, and delivers a creepy assortment of presents to dumbstruck kids. Jack's good intentions for Christmas are a disaster, leaving him feeling more dejected than ever. But this is a Christmas story and you know all will end well. Burton's spare illustrations add much to the mood of this book, and are creepy without being too scary. Again, use care when selecting this book for young readers as it may not be appropriate for kids easily frightened.
Well, that's it. I have no more gift book suggestions for Christmas 2016. I hope you may have found some books that work for your young readers, and remember
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
The Nativity for Young Readers
When I was growing up, I was always the angel in our Sunday School Christmas Pageant. And every year I recited the same 2 lines from the Book of Luke:
And the angel said unto them: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12)
I've always liked the Christmas story because of its message of peace on earth and good will to all, and even though that has never happened, every Christmas, there is always the hope that it will.
Here, then, are three books that each have an interesting way to share the Nativity story with your young readers.
The Christmas Story written and paper engineered by Robert Sabuda
Candlewick Press, 2016, 12 pages, age 5+
Beginning with the angel God sent to Mary in Nazareth to tell her she would soon give birth to a baby named Jesus, who would be the son of God, to the journey taken by Mary and her husband Joseph to Bethlehem to be taxed by Caesar Augustus, Sabuda retells the Christmas story in his own words. Accompanying his text, Sabuda has used his considerable skill as a paper engineer to bring the story of the birth of Jesus to life in a pop up book for young readers. The delicate pop-ups are elegant in their simplicity, each pop up in done in pure white, except for the gold on the angels, on the halos around the heads of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, on the crowns of the three wise men, and of course, the star the guided them to the manger. And each pop up is set against a background of different colored pages. But here, you can see for yourself just of beautiful this book really is:
The Christmas Story is surely a book your family will treasure and return to again and again.
Refuge by Anne Booth, illustrated by Sam Usher
Nosy Crow, 2015, 32 pages, age 5+
I bought this book from England last year when £5 from every book sold was being donated to War Child, a charity that supports Syrian refugees. This year, $1.00 of every book sold will go to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). And what better story is there to demonstrate the plight of refugees everywhere. Most of us don't think much beyond the humble birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. We forget that shortly afterward, the cruel Roman King Herod, feeling threatened upon hearing that a new King of the Jews had been born, ordered all boys under the age of 2 to be slaughtered. Booth's only mention of all this is the dream that Joseph had that they were in danger and must flee to the safety. So once again, Joseph, Mary and Jesus set off on their donkey, relying on the kindness of stranger along the way until they found refuge in Egypt. Refuge is a simply told addition to the usual Christmas story retelling and one that really highlights for young readers the plight of refugees everywhere. I loved that it was told from the point of view of the donkey that carried this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt. Sam Usher's grey and white washed illustrations with the occasional touch of bright yellow add to the atmosphere of love, hope and fear felt by Mary and Joseph.
The Guardian did a feature of Refuge last year and you can still access it to experience this important book.
Sun Moon Star by Kurt Vonnegut, illustrated by Ivan Chermayeff
Seven Stories Press, 1980, 2016, 64 pages, age 5+
While I'm a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut's novels, you could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered he had written a children's book, and one about the Nativity, no less. And it is exactly what you would expect from Vonnegut. He tells the story of that first Christmas by looking at what the Creator of the universe, who was all knowing in heaven, sees and (mis)interprets the night of Its birth as It transitions from God to human. He never uses the name Jesus, always referring to Him as the Creator, which makes sense if you read the Epigraph Vonnegut included from the Book of Matthew in the Bible: Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." And while this version of the incarnation sounds like a rather highbrow, overly intellectualized rendering of the Nativity story, it is actually very child friendly, told without overly simplifying or condescending to the reader. Sun Moon Star is an oversized book, its pages made of heavy colored paper with cutouts that have both clarity and simplicity to the story being told. According to Seven Stories Press, the illustrations were done before the story was written, and Vonnegut wrote Sun Moon Star around the them.
Each on of these is an excellent retelling of the Nativity story. What is your favorite retelling?
The two biblical quotes I used came from the King James Version of the Bible, the same Bible I received in Sunday School at age 10.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Ideal Gift Books for the STEM Lover in All of Us
When I was a kid, there were two kinds of books I really loved. One was poetry anthologies, the other was encyclopedia-style books that had lots of information about many different things. I loved to browse through them, stop and read something of interest, then browse and stop some more. And they were ideal as a starting point for school reports, often pointing me in the right direction to find more information about a chosen subject. But I have to confess, the books I read were not nearly as good as the books that were available to my Kiddo when she was young. I am happy to say that there are lots more of these kinds of books being published now than even when she was growing up. Here, then are some of my favorite STEM gift books that kids will enjoy and return to again and again:
Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever
by Christina Wilsdon
National Geographic Kids, 2016, 272 pages, age 7+
Whether your young reader is a budding marine biologist, just a kid who loves the ocean, or even a kid who is a little afraid of the ocean, this beautiful book will unlock the mysteries of the underwater world and reveal its secrets. This book begins with details about the four oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans) that take up most of the earth's surface, then dives in to explore the different water levels (the sunlit zone, the twilight zone, and the midnight zone). From there, the reader is introduced to the different kinds of marine life found in our oceans, from mammals like polar bears, whales and dolphins, to crustaceans, mollusks, and sponges, and even coral and jellyfish, among other life forms. Kids will also find information about ocean motion and weather, and what is being done to rehabilitate ocean habitats that have been or are on the verge of being destroyed, and ways that are being used to protect marine life that is being encroached upon by humans. There is just so much information to be found here, all explained in short, readable text accompanied by ample amounts of the most visually captivating photographs we've all come to appreciate from National Geographic. Additional information is included in "Bet You Didn't Know" sidebars, as well as suggestions for how young people can help, an extensive Glossary, suggestions for finding out more about the different topics covered in this book, and finally, there is a list of places to visit. All in all, this is a book that will be referenced again and again, and a great addition of any child's bookshelf, as well as classrooms and libraries.
Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry,
Animals, Space, and More! by National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids, 2016, 304 pages, age 8+
Science is really such a broad subject covering a multitude of different areas, and science, according to this book, is all around us. After answering the question What is Science? this book go on to explore the two contrasting areas of Physical Science and Life Science. Physical Science covers everything from atoms to light, which would include Matter, Forces and Machines, Energy, and, especially near and dear to a kid's heart, Electronics. Each page has an abundance of information, safe and easy experiments for kids to try, and there is even an LOL section with topic specific jokes, for example: Q. Why can't you trust an atom? A. Because they make up everything. So if your kids want to know why that is funny, they need only read the section on Atoms. Or if they wonder why they don't go spinning of into space, they can find the answer in the Gravity section, and even meet the man who brought gravity to the forefront, Albert Einstein.
The Life Science section is basically set up the same way as the Physical Science section, but covers all life forms in the universe. Starting big, kids will learn what the big bang theory really is, all about galaxies, stars, constellations, and planets, finally arriving at life on earth. Here, there are sections about how life began, how to classify living things, followed by earth's living things, from microbes, to plants to the wide variety of living creatures, then on to man and his biology. The science of earth itself is also covered - important timely topics like climate, conservation, biomes and more. There is an extensive glossary as well as a section for kids wanting to find out more. Each page is chockablock with information accompanied by absolutely exquisite photographs (I wouldn't be surprised if more than one reader looks at all of these books and considers taking up photography). This is another book that will please both the budding scientist and the merely curious reader, not to mention their parents (myself included).
How Things Work by T.J. Resler
National Geographic Kids, 2016, 208 pages, age 10+
Have your kids ever wondered how the microwave heats that after school Hot Pocket they can't wait to eat? See pages 60-61. Or how their teacher made so many copies of the same test that they forgot to study for? Pages 94-99 may not help them with their test, but it will explain the mechanics of a copy machine. Or have they ever asked you why the roller coaster they are speeding along in doesn't just dump everyone on to the ground below? See pages 122-29. These and so many other mysteries are explained to kids, often with humor, in simple terms, with illustrations, photographs, diagrams, trivia and even Try This! suggestions readers can do to more fully understand the principles being explained. There is also a Glossary and a Find Out More section with suggestions for the super curious reader. This is most definitely not like the dry science-y books of my youth, but a very up-to-date, very savvy book that is sure to please every kid from the budding scientist to the not so science minded, simply because there is something of interest for everyone in it. How Things Work is a great addition to a child's personal library, and would also be a great addition to any classroom library as well as home schooling situations.
Factastic: A Lego Adventure in the Real World
Scholastic, 2016, 176 pages, age 8+
Join your favorite Lego minifigures for a whirlwind tour of the universe, all done in small bites. Beginning with It's History, kids learn about people beginning at the beginning with cave dwellers through to Native Americans and even the Statue of Liberty. Then, they have a visit with Heroes and Villains, both real and imagined, and find out why they chose the good or evil path they followed. Afterward, they can explore the physical make-up of the earth from rocks, volcanoes, and earthquakes to extreme weather in the chapters under Earth is Awesome. Home on Earth looks at all the different habitats earth's creatures call home sweet home. From there, discover inventions, cool vehicles, sports stuff, and other cool things. Each page is full of facts, photographs, illustrations and interesting trivia and each topic has its appropriate Lego minifigure to guide the reader along. Kids who love Legos (are there any kids who don't love Legos?) will enjoy this fun, imaginative factual trip through time and space and will surely learn a few things along the way.
That's it for today, but watch this space for more gift book suggestions, perfect for some last minute shopping and remember,
Friday, December 16, 2016
More Holiday Book Suggestions
I love the holidays, and my favorite book shops love me. I always give lots of books to all the kids (and adults) I know. Book I've read and love, books that are hinted at, books that I read about on other blogs. Today, I want to share three of my latest gift book purchases.
First up, for one of my young nieces who is already a Mo Willems and Tomie dePaulo fan and loves to be read to:
The Magical World of Strega Nona, A Treasury by Tomie dePaola
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015, 224 pages, age 5+
This is a book any fan of Strega Nona will cherish, and kids new to her tales will surely also find themselves falling in love with this little Italian grandma. And this is a volume that is packed with goodies. Inside, you will find a note from Tomie detailing just how Strega Nona was created, why nona has only one 'n' instead of the usual two, and some inside info about bumbling, forgetful Big Anthony. This is followed by a two page map of Strega Nona's village. The treasury also contains six complete stories, the original Strega Nona tale, and ends with a lovely Christmas story. Each story is introduced by the author. And that's not all - at the back of the book, there is a section with some simple Italian recipes for kids to try, followed by the words, sheet music and a CD of an original lullaby called "Strega Nona's Little Night Song." This is a book that really says Buon Natale, and one that will be read and enjoyed over and over again throughout the year.
Next, for my Kiddo-in-law, who is an art student and just learning about English literature (he is from China):
A Celebration of Beatrix Potter: Art and Letters by more than 30 of today's favorite
children's book illustrators
Frederick Warne & Co., 2016, 112 pages, age 7+
Without a doubt, Beatrix Potter has had a great deal of influence in children's literature and it is a testament to her ability as a storyteller that her tales are still read and loved after so many years. And to celebrate her 150th birthday in 2016, 32 illustrators have taken another look at nine of Potter's best loved tales and have written about their own experience reading about the adventures of beloved characters like Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and Jemima Puddle-Duck. Applying their talent and unique styles, each illustrator has created an illustration of their own versions of the each story. Nothing will ever replace the iconic illustrations Beatrix Potter did for her stories, but it is fun to see how they have been reimagined more than one hundred years later (The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902). The book includes excerpts from the nine tales so it is that art that is the main focus of this book. This is really a beautiful picture book for older readers and even adults who loved the tales of Beatrix Potter as children. What a special tribute to this talented lady.
Lastly, this one is for my Kiddo, who is just starting to really appreciate fairy tales as much as she does myths and legends:
The Singing Bones: Inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales by Shaun Tan
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2016, 192 pages, age 12+
This seems like an odd choice for a holiday book, but it really is an ideal gift for readers who love the Kinder- und Hausmärchen of the Brothers Grimm, as well those who love clay sculpture. As only he can, Shaun Tan has taken the two art forms and has completely captured the essence of 75 of Grimms' fairy tales, giving them a true sense of dimension. Although the tales are somewhat dark, this book is a truly magnificent work of art. Each sculpture was made by Tan, and perfectly reflects the accompanying fragment of the tale it is meant to represent. Tan's sculptures were greatly influenced by Inuit stone carvings, an art form he has always admired, "where the spirit quest, hunts, courtships, conflicts, and transformations are condensed as deceptively simple carvings..." The book is introduced by Jack Zipes, who is probably the most eminent scholar of Grimms' fairy tales in the world. Tan used Zipes' translations of the fairy tales for the wording of his fragments from Zipes' 1987 work The Complete Fairy Tales, which was reissued in 2003 and which will be accompanying this gift. This is such a wonderfully unusual book, but please remember, it is a picture book for older readers, not young children. For that matter, neither are the fairy tales it is based on, despite being called Children's and Household Tales. I think my Kiddo will really love both books
Watch this space, there are more book suggestions coming, but right now I have to go supervise putting the angel on to top of the Christmas tree.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Some Holiday Gift Book Suggestions (Kid Tested and Approved)
Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Christina Balit
National Geographic Children's Books, 2016, 208 pages, age 10+
Though the original stories told by Scheherazade number around 1001 give or take, Donna Jo Napoli has included the best of 25 tales in this volume, and most are the best Scheherazade had to offer to Shah Rayar in order to stay alive. When the Shah vowed to marry a new bride each night and put her to death the next morning, Scheherazade vowed to put a stop to this and she did it through the power of storytelling. My kids, already familiar with Disney's version of Aladdin, loved reading his tale included in this volume, and discovering the stories about Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and the seven voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, though these were not part of the original 1001 Arabian Nights.
The characters in Scheherazade's tales come from different cultures all over the ancient and medieval Middle East, ranging from North Africa to South Asia, and a map has been included to help readers orient themselves. My young readers really liked that the stories were about a wide range of people - rich and powerful, poor, uneducated and powerless, but for all "self-reliance and resourcefulness are [considered to be] prized qualities" Napoli writes in the Introduction (pg6), so that a person's circumstances can and do change as the tales will bear out.
Napoli has rewritten these tales in language used is lyrical, clear and straightforward, making them accessible to all readers. In addition to the map, she has included a Postscript, a list of Sources and Bibliography for further exploration of the Arabian Nights, and a grid showing the origins of the tales she used. OK, my kids were not so interested in that, but I was. We all really liked the sidebars that are included throughout the book in the shape of a bookmark giving more cultural and factual information about a point in each of the stories. Discover, for example, the value of nothing and why it is so important, even today. Or the belief in the power of words to heal and transform a being, including the ancient roots of the word abracadabra.
Accompanying the 25 tales are 70 bold, breathtakingly energetic paintings in an Art Deco style. They are done in watercolor, gouache and gold ink in a palette of mainly blues, golds and oranges, and radiating all the adventure, mystery and magic associated with the ancient world:
Tales from the Arabian Nights is fresh, fun and informative. It is a wonderful introduction to a work of literature young readers will run into again and again in their high school and college careers and provides them with a good sense of the original One Thousand and One Nights.
You may want to read the very interesting interview Julie Danielson at Kirkus did with Donna Jo Napoli about Tales from the Arabian Nights and "Making Old Stories New." You can find it HERE
Tales of the Arabian Nights was sent to me courtesy of MM Publicity
Young readers whose fancy was tickled by the Arabian Nights might find themselves looking for more folktales and myths of the ancient and medieval worlds. If that's the case, they can't go wrong with these earlier books by Donna Jo Napoli and Christina Balit. I took these out of the library, and my young readers and I read them just as we did Tales of the Arabian Nights, taking turns reading the tales aloud and discussing each one.
Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Christina Balit
National Geographic Children's Books, 2015, 192 pages, age 10+
Today's kids may be familiar with names like the wise Odin, his son and thunder god Thor, the wily trickster Loki, and the Valkyries, escorts of fallen soldiers to Valhalla, from movies or comic books, but these gods and spirits have their roots in ancient Norse myths. In these 18 tales included in this Treasure of Norse Mythology, readers will be introduced to the adventures of all the key Nordic mythological figures caught up in a web of greed, revenge, and lust, and all written in the same easy, lyrical language that Donna Jo Napoli is so capable of. There are tales about the creation and the cosmos, all populated by warring gods, goddesses, monsters, shape-shifters, and even some disputing humans. These classic Norse stories will come to life for young readers under Napoli's skillful retelling.
The collaboration of Napoli and Christina Balit proves to be a success once again in the book. To create illustrations that reflect the cold, snowy geophysical landscape of this ancient Nordic region, Balit has used a palette of icy blues, whites and gold, all in her signature Art Deco style. And a real bonus is that the illustrations are annotated to further help the reader.
Young readers will again find lots of interesting sidebars with relevant cultural and/or factual information, a map and timeline of the ancient Norse world, a list of the characters included in the stories told here, and a Bibliography for further reading. Don't skip the Introduction or the Note on Norse Names at the front of the book, both are very helpful for understanding what follows. Readers of Rick Riordan's "Magnus Chase" series will especially enjoy reading these tales, and those (like some of the kids I read this with) whose interest in Scandinavian myths has been peaked by this Treasure of Norse Mythology will definitely be interested in reading that series, too. And isn't that what reading is all about?
Treasury of Norse Mythology was borrowed (and renewed a few time) from the NYPL
Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Christina Balit
National Geographic Children's Books, 2013, 192 pages, age 8+
I have to admit, I was never personally enthralled by Egyptian Mythology, even though they are the ones I probably know the most about. So I was curious to read these 20 stories retold by Donna Jo Napoli. And no one was more surprised than I was that I found them fascinating. I credit that with Napoli's intelligent storytelling style.
As always, Napoli begins with the creation story, in this case the self-creation of Ra, the Sun God, followed the creation of his children and grandchildren, that leads to the Great Pesedjet (a hierarchy of 9 important gods and goddesses). This is followed by the proliferation of more gods and mortals, pharaohs and queens, and yes, they are all caught in the web of very real emotions like jealousy, passion, greed, and the desire for power. The tales end with what was our favorite - the story of how the pyramids came into being during the Third Dynasty and of Imhotep, God of Medicine and Architecture. It was Imhotep who came up with the idea that Egypt's human rulers, the Pharaohs, should be buried in a tomb that would last forever, and the pyramids fit the bill for using mastabas, mud baked by the sun on the River Nile. One of the interesting aspects to these stories is the way they explained how much natural phenomena impacted the lives of humans at that time.
In keeping with all their collaborative books on myths and legends, Christina Balit's Art Deco illustrations have taken on a decidedly ancient Egyptian feel. Part of the story of the Great Pesedjet explains how Ra created nine colors for the world that formed the colors of a rainbow - there was gold, red, bright orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet and lastly, silver. Balit has skillfully incorporated these colors in her illustrations throughout the Treasury of Egyptian Mythology.
As in all her other books about myths and legends, there are sidebars with cultural and factual information. The illustrations are also annotated, which helps a great deal, and there is a map and time line of ancient Egypt, a spread of the cast of characters in the tales (which was a real help to my readers), a lengthy but important Postscript, a Bibliography and list of places to find more information. The Introduction by Napoli and Preface of the History of Egyptian Names should not be skipped.
My kids were very interested in these myths, so we took a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to explore their Egyptian collection, including a visit to an ancient tomb. If you are ever in NYC, #metkids is a fun thing to do. Or check out museums in your area.
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology was borrowed (and renewed a few time) from the NYPL
Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Christina Balit
National Geographic Children's Books, 2011, 192 pages, age 8+
I suspect that the most familiar myths for many of us are are those from Greek mythology - Zeus, Aphrodite, Orion. Hermes, Jason - gods, heroes and mortals.
And once again, Napoli begins at the beginning with the ancient Greek creation stories of Mother Earth Gaia, Father Heaven Uranus and their son, the Titan King Cronus, who was the father of Zeus, King of the Gods, Napoli creates an energetic history of the great deities of heaven with lesser deities and earthly mortals, and all their deeds, some cruel, others heroic. She ends with what may be the most famous of Greek myths - the story of the beautiful Helen of Troy. Helen willingly left Sparta for Troy with Paris, even though she was supposed to marry King Menelaus. Menelaus wanted her back and set off to rescue her, leading to the very long, very violent Trojan War. She was eventually rescued from Troy by a cunningly disguised giant gift, a Trojan horse containing Greek warriors.
Christina Balit stayed with a palette of bold blues, gold and oranges for her Art Deco style illustrations in this Treasury of Greek Mythology. The illustrations not only pull the tales together, but extend them further and offer much that will (and did) inspire conversation and speculation.
Greek myths, with its many gods, goddesses, mortal and monsters can feel a little convoluted and confusing to the beginner and sometimes the time frames of these stories did baffle the kids I read them with, but again, because some of the characters were familiar thanks to popular culture renditions of them, the kids were able to appreciate what they read here and it helped that Napoli includes all kinds of additional information.
Besides her Introduction and full page Olympus Family Tree, there is map of Greece, a Time Line. a Cast of Characters to help navigate the stories, a Bibliographic Note and suggestions for finding more information, which we used.
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology was borrowed (and renewed a few time) from the NYPL
I had a lot of fun reading these books with an enthusiastic group of kids. I thought each book was so well written and researched, and to their credit, Donna Jo Naopli's language was always clear and straightforward. She never condescended to her readers, or oversimplified what the content of the myths presented. Even when the kids struggled with unfamiliar names, places and stories, they were able to work through their difficulties. Christina Balit's illustrations are beautiful and sophisticated works that gave the kids a better understanding of the original art we saw at the museum. So, when I finished writing this, I asked my Kiddo, who is not longer a kid, to read it, since mythology has been a passion of hers since 4th grade (the age of the kids I read these with). What did she have to say? "Could you get me these books for Christmas?"
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Gertie's Leap to Greatness written by Kate Beasley, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
But before she leaves (again), Gertie has a Five Phase plan to get her mother's attention, and Phase One involves becoming the greatest fifth-grader she can possibly be. That way, Gertie could launch Phase Two of her plan - showing her mother just how awesome she is, so much so, that she just didn't even need a mother. Not being Gertie's mom will be Rachel Collins' loss.
Unfortunately, Phase One doesn't work out exactly the way Gertie had planned when she is usurped by a new student claiming Gertie's front row seat between friends Junior and Jean as her own. It doesn't take long for Mary Sue Spivey to become a major thorn in Gertie's side, especially when she announces that her father is a film director and she is friendly with Jessica Walsh, who just so happens to be very popular and has her own TV show. Added to that, no matter how hard Gertie studies, Mary Sue's grades are always better.
But movie stars, film directors and good grades aren't Gertie's only Mary-Sue-Spivey-induced-problems; Mary Sue's mother is an environmental lobbyist who is working on shutting down the very same oil rig that Gertie's father works on. And to rub salt in that wound, Mary Sue creates the Clean Earth Club, dedicated to exposing the truth about offshore oil drilling. Before she knows it, Gertie loses even her best friend Jean to Mary Sue and her quickly formed clique of fifth-graders.
It certainly looks like all of Gertie's high hopes for fifth grade and her five-phase plan to get her mother to acknowledge her just aren't going to work out. Is there any chance Gertie and her arch-rival Mary Sue can find a middle ground?
Gertie's Leap to Greatness has everything going for it to make it an ideal novel for middle grade readers. Gertie is a spunky protagonist, who just wants to be acknowledged by her mother. In fact, I found her loneliness and feelings of abandonment poignant and palpable, despite the fact that she lives with a loving father and aunt. Gertie, like so many kids, blames herself for her mother's leaving, as though there were something inherently wrong with her that made Rachel Collins unable to love and mother her. Gertie's defensive false bravado is easy to see through, though a very realistic response to her mother's (assumed by Gertie) rejection of her.
Mary Sue Spivey is an excellent foil for Gertie. Mary Sue is a lot richer than Gertie and can afford to buy friends; she is assertive and confident, appearing to be everything Gertie isn't. Mary Sue manages to make Gertie look and feel like a real loser and even turns her classmates, with whom Gertie has been friends since kindergarten, into bullies. Of course, astute readers will see through Mary Sue's defensive false bravado just as they do Gertie's. But I kept wondering why their teacher didn't intervene sooner in some of the antics carried out during school hours.
Plotwise, I thought Gertie's Leap to Greatness had a little too much going on for a tween novel. The mother/daughter storyline would have been enough for one book, as was the Gertie/Mary Sue rivalry over grades, offshore drilling and the environmental issues.
Characterwise, I just didn't like Gertie very much. She was way too self-involved to the point of being oblivious to others, which is why I can understand her best friend Jean navigating away from her and into the clique formed by Mary Sue. Granted, Gertie has an important lesson to learn about appreciating family and friends, but she just never felt like a sympathetic protagonist to me, even after that.
On the whole, however, I would still recommend Gertie's Leap to Greatness if only for the realistic way Kate Beasley portrayed Gertie's mother issues, and the fact that sometimes a parent is just not able to parent and that is a painful reality for any child to deal with.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book is an EARC received from NetGalley
Monday, December 5, 2016
Multicultural Children's Book Day - Meet the Co-Hosts
Since it's inception, I've been participating as a children's book reviewer every January 27th for Multicultural Children's Book Day and I have seen it grow by leaps and bounds. So I was pretty excited when I was asked to be a co-host this year. Multicultural Children's Book Day was started in 2014 by Valerie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom as a way of celebrating diversity in children's books. It's mission has always been to "not only raise awareness for the kid's books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these books into classrooms and libraries."
But, we all know it takes a village and MCCBD would not be the success it has been without our wonderful sponsors - publishers and authors alike. This year, we are welcoming a new sponsor, Scholastic Press, and we are thrilled to have their support.
You can find out more about all of our author and publisher sponsors and how to become one HERE. But hurry, the deadline to be included is December 31, 2016.
Calling All Readers:
Are you interested in receiving a FREE multicultural children's book to review for MCCBD 2017? We have a new perk this year and you don't have to be a blogger to participate. Of course, if you have a blog, you can still post your review there, but now readers will have the option to post on these social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. You can find out how to be part of this amazing day HERE
We are a nation of beautifully diverse people, of immigrants from all over the world and Multicultural Children's Book Day celebrates that diversity, stressing the importance of all children finding themselves reflected in the books they read, but also offering a window into other cultures, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disabilities that may be different from our own. Diverse books can help foster understanding, acceptance, and hope in our children now and for the future.
The Multicultural Children’s Book Day CoHosts are a group of powerhouse bloggers and parents who all share the same passion for reading and understand the importance of diversity in children’s literature. They also act as ambassadors for MCBD’s yearly event by assisting in spreading the word, extending the event’s reach through social media and acting as hosts sites for the wildly popular book review/blog post link-up that occurs on the actual day of the holiday (1/27/17).
We are proud to introduce our sixteen CoHosts for our 2017 event below. These writers, moms, reviewers, book lovers and thought leaders were selected by the MCBD team because of their true dedication to supporting diversity in children’s literature and we would appreciate if you could take a few minutes and visit each of these excellent blogs and say "hello."
Connect with Leanna on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+
Books My Kids Read:
literature. Her blog was born out of a need to find appropriate reading
material for her advanced reader and has turned into a place to share
interesting books that her family has found. Michelle's passion about
multicultural children's literature stems from the fact that she is raising her
girls to be Jewish in a community where they are in a complete minority. In
addition, she loves finding books with really strong female characters who
stand up to outdated traditions. When not blogging, Michelle writes for a
local magazine, teaches Hebrew school, and share her love of books by being and independent consultant for Usborne Books & More.
Connect with Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Carrie is a former high school math teacher and diversity club leader. Now, she uses her expertise to write about her adventures with her daughter, review books, and products, and share information. Crafty Moms Share is a place where Carrie share her ideas, knowledge and more and hosts link parties to allow others to share as well. She is a member of Multicultural Kid Blogs and a believer that we are all equal and need to be respected for our differences as well as out similarities.
Connect with Carrie on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+
Connect with Svenja on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+
Connect with Kim on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Connect with Amanda on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Explore Amanda and Kim's newly published book, 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids: Teach Reading, Writing, Math and More with Fun Kid Activities.
Becky Flansburg is a blogger and Virtual Assistant from Minnesota who writes about parenthood topics and moms in business. As Project Manager for Multicultural Children's Book Day, blogger, WAHM, and freelance writer, Becky knows being a mom is The.Best.Thing.Ever and Team Family is #1. Her goal with Franticmommy is to provide tips, ideas, products and services to help other women realize their dreams of business ownership while also sharing the "holy crap' moments of parenthood and life.
Connect with Becky on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Jodie Rodriguez has a passion for helping caregivers nurture our youngest readers. As a former National Board Certified early-childhood, elementary teacher and administrator, she has worked with thousands of families and educators providing the best literacy practices. She lives near St. Louis, Missouri and now stays home with her two young sons. She is the creator/founder of Growing Book by Book, where you will find book lists, book related activities and literacy tips and tricks for kids ages 0-8 years old.
Connect with Jodie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Imagination Soup:
Melissa Taylor, MA, is an education expert and Pinterest influencer as well as a mother, teacher, and freelance writer. She writes and award-winning learning blog, Imagination Soup, and freelances for publications online and in print, including Sylvan Learning, Random House, USA Today Health, The Writer, and Scholastic Parent and Child. Connect with Melissa on
Connect with Melissa on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+
Connect with Becky on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+
MaryAnne was raised in five countries on three continents. She currently lives in California with her husband and their four children. MaryAnne blogs at Mama Smiles about building a rewarding family life through mindful parenting and educational and creative family activities. MaryAnne has a Masters in Education and PhD in medicine. She enjoys freelance writing and photography.
Connect with MaryAnne on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+
Multicultural Kid Blogs:
Connect with Multicultural Kid Blogs on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+
Alex Baugh is a former 4th grade classroom teacher and homeschooler with one Kiddo. She is also on a children's book award granting committee, where they read over 6,000 books a year. Alex's experience has made her very aware of the responsibility we all have when it comes to the multicultural content of children's literature and she shares that in every blog post she writes for Randomly Reading.
Connect with Alex on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+
The Jenny Evolution:
The Jenny Evolution is a parenting lifestyle blog focused on topics moms care about. From important parenting tips to family meals to simple kid activities, moms want information they can immediately use and have fun with. The Jenny Evolution is focused on articles that enrich family life without making it complicated...because who has time for that?
Connect with Jenny on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+
The Logonauts:
Connect with Katie on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+
Connect with Katie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
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