Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants, written by Elise Primavera and illustrated by Diane Goode. Simon & Schuster, 2011. $19.99 ages 7 and up

"Louise imagined that Mrs. Pearl had pearly white teeth, blond hair the color of pearls, and that Mrs. Pearl wore lots of pearls.
With a teacher like that, getting straight As would be a cinch, Louise decided."


You may have met Louise in earlier books. If not, you are about to be charmed. First, you have to get past the endpapers. What absolute fun they are! There are some 'big cheeses' there...Marie Curie, Louisa May Alcott, Hillary Clinton, who did get straight As. There are some 'little cheeses' who did, too. You may not know them!

This is a perfect book to read at the beginning of another school year. Louise dreams of being a big cheese. On the night before school starts, she talks with her sister who makes the announcement that she is already studying for a year of straight As.  Louise (and her dog) have a comment:

"To get straight As you have to be real smart, like Albert I Spy.
I think it's Albert Einstein. (this from the dog!)
I Spy, Einstein - he's smart, right?'

Not to be outdone by her older sister, Louise vows to get straight As this year, too. She thinks seriously about the many things that will happen when she does. Friends, grade skipping, promotion to college...the possibilities are endless.

She knows who her teacher is going to be and she imagines just how glorious she will look, how thrilled she will be to have Louise in her classroom and that learning with Mrs. Pearl is likely to lead to those coveted As she so desperately wants. Turns out that Mrs. Pearl is not quite what Louise has imagined, and 'she never gives As'.

Mrs. Pearl has high expectations for her students and Louise does not quite measure up. She tries hard, but is met with a 'you can do better, Miss Cheese' after each assignment. Some people get As...not Louise. It doesn't take long for Louise to be less enamored of her teacher. Her unease about the upcoming report card leads to a sleepless night.

Imagine her surprise when Mrs. Pearl is nowhere to be seen, and a substitute takes her place. No report card...Louise is very pleased. As luck would have it, Louise gets her first A under Miss Sprinkles' tutelage. Drat! So did everyone else! Hmmm... By the end of the day, Louise finds herself missing her teacher, and even worrying about her. She is thankful to find Mrs. Pearl in her rightful place the following morning. And, she is quite pleased with her report card, too. Is Louise worthy of being a big cheese? I think so!

Diane Goode's sassy artwork matches Louise's personality. It is full of expression, character and adds a generous dose of humor. Readers' attention will be focused on her vivid imagination, her conversations with her canine companion and her concerns as her hope fades about second grade being the year of straight As.

Loon, written by Susan Vande Griek and illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Groundwood, 2011. $18.95 ages 5 and up

"So two little loons
plop themselves in.
Close to Mama and Papa
they float,
bob,
paddle little feet,
peep
and peer,
never left behind."

Here's the second beautifully designed and illustrated nonfiction book for today. It is the story of two chicks who hatch in June. It takes them no time at all to get into the water and do what loons do. They also like to ride on their parents' backs when they need a bit of rest and comfort.

At hatchlings there are many things to threaten them. Their parents provide the safety needed until they find a peaceful spot where the babies can be lowered into the water. Soon they are paddling in the coves and shallows where they learn to keep each other close with their soft calls. As the days pass, they become more independent and learn from their parents about finding food, oiling their feathers and and finally, flying. When they are old enough to care for themselves, the parents fly off. The young ones are left to get stronger before following small flocks to warmer water where they will spend the winter:

"Through the fog of winter,
the sun of summer,
they ride the waves, sit on the sea.
For three or four years
they live on the ocean
with a loose flock of others,
drifting constantly."

As adults they will make their way north to a distant, deep, fishing lake, find a mate and start a new generation.

This is both a book about birds...the common loon whose plaintive call brings joy and peace to many who live on, or near, the lakes where they raise their young. It is also a book of art...beautifully rendered details in acrylic on canvas, lending depth and texture to the world of the loon. We see that world from the loon's perspective, from a distance, up close, and even into the watery depths. It is a celebration of all that we can see and learn when we take time to wonder about the mysteries of nature.

It is an inspiring lesson. It makes me want to get to one of those lakes and listen late into the night!

The author adds a two page note on the common loon. It includes informational extensions for much of what she has shared in her poetic tale. She gives advice for helping to keep the loon from extinction and follows it up with a list of books for further reading.

A Butterfly is Patient, written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2011. $18.99 ages 5 and up

"Wings can help butterflies camouflage, or hide, themselves in the environment. One kind of butterfly, the peacock butterfly, makes a hissing sound by rubbing its wings together when it is alarmed."


What a wonderful companion book to the two previously done by this collaborative team! Each section is two pages in length and offers a simple four word statement which is followed by brief highlights of a butterfly's life. Young readers will find the information accessible and useful whether reading for a research report, or just adding to their world knowledge. A lovely, detailed watercolor image offers clear visual connection to the text.

Becuase the illustrations have clear labels, this is very useful as an identification guide. I love the front piece that shows great variety in caterpillars and then, the back that shows the butterflies that they become. It's a bit of a matching game...and children will learn, as I did, that every page of the book must be read to make all the matches. My eyes were constantly roving back and forth to check out a new species.

From caterpillar to chrysalis to adult is a journey that young naturalists will find awesome, and quite spectacular! Ms. Aston shows how butterflies help flowers, how they get the nourishment they need, the variety in size, how they protect themselves and that:

"A rainbow of shiny, powdery scales cover the wings of a butterfly, scales stacked like shingles on a roof. Without scales, its wings would be as transparent as the wings of a bee or a dragonfly."

The author obviously does her research! She reads, watches and even puts some under a microscope for a much closer look. Be sure to take a close look yourself at the page about the 'puddle club'...who knew? Sylvia Long has very obviously done the same thing. She uses watercolors to create her beautiful, realistic images. It must be a long and patient process to get them 'just right'. Both must learn a lot as they go about creating such a special book!

I hope I have piqued your interest in this book. If so, be sure to check for An Egg is Quiet and A Seed Is Sleepy by this creative team.

Follow the Line to School, written and illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist. Viking, Penguin. 2011. $19.50 ages 5 and up

"Elephants live in Africa and Asia. How many elephants do you see? Many chickens live on farms. What other animals here might live on a farm? Whales live in the ocean. What other animals shown here also live in the water? Follow the line to the library..."

I said I would keep my eye out for this book. I so enjoyed the first one, and am totally intrigued by the concept. In this one, we take a journey with the line that leads us from room to room at school. Perfect for sharing with newcomers, or with a kindergarten class.

We used to do a gingerbread chase to help my new kindergarten kids find their way around the school and become familiar with their new environs. We would decorate a gingerbread man that my Mom made every year, and then let him rest while we read some variants of his story in the library. When we got back to the classroom, he was always gone; but, he left a note or footprints that led to the next place...gym, office, grade four class, music room, washrooms.
Everyone in the school was on board, and they would be adamant that they had, in fact, seen him but he had escaped. They would offer an idea about where to look next...and so on and so on...until we returned to the classroom to find him, exhausted and resting. The end result for the hard work of chasing him all over the school was a delicious piece of gingerbread. Mmmmm! We had a photographer with us as we searched, and someone scribing some of the fun of the chase as we went along. They provided our first class book, and it was shared often throughout the school year. Later, it was placed in the library. Those kids were still coming back in grade five to relive the action!

This book reminds me of that chase. As in Laura Ljungkvist's first book, we follow the line as it runs continually through the school. It leads us past many familiar items...scissors, crayons, notebooks and then in through the front doors. As we explore we make stops in a variety of rooms, noting signs, objects, posters and many other familiar scenes. Every spread offers a new room, and all that it holds. We move from the welcoming opening scene to the science corner, the library, the art room, and back to the classroom. Lunchtime means a trip to the cafeteria, and then out to the playground for some well-deserved play. Then, we're off to the math area, the music room and back to the classroom in time to go home.

There is much to see, and discuss...and questions to be answered. Each one helps with new discoveries about the place where many days will be spent. So much thinking, and so many opportunities for discussion...it makes for a dynamic, fun-filled read.  There are always surprises to be discovered.

I found myself following that line with my finger from room to room, place to place and out the door at the end of that first day of school. It will evoke memories as you gaze at the collage art, the varying textures, the archival photographs and the many other reminders of your own school days. Every time I read it, I find make new discoveries. Imagine the fun for someone who is just waiting to make that first foray into formal education!

Should I Share My Ice Cream? Written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion, Hachette. 2011. $9.99 ages 3 and up

"Should
I share my
awesome,
yummy,
sweet,
super,
great,
tasty,
nice,
cool
ice
cream?"

What could be more perfect for a hot summer day than an ice cream cone? Gerald is incredibly excited when he sees the ice cream cart and is quick to make a purchase. He is not quite so decisive about what to do with it.

If you know Gerald, you will know that Piggie is his best friend. You will also know that Gerald is about the best friend in the world anyone could have. He is always thoughtful, and kind, and concerned, and generous, and well, you know! 

So, here's his dilemma. He knows that Piggie loves ice cream just as much as he does. Before he takes his first lick, he stops to think. Should he share his cone with Piggie? Maybe Piggie won't like the flavor. Piggie is nowhere to be seen. He could finish it before he sees her. She wouldn't even know he had it. Is that what he should do?

If you know Gerald...right, I have said that earlier. His imagination turns to a sad, inconsolable Piggie whose sadness might be assuaged by the very ice cream cone he has in his hands (well, feet!).  Before he imagines one more scenario, he looks down to find his ice cream has melted. He is so sad!!

As only Gerald's luck would have it, guess who comes along with an ice cream cone in hand (well, hoof!)? You guessed it...and guess what Piggie suggests. And, while it was not his plan...it has a happy ending, just the same!

Looking Closely through THE FOREST, by Frank Serafini. Kids Can Press, 2008. $16.95 ages 5 and up

"Early in the morning, when the weather is damp and cold, look closely at the forest floor. You might see ice crystals, called frost, gathered along the tiny hairs of a leaf."


I have mentioned Frank Serafini's work prior to this post. He does with his nonfiction exactly what young readers want in their information books. He helps them learn new 'stuff' while interacting with the text.

It is a guessing game, and about a habitat that may be quite familiar to those who read it. The forest is replete with incredible things. We only have to open our eyes, our ears, our hearts, our noses, and our hands to what it houses. The author uses peek-a-boo pages with well-chosen language to have young readers guessing about what they might see when they turn the page.

"Look very closely.
What do you see?

Lizard tongues?
Flickering flames?
What could it be?"

He encourages each one of us to take a close look at what we see around us...in the forest, at the pond,  on the shore, in the garden, or even in the rainforest if we are lucky enough to pay a visit. This series of books from Kids Can Press gives young readers a chance to see what the world looks like through the camera's lens.

By zooming in on one small part of that photograph he encourages his audience to think seriously about what they might experience when visiting this particular habitat...the forest. The photographs are brilliantly colored, clear and indicative of what finds life here. Some things will be very familiar, while others may not be. The descriptive paragraphs that face the detailed artwork give just the right amount of information, making this a book that might lead young scientists to look further in their research concerning the forest.

WOLF WON'T BITE! Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Macmillan, 2011. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"I can stand him on a stool!
I can dress him in a bow...
I can ride him like a horse but
WOLF WON"T BITE!"




If you are one of those people who always sympathized with the three little pigs in their tale of constant haranguing by the big bad wolf, you are going to love their comeuppance in Emily Gravett's new book.

Take a look at the cover, front and back, to see who has the upper hand as the adventure begins. The endpapers give clues to his capture while the title page has the nattily dressed piggies posting an invitation to their upcoming show. The pigs are dressed to the nines, while the wolf is looking a little woebegone, and definitely downtrodden. He has obviously been tidily tamed by his these three little porkers.

That is only the beginning for the poor guy...his clever captors get on with the show. There seems nothing he won't do for them. While they look sprightly in leotards, a ringmaster's jacket and a jeweled tutu, he allows himself to be harnessed, hoisted, even halved. Is there no end to the humiliation?

Kids love a 'twisted' ending, and they will not be disappointed here. Trademark Emily Gravett! We have come to expect the unexpected from her, and she never disappoints. This lively readaloud only adds to my admiration for her work. I can't wait to share it, and to hearing young readers take it up to read it on their own. It won't take them long, and will certainly add to their store of books that make reading a sheer delight and a worthwhile pursuit for them. Who wouldn't want to be able to read, when books like this one are ready at hand?

She's done it again. Emily Gravett's latest picture book is sure to be a hit, with young children requesting it over and over and over. Oh, and one more time!

Catch That Baby! Written by Nancy Coffelt and illustrated by Scott Nash. Simon & Schuster, 2011. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"Time to get dressed now.
No dressed!
Come back here you naked
baby!

Mom runs fast but...."


I LOVE toddlers...they have such spunk and perseverance, and they aren't mine! I can hear Nudie Rudy giggling all the way through this book. You know how two-year olds love to be chased, and to think that they are getting away with something quite naughty.
Before we even read the title page, we have a bit of an idea for the trouble brewing. Mom is chasing an engaging smiling boy, bent on freedom. Once caught and undressed, she hugs him up and carries him to the tub where he succumbs to a quick and soapy wash, playtime with his toy boat and a cuddly drying off. However, when it comes to getting dressed again, Rudy has a very different idea....'No dressed.'

The race is on. Mom calls him back, but he is ready for a 'Rudy Rumpus'. Soon Mom and Brother, who has been reading, Dad, who is getting supper ready, Sister, who has been working at the computer, and the dog are on his trail. Everyone is smiling and enjoying the chase, especially Rudy who face is filled with great delight!

As they reach the back of the house where Grandma and Grandpa are potting plants, Rudy is ready for even more excitement. He finds a vine perfect for swinging and is soon out of reach. A game of hide-and-seek ensues. Everyone plays the part of determined searcher...looking on the floor, in the pantry, under the table. Rudy is gone, or is he???

The final image is a bundle of fun...a charming transformation from Nudie Rudy to Cutie Rudy!

Giggles of delight will follow Rudy's bare butt as he manages to evade all capture. The entire family is going to love this book, and will likely follow it up with tales of similar chases.

All the water in the world, written by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson. Simon & Schuster, 2011. $18.99 ages 3 and up

"That rain
that cascaded from clouds
and meandered down mountains,
that wavered over waterfalls
then slipped into rivers
and opened into oceans,
that rain has been here before."


I love the first line of this book and the way it establishes a realistic, and perhaps as yet unknown, concept for young children:

"All the water in the world ...is all the water in the world."

It is as easy as that! It is not a renewable resource unless we carefully control its usage, treatment and release. The water that is on earth right now is all that we have. That is perhaps the most important thing that George Ella Lyon wants us to take from reading this beautiful new book. In lyric poetry she tells us the story of water, its cycle and its dramatic importance to the way we live our lives. It is a celebration!

Right from the start our eyes are drawn to the freshness of the water that surrounds us. Katherine Tillotson matches the text perfectly with a gushing water spray from the hose, small pools that make refreshing, watery spots on the ground, slowly dripping tap water as it fills a mug. The bright colors and page-filling artwork make this a terrific readaloud for the classroom. The font size changes, as do the perspectives assuring attentive listening for every page. As she does in each of her books, George Ella Lyon is very careful about word choice, letting them create a rhythmic sound for her audience, with a personal and gentle feel. From the soothing blues, greens and purples of places where water is abundant, Tillotson changes her palette to reflect the drought stricken places that await water to sustain and sweeten life. Then, she returns to the beauty of renewal.
 
The author ends with a plea to all who read her book:

"all so precious - do not waste it.
And delicious - we can taste it.
Keep it clear, keep it clean...
keep Earth green!"

The message is clear...we cannot live without water.
As a sidenote, I wanted to share this quote from Katherine Tillotson about her truly remarkable art for this book:
“The final art for All the Water was collaged from hand-patterned papers. Among these are patterned paste papers. Paste paper is a 400-year-old technique for hand-patterning paper. Over the years these papers were most often used as endpapers. I cook up a recipe of flour and water and then add color. Once applied to the paper you can stamp, drag, sponge and comb patterns into the paste. Very messy and very fun."

If you want to see more of that interview, go to Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast at blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/

Thumb Love, written and illustrated by Elise Primavera. Random House, 2010. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"1. Are you tired of being
controlled by your thumb?

2. Are you sick of being
called a baby?

3. Is your thumb ruining
your good looks?"

Lulu loves her thumb! She can't help it...it's been with her ever since she can remember, and offers security and companionship whenever needed. She and her thumb have a mutual admiration society.

Grandma is first to question her attachment. Soon others are noticing and snickering, even children at the beach. Her mother suggests that it might cause future problems with her teeth. Lulu is unperturbed....until her cousin Lili, who has always been a fellow thumb-sucker, laughs and warns of imminent speech impediments.

Lulu's dreams that night are filled with sticking out teeth, bad speech and a resolve to invent a twelve step program for quitting her thumb-sucking habit. It all seems so simple to her. But her thumb has other ideas...it doesn't want to be ignored, it misses their frequent visits, it cries and wails. Lulu has many setbacks, but Play-Doh, Tabasco, a sock and wedging help. 

The days pass and her dependence wanes...just as we knew that it would. Finally, with the support of family and friends, some setbacks and a strong constitution, Lulu is able to kick the habit. She is proud enough of herself to get out there and spread the message...finding love of a totally different kind.

The accompanying ink and watercolor illustrations add humor and expression to this woeful tale of kicking a habit. I love the conversational style and the thumb character. It has so much to lose and is constantly letting readers know just how Lulu is feeling about her decision to quit:

"I know...we'll watch TV, hide behind the couch, and stay under the blanket in our bedroom."

Kids will love hearing this story read aloud...it is such an opportunity for fun and laughter.

Stable, written and illustrated by Ted Lewin. Roaring Brook Press, 2010. $19.99 ages 5 and up

"Horses are led out the door
for trail rides. "Coming out!"
or "Going home!" they yell
in the narrow entranceway
that's only big enough for one
horse at a time. Their hooves
clip clop on the pavement as
they did a hundred years ago."

If your child loves horses (and many do!) I recommend you pick up a copy of this book. It's not too early to be thinking of Christmas and possible gifts. A horse-loving child is sure to envy those children who live near enough to Brooklyn's Kensington Stables to visit, or go for a ride.

Ted Lewin tells a simple, straightforward story of the stable's past and present. His sepia colored illustrations on the first pages tell of a time past and share the history of the horse's role in the life of the city. Their jobs were many, and they did not begin to disappear from the streets until motor vehicles could take on the work they had been doing. As the horses fade from use, the artist amps up his illustrations with color, acknowledging the changes.

This stable still has life:

"It is the last of its kind: a living, breathing, hay-burning relic of a bygone era, crowded by high-rise condos going up all around it. It is now called the Kensington Stables and is home to thirty-seven horses. To step into the stable is to step back in time."

He then puts the focus on the horses who call the stables home...their names, and the reservations that are made for children who would like the chance to take a ride. The place hums with activity, and offers soothing peace for those who know and love horses.  Children come to ride, to take lessons and even for therapy. The horses are transported to festivals, to weddings, to birthday parties, to trail rides and to street fairs. It takes a lot to keep an urban stable working and viable.

Thanks to Ted Lewin for illustrations that shine with light and detail, whether in color or not. He has given his readers a reminder of the place that horses have in our history, and how things have changed over time. His love for the stable that is close to his home in Brooklyn is evident, and his individual portraits of each of its equine occupants are positively charming.

Wonder Horse, written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. Henry Holt, 2010. $19.99 ages 6 and up

"""Put down your whip!" he would say to a farmer trying to get his tired horse to move. Bill stroked the spot on the animal's neck where its mother once nuzzled.
"All creatures like kindness," Bill advised.
His methods worked. His reputation spread."

I had never heard of Bill 'Doc' Key. Now, I know more about him and have great admiration for his compassion for animals. He was a slave prior to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. His affinity for the animals he so loved then led him to his work as a veterinarian. He developed Keystone Liniment which proved equally effective for animals and humans. It sold like wildfire. Those sales made him a rich man, and allowed the purchase of a beautiful Arabian mare. His hopes for a champion foal were dashed when her one foal was born with twisted legs.

Doc had no way of knowing how truly special that foal would be. His sadness over the death of the mare was assuaged by the alert and unusually intelligent offspring, named Jim Key. He seemed to watch Doc's every move, learning more as each day passed. He could barely walk when born; his interest in the doings of the world led to games of fetch with a stick. His legs grew stronger, his spirit soared and soon Doc began to recognize his intelligence and wit. That awareness led to Jim Key learning other tricks. He could open drawers filled with apples, recognize the letters of the alphabet, do math, spell and even recognize colors.

Doc was a patient and kind teacher, who knew that Jim Key was special. He wondered if others might be keen to see what he could actually do. He knew that joining a medicine show would bring him fame and help people see how truly intelligent and special animals could be. He hoped that would bring more humane treatment for his beloved patients. Affiliation with the SPCA would make a stronger impression. First, a team of Harvard professors were called in to prove that Jim Key's performance was not a hoax. Assured that it was not, the SPCA agreed to sponsor their touring.  What an impact they had on those who came to see them! After nine years, they retired but Doc never tired of showing visitors and children what Jim had learned.

I have long been an admirer of Emily Arnold McCully's work. Her uncomplicated storytelling sheds light on a time in history when racism reared its ugly head, while also telling the uplifting story of a man whose love and patience proved to the public that animals have an uncanny ability to learn. Her watercolor artwork is suffused with light and brightly colored, offering readers a look back in history to a time when travelling shows offered entertainment, and even enlightenment. 

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, written by Barbara O'Connor. Square Fish, Macmillan. 2009. $ 7.99 ages 8 and up

"Popeye was beginning to hate that clock. He was sick to high heaven of watching it turn minutes into hours and hours into days. Every day the same. So what if the rain stopped? Popeye thought. It would still be boring."

It's amazing what boredom can do to you! Popeye's been inside all week, listening to his grandmother Velma do everything she can to keep her mind from 'cracking up' and to his Uncle Dooley snoring on the sofa. When an RV gets stuck in the muddy lane near his house, Popeye wonders if adventure might be on the horizon.

That RV is filled with a passel of kids, and the oldest is Elvis. Popeye is immediately captivated by him. Elvis is all those things that Popeye is not...he's loud, he's daring, he breaks rules, he even says 'so what?' and means it! Elvis is president of the Spit and Swear Club (I'd like to join but I HATE spitting!) and he names Popeye senior vice president. Popeye will now follow him anywhere...another case of the good boy living vicariously through a less than perfect friend.

It is Elvis who suggests a little adventure. Popeye is hesitant as he doesn't want trouble with Velma; he's bound to be up to his eyeballs, if she catches wind of what they are planning. But, he's bored and Elvis offers friendship and an escape. It is no grand adventure. It's just affords a bit of mischief, some mystery and a 'small adventure' that will alter Popeye's life.

Their window of opportunity is narrow as Elvis' family will be gone as soon as they can 'unstick' their RV. As they travel the nearby countryside, they notice Yoo-Hoo containers floating in the creek. They carry messages that piques their interest and then their need to find the messenger. Will that happen? Who is sialing those messages down the creek?

Barbara O'Connor has a wonderful way with characters and I must confess that they are what hold my attention in most of the reading that I do. Here, she does it again, leaving her readers richer for knowing them. This would be a perfect back to school readaloud to get kids thinking, discussing and even writing about the 'small adventures' that made their summer of 2011 memorable.

Biomimicry, written by Dora Lee and illustrated by Margot Thompson. Kids Can Press, 2011. $19.95

"More and more, people are realizing how much we can learn from nature. Maybe what works in nature will work for us, too. These ideas lie at the heart of biomimicry - "bios" means life and "mimicry" means imitating.
Biomimicry is a way of thinking that encourages scientists, inventors and ordinary people to study nature and use its solutions to solve our problems."

When scientists look at the world around them, they see it differently than I do. I am only speaking for myself, and I have an abiding admiration for those scientific minds that see so much more than I can ever hope to see.

With that in mind, I want to tell you about this quite astounding book that had me reading from it from cover to cover. I thought I would skim its pages, get a feel for the information included, take a close at the artwork accompanying the text; then give you a summary that might inspire your interest in its content.

Biomimicry was a new word to me; that is no longer the case. I just didn't realize that I knew a little something about it. The author assures us that nature has inspired many of 'our' best ideas. From birds we learned about flight, a precursor to the development of flying machines. From bats we learned about bouncing sound waves to determine location, thus leading scientists to sonar. There are so many examples of our mimicking nature in the search for new and easier ways to live our lives.

There seems no end to the reasons that we look to nature:

"Why are lotus flowers always spotlessly clean? Tiny hydrophobic (water-repelling) bumps cover the leaves and petals. Water sits on top of the waxy bumps instead of filling in the nooks and crannies between them. So do particles of dirt. When it rains, water drops roll off the leaves and flowers, picking up the dirt as they go. Recently, scientists have mimicked this "lotus effect" by spiking paint with microscopic water-repellent bumps that let the dirt roll off walls with the rain."

Did you know that?  Makes you stop and think, doesn't it? It makes me thankful for the scientific minds that see such things and realize we can use that knowledge to make improvements in our world. Dora Lee has filled my head with a wide-ranging package of information. Not only does she mention what has been done in the past and present, she offers insight into future innovations based on what we have learned from nature:

"The future of ultrafast photonic computers (computers that run on light instead of electricity) may rest on the back of a Brazilian beetle. The scales on the beetle's shell are made of crystals arranged in such a way that only certain wavelengths of light, and not others, can penetrate them. This makes the beetle appear iridescent green from all angles. Computer scientists think that a similar arrangement of crystals could be used to channel light in photonic computers."  HUH!

Get out there and get this book, and prepare yourself to be astounded by the research and the detailed, realistic acrylic on canvas artwork that Margot Thompson has created to so clearly help us understand the connections, one to the other. Truly enlightening!

Blink & Caution, written by Tim Wynne-Jones. Candlewick, Random House. 2011. $19.00 ages 14 and up

"By the time you've waded to shore dragging that fool boat behind you, you're about as tired as a human can be. It's a deep tired, deeper than your bones. It's a give-up kind of tired. The Captain must have drowned out there in the bay, because you don't feel him inside you anymore. There is no alarm left in you, Blink. The battery ran out."


There are two unique and impressive voices that drive this book through to the end. Blink's voice is in second person, and it is such a surprise that it throws the reader off balance for a few short minutes. That imbalance does not last, as Blink is a street kid with a compelling voice in his own head. That voice is what drives him to survive even though it is a tremendously difficult task for the most part. Blink (Brent Conroy) has reasons for being where he is when we meet him. He is damaged by the abuse that his stepfather has shown and the seeming indifference of his powerless mother.

As he uses the quiet hallways in Toronto's Plaza Regent hotel to provide food for his malnourished body, he becomes an inadvertent witness to the reported kidnapping of a man named Jack Niven. He sees what happens, finds Niven's wallet and cell phone...and a picture of his beautiful daughter. When he hears a message left by her, he makes contact. All he wants to do is let her know her father is all right. He takes the money that is in the wallet. His guilt leads him to believe that he will be found out, and taken in:

"Breakfast at last, you think, but your eyes suddenly water and squeeze shut, as if someone turned a searchlight on you. You shield your face."

Just as suddenly as we met Blink, we now meet Caution. Her name is Kitty Pettigrew and she is a teen dream partner to Merlin, her drug-dealing, abusive boyfriend. What path is she on? As the story deepens we begin to understand, and so does Caution, what led her to such an alliance. Her path to living on the street began with the accidental death of her brother, and the part she played in it.

They meet in the bus station, on their way to Kingston. Blink is going there to meet Niven's daughter. Caution is on the run from Merlin and his lackeys.  They have both managed to evoke revenge on those who hurt them the most. Now, they might be able to forge a new path for themselves...together. They work to solve the puzzle that is Jack Niven. In doing so, they become embroiled in a business venture gone bad. But, they have each other's back, manage to outsmart the men, and escape.  In a hopeful ending, we find them back among loved ones, tentatively searching for a promising future...again, together.

Using second and third person voice to give depth and drama to the reading, the author has created a much-appreciated story about two teens whose lives collide. There is mystery and adventure, suspense and danger, and two characters you cannot help but love and admire. Tim Wynne-Jones knows how to write a page-turning, on-the-edge-of-your-seat tale that will appeal to boys and girls. And to older women, too!  I highly recommend it to you!

Beauty Queens, written by Libba Gray. Scholastic, 2011. $20.99 ages 13 and up

"Shanti sat next to Harris. "So let me get this straight: You booted the indigenous people off this land. You screwed up the environment. You tested products on helpless animals. Your 'Made in America' label is really made offshore. And now you're dealing illegal arms to a country we've levied sanctions against and you plan to murder us and frame them for it so you can go to war and take over their resources? Any rights you didn't violate or laws you didn't break?"
Harris thought for a second. "Our coffee is free trade.""

I could go on and on, sharing passages that made me laugh out loud, snicker to myself and even smile with total understanding for some of the issues that this group of young women face when their plane crashes on a remote island.

Only fifteen Miss Teen Dream contestants survive the crash. They display widely diverse skills when coming to terms with their predicament, and the need to survive. They learn much about themselves, staying upbeat for the most part and using the knowledge they have and the remaining cargo to find food and water, create shelter and protect themselves from the dangers that island life affords. Not to mention the fact that The Corporation, the owner of the pageant, has secret headquarters on the other side of said island. From there they make deals for arms with world dictators...the one we meet is MoMo B. ChaCha, an eccentric leader who fancies himself in love with Ladybird Hope, mastermind of the Miss Teen Dream pageant and head honcho of The Corporation.

Rescue may lead to discovery and so, the Corporation does damage control, finally determining that the only way to protect their operation is to rid themselves of the remaining contestants by making it look like MoMo's men are the assassins. Public opinion is sure to bring the Corporation into favor with the world if they are responsible for their capture. The girls have some ideas of their own.

The book satirizes consumer culture, reality TV, politics, rom-coms, the beauty industry, and religion while exploring issues of gender, race, sexuality, beauty, and identity. It will make any reader stop and take stock of their thoughts on such issues, perhaps going so far as to examine their own values. To add to that,  they will be part of a crazed adventure that has man-eating snakes, exploding beauty products, reality-show pirates (too gorgeous to be true), commando attacks on the enemy, and fun, fun, fun!


As I said at the beginning, almost every page offers a quote that I would love to share. I will leave you with only a few of my favorites.

While awaiting rescue (which is sure to be imminent), the girls recognize that they have no food to sustain them until such time:

"Ohmigosh. No food at all." Tiara sank down on the sand as if the full weight of their predicament had finally hit her. She blinked back tears. And then that megawatt smile that belonged on cereal boxes across the nation reappeared. "I am going to be so superskinny by pageant time!"

The girls learn much during their time on the island...all have changed, most for the better, by the time they are rescued. They work together, form alliances, support each other and become who they truly are when removed from the competitive unreality of beauty pageants.

I think Mary Lou speaks for all of them at one point in the book:

"Mary Lou wiped fruit juice from her mouth with the back of her hand. "Maybe girls need an island to find themselves. Maybe they need a place where no one's watching them so they can be who they really are."

If you know a teen who loves satire, I cannot imagine a better book from this year's crop!

Bravo, Libba Gray!

Paper Covers Rock, written by Jenny Hubbard. Delacorte, Random House. 2011. $18.99 ages 14 and up

"Reading, she tells me, is what she does best. She loves it because it uses the whole of her, the right and the left, the hemispheres of reason and imagination. She discovered as a child that a closed book is a darkness anyone can enter, not a scary darkness like a basement or a storm, but a comforting one that wrapped her up neatly inside a world she could control."

When Thomas dies in a river near their boarding school, Alex is one of boys present. The four of them - Thomas, Glenn, Clay and Alex - have been drinking and that inebriation results in a dare to jump from the high rock at the edge of the woods into the river below.

The guilt that Alex feels is palpable, but he gets caught up in a cover-up so as not to be expelled from Birch School, with its code of honor and extremely high expectations for all of its students to represent it to the best of their ability. That would not include drinking, or jumping from a rock that has been out of bounds because of safety issues.

Thomas' death has Glenn, the school's top student, letting Clay take the fall for the liquor and keep Alex and Glenn away from any suspicion that they were involved. Clay is expelled, and now the remaining boys must deal with the situation in their own way. It turns out that one of their teachers was nearby when the accident happened; no one is certain about what she saw.

Glenn decides they must follow a plan to discredit her in the event that she has more to tell than what she originally stated. Miss Dovecott is their English teacher. Alex deals with his guilt through his writing, in a personal journal that no one else sees. Through his assigned writing he wants to impress his teacher. He is obsessed with her and is encouraged by her praise for his thoughtful assignments She presses him to keep writing; perhaps to find the solace needed to assuage the guilt he is feeling about his friend's death.

Glenn feels that Alex should use the influence he has with her because of his writing to find out what she has not disclosed about the night of the drowning. Alex is hesitant, not wanting to push too hard in case she becomes suspicious. Glenn begins making accusations that could lead to her dismissal and finally, pushes Alex into a situation that ends with her resignation. Before her departure, she leaves Alex with a question. Did Glenn have a motive to silence Thomas?

Look At That Building, written and illustrated by Scot Ritchie. Kids Can Press, 2011. $16.95 ages 4 and up

"A foundation is the lowest part of a building. It keeps the rest of the building stable by anchoring it securely in the ground.
The taller a building is, the deeper and larger its foundation has to be. Some skyscrapers' foundations go four floors underground!"

If  your kids want to know how buildings are built, and how they hold together, this is a book that they will want to read. Yulee, Martin, Nick, Pedro and Sally are interested in knowing the same thing, and they are off to find out about them. I love the bird's eye view as they take a close look at those structures that we will return to in upcoming pages.

Sally has a tree house, and her friends are excited to see it. Again, we and the birds, get a close look at the house, the children inside and poor Max (the dog) sitting at the bottom of the tree, unable to climb up with them. That gets them thinking that maybe they could learn more about building a doghouse for Max,  if they get a book about it.

As they go, they notice much about the places on their route...a construction site, the floor and  beams in the library itself and even the constructions that animals make...nests, webs, and others. As they pass the school, they take note of the walls and other walls they can see nearby. Their learning has just begun.

Scot Ritchie makes that learning fun, and helps young readers to notice many things that they may not have thought about in their trips around town. He introduces foundations, beams, frames and shapes while entertaining us with comic-like artwork that tells more than the text does. Readers will learn as they go, and in the end, be ready to try a structure on their own. He provides the instructions in a clear step by step method that is very easy to follow. Max is going to love it!

Party, written by Tom Leveen. Random House, 2010. $9.99 ages 13 and up

"Beckett Montgomery, still wearing her Rasta hat and a beautiful long skirt and kick-ass shirt, and oh god, it's Beckett Montgomery talking to me. "Beckett," I say before I can stop to think to say anything else. Beckett blinks at me. "You know me?" she says, her voice still quiet, and her voice..."


I have been in the enviable position of having the time to read a host of amazing books in the past few weeks....it's summer, it's been too hot to do much of anything else, both weddings are celebrated and guests have returned home to their lives, and I have long, relaxing hours to spend in the back porch. What's better than that?

I had read only one review for Party; but, I am always intrigued and awed by an author who can tell a compelling story from multiple points of view.  Karen Hesse did it in Witness, Rita Williams-Garcia in Jumped, Jen Bryant in The Fortune of Carmen Navarro, Tracy Porter in Lark and Stephanie Hemphill in Wicked Girls. 

Here there are eleven teen voices, beginning with Beckett whose first line is "I'M THE GIRL NOBODY KNOWS UNTIL SHE COMMITS SUICIDE." It's her way of telling us that she lives totally under the radar, without much contact with anyone in her high school classes.  She's at the party to see if anyone notices her. We learn a bit about her connection to Ashley and Morrigan, other party attendees who will have a voice in this rich and complicated story. We move on to Morrigan, and her fellow party-goers...all in attendance for personal reasons. As each becomes part of another's story, the characters are seen through the eyes of others. It adds depth and piques the reader's interest in each of the well-drawn characters.

Individual perspectives allow us to see the events at the party differently and make our own judgements about the people involved. As we read, we learn more about the whole story and are able to make connections from one character to the next. Their voices are authentic, diverse, and connected. This is a PARTY you don't want to miss!

Hocus Pocus. Story by Sylvie Desrosiers and art by Remy Simard. Kids Can Press, 2011. $16.95 ages 3 and up

"Meet Hocus Pocus, a mischievous rabbit in a magician's hat.

Likes:  carrots
Dislikes: sharp teeth

There's only one thing standing in the way of his heart's desire -


This description from the front flyleaf pretty much sums up this witty wordless story of a carefree rabbit and his persistent nemesis, a cantankerous canine who doesn't like rabbits, especially those
who just happen to pop out of a magic hat. The dog does like sleeping, and it seems hard to come by since he and Mister Magic walked in the front door.

Putting his hat on the a nearby cupboard, Mister Magic is off to stow the groceries, water the dog and take a much needed siesta. Both are soon dozing. The snoring obviously wakens said rabbit and out he hops. Mmm! The carrots on the counter are tempting; but he's smart enough to know that the dog could be a problem. Perhaps bedroom slippers will keep the noise down. Stepping on a unseen peanut has him running for cover. The dog seems oblivious. Time after time his attempts to get to the carrot are thwarted and he must think of another way to avoid capture.

As in any slapstick comedy, the action just becomes more exaggerated and hilarious. Kids will be howling as they watch the antics of both rabbit and dog, each doing their best to get what each wants. The characters are bold in action and in color, and are full of expression, both goofy and endearing. As generally happens in trickster tales, the rabbit wins out. He gets the carrot. Dog gets the boot. Only we know what really happened while Mister Magic was having his music filled nap.

Let's Count to 100! Written and illustrated by Masayuki Sebe. Kids Can, 2011. $16.95 ages 3 and up

"There are 100 moles.
How many are snuggled
up with a frog?

You stink!
Pee-ew!
Ahh! I feel much better."


Here's another counting book that is filled with energy and visual delights for young readers. Every double page spread contains 100 like objects, from mice, to people, to cats, sheep and birds. They are colorful, and grouped in tens to help young readers begin to see patterns in their mathematics. As well as the fun of discovering the joy in such large numbers, the author also offers an interactive element..."There are 100 birds. Are there enough berries for everyone?"

As children track the groups on each page, there are also conversations and comments to note..."Who's a good chick? Cheep! Cheep!" As their hands and eyes take in all of the action, they are thoroughly entertained. Who knew counting to 100 eleven times, and then once more, could be so much fun!

There is so much to see. This book will keep kids coming back again and again to make sure nothing was forgotten. It also provides a lesson in color, and might encourage counting by 10s once the grouping is recognized. The images are simple, but they have character and expression. Each full color spread is filled with small details and the patient and observant child will be afforded pleasure in checking for the little surprises that lead them from one frame through to the next.

Hide and seek books delight our youngest readers and provide opportunities for lots of discussion, and for counting practice in a most enjoyable format. This book will be favored by many.

A Ball for Daisy, written and illustrated by Chris Raschka. schwartz & wade, Random House. 2011. $19.99 ages 2 and up

"This is the story of a dog and her ball. Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka brings us a tender and beautiful wordless book about what it's like to lose something special - and find a friend."   (from the front flyleaf)

I know a dog who loves his ball. Walks are not popular with my granddog Percy; but, he will play with his ball endlessly, despite panting and tongue lolling and abject fatigue. He has had many - he knows what Daisy had to learn - there will always be a new ball to love!

In this endearing story of a dog and her ball, Chris Raschka is able to capture the spirit, energy and personality of Daisy using minimal lines. The bold color comes in the form of the ball, and it's easy to see the love she feels for that beloved red sphere. In a succession of panels we watch as she shares the sofa, and slumber, with it. A disruption in that nap has her realizing that she could be closer to it, so she moves over and slides back into sleep, satisfied and more settled...all evident in the facing full page illustration.

Her days are filled with delight while playing with the ball at home, or at the park. When the ball is caught behind a fence, she is distraught. When it is returned, she is evidently delighted. An interloper at the park decides to play along. That play is a bit too exuberant and results in destruction. Daisy cannot be consoled. She looks at it in wondering disbelief, shakes it, howls, and mopes. Her owner is sympathetic, but realistic. The ball is trashed.

Nothing helps to ease the pain of loss...until an impromptu trip to the park results in a second meeting with the 'interloper' and a special gift! Ah, a return to peaceful delight!

I am a great believer in the power of wordless books to attract the interest of many of our children. They offer a universal story which can be told in any language, and with a wide range of vocabulary. Little children will understand clearly Daisy's love for her ball by looking carefully at the dramatic, emotion-filled artwork. The horizontal panels are filled with action and quickly drive the plot from one event to the next. There is so much to see and feel...and no need for words to be totally charmed by this book. I love it! 

Binky To The Rescue, written and illustrated by Ashley Spires. Kids Can, 2010. $16.95 ages 5 and up

"Lately, Binky has intensified
his patrolling duties.
His speed...
His agility...
And his super fighting skills...
require all of his focus."


While Binky reckons himself a space cat, he is not. He lives in a urban abode, which he considers a space station and he fancies himself to be charged with the security and safety of his humans. It is a lot of work, and he is relentless in his pursuit of all alien beings...bugs, bees, and all other menacing creatures.

His dealing with one small fly leads to an unexpected fall through the bathroom window. Binky finds himself, vulnerable in outer space, which is actually the back yard. Being out there offers new adventure and many previously undiscovered dangers. A garden gnome offers a hiding place and a water hose provides much needed oxygen. Once oxygenated, he can take the time to peruse this new environment. He journals what he is learning and collects data for future research.

When he notices Ted, alone outside and equally vulnerable, he devises a plan of action to save his beloved toy mouse. Ambushed by a swarm of bees, his plaintive calls are heard. His rescue is quick and effective and he finds himself inside once again.  Where is Ted? How could he have left him behind? What is he going to do now? His attempts to find his way outside again are thwarted by his incompetent and hardly helpful humans. They stop him at every turn, until he is forced to attempt a tunnel rescue. It works! Ted is back in the safety of the fold, and all seems to have returned to normal. Or has it?

There is much here to capture and hold the attention of young readers. Binky is just too funny, with his
hilarious attempts to find another means of escape and his bravado in the face of a perceived enemy. His new adventure will elate previous fans and garner new ones for a cat whose mission in life to save us from all alien life forms. While the reading level makes it accessible to early readers, the sophistication of the humor and the unwavering action will also appeal to older readers.

I admire Ashley Spires' ability to capture our attention without bright color and expansive backgrounds. She uses a subtle color palette, where the focus is always on a pudgy, black and white feline whose expressions offer clear understanding for his personality and keen insight. I love the sound effects, and kids will find humor in Binky's many actions, including his persistent 'pooting'. It won't be long until they are imitating a number of the sounds employed. The action is sustained through the use of multiple panels. This is a most satisfying sequel to the first Binky book, and will certainly find new fans.

Edwin Speaks Up, written by April Stevens and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. schwartz & wade books, Random House. 2011. $18.99 ages 4 and up

"It was a fine day as Mrs. Finnemore and her five children trooped down the front steps and out to their old car. "I call the front seat!" Fergus hollered. "But Mommmmy," Franny complained. "Fergus always gets the front seat."


It's been a long time since I took little ones grocery shopping with me! I don't remember it being too traumatic...they will remember it from a different perspective. When they requested sugar cereal, I was quick to ask if it had already been 7 years since we got the last box. They didn't think I was funny, but didn't argue much. When it was time to go through the checkout and avoid the begging that was sure to happen given the treats tucked right at child's-eye level, I tried to sneak in line behind someone else with children; they could entertain my kids while we all waited. Remember how mesmerized they were by other children?

Now, five kids? I don't think so! Mrs. Finnemore takes them all when she must get some shopping done. She seems calm as they proceed to the grocery with a list in hand, all five children in tow and a need to buy sugar for Edwin's birthday cake. Edwin is the baby. He jabbers before they leave the house, as they drive to the store, as they navigate the aisles of the grocery store...even while experiencing a short separation from his family.

His mother doesn't seem to notice much as the children bicker in the car, roll vegetable cans in the aisle, fight over turn-taking. She even manages to take the wrong cart and leave her littlest child behind. Edwin, on the other hand, notices everything and does his best to let his mother know what is really going on:

"Gloody pooper do no LEAVEY"

Astute readers, and listeners, will understand the humor that feeds this story of Edwin and his very hectic family. Mommy loses her car keys, her purse, her cart and even one of the bags of groceries that she buys. In each case, if the family took the time to listen to Edwin's 'babblings', they would discover something quite astounding. Young readers will quickly catch on...and want to share with his mother what Edwin is saying!

The children have been given only one direction for the shopping trip...remember the sugar for tomorrow's cake! When it looks like it might be left behind, and no one is listening to what Edwin is trying to tell them, he takes matters into his own hands...climbs down from the cart, makes his way to the sugar aisle, and returns to the checkout just in time for his mother to pay for it. When they finally get to the car and leave the bag with the sugar on the roof, Edwin has only one thing to say:

"Roofum sweet"

No one is listening!

 You will very much enjoy the mixed media watercolor artwork that Sophie Blackall creates for this humorous family story. She uses variety in color and tone, and a lot of patterns to capture the reader's attention. Edwin's speech bubbles provide contrast to the pale backgrounds. Some of the words captured in these bubbles will add surprise and delight to the sharing.

Double Play, written by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Doug Cushman. Tricycle Press, Random House. 2011. $17.99 ages 2 and up

"Br-iiing,
the bell for recess time!
The kids can
gallop,
race,
and climb."


Jill and Jake are two little monkeys who, along with their other animal classmates, have been working on math problems and would rather be outside for recess. They don't know that math surrounds us, and is part of many of the things that we do!

In fact, as they head outside they are part of one of the earliest math equations - 1 + 1 = 2. You know that one, right? They are unsure about their recess plans; it isn't long, however, until they find themselves hanging upside down on the bars:

"With just their knees,
they grip the bars.
They're upside-downside
circus stars.

2 knees + 2 knees + 4 knees"

There is much to do, and lots to learn about numbers as they pass from one activity to the next. The jump rope, play four square, have a treat, rope climb, blow bubbles, draw on a mural, and play ball. They even climb on the monkey bars. No matter where their talents lie, or what they are doing, math plays a role in their recess enjoyment.

When it's time to go back inside, they go in as they came out to play....1 friend + 1 friend = 2 friends!

While Betsy Franco has a great time creating the rhythmic, musical  language for her new concept book, Doug Cushman has a ball with the watercolor images he creates to accompany this number romp. The faces are expressive, the details brightly colored and full of playtime fun. I like that he groups the numbers on facing pages, giving kids a sense that we do that when we are adding similar numbers...and that often makes it easier for seeing patterns in mathematical concepts. He even does some grouping within the groups and kids with math minds will see that right away. The chaos on the ball field is great fun and well, monkeys on the monkey bars is just too cute!

"They climb, they cling.
They swing and glide
until they reach
the other side.

10 bars + 10 bars  + 20 bars"

Useful for teachers and parents and engaging for the target audience. It's a great book to get young ones counting, and grouping and seeing math as an integral part of much of what we do daily!

Giant Steps to Change the World, written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee and illustrated by Sean Qualls. Simon & Schuster, 2011. $19.99 ages

"The road won't be easy. People will try to exclude you, but you must leap over hurdles - like the Olympic athlete who won the gold even though he had been relegated to second- class status by the very country he was representing."


In this book, meant to convey inspiration to its readers, Spike Lee and his wife Tonya speak to the children of the world. It encourages them to believe that they can make a difference and have an impact.

Each new page refers to a heroic person from history who made the world a better place, who believed in themselves despite setbacks and who forged forward to realize a dream. The person is not named, but one of the quotes that emblazon the brightly colored endpapers will offer clues.

The brilliant mixed media artwork defines those who are honored here, adding depth and understanding as the pages are shared. With support, love and encouragement children can change the world. We all play a part in making that happen. It is the hope of the authors that parents will read it with their children, talk about the heroes included and then go on to find out more about each one of them. What a history lesson it can become!
The quotes include:

"Peace begins with a smile."  - Mother Teresa

"Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." - Langston Hughes

"One chance is all you need." - Jesse Owens

The message is important and encouraging for each one of us...not just for our children. Dreams can become realities. We can be the ones that change the world for the better...it takes one small step!  It's up to each one of us...so, get out there and make a difference!

Follow The Line, words and art by Laura Ljungkvist. Viking, Penguin. 2006. $22.50 ages 3 and up

"through the noisy traffic,
How many boxes are there
on the red truck?
How many ambulances do
you see?
How many cars have their
headlights on?
How many trucks have cranes?"


Where have I been the last five years? How did I not know about this book? And now that I do, I find out there are three others, including one that has just been released. I gotta catch up!

Speaking of catchy, take a close look at the cover above and you can see how truly innovative and engaging this book will be for young readers. It's black! The line starts in the letter F and with concentration, you can follow it from front cover to back, without a break. Amazing!

It seems simple but what a great concept, and how accomplished Laura Ljungkvist is to hold our attention through each movement and past every single image. She begins with city buildings, asking questions about flowers, clocks, and fire hydrants. In each case the astute observer will notice that the line leads from top to bottom, then next door, and downstairs, inside and out and around windows and finally,  past the edge of the page and on to the people on the next double page spread.

The backgrounds are there, the color is set and that leaves the black line to make a very distinct progression from one side of the page to the other. And then on you go... There are loops, and curves, straight lines and designs, and it's a great math book to boot. It is not until the last page that the line changes color...to white, so it can be seen in the darkness.

It's about the city, people, vehicles, signs and lights, the ocean, the deeps, the sky and so it goes. It is about counting, observation, and color. It's about fun, fun, fun! I was reading it on my own, and could not stop following the line, until I had done the counting, passed from one page to the next and wondered at the magic of it all. It is some journey!

It won't be long until I have the others on my shelf...Follow the Line through the house, Follow the Line around the world and the newest, Follow the Line to school. Of this fourth one, the artist has this to say:

"I had such a blast working on Follow the Line to school! This is the 4th in this series. They have all evolved graphically and each one has its "own flavor". In this one I have incorporated photographed objects. For example, the flowers are from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, there is a car from Sao Paolo, Brazil and there are a lot of objects from my then 8 year old daughter's school. My daughter and I actually worked together on this book. I gave her assignments when I needed a "kid drawing". Most of the kids' drawings on the walls in the school in the book are hers! Also, in this book the line writes some words in the interior text, so when kids follow the line, they will automatically be spelling words without even thinking about it."

I'll tell you more when I have them all in hand!

I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird, by Robert B. Haas. National Geographic, Random House. 2010. $21.50 ages 5 and up

"I take my aerial photos from either a helicopter or a very small airplane. Usually, the pilot removes the door next to me so that I can lean out to get the best possible photos. Flying with the door off requires another critical piece of equipment - the safety harness."

Well, to be perfectly clear...he uses two harnesses, just in case one fails. Does that give you a sense of the length some artists will go in order to bring us their best in nonfiction? We've all seen the close-up photos that Nic Bishop takes for his outstanding books and we even know how patient he is, and how long he will wait to get them. Robert Haas has a completely different perspective and shares that with us in this amazing photographic journal of his work. The pilot is his hero.

His photos have been taken over land and sea...always with the best shot in mind. Once, in Botswana he was witness to a battle between a herd of buffalo and a few lions:

"We watched the lions and the buffalo charge back and forth at each other for more than an hour, and then we noticed that our helicopter was almost out of fuel."

Now, that is concentration. Just as they were preparing to head back to camp to refuel, a lion managed to separate one member of the large herd. Haas was able to capture it with his camera...a very rare occurrence. Ah, success for the lions and for the chronicler of the stunning event. The stories he tells to accompany his photos are clear, detailed and accessible to his young audience. He offers personal experiences that are unique and compelling.

But if you're in it just for the pictures, you will not be disappointed. Unbelievable shots hold your attention...the flock of flamingos that actually take the shape of a flamingo, the tell-tale tracks of a ravenously hungry bear in search of food after a long hibernation. It won't be long until you have chosen a favorite image, I'm sure.

So, begin with Nic Bishop, move on to enjoy the Face to Face books from National Geographic Kids, and then take a look at Robert Haas' wonderful work and share his dream:

"Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamed of flying like a bird. Aerial photography has allowed my dream to come true. With a helicopter, I can join a winged creature or an entire flock in flight and photograph it from above or by its side." 

This trip from one country to another, from one body of water to the next might be the closest we get to a bird's eye view of these beautiful wild animals. Thank you for sharing, Robert Haas!

Caddy's World, written by Hilary McKay. Hodder, Hachette. 2011. $12.99 ages 10 and up

"The world felt safe. Caddy completely forgot the memory of the genie's chilly breath on the back of her neck that morning.
There was nothing to suggest or hint or warn that once again he was about to pick the world up and spin it on his finger."

Oh, I think I'll put this book down and go clean a cupboard or something....NOT! There is nowhere to go but on with the story.

I have admired Hilary McKay's lively and wonderful words through the first five stories about the Cassons...Rose, Saffy, Indigo and Caddy have all found a place in my heart, along with their artistic, unconventional, and loving parents, Eve and Bill.

It can't be easy to write a prequel to this series; yet Hilary McKay does it with panache and a great love for the family whose life we have shared since Saffy's Angel in 2002. Each is a brilliant, funny and warm story about a flawed family whose saving grace is the love they have for each other.
In this tale, the attention is on Caddy and her three best friends. They are 12 and on the cusp of adolescence. Life is beginning to be more complicated by peer pressure, boys and other issues. They love each other, but can be critical and honest when dealing with those personality traits that grate...always with humor and friendship.

The Cassons are dealing with another crisis. Mom has given birth to a very premature baby, and there is grave concern for her survival. In fact, Saffy and Indigo are practicing digging graves with square corners. Dad has come home from London to care for the kids while Mom stays in the hospital with the 'fledgling' baby. Chaos reigns!

In the circle of girlfriends, other issues arise. Ruby, the brainy one, is being entered to win a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, and she doesn't want to go. She stops working in order to skew her chances. Beth has decided that she is growing too fast to ride her pony any longer; she stops eating in order to stop growing. Alison does what Alison does to attract attention and gather detentions on a daily basis, and then has to face moving far away from her friends when the family house is sold. Caddy is the bravest of the brave, and keeps on loving all of them, despite setbacks. She works hard to keep a lid on everything that is happening at home, and with her friends.

Eve and Bill offer up humor to readers who have met them in previous stories and deal with the choices they have made about parenting and living separately in order to maintain their marriage and family. Bill is often oblivious to the daily drama in a large family, and how much he is missed when he goes to London to work. Eve is so practical, and extremely adept at caring for the children and offering the independence and freedom they need to flourish.
I hope that this is not your first meeting with the Cassons. If it is, don't stop with this one. Make a beeline for the library or your local bookstore and ask for the first five...Saffy's Angel,  Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After and Forever Rose. They are equally delightful. I surely hope that this is not the last time we will hear from them. Are you listening, Hilary McKay???

Back of the Bus, written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Philomel, Penguin. 2010. $21.00 ages 6 and up

"We sit and sit,
not goin' no place.
Nothin' to do but sweat,
so I roll my marble on that
sticky ol' seat and catch it
before it goes down the crack."

In December 1955 Rosa Parks showed enormous courage when she defied the idea of segregation on buses in Montgomery, Alabama. In this fictionalized account of that brave act, we see it play out through the eyes of a young boy who was riding on the same bus.

He tells readers that he and mama are sitting where they are expected to sit:

"Winter's here in Montgomery,
but I got the window down
and a warm breeze blowin' in
as Mama and me
huff down Cleveland Avenue
on the big ol' bus.

We're sittin' right where we're supposed to -
way in back."

As they roll along he plays with his shiny marble. When it rolls away from him, it is grabbed up by Mrs. Parks. She happily sends it right back where it came from, and the playing stops. His mama is tired and has no time for play as they roll toward home. The bus is filling up. It isn't long before the bus driver motions for some people to move further back.

Mrs. Parks refuses to move. The bus driver threatens to call the police. It has no effect on Mrs. Parks. The bus is at standstill and anger is building. The boy doesn't understand:

"Some folks look back,
givin' us angry eyes. 
"We do somethin' wrong, Mama?" I say all soft.
"No, we ain't:," she says.
But I ain't sure,
'cuz I'm getting shaky legs."

When he sees that it is Mrs. Parks causing the disturbance, he knows that she should be where he and his mama are. Or should she? The policeman arrives. Mrs. Parks is adamant about her rights and is arrested, and taken off the bus. Her action has an impact on the mother and the boy. Both hold their heads a little higher and stand a little taller. He may have been frightened at the outset; but he has learned something about courage from the calm actions of a very special friend.

Floyd Cooper 's artwork is outstanding. Using his signature subtractive oils on board style, he creates warm and realistic portraits of this story's three main characters as they ride the crowded bus at the end of a long day. Rosa Parks remains calm and stoic, despite the escalating emotion. It is clear to readers in the faces of the boy and his mama that their lives have changed because of her heroism.  Look closely to see if you recognize other civil rights leaders on the bus seats. I think I do.

Ghost Trackers, written by Chris Gudgeon. Tundra, 2010. $16.99 ages 10 and up

"How do you become a
Ghost Tracker? All you
need is an open mind, an
interest in ghosts, and a
desire to investigate the
unexplained.
Some people say that
ghosts don't exist. Some
just aren't sure."

If you have a child who is interested in ghosts, or work with children who share that same curiosity, this is a book that they are sure to enjoy. It is inspired by the TV series and offers a well written look at the supernatural world. I have to admit that I was not sure I wanted to read it, but I quickly changed my mind as I became quite invested in the stories told, text box inclusions and the variety of spirits discussed here.

The introduction offers a personal story from the author:

"That's when I noticed a strange luminous shape, vaguely human, at the foot of the bed. At first I thought it was a reflection of some kind, maybe from a car's headlights from the road nearby. But the pale light did not go away. It just sort of floated. I thought that maybe it was my imagination. Remember, I was still  half-asleep. But then my wife asked, "Do you see that?"'

That was the impetus for the author's growing interest in ghosts; after much research and questioning, he created a reality show called Ghost Trackers. In it he works with regular kids and helps train them to be ghost hunters. He says this is a book for 'anyone who ever wondered' about the authenticity of ghosts and other paranormal events.

He provides a history of ghosts and ghost hunters, the scientific research and search for proof of their existence, a guide to a variety of ghostly apparitions, an exploration of haunted houses and finally, a compendium of all paraphernalia needed to become a successful tracker. Very interesting stuff!

Filled with photos and enough mystery to keep the interested reader entertained and informed, this is a book that might make a believer of the most skeptical. It has not convinced me to look seriously at the 'Is My House Haunted?' text box. Maybe, I just don't want to know!

This Child, Every Child, written by David J Smith and illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. Kids Can, 2011. $19.95 ages 8 and up

"They may be kidnapped or
sold by their families for money
or food - their families may
believe better opportunities await
the children in other places. These
children may find themselves far
from home, forced to be domestic
servants, lightweight jockeys on
camels or horses, workers in
factories or beggars."

I think that this CitizenKid series of books can have a huge impact on young readers, offering them clear information about the children of the world. The more we know, the more tolerant and empathetic we become to all people. The statistics and stories in the book offers a comparison to lives beyond our own borders:

"Not every child in a developing country is poor or sick; not every child in a wealthy country is rich or healthy. But there can be a relationship between where children live and what their lives are like, and knowing this can help us understand more about the children of the world."

Some of the rights of children as agreed to under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are prominently displayed on each double page spread, and have a connection to the information shared there. There are heartbreaking differences in the way children live. Many do not have the same opportunities as other children despite this worldwide convention. As we read, we meet some of the children whose lives are dramatically different than ours.
There is great diversity. Ling lives on a houseboat in Aberdeen Harbor in Hong Kong. While her house is not conventional...the family boat never moves from its place in the harbor and her mother and grandparents rarely leave the boat, Ling and her brother go to school and bring home food for the family meals. There is love and security there for her. That is not so for many:

"Nearly 40 percent of all homeless children live in Latin America and 20 percent live in India. They spend their lives on the streets, alone or as part of a street family, or in an institution, such as an orphanage."

Each turn of the page offers new stories and comparisons...all eye-opening and informative. They give a real sense of the plight of some of the children who live in our world, while also hopeful for others. The accompanying illustrations offer great variety in setting while giving a face to the children being described. There is warmth in the color palette, an interesting juxtaposing of the shared stories and a sense of hope for the future:

"The future of the world depends on today's children, and the world needs to make sure that all children - including you - get an education and develop safely, happily and successfully into adults. Then communities and countries will have citizens and leaders who can care for the next generation of children."

The back matter includes a long list of the rights of children. They are non-negotiable; all countries belonging to the United Nations have agreed to follow them. The authors also include ways that we can learn more about the children of the world. Finally, there is a list of the sources used in the writing of this remarkable piece of nonfiction.