The Paper Dolls, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. Macmillan Children's Books, Harper. 2012. $19.99 ages 2 and up

"They were Ticky and Tacky
and Jackie the Backie
and Jim with two noses
and Jo with the bow.
And they danced
and they jumped
and they sang.
And they met a dinosaur
who clawed and roared,
and said, "I'm going to get you!"

How can you help but smile at the inventive play of a child? Take a mom who wants to make her daughter happy, a little girl with a vivid imagination, a set of named paper dolls and add a series of adventures. It's the making of another wonderful story from Julia Donaldson. Her book The Gruffalo remains one of my favorites and has certainly been a readaloud hit for many years. I love it as much today as the first time I read it to a group of kindergartners. Were I in a kindergarten class at the moment, I am sure I would have another hit on my hands.

For the little girl and her paper doll friends life is a series of grand adventures. She plays with them everywhere she goes, and despite numerous threats they manage to hold on to one another from place to place throughout the house and garden. Their spirited shared song keeps them out of trouble and always self-assured. They have no worries, until a boy and his scissors appear and cut them into tiny pieces. Fear not! That is not the end of them:

"And all the pieces joined together,
and the paper dolls flew...
...into the little girl's memory
where they found white mice and fireworks,
and a starfish soap,
and a kind granny,
and the butterfly hairslide,
and more and more lovely things each day
and each year."

Ah, memories. They bring such joy and hopefully lead to sharing them with others. In this case, the little girl grows up to become a mother who makes paper dolls for her own little girl. Perfect!

Rebecca Cobb creates lovely drawings that match the tone of this story. There is joy and exuberance for the little one and her dolls as they play together. She makes use of white space, and varying perspectives to allow us a peek at the imaginative play, always making sure that we know what the real story is.

The repetitive refrain of the song sung as they make their escapes will soon become a favorite; parents and teachers are sure to hear it repeated endlessly. That just adds to the fun. As we meet 'Poppy and Pinkie and Binky the Blinkie, and Fred with one eyebrow and Flo with the bow, we know we are off on continued adventures and no one could be happier!

Going Up! Written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by David Parkins. Tundra, Random House. 2012. $19.99 ages 7 and up

"In Yonkers, Elisha got work overseeing the construction of a new bed-frame factory in 1852. Heavy machinery from the ground floor had to be moved to the second floor. Elisha didn't trust the hoisting platform. If the cable broke, it wouldn't be hay tumbling down - it would be the machinery parts. People might get hurt."

My very first job, besides babysitting, was at the Eaton's Department Store at Christmas time. The job? Why, I was the elevator operator! Three floors only, but young kids would get in and have a great time going up and down, up and down. Other customers were not happy with the inconvenience. Voila! My first job!

I had no idea that my job and so much more was due in part to Mr. Elisha Otis. Thanks to Monica Kulling, I now know that he had a hand in making life easier for shoppers that Christmas. His inventive mind was constantly considering ways to change life and the working world as he knew it.

In this fourth book from the much praised Great Ideas Series, Ms. Kulling continues on a path to introduce young readers to some of the lesser known inventors. Earlier she wrote books about Margaret Knight (In the Bag, 2011), Elijah McCoy (All Aboard!, 2010) and George Eastman (It's a Snap, 2009). It's a wonderful series of books and affords a glimpse at the lives of those who have made a difference in our world. You know how I love to tell you about new picture book biographies! 

Elisha had invented other things before looking for a better way to hoist heavy machinery from one floor to the next. When he found success designing a safety brake, he found the work he loved to do and set his mind to making 'safety brakes for hoisting platforms'. He thought he would be satisfied and so he settled his family in Yonkers. There would be no more moves. However, the inventive mind rarely settles with just one thing.  In a eureka! moment he thought that same platform could be used to move people.

The people he wanted to move were not receptive to being hoisted by the Otis elevator. He tried, but it wasn't going well. Serendipitously, the New York World's Fair provided a perfect venue for showing people the merits of such a people-moving device! The elevator business became a huge success and Mr. Otis got credit for making some far-reaching changes in the way people lived:

"Before Elisha's safety brake, buildings were never higher than six stories. No wanted to live or work on the higher floors because you had to walk up all those stairs. Elisha's invention made it possible to build skyscrapers."

The author tells a great story. It moves along quickly, using just the right amount of text to garner interest and hold attention. David Parkins uses pen, ink and watercolor to set this story in the early to mid 19th century and allows readers to see the ever-resourceful Elisha move from a childhood on the farm, to urban, industrial life. Expressive faces add emotion to this well-told account of Mr. Otis' life and times.

 

One more amazing inventor whose life work makes us wonder what the world might have been like today without his inquisitive and inspired thinking!

The Whole Truth, written by Kit Pearson. Harper, 2011. $19.99 ages 10 and up

"When he was asleep, he looked innocent, but as soon as he woke up he would race around and steal Polly's underwear and bark at all the new things he didn't understand, like Mrs. Hooper sweeping the floor or Noni's umbrella. Puppies were a lot of work! And they weren't as perfect as Polly had imagined. She had to keep trying to wear Tarka out so he would sleep and give the household some peace."

Winner of the 2012 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and the CLA award for Book of the Year for Children, this is mostly Polly's story, although it certainly gives voice to her sister Maud, her maternal grandmother Noni, her aunt, uncle and cousin, her new friends on Kingfisher Island, and even her father. Each has an important role to play in the events of Polly's life and the path that she is on.  

She is only nine when she boards a train in Winnipeg on her way to the gulf islands with her older sister. They are accompanied by her grandmother's friend and are going to live there, following the death of their father by drowning. It's a dramatic change for all involved.

It's the Depression and money has been tight for the girls and their father. He struggles to find work, and is then accused of stealing from his new place of work. In despair, he drowns himself. He leaves a note asking that his children be cared for by their surviving grandmother, his mother having died earlier. Noni has kept in touch with the girls since their own mother died, and is only too happy to welcome them to her island home.

It is a struggle to adjust to their new life. Soon, Maud is sent to a private boarding school in Victoria and Polly is more alone than she has ever been. The girls are trying to forget their painful past as they forge a new life in an unfamiliar place, with people they have never met. They have promised each other that they will never share the circumstances of their father's death.

There is history and mystery, joy and sorrow, poverty and wealth, racism and acceptance. It is a story about love and loss, truth and lies, friendship and alienation. Maud loves her new school, finds religion and soon doesn't want to come back to the island unless absolutely necessary. Those changes that come with growing up are disconcerting to her younger sister, and lead to them not sharing the close-knit relationship they once had.
 
The dark secrets eventually come out; their father is not dead. He comes to visit the girls and they have very different reactions to this visit. Polly is delighted, stealing food and hiding him in a house in the woods. Maud is not happy to see him, believing that he did steal the money. Can it be true?

Kit Pearson has created characters worthy of our attention, an island setting that allows exploration and freedom, and a chain of events over a passage of time that heralds change for everyone involved:

"The truth - the whole truth, at last - was as deep as the sea around her. People were complicated. Daddy wasn't totally good, after all. Neither was Noni, neither was Maud. And Alice, it turned out, wasn't totally bad. She, Polly, was complicated, too. That meant she could love Daddy even though he had disappointed her."

As we leave her, we know that Polly has promised to attend St. Winifred's in Victoria for one year, to give it a try and see how she feels about being away from the people and the island she has come to love. Today, I am eagerly awaiting a copy of And Nothing But the Truth (Harper, 2012) to see how Polly fares in her time off the island and at her new school. I will keep you posted!

Nic Bishop Snakes, by Nic Bishop. Scholastic, 2012.$19.99 ages 5 and up

"But snakes are more than just fearsome hunters. They are strange, secretive, and surprising. Sea snakes with paddle-shaped tails dive 300 feet beneath the ocean. Flying snakes flatten their bodies and glide like ribbons from rain forest trees. Some snakes live hidden underground, like large, shiny earthworms. Others slither in the sunlight, as colorful as rainbows."

It is definitely a cliche to say that Nic Bishop has done it again...but, he has! I do believe I say that every single time I see another of his fabulous nonfiction books...and I would guess that it will remain the same until one or the other of us stops writing. He creates amazing books for children and their adult friends, and I am blessed to be able to tell you about this newest
one from Scholastic.

I have something in common with Indiana Jones. It's not good looks, or a sense of adventure that might end my life; it's not even a quest for some archaeological relic that will earn accolades and frequent mention in college classrooms. Nope! It's an aversion to snakes.

As he has done in previous books, Nic Bishop presents these terrifying creatures in a way that actually intrigues and informs my fears and renders me less likely to be immobile in their presence. That's a good thing, right?

I will say that the more than twenty close-up photographs show beauty in their color, their scales and their amazing feats. The text is full of new learning and describes their anatomy, those things that are common to every species, the way they move, the food they eat and how they eat it, the places they inhabit and how they defend themselves. The fold-out at the center will come as no surprise to ardent Bishop fans. He is able to capture the most amazing images for each of his exemplary books.

Their habits for capturing their prey are varied and often, extremely patient:

"Some ambushing snakes jiggle their tails to look like juicy grubs. Hungry lizards might be tempted to come close. But most snakes stay absolutely still. Only their senses are alert, waiting. They may wait for weeks, but that is no problem. Eight big meals a year are enough for many snakes. Pythons have been known to last more than a year between meals."

Each double page spread features incredible images, informative text and a photo caption to ensure that readers know what snake is shown and what is happening in that photo. A theme sentence is highlighted to help further understanding of the information being shared.

Always willing to speak about the work that goes into creating his award-winning books, in an afterword Nic Bishop shares some of the difficulties he faced in capturing the snakes that make their debut in this lively book:

"But one did bite me hard. It was one of the first snakes I ever photographed, called a brown tree snake.It leaped from a branch and nearly swallowed my hand in its jaws before I could blink. Luckily, brown tree snakes are not very venomous, but this one left some of its teeth buried in my hand. Snakes lose and replace their teeth all the time, so it was not harmed by biting me...."

While all this learning sets me in a better mood to think about snakes, I cannot say that I would be any less squirmy if I were convinced that a visit to Narcisse, MB in the spring to watch the thousands of garter snakes found writhing there is the field trip of a lifetime for me. Be sure to watch this video so you can see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/embed/-U27dwh0F8s"

Now you can go to www.flattperspective.blogspot.com to see what everyone else is reading. It'll be fun! Thanks to Lizann for hosting this week.

Becoming Holmes, written by Shane Peacock. Tundra, Random House. 2012. $21.99 ages 12 and up

"That is what Sherlock will investigate further - any unusual out-of-doors and after-hours movements on the Governor's part. The boy decides that he will stay here all evening, even into the night, and see if anyone suspicious comes to the door or if the Governor goes out. He hopes he will be in luck. He keeps thinking about Lady Stonefield's sad expression, her black clothing..."

What an ending to a fabulous series of books about the young Sherlock Holmes! Shane Peacock has made each of his 'case files' so powerful that fans will be sad to say goodbye to the young man destined to be the famous and dogged detective of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle works.

If you haven't read the others, I encourage you to take the time to find them and set yourself the enviable task of watching Sherlock grow from young boy to the man who becomes the esteemed investigator whose life work is to rid the world of evil. Shane Peacock has done a cracking job of  sharing the brutalities of Victorian London and the early evidence of those traits and quirks that make Sherlock Holmes a storied detective.

I didn't always love reading mysteries: tales such as these penned by a master storyteller have made me a fan. I am sorry to be saying goodbye to this dark and tortured character, to Sigerson Bell, to the setting and people of London, to Irene, to Beatrice, to both Lestrades, to Grimsby, to Crew and even to Malefactor. I will miss each one, for various and distinctly different reasons. The writing is impeccable and oh, so worthy of the awards it is racking up for Shane Peacock:

"But the blackness has been with him for too long this time. He cannot shake it. Death and disappointment are all around him, and they are not going away. He is desperate to climb up from the depths. He needs a thrill. He thinks of the dangerous crimes he has solved, recalls the heart-pumping sensation of being near murder, and wonders, for a fleeting second, if he, Sherlock Holmes, about to become a man, should kill someone, someone evil."

Shane Peacock has done such a remarkable job of letting his readers know who Sherlock will become, a man worthy of admiration. He's dedicated, independent, articulate, skilled in the martial arts that Sigerson Bell has been teaching him, and almost eerie in his ability to take a situation and deduce from it much more than any other person might. He knows that his great friend, the apothecary Sigerson Bell, is dying; he has no other real friends and he is wondering where life might lead him.

As in each of the other books, Sherlock needs a case. He needs something to capture his attention and to put his formidable talents to work. As usual, Malefactor is at its core. When he discovers that Grimsby has found employment in his brother's treasury department, he is astounded and more than a mildly appalled:

"I smell a rat."
"I would pluralize that! There is a rather larger one at work here too, boss to this Grimsby, who used to live on the streets with his fellow Rodentia, exceeding six feet tall and wearing a tailcoat."
"Indeed."
"But Malefactor has disappeared. You haven't seen him for nearly a year and then only briefly. He spoke of attending a university, did he not? Becoming respectable?"
"In order to be more effective."

What follows is a game that pits Sherlock against Malefactor (whose real name is Moriarty) and his minions. While they respect each other's brilliance and power, they fight on different sides and only one can emerge the winner. It proves just the diversion Sherlock needs to bring him out of his depths of despair and get him on course to becoming the man his great friend Sigerson Bell knows he will be:

"You, sir," says Bell, "were like a gift to me. And you can be a gift to humankind. You believe in the right things. I shall leave you to it. I shall leave you to being the sword of justice that this city, this country, this world needs. I believe in you. You are destined for greatness. It need not be anything that you broadcast to the world, though I imagine you will, since you have a sprightly sense of yourself, my boy, which powers you at times. You will find a way, a person, perhaps, to tell everyone how great you are."

Amen!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hi everyone! Be sure to visit www.teachmentortexts.com to see what Jen and Kellee have been reading this week - it's bound to be interesting, and they will introduce to some wonderful new books!

This past week I enjoyed:

 

 

 

 

 

And this week I am planning on reading these books and hope to tell you about them soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

Please, don't forget to check www.picturebookmonth.com

Jump Cut, written by Ted Staunton. Orca Publishers, 2012. $9.95 ages 10 and up

"Mister Bones trots all over the place. GL is right: at this rate it'll take another seventy-five years - if we don't get eaten by bears of flattened by a train first. Luckily we're equipped with spray paint, grass clippers, phones with no signals and a Chihuahua; everything you need when you're looking for the graveyard of a ghost town in the northern bush."

This is the third book I have read from Seven the Series. It is a quick read and stands alone, as do the others. Reading them as a set adds some context as they each tell of a specific journey organized by David McLean for each of his seven grandsons, to be undertaken following his death and the reading of his will.

Award-winning author Ted Staunton has selected to tell Spencer's story. He is an aspiring filmmaker, and his Grandfather David has asked him to find an elderly film star, named Gloria Lorraine and get a cheek kiss from her on film:

"I like  movies, too. My all-time favorite movie star was Gloria Lorraine. Ask your mom if my liking Gloria L wasn't a family joke. Gloria Lorraine is older than me, Spence, but as I write this, she's still alive and kicking. I want you to go and see her - I know you can find her with the Internet and all - and get her to give you a kiss on the cheek. Tell her it's for me, a sentimental favor."

It is a strange request; but, Spencer is up to the challenge and heads off to find Gloria in a retirement home in Buffalo. Dull in comparison to the tasks set for the other six grandsons, Spencer is sure it will take five minutes and he and his Dad will be on their way home again. He has no idea the surprises that are in  store for him.

Once he arrives, he learns why Gloria is still alive and kicking. She's got spunk, and she wants Spencer to join her in an adventure that includes her granddaughter, a loony mobster who is also a baker, and a little dog named Mister Bones. The four are off in Al Capoli's Cadillac to northern Ontario to unearth a family secret; it turns out it has a connection to Spencer's grandfather. It also gets them involved with gangs who are fighting over a drug deal gone wrong. 

It reads like a film, and includes some written film scenes at opportune places in the tale.  Filled with action and mayhem, Spencer finds himself wondering about the reality of the whole thing. It takes a stop at the Superior Motel in Marathon before Spencer learns the connection that Gloria has to David McLean, and why the trip is so important to the old woman. He realizes that his interest in film is the reason his grandfather sent him on this quest. 

There is humor aplenty, and some scary bits, and mystery...it isn't until close to the end of the story that we realize there is a connection between Spencer's journey and that of his brother, Bunny (aka Bernard). It is sure to lead interested readers to Bunny's story...Ink Me by Richard Scrimger. On we go!

What Happens Next? Written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Marc Boutavant.Candlewick Press, Random House. 2012. $11.00 ages 2 and up

"Here's a hungry chameleon.
Here's a juicy grasshopper.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The chameleon shoots out his
long, long tongue,
and the sticky end catches
the grasshopper. THWAP!"

This is the next in the Flip the Flap and Find Out series from the prolific pen of Nicola Davies, biologist and author of wonderful books for young readers. Her nonfiction stands out for me in its accessibility and its clear and honest research.

Children are intrigued with animals and Ms. Davies uses that interest to hone great books that offer information that is easily digested and remembered by even the youngest listeners. In this book, she looks at a chameleon, a beaver, a bee, a peacock and a chimp. The repetitive question that follows each of these creatures doing something very ordinary in their lives leads children to infer answers and then check them out to see if they were right. It's a entertaining game for them.

Once again, Marc Boutavant provides brightly colored digital artwork that makes clear the actions. The flip pages match up perfectly from one scene to the next, where the results of the actions are clearly shared. There is an abundance of detail that will afford opportunity to peruse and discuss the events. As well, the final double page spread encourages a retelling using visual clues. Finally, there is a flap to flip that concerns someone just like the person reading this book.

This is a series that I recommend highly as a birthday gift to that child who loves informative text, and books that allow for thinking critically and the sharing of ideas. They would also be a great addition to school and classroom libraries. Well done!

Chopsticks, written by Jessica Anthony and Rogdigo Corral. Razorbill, Penguin. 2012. $21.00 ages 15 and up

"Are you really going?
I am
when do you leave?
this fall
how long are you gone?
A year. There's this school
in Italy...
Florence
It sounds OK"

I had no idea what to expect when Chopsticks arrived in the mail! I had read about it, had asked for it to be sent to me, and was ready to sit and read it. It is so much more than the novel I was expecting, and I am not sure that I can do justice to it in just telling you about it.
I think you need it in your hands.

But, here goes...it is scrapbook tale told using multimedia that has readers listening, feeling, discovering, imagining, watching and watching and watching. Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral have created a book that is filled with video, song, messages and scarce text as well. It is the first book I have seen quite like it, and am not sure I will see again.

It is told using photographs and is the story of Glory Fleming, a piano prodigy who has gone missing. Two double page spreads show newscasters reporting on her disappearance and are followed by pictures of pieces of evidence, a musical introduction to chapter 1 and a newspaper clipping describing Glory and her life, her struggles and her last known whereabouts.

The book flashes back eighteen months, allowing us a look at Glory's home, her family, the loss of her mother, and her growing love for Frank, despite her father's disapproval. They love music and art; sharing a strong bond despite obstacles placed in their path. Internet chats, postcards, letters, pieces of art, announcements, invitations: all allow us a window into their fears, frustrations and Glory's admission to a rest facility where her obsession with playing Chopsticks for hours at a time is noted in a weekly progress report to her father.

The music lists had me listening to Itunes, I visited YouTube many times, and I just read it again for the third time. In case, I haven't convinced you that it is worthy of your attention, please check out his trailer:   http://www.youtube.com/embed/T4j55yz_iZg" and then read what the authors have to say about the truly memorable story they have created:

"Chopsticks is a multimedia novel which questions the truth of objects, sounds, and images. From the start, neither of us wanted to employ multimedias merely for the sake of it; instead, we wanted to use music and images that would actually do the work of textual narrative. We spent several months combing through music websites, iTunes, Youtube videos and selected pieces which, whether sonically or lyrically, helped to reveal story. We also recruited help writing and recording original arrangements from music producer Jonathan Wyman. The outcome is a book which collages a variety of visual, textual and musical narratives.
 
The music in Chopsticks ranges from Beethoven to The Lawrence Welk Show to The Rolling Stones to a veritable buffet of Argentinean rock music. (Also, there are a number of contemporary songs which, once contextualized in the novel, create a kind of nostalgia for the Aughts.) While there are over forty pieces of music played or referenced..."

It all feels so authentic and real, and is so emotionally wrenching that I needed to know through the credits at the back that the parts ARE played by actors...and it IS fiction. It is testament to the collaborators' talent for telling Glory's story with such compassion. There is so much for readers to infer from this brilliantly fashioned story. It will not sit well with those who want clear answers to the questions that arise. But, it worth your attention!

Otter and Odder, A Love Story. Written by James Howe and illustrated by Chris Racshka. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2012. $17.00 ages 5 and up

"Myrtle (or Gurgle, if you prefer)
had not been looking for love,
either. She had been looking to
stay alive. Please don't eat me,
her round, sweet, glistening eyes
pleaded with Otter
while he was gazing into them,
finding love."

We've seen it before...take two incredible artists, one to write the story and one to illustrate it, and don't be too surprised when you get something quite beautiful. That being said, you should definitely get out there and find yourself a copy of Otter and Odder. Then you, too, can be awed by the talents of James Howe and Chris Raschka as I am every time I see their work. What a spectacular collaboration!

When we live in a world that needs to legislate what love is, and where racism continues to exist, and where one person or group of people espouse life as it should be lived for all, we need wondrous books that speak to children of love, tolerance and understanding.

Otter did not start his day looking for love:

"But when Otter gazed into those eyes -
those round, sweet, glistening eyes -
he knew that he had found what he had
not known he was looking for.
"Impossible," he said.
"I am in love with my food source."

James Howe helps kids understand how tough it is for otter to fall in love with someone who is different. While in a joyful world, they can share time together and enjoy many happy moments, in the awful world it would not be so simple:

"Have you heard about Otter?" it began (the talking, that is).
"He was always odd, now he is odder."
"He has lost his mind," some said,
unable to see that he had lost nothing,
only found his heart.
"It isn't right."
"It isn't natural."
"It isn't the way of the otter."

Leave it to Beaver, a wise and supportive friend who gives advice that makes sense of Otter's world and makes way for a different reality.

Chris Raschka uses watercolor and pencil to create his watery world of wonder. His double page spreads seem childlike; they are anything but that. They show us a world where all things are possible, where trusting what is in your heart is the essence of life as you lead it. The colors are constantly changing, altering moods: witness the tight circle of carnivorous friends, red mouths agape.

There is absolutely no preachiness in this lovely tale; it does, however, give readers pause to consider that one way is not the only way to live a life:

"But Otter and Myrtle did not listen.
They swam together.
They played hide-and-go-seek together.
They discussed the mysteries of life and love
with Beaver while dining on plankton
and apples and the fruit of the water lily."

Stunning!

The Wicked and the Just, written by J. Anderson Coats. Harcourt, Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Thomas Allen & Son. $19.99 ages 14 and up

"...I'd spit on him to see the look on this shrill harridan's face. She's naming borough and Crown officials, and she gives me such an eyestab that I echo them after her in as frosty a tone as I dare. Because my father may be a hamhanded oaf, but I'll not have it said that he raised a lackwit who is not clever and brave enough to hoodwink a shrew with vapor-headed compliance."

What?!? This is her debut novel! It hardly seems possible.

The voices of each of the two female narrators are so strong, the setting is locked in my memory despite never having been anywhere near Wales,  and  and the conditions for living in the late thirteenth century offer no enticements...not one!

Cecily has been dreaming, from a very young age, of being mistress of Edgeley Hall. Instead, her father tells her that they are moving house and going to Caernarvon, a walled town in Wales. Her father is being sent to keep the Welsh at bay. In return, he gets a home for he and his young daughter. Gwenhwyfar dreamed at one time of being lady of the house of Cecily's new home. Now, she is a servant there. Both are furious, and opinionated, and feisty, and very difficult to like!

Cecily is a spoiled brat who does all she can to make Gwinny miserable. She treats her with disdain, and belittles her every change she gets. But, Cecily has some problems of her own. It is tough fitting into Caernarvon society and her father insists that she accept the tutelage of the lady de Coucy. He will brook no argument against it. Cecily hates every minute spent with her, as is evidenced in the above quote.

Gwinny is dealing with caring for her terminally ill mother, and her younger brother. They have nothing, and blame the British for their misfortune. Her life is one of constant struggle just to exist. She lives in fear. They are not the only ones...all the Welsh residents are ready to revolt, given the corruption and vile living conditions that they must endure. There are plans afoot for revolt.

I came to empathize with both young women as events threw their lives into turmoil. They are similar in their brash independence, their strength of character and their being thrust into the most horrendous circumstances:

"And English says, even when you know it's coming, it still hurts. She squeezes my hand and whispers, I'm sorry...Gwennaver.
She's filthy and tattered and hungry, waiting on a cousin who may never arrive. Her hands are blistered raw and her cheeks windburned, but she looks me in the eye and she hasn't broken and she's sorry.
Now mayhap time can do its work."  
 
The British conquest of Wales is something I knew nothing about, and I found the historical aspect of the novel's events astounding. The author does not shirk from the brutality of the treatment of the Welsh or the sadistic results of the revolt. A historical note following the story provides a brief description of the British takeover of Wales, and its resulting conflicts.

Sleep Like a Tiger, written by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Thomas Allen & Son. 2012. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"Most animals just sleep
through the night," her
parents said, tucking her in.
"I know an animal that
sleeps a lot," the little girl
told them.
"What animal is that?"
her parents asked."

We had a little boy who didn't like going to sleep...and it started pretty early. It wasn't until he could articulate his thinking that we knew his mind was constantly awash with questions and concerns. The little girl in Mary Logue's debut picture book is much like Bret was...independent, intense and intent on getting answers to her questions.

Her parents' response is what makes this book stand out from other bedtime books you may have read. They don't insist that she go to sleep; but they do suggest that there are routines to be followed.
She needs pajamas, her face needs washing and her teeth should be brushed, and she should get into her warm, welcoming bed.

When she asks about who sleeps elsewhere in the world, her parents affirm her suspicions. The dog sleeps on the couch, the cat sleeps near the warmth of the fireplace, bats find safety in the barn during the day, and so on...

Without her knowing it, the parents have the final authority about bedtime in this family...everyone does play a part in the bedtime ritual. They all have their say.

Don`t even get me started on the mixed media paintings on wood, and computer illustrations. We could be here all day. There is so much to see, and every space is filled by the award-winning Pamela Zagarenski. The textures invite touch, the tiny details consume us with what there is to see on every page. I have pored over it numerous times, and find something new each time I look. Once gone from the page, there is no guarantee that that same image will not be part of another scene. There are so many connections. Watch carefully!

Her tiny stuffed tiger reminds her of what she thinks she knows about the jungle beast:

"The tiger in the jungle.
When he's not hunting, he finds some shade,
closes his eyes, and sleeps.
That way he stays strong."

The final image is perfection!

Splendors and Glooms, written by Laura Amy Schlitz. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2012. $19.00 ages 12 and up

"Lizzie Rose squeezed her eyes shut and tried to go back to sleep. Her stomach felt queasy. As the events of the night came back to her, the queasiness increased. Grisini had found her out and struck her. Parsefall had rushed to her defense. The staircase had broken, and Grisini had tumbled down and hurt his head. At the thought of Grisini bleeding on the stair treads, Lizzie Rose began to tremble."

Hurrah! I finally convinced Erin to read this wonderful book; she likes it as much as I do. Who could not? There are some stories that stick with the reader, no matter how far from the reading we get. This is just such a story for me...I will not forget its characters, its many diverse scenes, or the truly remarkable telling itself. Laura Amy Schlitz is a tremendously talented writer, and here she uses every scrap of that talent to weave a wondrous tale of Dickensian London. Quite literally, remarkable!

In the prologue we meet the witch Cassandra, whose dreams are plagued by earlier life events that center on Grisini, a young man from her past whose magic was not as strong and who has been gone from her life for almost forty years. Yet she is seeing him as he is today, and she sees children near him. If  he is still alive and her magic remains strong, there is only one thing she can do:

"What if she had seen him as he was and where he was, in London? If her dream was to be trusted, she might send for him, and he would have no choice but to come to her. She could force him to tell what he knew about the phoenix-stone."

As the story begins, we are privy to Clara's thoughts. It's her twelfth birthday and she has begged her father to invite Grisini, the puppet  master, and his assistants to come to the house and perform for her. They will have tea together. Clara and her family are wealthy, and in constant mourning for her siblings. All have died during a cholera outbreak. Wanting to make his daughter's birthday a happier one than usual, her father agrees. The troupe is invited.

Lizzie Rose and Parsefall live in abhorrent conditions, orphaned and now working endlessly for Grisini as the assistants in his puppet theatre. Their visit with Clara is pleasant, and they are awed by the Wintermute home; but, all does not end well. When Clara disappears the following day, Grisini is the suspected kidnapper. Then, Grisini disappears as well. There is no trace of either one. The two children, without any means of support, are left to fend for themselves on the mean streets of London.

When it feels as if they cannot go on and their very lives are threatened, Lizzie Rose finds a letter addressed to Grisini. Since he is nowhere to be found, she breaks the seal and later reads it. In part, it says:

"I have no one of my blood to succeed me, and the prospect of playing fairy godmother amuses me. I think I should like to enrich your two hardworking orphans. But of course, before I arrange their legacies, I must first meet the children face-to-face and make sure that I like them."

The writer is Cassandra Strachan Sagredo, and she sends clear instructions for the journey to Strachan's Ghyll. Emboldened by the invitation, and with no other obvious options, Lizzie Rose packs them up and sets them on their journey. Cassandra's motives are not so altruistic as we might think, and she is not the only one living in the castle. You remember she's a witch, right?

Complex and commanding attention, Laura Amy Schlitz leaves nothing to chance in her expert handling of the multiple narratives. She creates characters who are complex, sets scenes that switch from humorous to horrifying, and warm to chilling. I was on the edge of my seat at all times. It is a most memorable read.

Lost Cause, written by John Wilson. Orca Publishers, 2012. $9.95 ages 10 and up

"The woman grinned broadly to reveal a row of yellowed teeth. She grabbed my hand. I thought I was off on another excursion to her past, but she did the same to Laia. Spouting a long string of Spanish, the old woman forced us to hold hands and shoved us down the corridor toward the daylight. As we emerged, blinking at the brightness, I asked Laia what the woman had said."

In this second book that I have read in Seven the Series, we meet Steve, twin brother of DJ. He, too, is one of David McLean's grandsons and is tasked by his grandfather's will to travel to Spain in search of a hidden past. It is a time of his life that his grandfather has never shared with family, and he wants Steve to make the return trip he never had the courage to make himself.

This story is driven by his grandfather's letter asking him to take up the quest and leads Steve to Barcelona and a young woman named Laia. Through her, he learns of his grandfather's time in the International Brigades in 1938, a journey he took to help the people of Spain as they fought the Fascists during the civil war. Laia has an old suitcase to share with him. It was given to her by her great-grandmother Maria. It contains a second letter from his grandfather:

"I can visualize every scrap of paper in that suitcase, and there have been countless hours over the past decades that I have sat and imagined going through it as you are about to do. That suitcase contains a piece of my life. A piece of life that no one except Maria knows about and that does not even exist in my mind, now that I am gone. Yet, if, at the end of my long and eventful life, I were offered the chance to relive any three months of my life, despite the pain, It would be my time in 1938 in Spain."

The suitcase also holds his grandfather's war journal and 'a collection of yellowed newspaper clippings, a crumpled, dirty red scarf, a brown dog-eared pamphlet entitled Spain in Arms 1937, a shapeless piece of black metal about the length of my thumb and a khaki beret with a red enamel star pinned to it.'

Reading the journal sets Steve, with Laia as his guide, on the same path that his grandfather took so long ago. The story is driven by the history housed in the journal.  As they move through the Spanish countryside, the remnants from the suitcase begin to make sense when juxtaposed with the writings of his grandfather. By the time that journey ends, Steve has real knowledge of war and its lasting effects, and the role it had in his grandfather's life.

What Can A Crane Pick Up? Written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Mike Lowery. Alfred A Knopf., Random House. 2012. $19.99 ages 2 and up

"Can a crane
pick up a
WOODEN WHEEL?
A wooden wheel
and a load
of steel.
A load of steel,
A wheel,
A tree...
And a submarine from
beneath the sea."

If you were glued to the television coverage of Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the east coast, you would have seen the dangling crane in downtown Manhattan and, if you were like me, been awed by its sheer size. Of course, the threat of it falling was what was uppermost in people's minds at the time.
It was, just the same, really quite incredible to see....and terrifying.

Little ones who love machines will be intrigued by the many things that a crane can pick up. Rebecca Kai Dotlich has created an homage to the work it can do, and to the inquisitiveness of the young. If it can do this, can it do that? You know those kids and their questions.

The cranes seem delighted with the work they do. Witness their smiling faces, no matter the scope of the job at hand. They find worthwhile work in many venues...with rail cars, at mills, on construction sites, and even at the county fair. Always busy, and apparently thrilled to be needed, the crane does the work of many and all tasks are met with enthusiastic acceptance of the work to be done.

The rhyme will help young readers join in, and the rhythm of the text will have them slapping their thighs in time to the sharing. The author did her research in a most unique way:

"Rebecca spent some time in a crane while it picked up thousands of Christmas tree lights to string atop tall buildings."

How much fun would that be...and won't her readers be impressed with the lengths she went to in order to create a new book full of information for them to share? It's a most enjoyable game to play, trying to decide what else a crane might pick up! I can just hear the questions that are sure to follow each successive reading.

Who Lives Here? Written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Marc Boutavant. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2012. $11.00 ages 2 and up

"WHO LIVES HERE?
Who lives in this warm,
steamy jungle? Is it...

cheetah?

Not me!
I like somewhere
dry and grassy
where I can run."

This book about animals and their habitats is part of a four book (so far) series from the creative mind of noted nonfiction author, Nicola Davies. The series is called Flip the Flap & Find Out. It is perfect for little ones whose interest in the world is unlimited, and who love to learn by lifting flaps and then doing it all over again.

The format is the same with each new habitat. The question is repeated, the habitat is described on the left side. On the right, there are four brightly colored flaps to be lifted. Each one reveals an animal that it might be. Only one flap reveals an animal from that particular environment. Turn the page and there is a concise and accessible description:

"Sloth likes the warm, steamy jungle.
He hangs from branches by his long, strong
claws. He likes to eat leaves and snooze."

The double page spread of digitally created illustrations gives readers a look at other plants and animals that share this space and a hint for future consideration. Clever!

And so it goes to the pond, the grassland, the ocean, and the frozen tundra. There is much to learn in sharing this book. I love that  the back endpapers are set to remind readers of the animals mentioned in the preceding text, and leads with a question: Who lives with who? 

Each of the delightful animals creasted by Marc Boutavant are there, enclosed in colored boxes that will help kids match each to its shared habitat. Answers are provided at the bottom of the spread. Oh, and she finishes with one more Who Lives Here? for the reader.

Now, that's what we're talking about when we want to get great nonfiction into the hands of our very youngest readers!

My Name is Parvana, written by Deborah Ellis. Groundwood, 2012. $16.95 ages 12 and up

"That's what I wanted, Parvana thought, as she walked by a peddler with a cart full of plastic sandals. All she had wanted, all those years, was a normal life. She wanted to sit in a school room, in clean clothes, and have her family with her. And now that she had all that, all she could do was complain."

You will remember Parvana if you were lucky enough to read Deborah Ellis' award-winning Breadwinner trilogy.  She is now 15 years old, and as independent, self-assured and opinionated as we would expect her to be, knowing the trauma and terror of her earlier life.

She has been working with her mother and sister in a school for girls that they have opened under the name, Leila's Academy of Hope. Parvana is studying hard, showing her ability to learn quickly and wanting to finish her high school studies.

Her story is told in alternating chapters. It begins with questioning by a uniformed man and a female translator:

"Is your name Parvana?"
Their words were louder this time, as though it were a lack of volume that kept the girl from responding. The girl did not move and did not answer. She kept her eyes on the scuff mark on the floor and did not look up."

Each chapter to follow the ones that concern her interrogation and mistreatment over suspicion of harbouring terrorists, tell the family story and the work they have done to provide an opportunity for the education of Afghani girls. The girls are sent by their families to school, always under threat from the Taliban and those who live by the old beliefs concerning the menace of education for women. Parvana works hard to make the school a success despite her mother's haranguing and her sister's insistence that she is not worthy of notice, except to be treated miserably.

As a detainee, Parvana's strong character remains resolute. She will not speak, and pretends not to understand the questioning. She has spunk, and is a strong and worthy protagonist. I had great admiration for her in the first books, and that only grows in this new look at her life.

The story unfolds; we come to know that the many threats to her mother for her unwavering work at the school are not idle. When she is murdered, and with her older sister in New York at school, it is up to Parvana and her adopted brother, Asif, to decide what must be done. Her rescue, along with those who have become her new family, by two old friends is not a happy ending. It shows readers  that the struggle continues, especially for women in Afghan society.

As I tore through this book from chapter to chapter, always wanting to know what was happening with Parvana, I learned more about the ongoing, terror-filled world of the Afghan people and the dire circumstances that they face every day. Women remain strong and purposeful despite daily attempts to thwart their spirit and determination.

Deborah Ellis is a skilled and compassionate writer and she, once again, brings the plight of women living in Afghanistan to our attention. Her afterword charges the world with a task:

"For the Afghan people, life must go on. And individuals like Parvana, Shauzia and Mrs. Weera are working to make life better. They, and the many, many Afghan women, men and children like them, are the ones the world needs to support. We owe it to them."

Will Sparrow's Road, written by Karen Cushman. Clarion Books, Thomas Allen & Son, 2012. $19.99 ages 10 and up

"The morning brought rain again. The few fairgoers, huddled in their sodden cloaks, went about their business quickly and did not stop to be astounded or astonished. Will sat on the church porch, where the overhang offered him some protection from the wet, and watched. Despite the weather, a passing family laughed loudly and Will turned to study them..."

I swear to you that I await each new Karen Cushman novel with great anticipation, and she has not disappointed me...even once! I don't have a favorite of her books as I love them all. She has an uncanny ability to create setting and character so that you feel you are living right there within the book.

This is her first novel with a male protagonist, and to say she has captured the essence of a boy living in Elizabethan England in 1599 is not my call, as she knows so much more about the time, place and character of Will Sparrow than I could ever hope to know. I can tell you that I was captivated with him from the first sentence:

"Will Sparrow was a liar and a thief, and hungry, so when he saw the chance to steal a cold rabbit pie from the inn's kitchen and blame it on the dog, he took it - both the chance and the pie."

to the last one:

"Will wiggled his toes in glee and looked down the road that lay ahead."

Harrowing? Yes! Hopeful? Yes!

And in the middle it is a story that will brook no dallying in the reading. So, when you start, just make sure that you have time to sit and savor the words, the scenes, the action and the adventure that is Will's.

Sold to the innkeeper by his father for free drink at his inn, Will is mistreated and threatened, bootless and locked in the stable after daring to steal the pie that would stave off ever-present hunger. A lesser boy might think it his fate; Will is 'wiry, clever, sad and angry' and not about to stay where he is put. In a rash act of defiance, he is off into the wild, cold night, with nothing but a horsehair blanket and his wits.

The road to wherever he's going is open, and dangerous for a young boy on his own. He knows he should only trust himself. Life lessons are sure to hold him in good stead...after he has been tricked by a thief, a con artist and various others who have already learned that very difficult lesson and don't mind being the teachers in Will's education. After some hard knocks, he finds a place with a wandering troop of  'oddities and prodigies' led by Master Tidball, a hard taskmaster:

"'Twas his good fortune, Will thought once again, to be fed and employed, even if it were but as hireling of the monstermonger and there looked to be no more wages coming his way. He realized he had stopped asking about wages. His belly was full and his days occupied, but what about when the weather turned foul? Were there still fairs in the winter? What would happen to him? But as long as the sun shone, he was able to push the worries away."

 Will learns much about family from the members of the troupe, even much he does not want to know from the aforementioned Tidball. He sees beyond the obvious to the hearts of his traveling companions, and we watch him with great admiration every step of the way!

This is a novel that is sure to be on all award lists this year....are you listening, Newbery Committee?

Between Heaven and Earth, written by Eric Walters. Orca Book Publishers, 2012. $9.95 ages 10 and up

"I searched the stall again until I was certain that I'd located all of my things. What I couldn't fit into my pack I put in the other bag - the green duffel bag. I did a rough tally in my head, trying to remember what else was missing, what else I had to find. I basically had everything I could think of, including my special flashlight..."

This is the first book that I have read in a new series from Orca called Seven The Series. Seven authors tell seven different stories about the seven grandsons of David McLean. Each of the tales takes place at the same time, and each grandson is charged by his grandfather with a personal journey. The grandfather has provided the money, the plan and a letter to each of his beloved grandsons:

"There is a saying - if you wish to travel fast, travel alone; if you wish to travel far, travel together. You are part of a group of climbers, supported by porters and led by a guide. Travel with them. That's important for the climb and in life. Don't leave people behind - not your mother, not your brother, not your cousins - on your life journey."  

DJ is David McLean's eldest grandson, and the quest given him is to take his grandfather's ashes to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. DJ sees it as a task he will completely quickly, and without incident. DJ is one of those confident, overbearing stars at everything he does. He is sure the climb will be a walk in the park.

He isn't counting on problems that might arise before he ever gets to the base of the mountain. Detained when he arrives and worried that they might discover his grandfather's ashes in the climbing cane he is carrying, then tricked by street kids, he loses everything he has brought with him. His guide's daughter takes him on a dangerous mission to get his equipment back and then coerces him into ensuring that she is taken along as one of his porters. When he meets the other members of his climbing group, he is disappointed.

Sarah is the first female porter, and the youngest, to scale Kilimanjaro. The other porters don't want her along and they make their feelings known; nor does her father who is their Chugga guide approve, but he does as DJ asks. The older woman Ruth is mindful of the difficulties of the climb and offers a word of advice....polepole. It means to go slowly. It is needed advice and augers well for the upcoming trek. It is a surprise to DJ that he is ill-equipped for the climb, and he learns to be thankful for Ruth's company and constant reminders to take it easy.

We get to know the three main characters...DJ, Sarah and Ruth, well and are right there with them every step along the way. All are strong characters, and learn much about themselves and the others as well. Together, they focus on the journey, which is what his grandfather wanted for DJ. He comes home a different person than he was when he left.

Now, I'm off to read John Wilson's Lost Cause which focuses on DJ's twin brother, Steve.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Visit www.teachmentortexts.com right now to see what Jen and Kellee have been reading lately!
Thanks to both, always, for hosting those who want to share.

This past week I read and loved:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this week, I am planning on reading: