The Smallest Gift of Christmas, written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $16.00 ages 3 and up

"You call THAT big?"
Roland asked. He had
been wishing for something
MUCH bigger. He closed his
eyes and wished a little harder.
"Ha! That one isn't much
bigger than me," Roland said.
"And I'm not very big!"  

For many people today, bigger and more expensive does seem to make everything better! There is no time when that is more evident  than when it comes to buying gifts for Christmas. No longer content with 40 inch television sets, people battle huge crowds for a great deal on a 70 inch one to replace that less appealing one!

Roland has learned that lesson from somewhere. Filled with excitement, he bounds down the stairs on Christmas morning, and is stopped short when he sees a very tiny present with his name on it. It is definitely not what he is expecting. Not content to accept the slight, he promptly closes his eyes and wishes for something 'more'. With each successive 'bigger' gift, he remains discontent.

"I WANT A BIGGER GIFT!"

Nothing on earth is good enough for him now. That means a rocket ship and a search through the universe! When he realizes how far he is from home, he is overcome with emotion and wants nothing more than to be back where he was before all the wishing began. There, he receives the best gift of all...home and family.

There is something so appealing about Peter Reynolds' signature visuals and hand printed books. I fall in love with them every time I read one. He is able to capture feelings and character with little details, and his use of white space is spot on, allowing what is most important to be front and center at all times. This new Christmas tale is a heartwarming and welcome addition to my collection of books from this fine artist!

The Stowaways, written by Meghan Marentette and illustrated by Dean Griffiths. Pajama Press. 2013. $19.95 ages 8 and up

"The cart seemed to rattle along for hours, as the Human stopped at every recycling bin by the road. Rory began to feel hungry. He was about to dip inside his pouch for a snack, when he suddenly picked up the scent of something better. He stuck his nose out from under the cardboard. Human shoes clacked loudly on the sidewalk as they rushed..."

The Stowaways are something special...we learn that right away! They are  brilliant members of the mouse family; but, they are not just the same as any other mouse. They are rare in the world. They have striped tails that are furry. And, their ears are huge (for a mouse, that is!).  

We meet Rory at the get-go and learn that he has the future in mind:

"He knew his own life was meant for adventure, and that's where his thoughts always roamed. After all, the Stowaways had always been known as great explorers and he was sure that one day he would become a brave adventurer like his ancestors. Only one thing stood in his way - their father."

Mice are in constant danger, and Papa is concerned for the well-being of his family. After all, Grampa is no longer with them. Gran is sure that he is alive somewhere, telling the family that he is too smart to be eaten by a cat while on another adventure. Papa wishes his mother would just let go of all hope. Rory wants to know what really happened to his grandfather and his Aunty Hazel. They were together when they disappeared.

It's summer and Rory is set for adventure. He gets just what he wants, in a series of events that lead him to find his grandfather and his great aunt, and to make a number of discoveries that will surprise and delight his family and yours. It is such great fun to see the world through the eyes of these tiny creatures. Young readers will be captivated by their ways, the dangers they face, and the methods used to get themselves out of trouble. It's especially fun to hitch rides on car bumpers, and the axles of carts...all the while keeping out of sight. Or, to find yourself in a science lab facility where the captured denizens get to have their say about what is happening to them. Dean Griffiths adds dramatic visuals that help us see their world through his expressive sketches. 

It's a great read for the family or for the classroom. There is certainly fun involved, and excitement, and even a bit of tension. What more can we ask?   Long winter nights or January afternoons at school just beg for a fitting story to share. This could be it!

The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit, written by Emma Thompson and illustrated by Eleanor Taylor. Frederick Warne, Penguin. 2013. $21.00 ages 3 and up

"The cousins set about playing
rabbit cricket with holly-berries
and fir cones when William
sauntered by.
WILLIAM was a turkey.
He was a puffed-up person,
full of his own importance.
Nothing made him happier that
his bold, brave fan of tail feathers
which rattled upon the cobbles
as he strutted about."

Apparently, rabbits are 'uppity' as Christmas nears. Or, so says Emma Thompson in her second book about Peter Rabbit. To keep out of their respective mother's hair, Peter and Benjamin Bunny find themselves outside, each running an errand for their mother. ( I know that ploy!)

That is how they come to meet William, who struts like a peacock and is quick to share the wonder of living with the McGregors. They never ask him to run errands; instead, they offer treats every day and 'nothing is too good' for William. He even lets the young rabbits know that the McGregors are going to have him for dinner very soon. Appalled that the turkey doesn't know that the farmer means on the table, not at the table, the two bunnies decide that they must tell William what he will not be pleased to hear...no, not at all!

William, as any smug gobbler worth his salt would, does not believe a word they say until Peter surprises him with news of his own father's fate at the hands of the McGregors. William is desolate. The bunnies return home, worry etched on their faces concerning their new friend who is about to come to a gruesome end. While serving a time-out for forgetting to complete their assigned tasks, they make a plan. Will it work?

Listening to Emma Thompson read this story on the included CD (as I am writing this post) makes my heart sing. She is brilliant at it! I am sure she couldn't possibly be happier with the result. The story itself is such a lovely new Christmas tale. It's wonderful to welcome these familiar and beloved characters, originally created by Beatrix Potter, back. In Ms. Thompson's deft hands they continue their adventures and I, for one, am delighted to join them.

I do hope there is another on the horizon!

If you would like to meet the real William, be sure to check this out: http://youtu.be/THSEWtET5cQ

My Mother Goose: A Collection of Favorite Rhymes, Songs and Concepts, illustrated by David McPhail. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2103. $22.99 all ages

"Ride away, ride away,
Johnny shall ride,
He shall have a pussy cat
Tied to one side;
He shall have a little dog
Tied to the other.
And Johnny shall ride
To see his grandmother."

Oh, I know who's going to get this book in her Christmas bag...Miss Kaya! It is a perfect size, and is filled with so many of the memorable traditional verses that I knew as a child, and then shared with our own children. What a  collection it is!

To have David McPhail choose and then design the accompanying artwork for this new anthology of rhymes, songs and concepts is the icing on the cake for me! In his introduction he explains that these  Mother Goose rhymes have been a family tradition throughout his life. He says that his mother did not have to read them to him, she knew them by heart. He went on to share them with his children and:

"the rhymes are still important to me. They are lodged deep in my consciousness. From them I learned about play and about work; about joy and sorrow; about manners, ethics, and dreams. These lessons do not grow old."

Today, he shares them with his grandchildren! And now, he shares them with us...lucky we are!

His familiar strong black lines, his expressive characters, his use of light and shadow, and his ever-changing design will have listeners begging for more. Those who are familiar with the rhymes will recognize favorite characters, whether human or animal, and will soon be able to chant the rhymes on their own. There is so much energy and delight on its pages!

I love that he has chosen to include some 'concept' pages which are sure to garner further interest from young readers: Getting Dressed, My ABCs, Going Places with Henry and Bear, My 123s, action words, Shapes, Colors. They invite for rapt attention and encourage conversations when sharing.

He ends with lullabies and verses that encourage slumber. His final poem is for his brother, to whom this book is dedicated:

"I love you well,
my little brother,
And you are fond of me;
Let us be kind to one another,
As brothers ought to be.

You shall learn to play with me,
And you can use my toys;
And then I think that we shall be
Two happy little boys."

Captivating,  and what a charming and memorable gift for someone you love.

                                                                 

Just So Stories for Little Children, Volume 1. Written by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Ian Wallace. Groundwood Books, 2013. $19.95 ages 6 and up

"But just as he was going to eat it there came down to the beach from the Altogether Uninhabited Interior one Rhinoceros with a horn on his nose, two piggy eyes, and few manners. In those days the Rhinoceros's skin fitted him quite tight. There were no wrinkles in it anywhere. He looked exactly like a Noah's Ark Rhinoceros, but of course much bigger."

The stories are old, and their appeal is just as strong as it has always been. The difference can be found in the brand new illustrations. Of them, Ian Wallace has this to say:
"When I sat down to read them as an adult, I understood why she held them in such high regard. They are simply remarkable - magical and mythic, replete with stunning word play, vocabulary, wit, poetry and prose; global in their reach; and, as important for an artist, ripe with visual images. I was hooked. I couldn't wait to put my mark on Kipling's fertile imagination, which opened up a treasure trove of possibilities."

Ian Wallace's invitation to us to share these classic tales comes on the remarkably designed cover. It wraps around the book and, in the beauty of the sunset and its transformation to the dark of night, gives us a visual hint at the stories to be shared in this first volume. I love that the reflections reveal the animals' transformations. If you are as observant as young children tend to be, you will take note that there are six tales to be told.

For each of the six stories, the artist has created four full-color, full page illustrations, using watercolour, pencil crayon, pastel pencil and chalk. Each scene is full of detail and light. The palette for each story is impeccably matched to the setting. The colors are bold when needed, and softened when the story calls for it. (Interesting to see what the whale has swallowed from trash-laden waters, and I love that the toys are in keeping with the times the stories were originally told!) In every case, one of the four is accompanied by a text selection. Don't miss reading the illustrator's note that follows the final tale. It is very enlightening concerning the process used for creating this luminous work.

There is little to be said about the stories themselves. They are have been honored over the past more than one hundred years. It is wonderful to have a newly illustrated and very impressive collection of some of the tales. It is my understanding that Volume 2 will be on bookshelves in the spring of 2014. I will look forward to that with high regard for Mr. Wallace's work and anticipation of reading those marvelous stories one more time! 

Knife, written by R J Anderson. Orchard Books. 2009. $10.99 ages 10 and up

"When she did look back, she saw Paul bow his head, then slowly unfold his hand to reveal the photograph he had torn from the album. With surprising gentleness he smoothed it out upon his lap and gazed down at his younger self, while Knife watched, her anger melting into perplexity. Why that picture, she wondered, of all the pictures they had seen?"

I did not set out to love this book. It is not a book that I would generally choose to read. But, it is on the list of juvenile intermediate fiction that our jury is currently reading for the Canadian Children's Book Centre and their upcoming spring issue of Best Books for Kids and Teens. That is what I truly love about being on the jury...I read books that I might have missed.

I am certainly happy that I spent time reading about a family of faeries who live in a huge old oak tree called Oakenwyld. They no longer have the magic they once had, and their numbers are quickly dwindling. Knife is the lead character, a brave and capable hunter within her faerie family. That honored role allows her to be outside and she rejoices in it, as she has spent too many years wishing she could be away from the confinements of her quiet room within the tree. She has been warned often about the dangers from natural predators and of contact with humans. Yet, when she meets Paul, a man confined to a wheelchair following an accident, she feels no concern for her own safety.
She enjoys the time they spend together, and learns much about the outside world during their conversations.

The characters are equally compelling and entirely unique , the world created is elaborate and intriguing, all of the secrets kept enrage,  and the winding path toward discovering the mysterious events that have brought the faeries to this place in time kept me reading long into the night,  and always eager to see what might happen next.

Can Knife trust Paul to help her find the answers to her many questions? In this classically traditional tale of faerie lore, readers will find secrets, mystery, friendship, great love and romance. There is little kindness within the faeries' world until Knife breaks the mold: she disobeys the Queen, she shows daring and bravery in the face of obstacles and sadness, she makes friends with a human who is as much in need of her as she is of him, and she is dogged in her search for the truth that will ensure the future of her faerie world.

It is a story worth reading. Now, I am off to read the sequel, Rebel. LUCKY ME!

Santa Claus and the Three Bears, written by Maria Modugno and illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer. Harper, 2013. $23.99 ages 3 and up

"Papa Bear was bringing
in a tree from the forest,
Mama Bear was preparing
Christmas pudding,
and Baby Bear was busy
getting in the way.
Even though he was a baby,
he was still pretty big."

Before sharing this inventive fractured fairy tale, ensure that young children have heard the traditional version. It will make the reading so much more meaningful.

The story is pretty much untouched...there are three bears, they do leave the house for a walk while food is cooling, and they do return to find an intruder. The similarities end there. These three bears are of the polar kind, totally in keeping with the time of year. Mama is making Christmas pudding. No surprise there. While it is cooling, they venture over to the nearby village to take in all the twinkling Christmas lights. Papa carries a lantern, Mama has a walking stick, and Baby Bear tugs on a sleigh.

While they are out, Santa is delivering the evening's gifts to the northern hemisphere. He is on the lookout for the bears' house as he has presents for them all. It's been a long night. Santa needs a breather. So, he has a look around and...you guessed it, he finds the cooling puddings and is delighted (he's had enough milk and cookies for one night). He tastes the puddings, sits to rest on the assembled chairs, and finally succumbs to fatigue when he discovers the upstairs bedrooms.

He doesn't mean to sleep so long! The bears arrive home to discover that someone has been, and still is, in their house. Imagine their surprise when they see who it is:

"They saw lots of white hair, a red jacket covered with soot, and, sticking out from the bottom of the blanket, two black boots."

We know exactly who it is! Not resorting to Goldilocks' method of departure, Santa does what he is there to do and off the goes to finish his night's work. Young children will love to see the size of Baby Bear's gift...and are sure to hope for some of the same!

Jane and Brooke Dyer use watercolor and gouache to create 'just right' art for this delightful edition. There is a lot to see, and little ones are sure to notice the many tiny details that grace this book's pages. I think you'll like it. I know I certainly do!
                                                                           

The Tiny King, written and illustrated by Taro Miura. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $17.00 ages 2 and up

"The Tiny King had a big,
big bathtub.
It even had a water fountain.
But splishing and splashing
all by himself was never much
fun.
The Tiny King's bed was a big,
big bed.
But he slept in it all alone
every night."

This tiny king will immediately capture the attention of the children who share his story. He looks a bit like he's made from Lego. But, not quite! We can easily see just how tiny he really is. In fact, the front cover encourages us to consider it with a note posted beside his green leg (This is the actual size of the Tiny King). On we go!

His castle is enormous, his army numbers many and the soldiers are huge, his dinner table is overwhelming, even his horse is so big that he cannot possibly ride it without incident. The poor guy!
Sleeping alone is no fun either; but, when he falls in love, his troubles dissipate. Happiness reigns when the contented couple welcomes a menagerie of TEN children!

The soldiers are sent home on vacation. Laughter spills from castle windows, stairwells, and the outdoors. Now that he has someone to share his life with, the Tiny King enjoys that life as he has never done previously. All is well!

I love the graphic geometric shapes, the bright colors, and the sense of perspective that preschoolers will discover as this book is shared. Be sure to note the changes in background color as the king's life changes. The stellar design uses digital collage that is sure to attract just the right amount of attention...deservedly so! Full of heart and offering a commendable life lesson, it is bound to be enjoyed by all.

                                                                         

                    

Once Upon a Memory, written by Nina Laden and illustrated by Renata Liwska. Little Brown and Company, Hachette. 2013. $19.00 all ages

"Does a book remember
it once was...
...a word?

Does a chair remember
it once was...
...a tree?

Does a garden remember
it once was...
...a pea?"

I have a friend who leads workshops in writing for all ages. Borrowing ideas from the brilliant Lynda Barry and her equally brilliant What It Is (Drawn & Quarterly, 2008), Don encourages those who attend to mine the details of a memory for writing workshop, or for their own purpose.  I have been at three of those workshops, and I even surprise myself with the topics I can walk around to find a memory for writing.

Nina Laden uses the concept of memory to create this lovely, quiet poem that is sure to trigger deep thoughts for many. She encourages us to think about familiar objects in our environment and to consider what their memories might be. I found myself thinking imaginatively about the origins of a number of  objects once I had read this beautiful book. What a concept!

Renata Liwska's art is described in front matter: 'The art was initially sketched by hand in the artist's journal. It was then scanned and colored in Adobe Photoshop. The animal characters were inspired
by the artist's experiences with nature, from her worldwide travels to her own backyard." Each image created is a perfect accompaniment to the warmth and charm of the questions themselves. As the small boy asks the question, the artist provides a tiny scene showing familiar gentle animals that perfectly depict the notion he has expressed.

Take perfect words, add exceptional illustrations and you have the recipe for a book to love and cherish. I LOVE this little treasure.  

Also, I wanted to share with you a talk given by Lynda Barry. It may give you pause!

http://youtu.be/hmT4wLWksOw                                                                       

Little Santa, written and illustrated by Jon Agee. Dial Books, Penguin. 2013. $19.00 ages 3 and up

"Except for Santa.
He loved the North Pole.
He liked making snow angels,
and snowmen,
decorating pine trees,
and baking gingerbread cookies
in the shape of people.
Most of all, he liked sliding
down the chimney."

As we wake up this week to wind chills that hover in the -40 range, I understand why the Claus family was not content with life at the North Pole. I mean, it is even colder  there than it is here! So, when they decide that life in Florida is much more appealing, a move in imminent. Santa, the youngest of the Claus's seven children, is the only one who seems put off by their choice for a new life. 

While the members of his family hate the snow, the shovelling, the fire building, the snow, the cold, ice fishing, Santa loves it all! He has some special talents, sliding down the chimney being the most notable. So, he is definitely unhappy when the family starts packing for their move south.  Luckily for him, that very night a terrible blizzard blows in and traps the family under drifts that bury the house. Santa has the solution...he loves the chimney and is sure that he can get out:

"I can shimmy up the chimney!"

He does just that. As he wanders about in a winter wonderland, he manages to dig a very cold reindeer out of a snowbank. The reindeer can fly! Soon they find a house with a light shining from a second floor window. Inside, Santa discovers a group of elves, just itching to help him rescue his family. It's off to work they go, and soon have fashioned shovels and a sleigh. Their mission to find Santa's house begins. The Claus family are patiently waiting for rescue when the dog hears a noise in the fireplace. Can it be Santa? What do you think?

This is a wonderful new picture book that will be enjoyed throughout the year, and for many years to come. Jon Agee uses his very distinct and considerable artistic skills to bring us an explanation for how Santa chose the perfect profession for himself.  Using watercolors, outlined in thick black lines, he creates a family and setting that is sure to capture attention. He is a master in the use of white space, droll characters, and perfect timing for each turn of the page. It's a wonderful story and worthy of your attention.
                                                                     

The Night Before Christmas, written by Clement C Moore with art by Barbara Reid. North Winds Press, Scholastic. 2013. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"He was dressed all in fur,
from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all
tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had
flung on his back,
And he looked like a
peddler just opening his pack."

Do you think it's true that everything old can be new again? I can't tell you how many different versions of Clement C Moore's Christmas classic  I have read and shared. I can tell you that I am a dedicated fan of Barbara Reid's extraordinary art. Put the two together, and you definitely have something old made brand new!

You are in for a truly wondrous time when you share her new book with your loved ones! From the shooting star in the deep blue winter sky that graces the endpapers, to the many charming details found on each and every page you will be captivated and in awe of her talent to take Plasticine and work her own kind of magic for this well-known poem.

There is nothing I can tell you about the poem itself, as you are sure to be familiar with it. I hesitate to tell you much about the illustrations because I cannot possibly do them justice. You have to see them for yourselves to really appreciate the impeccable work that goes into their design. I will tell you this: Ms. Reid has reimagined the story using mice as the characters who welcome St. Nick on Christmas Eve. They are exuberant as they hang their familiar gray work socks and trim a tiny tree which is set in a thimble. They giggle and cavort. Their home is a cozy wooden log, and their house is full.

Every tiny detail is intricately designed to delight her audience. I found myself going back again and then again to see what I had missed the first time. There is so much to see and savor!

Don't miss it!                                                                  

Dusk, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. Margaret Ferguson Books, Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2013. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"I swear I declare
I'll search here and there.
I'll search till I find
the best of its kind.
Toys for my girls
and toys for my boys,"
said man with cravat."

Master storyteller and artist Uri Shulevitz begins his story simply. It's winter and a grandfather, his grandson and dog are out for a stroll on another of winter's short days. At the river, their eyes are drawn to the brilliant beauty of the sun's light as it says farewell to that short day. The boy is sad.

Their walk takes them back to the city, where the hustle and bustle of its residents is evident on streets and sidewalks. We meet some of the shoppers as they appear to be making important preparations for toys, food, desserts and alien gobbledy-gook:

"Dusky musky, dusky zdat,
Kholidaysky ikla zat,
sveet candoosky ikla
bloosky,
bedy funnye ikla zdat,"
said visitor from planet
Zataplat."

As the natural light of the sunny day ebbs, the city lights takes it place, glimmering and glittering as the three continue their walk. More and more lights brighten the sidewalks, storefronts and window displays. As we catch a glimpse of three windows set side by side, we are suddenly aware, for the first time, that this book celebrates the holiday lights as well...a menorah, a Christmas tree and a kinara promise celebrations for many. There is light everywhere we look! The boy is no longer so sad at the loss of sunlight; he appreciates the beauty of the city light that now surrounds him,

The quiet moments of the earlier walk are contrasted with the energy of the city as they stroll amiably along its brightly-lit streets and avenues. Mr. Shulevitz's art is breathtaking. He fills the pages with light and shadow, spectacular color which is both warm and cool, and details that are sure to inspire conversations about what is happening at every turn.

It is a worthy companion book to Snow (Farrar, 2004). If you want to experience the magic that light can bring to a winter landscape, you need to see this wondrous book! It is a journey you will want to make in order to truly appreciate the beauty of this holiday season.

                                                                       

                   

Little Chicken Duck, written by Tim Beiser and illustrated by Bill Slavin. Tundra, 2013. 19.99 ages 4 and up

"Don't just stand there,
where it's sandy. Jump
on in! The water's dandy!"
Said our frog, but Ducky
only shook her head.
Ducky's mother never taught her
how to paddle in the water.
"I don't want to! I'm afraid to
swim!" she said."

Poor Little Chicken Duck...she has a fear, just as so many of us do. Frog tries to convince her to give the water a try, but she is scared and doesn't understand Frog's love for the cool of the pool. He's persuasive, but she is adamant she won't go in.

Off they go into the forest, with a reassurance from Frog that others of her species also fear what they do not know. When they meet Owl they learn that, despite the fact that owls are nocturnal, his fear was the dark:

"Every night, I started screaming
when the goblins' eyes were gleaming -
Till I learned that they were only fireflies.
Since they light my way so brightly,
I enjoy their friendship nightly
As I bravely fly through moon-and-starlit skies."

The lark has something to say about not fearing the dark, but what about singing? The robin, cuckoo, some quails, and even the American eagle voice their own fears and how they faced them. It's enough to give the little duckling the courage to go right back to the pond with Frog and see what happens.

Kids are sure to get a kick from the surprise ending!

This is a book that will generate discussion about those things we fear and what we must do to deal with each one. It will be most interesting to hear what children have to say and to listen to ways in which they encourage their friends. Bill Slavin, once again, creates soft-edged acrylic artwork that has great appeal for those who love varying perspectives, vulnerable and lovable characters, and lively action. It's sure to be a hit!

                                                                   

The Animal Book, by Steve Jenkins. Houghton MIfflin Books for Children, Thomas Allen & Son, 2013. $24.99 all ages

"FAMILY

A termite queen may
produce 1,200 eggs an
hour, laying them around
the clock for 30 years or
more. Over her lifetime,
she'll have hundreds of
millions of offspring."

I have such admiration for Steve Jenkins' work! I have often wondered when he sleeps. He is a prolific author and truly remarkable artist. I have joked when using his books in workshop presentations that he must lie awake at night thinking about new questions to ask concerning the animal world. Hmm...'what do you do with a tail like this?' or how many beetles are there in the world? or 'just a second', what can be done in that tiny amount of time?  What a fascinating man!

He has authored, or co-authored with his wife Robin Page, more than thirty books about the world of nature, and in his introduction to this wonderful new book, he says:

"Reading and writing about animals over the years has introduced me to some extraordinary creatures. And I've learned that many familiar animals have extraordinary abilities. This book brings together more than 300 of these animals - the exotic and the everyday - and describes some of the amazing things they can do."

We should thank our lucky stars for writers whose passion for a subject makes our reading lives so engaging and enlightened. I have been poring over this book since it arrived in the mail, and cannot help but share some of the truly wondrous things I have learned in a very short time. I would love to regale you with these tiny tidbits, but you can read it for yourselves. It is brilliant!

His love for this fascinating world is evident on every page. The images are so authentic, and are organized in a way that will keep readers turning pages and returning to favorite images. The design of each page has been given careful thought and has immediate appeal for anyone sharing this book.
As is the case with exemplary nonfiction, readers of all ages can pick and choose the pages and sections that most interest them. Those sections include family, animal senses, predators, defenses, animal extremes, and the story of life. The title page for family has an image of an ostrich and its egg, with tiny, circular focused images along the bottom to guide readers to the various subject headings comprising it. I went straight to 'bringing up baby' and discovered that:

"A family of shrews makes its way across the forest floor at night. A baby shrew could easily get lost, so the group forms a line. The mother leads and each little shrew holds on to the brother or sister in front with its teeth."

Each section ends with a double page spread that is sure to delight and inform...and perhaps even astonish, and a chart of further information about the topic explored.

He ends his book, as he often does, with 'more animal facts', using thumbnail images and additional information. They are presented in alphabetic order and contain page numbers so that a reader might return to a favorite page easily. Length, habitat, diet and a specific fact makes up the text for each inclusion. As if that weren't enough, he then shares ideas, research, his art, and a timeline for a new book from idea to publication. BRAVO, Steve Jenkins!

Don't miss Steve at work:  http://youtu.be/hhJ1wtHSPc4
                                                                       

Snowflakes Fall, written by Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Random House, 2013. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"After the flowers are gone
Snowflakes fall.
Flake
    After flake
         After flake
Each one a pattern
All its own -
     No two the same -
     All beautiful."


As we mark the year that has passed since the tragedy in Sandy Hook, I wanted you to know about this first collaboration between long-time friends, Patricia MacLachlan and Steven Kellogg. Mr. Kellogg lived in Sandy Hook for a number of years and was touched deeply by the death of so many children. He speaks of his time there, in his dedication:

"...and was followed by a hundred more books that were created in the attic studio of our old farmhouse. The changing seasons in the woodlands, fields, and streams that surround the Sandy Hook village provided an idyllic environment for raising a family. Those scenes and memories inspired these illustrations."

As she so often does, Patricia MacLachlan creates a story that resonates with comfort and family times. She uses the image of the snowflake to speak to her readers about the special qualities of every child and how no two are the same. Her hope is that through her story children everywhere will find peace and inspiration. The fact that the shootings took place in December, and that the CPTSA
encouraged others to create paper snowflakes to bring hope to the students as they returned to school, had a huge impact on her decisions lyrical story she tells.

Creating the beautifully compelling illustrations to match his friend's soft and lovely words helped Mr. Kellogg begin to deal with the overwhelming sense of loss so many were sharing. Patricia MacLachlan had the words, Steven Kellogg the art...together they have created a story that helps to restore the joy that is innate in children when snow falls and the seasons change. We sense a renewal of our belief in the cycles of our lifetimes and the great joy that memories eventually bring.

"Snowflakes fall
To quilt meadows
So we see the wandering prints
                Of birds
                               Rabbits
                                                   The bobcat at dawn
And the footprints of small red boots -
Making sled paths
And snowmen
And forts
And fields of snow angels."

May the angels that died that day know they live in the hearts of so many....all beautiful, and missed.
                                                                      

Xander's Panda Party, written by Linda Sue Park and illustrated by Matt Phelan. Clarion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Thomas Allen & Son, 2013. $18.99 ages 4 and up

"Koala is a little dozy,
likes her tree
all leafy-cozy.
I will ask her anyway.
Surely she will want to
play!"

It starts as a little celebration. Xander wants to have a party for pandas, until he realizes he is the only panda in the zoo. Not much of a party, is it? It is time to rethink the criteria. So, Xander plans a 'bear affair'. The planning takes time and much thought. The menu is designed to accommodate the taste buds of all guests and includes:

"Menu

Berries
Honey
Fish
Grubs
Eucalyptus leaves
Bamboo"

You might want to guess who eats what. Nothing is left out. He hands out his invitations, and is promptly stopped in his tracks:

"From her tree, Koala hollered, "Xander, I am not a bear."
Xander didn't understand her. "Koala Bear, you're not a
bear?" He stared at her in consternation.
"Sorry for the complication. I know I'm called Koala Bear,
but I am not a bear, I swear. I am a marsupial. Marsupials -
we're rather rare. Will I not be welcome there?"

I love the lilt of the language! Matt Phelan's accompanying ink and watercolor art bursts with expression and changing mood on every page. The loose lines and many added details (Xander shaking hands with the tiny orange Amanda Salamander) give each of the animals depicted a singular personality. I have too many favorites to mention, and you are sure to find your own!

Deep thinking keeps cropping up as Xander is faced with one complication after another, while trying to be sure that no zoo denizen is left out. The rhino throws in a little wrench, and Xander must think yet again. Lucky there is bamboo to chew and a pacing place! He amends his plan and thus, his invitation:
"Calling all mammals and birds:
A celebration invitation _
Food and fun and jubilation!"

Thankfully that will be the end of the stumbling blocks, or will it? In fact, the story ends perfectly! Oh, please get this book to share with your kids at home and at school. They will love it, and want to hear it repeatedly. You won't mind!


                                                                     

IT CAN'T BE TRUE! Dorling Kindersley Limited, Tourmaline Editions. 2013. $19.99 all ages

"The biggest-ever
iceberg began its life
when it broke free
from an ice shelf
off Antarctica
in 1956. It was
208 miles (335 km)
long and 60 miles
(100 km) wide."

Here's another of those remarkable books from DK that teach you what you didn't know you wanted to know! From front to back it astonishes with little known (or considered) facts that will have you opening your eyes wide and wanting to share that new knowledge. I can just hear young readers at the dinner table offering the fact that a blue whale's heart is as large as a car, that the number of people killed by the Black Death would fill 827 Rose Bowl stadiums, or that the average human body contains approximately 100 trillion cells, and 10 times that number of bacteria. Did you know that you wanted to know that?

The book is divided into sections for quick reference, and they include 'out of this world', 'astounding earth', 'humans and other life-forms', and 'feats of engineering'. Each section is then divided into questions and data. Having just celebrated another birthday, I went straight to "How old are the oldest animals?"

"Ocean quahog clams are known to live for more than 400 years. Scientists think some sponges may live even longer."

Okay, you're safe. I have no intention of living that long! A timeline at the bottom of the page shows hourglass timers that range from an elephant (86 years)) to the quahog (405 years). It's a great graphic.

You'll be saying 'WOW!' and you will be wanting to share what you have learned. It will be the same for kids who read this book.  Isn't that what we want for them?
                                                                          

 

 

dreaming UP: a celebration of building, written by Christy Hale. Lee & Low Books Inc., 2012. $20.95 ages 4 and up

          Cup
         on cup
      stacking up,
  smaller, smaller,
 and growing taller!       


What a brilliant book this is!

Try to get a copy from your local bookstore, or from the library. You will be dazzled by the way in which Christy Hale combines children with architecture, and how she shows that what they do during their play resembles many of the world's astonishing structures. The text is poetic, the idea of pairing children's play with buildings around the world quite unique!

The book is created using two-page spreads. The one on the left is illustrated with mixed media collage showing children playing with such common playthings as stacking cups, mud pies, cardboard boxes, blankets, wooden blocks and more. They are faced on the right side with well chosen photographs of a variety of architectural constructs from around the world that match what the children are doing in their play. Awesome!

Each is accompanied by a concrete poem (as I tried to show above).  You really need to see them to appreciate the remarkable creativity in design.

Christy Hale doesn't stop there. She concludes her book with back matter that offers a brief description of the buildings and of their designers. Then, to add  more interest, she includes a  hand painted portrait of the architects and  a personal quote from each one. From Maya Lin whose design of the Box House in Telluride, Colorado comes this perfect accompaniment:

"The process I go through in art and architecture, I actually want it to be almost childlike. Sometimes I think it is magical." - a very apt description of a child's play!
                                                       

THE SPORTS BOOK: the games, the rules, the tactics, the techniques. DK, Tourmaline Editions. 2013. $35.00 all ages

"Also known as Ping-Pong, table tennis is a fast-moving and physically demanding racket game. Players play as individuals or in pairs, and win points by hitting a lightweight ball over a net so that their opponents either cannot return it or are forced into an error. Most matches are short and sharp, and the rules have ways of dealing with games that go on too long."

Ah, now that description brings back memories from my youth...and my exceptionally talented brother who played a mean game of Ping-Pong. And I MEAN it! He only had to whip it past me a few times so fast that I could barely see it before I slammed down the racket and departed. No competitor was I! The referees would have dealt with my gently lobbing means of playing very quickly.

No matter which book I receive from Chris at Tourmaline Editions, I am always impressed by the knowledge I garner while poring over their books from DK Publishing. The editors there do an exemplary job of compiling information that is sure to interest a wide audience.

In this book, which is sure to appeal to anyone interested in ANY sport, they begin with an inviting introduction:

"There are more than 200 sports in this book - team sports, racket sports, combat sports, water sports, winter sports, target sports, sports on wheels, motor sports, animal sports, extreme sports - and more than enough information to make you an instant expert on almost any competition you're likely to encounter."

And, they are right!

I like that it begins with the Olympics, since it won't be long until we are watching from afar as our national athletes compete on the world's stage. From Athens to Paris, from St. Louis to London and up to Sochi in 2014 and Rio in  2016, each of the venues is included, accompanied by a brief description, sporting highlights and a star profile. The Paralympics are here and the text offers highlights as well as criteria, adaptations and some of the stars of the Paralympic Games.

Then, we move right on to the sports themselves. Each double page spread offers an overview, stats, information boxes, captioned and clear illustrations to help readers understand what they need to know about the sport being described.

As is true with the multitude of brilliant nonfiction books that DK produces, this is a book that holds appeal for so many, of all ages. You are sure to know someone who would delighted to find it under the Christmas tree!

The Cat with Seven Names, written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Christine Davenier. Charlesbridge, Thomas Allen & Son. 2013. $19.95 ages 5 and up

"I went out for the paper once, in the cold of dawn. Left the door ajar. With my walker I moved slow as molasses. So a cat slipped in. Just like that. My family's grown and gone, so this little bit of company felt nice. Kinda filled up the house again."

If you are a cat-lover, this is the book for you! Oh, and if you are an aficionado of beautifully written and illustrated picture books, it is also for you! It's really a book for everyone, and will be enjoyed each time it is shared. I guarantee it!

In a series of vignettes, this tubby gray cat brings warmth and cheer to a set of distinctly lonesome characters. Each has a singular voice, a personal reason for providing needed support and sustenance for the obviously well-fed feline, and a solitary place in the community:

"I was resting on the sidewalk, struggling to sleep, when this cat drifted up real quiet-like and rubbed hisself against my cheek. I nearly jumped out o' my skin, thinking it was the enemy come to get me. I was spooked. But ol' kitty, he remained calm. He didn't push me toward friendship. Just sat."

When a close call brings the cat back in contact with his owner, the rest of his benefactors are brought together in their concern for his welfare. Only now do they discover the secret life he has been leading. They also make some special connections within their small urban community. Stuart Little, Kitty-boy, Placido, Mooch, Dove, Mouse and Regis reveal themselves to be a charmer whose wanderings have brought joy to the lives of everyone he meets along the way.

Christine Davenier adds the perfect touch with ink and colored pencil artwork. Most of the action happens on double page spreads. Each community character can be found on the front and back endpapers, allowing readers a chance to see how the appearance of a cat can transform the course of a day for each one of them.

The first person voice, the shifting style for each new caregiver, and the varied issues that color their lives provide many opportunities for further discussion. This is a gorgeous book that will be enjoyed by all.

                                                               

        

Up The Creek, written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland. Kids Can Press, 2013. $16.95 ages 4 and up

"The moose wanted to
steer, but so did the bear
and the beaver. They all
sat in the stern. With so
much weight in the back
of the canoe, it tipped, and
they ended up in the water.
So they played Eenie-
Meenie-Minie-Mo, and
it was decided that the
moose would steer."

Not always do good friends agree! So, when the decide to take a canoe trip on a lovely sunshiny day...it turns into a fiasco! First, they cannot agree on who should do the steering. Then, they all want to paddle on the same side of the boat. Anyone with boating experience will know how that works out for them. Solving that problem happens just as they come to a beaver dam. How can the decision for crossing it be so complicated?

A portage works! It's not long until hunger and splashing assure another argument...and a scary result. Does a near disastrous ending to their afternoon excursion end the bickering? It does not! Finally they realize that, unless they choose cooperation as an option, they might be stranded on the river rock for a very long time. Shaking hands, setting their sights on home and enduring a number of scary incidents, they finally make shore in need of a nap.

This is the fourth time we have been lucky enough to spend time with our woodland friends. Life in the Wild? Indeed! You will love these cartoon characters, their humorous escapades, and the gently learned lessons.  

                                                                        

 

On A Snowy Night, written by Jean Little and illustrated by Brian Deines. North Winds Press, Scholastic. 2013. $19.99 ages 4 and up

"Brandon lifted Rosa out
of her cage. He held her
tight and ran back out into
the winter dusk. He put her
down gently in a stretch of
white snow.
"How do you like the snow,
Rosa?" he asked.
Just then his mother called..."

When Rosa first comes to live with Brandon, she is a much loved pet. She is coddled and cared for, and Brandon loves spending time with her. As so often happens with new pets, Brandon keeps his promises. As also happens, Brandon gets older, becomes less interested in Rosa, and even forgets to feed her at times.

Rosa is not happy:

"Rosa Rabbit wanted to bite somebody."

When it snows on Christmas Eve, Brandon suddenly takes an interest in Rosa again and takes her outside to enjoy the beauty of the wintry night, and the softly falling snowflakes. A phone call distracts him and he rushes inside, totally forgetting his once pampered pet. As she tries to find her way home, Rosa gets lost in the snow!

Cold and shivering, Rosa is helped by a flock of chickadees who fluff their feathers and try to provide comfort. They are joined by squirrel with a warm woolen mitten, a raccoon with a fondness for foraged food, a tiny hungry mouse and a hawk with a warm heart. All's well that ends well, and Rosa is willing to forget Brandon's indifference when she finds herself wrapped up in his welcoming arms.

It is a night filled with peace, and love remembered!

Brian Deines uses oil paints on linen to entice us into the depths of a winter's night where the gentle glow of moonlight keeps our spirits up, despite the plight of this forgotten pet.  

                                                                        

 

 

The Nowhere Box, written and illustrated by Sam Zuppardi. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $18.00 ages 3 and up

"Where are you going?
Nowhere!
And you can't follow me!

The box from the
washing machine
was just what
George needed.

In no time, he was ready
for his escape."

Too often they are just TOO MUCH! That is exactly what George is thinking as his bothersome brothers follow him everywhere he goes. I mean, EVERYWHERE! There is no place to hide from them, and he has had enough of it.

The delivery man arrives just in time. He brings a new washing machine for the family, and the means of escape for a big brother bent on finding peace and quiet away from the menacing siblings who seem like his own personal stalkers...the box it comes in.

The big box is perfect. First, he turns it into his own traveling machine. He has all the appropriate gear, the unfettered walls allow for the arrangement of the buttons he needs to blast off to NOWHERE. When he arrives, there is nothing there. George changes that pretty quickly, creating a world of wonder and imagination that satisfies all of his dreams and wishes.

His brothers are not content to ignore George's disappearance:

"He wasn't in the bedroom.
He wasn't in the bathroom.
He wasn't in the living room.

Where was George?"

You know, and I know, that George is right where he wants to be! Having satisfied his need to be on his own, and having had a wealth of new experiences, George is finally ready to return home.

Using mixed media, and using it perfectly, Sam Zuppardi adds a visual text that will have young readers captivated by the leaps and bounds that the imagination can take. I love his simple images of the big-headed children, the bright color palette, and the wild adventures George undertakes. But, I especially love the scenes with his little brothers and the parallel story he tells in his art. Don't miss a single image!

                                                                     

From Norvelt to Nowhere, written by Jack Gantos. Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2013. $18.99 ages 10 and up

"I stared at his pointy face. It was twitchy, and he had wiry, bottlebrush hairs bristling out of his ears and even more hairs poking sharply down from his nose, and covering the dark cleft of his chin was a thatch of crisscrossed hairs as if they were hiding the secret entry to an insect lair. I leaned across the table and under my breath I asked, "Miss Volker, are you sure you need another glass?"

In this sequel to the wonderful Dead End in Norvelt, Jack Gantos regales his audience with zany humor, murder and mayhem and a lesser dose of American history. When Jackie can't attend school because of construction there, he is able to make a trip with Miss Volker to Hyde Park, NY where she can pay her respects to the recently deceased Eleanor Roosevelt, founder of Norvelt and a woman to be suitably honored upon her death.

Everywhere they go on the trip they are met with intrigue and deception. Another murder in Norvelt asserts that Mr. Spizz, the suspected murderer is up to his old tricks. When Miss Volker's twin sister dies, she is sure that the death is the result of foul play. Leaving Hyde Park, they begin the journey to Florida for the funeral. Together, she and Jackie will bring the murderer to justice. Of that she is sure. Jackie is not keen that she is carrying a gun, and he worries that Miss Volker might herself take action that will result in death for her arch enemy, Mr. Spizz. It is a discomforting thought. He's afraid that Mr. Spizz will not be able to outrun the indomitable old woman.

Well plotted, with a myriad of twists and turns, Jack Gantos entertains and enriches our reading lives with these larger-than-life characters, their hilarious antics and fast paced action. Jackie loves Classics Illustrated comic books and through his reading makes connections between the characters he knows and those who people his beloved comics. He sees that good and evil can reside in one person (as it does in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and accepts that Miss Volker and he may have some of those same characteristics.

I stopped to reread certain phrases and scenes as I went along, wanting to savor his characters, his description of setting and the dialogue he creates between those characters. Jackie and Miss Volker are people you will not soon forget if this is your first meeting. If you know them from the first book, you will be delighted to be in their company again. The ending is just right, and offers a chance for another installment. I will eagerly await its release! 

SMASH:Trial by Fire, written by Chris Bolton with art by Kyle Bolton. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $21.00 ages 9 and up

"OF ALL THE TIMES TO RUN
INTO GARETH! I'VE GOTTA
LOSE HIM...BUT HOW?
OH, MAN...THIS IS SO
CRAZY!
JUST HOPE I CAN MAKE
IT! YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY
THINK YOU'D GET AWAY,
DIDJA?"

Despite the fact that Andrew is only 9 and has superpowers, he also retains some previous fears, most notably his acrophobia and the problems he has in sneaking out at night to work his wonders! When his hero Defender dies, Andrew acquires a strength and toughness that he has never had. After a lot of work, he is able to fly and has a gift for survival.

Smash, as he is called for his propensity for running into things with great regularity, has other more pressing problems. He is still a student, his parents like to have control of what goes on in their household, his bothersome brother, the bully Gareth and then there's the Magus, an archenemy of the Defender and now, of the boy wonder Smash.

Filled with rip-roaring action and adventure, graphic book aficionados will find much to hold their attention and set their hearts pumping as Smash faces one difficulty after another. The brothers Bolton create enough action to have their readers tearing from one page to the next. Fast-moving, funny and easy to follow, the story allows Andrew (aka Smash) to use his strength, his wit and  his powers to ensure that evil is defeated (with some difficulty). They also assure that we will meet Smash again...in the future, in another tale.

The pacing is perfect, the subject matter is sure to satisfy, and the artwork is full of the dangers that all superheroes must face when trying to save their own little piece of the greater world. Smash may be an apprentice, but he's eager to learn and willing to take chances that need to be taken when battling the evil in his world.

If you are looking to add to an ever-expanding list of accessible, enjoyable graphic literature, this one's a winner!                                                                     

Meeting Cezanne, written by Michael Morpurgp amd illustrated by Francois Place. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $18.00 ages 7 and up

"That morning, I didn't go for my walk in the hills. Instead I made my way down through the village toward the chateau. I'd often wondered what it was like behind those closed gates. Now I was going to find out. I waited till there was no one about, no cars coming. I climbed the gates easily enough, then ran down through the trees."

I first read the story of Yannick and his summer in Provence in a wonderful book of short stories by the incomparable Michael Morpurgo called Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew (Candlewick, 2006). The first sentence stirred up the memory of that story read so long ago...for me, a true testament to his powerful writing and storytelling abilities.

When his mother must go to hospital (he doesn't remember why), Yannick is sent to spend time with family who run a village inn in southern France. He cannot believe his great good luck. He has rarely been away from home, his mother has shown him the work of Cezanne whose art reflects his love for Provence, and he is keen to have an adventure.

Yannick is ten. His cousin Amandine is fourteen. He is immediately besotted. She is beautiful, and haughty. He can't help being in love with her, and doing his very best to have her notice him. He works hard as a helper in her family's inn and has reason to enjoy it:

"She put me to work at once in the restaurant: setting tables, clearing tables, cutting bread, filling up breadbaskets, filling carafes of water, making sure there was enough wood on the fire in the evenings, and washing up, of course. After just one day I was exhausted. Amandine told me I had to learn to work harder and faster, but she did kiss me good night before I went upstairs, which was why I did not wash my face for days afterward."

When a famous and frequent guest and his friends visit the inn, Yannick is unimpressed:

"Whoever he was, he looked ordinary enough to me, just an old man with not much hair."

In cleaning up the table once those guests have gone, Yannick makes a huge blunder. The paper tablecloth is tossed in the fire, as is his routine. Amandine is furious for 'the most famous painter in the world' always leaves a drawing when he is pleased with his meal. Yannick has just unknowingly destroyed it.

In an attempt to regain favor, he seeks out the artist and makes a surprising discovery!

I love this story, written with Michael Morpurgo's simplicity and polish. I think that middle graders would love to hear it together in class. The pencil and watercolor illustrations bring to life the French countryside where Yannick finds peace and joy, as he walks there often after he has finished his work. They are very reminiscent of Cezanne's brilliant art and of his love for the French countryside.

The Two and Only Kelly Twins, written by Johanna Hurwitz and illustrated by Tuesday Mourning. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $17.00 ages 6 and up

"Ever since they had started school, Ilene and Arlene had been singled out as special because they were twins. Now here was this Roberta, who had not only an identical sister but a brother, too. Ilene felt very annoyed. How could she and Arlene be considered special if there were triplets in their school? Being a twin would no longer seem like a big deal. "I'm a triplet, too..."

In the debut edition of her new series about Arlene and Ilene Kelly, identical twins, Johanna Hurwitz gets to the heart of the matter when talking about siblings. They have arguments about many things, not the least of which is what kind of pet to have. Dad solves the problem when he brings home a  most unexpected pair of ferrets, who also look exactly alike.

The dialogue is spot on, the tiffs are typical, and both feel that the arrival of triplets in the second grade might threaten what has always made them unique. When Ilene lies and tells Roberta that they are also triplets, the twins have difficulty keeping up the pretense. Second graders will understand the repercussions of lies told, and also the need to save face after proudly proclaiming something that is decidedly untrue.

Their adventures are not unusual for girls of their age, and twins to boot. They must deal with the consequences of their actions, and doing it together sure beats doing it alone. When Arlene goes to hospital with an appendicitis attack, Ilene has difficulty with the separation. She has rarely done anything without her sister close by:

"The next morning Ilene walked to school without having her sister by her side. She had never walked to school alone, or in fact done much of anything alone, in her entire seven years."

Tuesday Mourning uses watercolor illustrations to bring the girls, their friends and their matching ferrets to glorious life for young readers. The red specs, the matching outfits and cozy setting add appeal to a series that is sure to be a hit with those readers looking for first chapter books. The six chapters are episodic and read like short stories. This book would make a great readaloud in an early years classroom. There is humor, a gentle tone, and a real feeling for the special kind of friendship that often only exists between twins.

I am certain that we will meet up with Arlene and Ilene in the future to learn more about their daily lives and continuing adventures!