Queen of the Falls, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Thomas Allen & Son. 2011. $22.99 ages 8 and up

"Why had so many people gathered to watch a barrel plunge over the waterfall? Wouldn't the tons of water pounding onto the rocks below have simply broken it to pieces? And yet there they stood, watching and waiting, holding their breath - waiting, because they all knew the barrel was not empty."


This is Chris Van Allsburg's first book of nonfiction, and it is pretty impressive. Not his usual fare given the wonderfully ironic fantasy world he often delivers for his host of spellbound fans. He says he felt it would be quite different from his usual projects; but:

"This was not the case. There is something decidedly fantastic and not quite real about Niagara Falls, about Annie's adventure, and about the stories that can unfold when imagination, determination, and foolhardiness combine to set humans off in pursuit of their goals."

Being a sixty-two year old woman, I can tell you that thinking about having myself fastened inside a barrel with a handhold and a bunch of soft pillows would ensure an untimely death, never mind anyone putting me in it, then in the water and sending me over Niagara Falls. I almost couldn't read the description without feeling woozy.  Daredevil I am NOT!

We know much about the Falls and the fact that the water 'drops from a height that is as tall as a seventeen-story building'. What would entice a former charm school owner and teacher to even consider going over them? Annie was in need of money following the failure of her school. She thought about the kind of work a woman might do in the early twentieth century. Perhaps clerk in a store, or clean homes, or any number of other menial tasks...none would provide a viable living for a woman on her own and facing old age. Notoriety might work! What could drum up more interest, and money, than riding over Niagara Falls in a barrel?

Now, I know that sixty-two year old women can be determined, feisty and steadfast in their commitment to a goal, so it isn't surprising that Annie set about doing all that she needed to ensure this adventure. She would live to tell people all about it, and they would pay money to hear her tell her story. It didn't happen...people were not interested. They were, however, quite taken with the barrel...and it was stolen twice from her. She had to have another one built for her. She sold postcards and souvenirs at the Falls for years, while the replica of the barrel formed the backdrop. She also had accomplished something that no one else had ever done...and she was content with that! She is, to this day, the only woman to have gone alone over the Falls in a barrel.

As with his other books, Chris Van Allsburg creates impressive illustrations to accompany this tender, and sad, tale of a woman with a dream. He tells her story with honesty and compassion, showing each of the many scenes with clarity and a sense of wonder at the feat she accomplished. We come away from the reading feeling that we know Annie, and awed by the tension he creates to help us take the ride with her.

For the first time I wonder what else has happened in 'this' world that might attract the attention of such an acclaimed and honored artist and storyteller. Personally, I can't wait (as always) to see his next book!

Switching on the Moon, collected by Jane Yolen and and Andrew Fusek Peters, with illustrations by G. Brian Karas. Candlewick, Random House. 2010. $26.00 ages birth and up

"Tonight my puppy woke me up
by climbing in my bed.
His cushion looks so comfortable
I'll sleep on it instead.
If he dreams of ice cream cones
and trips to outer space,
will I dream of chewy bones
and finding cats to chase?"

Switch by Marilyn Singer

Please tell me that every time a baby is born in your family or within your circle of friends, the first thing you think to buy is a book! It is a present to be opened again and again....and may be the one that the grown child never wants to give up. Now, there's a lifelong gift!

To that end I am always delighted to see a new collection, especially for little ones. This one is a companion to Here's A Little Poem (Candlewick, 2007) by the same authors. I have given it as a gift numerous times and now I can double the parents' pleasure. There's one for the daytime and now one for bedtime. This lovely book is the same size...big and full of sixty poems meant to be shared at night, but sure to please at any time of day!

"Bath

Why can't I go to bed dirty?
What's so special about being clean?
I am dirty today. I'll get dirty again.
So why bother to wash in between?
                      Jo Ellen Bogart"

They are arranged in three groupings, each having importance in the bedtime rituals of many families. The first is Going to Bed, followed by Sweet Dreams and finally, In The Night.  Anyone who has raised children will remember there are, indeed, distinct differences from one to the next.

"The Dream Keeper

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
              Langston Hughes"

There is so much here to read, enjoy and read again. It could be the 'just  right' bedtime book for a long period of time. What more can we ask...time at the end of the day to delight in words, to sit cosily sharing those delightful words and to wind down from the many daily routines of living. Ah, sweet peaceful place!

Hopefully that lovely quiet peace will afford a nighttime waker a feeling that lasts:

"In The Night

When I wake up and it is dark
      And very far from day
I sing a humming sort of tune
      To pass the time away.

I hum it loud, I hum it soft,
       I hum it low and deep,
And by the time I'm out of breath
       I've hummed myself to sleep.
                   Marchette Chute"
                 
G. Brian Karas' rich deep colors, mixed media textures and shadowy infused light add just the right touch and offer a setting that is sure to encourage quiet talk and relaxation. An index of first lines and of the poets themselves is most helpful.

A Beach Tail, written by Karen Lynn Williams and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Boyds Mills Press, Penguin. 2010. $21.95 ages 3 and up

""A Sea Lion?" Dad asked.
"A Sandy Lion," Gregory said.
"Sandy needs a tail," said Dad.
Gregory picked up his sturdy
drawing stick.
"Don't go in the water,
and don't leave Sandy," Dad said.
"I won't," said Gregory.
Dad sat down on the dolphin towel
under the blue umbrella."

A lion in the sand is the perfect way for Gregory to express himself.  As he draws the tail, it gets longer and longer. When he realizes that he can no longer see his father, he knows he is lost. But, the tail comes to rescue and leads him safely back to the blue umbrella and Dad.

What fun for all children...a day of wonder at the beach, in the sand and the sun, following your heart along the sandy shore. The rhythm of the text carries Gregory along, past the purple jellyfish  past an old abandoned sand castle, close to a horseshoe crab and through a giant hole. There is wonder wherever he looks. No adults, just Gregory and the adventure of sand exploration and freedom. He even leaves his signature for all to see.


There is a niggling worry when he turns back around and realizes how far he has come. But, his sandy stick trail and all of the recognizable landmarks uncomplicate the return trip. Soon he is right where he belongs, alongside his father and under the blue umbrella.

The palette chosen by Floyd Cooper for creating his pastel art puts his readers on that sunny, warm beach alongside Gregory, an aspiring artist himself. The grainy texture and the sun-washed backgrounds are perfect for helping us conjure up the warm days of summer. He is incredibly adept with the many close-ups of a young boy exploring his surroundings. Endearing and quite lovely!

The Best and Hardest Thing, written by Pat Brisson. Penguin Group (Canada), 2010. $21.00 ages 12 and up

"I don't know his middle name,
his birthday,
where he was born.

I don't  know his favorite cereal,
his favorite sport,
his favorite flavor of ice cream.

I don't know why he moved here,
who he lives with,
how long he's staying."

Her classmates call her studious, dependable, pleasant, nice, quiet, saintly. She has tried to be all those things since coming to live with Gram, where her mother sent her when she got sick with cancer. Feeling insulted by the words, Molly makes a clear determination to change all that. She sets her sights on bad boy Grady:

"The me that is
is not the type to capture Grady's eye:
too blah, too beige, too
blending-in-with-all-the-rest.
I'll need a plan for change
so big, so brave,
so perfectly pursued,
that boy will be bowled over by
my beauty and my bewitching ways."

There is much she doesn't know about him. And a lot she doesn't really know about herself:

"Chocolate or strawberry?
Purple or pink?
Grow it or cut it?
Each day the answer's different.
So how can I be sure
about this
when I'm so unsure about
so many other things?
Do I really know what I'm doing?
Does anyone?"

Her decision is momentous and heartbreaking. It isn't long until Grady is gone; arrested for possession and jailed. Following that she makes another discovery. She is pregnant and faced with a decision that is very hard for her to make. An abortion is out of the question, keeping the baby is not reasonable or in its best interests; but giving it up? Can she go through with that decision?

Molly is a character to love and admire, plagued by loss and looking for acceptance at her high school. Her voice is strong and reasonable, while making life altering decisions and facing the repercussions of them.You will hold her in your heart just as she holds her wee son in hers...always!

"Regrets are many but my doubts are few,
although my tears and good-bye hugs betray
the best and hardest thing I'll ever do.
But know my heart will always be with you."

Pat Brisson uses eighteen poetic forms to tell Molly's story. On her website patbrisson.com you will find a full description of the poetry chosen and her process for the writing. I love it!

Bink & Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2010. $19.00 ages 5 and up

""Bink," said Gollie, "The brightness
of those socks pains me. I beg you
not to purchase them."

"I can't wait to put them on," said Bink.

"I love socks," said Bink.

"Some socks are more lovable than
others," said Gollie."

I seem to have waited forever to see this enchanting, and captivating book! If it in not in your personal library, you need to put it there. It should be on library shelves EVERYWHERE! It is definitely a "10", a 'keeper', a forever book!

Just look at the cover and know you are about to meet two of the most appealing and fascinating characters in childrens' literature! They are that special...and oh, so memorable. I have my toes, fingers and eyes crossed that it won't be long until we meet again. You don't really need me telling you about this book. There are so many reviews online; but, it is a book that I will not stop talking about for months and I am so happy that I can share it with you here.

No two people could be more opposite. Bink is an obsessive, punk-haired blonde bubble of energy and enthusiasm. Gollie is a calm, smooth-haired brunette and a tower of tranquility. Bink is squat, Gollie is lanky. Bink loves peanut butter. Gollie loves pancakes. They have differing opinions about almost everything:

"'The problem with Gollie," said Bink, "is that it's either Gollie's way or the highway."
"My socks and I have chosen the highway."
"The problem with Bink," said Gollie, "is her unwillingness to compromise.""

Because of their love for each other, they are able to make their friendship work and flourish.  

In three short chapters, we see how that happens. In the first, while out roller-skating, Bink is attracted to a sign at Eccles' Empire of Enchantment offering 'outrageoulsy bright socks!' She is mesmerized by their brightness. Gollie is appalled by it.

In the second, Gollie decides she needs a new adventure, and journeys forth. She leaves a note for Bink explaining her inability to answer the door while partaking of the trek. Think Sheldon...Gollie, Gollie, Gollie! Bink knocks incessantly, trying to get Gollie's attention. Gollie is busy and bothered by the constant intrusion. Bink is desolate without company. In the third, Bink wants a pet and a goldfish must suffice...a 'marvelous companion'. Gollie is unconvinced and sees it as 'unremarkable'. When the worst happens, Gollie is there to support her friend in needy times.

Marvelous companions indeed! None could be better!

And don't even get me started on the brilliance of Tony Fucile's illustrations! His artistic magic touches and enlivens each page, giving us characters who charm at every turn, a setting that sparkles and consistently changing perspectives that offer timely expressions, subtle humor and an unforgettable tale of tolerance, love and everlasting friendship. BRAVO!

Snook Alone, written by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. Candlewick, Random House. 2010. $20.00 ages 5 and up

"Sometimes they worked in the sugar cane. Snook prowled the forest of stalks, and rats squealed with terror at his approach. Sometimes Snook routed a sleeping hare and won a high-speed race with a delicious prize."

Abba Jacob and his terrier Snook share a peaceful co-existence on an island faraway. Abba Jacob fills his days with prayer and work. Snook keeps the rats and mice at bay and out of Abba Jacob's kitchen; but, he also spends much of his day being a shadow of protection to his beloved monk:

"After the last silence,
Abba Jacob blew out the candle, bowed,
and walked down the steps and crossed the lawn
to his house to go to bed.
Snook slept on the veranda
on a green cushion,
with one ear periscoping out of sleep
and every sleeping muscle poised."

Abba Jacob is asked to help catalog the plants and animals on nearby islands. Snook happily tags along. His job with the rats and mice is important for keeping the burgeoning population in check there, too.  He takes to his task with perseverance and feverish delight. Snook is hard at work when a storm threatens and Abba Jacob cannot get his attention before they are forced to flee to safety.

Snook returns to shore to find his friend gone and soon must seek shelter for himself  'in a cave of pemphis roots'. As the days pass, Snook proves himself to be adept at finding what he needs for survival. The days are endless and he longs for his dear, dear friend:

"Snook woke up every morning before dawn.
He waited.
Then he foraged, moused, and drank.
Then he waited again.
The silence was black and empty."

His loneliness is palpable in the brilliantly written text, and in the astonishing multimedia artwork. Timothy Basil Ering uses ink and acrylics to create paintings that depict the warmth of the friendship, the fierceness of the storm, the terror of nighttime island visitors, the abject desolation of being alone, and the joy of reunion, while also creating expressive and powerful line drawings to add context and emotion. 

Of her amazing book, Marilyn Nelson says:

'For me, this book is about silence and what we can learn from it. Snook has lived his whole life according to the rhythm of the life of Abba Jacob, and Abba Jacob’s life is work and prayer. So Snook falls into his own rhythm of work and prayer. It’s not prayer in his mind—you know, he’s a dog. But it’s work and silence; it’s work and longing—and longing is another word for prayer.

The turning point is when Snook finds in himself compassion—not self-pity, not just longing for his master—but compassion for other living creatures. And that’s what happens in the incident with the sea turtle. Snook achieves a kind of spiritual mastery. And then when he’s reunited with Abba Jacob, he’s a dog with a difference. He’s a dog who has learned something about what silence can teach all of us."

To show they are happy to be eventually reunited, I will leave to the author:

"Then he jumped and raced in a yapping circle
of pee-dribbling delight.
As the boat skimmed sand
and the man at the tiller cut the motor,
Abba Jacob splashed out.
He ran to meet the barking somersault
that leaped into his arms."

No one could say that better!

Smile, written by Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic, 2010. $13.99 ages 10 and up

"Who?
Sean.
The one on the basketball team?
Yeah!
He's cute! Hey, Valentine's Day is
coming up! You should ask him out!
What?! Me?!
Sure! Ask him to the dance or something!
I could NEVER do that!
Why not?
I'd want him to ask me."

Raina is a typical sixth grader, wanting to be normal and well-liked, inobtrusive yet popular. Coming home from a Girl Scouts outing she trips and falls. The painful result is painful trauma to her two front teeth and the subsequent years of treatment to try and repair the damage done. It is a long, unpleasant and disheartening process that includes braces, surgeries, headgear, false teeth and retainers. That is all about her teeth!

What about the normal day-to-day drama of middle school and finding your way through the maze that includes acne, boys, ratty friends and a San Francisco earthquake? How does one deal with all of that, too?

As an adult whose passion is art, specifically graphica, you create a story about it. You do it with skill and sensitivity, bringing back memories of your past and trying to make sense of it all for your future.  If you are a middle school survivor you might find bits of yourself here. If you had to deal with dentists, orthodontists, periodontists, dental surgeons, you may even share some of Raina's experiences.

Every middle school student will be familiar with uncertainty about appearance, vulnerability within friendships and finding independence and a sense of self. Raina Telgemeier shares this memoir with warmth and dignity, adding generous doses of humor along the way.  Your kids will love it, be sure to get it into their hands!

Beyond Blonde, written by Teresa Toten. Penguin, 2010. $14.00 ages 12 and up

"After one more smother hug
for the road, I was off. "Even zo
it's for sure zer stupid fault," she
called from the doorway, "you
must cut some slacks for zem."
"You mean, cut them some slack!"
I yelled from the sidewalk.
"Zat is vat I said!" she yelled back.

In this third and final installment of the Blonde trilogy Sophie Kandinsky is sixteen and her world has changed drastically. Her beloved Papa leaves home to find sobriety, her Mama avoids people and talk about her husband's absence by hiding away and crying in her room, her first love Luke is forced to marry his pregnant other girlfriend and the highly annoying David Walter is going to help coach the basketball team to a better-than-last-year season. Sophie does not like the cocky, intrusive David and doesn't mind telling everyone. She sees her place on the team as her only stability in an otherwise pretty unstable world.

What about the Blondes and her Aunties, you ask? Well, they are right there holding her up, and helping her to make sense of the many physical and emotional catastrophes that besiege her. They also share their secrets and offer up some humor and much love. What more can a girl ask?

The sensitive and sparkling characters who have peopled this welcome and entertaining trilogy maintain the authentic voice and captivating spirit that have inspired readers since Me and the Blondes made its debut in 2007. The 1970s were never so engaging. Sophie's Croatian immigrant family remain strong and eccentric:

"Mama was the muted one in a bright Pepto-Bismol pink "almost Chanel" suit that she saved for closing real estate deals. The Aunties never went anywhere without full armour: hair teased and sprayed, makeup blazing, girdles girdling, and billowing silk outfits meant to dazzle, if not blind, all potential opponents."

That is how they 'inconspicuously' attend their first AA meeting, in an attempt to understand Papa's demons and to offer help.

And the Blondes?

"Madison came back from somewhere called the Lake District in England. Kit returned from spending the summer at her mother's place in Berkeley, California. And, although Sarah stayed around, she'd been consumed by the birth of a brand-new baby sister, the fifth blonde, blue-eyed girl in the Davis family collection."

They are back to school, to basketball, to parties, to boyfriends and to the many other dramas that are part of their high school social scene. But, they are true to each other and endlessly supportive. The Aunts and the Blondes are absolute proof that having good friends and great relatives is a powerful thing. Oh, and they offer fun along life's path. Funny, sad and unforgettable! If you have not yet met these wonderful people, take a weekend and get to know them well. It will definitely be worth the ride!

There are NO cats in this book, written and illustrated by Viviane Schwarz. Candlewick, Random House, 2010. $20.00 ages 3 and up

"Sorry we can't stay.
Nice to have met you.
Bye!
Let's go out of the book
this way.
We just have to get through
here.
Everybody PUSH..."


Full of fun, and so much charm, this picture book will have young listeners begging for more. As she did in her first book about Andre, Tiny and Moonpie, Viviane Schwarz offers up an interactive tale that features wondrous pop-ups and collage artwork. We are all thrilled to spend time with these endearing and lovable felines.

Their faces are full of wide-eyed wonder, and unmistakable surprise when they notice that we are watching. They quickly want us to know that, while they are happy to see us again, they are on the brink of departure and looking for grand adventure. They long to see all that the world offers!

The suitcases are full and ready, but they can't seem to make their way out of the book. They push. They jump. Nothing seems appropriate for the leave-taking. Maybe...a wish will make it happen. They have a fervent request...'please help us'!

Readers will love that they have to manipulate the pages as they go along. Add to that the back and forth conversation that the cats encourage, making each one of us a part of their ongoing saga. If this is your first meeting with Andre, Tiny and Moonpie, you want to get right out to the library or a bookstore and see what they were up to in There are cats in this book (Candlewick, 2008).

Cinnamon Baby, written by Nicola Winstanley and illustrated by Janice Nadeau. Kids Can Press, 2011. $18.95 ages 5 and up

"One cool autumn morning a man named Sebastian was passing Miriam's bakeshop when her sweet-smelling voice came floating through the window. He went inside the shop and bought some cinnamon bread. After that he bought a loaf of bread every day for a year."


You know that smell, right? Cinnamon wafting through the air and making a lunge to completely overcome your olfactory senses. Can it soothe a baby's soul? It seems that it might.

Miriam is a baker who cycles to work, where she creates mouth-watering breads that attract much attention. Her Alchemy Bakery fills the nearby street with sweet smells and her singing welcomes her delighted customers:

“She made a spicy bread, studded with little peppercorns and basil, and a sweet bread with ginger. She made a light, white loaf with dill, and a crusty brown one with sunflower seeds and honey.”

Sebastian is a cyclist and a musician who is enticed by both. It isn't too long until he asks her to marry him.
Miriam accepts his proposal and soon they are anticipating the birth of their first child. The baby is born, looking remarkably like both of its parents:

"The child has big brown eyes and dusky skin and smelled like sweet milk."

For three days life is idyllic. When the crying starts on the fourth day, no amount of cajoling and comfort makes the tiniest difference. It takes twelve hours until the baby finally cries itself to sleep. Next morning...same thing! Walks, talks, doctor visits, nothing calms that baby. And again the next day; however, Miriam has an idea! Off they troop to the bakery where she goes about her daily routine, baking her breads and singing her songs. It takes no time for things to change for the better:

"As soon as the little bakery began to fill with the cinnamony smell of the dough, the baby stopped crying...and smiled. Then it slipped into a blissful sleep while its mother sang, and her voice and the smell and the warmth from the oven and the taste of sugar in the air filled all the child's senses."

The warmth of the colors that Janice Nadeau chooses for her artwork is perfect in every way. The cinnamon toned pages and mixed media images will have readers and listeners wanting to pause for endless moments to take it all in.  There are so many wonderful details that you simply don't want to miss! 


Then try cinnamon bread as a quick fix for your unhappy little one...it might just do the trick. It's bound to make everyone else happier anyway.

Mr. Elephanter, written and illustrated by Lark Pien. Candlewick, Random House. 2010. $18.00 ages 3 and up

"From the pool, they parade together through the busy, bustling city. Mr. Elephanter watches for traffic, the shop owners wave, and the elephanties tootle at the cars zooming by."



OOOOH, these baby elephanties are so little! No matter...size doesn't mean anything when it comes to caring about others. Mr. Elephanter proves that daily, from his early in the morning smile to his quiet hug as he leaves them. Upon arrival, he is greeted by his charges with great glee. Once breakfast is served and eaten, they are off on an adventure-filled day. First, a swim in the neighborhood pool, and then they are off for a walkabout. Everyone is happy to see them.

On a scheduled trip to the zoo, they meet an old friend. This grown elephant is one of Mr. Elephanter's 'kids'. Upon listening in on the conversation readers will acknowledge that much care and concern is shared between the two, even years later. Upon their return to the Elephantery the young ones are ready for a nap, and their caregiver is able to catch up on the many small jobs that need doing. (We've all been there!) All is not perfect; what is? Little accidents are tended to, and everyone settles in for some games, a dance or two. As the day comes to an end, serenity ensues. Mr. Elephanter takes his leave with a promise to return tomorrow.

Ah, their life is simple and loving, taking us back to a time in the past when life was not so frenzied and frantic. The artwork matches the tone of this lovely story perfectly. There is much to see, and marvel over as you share this book with little ones. Each page is filled with charm and lovely pastel watercolors. Be sure to look carefully at the endpapers as they have another part of the story to tell!

Noodle & Lou, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Arthur Howard. Beach Lane, Simon & Schuster. 2011. $18.99 ages 2 and up

"This went on for a bit,
each line like the last,
Noodle quite gloomy
and Lou just steadfast.
But Lou meant every word -
even Noodle could see.
All those high-flyin' types,
and Lou-bird likes me!"

I count my blessings every day for the friends in my life....I have 'Lous' there for me whenever I need them! I don't often wake up with a 'rain-cloudy' heart as Noodle did one day. Each one of us has had a similar experience. When we are feeling blue and down in the dumps, we need a friend to help us see things in a different light. Lou is just the ticket!

Lou is a strong and faithful blue jay, there for Noodle when needed and offering sage and honest counsel.
Noodle is a worm who's finding the grass greener anywhere than at his place. Each one of his complaints is matched by Lou's optimism:

""I'm dirty and mucky!'
"You're wiggly and plucky."
"I'm skinny and bare."
"With your own special flair.""

It takes a while and some perseverance. It's a friendship that is cause for surprise as anyone who spouts the adage about early birds and worms would know. Lou is a friend that we all want to have. Who would we be without them? 

The rhyming couplets are just right...filled with wondrous words and moving along with precision and perspicacity. I love her work, and kids will love it, too. I wish all those who don't seem suited to a brilliant friendship could take a lesson from these two. Arthur Howard has created an earthworm to love, baseball cap and pride intact when all is said and done. We empathize with his plight, delight in his friendship with Lou and will want to visit with him again. Lou is a loving, bright-eyed, and hardly raucous, jay with an abiding love for his good friend. Bravo!

In an interview, Liz Scanlon tells her readers that her story was inspired by a real-life event:

The idea for Noodle & Lou came from a real worm, crawling in the muck under shrubs near our house after a rain storm. Worms are so important, I thought. And then I laughed. Because they are, but they're also just skinny, slimy, silent, beige little creatures. Not a lot going for them at first glance. Once I started writing, I thought, Who better to notice the attributes of a worm than a bird? Odd couples make for good stories because of how their attributes (and quirks) stand out in contrast to each other.

So, that's where authors get their ideas!

Around the World on Eighty Legs, written by Amy Gibson and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. Scholastic, 2011. $21.99 ages 4 and up

"If you slosh through a bog,
you might find it worthwhile -

Stop and pause -

Are those jaws?
(Or a log with a smile?)"

Amy Gibson takes her readers on a trip of discovery that begins in the Andes and the Amazon, where she introduces howler monkeys, anacondas and includes one of my favorite poems from the collection:

"Poison Dart Frog

In fairy tales
you kiss a frog,
and he becomes
a prince.

The very thought
of puckering up
to this one
makes me wince.

He's filled with
potent poison -
you'd drop dead
upon the spot.

He's handsome, yes -
bright blue and red -
Prince Charming,
he is not."

Blame my love of fairy tales, poetry, or humor...each one has its place in just one of these zany, smart poems. We visit five continents (sans North America and Europe) and meet some of the animals that are indigenous to the area. Each of the poems is informative while also tickling the funny bone, and making the reader think. The lengths and the forms differ. Some of the animals described are familiar, some are decidely not well-known:

"Hoatzin
(WHAT-zin)
If you chance
to meet a hoatzin,
you will likely flee
the spot,

for the leaves
that churn and turn
inside his stomach
reek of rot -

So you'll smell him
'fore you see him
(but you'll rather
you had not)."

Join us on the journey, you won't be sorry! And if you don't learn enough just reading the poems and perusing the fun-filled watercolor artwork, check out the final pages where the author offers up a
'menagerie of facts'. There she adds 'stuff' she couldn't put in her poetry. Lucky we are to share such books during National Poetry Month. Get traveling!

Rain School, written and illustrated by James Rumford. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Thomas Allen & Son, 2011. $21.50 ages 4 and up

"In the country of Chad, it is the first day of school. The dry dirt road is filling up with children.
Big brothers and big sisters are leading the way."



Those big brothers and sisters have experience with the start of a new year in their home country. It is sure to surprise the newcomers. Together they head off down the road toward school, the little ones filled with questions that the older ones are not willing to answer. When they arrive there is a schoolyard but no school. There is no classroom and there are no desks. The teacher is unconcerned.

It seems that the first lesson is in building. They learn to make mud bricks, to dry them and then use them to create their own schoolroom and their desks. Once completed the children are ready to begin their other lessons in earnest. It is a satisfying and successful year for each one of them:

"The last day has come. The students' minds are fat with knowledge.
Their notebooks are rumpled from learning."

Home they go, just as the big rains begin. Can you guess what the rains do? When summer is over they will return to school, the little ones being the big ones now. And, once again, they will build their school so that they may all learn.

The illustrations are colorful, uplifting, and filled with James Rumford's love for Chad and its people. He lived there as a teacher and a Peace Corps volunteer. He clearly shows us, through his well chosen words and vibrant artwork, the importance of schooling in a country where few children have the opportunity to attend.

Emma Dilemma, written by Kirstine O'Connell George and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Clarion, Thomas Allen & Son, 2011. $19.99 ages 4 and up

Emma's hand is
just the right size
to fit
inside mine.

Emma's hand is
warm
soft
friendly

sticky."

I think that older sisters need to remember those little moments when the little sister is endearing. I don't think that time comes around too often. Of course, I have no experience to base these feelings on at all; I have a younger brother. But, my neighborhood friends had three girls in the family and I could not believe the chaos they managed to stir up on a daily basis. They took each other's clothes, screamed at each other constantly, spied on the oldest's romances, teased the youngest unmercifully. Today, they are best friends.

Jessica and Emma are sisters, and Jessica's observations of that relationship are so strong and clear in the perceptive poetry of Kristine O'Connell George. Emma can, at once, be funny and sweet while also being a bother and a brat. How does that happen? Jessica tries to be a good big sister. Can Emma not do the same? She is a dilemma!

"Emma copies
everything I do,
and sometimes
I don't do something
I might do
or really
want to do
because
I know
she is
always
watching
every single thing I do."


Kristine O'Connell George never disappoints. She is perceptive and contemplative, and creates two characters who will resonate with anyone who has a sibling, but especially those who have a bright and charming, irascible and irritating little sister. No matter what Emma does to annoy Jessica...sneaking into her bedroom, telling wearying jokes or doing homework alongside her...there is love. It is evident in the storytelling, the pie-sharing, the gift buying and the concern when Emma hurts herself. The feelings run the gamut from one end of the scale to the other when Jessica is dealing with Emma Dilemma.

"Emma wants me to
be the first one
to sign her cast.
I print

I love you Emma

with the only marker I have left
that Emma hasn't ruined. "

If you have a sibling, you have probably been there, and done that! If you want to evoke some of those old memories, get this book and share it with your kids. Then, you will have childhood stories to tell them.

Jam and Honey, written by Melita Morales and illustrated by Laura J Bryant. Tricycle Press, Random House. 2011. $17.99 ages 4 and up

"The scratchy branches could scrape my knees,
but I'm more scared of the buzzing bees.

Mama says hold still, they will fly away.
Bees want nectar, so I'll be okay!"


Two characters, two voices, two stories and a shared fear...one of the other. The little girl is out picking berries to make jam when she comes face to face with a bee. Her mom has told her not to worry...to just be still. She follows that advice and is soon on her way home with her mother, and ready to make that jam.

From the other perspective we meet the bee. It also has a goal in mind...to collect nectar to be taken home to the hive:

"We'll make honey when I come home,
sweet honey to fill our honeycomb."

The bee is afraid of humans but his mama tells him that he needs only to fly high and they won't bother him. When he meets up with the berry picker he knows just what to do. And, all is well. Each of us has a place in the workings of the world and that message is gently and effectively shared in this quiet story. The girl and the bee are scared of the other, both have a purpose in the meeting, and both fulfill the task they set out to do.

The pastel-hued tones of the artwork match the story and show the action from both perspectives, keeping our focus on the two main characters, their apprehension and their triumph at a job well done.

Now, there's a spring/summer story to share with your little ones.

Bedtime for Bear, written and illustrated by Brett Helquist. Harper, 2011. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"HEY, BEAR. We're tired.
It's late. Isn't it bedtime
for bears?
How about just one more time?
I won't see you again until spring.
So down they slid."



I'm sure you have read hibernation stories before, and that you enjoyed them. You may not have seen one quite like this! It is in the illustrations that children will truly delight as they read this reversal of an oft-told tale of children playing outside in the spring and summer when a friend has been called inside. It's not fair....can't you just hear it???

It's November. Bear has donned his winter pjs, grabbed hold of his favorite stuffed bunny and is settling in for a long winter's nap when two bandit (well, raccoon) friends show up to invite him outside for a final foray in the snow. They are persistent, but Bear is adamant. It's time for all good bears to be asleep.

And, that's the end of the story? No, of course not! As he slumbers Bear cannot help but hear his friends gamboling on the snow slopes right outside his window. Their laughter is keeping his from his slumber. When they start pelting his windows with well-aimed snowballs, he is disgruntled and opens his door to confront them...only to be on the receiving end of one of those missiles. The rascals run in fear, and Bear gives chase.

He trips and falls and comes to understand his friends' delight in their outdoor adventure. They spend the whole day together before they all succumb to exhaustion and Bear takes to his bed, once again. The raccoons head off with a promise that they will meet again following the winter nap.

It's all fun but made more so with the expressive, topsy-turvy artwork that the author contributes. Young readers are sure to want to jump right inside the book and take their part in all the fun being had. Bret Helquist uses variety in perspective, and gives his characters charm and vigor. Sharing the story is almost as much as fun as participating in it!

I know it's a bit late to be sharing it, but I didn't want you to miss it. So, put it on your list for purchase and get it before winter rears its ugly head once again.

Pocketful of Posies, by Salley Mavor. Houghton, Thomas Allen & Son. 2010. $27.50 ages birth and up

"Elsie Marley has grown so fine,
She won't get up to serve the swine,
But lies in bed till eight or nine,
And surely she does take her time."


My word! That's my first reaction to this book of familiar and not so familiar nursery rhymes. What, I haven't seen a book of such rhymes before? Of course, I have! Have I seen such ubelievable needlework to accompany them? No, I have never!

If you don't spend hours poring over the incredibly detailed and beautiful work that Salley Mavor has done to bring focus to nursery rhymes, I'll be very surprised. She calls it 'fabric relief collage' and it will have you picking your jaw up off the floor as you wander through its pages.

She has chosen verses to take her intended audience from awakening to a new day all the way through to bedtime. The world she fashions is miniature and is created using wool felt, numerous precise stitches and  found materials...you must look closely to find where she has used them here. These old rhymes are given a new and glorious life. The detailed scenes include people, gardens, animals and houses. They each took almost a month of work, and we are blessed to be able to share them with the children we love.

There are not words to do it justice, and the photo included here cannot possibly give you a real feeling for this wondrous collection. Put it at the top of your list for that new baby, a favorite grandchild, an appreciative needleworker!

If you have not heard of Salley Mavor, artist extraordinaire, google her. You will be astounded!

Twosomes, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Lee Wildish. Knopf, Randon House. 2011. $8.99 ages 3 and up

"Dogs

Nice to meetcha! You smell delish!
Wanna share my water dish?

Elephants

I like your tusks, I like your trunk.
I like your size - you're quite a hunk."


Oh, that Marilyn Singer....is there anything she can't do? She has taught me so much about poetry. She seems to delight in many forms. These simple two line rhymes capture the essence of the animals being described astutely and with humor. Little kids will love the rhythm and soon be reading the short ditties on their own.

As I read them I wondered if animals know anything about Valentine's Day. If they do, I am sure they would want the sentiment evident here to be stated and felt by their adoring partners. There are pets, and other members of the animal kingdom, some you might want to meet and others you would do anything to avoid. Each has a voice in this charming collection:

"Porcupines 

Hugging you takes some practice. 
So I'll start out with a cactus." 

If you are one of those people who manages to collect a box full of 'to be given' gifts for birthdays, Valentine's Day, or any other special occasion, this is one to add to your stash. It will bring delight to its recipient and costs little more than a card!

These couplets are sure to capture the attention of young readers and will be asked for again and again. The expressive and funny artwork brings life to each of the pairs and add the perfect touch to this tiny treasure.

Wise at Heart, by Brody Hartman, Dr. Richard Steckel and Michele Steckel. Kids Can Press, 2011. $19.95 ages 9 and up

"Find out what you love to do (paint, write, sports), and if it doesn't hurt anybody, keep doing it. And doing it. And doing it.
     -William Joyce"




Having been a kindergarten teacher for much of my professional career I had the distinct pleasure of 'starting over' each September. A new class, a new dynamic and another group of wide-eyed, thoughtful, caring young children who had no concern with race or class, gender or social standing. Would that we could all stay so innocent! Unfortunately for those dear sweet children life can get in the way, and they too often become changed by media, peers, and the behaviors of some adults in their lives.
Wise At Heart offers up the a much needed look at the world through the eyes of 'almost three hundred elders around the globe and nearly as many children'. Their insights are shared in three sections - Wise Inside, Peace Wise and Nature Wise. The striking and colorful photos of children from eighteen countries does the reader's heart good and makes it perfectly clear that no matter where we live, we are not so very different. I wish I could share many of the images with you!
Wisdom fills its pages and offers a chance for us to share the thoughts of people from around the world, providing an invitation for discussion and guidance. I want to share just a few:

"All you need to be happy is to be surrounded by people you love and care about."  Clark, age 15

"Dignity is priceless. You can't buy it."  Yasmin, age 11

"The greatest thing I could wish for any child is to care more passionately about something - books, music, frogs, pipe fittings, anything - than about the opinions of other people."   Annie Barrows

"War solves nothing. Peace solves everything."  Myles, age 9

"It only takes one person to change the world."   Jonathan, age 6

""If a mountain could talk, it would mostly want to tell us that polluting is just killing ourselves."  Gabe, age 13

"Run, play, laugh, be kind, smile, try, rest, learn, explore, love, hug, help."   Michelle Quirk

I think that final one could be the mantra of so many of the wonderful young children who shared my classroom and my school life over the years. What better way to spend the days.

I hope that you will find this book and share the 'words of wisdom' contained within its pages. I imagine the warmth of the conversations, the quiet thought that ends the day and the chance to do what Mahatma Gandhi suggested for each of us: 'You must be the change you want to see in the world.'

Franklin in the Dark 25th Anniversary Edition, written by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark. Kids Can Press, 2011. $18.95 ages 3 and up

"Franklin was a turtle. He was afraid of crawling into his small, dark shell. And so, Franklin the turtle dragged his shell behind him."




Can it possibly be 25 years since I first started sharing this lively book with children? My kids were already 10 and 7 in 1986, and we loved it. I still do!

I remember delighting in the story of how it came to be. I was a huge M*A*S*H fan, and thought it was just wonderful that an author could be inspired by Hawkeye and his claustrophobia. How do authors do that?

Franklin was afraid of the dark, just as so many of his young fans were! They had instant rapport with a turtle who was afraid to get inside his own shell...he wasn't sure what he would find there, but he was sure it wouldn't be good. Remember those images of  'creepy things, slippery things, and monsters' that he conjured at bedtime! It was only the beginning of Franklin's lifetime in a series of beloved books. One hundred titles in more than thirty languages later, it remains my favorite one of all.

In the 25th Anniversary Edition Franklin is remarkably unchanged...I wish I could say the same! He is as fresh and green as he was so long ago. Paulette Bourgeois has included a letter and tells readers:

"I thought it was a one-time deal,  but readers wanted more, and so the series began."

She continues:

"Franklin has been glad, sad, mad - and sometimes even bad."

Ah, just like my kids! Children from all over the world love Franklin and his legacy lives on in this newest release.

Some of Brenda Clark's original artwork is shown alongside a letter that she wrote. She describes drawing Franklin:

"...I worked through a number of sketches before settling on Franklin's final design. He looks like a real turtle, but walks on two legs. He can crawl out of his shell and pull it behind him with a rope. Franklin is both imaginary and real."

There is a final section that chronicles Franklin's history from the original title, The Turtle They Called Chicken to the many other stories that resulted from his popularity with a young audience. Merchandising, his role in helping with community celebrations and the many languages in which his story is told are only part of that story, past and present. Who knows what the future holds?

Most of the book is taken up with Franklin's first tale, told with all the charm and vibrant color of the original, and sure to attract another generation of emergent readers who will find comfort and camaraderie in the story of a small turtle who shares their fear.

What Happened on Fox Street, written by Tricia Springstubb. Balzer & Bray, Harper. 2010. $17.99 ages 8 and up

"Raining! The wind's rough fingers had planted the air with rain seeds and they were blooming, silver blossoms falling on Fox Street. She watched the rain darken the roofs and the hard, parched ground. As if she herself were a thing with roots, she sensed the plum tree sigh and drink. Up on Paradise, the passing cars made swishing sounds. Mo tilted her head and stuck out her tongue."

There is nowhere Mo would rather be than Fox Street, with its eclectic collection of neighbors and friends, her little sister Dottie and her handsome and sad father. Since their mother's death, Mo has a great deal of responsibility for Dottie's day to day care. Her father is working hard; often being called in when there is a water emergency. The Wild Child (Dottie) is everyone's favorite, young and sparkling and full of energy and love. Mo is missing her mom, doing her best to keep the family afloat and worrying that they might be leaving the only home she has ever known.

Mo loves summer when her best friend Mercedes returns to spend time with her grandmother Da, who also lives on Fox Street. This summer is not the same...Mercedes is different and Mo is dealing with a number of issues that make her angry all the time:

"And Dottie was the Princess of Mess. Only far, far worse than usual. The snarls in her hair had become permanent - nothing but scissors would cure them. And that T-shirt - when was the last time she'd changed it? So extensive was her grubbiness, she appeared to be wearing dirt-colored pads on her knees and elbows. Mo had been neglecting things, all right. The realization made her even angrier."


Everything is changing and Mo does not like change. Even her father is looking for a new beginning, and is considering an offer to sell their house. Fox Street and its environs are who Mo is. She loves living there, her memories of her mother are all mixed up with their life there, and she knows her neighbors, their foibles and their support for her family. She hasn't yet seen a real fox in the Green Kingdom nearby; but she knows it is there and harbors a secret desire to meet it face to face!

The sense of place is oh, so strong, the characters are real and worth knowing. Da and Mrs Steinbott (called Starchbutt by the neighborhood's children) are strong women who have more in common than anyone really knows. The Baggott boys run riot on the street giving it just the dose of exuberance that it needs and Mercedes is seeing it in a different, and somewhat negative, light now that she no longer lives there. Mo knows change is coming and she's preparing herself:

"She patted her pocket, where the twin plum pits waited. Her idea was for her and Merce to plant them on the very same day, at the precise same hour, Mercedes in her backyard in Cincinnati and Mo...wherever. She'd visit Merce's tree, and Merce would visit hers. The trees would grow up together, the exact same age, with the very same parent." 

This is a memorable and thoughtful tale of love, longing and letting go. It is worth a lot of attention. Once you have read it, I know that you will be aching to tell someone about it. Isn't that the best way to get it into the right hands?

Nothing, written by Janne Teller and translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken. Atheneum, Simon & Schuster. 2010. $21.99 ages 12 and up

"He yelled at us too.
"It's all a waste of time,' he yelled. "Everything begins only to end. The moment you were born you began to die. that's how it is with everything."
"The Earth is four billion, six hundred million years old, and you're going to reach one hundred at the most!" he yelled another day. "It's not even worth the bother."
And he went on."

If you don't mind stark, bleak, raw, uncompromising, taut, unforgettable, this is a book that you should read. There were times when I just had to stop, it was scaring me that much! Yet, I kept reading and would recommend this book despite its troubling and haunting effect on me. I will not soon forget it, and I am quite sure that it will be in my top ten books read in 2011. It is that good!
As a seventh grader, Pierre Anthon determines that 'nothing matters'. He announces this revelation to his classmates before he leaves school to sit in a plum tree and toss hard plums at passers-by. His classmates know better:

"We had just started seventh grade, and we were all so modern and so well-versed in life and being in the world that we knew everything was more about how it appeared than how it was. The most important thing, in any circumstance, was to amount to something that really looked like it was something. And though that something as yet seemed rather vague and unclear to us, it certainly had nothing to do with sitting in a plum tree, pitching plums into the street."

Those classmates make a plan to prove that something does matter. They start a collection they call the 'heap of meaning' and vow to build it high and higher with those things that mean something. They bring their own significant items and then ask friends and neighbors for the same, but:

"In just a few days it grew almost as tall as little Ingrid. Nevertheless, it was still short on meaning. We all knew that none of what we had collected mattered to us, really, so how were we supposed to convince Pierre Anthon that it did?"

The decide to give it deeper thought. It starts with a favorite book collection, a fishing rod, a black soccer ball and parrot earrings. Each is important to the person adding it to the heap. As the collection grows from person to person, it turns into something much darker and each classmate involved begins to force the next one to give up more than material possessions.

Agnes is the narrator. She is clearly concerned about the path her friends have chosen, and she tries to get them to realize it is getting out of hand. But, once started, no one seems able to stop its trajectory. Agnes cannot opt out; they are all in it together. They tell no one. Each one of them is bent on proving Pierre wrong.

The 'heap' at the sawmill grows as does the tension and anger. One day, they cannot seem to take it anymore and it leads to a brawl. Agnes runs for Pierre Anthon, who climbs out of his tree and makes his way to the sawmill. There he derides his classmates and dares them to prove him wrong. It is too much:

"Pierre Anthon had won.
But then he made a mistake.
He turned his back on us."

I will leave you to get your hands on this book, if you want to know what really happened. Certainly not a book for everyone, but you will be changed by reading it.

Cats Night Out, written by Caroline Stutson and illustrated by J Klassen. Simon & Schuster, 2010. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"Sixteen rumba
in the dark,
twitching silk bottoms
through the park.

In the city,
windows light.
How many cats
will dance tonight?"



I did not have this book when I read that Jon Klassen had won the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature in the illustration 'cat'egory. I went looking for it; I am happy that I did! There is so much here to love, including this amazing artwork. 

As is his strength, the artist creates an incredible setting for the rhythmic, alluring text and definitively sets the mood for young readers of this 'math book in hiding'. The story begins in an alley near a jazz club where a trumpet riff entices. As the music floats on the air, two cats samba to its beat. The smoky browns, greys, tans of the night offer up a moody background for the tightly entwined pair.

In the next frame, there are two pairs of cats, and the music has changed to a boogie beat. The cats are hip, ladies wearing poodle skirts and saddle shoes. A repetitive chant displays on the facing page and the number 4 is hidden for young and observant eyes to find. Each turn of the page offers up another dancing pair, and a new venue for the accompanying dance. The rhythms of the text change to match the dances; which begin at samba and then move to boogie, tango, tap, line-dance, twist, fox-trot, rumba, polka and finally, a conga line. It's too much for the neighbors who holler for the cats to 'cut it out!' There is to be 'no more dancing on Easy Street!'

It did my heart good on the final two spreads to know that their love of dance has not been thwarted. While the drama of the Saturday night ventures has been impeded by disgruntled sleepyheads, Sunday night provides an opportunity for a slow and elegant waltz for two...and perhaps a second chance. There are sure to be more steps to be danced!

In that short synopsis you get an idea of the wonders of the book...rhythm, repetitive lines, rhyme, textures,
use of color to evoke strong mood and setting, variety in dance steps, text predictability for a young audience, counting by twos and a fun search for the numbers that match the number of cats dancing on the page.

Don't miss it!

The Boy in the Garden, written by Allan Say. Houghton, Thomas Allen, 2010.

                                                                

"They were watching me the whole time" he said, panting. "Papa thinks I'm foolish and Mr. Ozu thinks I'm silly...I was only pretending. I was thinking about the 'Grateful Crane' story that Mama read to me...the crane that the woodcutter saved from the trap."

A boy and a crane, a man and his studio...both places infused with light.

I read a most interesting piece on Allen Say, written by Jeff Baker of The Oregonian and published November 29, 2010. It was accompanied by this serene and telling photograph by Motoya Nakamura. I thought you might like to take a peek.

Before starting his story about Jiro, who visits Mr. Ozu with his Papa in celebration of the New Year, Allen Say writes 'The Story that Mama Read to Jiro...The Grateful Crane'.

His lovely, contemplative story follows from that premise. It is the windows that mean so much. Looking at this new book, I am reminded that Allen Say does such commendable work, always it seems focusing on memories or events from  life, looking through windows of time to bring his story to life for his readers.

While Jiro's father and his friend visit inside the house, Jiro goes outside to explore Mr. Ozu's beautiful garden. There he sees a graceful crane and is reminded of the story his mother shared. The older men see him from a window and laugh to think that Jiro believes the crane is real. Jiro is devastated by their teasing.

Jiro retreats further into the garden where he finds a small house that reminds him of the woodcutter's house from his Mama's story. He goes inside and finds solace in his beloved story...imagining a young woman who comes to give him food, and to weave in nearby room. Mr Ozu and his father find him there. They say they heard him yelling. As they leave the garden his father soothes him with the observation that the crane looks almost real. Jiro assures him that it is 'just a statue', while smiling a knowing smile.
Don't miss the final illustration...it has much to say about Jiro and the power of story.

Notes From the Dog, written by Gary Paulsen. Random House, 2009. $7.99 ages 8 and up

"No, not the bar idea. The grandpa
idea. We should totally hit up the
geezers at his old folks' home."
"You mean the assisted-living
retirement community? Where
my grandfather lives independently
with his dignity and privacy intact
until such time as medical or
lifestyle assistance becomes
necessary?"

Yes, there is some of the humor we have come to expect from this prolific, honored and accomplished writer. That being said, for those who think that Gary Paulsen writes only wilderness adventure, hilarious studies of the male psyche or articulate and personal nonfiction, you haven't read Nightjohn, The Beet Fields, Soldier's Heart or this thoughtful and heartfelt story that is 'dedicated with all respect and hope to everyone who has ever faced cancer.' He is a masterful writer, and I highly anticipate each new book.

Finn likes to be alone. In fact, this summer he is planning on talking with ten people at the most. There are four on his list from the onset...his father (who doesn't talk much because he's busy at work and taking university classes), his grandfather, his true friend Matthew and his dog Dylan. That's it! Finn likes people, he just can't figure them out so avoidance is the best course of action. He loves reading, he doesn't have a job and the summer promises to be fulfilling and quiet. When Johanna moves in to housesit for his neighbors, Finn is intrigued. She is very pretty, likes to talk and she seems to like talking to Finn. It's not that bad!

Johanna is a good friend, and soon both Dylan and Finn are spending more and more time with her. She is quite the young woman, and she's battling breast cancer. Finn learns much from Johanna as he goes about creating the garden that she has plotted out for Finn's backyard. Often sick from the effects of the chemotherapy treatment for her cancer, she manages to bring Finn out of his shell and opens his world to a widening circle of people. Johanna and her family have an uncanny ability to bring people together in celebrations of life, and Finn becomes part of that community. As do his father, grandfather, friend and dog!

Johanna thinks that Finn is awesome and she works to have him believe it himself, even arranging a date with the girl Finn finds fascinating. Johanna's goal for the summer is to compete in a breast cancer triathlon and the two boys are her biggest supporters, raising money by talking with different groups (an activity that has Finn's determination to keep his summer contacts to a minimum failing miserably). They worry that her health won't allow her to compete, but they support her fully.
There is sadness obviously; but there is also great joy and humor, giving us characters to admire and remember, a sense of community spirit and a story that might have you taking out membership in the Paulsen Posse. I've long been a member and plan on keeping that enrolment active. 

SNOW, you say!

Well, waking up in Manitoba
this Sunday morning in
April was a bit of an, albeit
beautiful, SURPRISE!
If my kids still lived at home,
we would be scouring the
bookshelves right now to
find these wonderful books to share today.

Peter makes a snow angel, a snowman and he even pretends to be a mountain climber. Then, he makes tracks. But, how does he do that? Then, what happens when he takes his snowball inside at home?

Two young children cannot escape the delights of a snowfall. They are fascinated by the flakes aas they begin to cover the ground and every visible thing. They cannot ignore the pull to be outside, so they suit up and off they go! The snow crunches, blows, offers comfort for making snow angelsand sparkles in the moonlight!




A gray European town is barely noticed against the gray sky. The villagers are doing what they do as the day progresses. Then, a snowflake falls. The boy and his dog notice while others do not. Only one? The boy and his dog don't mind. Soon, they get what they were wishing for; luckily, they are no the only ones enamored of the weather change.

Get out your 'good stuff in a sack' and see what you can do with found materials and imagination when the snow flies and there's not much to do. Lois Ehlert creates an admirable snow family and provides a compendium of useful information and photos...and a recipe for popcorn balls!

A girl and her father go owling on a moonlit winter night near the farm where they live. They are bundled up against the cold and trudge through newfallen snow which hides a myriad of animals who observe them as they pass. Pa calls to the Great Horned Owl. No answer. Then, he tries his call again.


A little boy wakes up on a morning just like this and tells his mom he's going outside. Off he goes to build the snowman of his dreams. When he can't sleep that night, he opens the front door to discover his snowman has come to life and is ready for adventure. There are no words...there is no need.

Inspired....and inspiring!



It's Sam's first snowfall, and he's full of questions. Where do snowmen sleep? How many snowflakes in a snowball? Do birds get goosebumps? Older and bolder, his big sister Stella has all the answers and she delights in showing him the pleasures of a brilliant winter's day.

This lovely award-winning book celebrates one man's enduring love for snowflakes. Wilson Bentley was born in Vermont where snow is frequent (maybe it's snowing there today, too). His parents supported his passion and used their savings to buy him a camera and a microscope. He used both to help inform others.

Millions of snowflakes drifted down. Everything was covered in a deep blanket of snow. Would it be deep enough? Would school be closed? There's nothing like a snow day! It's an unexpected gift of a day free for snow forts and sliding, hockey and hot chocolate. It's magic for everyone!

Maybe not in April, as spring break ends and the final school term is set to start.

Snow has been falling all night, and when a small rabbit awakens, he learns that school is closed, his mother can't go to the store, and his father's flight home has been cancelled. He is solemn, but safe and sound in his apartment. Readers will see and understand his feelings. Then, when the snow stops (even though it is bedtime), his mother surprises him!

Wish us luck for tomorrow....sunny skies and warm temperatures! No snow day!

Fairly Fairy Tales, written by Esme Raji Codell and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Aladdin, Simon & Schuster. 2011. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"Sticks?
Yes.

Straw?
Yes.

Bricks?
Yes.

Solar panels?
NOOOOO!

So, what fairy tale do you think it's about?

Can you guess?

Well, maybe.

This two page set of questions that just begs children to provide the obvious answers is immediately followed by a double page spread bursting with brilliant color, and begging for attention. The first two little pigs are working to create their homes which the wolf woefully destroys. By the time he arrives at the brick abode, all three are housed safely within its walls. A solar panel is prominently displayed to help readers understand its meaning. Turn the page, and witness a multitude of environmentally conscious piggies taking part in recycling, adding solar panels, working in a community garden, holding a benefit concert...everywhere you look there is another something to catch your eye! 

On to Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and the Three Bears. Little ones don't need to know the fairy tales to enjoy the fun; but, what a wonderful way to introduce them to a whole new world of stories. Once this book has been shared, it can so easily lead to reading the real versions of said tales. For older children, familiar with the fairy tales, the fun is in the wonder of the illustrations that create a feast for the eyes and imagination.


Three things familiar and one that doesn't belong....does that make you think of a game from Sesame Street? Young listeners will certainly get the connection. The fun inherent in sharing this book will make it a favorite from the 'get-go'! Every child will be eager to chant the questions and answers and will then delight in seeing a newly imagined scene from an old favorite story.

First of all, it's fun. Next, it has everything that early readers need to help them read on their own...simple text, pattern, and pictures that supply clues for new words. It also can encourage young writers to try their hands at a personal version of the same, or a different story.

Of the illustrator, the author says: "I never met her and we never spoke directly in the process of making the book, as is customary in publishing. She just went ahead and did what every picture book author dreams an illustrator will do: she ran with it, not just visually narrating the text but adding to it, creating two voices for the one song, both hers and mine."  What a serendipitous pairing!

I Am The Book, written by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Yayo. Holiday House, Thomas Allen. 2011 $19.95 ages 5 and up

"Early in the morning
dog, book and me
spend quiet moments
just we three.

Snuggled by the window,
chin on my knee
close to the raindrops,
dog, book and me."



What a perfect way to begin this new collection! This lovely poem called Quiet Morning was written by Karen B. Winnick and evokes a feeling of peaceful calm to begin a new day. Isn't that the way they all should start? I love to spend the first hour of my day reading.

This book was gifted to me by a dear friend who knows how I love books, and is unbelievably adept at finding books for me that I have not yet seen. So, it will have a special place within my poetry collection. Thanks, Jan!

The poems assembled for this anthology total thirteen and each celebrates the joy that comes to readers from the books they choose to read. Imaginative journeys, quiet places, the ability to ignore everything that is happening around you, and even the definition of a poem through the eyes of master poet Jane Yolen find pride of place in Hopkins' latest book.

Here's my favorite for today:

"Wonder Through the Pages
Karla Kuskin

So I picked out a book
on my own
from the shelf
and I started to read
on my own
to myself.
And nonsense and knowledge
came tumbling out,
whispering mysteries,
history's shout,
the wisdom of wizards,
the songs of the ages,
all wonders of wandering
wonderful pages."

What inspired word choice and a perfect description of the joys readers find in books day in and day out!

The artwork is done in bright, bold colors and enchants the reader while inviting close and careful observation. Yayo's vivid acrylics expand on the meaning and fires the imagination to perfectly match the poet's words. In the back matter, Lee Bennett Hopkins provides an additional section to introduce each of the featured poets, sharing tidbits of information that add to the appeal.