Warning: Do NOT Open This Book, narrated by Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. A Paula Wiseman, Simon & Schuster, 2013. $18.99 ages 3 and up

"Why did you turn the page?

Didn't you see the warning?

Stay on this page.
You are safe here.

This is a good page.

I like this one."

Who is going to be able to resist doing just exactly what they are told not to do? You know it won't be you, don't you?

Kids won't be able to take the advice given either, and will be itching to move forward, despite all the admonitions to just leave it alone!  Isn't that the best thing about books that are meant to engage our children in a fun reading experience that does nothing but encourage them to learn how to read it, too?

One lone monkey takes an unbelieving peek at the reader...what are you doing, he seems to ask. Turn another page, and here they come. They have paint cans, paint brushes, tubes of paint and even a guitar. You know it's going to get messy. The monkeys don't appear to be concerned. They are, after all, creating a happy place for themselves and they aren't too worried about anyone else. Once they have completed each of their chosen projects, they are content to sit back and relax. Don't get too comfortable, monkeys! There is more in store for you.

Can you hear the giggling? It won't be long until they can read it for themselves and soon there will be a chorus of voices sharing the hilarity with expression and delight. It's left to readers to help contain each of the new arrivals within the confines of the book. Can they do it? I think they can. Just keep careful watch on little fingers each time the book slams shut!

One of my favorite forever books to read out loud is The Monster at the End of This Book. It always gets such a wonderful response from listeners. This is a great addition to all books of that type and will ensure response and love for those who share them.

Matt Forsythe's earthy tones and always growing cast of characters add to the chaos that is so catchy, and so inspiring as little ones take the opportunity to break all rules while listening very carefully to the 'don'ts'! Can't you just hear the joyful voices as they screech out their own warnings, after they have listened again and again?
                                                         

Crazy About Basketball, written and illustrated by Loris Lesynski. Annick Press, 2013. $12.95 ages 6 and up

"fake left
spin right
move fast
move light
brain on red alert
in motion
heart is pumping
with emotion
some moves smooth
some sharp and angled
don't know how
we stay untangled"

On the heels of her very popular Crazy About Soccer, Loris Lesynski has added another stellar book to her ever-growing list of publications. It is sure to garner even more sports fans and to encourage an appreciation of the rhyme and rhythm of our language. What a bonus for all!

There are 32 poems in the collection and each one is sure to engage readers. As the mother of a son who ate, slept, and lived basketball through his middle and high school years, I can relate to many of the poems that Ms. Lesynski has penned for this new book. He seemed born to play basketball and it was the only sport that really interested him despite all attempts to have him try his hand at others. These poems would certainly have held appeal for him at that time. One of the questions I am often asked concerns boys and reading...and requests are constantly made for lists of 'books for boys'. I will definitely add both of her two latest books to any list I create.

The poems are funny, spirited and full of basketball talk and moves:

"What's the most popular
game of all?
For balls, of course,
it's BASKETBALL.
We don't get clubbed.
We don't get hit.
We don't get smacked.
There are no kicks.
We never get attacked
with sticks.
It's always so exciting when
we bounce,
  then bounce,
     then BOUNCE again!
And much as we LIKE
the pats we get,
boy, do we LOVE
getting dunked in the net!"

Very little about the game is left out, and much can be learned that might not be familiar to some players and readers. The sounds of the game, the excitement felt by those playing and those who watch is evident at every turn.

The author's cartoon-inspired artwork is filled with bright color, constant movement, expressive faces and humor. What more can we ask?  Sure to be a hit with anyone who reads or shares it, let's keep our fingers crossed that a third collection is in the works. I wonder what sport might pop up next.  
     
                                                                        

 

 

Community Soup, written and illustrated by Alma Fullerton. Pajama Press, 2013. $19.95 ages 4 and up

 

"In the garden,

Matu digs

sweet potatoes.

Amundi bundles

corn.

 

But where is Kioni?

She is looking

for her -"

 

Everyone is helping with preparing soup for lunch. Where is Kioni?

She's late! Working together the children and teachers have managed to get all the ingredients in the soup pot. Why is Kioni late?

 

It doesn't take long to discover the problem. Her chores at home have kept her busy, and now she is looking for her goats. Where can they be? As everyone else works, Kioni makes a disturbing discovery. Her goats have found their way into the vegetable garden where they are wreaking havoc.

 

The children laugh and play, and tease Kioni about the misbehaviour and remind her that school is a 'no goat zone'. She is very embarrassed and angry with her charges, and fervently wishes that they might become a useful ingredient in today's soup. Not wanting that to happen, one of the children suggests that they might add goat's milk to the soup and heighten its flavor. What an idea!

 

It's lovely for young readers to catch a glimpse of village life in Kenya. The sentences are short and tell their story with a lively pace. The textural cut paper and collage illustrations add a lovely touch, and will invite close attention to the happenings in the village as the communal soup is prepared. Bright backgrounds match the brilliance of the children's attire and the soup recipe shared at the back had my mouth watering...it is that time of year for the comfort it brings.

 

-A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to the Creation of Hope Project, supporting the  development of community gardens at Kenyan schools. Well worth your support, with an engaging story to boot!

                                                                         

Down to Earth: How Kids Help Feed the World, written by Nikki Tate. Orca Book Publishers, 2013. $19.95 ages 9 and up

"Corn is one of the most versatile crops grown anywhere. Dried corn kernels might be used to make tortilla chips, corn oil, animal feed or breakfast cereal. You'll find corn in some surprising places, including beer, chewing gum and ketchup. Nonedible items made with corn include crayons, chalk and soap."

Nikki Tate introduces her readers almost immediately to her own farm, Dark Creek Farm. She explains that family visitors love to know that what they eat for dinner while there has been grown and harvested on the farm...even the pork chops! They also love to help prepare the meal.

Following the introduction, she offers four chapters which deal with Seeds and Plants, Feathered Friends, Multi-Purpose Animals, and finally At Work on the Farm. In dense text, accompanied by bright, clear photographs, she shares the many ways in which food comes to the table around the world. In the photos, we see how children from world communities help to bring food to the table by helping to plant and reap, to care for chickens, ducks, turkeys and pigeons, to learn how goats, cows, pigs, and sheep provide for the people who live with them, and finally, to take produce to market to provide others with tasty food.  There is great satisfaction in helping others lead a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

I really enjoyed each chapter's personal glimpses of the author's farm and the work that is done there. It is just under 1 hectare in size, is found on Vancouver Island and is a thriving farm which provides food for many families:

"Muscovy ducks hunt for slugs and caterpillars in newly prepared vegetable beds. Later in the season, after the new vegetable plants are well established, the ducks will pay another visit to the garden to eat more pests. One theory about how Muscovy ducks got their name relates to the food they eat: mosquitos are one of their favorite treats."

Bring on the Muscovy ducks for summer 2014 in Manitoba!

Food fact boxes provide little tidbits of information that readers are sure to find informative and perhaps even surprising at times:

"Large Black Hogs can grow to weigh more than 725 kg (1,600 pounds). That could feed a whole lot
of people bacon for breakfast!"

In back matter there is included a short list of further reading, websites, and an author's note about Dark Creek Farm, and the many people who helped bring this book to its present state. The index is detailed and will help readers find their way back to needed information.

It is a book that will help young readers see where their food really comes from, and to show them how other children of the world help run the farms that produce the food they need to live a healthy life. It is a great companion to the other of the first two books in the Orca Footprints series, Pedal It!. I will look forward to seeing the third instalment in the near future.

The First Drawing, written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2013. $19.00 ages 4 and up

"When collecting stones
for spearheads and knives,
you think some look like
animals, too.
"Mama, this stone looks like
a bear!"
"To me," says your mother,
"it looks like a stone."
You wonder,
Why can't they see what I see?"

What a truly beautiful way to help celebrate Picture Book Month...another glorious book by noted author and artist Mordicai Gerstein! No one sharing this book can doubt the love he feels for art and the work of artists throughout history. It is an homage to all who came before him, and who will follow.

"Some of the oldest drawings ever found were made more than thirty thousand years ago in a cave in southern France. In that same cave is the footprint of an eight-year-old child. Alongside it, the footprint of a wolf."

At the site of one of those first paintings of a woolly mammoth we see a young boy, drawing supplies in hand and faithful dog at his side. He is impressed! In the next image, that same boy and dog are at the zoo, observing an enormous elephant and ready to get started creating his own personal impression of it. What will he draw on the large piece of white paper he is attaching to the wall?

Inviting us to imagine what might have happened in that cave so long ago, Mr. Gerstein moves his story back to the stone age when a wolf might just be a boy's pet, when the boy shows his interest in watching the animals that are so plentiful near his home, when his vision of the world differs from those around him. He shares his visions when the family gathers in the flickering firelight.

 In his dreams he sees what others do not see. When he tries to tell his family about the animals, they are confused and wary. So, he draws them on the cave walls, and only adds to their apprehension. His father insists that he stop what he is doing:

"He aims his spear at the wall.
Everyone huddles in the doorway,
the wide-eyed children clutching
their parents' legs.
"I can see it," gasps your father.
"This...is MAGIC!"

In fact, it truly is. And, the young boy knows it!
  
Had you been there thirty thousand years ago, you might have witnessed the boy who invented drawing!

What a truly stellar story about creativity and communication! Mordicai Gerstein reminds us that art has a magic all its own, passed down through the ages to entertain, delight and chronicle history. He uses acrylics, pen and ink, and colored pencil to create the excitement felt by the young boy who shares his gift so selflessly with those he loves and perhaps, with those who follow in his footsteps. We, as the audience, are there every step of the way as he describes just what might have happened all those years ago.         

                   

 

 

Picture Me Gone, written by Meg Rosoff. Doubleday Canada, Random House. 2013. $18.95 ages 12 and up

"I've become very good at it, says she. And then she kisses him on the back of the neck if he is bent over his work, and he reaches up one hand and buries his fingers in her thick hair and she turns her head and kisses his wrist. There is something in this gesture that make me feel completely safe. Despite the fact that the scene does not include me, it does not exclude me either."

Mila and her father had made a plan to spend her Easter break in the United States, visiting with an old friend of her father and his family. Just before they set out, her father receives word that Matthew has disappeared. His wife would like them to come anyway. It is disconcerting, to say the least.

Mila's ability to read people comes into play with all those involved in this story of friendship, emotional breakdown, and family love. She gathers clues by looking at her surroundings and is very perceptive about people. She soon recognizes that things are not all as they seem with Matthew and his family. The mystery deepens and soon she finds herself questioning her relationship with her father. Is he telling her the truth?

Meg Rosoff creates a loving family for Mila, and has her readers fully aware of the life that they lead together. That makes the situation with Matthew and his family even more puzzling to her. She is able to see the great unhappiness that envelops them and to try to explain it to her father. While she seems so aware, she also cannot read all of the signs that may seem obvious to a mature reader.

It is a quietly thoughtful book that will appeal to those readers who want to know more about characters than plot, about the true nature of lifelong friendships, and about discovering there is much to learn in this world, even when you think that you know a lot. It's all in the details!

The Pet Project, written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Zachariah Ohora. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster. 2013. $19.99 ages 6 and up

 

"From the side of the road
she looked so serene,
happily chewing her cud.

Upon closer inspection
she seemed sort of mean,
nudging me into the mud.

From the side of the road
I breathed the fresh air,
the grass and the rye smelled so sweet."

Ah, this may be the answer to the perpetual begging from young children for a pet. In this case, the parents propose a scientific query and a plan to persuade them that a pet is an appropriate request at this time:

"They urged me to learn all I can.
"Devise a scientific plan."

They added to this conversation.
"Write down every observation."

Then they handed me a pen.
"When you're through, we'll talk again." "

And so the study begins at the farm. Meeting first a cow, then a chicken is no incentive for a farm pet. When she meets a pony, she feels her search is over. Alas, three weeks later, the pony proves to be unreliable: a stomper, a kicker and a biter! The doves and sheep are no more amenable. It's off to the zoo!

This expedition leads to a study of the monkey, tiger, penguin, hippopotamus, and finally a polar bear. Each has it's own idiosyncrasies that prove insurmountable. Perhaps, closer to home holds the answer to the dilemma. She checks in the woods. Skunks, squirrels and bunnies are unable to meet her criteria for an appealing pet.

The solution may be found in a home study. The test subjects are varied. Not a goldfish, or an ant farm. A puppy and a kitten both prove problematic:

"When a kitten is your pet,
you never know what you will get.
One minute it's as sweet as pie,
the next, it's swatting at your eye.
Its personality is split.
I think I best get rid of it."

At the pet store, things don't get better.

Finally, her scientific observation results in these conclusions:

"My research gave me food for
thought.
I know what kind of kid I'm not.
I'm not the kind for mucking stalls
or brushing fur
or throwing balls
or cleaning bowls
or clipping nails
or watching out
for wagging tails.

I am the sort who soon forgets,
and that's not good when you've got
pets.

But..."

What do you think? Might it work? I say, give it a try!!!

Kids are going to love this...therefore, it may not be the answer to your pet dilemma. The poems are great fun, the artwork ensures that readers are in on the jokes. Enjoy!

 

 

Wild Boy, written by Rob Lloyd Jones. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2013. $19.00 ages 10 and up

"Finally, Wild Boy saw beneath the hood, and he had to bite his lip to stop himself from crying out. It wasn't a man that he saw, but a mask. It was one of the carnival masks that were sold around the fairgrounds - a white porcelain doll's face, eerily featureless except for a long, hooked nose, like a bird's beak, that protruded from the center."

When Wild Boy is born, covered with hair and considered a freak of nature, he is placed with the unscrupulous and evil Bledlow, the master of the workhouse. He allows visitors to have a look at the boy for money, and keeps Wild Boy isolated from the others as much as possible. Treated with derision by all, the boy finds comfort in watching what is happening outside the workhouse windows. As he watches, he develops an uncanny ability to observe and surmise much about the people who pass by. He reminds me of a young Sherlock Holmes, in fact.

Augustus Finch, a greedy, menacing showman comes to the workhouse to take Wild Boy off to the circus where he will attract many paying customers who want a chance to see the 'freaks'. Wild Boy thinks that life will be better for him; how wrong that thinking proves to be. Finch is a mean tyrannical drunk who gives Wild Boy little to eat, treats him with anger and intimidation and forces him to do his bidding. Sir Oswald lives with them in the caravan:

"Sir Oswald had no legs. Instead he got about on his hands, which were as tough and leathery as his wrinkled old face. But, despite his disability, he always looked immaculate in his tailcoat, top hat and tie. There wasn't a speck of dirt on his face, a rare achievement in a place as filthy as a travelling fair."

Sir Oswald looks out for Wild Boy, and tries to give him advice that will keep him safe from Finch. Alas, Wild Boy is independent, feisty and not willing to take the abuse that Finch likes to hand out. One night while trying to avoid a beating from Finch, Wild Boy takes note of an interesting visitor to the fair, and soon finds himself the object of a manhunt as suspect in a pair of murders. We know he didn't do what he is accused of; who will help him prove it?

Why, Clarissa will!  Clarissa is an young acrobat and she doesn't like Wild Boy any more than he likes her. It turns out that they make a pretty good team, each with special skills and abilities that allow them to find the answers to the mysterious deaths. In doing so, they discover that it's not what is on the outside that really counts. There is lots here to hold attention, and I found myself tearing through it. I must admit that books about nineteenth century London intrigue me, partly due to the terrible conditions that so many children found themselves in; yet, they often proved much stronger than the circumstances that threatened to overwhelm them.  Wild Boy and Clarissa do just that!

The killer was a surprise to me! I wonder if you will feel the same. I closed the book in hopes that I will meet Wild Boy and Clarissa again, in the near future.

A Tangle of Knots, written by Lisa Graff. Philomel, Penguin. 2013. $18.00 ages 9 and up

"There had never been anything like a jar of Darlington peanut butter. As soon as a dollop hit your tongue, your entire body melted into happiness. As a young girl, V hadn't been able to get enough of the stuff. Her parents hadn't, either. The whole town was nuts for it. The whole state. The factory could hardly churn out jars quickly enough, people bought so many."

There is so much to love about this book...but, it is the people who make it shine. We meet them in alternating chapters and learn just enough about each of them to know that are one of the pieces in this magical puzzle. It is a book filled with 'talented' people. Everyone has a Talent already, or is looking for one. Some are born with them, some must discover them for themselves.

Cady has a baking talent; she also seems to know just exactly which cake is perfect for the person she is making it for...she's usually right! Cady is an orphan who lives in Miss Mallory's orphanage and is never picked for permanent adoption. She has been chosen and returned a number of time. Miss Mallory is certain that the ideal parents will materialize at some point and Cady will finally find happiness. Her matchmaking prowess will make it so.

Along with Cady we meet a generous group of characters who are linked to her in some way. The story is set in Poughkeepsie, and the people there are warm, humorous, community-minded. Each is connected to the other, and it takes the entirety of the novel to unravel the mysteries of those connections. As I read, I was constantly trying to figure out how the stories would come together. The author does a terrific job of juggling their story lines, and keeps us guessing until the final pages are read. Knowing how to deal with the circumstances that fate affords is a central theme, and it is very satisfying to watch each of the connected characters deal with their own realities.
 
Cady's cake recipes add appeal for those who love to bake, and they sound quite scrumptious. She bakes them for particular characters, and has names for each one. I will be tempted to try a couple of them, for sure. I just hope I can pull it off as baking is not my forte. Ah, well!

Pedal It! How Bicycles Are Changing the World. Written by Michelle Mulder. Orca Book Publishers, 2013. 19.95 ages 8 and up

"I was fifteen when I bought my first bicycle, and I rode it for almost twenty years. One summer, I pedaled it more than six thousand kilometers (thirty-seven hundred miles) across Canada. Eventually, it looked so old that friends suggested I buy a new one. I refused until the gear system broke beyond repair."

I received this thorough and thoughtful book from Orca as part of the first duo being launched under the Orca Footprints tag. Now, I am ready to tell you about them, while I await the arrival of the third in this welcome and well-designed series. I will tell you about it as soon as it arrives.

Focused on the natural world, and brimming with history, information, and exceptional photographs, readers will find themselves totally immersed in the world of bike transport as they pore over the visual and textual material presented by author Michelle Mulder.

"In Ghana, as in many countries, bicycles mean the difference between an empty belly and a full one, or even life and death. So scientists John Mutter and David Ho founded the Bamboo Bike Project in Ghana to help local factories produce low-cost, high-quality bamboo bikes. These bicycles are very strong and can carry loads of up to 227 kilograms (500 pounds). They also have excellent natural shock absorption, perfect for riding on bumpy roads. This project is good for the environment and good for the people involved."

I was so entertained by the stories, the sidebars, the 'on my route' entries that are found consistently throughout this worthwhile read. It is full of tidbits that are sure to encourage young readers to spend time together sharing what they are learning. She knows what she is talking about, and it certainly shows with every entry. The text flows easily, the design is worthy of high praise and there is much information to surprise and attract close attention.

Michelle Mulder is a worthy enthusiast for making changes to help the environment and she presents a strong case for making the switch to bicycle power, for many of our daily trips as possible and even to ensure new jobs:

"My friend Claudio loves baking bread. He loves cycling too. So when he decided to sell his bread at local farmers' markets, he bought a cargo bicycle and built a box for the front. The box stores everything he needs to sell his delicious creations at the market. He even built a heater to keep his baking warm. Imagine riding a bike with the scent of freshly baked bread surrounding you!"

 You are going to love this book...it is perfect for sharing in a family, in a classroom, with a friend. It might even encourage you to get out there and try one for yourself.

Eat Like a Bear, written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2013. $18.99 ages 4 and up

"Drink like a bear -
from a stream.
Leaping trout?
None about.
Bushes? Bare.
No berries there.
It's been four long
months since fall,
when you were full."


Six years ago April Pulley Sayre and Steve Jenkins collaborated to create Vulture View (Henry Holt, 2007), an impressive and gladly used study of one of nature's oft-maligned species. In their new book, they bring that same sense of wonder to their study of the brown bear. Using poetic text once more, the author invites readers to put themselves in the bear's body as it awakens from a long winter sleep. Spring is busting out all over, and this question is posed: "Can you eat like a bear?"

As said bear moves forward through the seasons, we are asked time and again to consider similar questions about the bear's food rituals as it explores its habitat, searches for food to sustain itself and ensures enough food to take it back to the next winter's sleep.

"Can you scratch like a bear? Find a tree.
Shuffle. Pause.
With long, strong claws,
dig in. Dig down.
Paw and claw and pull.
Find...
...ants!"

As we travel through the seasons, we learn about its omnivorous lifestyle, its unending search for sustenance and the many types of food it eats. The author provides an informative look at food habits, hibernation, interaction with humans concerning food and other tidbits that young readers are sure to find fascinating in the back matter, and an author's note that explains how this lovely book came to be.  

Ah, Steve Jenkins! I have been singing his praises since I first became familiar with his work. He wows his audience with his notable torn and cut paper collage work, creating textured images that bring his bears to life on the pages of this entertaining and informative text. Look beyond the bear to see the beautiful backdrop of streams, mountains, forest and plains. Wonderful!

                                                                      

Lifetime:The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives, written by Lola M. Schaefer and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2013. $19.99 ages 4 and up

"In one lifetime,
this bottlenose dolphin
will use the same 100 teeth
to grab food from the sea.

The slipperier, the better!"

I am certain that you know the children who will spend all the time it takes, and find some way to ensure that each is counted, when they come to the final 'in one lifetime' spread...are there really '1,000 teeny-weeny, squiggly-wiggly baby seahorses' there? I haven't taken the time to check it out; there will also be those inquisitive, need-to-know adults who will be doing their counting  to be sure the artist didn't mess up! 

I cannot imagine the hours, days, months, years that it took Lola Schaefer to research the lifetimes that she has included in her newest book of exemplary nonfiction. Wow! It is some accomplishment.
We benefit from her hard work and her curious, incomparable thinking.

Not only does Ms. Schaefer present an impressive amount of information about those animals she has chosen to introduce to her readers, Christopher Silas Neal provides accompanying artwork that will appeal and invite close inspection. Many math concepts are just naturally a part of the whole. You will be counting, grouping, multiplying those groups, rechecking and relishing the collaboration of two precise artists. It will add wonder to your reading today.

In back matter, each of the species is further described to raise the reader's awareness. The description of the Cross Spider follows:

"The cross spider received its name because of a pattern of white dots on its back that forms a cross. It is a common garden spider that can be found in Europe and North America. The female will spin many large circular orb-webs in her lifetime. When an insect becomes trapped in her web, the spider wraps the prey in silk, injects it with venom, and eats it.

In early autumn, the female leaves the web and finds a protected spot, like a crack or small opening, to spin 1 egg sac full of tiny spider eggs. In a few days, the female spider will die, but come spring, between 300 and 900 spiderlings will hatch.

Average Adult Life Span: 6 months. Females produce 1 egg sac (cocoon) in a lifetime.

Our example: 1 cross spider lifetime x I egg sac = 1."

Did they make any slight blunders? It's up to you to find out, I guess!

 

 

a little book of sloth, by Lucy Cooke. Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, 2013. $18.99 ages 4 and up

"Sloths' natural home is the jungles of South and Central America where they spend their whole life hanging about in trees. Literally. Their long arms and curved claws help them hook on and hang without spending much energy, allowing for optimum laziness."

They are not called the 'masters of mellow' for no reason. It has taken sixty million years of evolution to get them where they are today. Sloths can teach each one of us a lesson in what is really important in life. Just chill!

In this photographic and informative look at the sloths that are housed in the Avarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica we meet some truly delightful wee creatures that will have young readers 'oohing' and ahhing'. The sanctuary is described by author Lucy Cooke as 'an upside-down world where sloth is a virtue and not a sin.' It's only goal is to save the sloth from extinction. There are one hundred and fifty cuddly and huggable, orphaned or injured, inhabitants.

Pore over its pages to meet some of them and to learn about their many characteristics. Lucy Cooke does an exceptional job of providing just the right amount of information for her audience and she ensures that it is not likely to be a book that will be read only once. It is inviting and interesting; so, you won't balk at being asked to read it again. You can feel yourself relaxing as you share their lifestyle and the humor that the author adds to the telling:

"Not only do sloths spend 70 percent of their time, ahem, "resting", but their nerves may even have evolved to not react to loud noises. So there's no point saying BOO! to a sloth. They are simply too chilled to notice."

or:

"Sloths are like stealth ninjas, and these invisible cloaks prevent them from becoming eagle food. Which is just as well. Since their top speed is fifteen feet a minute, running from danger is simply not an option."

Come inside and meet Buttercup, who started it all, and then move on to become familiar with Mateo, Sunshine and Sammy, Ubu, Wally and the others. They will teach you more about sloths than you have known, and warm your heart.

Meet Chewbacca, the carrot loving sloth:

http://youtu.be/xiE5AQHKj_Y

If you want to see more, be sure to visit Lucy Cooke's website. You can find it at http://www.slothville.com. Perhaps you would like to adopt one of its cuddly residents.

The Children Who Loved Books, written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas. Kane Miller, 2013. $13.95 ages 3 and up

"But Angus and Lucy
had books...
hundreds of them.

They were stacked here
and piled there,
balanced, propped and
shoved in all kinds of
odd places.
Books cluttered every
corner of their home..."

Celebrate good times! This book made me smile, smile, smile; and it made me wish that I had been smart enough to write it! Peter Carnavas' brightly colored, book-filled images add just the perfect touch to this warm and heartfelt tale.

Lucy and Angus do not have many of the things that so many children in our society do have. They live in a small caravan, with no TV (egad!) and no car to get them from one place to another. They are content. What they have in abundance is love of family, and books, books, books!

I can't think of a better way to spend my days, as you know. Luckily, our kids have grown up to feel the same as I do, and as their dad did. We are blessed. Although we have far more than most people need, we are eternally grateful for that and for our friends, family, good health and that we live where we can appreciate all that is ours.

When their caravan comes close to bursting at the seams with the growing abundance of books, they must find a way to deal with the dilemma. So, they get rid of the books, leaving space for family and breathing. It also causes a multitude of unexpected problems, not the least of which is that there is now more space between parents and children. It is not as pleasing as it had once been.

Lucy to the rescue:

"Then one afternoon,
something tumbled from Lucy's school bag.
"What's this?" said Dad.
"A book," Lucy answered.
"From where?" asked Mom.
"The library," Lucy replied.

Soon the family is reading it together, happy and close inside their tiny home.  Where do you think they head on the very next morning?

"Lucy and Angus didn't have very much,
but they had all they would ever need."

I concur!

                                                           

Henri's Scissors, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster, 2013. $19.99 ages 4 and up

"But when Matisse
was an old man, he fell ill -
so ill he couldn't paint,
so ill he couldn't sit up,
so ill he could only lie in
bed and sleep.

His paintings floated by
in his dreams."

I am always interested in the subject matter that Jeanette Winter decides to pursue. I am a big fan, and many of her books remain on my book shelves to be shared again and again. In choosing to tell Henri Matisse's life story, she gives us another way to look at the changing perspective of his work.

In his early life Henri was encouraged by his mother's love of art and painting. He drew pictures on everything that offered an outlet for his artistic flair...in the sand, in his schoolbooks, and later in the law books he was studying. When ill health caused an extended stay in bed for him, his mother provided for this creativity when she gave him a box of paints. It changed his life.

Moving to Paris, he became an artist who found great happiness in the work he did. It was an added bonus that people loved his work, and it made them happy, too. As he aged things changed, and so did Henri. He could no longer paint. He was filled with sadness and was unable to walk. A move to the seaside gave him new inspiration. Soon, he was drawing again. He also made a surprising discovery:

"Then one day Matisse
picked up a pair of scissors
and cut out shapes
from painted paper -
he was drawing with scissors!"

The rest they say is history. In his later life, he created collage work to decorate the walls of his house, and drew pictures of his grandchildren 'on the ceiling with a piece of chalk attached to a long pole.'  

Jeanette Winter is a gifted artist herself and used the inspiration she felt at seeing Matisse's collage work in the National Gallery to create this homage to one of the most important artists of the 20th century. By doing so, she has given her audience a quick peek at one artist's life through good times and bad.

 

 

The Snatchabook, written by Helen Docherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Raincoast. 2013. $19.99 ages 4 and up

"In every house,
in every bed,
a bedtime book
was  being read.
Tales of dragons,
spitting flames;
Witches playing
spooky games;
Pirates on the seven seas;
Princesses trying to sleep
on peas."

Eliza Brown is snuggled down in her burrow with a new favorite book, totally unaware that outside her window strange doings are at work. She doesn't see the Snatchabook fly into town. In every home in the neighborhood books are being read to settled-in children. Eliza is content. Then, in a blink, her book is gone...how strange!

Suddenly, all the books in town are disappearing! What is happening? How can it be? Soon, every single book is missing. Where are the book thieves? Why are they taking the books?

Eliza loves books, and she even has a penchant for mystery. She wants her book back, and she wants the booknapping to end as quickly as it began. So, she sets a trap and as she watches a shadow steal across her bedroom floor, she refuses to be frightened:

"She threw the window open wide
and shouted to the Thing outside:
"Stop stealing
all our books,
right  now!
Just give them back,
I don't care how!""

Eliza is sympathetic to the tiny creature who pleads his case from the shadows near her window:

"A tear rolled from the creature's eye,
and softly he began to cry,
"I  know it's wrong, but can't you see -
I've got no one to read to me!"

No book-loving bunny can possibly harden her heart to bedtime with a story. She makes a deal for the return of all the books stolen, and she and the Snatchabook devise a plan that will put things back to normal for all residents of Burrow Down.

This delightful rhyming story will entice and charm everyone who reads it. Add to the mix the snug nighttime feel of the detailed artwork created by the author's husband, and you might just have a new bedtime favorite. It is sure to please! Who's the Snatchabook in your family?
          

 

 

                                                    

Crankenstein, written by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Dan Santat. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2013. $18.50 ages 3 and up

"You might see Crankenstein
when it's super rainy outside...

Or when it's extra cold on
Halloween...

Or when it's WAY too hot
for popsicles.

MEHHRRRR!!!"

If you think about it for thirty seconds, you will realize that you have met Crankenstein at some point in your life; or, you may even have been him at one time or another! Haven't we all?

Yes, we do fear the cranky monster that sometimes lives within our children, our students, our friends, and that has even taken root in our own bodies on grumpy days. When it happens, it seems that nothing will make a difference to the way we feel!

On those days, everything irks! The alarm clock, the water temperature in the shower, the need to make lunches, the traffic, the getting everyone out of the house on time. You name it, it is of concern to the joy we take in  most days. What can stop the downward spiral?

For the Crankenstein that we meet in Samantha Berger's funny new book, it comes in the form of a kindred spirit. Meeting another Crankenstein is just what the doctor ordered. In no time, grumpiness is replaced with laughter. But, don't get complacent. As you well know, if you are a person living on this planet, Crankenstein can rear his ugly head at any moment, and return to make life miserable once more.

This tale is such fun, and a wonderful read aloud! I think that anyone who reads or shares it will feel a little contrite when they consider their own moments of crankiness. You know you will!

Dan Santat comes through again, creating an absolutely perfect character; but, he explains it was hard work:

"Every morning during the entire production of this book, Dan Santat would make himself good and cranky by depriving himself of coffee. Having just the right amount of crankiness was imperative to this project. He illustrated the book using Adobe Photoshop, even though his computer crashed all the time. Dan then decided to hand-letter every single word, not realizing there were a lot of words in this book.
Crankenstein is the embodiment of Dan Santat's pure rage.
...And he did it all for you."

 Witty, full of fun and a bit of a reminder to all of us to take hold of the cranky monster that is inside
and keep cool.

 

 

Little Red Writing, written by Joan Holub and illustrrated by Melissa Sweet. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2013. $19.99 ages 8 and up

"Description adds pizzazz to any story, but Little Red was bogged down, hindered, lost! She reached into her word basket for help.

Aha! Scissors!
I need to cut through
all this description
and stick to
the story path."

I love fractured fairy tales -old traditional stories made new again. I have a number of them on my 'keepers' shelf; but, I have never encountered a version of Red Riding Hood that comes close to this fresh and funny telling.

This Red Riding Hood is always en pointe! She is, after all, a pencil...a pencil with a special assignment. She is tasked with writing a story, and it can be daunting and dangerous. A plan is provided...a story path with four steps. When Red decides to write a story that matches her color, which stands for bravery, her teacher has further advice:

"Ms. 2 gave Little Red a basket of 15 red words to use in case she ran into trouble."

Red is confident. Opening her notebook, she gets 'write' to work. Not content to use 'walked' as her motion word, she attends gym and finds many action words that might be used instead. Out the door and into a 'deep, dark, descriptive forest' where adjectives abound and can become a distraction from the path. She uses one of her basket words to move the story along. Her meeting with Conjunctive Glue leads to another dilemma and mayhem takes over:

"Little Red squeezed the bottle...
Too many glue words came out!
So that is how she found herself
writing a sentence that would not
end but just kept going and going
and running on and on although
it had no purpose yet it would not
get out of her story or say anything
important so she was glad when a
helpful word arrived - "

When she runs into real trouble, she uses the 'red' words from her basket with wild abandon in order to escape the danger. Now, she is on her own and makes the decision to follow the danger, as all brave pencils would do. Is she brave enough to finish her story?

Joan Holub creates an alternate version of a familiar story in a totally unique manner. And, it works! Melissa Sweet adds an extra dose of charm with her familiar mixed media creations. There is so much to attract attention and keep readers involved in the story's arc. The colors are bright, the action lively and the many humorous details offer certain engagement in the story's plot. The lessons will be learned without any hoopla...rather fine storytelling magic.

It is a book worth celebrating!

                                       

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos. Written by Deborah Heiligman and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2013. $ 19.99 ages 10 and up

"School!

Mama sent him to school, of course, when it was time. But Paul and school were not a good match. Paul could not sit still for long. So he got up and ran around the classroom. But that was against the rules. Oh, how Paul hated rules. How could he solve this problem?"

Nothing that has been said about Paul Erdos could ever be said about me!
I was not born in Hungary. I was not born before World War II (although my kids think I was born before dirt) and I would never have preferred numbers to friends when I was a little girl. My mind does not have a mathematical bone in its body!

Paul Erdos did not appreciate his nanny's rules, when he was left in her care. He could do nothing about it. So, he thought ahead:

"But, Paul knew that when summer came, Mama would be home with him all day. 100% of the time. So he taught himself to count - really high. Then he figured out how many days it would be until summer vacation. It made him feel better to know the number."

Paul was 3, his mother was back working as a math teacher, and life had changed immeasurably for both. Paul thought about numbers all the time. When he was 4 he could calculate in his head how many seconds a person had been living! When school and its many rules proved a great annoyance, he was able to convince his mother that it was not the place for him, and she left him in the care of his nanny once more. Paul was not allowed to do anything for himself, which gave him all the time in the world to contemplate the world of mathematics.

When he was 10, he fell in love with prime numbers. Amazing! He was a brilliant man who made friends easily, shared his knowledge of math with great joy and changed the world of mathematics for many. He showed what fun it could be. His ability with numbers and his inability to take care of himself led him to choose a most unusual lifestyle...he made the world his home and spent his time travelling from one place to another, staying with friends and always teaching:

"Why did friends all over the world put up with him?
And take care of him? Call him Uncle Paul and love him?

Because Paul Erdos was a genius - and he shared his brain. He helped people with their math problems and gave them more problems to do. Plus, he was a math matchmaker. He introduced mathematicians all over the world to one another so they could work together."

This terrific book is a celebration of the man...brilliant, witty, loving, generous. Deborah Heiligman has most assuredly done her research and she very much liked the man she came to know. She shares her admiration with us. I so appreciate the way she and LeUyen Pham bring his personality to the reading. The book is cleverly designed to intrigue and appeal to all readers. The author gives us a man to love and admire. The artist incorporates mathematics in every spread.
At the back of the book both author and illustrator add a detailed note. Ms. Pham explains how she has used prime numbers at every possible opportunity. Both also provide a detailed acknowledgement for help in the making of the book.

A heartfelt tribute to the man ends this quite remarkable read:

"A long time ago there was a boy who loved
math. Numbers were his best friends.
He grew up to be the man who loved math.
Numbers and people were his best friends.
Paul Erdos had no problem with that."

The following documentary is well worth your attention, and will give additional insight into the man himself.

 

http://youtu.be/5iflQseSSfA          

Here I Am, story by Patti Kim and illustated by Sonia Sanchez. Capstone Press, 2014. $16.95 ages 5 and up

"Experience a young
boy's life in a new
country, a new world
full of possibility,
and a new future of

hope..."

In a letter addressed to the reader at the end of this captivating book about immigration, Patti Kim writes:

"I have to admit, moving was scary. New country, new words, new people, new school, new home. But it was also exciting. Not only did this new place have something to offer me, I grew to learn that I had something important to offer it as well."

As we notice the young boy's anxiety while on the airplane that is taking him to his new and unfamiliar home, we recognize that the transition will be a difficult one. With each passing day, the sounds, the language, the noise, the sights create confusion and consternation for him. He does not adapt quickly. The only familiar bit of home is a red seed, which he keeps safe in his pocket and with him at all times.

He thinks often about home, and resists attempts to have him move beyond his worries and concerns.
New York City is LOUD and bustling, and he doesn't understand the signs or what anyone is saying...on the streets or in school. The red seed offers up memories of home and the family he left behind, and brings some peace to his days.

The story is a powerful one and will give those who share this book an authentic look at the alienation that many immigrants experience when they must leave all they know for new opportunities. Filled with emotions that are clearly shown in the stunning illustrations created by Sonia Sanchez, using traditional and digital media, it is a story that is both frightening and hopeful. Ms. Sanchez ably captures the wide range of sentiment felt by this young boy as he first rejects all that is unfamiliar in this new place, and then finally adapts to the changes and finds solace in the neighborhood and new friendships. Her range of colors constantly alter the mood of her spreads, allowing her audience to feel everything that he is feeling.

This is both a 'window' and a 'mirror' book, letting readers see through a window into the lives of those who must make such enormous adjustments to life in a new country where so many things are strange, and a mirror for those who have also made such courageous journeys.

http://youtu.be/R5i5aR5PWss