smal as an elephant, written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Candlewick, Random House. 2011. $18.00 ages 12 and up

"That's what worry did to Jack, made him incredibly tired - tired the way his mom always was after the spinning times. She'd come home and crawl into bed, close the shades, and pull up the covers, and that's where Jack would find her for days - sometimes even weeks - after a spinning time. Tired like that."


Truthfully, I didn't think that I was going to be able to read this book. It begins with Jack who is 11, and his mother. They are in a campground in Maine; arriving late, setting up both tents and going quickly to sleep. Morning finds his Mom, her tent, her car gone. How could that happen? What kind of mother is she? What will he do? Jack is concerned but determined that he will find her. So, he sets off alone with little to sustain him and no real plan in mind.


As we travel the back roads and main streets with Jack, we come to realize that this has happened before, and Jack is wily at keeping secrets. He trusts no one, having learned that lesson well. In previous such episodes, Jack has learned to cover for his mother, thus avoiding being put in the foster care system or having to live with his mother's mother. Anyone he might trust he views with a skeptical eye and avoids spilling his doubts, fears and secrets to them.


No money, no way of contacting his mother, and virtually nothing but what he has on his back, what will he do? What he has always done...stick to himself and find a way to survive on his own. He has never been alone in the wide world before....he has always been at home, in their apartment with neighbors close by. It is a gripping adventure, and often uncomfortable for my mothering instincts. He breaks my heart; but, Jack is a fighter and does his best to take care of himself. He is such a mix of old soul, and young boy. His story is a mixed bag of wanting to be independent and make it on your own and being gripped by the fear of being left alone to fend for himself. You cannot help but cheer him on and hope that when the time comes to make the best decision, he will be able do it.

Through it all, Jack remains intrigued and obsessed by elephants...the reason for the argument that Jack and his mother have at the onset. Jack has loved elephants since a very early age and has spent endless hours learning as much as he can about them. He believes that if he can just see Lydia, a captive elephant who lives in a wild animal park in Maine, he will know the right thing to do. Each chapter begins with a fascinating quote or fact about elephants. My favorite begins chapter one:


"If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people, only more so.
                                                                                          - Peter Corneille"


Jack learns two life lessons during his journey. One is raw, one is life-altering.


First, he voices his own heartbreak:


"He was so ashamed.
Ashamed of it all, of everything that he had done.
But most of all, ashamed because...
Because she'd left him.
There,
In between sobs, he thought it.
My mother...
My mother left me.
She
left
me."


Then, he realizes:


"...he had never really been alone. He had been part of a makeshift herd, one that spread out for miles. They had communicated heart sounds that were sometimes so soft, they weren't always discernible to the ear. But they had found one another, and they had helped one another. Just like a true herd."

love & leftovers, written by sarah tregay. Harper, 2011. $19.99 ages 13 and up

"I thought it was my fault
because you didn't touch me.
I thought it was Dad's fault
because he wrecked our family.
I thought it was Mom's fault
because she slept all day.
I thought it was Katie's fault
because she chose the Leftovers
over me."


You don't need a lot of words to tell a great story; but, you need wonderful words and form to tell it well. Sarah Tregay knows that. She gets it right the first time!

In her debut novel, she constructs a story in verse that is honest, and filled with all of the uncertainties of being sixteen, dealing with a family break-up, leaving your friends behind, and first love. Marcie and her mother are in Durham, New Hampshire and school is about to start...new school, new year...everything new. They have come to New Hampshire to get away from Boise, Idaho. In Boise, Marcie's Dad is living with his boyfriend, Katie and Linus (her best friend and boyfriend) and the rest of the  Leftovers are starting their own school year and life is going on without her.

Marcie is caring for her depressed mother while living in a family summer house on the Atlantic coast, and not knowing who to blame:

"But I can't hate my dad
just because he's gay.
I love him.

Nor can I leave Mom
when she's so down.
She needs me.

And this
pile of dominoes
is not my fault."

My heart aches for her. As she begins school, she decides she won't worry about new friends. J.D. changes that. He is persistent in his pursuit, he's cute, he's an athlete well-liked by his classmates. When he kisses Marcie, she is confused. She already has a boyfriend, doesn't she? How can she feel like this when it isn't Linus who's kissing her? And she has a wish:

"My Wish

is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy daydream-worthy
love."

I don't remember a lot about being sixteen. I suspect I might have felt exactly that same thing.
J. D. brings her doughnuts, plans a special birthday party and wants to be with her. Linus deserves to know, but she cannot face telling him and she wants to ask her dad about it all:

"Then I'd ask him how he managed
the ping-ponging feelings
that accompany liking
two people at one time.

Because kissing J.D.
felt amazing one minute
and terrible the next."

When her dad visits at Christmas, the decision is made for Marcie to return to Boise with him. Her mother needs time to heal and find new meaning in life, her dad loves her and wants her with him.  Marcie is on the move again. Returning to Boise and seeing Linus boosts her feelings of guilt and she tells him about J.D. The fallout is predictable. Life goes on without Linus, without Katie, and without the Leftovers. Everything has changed, and Marcie is more confused than ever.

Fully-developed characters, first person narrative, honest emotions, relationships, courage and the fragile nature of first love...they are all here and they work at creating a compelling story. Marcie's poetry journal gives us insight into the depth of the emotions she is feeling, and hope for her future.

Wonder, written by R. J. Palacio. Knopf, Randon House. 2012. $17.99 ages 10 and up

 

"“Who we are,” he said, underlining each word as he said it. “Who we are! Us! Right? What kind of people are we? What kind of person are you? Isn’t that the most important thing of all? Isn’t that the kind of question we should be asking ourselves all the time? ‘What kind of person am I?’"

How lucky am I that I keep reading books that yell to be shared? After reading The One and Only Ivan, and fervently wishing that there was a classroom somewhere that I could share it with, Wonder rises to the top of my TBR pile! It is a book that packs a powerful punch and should be read in every fifth grade classroom...and don't stop there. It is a story that should be read and savored by anyone who loves books that will impact the way we live our lives. It is a 'wonder'!

It is August (Auggie) Pullman's story and is brilliantly told. Auggie was born with mandibulofacial dysostosis, a hereditary condition that causes numerous facial defects. He has had many surgeries, been home schooled, and is now entering public school for the first time. He is in fifth grade. That in itself is daunting. Auggie is constantly aware of the reactions of others when they first see him. He has become accustomed to it, which is quite different that being able to understand or harden himself to it.

Making the decision to enrol Auggie has been harrowing for his parents and worrisome for the whole family. The year is difficult but has some amazing and heartwarming moments. The reactions are varied, as should be expected. Readers will find themselves knowing Auggie well and rooting for him. His neighborhood is a safe haven for him. Auggie knows everyone and they all know him. School is a different kettle of fish...here, he knows no one and can only anticipate some of the reaction that his attendance will cause. Still, he faces each day with courage and even humor as his rocky year moves forward. He has an obsession with Star Wars and describes himself in terms of it:

 "Like, it's okay, I know I'm weird looking, take a look, I don't bite. Hey, the truth is, if a Wookie started going to school, I'd probably stare a bit!"

Auggie's voice is compelling, honest and ordinary. He deals with all things fifth grade. He is brave (he has to be given all the surgeries he has faced and the everyday difficulties of eating, hearing and being different), he is funny (luckily) and full of resolve. He is a character to be admired and emulated.

The kids in his school are like all kids in schools everywhere. They have had little experience with a kid like Auggie. They snicker, they point, they ostracize and they show fear. They say mean things when no one is listening, they feel embarrassed by their reactions, and many learn to be better people through understanding and empathy.

Olivia, his older sister, is in grade nine and has her own take on life with Auggie. While she loves him unconditionally, she wants her life in high school uncomplicated by her classmates knowing about her brother. She tells her story with honesty, with compassion and with guilt for self concern. She only made me love her more for voicing some of the frustrations she deals with in having a loved brother who faces great difficulty in life.

Now, get out there and get a copy for yourself, your child, your child's classroom or school library. You will NEVER forget August Pullman, and you won't want to either!

Crouching Tiger, written by Ying Chang Compestine and illustrated by Yan Nascimbene. Candlewick, Random House. 2011. $19.00 ages 5 and up

"I meditated every day and practiced the cat walk while holding the pole up high. I kept hoping Grandpa would teach me to whack things with the pole. But by the time New Year's came, I still hadn't gotten to hit anything."

I was delighted to see this story that celebrates the Chinese New Year, as well as the martial art known as tai chi. Celebrations were held this past weekend and many people were in attendance to learn about the Chinese culture. And, my friend practices the discipline of tai chi weekly to improve mobility and because she has come to enjoy it immensely. So, I read it with personal interest beyond the warm and inviting story it tells.

Vinson is intrigued by his visiting grandfather's morning ritual:

"..., Grandpa was dancing slowly in the garden with his eyes closed. His hands moved like gliding birds. He crouched like a tiger; he drew an invisible bow; he lifted a foot like a rooster and stood still."

When he learns that tai chi is a martial art, Vinson is thrilled. He imagines himself a kung fu artist, with a little help from Grandpa. Unfortunately, when the training begins in earnest, it has none of the flash and panache that Vinson has been expecting. Rather, Grandpa shows him standing meditation. What? Just stand, hold an invisible balloon, and breathe? It is not at all what Vinson had in mind.

As the weeks pass, Vinson becomes even less enamored of the seemingly simple work Grandpa is encouraging. Things change dramatically when he sees how his grandfather uses his skills to protect a young woman from being hit with a flat board, and when he goes with Grandpa to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the annual parade. Grandpa has been training the lion dancers; and, in his visits to Chinatown, he has been singing the praises of his grandson. Vinson feels welcome and very proud when he is asked to take his part in the dragon dance:

"The martial artists led the way. They leaped and whirled about with spears, swords, and other weapons. Grandpa signaled and I marched off, focusing on keeping the cabbage just out of the lions' reach."

The exquisitely detailed, yet contemplative, illustrations have all the grace and peace of the practice of tai chi. On one side of each double page spread is the text and a small captioned demonstration of the positions that Vinson is mastering. Facing that is the warm and lively ink and watercolor artwork that shows a young boy learning about, and from, his patient and revered grandfather.

Subway Story, written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Knopf, Random House. 2011. $18.99 ages 5 and up

"Sometimes Jessie helped carry unusual things. She made sure to go slower around the curves so everyone - and everything - arrived safe."

Jessie is the biggest baby I have read about:

"When Jessie was born in St. Louis, Missouri, she weighed 75,122 pounds and was 51 1/2 feet long."

Now, that is some auspicious beginning, wouldn't you say? Of course, the fact that Jessie is a subway car explains it. Her home is New York City and she travels  from place to place with a sense of accomplishment and pride. As times change, Jessie does the same...as do her passengers, and the city itself. Always, her job is to move people safely from one stop to another.

As the aging, travel-weary cars are replaced by sleek, silver bullets, Jessie must pass her time in a dusty yard with all the other trains that have been retired. She wonders about her many passengers and if they even notice that she is no longer their transport. It's sad.

Now, admittedly, I have never wondered what happens to old subway cars:

"Instead of fixing her, the people were taking Jessie apart.
Off came her lights, her signs, her brakes, and her horn too!
They they washed Jessie over and over again,
and left her with a group of other cleaned-up subway cars."

I was surprised when they loaded her onto a barge and headed out to sea, and even more so when they dumped her over the side and into the Atlantic Ocean. There she becomes another kind of bustling and vibrant city. As the fish and barnacles, the bigger fish and plants gravitate toward her on the ocean floor, Jessie becomes an artiificial reef.

Based on a true story, Julia Sarcone-Roach has created a charming character whose lot in life is touching to her readers. Her writing is natural and appealing. Her lovely acrylic artwork gives life to Jessie and her environs, above and below the water. Her strong colors and constantly changing perspectives are infused with light and shadow allowing readers a feeling of gentle movement throughout this lovely story. It is interesting to watch as the years pass how the passengers change, and how the subway system itself changes. I absolutely love the mosaics.

An author's note explains the origin of the story, a list for further reading is provided, as well as a bibliography for those who just want to know more.

Dog Loves Books, written and illustrated by Louise Yates. Knopf, Random House. 2010. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"When he read,
her forgot
that he was
waiting.

When he read,
he forgot that
he was alone."

Keeping with the 'love' theme, I want to tell you about this book-loving dog who decides that a owning a bookstore is the course he will set for his immediate future. With experience in doing the same, I knew some of Dog's trials and tribulations when I set out to read his story.

It's a tough go for many! After 12 years of trying, while working full time jobs as well, we decided that we just couldn't do it anymore. Our love of books for children and young adults never waned, our desire to get the right book in the right hands continues; but, the book buyers in our small prairie city could not support our dream of being one of those bookstores that endures. My hat is off to those who do!

When he opens his own bookstore and finds that customers are not beating the door down to get  in, Dog is discouraged. Not being one to wallow in his own misery, he finds himself picking up first one, then another, and still another book to read while he waits for someone to come through the front door.  It takes no time for him to be immersed in story, wandering new worlds, and becoming an expert on the books that fill his shelves.  No matter who comes through the door following these discoveries, Dog always has an apt suggestion.

As librarians, teachers and booksellers know, the more stories we have read, the more easily we find the 'right' book for the 'right' child at the 'right' time. It takes perseverance, a lasting love of the written word and the need to pass on our passion for reading.

Isn't that the best job in the world?

Ivy Loves to Give, written and illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Scholastic, 2009. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"Ivy loves to give,

but sometimes she
would rather keep."


Isn't that true of each one of us? Ivy is a gentle and generous wee girl who loves to share and wants everyone in her family to feel the joy that she gets from giving.

The text is perfect for young readers...just enough for them to master with a lovely story to boot. Ivy is learning about the world and in the first half of the book, she has some difficulty with shoes that fit, glasses and where they belong, food and who likes it, and what to do with the baby's soother. But, practice makes perfect, and soon she has everything back in its place. Well, all except the ever-so-tempting tutu that looks as if it must belong to her older sister. She yearns for that tutu...

Lucky she is to have an older sister who is as kind and thoughtful as Ivy is. When her sister agrees to let her wear the tutu, Ivy gives the best gift of all...her love and a big hug!

I so admire the pencil and watercolor artwork, placed on cream-colored, uncluttered backgrounds. They give full attention to the family doings, and Ivy's sweet nature. Evidently, gift giving is her thing...to the goat, a snail, the dog, a chicken and finally the piece de resistance...the cat gets the baby's soother while Mom is obviously in need of it.

The center spread is wonderful. The family, finger pointing and bewildered, as they note what two family pets are wearing, where the hen laid its latest egg and the cat's new toy. It made me laugh out loud. So we go from 'Sometimes her presents are the wrong size,' back to 'But other times, her presents feel good...'

A lovely gentle story to share with your Valentine!

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg. Written by Louise Borden. Houghton Mifflin, Thomas Allen. 2012. $22.50 ages 12 and up

"He told Iver Olsen that Raoul
was a man
with energy and intelligence,
who knew the world,
who could lead others,
who respected humanity,
who could speak many languages,
who knew Budapest and its people...
who had a great heart."

Talking about picture book biographies has me very excited these days. First, the number of exceptional books about important people and events is growing exponentially. I have always had an interest, and feel that a picture book is a perfect introduction to some of the most interesting people, well-known and often unknown. They offer revelation and information for young readers, and can lead to a lifelong interest in a particular person and the part they played in shaping our history.

I have heard Raoul Wallenberg's name. To tell you that I knew anything about him would be a lie. I could place him at the time of World War II; but, that would be it. No longer true. After reading this remarkable and brilliantly researched story, I feel that I know him quite well. As any avid student in your classroom might do following reading this fine book about him, I want to know more. I don't think that is unusual. He was a compassionate, caring man whose life and work made a difference in the world!

Raoul Wallenberg was born in the early twentieth century to a eminent Swedish family and would travel the world as a very young man, learning multiple languages, oozing intelligence, charm and great courage. While on a business trip to Hungary during the war, he became aware of the unconscionable treatment being meted out by the Nazis upon the Hungarian people. When he became a member of the Swedish legation in Budapest, he set his mind to arranging special documentation and variious other measures to ensure that Hungarian Jews were under the protection of the Swedish royals. This kept many from deportation and certain death:

"There was little business in the capital,
only wartime worry...
and air raids,
and rationing of food,
and shortages of electricity,
and, still, the abuses against the Jews.
Some were arrested
or dragged off the streets by anti-Jewish street thugs
and shot.
But there were no deportations to Auschwitz."

The text of the book is written in free verse, making it move quickly from Wallenberg's early years of travel, to his work during the war and his constant battle to keep people safe from transport. He won the admiration of many and a grudging respect from others: 

"To the suffering Jews
and to his staff,
he spoke with calm kindness...
but when Raoul confronted evil men,
he used loud words of anger
and indignation.
His presence was felt everywhere in Budapest,
and the name Wallenberg always brought hope."

There is a wealth of personal family history, including archival and contemporary photos, documents, maps and information gleaned from visits with his family over the past twelve years. In an author's note, Louise Borden tells her readers:

"Since then, I've traveled several times to Sweden to meet with Raoul's sister, Nina. We walked the wooded paths at Kappsta on the island where Raoul was born and drove along the "street of the knight" in Stockholm. I've held Raoul's calendar and address book - brought back from Moscow - in my hands."

Tell me that's not impressive, and motivating when crafting the story of one of the world's heroes...a man who made a difference in his world. It is a powerful study...a book about the Holocaust told with honesty and honor.  Don't miss it!

red sled, by Lita Judge. Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, 2011. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
eeeeeeeeee



Looking to warm a cold winter day with conversation and a cuddle? I have just the book for you.

Wordless picture books have such appeal for me, and I love adding to my collection. There is so much to see in them, and to learn from them. I have been encouraging teachers and preservice teachers to think about using them with all students. They will have a special appeal for our students who are learning English as their second (or third) language. Wordless books are stories to be enjoyed in all languages and often offer universal experiences to be shared. Visual literacy is an important aspect of every child's education. What better way to enhance it than with an extraordinary stack of wordless 'stories'?

Red Sled has instant appeal...a small bundle of child watching contemplatively as a brown bear heads somewhere, red sled tucked under its arm. And oh, that smashing red hat! Now, to the story.

A still and frosty day, the chimney smoke rising straight up into the atmosphere, that same small child heading home after a day of sledding. The sled leans sedately against a weathered cottage wall, while night descends and light beams from a snowy window. An inquisitive bear looking for adventure, intrigued by the unternded sled...too much temptation!
Evidently, the forest animals are all looking for adventure. They soon join their pal for an evening of fun on the snowy slopes. No one wants to be left out. Like kids, they ride faster and fuller until they cannot do another run. Bear returns the sled and off they go, tired and ready for slumber. The following morning the child makes a thrilling discovery of his own and is not reluctant to act upon it! Another snowy evening, another visit to the cabin, a new rider...perfect!
The pencil and watercolor artwork is full of wonder and delight as readers watch the expressive and suitably excited animals cavorting on a snowy moonlit hill. I couldn't wait to turn the page and pore over each new scene! The sound effects are perfect and invite excited audience participation. The joy of those many downhill rides is palpable and almost makes me want to try it all over again. Not likely, but it sure evokes strong memories of past family fun.

no two alike, by Keith Baker. Beach Lane, Simon & Schuster. 2011. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"almost, almost...
but not quite."


You need say little when you fill each page with elegant, beautifully crafted illustrations that will have young readers finding new interest on every one of those pages. Keith Baker brings his lovely and lively view of a young child's world to his newest book.

We have always been told that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. Does that apply to everything in nature ? You may know twins who look like carbon copies of each other. It takes little time to discover that there are slight differences that will set one apart from the other. Keith Baker uses that premise in following two wee redbirds as they explore the snowy landscape that is their home.

Off they go, with curiosity and joy, to see their world. Preschoolers are invited to make their journey of discovery with them. Everywhere they look, they see things in pairs. Birds, snowflakes, trees, feathers....they look the same. Look closely and you will see that they are not.

Keith Baker has created artwork that perfectly matches the exuberant exploration of this winter outing. It's lovely to visit the snowy landscape with our tiny guides as they flit from nest to forest floor, from tree to fencepost and from river to sky where snowflakes fall in peaceful quiet on every page.

It is a gentle message for the very young...we are each unique and wondrous. Despite the season, there is warmth and joy as readers and listeners share the antics of two small birds finding that wonder in their world.

MY THANKS TO MY READERS!

I can't believe it! And I am so truly grateful to each and every visitor to my blog. It is just about to flip over to 20,000 visits and I can't tell you how thrilling it is for me to see that. I love books, and I love sharing them with you.  Knowing that there are readers eager to know what I am reading and posting makes working on this blog such a joy! Thank you for your support, your comments and for following what I am posting here. It makes all the difference in the world to me!