Some parents and educators scoff at comic books and graphic novels, but they have merit. We don't all learn the same way and we aren't all entertained by the same thing so when libraries and schools can offer a variety of formats with which to learn or be entertained then they can reach are larger portion of people. In David Rapp's article "Comic books' latest plot twist: Enhancing literacy instruction" Rapp discusses the advantages of comic book and graphic novels. He indicates that these types of resources can enhance inference making skills, encourage reluctant readers, and help develop critical thinking.
Children's graphic novels come in many forms. There are comic books on superheros, Pokemon, and Scooby Doo as well as class literature in graphic novel form like Journey to the Center of the Earth or the Odyssey. There are also graphic novels focused on education such Agnieszka's Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom, super scientist which is a non-fiction graphic novel. The variety of graphic novels available provides a plethora of opportunities as to how to use them, whether it be in a school setting or just for fun.
One example of children's graphic novels is Monster Christmas by Lewis Trondheim which I picked up and read in about 15 minutes to help get me in the Christmas spirit. This short graphic novel can be devoured in a small setting and can help those reluctant readers who don't want something to bog them down for a long period of time. This graphic novel is about a duck family, with a monster for a pet, who are going on a Christmas skiing vacation. On their way to the mountains they run across Santa being chased by a big orange monster and though they try to steer clear of the trouble they end up right in the middle of it. After saving Santa they decide to skip the vacation and have a nice relaxing holiday at home.
Another fine example of children's graphic novels are The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling trouble by Frank Cammuso. This is the first in a graphic novel series about a young witch whose parents have no magical abilities. Salem has trouble learning her craft because her parents aren't able to teach her so her witchy aunt suggests that she get a magical animal companion who can help instruct her in the ways of witch craft. Whammy is a cat with 800 years of experience, but initially finds Salem a handful. This introductory novel is funny and has adorable illustrations and can be read in a short sitting without too much commitment. Unless you need to find out what misadventures she gets into next.
Teen and Adult graphic novels serve a similar purpose to those for younger readers. The main difference is that the content is more mature. Parents shouldn't assume that teen and adult graphic novels are suitable for kids simply because they are illustrated because sometimes the content i very mature in nature.
Freshman: Tales of 9th grade obsessions, revelations, and other nonsense is written by Corinne Mucha. This teen graphic novel depicts Richie and Annie's first year as freshmen in high school. While this graphic novel is a cute description of how school can seem to a teen, it does have some adult language and young adult situations such as smoking and drinking. Though the main characters don't always choose the best options, the scenarios seem realistic.
Sand Chronicles Volume 1 is written by Hinako Ashihara. This is another graphic novel where the intended audience is young adults. There's no cursing or terribly mature situations in this novel though it does have to subject of death and suicide involved. Ann is the main protagonist of this novel and she and her mother have to move in with Ann's grandmother because her mother is no longer with her father. Ann hates that she has to move because she moved from the big city to a small village and doesn't like the country as much. She ends up meeting a couple of friends and even finds a love interest, but her life is forever changed when her mother commits suicide.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Maryland Blue Crab Awards
The Maryland Blue Crab Award began in 2004 to recognize both fiction and non-fiction book for emerging reader. The Award was established to gain interest in this category of literature so that authors, publishers and illustrators would increase the amount of high quality materials they are generating.
Dolphins by Kate Riggs was awarded the 2011 Blue Crab Award. This book leads young readers on a discovery of what dolphins are,what kind of environments, they can be found in and what they like to eat. The facts are accompanied by beautiful pictures of these majestic creatures.
Never Smile At A Monkey is a children's non-fiction book written by Steve Jenkins. This book shows how various animals can be a danger to you. This book has fascinating and sometimes obscure knowledge about animals who can be dangerous and even deadly to humans. The interesting facts are paired with paper collage illustrations of the animal they are describing.
Chameleon, Chameleon is written by Joy Cowley with photographs by Nic Bishop. This children's non-fiction book won the Blue Crab Award in 2006. As could be guessed, this is a book about a Chameleon, what kinds of foods he eats, how he eats, and what kind of predators he has to look out for. The story is accompanied with some bright photos by Bishop.
Dolphins by Kate Riggs was awarded the 2011 Blue Crab Award. This book leads young readers on a discovery of what dolphins are,what kind of environments, they can be found in and what they like to eat. The facts are accompanied by beautiful pictures of these majestic creatures.
Never Smile At A Monkey is a children's non-fiction book written by Steve Jenkins. This book shows how various animals can be a danger to you. This book has fascinating and sometimes obscure knowledge about animals who can be dangerous and even deadly to humans. The interesting facts are paired with paper collage illustrations of the animal they are describing.
Chameleon, Chameleon is written by Joy Cowley with photographs by Nic Bishop. This children's non-fiction book won the Blue Crab Award in 2006. As could be guessed, this is a book about a Chameleon, what kinds of foods he eats, how he eats, and what kind of predators he has to look out for. The story is accompanied with some bright photos by Bishop.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Coretta Scott King Award Winners
The Coretta Scott King Award is given to celebrate African-American Authors and Illustrators for their exceptional work with children and young adult literature.
Ellington Was Not a Street is written by Ntozake Shange and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This children's non-fiction book was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 2005 for it's illustrations. This historical book is about a girl growing up with famous figures from the Harlem Rennaisance. It has full page illustrations illustrations with warm colors and characters filled with emotion. Kadir is passionate about his work and has been an artist all of his life.
Moses is written by Carol Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This children's picture book is an inspiring story about how Harriet Tubmn obtained her freedom and went on to help others become free from slavery as well. This book won the Coretta Scott King Award for it's illustrations in 2007. This book, like the first, has full page illustrations painted with rich colors that remind me of fall. The people illustrated in this picture book are so detailed that you can really glimpse the tenacity that Harriet must have had to accomplish her goals.
Not only did The First Part Last win a Coretta Scott King Award, but it also won the Printz award in 2004 as well. Angela Johnson is the author for this young adult novel and is a three-time Coretta Scott King Award Winner. In this book Bobby is a 16 year old high school student who evaluates his life now as well as before his daughter, Feather, was born. Throughout the book, the reader is aware that Bobby is a single parent, but the reader doesn't find out why until the past and the present come together in the final pages of this tear jerker. This book provides a unique perspective on teen parents as the main character is both a young man and a devoted father. He of course yearns to be responsibility free again, but he also works hard to fulfill his parental duties while also staying in school. This book is a quick read that is sure to touch your heart.
Ellington Was Not a Street is written by Ntozake Shange and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This children's non-fiction book was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 2005 for it's illustrations. This historical book is about a girl growing up with famous figures from the Harlem Rennaisance. It has full page illustrations illustrations with warm colors and characters filled with emotion. Kadir is passionate about his work and has been an artist all of his life.
Moses is written by Carol Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This children's picture book is an inspiring story about how Harriet Tubmn obtained her freedom and went on to help others become free from slavery as well. This book won the Coretta Scott King Award for it's illustrations in 2007. This book, like the first, has full page illustrations painted with rich colors that remind me of fall. The people illustrated in this picture book are so detailed that you can really glimpse the tenacity that Harriet must have had to accomplish her goals.
Not only did The First Part Last win a Coretta Scott King Award, but it also won the Printz award in 2004 as well. Angela Johnson is the author for this young adult novel and is a three-time Coretta Scott King Award Winner. In this book Bobby is a 16 year old high school student who evaluates his life now as well as before his daughter, Feather, was born. Throughout the book, the reader is aware that Bobby is a single parent, but the reader doesn't find out why until the past and the present come together in the final pages of this tear jerker. This book provides a unique perspective on teen parents as the main character is both a young man and a devoted father. He of course yearns to be responsibility free again, but he also works hard to fulfill his parental duties while also staying in school. This book is a quick read that is sure to touch your heart.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Black-eyed Susan Award Winners
The Black-eyed Susan Award is a Maryland book award that began in 1992 and is given for books that students choose as their favorite (http://maslmd.org/about-bes/).
Because of Winn-Dixie is written by Kate DiCamillo and won the Black-eyed Susan Award in 2001. The Black-eyed Susan Award is not the only Award that DiCamillo has received. She was also Awarded the Newbery Award for her novel The Tale of Despereaux. Awards are not the only mark of achievement as both of these books were so well received that they have also been adapted to film. I will be excited to see what DiCamillo will do next.
Because of Winn-Dixie is a touching novel about a young girl named India has recently had to move to a rural town in Florida where she doesn't know anyone. She and her dad live alone ever since her mother left them when India was very young. Though it was several years ago she and her dad both struggle with the loss. It is this loss combined with living in a new town that create a feeling of profound loneliness within India.
While shopping at Winn-Dixie one day, she discovers a mangy looking mutt getting into trouble in the store and to save the dog, India claims that it is her dog. She names the dog Winn-Dixie and quickly falls in love with this dog that helps to fill a void in India. Though her dad is reluctant, he quickly falls in love with him too. Winn-Dixie possesses an ability to befriend anyone and it is this quality that helps India begin to make friends in her new town.
This is a heart felt novel that feels like a warm hug to read.
Frindle is written by Andrew Clements and was the Black-eyed Susan Award winner in 1998 for grades 4-6. This book also won the Christopher Award, the Great Stone Face Book Award, the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award, and many more.
What if a we weren't told what to call something? How would we ask for it? Nick discovers how language works and how words are created from his teacher Mrs. Granger. When Nick begins 5th grade he has the dreaded Mrs. Granger as a teacher and he tries is usual antics only to find out that Mrs. Granger means business. In an attempt to stall class and leave without homework his plan backfires and he is made to do an extra homework assignment and tell the class how words are created. It is this assignment that leads Nick into the battle of his 5th grade year.
Nick renames pen as a Findle. He works strategically to get his whole school and even the whole town calling pens, Frindle. His teacher gets irritated because the process causes a disruption at the school which leads to media coverage and everything spirals out of control from there and Nick finds that his word no longer belongs to him, but belongs to the world now. He and his teacher make amends and their battle creates a long lasting friendship between the two rivals in this thought provoking novel.
Ungifted by Gordon Korman was nominated for a Black-eyed Susan Award in 2014. Korman is a prolific author having published more than 70 books. This award winning author has been writing since he, himself was a kid.
Ungifted starts with a trouble maker, making trouble at his school. The novel's main character Donovan can't help himself when it comes to pranks and this last one was a doosie. He wrecks a statue and in the process destroys a bit of the school too. It's no wonder that he gets dragged into the principles office. What is surprising is that in his haste the principle accidentally adds Donovan's name to the Gifted and Talented list rather than the suspension list. So when Donovan his home biting his nails over a letter from the school, you can imagine his reaction when he finds that he is being sent to the GT school rather than getting punished.
Donovan soon learns that he is in over his head in this school. He can't keep up with the school work, but the teachers are flummoxed because he couldn't have gotten into the program unless he should truly be there so they initially ignore the problem. While avoiding the principle by staying in this school Donovan discovers that he has talents that are needed by these sometimes overworked and too intense students.
In using this book for book talks in schools with 5th and 6th graders I discovered that the book is sought after by gifted and talented students. As soon as my spiel was over, the students went to the stacks to find the books.
Because of Winn-Dixie is written by Kate DiCamillo and won the Black-eyed Susan Award in 2001. The Black-eyed Susan Award is not the only Award that DiCamillo has received. She was also Awarded the Newbery Award for her novel The Tale of Despereaux. Awards are not the only mark of achievement as both of these books were so well received that they have also been adapted to film. I will be excited to see what DiCamillo will do next.
Because of Winn-Dixie is a touching novel about a young girl named India has recently had to move to a rural town in Florida where she doesn't know anyone. She and her dad live alone ever since her mother left them when India was very young. Though it was several years ago she and her dad both struggle with the loss. It is this loss combined with living in a new town that create a feeling of profound loneliness within India.
While shopping at Winn-Dixie one day, she discovers a mangy looking mutt getting into trouble in the store and to save the dog, India claims that it is her dog. She names the dog Winn-Dixie and quickly falls in love with this dog that helps to fill a void in India. Though her dad is reluctant, he quickly falls in love with him too. Winn-Dixie possesses an ability to befriend anyone and it is this quality that helps India begin to make friends in her new town.
This is a heart felt novel that feels like a warm hug to read.
Frindle is written by Andrew Clements and was the Black-eyed Susan Award winner in 1998 for grades 4-6. This book also won the Christopher Award, the Great Stone Face Book Award, the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award, and many more.
What if a we weren't told what to call something? How would we ask for it? Nick discovers how language works and how words are created from his teacher Mrs. Granger. When Nick begins 5th grade he has the dreaded Mrs. Granger as a teacher and he tries is usual antics only to find out that Mrs. Granger means business. In an attempt to stall class and leave without homework his plan backfires and he is made to do an extra homework assignment and tell the class how words are created. It is this assignment that leads Nick into the battle of his 5th grade year.
Nick renames pen as a Findle. He works strategically to get his whole school and even the whole town calling pens, Frindle. His teacher gets irritated because the process causes a disruption at the school which leads to media coverage and everything spirals out of control from there and Nick finds that his word no longer belongs to him, but belongs to the world now. He and his teacher make amends and their battle creates a long lasting friendship between the two rivals in this thought provoking novel.
Ungifted by Gordon Korman was nominated for a Black-eyed Susan Award in 2014. Korman is a prolific author having published more than 70 books. This award winning author has been writing since he, himself was a kid.
Ungifted starts with a trouble maker, making trouble at his school. The novel's main character Donovan can't help himself when it comes to pranks and this last one was a doosie. He wrecks a statue and in the process destroys a bit of the school too. It's no wonder that he gets dragged into the principles office. What is surprising is that in his haste the principle accidentally adds Donovan's name to the Gifted and Talented list rather than the suspension list. So when Donovan his home biting his nails over a letter from the school, you can imagine his reaction when he finds that he is being sent to the GT school rather than getting punished.
Donovan soon learns that he is in over his head in this school. He can't keep up with the school work, but the teachers are flummoxed because he couldn't have gotten into the program unless he should truly be there so they initially ignore the problem. While avoiding the principle by staying in this school Donovan discovers that he has talents that are needed by these sometimes overworked and too intense students.
In using this book for book talks in schools with 5th and 6th graders I discovered that the book is sought after by gifted and talented students. As soon as my spiel was over, the students went to the stacks to find the books.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Newbery Award Winning Books
I guess it should be no surprise that I've liked almost all of the Newbery Award winning books that I've read, but it's true. The only exception that I've come across is The Westing Game.
The Westing Game was written by Ellen Raskin and originally published in 1978 and it won the Newbery award in 1979. While the plot was intriguing I was completely lost some of the time because I couldn't figure out who was saying what. The novel is about a very wealthy man Samuel Westing whose death brings together 16 unlikely people to hear the reading of his will. The will pairs people together to play a game of who dun it to discover who murdered Samuel Westing. I think that this novel would have been so much better had the dialogue been easier to follow.
Holes is an absolutely amazing book written by Louis Sachar and originally published in 1998. It won the Newbery Award in 1999. This book so well liked, that it was not only turned into a movie, but also earned a spot on the Publisher's Weekly Bestseller List and won a Christopher Award for Juvenile Fiction.
This novel follows Stanley Yelnats as he is transported to Camp Green Lake where he will serve 18 months for stealing a pair of shoes. Camp Green Lake is no camp of fun and games. It's a camp where young adults are supposed to work in place of going to jail or a juvenile detention center. Stanley didn't actually steal any shoes, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This could be the result of his no good pig stealing great great grandfather, but no one can be sure. While we follow Stanley through this hard time in his life we also follow the story behind the curse of his great great grandfather. Though Stanley has a hard time adjusting to his time at Camp Green Lake by the time he leaves for home he discovers that the Camp has actually transformed him into someone he can respect.
A Year Down Yonder is written by Richard Peck and was published in 2000 and won the Newbery Award in 2001. It's the sequel to A Long Way from Chicago though it's great as a stand alone book too.
In this novel Mary Alice has to go live with her grandmother because the setting is shortly after the great depression when times are tight for everyone. Mary Alice's father is out of work and there are just too many mouths to feed so Mary Alice is sent south to live with her grandmother for a year, until her father gets back on his feet again. Though Mary Alice is used to spending time with her grandmother's house in the Summers, she is not altogether pleased with having to stay there a whole year. She feels like and outsider in a place where everyone knows everyone else, but she comes to find that she likes living with her grandmother and actually is uncomfortable with the idea of having to leave her after the year is up.
I enjoyed reading A Year Down Yonder in an unexpected way. I thought the book may remind me of a Little House on the Prairie type book (not that there is anything wrong with Little House on the prairie), but I was pleasantly surprised. The wholesomeness to this book is well balanced with the brazen who gives a shit attitude of the protagonist's grandmother. I loved the solutions that the grandmother came up with for everyday problems, like putting butter on the paws of a cat when a cat first moves to a new place. This story made me giggle and really gave a good impression of what it must have been like during the time period.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman was the Newbery Award winner for 2009. The Newbery Award isn't the only Award given to Gaiman's work. He has won many awards for several of his books including his Sandman series of which number 19 won a World Fantasy Award, as well as Endless Nights and The Dream Hunters won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative. His work, Coraline, was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novella, the Nebula Award for Best Novella, and the Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers. Needless to say his writing speaks to people in a profound way.
I thought The Graveyard Book would be a morbid downer and I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The book follows Nobody Owens as he escapes a murder as a toddler by toddling into a graveyard. As a result the ghosts of the graveyard take him in and promise the ghost of his mother that they will take care of him. He is given a unique education by the inhabitants of the graveyard until he is old enough to find closure to his murdered family and take care of himself. Though the book is somber, I found the characters and setting comforting and the final pages were touching and heart wrenching at the same time.
When You Reach Me is written by Rebecca Stead and won the Newbery Award in 2010. Though Stead has only written a few books, the books that she has written come with glowing reviews, award nominations and a few awards. Stead is definitely an author to keep an eye on in the future.
When You Reach Me is a book about a girl who grows up with a single mother in New York City. She begins getting these letters asking her to do things and so the story is her writing a letter in response the her mystery pen pal. She comes to find that the letters must be written by someone who has gone back in time to stop something terrible from happening, but she can't tell anyone about it because they will think that she's crazy. Though this book sounds like a Sci-fi book, it's actually more of a realistic fiction with time travel playing just a small part in the overall plot.
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village is written by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd. This book was a Non-fiction Newbery Award winner in 2008. This book gives a depiction of what it was like living in the Medieval Ages from various perspectives. Often these depictions are through verse and contain wonderful pencil and ink illustrations that reinforce the verse's sentiments. I've seen it said that the line between education and entertainment is a fine one and I see this illustrated in this book. It is a quick and easy read that creates a picture of the Medieval ages while also entertaining by giving the people stories.
Amos Fortune: Free man was written by Elizabeth Yates and published in 1950. It won the Newbery Medal in 1951 and has certainly touched my heart. This book is a biography of a man named Amos who was born a prince and destined to be king before his father was murdered and he taking into captivity to be sold as a slave in America. Though Amos longed to break free and save his people, he was unable to. He was sold as a slave, but was given the name fortune because he was fortunate enough to have been bought by a man who treated him as family and was willing to set Amos free. Unfortunately his master died before being able to set Amos free and so he was sold again to a man who agreed to have Amos live with him and learn a trade in order to buy his freedom. After working hard and learning a trade he was able to earn what should have been his all along. He was a skilled tanner who sought out on his own and became a pillar of his community setting people free whenever he could. Amos was an amazing man with tenacity and kindness in abundance and forgiveness beyond what I could muster. I flipped the final page with a sigh of sadness at knowing I will never get to meet this extraordinary individual who could have surely taught me a thing or two about life.
The Westing Game was written by Ellen Raskin and originally published in 1978 and it won the Newbery award in 1979. While the plot was intriguing I was completely lost some of the time because I couldn't figure out who was saying what. The novel is about a very wealthy man Samuel Westing whose death brings together 16 unlikely people to hear the reading of his will. The will pairs people together to play a game of who dun it to discover who murdered Samuel Westing. I think that this novel would have been so much better had the dialogue been easier to follow.
Holes is an absolutely amazing book written by Louis Sachar and originally published in 1998. It won the Newbery Award in 1999. This book so well liked, that it was not only turned into a movie, but also earned a spot on the Publisher's Weekly Bestseller List and won a Christopher Award for Juvenile Fiction.
This novel follows Stanley Yelnats as he is transported to Camp Green Lake where he will serve 18 months for stealing a pair of shoes. Camp Green Lake is no camp of fun and games. It's a camp where young adults are supposed to work in place of going to jail or a juvenile detention center. Stanley didn't actually steal any shoes, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This could be the result of his no good pig stealing great great grandfather, but no one can be sure. While we follow Stanley through this hard time in his life we also follow the story behind the curse of his great great grandfather. Though Stanley has a hard time adjusting to his time at Camp Green Lake by the time he leaves for home he discovers that the Camp has actually transformed him into someone he can respect.
A Year Down Yonder is written by Richard Peck and was published in 2000 and won the Newbery Award in 2001. It's the sequel to A Long Way from Chicago though it's great as a stand alone book too.
In this novel Mary Alice has to go live with her grandmother because the setting is shortly after the great depression when times are tight for everyone. Mary Alice's father is out of work and there are just too many mouths to feed so Mary Alice is sent south to live with her grandmother for a year, until her father gets back on his feet again. Though Mary Alice is used to spending time with her grandmother's house in the Summers, she is not altogether pleased with having to stay there a whole year. She feels like and outsider in a place where everyone knows everyone else, but she comes to find that she likes living with her grandmother and actually is uncomfortable with the idea of having to leave her after the year is up.
I enjoyed reading A Year Down Yonder in an unexpected way. I thought the book may remind me of a Little House on the Prairie type book (not that there is anything wrong with Little House on the prairie), but I was pleasantly surprised. The wholesomeness to this book is well balanced with the brazen who gives a shit attitude of the protagonist's grandmother. I loved the solutions that the grandmother came up with for everyday problems, like putting butter on the paws of a cat when a cat first moves to a new place. This story made me giggle and really gave a good impression of what it must have been like during the time period.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman was the Newbery Award winner for 2009. The Newbery Award isn't the only Award given to Gaiman's work. He has won many awards for several of his books including his Sandman series of which number 19 won a World Fantasy Award, as well as Endless Nights and The Dream Hunters won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative. His work, Coraline, was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novella, the Nebula Award for Best Novella, and the Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers. Needless to say his writing speaks to people in a profound way.
I thought The Graveyard Book would be a morbid downer and I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The book follows Nobody Owens as he escapes a murder as a toddler by toddling into a graveyard. As a result the ghosts of the graveyard take him in and promise the ghost of his mother that they will take care of him. He is given a unique education by the inhabitants of the graveyard until he is old enough to find closure to his murdered family and take care of himself. Though the book is somber, I found the characters and setting comforting and the final pages were touching and heart wrenching at the same time.
When You Reach Me is written by Rebecca Stead and won the Newbery Award in 2010. Though Stead has only written a few books, the books that she has written come with glowing reviews, award nominations and a few awards. Stead is definitely an author to keep an eye on in the future.
When You Reach Me is a book about a girl who grows up with a single mother in New York City. She begins getting these letters asking her to do things and so the story is her writing a letter in response the her mystery pen pal. She comes to find that the letters must be written by someone who has gone back in time to stop something terrible from happening, but she can't tell anyone about it because they will think that she's crazy. Though this book sounds like a Sci-fi book, it's actually more of a realistic fiction with time travel playing just a small part in the overall plot.
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village is written by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd. This book was a Non-fiction Newbery Award winner in 2008. This book gives a depiction of what it was like living in the Medieval Ages from various perspectives. Often these depictions are through verse and contain wonderful pencil and ink illustrations that reinforce the verse's sentiments. I've seen it said that the line between education and entertainment is a fine one and I see this illustrated in this book. It is a quick and easy read that creates a picture of the Medieval ages while also entertaining by giving the people stories.
Amos Fortune: Free man was written by Elizabeth Yates and published in 1950. It won the Newbery Medal in 1951 and has certainly touched my heart. This book is a biography of a man named Amos who was born a prince and destined to be king before his father was murdered and he taking into captivity to be sold as a slave in America. Though Amos longed to break free and save his people, he was unable to. He was sold as a slave, but was given the name fortune because he was fortunate enough to have been bought by a man who treated him as family and was willing to set Amos free. Unfortunately his master died before being able to set Amos free and so he was sold again to a man who agreed to have Amos live with him and learn a trade in order to buy his freedom. After working hard and learning a trade he was able to earn what should have been his all along. He was a skilled tanner who sought out on his own and became a pillar of his community setting people free whenever he could. Amos was an amazing man with tenacity and kindness in abundance and forgiveness beyond what I could muster. I flipped the final page with a sigh of sadness at knowing I will never get to meet this extraordinary individual who could have surely taught me a thing or two about life.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Blood Trail
Blood Trail a Joe Pickett novel by C.J. Box is a mystery thriller that keeps you guessing the whole way through. Hunters are being hunted as Box's story unfolds, slowly revealing pieces of the puzzle that make you wonder who the murderer is and what the motive is for killing. Is the murderer just simply killing people for sport or because they disagree with the act of hunting or is there something more going on? This is a fast paced read that has a lot of chapter breaks making it an easy book to pick up for a couple of minutes though you may have trouble setting it down wondering what will happen next.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Chapter Books
Chapter books are ideal for children in their in between year. The years between being a kid and a teen. These books sometimes have a few pictures in them here and there, but are predominately text. The vocabulary begins to become more advanced and themes can become more mature in some of the books.
When I think of chapter books I think of Beverly Cleary. She has written numerous books and won many awards for her work, including 35 statewide awards based on the votes of her young readers. Ramona is a major character that Cleary works with. She is a spunky child who has a penchant for trouble. She sometimes just can't help herself. In Ramona the Pest she has just begun kindergarten and is getting to know how school works. She absolutely loves her teacher Miss Binney and seeks her approval with everything. Many times Ramona felt that Miss Binney was the only one who understood her. No matter how hard Ramona tries, she can't help but get into trouble. Ramona doesn't mean to get into sticky situations, but sometimes she just looks at the world in a different way than others and it causes minor conflicts. Checkout the book to see if she becomes a kindergarten dropout or survive her first year in school.
Everybody knows Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG. These aren't the only books that Roald Dahl has written, but they are household names that have earned a spot on many bookcases. The Witches is another popular chapter book by Dahl and starts with a tragic beginning. The book is about a young boy whose parents die and he is to live with his grandmother. The boy loves his grandmother dearly and she tells him stories about how to recognize a witch and exactly what they are capable of. You can tell that the boy is skeptical, until the one day he is hiding in a room that fills with witches. Though he tries to stay hidden, he is sniffed out and the cruel witches turn him into a mouse, but as a mouse he manages to slip away. As a mouse he decides to try and eradicate witches from the world so that what has happened to him, will never happen to anyone else. Does he succeed? You'll have to read to see.
Rick Riordan is a best selling author who has a variety of series. One of his best known works are the Percy Jackson novels the first two of which have become big screen movies. Riordan is collaborating with many other authors on The 39 Clues series. The first in the series, The Maze of Bones is written by Riordan and is a fast paced exciting adventure. This chapter book follows Amy and Dan Cahill as they attend the reading of their grandmothers will and are assigned the task to find 39 clues and forever change civilization. Several family members are tasked with the same challenge and compete against each other for the clues that could make the winner a very powerful person. The clues are not easy to find and the danger mounts with each piece of the puzzle. The book leaves wondering what will happen next and anxious to read the next in the series.
Megan McDonald is the award winning author of the popular Judy Moody series amongst many other books as well. McDonald has written and published more than 60 books geared toward children. It's no wonder that McDonald is a well known name in the world of books. Judy Moody Saves the World is just one of many in the series and follows Judy as she learns about being green. Judy does her best to do her part in saving the environment, but once in a while her good intentions go horribly wrong and she becomes frustrated until one of her ideas inspires her whole class. You'll have to pick up this installment to see if she can inspire you or your children to go green too.
Greg Kinney's number one bestselling book Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been wildly popular with children in later elementary and middle school years. There are currently 8 books in the series with the newest 9th installment Hard Luck coming soon. In Diary of a Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley writes a diary explaining the trials of his life at home, with friends and at school. The reader will quickly discover that middle school isn't as easy as it sounds. It's filled with unwritten rules and unspoken popularity contest. The diary follows Greg as he navigates all of these challenges. This is a cute book written in diary format with a few graphics thrown in to emphasize the things that Greg discusses.
When I think of chapter books I think of Beverly Cleary. She has written numerous books and won many awards for her work, including 35 statewide awards based on the votes of her young readers. Ramona is a major character that Cleary works with. She is a spunky child who has a penchant for trouble. She sometimes just can't help herself. In Ramona the Pest she has just begun kindergarten and is getting to know how school works. She absolutely loves her teacher Miss Binney and seeks her approval with everything. Many times Ramona felt that Miss Binney was the only one who understood her. No matter how hard Ramona tries, she can't help but get into trouble. Ramona doesn't mean to get into sticky situations, but sometimes she just looks at the world in a different way than others and it causes minor conflicts. Checkout the book to see if she becomes a kindergarten dropout or survive her first year in school.
Everybody knows Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG. These aren't the only books that Roald Dahl has written, but they are household names that have earned a spot on many bookcases. The Witches is another popular chapter book by Dahl and starts with a tragic beginning. The book is about a young boy whose parents die and he is to live with his grandmother. The boy loves his grandmother dearly and she tells him stories about how to recognize a witch and exactly what they are capable of. You can tell that the boy is skeptical, until the one day he is hiding in a room that fills with witches. Though he tries to stay hidden, he is sniffed out and the cruel witches turn him into a mouse, but as a mouse he manages to slip away. As a mouse he decides to try and eradicate witches from the world so that what has happened to him, will never happen to anyone else. Does he succeed? You'll have to read to see.
Rick Riordan is a best selling author who has a variety of series. One of his best known works are the Percy Jackson novels the first two of which have become big screen movies. Riordan is collaborating with many other authors on The 39 Clues series. The first in the series, The Maze of Bones is written by Riordan and is a fast paced exciting adventure. This chapter book follows Amy and Dan Cahill as they attend the reading of their grandmothers will and are assigned the task to find 39 clues and forever change civilization. Several family members are tasked with the same challenge and compete against each other for the clues that could make the winner a very powerful person. The clues are not easy to find and the danger mounts with each piece of the puzzle. The book leaves wondering what will happen next and anxious to read the next in the series.
Megan McDonald is the award winning author of the popular Judy Moody series amongst many other books as well. McDonald has written and published more than 60 books geared toward children. It's no wonder that McDonald is a well known name in the world of books. Judy Moody Saves the World is just one of many in the series and follows Judy as she learns about being green. Judy does her best to do her part in saving the environment, but once in a while her good intentions go horribly wrong and she becomes frustrated until one of her ideas inspires her whole class. You'll have to pick up this installment to see if she can inspire you or your children to go green too.
Greg Kinney's number one bestselling book Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been wildly popular with children in later elementary and middle school years. There are currently 8 books in the series with the newest 9th installment Hard Luck coming soon. In Diary of a Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley writes a diary explaining the trials of his life at home, with friends and at school. The reader will quickly discover that middle school isn't as easy as it sounds. It's filled with unwritten rules and unspoken popularity contest. The diary follows Greg as he navigates all of these challenges. This is a cute book written in diary format with a few graphics thrown in to emphasize the things that Greg discusses.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Top Authors in First Chapter Books
First chapter books are great for those children in between chapter books and picture books. The books jump quickly into plot and explain vocabulary along the way to really boost young children's reading skills and helps get them ready for chapter books. These books also still have pictures, but frequently they are black and white and not on every page to help ease the transition.
Mary Pope Osborne has published 45 Magic Tree House Books and doesn't plan to stop there which is a blessing for so many kids because they just love her first chapter books. The Knight at Dawn is the second book in this series and follows Jack and Annie as they travel through books to the time of knights and castles. Jack and Annie have recently discovered a tree house not far from their home and inside this wondrous place they found books that can transport them to the time and place of the pictures in the book. Jack and Annie head to a castle in this installment and find themselves in trouble when some guards assume they are thieves or spies. I won't spoil it for you, but pick up this book to see how Jack and Annie get out of their precarious situation.
It's no surprise that Dan Gutman is a popular author in first chapter books around Baltimore County because in 2002 he won the Black-Eyed Susan Award for his book Jackie and Me. He also won in 2003-2004 for his book The Million Dollar Kick. Dan Gutman like to make people laugh and it shows in his book Mr. Sunny is Funny which is about the Summer exploits of Arlo or A.J. No one could be happier about the Summer season than A.J. mainly because he gets to be out of school and away from his classmate Andrea. You can imagine his reaction when A.J.'s mother tells them that Andrea and her family will be staying at their summer beach house. Arlo's mood improves when after a while his friends come to join him as well and the book follows their exploits through the beginning of summer.
Who hasn't heard of Barbara Park and her Junie B. Jones series. Junie B. Jones has even made it's way to New York times bestselling list and Park herself has won over 40 children's book awards. The 18th installment of the Junie B. Jones series is Junie B., First Grader (at last!). In this book Junie B. starts her first day of first grade and discovers that things are going to be different than last year. Her friends from the previous year seem to have made new friends and she has a different teacher. It's not long before Junie B. decides that she does not like first grade especially when her new teacher discovers that Junie B. needs glasses. As it first grade wasn't hard enough! You'll have to pick the book up and read to see if her year gets better. No spoilers here.
Ron Roy published his first book in 1978 and has been writing ever since. He has written popular series such as the A to Z mysteries and the Calendar Mysteries. June Jam is a Calendar Mystery about twin brothers Brian and Bradley as well as their older brother Josh who have to do chores to earn some evening ice cream. The boys invite their friends over to help with the chores and partake of the highly anticipated ice cream. While doing chores Bradley comes up with the idea to make strawberry jam for their dad on fathers day which is the following day. Everyone agrees that this is a great idea until they discover that something has been eating their strawberries. The boys and their friends quickly decide that they will have to catch this berry eating monster to salvage the garden, but their efforts are thwarted time and again. Will the children be able to catch this destroyer of gardens and what will they do for fathers day?
Jim Benton is not only an author of children's books, but an illustrator as well. He is diverse in his endeavors and his Dear Dumb Diary series along has sold millions of books to young readers and earned him a place on the coveted New York Times bestseller list. Dear Dumb Diary, My Pants Are Haunted! is the second title in the series. This book and the rest of this series are written in diary format with pictures to accompany the text. The series follows Jamie Kelly as she rants and raves to her dumb diary. In this particular book her schools popularity ladder has gone out of whack possibly because of some haunted pants and they turn out to be her only pair of pants left because her beagle has eaten holes in her other pairs, or so she believes. Jamie has to manage school, mistreat her dog, figure out her friend and deal with her mom and no one is a better listener than her dumb diary. This is a cute book for beginning readers and if you're looking for other diary style books you may want to check out the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Russell or the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney.
Mary Pope Osborne has published 45 Magic Tree House Books and doesn't plan to stop there which is a blessing for so many kids because they just love her first chapter books. The Knight at Dawn is the second book in this series and follows Jack and Annie as they travel through books to the time of knights and castles. Jack and Annie have recently discovered a tree house not far from their home and inside this wondrous place they found books that can transport them to the time and place of the pictures in the book. Jack and Annie head to a castle in this installment and find themselves in trouble when some guards assume they are thieves or spies. I won't spoil it for you, but pick up this book to see how Jack and Annie get out of their precarious situation.
It's no surprise that Dan Gutman is a popular author in first chapter books around Baltimore County because in 2002 he won the Black-Eyed Susan Award for his book Jackie and Me. He also won in 2003-2004 for his book The Million Dollar Kick. Dan Gutman like to make people laugh and it shows in his book Mr. Sunny is Funny which is about the Summer exploits of Arlo or A.J. No one could be happier about the Summer season than A.J. mainly because he gets to be out of school and away from his classmate Andrea. You can imagine his reaction when A.J.'s mother tells them that Andrea and her family will be staying at their summer beach house. Arlo's mood improves when after a while his friends come to join him as well and the book follows their exploits through the beginning of summer.
Who hasn't heard of Barbara Park and her Junie B. Jones series. Junie B. Jones has even made it's way to New York times bestselling list and Park herself has won over 40 children's book awards. The 18th installment of the Junie B. Jones series is Junie B., First Grader (at last!). In this book Junie B. starts her first day of first grade and discovers that things are going to be different than last year. Her friends from the previous year seem to have made new friends and she has a different teacher. It's not long before Junie B. decides that she does not like first grade especially when her new teacher discovers that Junie B. needs glasses. As it first grade wasn't hard enough! You'll have to pick the book up and read to see if her year gets better. No spoilers here.
Ron Roy published his first book in 1978 and has been writing ever since. He has written popular series such as the A to Z mysteries and the Calendar Mysteries. June Jam is a Calendar Mystery about twin brothers Brian and Bradley as well as their older brother Josh who have to do chores to earn some evening ice cream. The boys invite their friends over to help with the chores and partake of the highly anticipated ice cream. While doing chores Bradley comes up with the idea to make strawberry jam for their dad on fathers day which is the following day. Everyone agrees that this is a great idea until they discover that something has been eating their strawberries. The boys and their friends quickly decide that they will have to catch this berry eating monster to salvage the garden, but their efforts are thwarted time and again. Will the children be able to catch this destroyer of gardens and what will they do for fathers day?
Jim Benton is not only an author of children's books, but an illustrator as well. He is diverse in his endeavors and his Dear Dumb Diary series along has sold millions of books to young readers and earned him a place on the coveted New York Times bestseller list. Dear Dumb Diary, My Pants Are Haunted! is the second title in the series. This book and the rest of this series are written in diary format with pictures to accompany the text. The series follows Jamie Kelly as she rants and raves to her dumb diary. In this particular book her schools popularity ladder has gone out of whack possibly because of some haunted pants and they turn out to be her only pair of pants left because her beagle has eaten holes in her other pairs, or so she believes. Jamie has to manage school, mistreat her dog, figure out her friend and deal with her mom and no one is a better listener than her dumb diary. This is a cute book for beginning readers and if you're looking for other diary style books you may want to check out the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Russell or the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
More popular beginning reader authors
Syd Hoff passed away in 2004 and in his time wrote and illustrated more than 100 books. His work is so enjoyable that though some of his children's books were written long ago he is still in the top 50 beginning reader authors in Batimore County. His book The Horse in Harry's Room is about an imaginative little boy who believes he has an invisible horse in his room that only he can see. People try to tell him that his horse is imaginary, but Harry believes so strongly that he doesn't pay any mind to the comments. This is a cute book with illustrations that make me reminisce about the books I read when I was a kid and I'm glad to see that young ones still enjoying these books.
David Adler circulates quite a bit in Baltimore County. His book Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery is illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman. In this book Bones and his grandfather go to the fair where his grandfather buys 10 tickets for rides and games and 2 tickets to ride the roller coaster. After having played two games and ridden the merry-go-round they discover that the roller coaster tickets are missing and Bones slips into his detective mode to uncover what has happened to those two blue tickets. This beginning reader is a level two and good for all young ones and particularly good for a car ride to the fair.
Victoria Kann is in high demand regarding beginning reader books. Pinkalicious Soccer Star is most definitely written with girly girls in mind. In this book Pinkalicious gets a pink soccer ball, but when her team is pitted against the Ravens she over hears them saying that pink stinks and she decides to show them just how much pink does not stink. As she plays her imagination runs wild and she sees other girl soccer players from around the world who reaffirm that pink doesn't stink in a few other languages. I like the cultural aspect to this level one beginning reader.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli is best known for her biscuit series of children's books. Her book Scat Cat is illustrated by Paul Meisel. This is a "My First" book for the beginning reader book and has very few and simple words for those young ones just starting out in their reading adventure. This book follows a poor little cat that accidentally wanders away from home. I feel so bad for this little cat who hear "scat, cat!" from all the animals he wanders into on his trek. He is pleasantly surprised when he wakes up the next morning. I won't tell you what happens, but it has a happy ending.
Cynthia Rylant is a prolific children's author and a favorite among beginning readers. Her book Annie and Snowball and the Cozy Nest is a level two book that is illustrated by Sucie Stevenson. In this story Annie likes to sit on her porch swing and watch the crafting of a birds nest. She is eagerly anticipating the arrival of it's occupants and the eggs that are sure to follow.
David Adler circulates quite a bit in Baltimore County. His book Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery is illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman. In this book Bones and his grandfather go to the fair where his grandfather buys 10 tickets for rides and games and 2 tickets to ride the roller coaster. After having played two games and ridden the merry-go-round they discover that the roller coaster tickets are missing and Bones slips into his detective mode to uncover what has happened to those two blue tickets. This beginning reader is a level two and good for all young ones and particularly good for a car ride to the fair.
Victoria Kann is in high demand regarding beginning reader books. Pinkalicious Soccer Star is most definitely written with girly girls in mind. In this book Pinkalicious gets a pink soccer ball, but when her team is pitted against the Ravens she over hears them saying that pink stinks and she decides to show them just how much pink does not stink. As she plays her imagination runs wild and she sees other girl soccer players from around the world who reaffirm that pink doesn't stink in a few other languages. I like the cultural aspect to this level one beginning reader.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli is best known for her biscuit series of children's books. Her book Scat Cat is illustrated by Paul Meisel. This is a "My First" book for the beginning reader book and has very few and simple words for those young ones just starting out in their reading adventure. This book follows a poor little cat that accidentally wanders away from home. I feel so bad for this little cat who hear "scat, cat!" from all the animals he wanders into on his trek. He is pleasantly surprised when he wakes up the next morning. I won't tell you what happens, but it has a happy ending.
Cynthia Rylant is a prolific children's author and a favorite among beginning readers. Her book Annie and Snowball and the Cozy Nest is a level two book that is illustrated by Sucie Stevenson. In this story Annie likes to sit on her porch swing and watch the crafting of a birds nest. She is eagerly anticipating the arrival of it's occupants and the eggs that are sure to follow.
Popular Authors in Beginning Reader Books
Herman Parish is a well liked author in the Baltimore County and he collaborates with illustrator Lynne Avril in his book Amelia Bedelia Hits the Trail, a beginning reader level one. In this book Amelia goes on a hike with her class and while on her hike she misunderstands words that have two meanings or are pronounced differently when plural providing caregivers the opportunity to help their child with vocabulary and grammar.
The Berenstain Bear have always been some of my favorite books and there are so many more to choose from these days. The Berenstain Bears We Love Trucks! is written and illustrated by Jan and Mike Berenstain. In this book the cubs get to go on a drive with Grizzly Gramps to the farm where he is going to pick up fruit. On the drive the cubs get to see all sorts of different kinds of trucks while visiting people on the road. This level one beginning reader is great for anyone who likes the Berenstain Bears, but especially grrreat for those little ones who love trucks.
Mo Willems is popular and doesn't disappont with I Am Going! In this Elephant and Piggie book, Piggie decides that it's time to go and when he lets Elephant know, Elephant freaks out! Elephant is terrified that if Piggie goes he will have no one to hangout with. Elephant begs and pleads with Piggie to stay, but Piggie is determined to go. What is it that could be so important that Piggie must go? You'll have to read to find out.
Dr. Seuss books have been a standard in many homes for decades and in this book, Would you rather be a Bullfrog? he is writing as Theo. LeSieg and the book is illustrated by Roy McKie. This book asks terribly important questions such as would you rather be a cat or a dog? A bullfrog or a butterfly. Dr. Seuss is incredibly well liked and as with all of Seuss's books this one has wonderful rhyming and also each page asks a question making this a very interactive book and though the questions are silly, whether you're an adult or a child, it does make you think. Would you rather be a bird that sings or a bee that stings, a hammer or a nail. The questions are goofy, but your answers do say something about you. This is an intriguing book that I could see using for story time to get kids engaged.
Tedd Arnold has adorable illustrations and storyline. I very much enjoy the fly guy series. Buzz Boy And Fly Guy is a book about Buzz making a story about Buzz and Fly Guy becoming superheroes. In Buzz's story Fly Guy and Buzz are the same size and they can both fly. Their house is taken away, by pirates, to a cave where a sleeping dragon awaits. How will Buzz Boy and Fly Guy get out of this mess? I won't spoil the story for you. What kiddo doesn't dream of being a superhero? This book is great for any beginning reader.
The Berenstain Bear have always been some of my favorite books and there are so many more to choose from these days. The Berenstain Bears We Love Trucks! is written and illustrated by Jan and Mike Berenstain. In this book the cubs get to go on a drive with Grizzly Gramps to the farm where he is going to pick up fruit. On the drive the cubs get to see all sorts of different kinds of trucks while visiting people on the road. This level one beginning reader is great for anyone who likes the Berenstain Bears, but especially grrreat for those little ones who love trucks.
Mo Willems is popular and doesn't disappont with I Am Going! In this Elephant and Piggie book, Piggie decides that it's time to go and when he lets Elephant know, Elephant freaks out! Elephant is terrified that if Piggie goes he will have no one to hangout with. Elephant begs and pleads with Piggie to stay, but Piggie is determined to go. What is it that could be so important that Piggie must go? You'll have to read to find out.
Dr. Seuss books have been a standard in many homes for decades and in this book, Would you rather be a Bullfrog? he is writing as Theo. LeSieg and the book is illustrated by Roy McKie. This book asks terribly important questions such as would you rather be a cat or a dog? A bullfrog or a butterfly. Dr. Seuss is incredibly well liked and as with all of Seuss's books this one has wonderful rhyming and also each page asks a question making this a very interactive book and though the questions are silly, whether you're an adult or a child, it does make you think. Would you rather be a bird that sings or a bee that stings, a hammer or a nail. The questions are goofy, but your answers do say something about you. This is an intriguing book that I could see using for story time to get kids engaged.
Tedd Arnold has adorable illustrations and storyline. I very much enjoy the fly guy series. Buzz Boy And Fly Guy is a book about Buzz making a story about Buzz and Fly Guy becoming superheroes. In Buzz's story Fly Guy and Buzz are the same size and they can both fly. Their house is taken away, by pirates, to a cave where a sleeping dragon awaits. How will Buzz Boy and Fly Guy get out of this mess? I won't spoil the story for you. What kiddo doesn't dream of being a superhero? This book is great for any beginning reader.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
More Easy Nonfiction Books
I Love You! A Bushel and A Peck is written by Frank Loesser and illustrationed by Rosemary Wells. This book has adorable farm illustrations and can be read to the tune of "A Bushel and a Peck" making this a good book to read at bedtime. What parent or guardian doesn't love their child a bushel and a peck and with this book you can let them know just how much you love them.
Kids Go! is a cute book with illustration by Pascal Campion that make me think of Curious George and not just because there are monkeys involved. This book challenges kids to get up and get. It tells them to get up off of their couch, chair or floor and go jump like a monkey. I like the premise of the book and may use it for future story times to get kids up off the floor and get the moving a bit; however I thought it was odd that it had an accompanying DVD with a song that sings the book. I like the song a lot and would love to use that in story time too, but it seems like a DVD is giving mixed messages because if kids are going to watch the DVD then they are stationary in order to do it when the whole point of the book is to get up and go. I do really like the message of the book, I just thought this was an oddity.
Night Creatures is a level 2 reader by scholastic and Wade Cooper. This book is good for children just learning to read. There is a note in the front to parents and guardians on how you can utilize this book to help you child with early literacy skills. The book tells readers about the animals that come out at night and what they like to eat. There is a quiz at the back to develop reading comprehension skills and activities to help build vocabulary. The book is filled with photographs of the animals making this book a win win because it's fun and educational.
There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me is written by the popular adult author Alice Walker and the illustrations are by Stefano Vitale. This beautifully written book is a note of thanks from the author to the world as indicated in the author note in the back. The book has bright and imaginative illustrations that are fantastical and at the same time grounded. The book has one sentence to a page and is brilliant for young readers. This would be a good bedtime story because of how the words flow and you can almost hear a strong, low voice saying the words.
Before John was a Jazz Giant is written by Carole Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls. This is an easy biography about the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane and what he was like before he was a giant. The book illustrates how he listened to what was going on around him and how this was his inspiration. The book is told with simple words and about one sentence to a page. The graphics have deep colors, simple pictures with expressive faces. This book would be great for any small child, but especially one who has a love of music.
Kids Go! is a cute book with illustration by Pascal Campion that make me think of Curious George and not just because there are monkeys involved. This book challenges kids to get up and get. It tells them to get up off of their couch, chair or floor and go jump like a monkey. I like the premise of the book and may use it for future story times to get kids up off the floor and get the moving a bit; however I thought it was odd that it had an accompanying DVD with a song that sings the book. I like the song a lot and would love to use that in story time too, but it seems like a DVD is giving mixed messages because if kids are going to watch the DVD then they are stationary in order to do it when the whole point of the book is to get up and go. I do really like the message of the book, I just thought this was an oddity.
Night Creatures is a level 2 reader by scholastic and Wade Cooper. This book is good for children just learning to read. There is a note in the front to parents and guardians on how you can utilize this book to help you child with early literacy skills. The book tells readers about the animals that come out at night and what they like to eat. There is a quiz at the back to develop reading comprehension skills and activities to help build vocabulary. The book is filled with photographs of the animals making this book a win win because it's fun and educational.
There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me is written by the popular adult author Alice Walker and the illustrations are by Stefano Vitale. This beautifully written book is a note of thanks from the author to the world as indicated in the author note in the back. The book has bright and imaginative illustrations that are fantastical and at the same time grounded. The book has one sentence to a page and is brilliant for young readers. This would be a good bedtime story because of how the words flow and you can almost hear a strong, low voice saying the words.
Before John was a Jazz Giant is written by Carole Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls. This is an easy biography about the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane and what he was like before he was a giant. The book illustrates how he listened to what was going on around him and how this was his inspiration. The book is told with simple words and about one sentence to a page. The graphics have deep colors, simple pictures with expressive faces. This book would be great for any small child, but especially one who has a love of music.
Children's Easy Nonfiction
It's Snowing by Gail Gibbons is an easy nonfiction book about snow. This book gives some good information about snow, but in a way that is easily understood and yet I learned something too. I like that this book mixes some good practical information, such as what to where when it's cold, and factual information about snow such as how it is formed and what temperature it has to be before snow melts etc. The pictures for this book will make anyone start dreaming of Christmas or long for a good snowball fight.
It's A Small World has words and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman while the illustrations are by Joey Chou. This is a sweet book about understanding that that though there are difference between people we are actually a lot a like and share this small world that we live on. The the illustrations are adorable and very bright. There are just short sentences to each page making this book great for very young children. The book comes with a CD as well, but the CD just has the tune to It's a Small World After All and there are no words so a reader could read the book to the tune of the music, but the book can stand alone as well.
In the Town is created by Roger Priddy. This is a lift-the-flap book of shadows. This book is very interactive as each lift-the-flap has a Shadow on it which allows children to see if they can figure out what it is with the answer and corresponding word underneath. Then each page asks, with short sentences, which of the objects or people on the page is appropriate for certain situations such as which vehicle can take you around town. The book helps caregivers work with their child not just on words, but on comprehension as well. This easy nonfiction book would be great for very young children.
Lenore Finds a Friend is by best selling author Jon Katz. This is a true story about a puppy that goes to live at bedlam farm and being new to the farm she tries to make friends. The book has a good lesson hidden in it showing kids that sometimes it can be difficult to make friends, but don't give up and you will succeed. Lenore eventually befriends a ram named Brutus and after she has one friends she continues to put herself out there and make more friends. The words are accompanied by photographs of bedlam farm that show the progression of Lenore's efforts. This book has one or two short and easy sentences to a page and adorable animals that are endearing to anyone.
What Will Hatch is written by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. This book is a very simple introduction to some of the animals that come from eggs. There are just a couple words to each page and very cute pictures with earth tones. Each page also has a little cut out illustrating the eggs size. This book is great for young children and also provides a bit of additional information on the last page for older children that even even as an adult I was unaware of.
It's A Small World has words and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman while the illustrations are by Joey Chou. This is a sweet book about understanding that that though there are difference between people we are actually a lot a like and share this small world that we live on. The the illustrations are adorable and very bright. There are just short sentences to each page making this book great for very young children. The book comes with a CD as well, but the CD just has the tune to It's a Small World After All and there are no words so a reader could read the book to the tune of the music, but the book can stand alone as well.
In the Town is created by Roger Priddy. This is a lift-the-flap book of shadows. This book is very interactive as each lift-the-flap has a Shadow on it which allows children to see if they can figure out what it is with the answer and corresponding word underneath. Then each page asks, with short sentences, which of the objects or people on the page is appropriate for certain situations such as which vehicle can take you around town. The book helps caregivers work with their child not just on words, but on comprehension as well. This easy nonfiction book would be great for very young children.
Lenore Finds a Friend is by best selling author Jon Katz. This is a true story about a puppy that goes to live at bedlam farm and being new to the farm she tries to make friends. The book has a good lesson hidden in it showing kids that sometimes it can be difficult to make friends, but don't give up and you will succeed. Lenore eventually befriends a ram named Brutus and after she has one friends she continues to put herself out there and make more friends. The words are accompanied by photographs of bedlam farm that show the progression of Lenore's efforts. This book has one or two short and easy sentences to a page and adorable animals that are endearing to anyone.
What Will Hatch is written by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. This book is a very simple introduction to some of the animals that come from eggs. There are just a couple words to each page and very cute pictures with earth tones. Each page also has a little cut out illustrating the eggs size. This book is great for young children and also provides a bit of additional information on the last page for older children that even even as an adult I was unaware of.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Picture Book Tales
Joseph and the Sabbath Fish is written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Marina Peluso. Joseph lived in Israel and celebrated the Sabath by opening his home to everyone who wanted to come and often times helped those who were less fortunate. His neighbor, Judah, also celebrated the Sabath, but he believed in giving to charity, and only allowing important people to his Sabath. Judah mocked Joseph for his generosity and told him he would become poor by trying to help people. As you can imagine Joseph ended up prospering and Judah learned that greed benefits no one and began opening his doors to those less fortunate. This tale has several sentences to a page and is a brilliant tale of the hazards to greed that is good for children ages 4-9.
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella story from China is retold by Ai-Ling Louie and illustrated by Ed Young. This tale is very much like the Disney version of Cinderella except that there was only one step sister and it was a fish with magic bones that transformed a servant girl into a beauty. This is a longer tale with several paragraphs to a page and beautifully hazy pictures and natural coloring. The book is geared toward older children about 9-12 years old.
The Boy From The Dragon Palace is a tale retold by Margaret Read McDonald and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa and is a folk tale from Japan. This tale is adorable and made me giggle out loud. A down on his luck flower seller had flowers that no one wanted to buy so he put them in water and gave them to the Dragon King. As a thank you the Dragon King gave him a "snot nosed" little boy. The flower seller quickly learned that if he fed the boy shrimp with vinegar and sugar and asked for something the boy would blow his nose and the flower seller would get what he asked for. The flower seller never said thank you or appreciated the boy in any way and when he had what he wanted he rudely put the boy out and the flower seller went back to being very poor. This book has adorable and brightly colored illustrations with just a few sentences to a page making this a great book for kids ages 4-7 and it's a great way for them to learn about appreciation.
The Korean Cinderella as told by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller. This retelling is very similar to the Disney version of Cinderella as well. There is a step mother, but only one step sister and they are very cruel to Pear Blossom who is treated like a servant. This tale takes place long ago "when magical creatures were as common as cabbages" and it's these magical creature that Pear Blossom has to thanks for the fortune of meeting a man that could take her away from her wicked step mother and sister and give her more than she could have ever dreamed of. This book has brilliant illustrations and several paragraphs to each page making this book good for older readers who have a little more patience.
Medio Pollito: A Spanish Tale is adapted by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Valeria Docampo. Medio Pollito means half chicken and there once was a half chicken with a whole heart and because he gave to others he was rewarded ten fold. This half chick had the spirit of adventure and decided to travel to Madrid to see the big city and meet the king and along the way he helped the water, the fire and the wind and these friends that he had made helped him a great deal once he'd made it to Madrid and it was there that the wind helped him find his true calling as a weather vane. Anytime the people of Madrid saw the half chick talking to the wind they knew which way the wind was blowing. This adorable story is heart warming and the pictures are the same. Medio Pollito doesn't inspire pity, but the strong will to follow ones own dreams. I thought this book was adorable. It has several sentences to each page and teaches a little Spanish along the way. This book would be great for children between the ages of 4-8.
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella story from China is retold by Ai-Ling Louie and illustrated by Ed Young. This tale is very much like the Disney version of Cinderella except that there was only one step sister and it was a fish with magic bones that transformed a servant girl into a beauty. This is a longer tale with several paragraphs to a page and beautifully hazy pictures and natural coloring. The book is geared toward older children about 9-12 years old.
The Boy From The Dragon Palace is a tale retold by Margaret Read McDonald and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa and is a folk tale from Japan. This tale is adorable and made me giggle out loud. A down on his luck flower seller had flowers that no one wanted to buy so he put them in water and gave them to the Dragon King. As a thank you the Dragon King gave him a "snot nosed" little boy. The flower seller quickly learned that if he fed the boy shrimp with vinegar and sugar and asked for something the boy would blow his nose and the flower seller would get what he asked for. The flower seller never said thank you or appreciated the boy in any way and when he had what he wanted he rudely put the boy out and the flower seller went back to being very poor. This book has adorable and brightly colored illustrations with just a few sentences to a page making this a great book for kids ages 4-7 and it's a great way for them to learn about appreciation.
The Korean Cinderella as told by Shirley Climo and illustrated by Ruth Heller. This retelling is very similar to the Disney version of Cinderella as well. There is a step mother, but only one step sister and they are very cruel to Pear Blossom who is treated like a servant. This tale takes place long ago "when magical creatures were as common as cabbages" and it's these magical creature that Pear Blossom has to thanks for the fortune of meeting a man that could take her away from her wicked step mother and sister and give her more than she could have ever dreamed of. This book has brilliant illustrations and several paragraphs to each page making this book good for older readers who have a little more patience.
Medio Pollito: A Spanish Tale is adapted by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Valeria Docampo. Medio Pollito means half chicken and there once was a half chicken with a whole heart and because he gave to others he was rewarded ten fold. This half chick had the spirit of adventure and decided to travel to Madrid to see the big city and meet the king and along the way he helped the water, the fire and the wind and these friends that he had made helped him a great deal once he'd made it to Madrid and it was there that the wind helped him find his true calling as a weather vane. Anytime the people of Madrid saw the half chick talking to the wind they knew which way the wind was blowing. This adorable story is heart warming and the pictures are the same. Medio Pollito doesn't inspire pity, but the strong will to follow ones own dreams. I thought this book was adorable. It has several sentences to each page and teaches a little Spanish along the way. This book would be great for children between the ages of 4-8.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Counting Picture Books
Counting picture books are a great way to work with your kids to help them learn their numbers in a fun way as well as other early literacy skills. Asking open ended questions about the book and it's characters is a good way to work on your child's narrative skills.
The following are some reviews of counting picture books.
Two at the Zoo: A counting book is written by Danna Smith and illustrated by Valeria Petrone. This book is about a boy and his grandfather as they take a trip to the zoo and count how many of each kind of animal there are. The bright illustrations, few words to a page and rhyming will make this book a delight for early readers.
Star Wars 123 is a scholastic book ideal for any Star Wars lover. The book counts different characters of the movies from Yoda the 1 Grand Master Jedi to 100 stormtroopers. This is a board book that has a lot of Star Wars jargon and some scary creatures from the movies so this book has a niche audience, but great for those kids who can't get enough of Star Wars.
First Number Book is by Patti Barber and Ann Montagne. This counting picture book has very bright pictures and easy words and sentences. The counting isn't straight forward which I like because I think sometimes kids memorize the order in which the numbers go and assume that 4 comes after 3. It's nice if they can recognize how many of something there are or a number if they aren't in order because then they actually know the number and not just that it comes after or before another number. This book also asks questions that are outside of the book such as how many toes are on both of your feet or do any of your toys have a straight line. I think this aspect makes it much more interactive. The book also provides suggestions for parents in the beginning and a poster at the end.
Chicka Chicka 123 is by Bill Martin Jr, Michael Sampson, and Lois Ehlert. It's hard to read this book and not sign it. The repetition and rhyming are the kicker. I love the Chicka Chicka books because they are just plain fun to read with the numbers coming to life and the bright colors this book is sure to entertain young readers.
Counting Crocodiles is written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. This counting picture book is about a sly little monkey who talks the crocodiles into lining up so that he can get to another island and get bananas without the crocodile eating the little monkey. The monkey says line up so I can count you and count them he does, but not before getting his bananas. As the monkey counts the crocodiles he rhymes them with their activities. This is a cute book that has a plot other than just counting though there is enough counting that young readers will still get some good experience with numbers.
The following are some reviews of counting picture books.
Two at the Zoo: A counting book is written by Danna Smith and illustrated by Valeria Petrone. This book is about a boy and his grandfather as they take a trip to the zoo and count how many of each kind of animal there are. The bright illustrations, few words to a page and rhyming will make this book a delight for early readers.
Star Wars 123 is a scholastic book ideal for any Star Wars lover. The book counts different characters of the movies from Yoda the 1 Grand Master Jedi to 100 stormtroopers. This is a board book that has a lot of Star Wars jargon and some scary creatures from the movies so this book has a niche audience, but great for those kids who can't get enough of Star Wars.
First Number Book is by Patti Barber and Ann Montagne. This counting picture book has very bright pictures and easy words and sentences. The counting isn't straight forward which I like because I think sometimes kids memorize the order in which the numbers go and assume that 4 comes after 3. It's nice if they can recognize how many of something there are or a number if they aren't in order because then they actually know the number and not just that it comes after or before another number. This book also asks questions that are outside of the book such as how many toes are on both of your feet or do any of your toys have a straight line. I think this aspect makes it much more interactive. The book also provides suggestions for parents in the beginning and a poster at the end.
Chicka Chicka 123 is by Bill Martin Jr, Michael Sampson, and Lois Ehlert. It's hard to read this book and not sign it. The repetition and rhyming are the kicker. I love the Chicka Chicka books because they are just plain fun to read with the numbers coming to life and the bright colors this book is sure to entertain young readers.
Counting Crocodiles is written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. This counting picture book is about a sly little monkey who talks the crocodiles into lining up so that he can get to another island and get bananas without the crocodile eating the little monkey. The monkey says line up so I can count you and count them he does, but not before getting his bananas. As the monkey counts the crocodiles he rhymes them with their activities. This is a cute book that has a plot other than just counting though there is enough counting that young readers will still get some good experience with numbers.
Alphabet picture books
Alphabet picture books are great when working with your children on early literacy skills because it helps children with letter knowledge, print awareness, vocabulary and other skills based on how you use the book. To add to the experience, when reading an alphabet picture book try and ask open ended questions about what they think will happen in the book and you can aid their narrative skills as well. Make the experience fun and that will increase there print motivation and help to instill a life long love of reading.
The following are some reviews of various Alphabet picture books.
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack is written by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. This alphabetical animal adventure provides words for each letter of the alphabet as the reader follows animals on their way to a picnic gathering. You go from Animals awake to the mandatory snooze after a big meal, ZZZZ. The cute watercolor pictures that adorn the pages are sure to please even the youngest of readers.
ABC Now You See Me is written and illustrated by Kim Siebold. This lift the flap alphabet book is great for young children just starting their quest for reading and understanding letters. Each letter corresponds with one type of animal. There is a picture of an Alligator with an A beside it then when you lift the A flap you see what kind of animal it is. I wasn't sure about N where they chose to use Newt which is apparently an aquatic amphibian and also X where they chose to use X-ray fish. Kudos to Siebold for finding an animal to go with each letter and I love the plump little round animals. This is a fun book that allows the parent or caregiver to ask questions of their children and help them learn their letters.
B Is for Bulldozer A Construction ABC is written by June Sobel and illustrated by Melizza Iwai. This alphabet picture book is great for any young one, but a child interested in construction equipment and big working vehicles will especially love this book. The book is about a theme park being constructed and all the work it takes to get the park up and running. The colorful pictures and theme park theme are sure to delight.
P Is for Princess: A book of first words and ABC's is a Disney Princess book. This alphabet picture book is ideal for those little ones who love princesses. Each of the board book pages represents a letter and that letter is kind of cute out so kids can trace the letter with their finger and the letter also has arrows and numbers indicating how to write the letter. Then on each page there are flaps exposing those items on the page that begin with the letter of the page. The illustrations are of commonly know Disney princesses so children can identify with the characters as well.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten is written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. This warm picture book is about the first day of kindergarten and Wolff and Slate illustrate what each child is doing on their way to their first kindergarten class all the while showing what Miss Bindergarten is doing in order to prepare for her kindergarten class. There's not only alphabet practice on each page but rhymes as well making this a really fun and flowing read.
The following are some reviews of various Alphabet picture books.
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack is written by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. This alphabetical animal adventure provides words for each letter of the alphabet as the reader follows animals on their way to a picnic gathering. You go from Animals awake to the mandatory snooze after a big meal, ZZZZ. The cute watercolor pictures that adorn the pages are sure to please even the youngest of readers.
ABC Now You See Me is written and illustrated by Kim Siebold. This lift the flap alphabet book is great for young children just starting their quest for reading and understanding letters. Each letter corresponds with one type of animal. There is a picture of an Alligator with an A beside it then when you lift the A flap you see what kind of animal it is. I wasn't sure about N where they chose to use Newt which is apparently an aquatic amphibian and also X where they chose to use X-ray fish. Kudos to Siebold for finding an animal to go with each letter and I love the plump little round animals. This is a fun book that allows the parent or caregiver to ask questions of their children and help them learn their letters.
B Is for Bulldozer A Construction ABC is written by June Sobel and illustrated by Melizza Iwai. This alphabet picture book is great for any young one, but a child interested in construction equipment and big working vehicles will especially love this book. The book is about a theme park being constructed and all the work it takes to get the park up and running. The colorful pictures and theme park theme are sure to delight.
P Is for Princess: A book of first words and ABC's is a Disney Princess book. This alphabet picture book is ideal for those little ones who love princesses. Each of the board book pages represents a letter and that letter is kind of cute out so kids can trace the letter with their finger and the letter also has arrows and numbers indicating how to write the letter. Then on each page there are flaps exposing those items on the page that begin with the letter of the page. The illustrations are of commonly know Disney princesses so children can identify with the characters as well.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten is written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. This warm picture book is about the first day of kindergarten and Wolff and Slate illustrate what each child is doing on their way to their first kindergarten class all the while showing what Miss Bindergarten is doing in order to prepare for her kindergarten class. There's not only alphabet practice on each page but rhymes as well making this a really fun and flowing read.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Picture Books Galore
Bothers is written by Yin and the paintings are by Chris Soentpiet. This is a heart felt book about immigration. Ming immigrates from China to be with his two brothers in San Fransisco where they have a shop in Chinatown. Ming's brothers have to work extremely hard to make ends meet which leave Ming to man the store in his brothers' absence. While left alone, Ming wonders outside of Chinatown, against his brothers wishes. On one of his forays he runs into a school where he meets an Irish immigrant named Patrick. They quickly become good friends and Patrick not only helped Ming learn English, but helped him with his shop work as well. This is a story about friendship, immigration and the bonds of family and the realistic paintings of Soentpiet are beautifully rendered. There are long paragraphs on each page so this would be a good book for those older children with a bit more patience. I would say ages 6-9. Children who enjoy this heart warming book may also like Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say.
Ladybug Girl and Bingo by David Soman and Jacky Davis is about a little girl with a big imagination. Ladybug Girl is kin to a superhero, but much cuter. She and her dog Bingo go camping with her family and discover so many amazing things in the woods. Where her family might see a bolder, Ladybug Girl sees a turtle big enough to ride. Where one might see a gnarled old tree, Ladybug sees a wizened old wizard. In all of her adventures she takes her trusty sidekick bingo. This is an adorable book with several sentences to a page and charming illustrations that make this book good for children ages 3 and up.
We Planted a Tree is written by Diane Muldrow and illustrated by Bob Staake. This picture book is about many people planting a tree and the different phases of a tree. The book also shows what benefits there are to the plant and people when trees are planted. The message of the book is positive and told in a simple way with easy sentences and words and colorful illustrations to reinforce the theme of the book. This book simplicity and eye catching appearance makes it good for young readers ages 4-8. If your child likes this book, they may also be interested in The Curious Garden by Peter Brown.
You and Me and Home Sweet Home is by George Lyon and Stephanie Anderson. This book is a book about over coming adversity. This book makes me appreciate the little things I take for granted everyday. Sharonda and her mother are having to live on a pull out couch at her Aunt's house and need to find a place to live. Their church organizes a group to build a house for Sharonda and her mother and Sharonda is pleased when she gets to help prepare her house. The realistic depictions of the characters are beautiful and I especially love the last page because the embrace between mother and daughter makes me reminiscent. It's an embrace I've seen so many times before. Though this book deals with a more serious subject, the words and sentences are all very simple making this book great for children ages 5-9.
Thunder Rose was written by Jerdine Nolen and illustrated by Kadire Nelson. This book is a prefect mix of plot and illustration. I love the front cover because you can just tell by looking at Rose's sweet smile that she is precocious. Thunder Rose is a tall tale of a little girl who has thunder and lightening coursing through her veins. She is smart, strong, and has a way with animals and the elements. Nothing less than a bull will do for this young heroine to ride. This is a longer tale with a few paragraphs on most of the pages and some more difficult words, but it's an exciting story on the scale of Paul Bunyan and sure to hold a child's attention. This story would be great for children 5-8, but I think even older children would enjoy the story. I almost with this was a chapter book series.
Ladybug Girl and Bingo by David Soman and Jacky Davis is about a little girl with a big imagination. Ladybug Girl is kin to a superhero, but much cuter. She and her dog Bingo go camping with her family and discover so many amazing things in the woods. Where her family might see a bolder, Ladybug Girl sees a turtle big enough to ride. Where one might see a gnarled old tree, Ladybug sees a wizened old wizard. In all of her adventures she takes her trusty sidekick bingo. This is an adorable book with several sentences to a page and charming illustrations that make this book good for children ages 3 and up.
We Planted a Tree is written by Diane Muldrow and illustrated by Bob Staake. This picture book is about many people planting a tree and the different phases of a tree. The book also shows what benefits there are to the plant and people when trees are planted. The message of the book is positive and told in a simple way with easy sentences and words and colorful illustrations to reinforce the theme of the book. This book simplicity and eye catching appearance makes it good for young readers ages 4-8. If your child likes this book, they may also be interested in The Curious Garden by Peter Brown.
You and Me and Home Sweet Home is by George Lyon and Stephanie Anderson. This book is a book about over coming adversity. This book makes me appreciate the little things I take for granted everyday. Sharonda and her mother are having to live on a pull out couch at her Aunt's house and need to find a place to live. Their church organizes a group to build a house for Sharonda and her mother and Sharonda is pleased when she gets to help prepare her house. The realistic depictions of the characters are beautiful and I especially love the last page because the embrace between mother and daughter makes me reminiscent. It's an embrace I've seen so many times before. Though this book deals with a more serious subject, the words and sentences are all very simple making this book great for children ages 5-9.
Thunder Rose was written by Jerdine Nolen and illustrated by Kadire Nelson. This book is a prefect mix of plot and illustration. I love the front cover because you can just tell by looking at Rose's sweet smile that she is precocious. Thunder Rose is a tall tale of a little girl who has thunder and lightening coursing through her veins. She is smart, strong, and has a way with animals and the elements. Nothing less than a bull will do for this young heroine to ride. This is a longer tale with a few paragraphs on most of the pages and some more difficult words, but it's an exciting story on the scale of Paul Bunyan and sure to hold a child's attention. This story would be great for children 5-8, but I think even older children would enjoy the story. I almost with this was a chapter book series.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Picture Books Continued
Moo, Moo, Brown Cow, Have You Any Milk? written by Phillis Gershator and illustrated by Giselle Potter is a contemporary take on Ba Ba black sheep with added versus. The rhythmic style of writing lends itself to being sung to the tune of Ba Ba black sheep as well making it perfect for a bedtime lullaby. The book follows a little boy as he asks about getting honey, milk, eggs, down and wool so chidren get a sense of where things come from. Potter's pictures are a colorful display of whimsy that illustrate what each item in question is. For those children who don't know what down is Potter shows them with pictures. This book is good for children up to 8 years old.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown is a book that I wish I had picked up long ago. It's an adorable story of hope and determination. There once was a town that had no gardens, no grass, no flowers or foliage of any kind. It was a dreary town until one day Liam decided to explore an old railroad where he discovered a few plants in need of a gardener. Liam didn't think himself a gardener, but he thought he would give it a go. Things didn't always work out as planned, but Liam kept trying and became more knowledgable about gardening and because of his tenacity the town transformed into a gardeners dream. This book shows the importance of persistance and education and the illustrations wonderfully depict the transformation from dreary to refreshingly lush. This book varys from some pages with no writing to pages with several sentences so this book would be great for children with a little longer attention span. It would be great for children ages 3-8 and with this years Summer Reading Club theme as dig in, it's a perfect summer read.
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carl work together in this picture book for young children ages 2-5. This is a book about a boy who is dreaming of different types of animals "all wild and free". With few words to a page and colorful pictures this book is great for early readers.
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot is written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Mark Fearing is a space aged take on the tale of The Three Little Pigs. Mother alien's house had gotten too small for herself and her three little aliens so she sets them loose in the universe and tells them to find a good home and stick together. At first they didn't stick together and it was only Nklxwcyz who had the forsight to build a sturdy house instead of a whimsical one and it was he who Bork and Gork sought out after their less sturdy houses were destroyed by the big bad robot. Fearing's illustrations give distinct personalities to the little aliens. This book has several sentences on eash page making this book ideal for children who are a bit older, about 4-8 years old.
Race The Wild Wind: A Story of the Sable Island Horses is by Sandra Markle with paintings by Layne Johnson. This story and it's painted illustrations are very realistic. The story follows one stallion as he arrives on the island and it shows his life as a bachelor and how he came to be the head of a herd. This story talks about pregnant horses, the death of a stallion, and is fairly long, as picture books go, so this story is probably best for older children, Kirkus suggests ages 5-9, but I'm inclined to say that 5 is a little young. Having grown up around horses I probably would have been ready for this book before others just because I saw it anyway, but for some young children this could bring up some pretty big questions. I like that the story is about a real place and that there are facts in the back of the book for those who want to know more.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown is a book that I wish I had picked up long ago. It's an adorable story of hope and determination. There once was a town that had no gardens, no grass, no flowers or foliage of any kind. It was a dreary town until one day Liam decided to explore an old railroad where he discovered a few plants in need of a gardener. Liam didn't think himself a gardener, but he thought he would give it a go. Things didn't always work out as planned, but Liam kept trying and became more knowledgable about gardening and because of his tenacity the town transformed into a gardeners dream. This book shows the importance of persistance and education and the illustrations wonderfully depict the transformation from dreary to refreshingly lush. This book varys from some pages with no writing to pages with several sentences so this book would be great for children with a little longer attention span. It would be great for children ages 3-8 and with this years Summer Reading Club theme as dig in, it's a perfect summer read.
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carl work together in this picture book for young children ages 2-5. This is a book about a boy who is dreaming of different types of animals "all wild and free". With few words to a page and colorful pictures this book is great for early readers.
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot is written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Mark Fearing is a space aged take on the tale of The Three Little Pigs. Mother alien's house had gotten too small for herself and her three little aliens so she sets them loose in the universe and tells them to find a good home and stick together. At first they didn't stick together and it was only Nklxwcyz who had the forsight to build a sturdy house instead of a whimsical one and it was he who Bork and Gork sought out after their less sturdy houses were destroyed by the big bad robot. Fearing's illustrations give distinct personalities to the little aliens. This book has several sentences on eash page making this book ideal for children who are a bit older, about 4-8 years old.
Race The Wild Wind: A Story of the Sable Island Horses is by Sandra Markle with paintings by Layne Johnson. This story and it's painted illustrations are very realistic. The story follows one stallion as he arrives on the island and it shows his life as a bachelor and how he came to be the head of a herd. This story talks about pregnant horses, the death of a stallion, and is fairly long, as picture books go, so this story is probably best for older children, Kirkus suggests ages 5-9, but I'm inclined to say that 5 is a little young. Having grown up around horses I probably would have been ready for this book before others just because I saw it anyway, but for some young children this could bring up some pretty big questions. I like that the story is about a real place and that there are facts in the back of the book for those who want to know more.
Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series is quite popular, especially when you consider that the series was made into a hit HBO series. As always the books are way better than the acted out version. Now don't get me wrong folks, I have gotten kind of addicted to the show as well, but they cut out some of what I would consider major symbolism.
The book is about the prestigious people in a mythical realm where kings rule, dragons are long since extinct, loyalty is expected (though rarely acquired), money talks and courage is revered. The reader gets to see how people claw their way to the top in this game of thrones because though obvious, it's nice to be a king. Each chapter follows a different person, but it's clear from the beginning that the Stark family are the protagonists and it seems to be them against the world. They are honor bound and loyal to a fault. Who could think that loyalty and honor would be a bad thing, but where manipulation can get you to the top, nobility can get you killed.
Wolves play a large part in the book as they are the sigil for the Stark family. In the beginning of the book the Stark sons happen upon a batch of dire wolf pups who are to young to go on their own and clinging to a dead mother. Dire wolves are much more impressive than the average wolf both in size and intelligence. When the boys see the pups they instantly fall in love and though Eddard Stark, the father, would see them killed. Jon, his bastard son, convinces his father that they represent his family as there is a pup for each of the children and they boys bring the five pups home with them. Each pup takes on the personality of the child that rears them. I feel that this whole part of the novel was glossed over in the television series and being an animal lover I was disappointed. I was also surprised that there were a couple of scenes in the show that weren't even in the book and I believe that the effect is that the audience has some sympathy for Cesei, the King's wife, when in fact the book makes it seem like she is a horrible, wicked woman beyond the reach of sympathy.
All this being said, as I stated previously, I do really like both the book and the show. I think the key is to go into each without expecting them to be the same. Though this book is fantasy I keep seeing pieces of The Pillars Of The Earth which is a historical fiction by Ken Follett so this is a book I may recommend if you like this series.
The book is about the prestigious people in a mythical realm where kings rule, dragons are long since extinct, loyalty is expected (though rarely acquired), money talks and courage is revered. The reader gets to see how people claw their way to the top in this game of thrones because though obvious, it's nice to be a king. Each chapter follows a different person, but it's clear from the beginning that the Stark family are the protagonists and it seems to be them against the world. They are honor bound and loyal to a fault. Who could think that loyalty and honor would be a bad thing, but where manipulation can get you to the top, nobility can get you killed.
Wolves play a large part in the book as they are the sigil for the Stark family. In the beginning of the book the Stark sons happen upon a batch of dire wolf pups who are to young to go on their own and clinging to a dead mother. Dire wolves are much more impressive than the average wolf both in size and intelligence. When the boys see the pups they instantly fall in love and though Eddard Stark, the father, would see them killed. Jon, his bastard son, convinces his father that they represent his family as there is a pup for each of the children and they boys bring the five pups home with them. Each pup takes on the personality of the child that rears them. I feel that this whole part of the novel was glossed over in the television series and being an animal lover I was disappointed. I was also surprised that there were a couple of scenes in the show that weren't even in the book and I believe that the effect is that the audience has some sympathy for Cesei, the King's wife, when in fact the book makes it seem like she is a horrible, wicked woman beyond the reach of sympathy.
All this being said, as I stated previously, I do really like both the book and the show. I think the key is to go into each without expecting them to be the same. Though this book is fantasy I keep seeing pieces of The Pillars Of The Earth which is a historical fiction by Ken Follett so this is a book I may recommend if you like this series.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Accidentally Yours
Susan Mallery is a customer favorite in Baltimore County Libraries so I thought I would pick up a book and see what the buzz is about. Accidentally Yours was sitting on the shelf and was one of her newer romance novels so I picked it up. It was a quick easy read, but that doesn't me it was happy go lucky. On the contrary the book is about a woman, Kerri Sullivan, whose son has Gilliar's Disease and she tries her best to be Wonder Mom. I mean this literally, she has a costume and everything. She puts all of her energy into faith and believes that if she can convince her son that his mom is a super hero then he will believe he has super hero blood in him as well and that will help him fight off his illness.
In a desperate attempt to acquire money for a research facility focusing on Gilliar's Disease she blackmails a billionaire, Nathan King. After blackmailing him she enters into an agreement where by she volunteers her time to attend charity events to create good publicity for Nathan so that the arrangement can be mutually beneficial. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what comes next because I mean it is a romance, but romance is never easy and Kerri feels like she has to focus all of her energy on her son Cody and that if she for one moment focuses on herself it will be at the expense of her sons health.
The book is a race against the clock to get a cure before Cody dies and a cat and mouse game of love. It's not the typical romance because there are a couple of plot lines going on at the same time. The book is all about love, but not just that of a man and a woman, but the love of family as well.
People who enjoy this book may also want to check out Cutting Loose by Susan Anderson.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
More Picture Book Reviews
That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems is a cute tale told in the style of an old school silent film. There is one black page that has white sentences on it and a frame around the words while on the opposite page there are characters acting out the story. Every three pages there are little chicks warning a character that something is a bad idea, but the chracter falls into the trap anyway. The little chicks are quite endearing and don't worry, you'll still be surprised by the ending. The easy sentences and repeating concepts are great for children 4-8 years old.
Miss Fox's Class Goes Green written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Anne Kennedy has lovely tips on the front and back cover for people who wish to be kinder to the environment. The book gently explains what being "green" means and it's not that someone is feeling sick. The book gives simple ideas for how people can be green with making minimal effort. It was nice to see some of the ideas. A lot of them were very basic, but I really like the idea of having a toy swap instead of throwing them. This book is great for children up to ages 8, but even I learned something by reading it.
If You Give A Cat A Cupcake is written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. Who knew cats were so much work? The story tells of a cat who was given a cupcake and of course asks for sprinkles. One thing leads to another and another until the day is spent and the little girl is exhausted, but it doesn't end there because when they get home from a long day the little girl makes the mistake of giving the cat a cupcake. This is a cute book with adorable pictures. There are simple words and sentences making this book good for kids up to 8 years old.
From the man who brought you Marvel 1602 and The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman works with Dave McKean to bring you a picture book called Crazy Hair. This book is about a man with some crazy hair where inside this hair you never know what you'll find. The book has a fantastical quality common to Gaiman books with pictures to match. This book is also good for children up to ages 8.
Pirates Guide To First Grade is written by James Preller and illustrated by Greg Ruth. This story is about a boy who imagines a world of pirates all around him. His bus is his ship and his teacher is his Captain and imaginary pirates follow him everywhere. He struggles with first grade until his captain takes an interest in him and encourages him through pirate related education. This book is a fun read, but it does make school sound like a drag until his teacher takes a special interest in him. Also the grammar in the book is that of pirates so parents may be hearing things like, shiver me timbers at the breakfast table. This book is entertaining for children up to 8 years old.
Miss Fox's Class Goes Green written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Anne Kennedy has lovely tips on the front and back cover for people who wish to be kinder to the environment. The book gently explains what being "green" means and it's not that someone is feeling sick. The book gives simple ideas for how people can be green with making minimal effort. It was nice to see some of the ideas. A lot of them were very basic, but I really like the idea of having a toy swap instead of throwing them. This book is great for children up to ages 8, but even I learned something by reading it.
If You Give A Cat A Cupcake is written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. Who knew cats were so much work? The story tells of a cat who was given a cupcake and of course asks for sprinkles. One thing leads to another and another until the day is spent and the little girl is exhausted, but it doesn't end there because when they get home from a long day the little girl makes the mistake of giving the cat a cupcake. This is a cute book with adorable pictures. There are simple words and sentences making this book good for kids up to 8 years old.
From the man who brought you Marvel 1602 and The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman works with Dave McKean to bring you a picture book called Crazy Hair. This book is about a man with some crazy hair where inside this hair you never know what you'll find. The book has a fantastical quality common to Gaiman books with pictures to match. This book is also good for children up to ages 8.
Pirates Guide To First Grade is written by James Preller and illustrated by Greg Ruth. This story is about a boy who imagines a world of pirates all around him. His bus is his ship and his teacher is his Captain and imaginary pirates follow him everywhere. He struggles with first grade until his captain takes an interest in him and encourages him through pirate related education. This book is a fun read, but it does make school sound like a drag until his teacher takes a special interest in him. Also the grammar in the book is that of pirates so parents may be hearing things like, shiver me timbers at the breakfast table. This book is entertaining for children up to 8 years old.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Caldecott Medal Winning Picture Books
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka is a picture book without words and Caldecott winner for 2012. Words aren't needed to convey the story of this children's book about a dog and her beloved red ball. One day a little girl takes her dog Daisy to the park to play with her ball. Another dog decides to play ball with Daisy, but is a little to zealous and accidentally punctures the ball causing it to miserably deflate. Daisy is heartbroken as she carries her deflated mass home with her and mourns over it until the next day when her little girl takes her back to the park where they throw away the ball. The pair end up running into the other dog again and are pleased to see that the dog and his owner brought a blue ball to replace the broken one. The water color illustrations are endearing and sure to please young readers.
Flotsam is written and illustrated by David Wiesner and won the Caldecott award for 2007. In this book a very scientifically minded boy goes with his family to the beach and sees what he can uncover with his various magnifying devices. He is happily discovering the ordinary when he happens upon an extraordinary underwater camera. While looking at his new discovery he finds that there is a roll of film just waiting to be developed so he takes it to a one hour photo and replaces the roll of film with a new one. The pictures he finds opens a world of enchantment beneath the sea. Wonder he could never have imagined. He also discovers that this camera has been passed along from beach goer to beach goer and the boy adds his picture to the new roll and sends the camera on it's next adventure. These carefully detailed pictures don't need words to tell this enchanting story.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a a creative combinations of gouacge, pencil, ink and collage illustrations with die-cut holes that are designed to engage readers. This picture book was a 2000 Caledecott winner. It's a story of a man who started out with an Overcoat that he wore so much, he wore it out, but he wasn't done. He turned it into something else and something else after that. Each die-cut gives the reader a clue as to what the next use of the material will be. This book shows children how to think outside of the box in order to reuse their stuff instead of just throwing it away. There are short sentences and colorful pages making this book ideal for children up to 8 years old.
Smoky Night is written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz. It is the Caldecott winner of 1995. Diaz uses bright acrylics to bring this story to life. This picture book is for older children and depicts a Los Angeles riot in the streets that eventually forces the people in the building to leave their home. Though the riot is a serious topic the author uses the event to bring people closer together and overcome racial differences. There are several sentences on each page and this combined with the serious subject matter make this reader better for older children ages 7-12.
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say is 1994's Caldecott winner and beautifully illustrated with painted images. This story follows a young Japanese man as he immigrates to North America where he is enchanted by California. He goes back to Japan where he marries his childhood sweetheart and brings her back to California with him. They start a family and live happily for many years until he starts to yearn for home. This story is a beautiful depiction of immigration and cultural exchange. There are a couple of sentences to each page and the words go from easy to moderate making this book good for children up to 8.
Flotsam is written and illustrated by David Wiesner and won the Caldecott award for 2007. In this book a very scientifically minded boy goes with his family to the beach and sees what he can uncover with his various magnifying devices. He is happily discovering the ordinary when he happens upon an extraordinary underwater camera. While looking at his new discovery he finds that there is a roll of film just waiting to be developed so he takes it to a one hour photo and replaces the roll of film with a new one. The pictures he finds opens a world of enchantment beneath the sea. Wonder he could never have imagined. He also discovers that this camera has been passed along from beach goer to beach goer and the boy adds his picture to the new roll and sends the camera on it's next adventure. These carefully detailed pictures don't need words to tell this enchanting story.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a a creative combinations of gouacge, pencil, ink and collage illustrations with die-cut holes that are designed to engage readers. This picture book was a 2000 Caledecott winner. It's a story of a man who started out with an Overcoat that he wore so much, he wore it out, but he wasn't done. He turned it into something else and something else after that. Each die-cut gives the reader a clue as to what the next use of the material will be. This book shows children how to think outside of the box in order to reuse their stuff instead of just throwing it away. There are short sentences and colorful pages making this book ideal for children up to 8 years old.
Smoky Night is written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz. It is the Caldecott winner of 1995. Diaz uses bright acrylics to bring this story to life. This picture book is for older children and depicts a Los Angeles riot in the streets that eventually forces the people in the building to leave their home. Though the riot is a serious topic the author uses the event to bring people closer together and overcome racial differences. There are several sentences on each page and this combined with the serious subject matter make this reader better for older children ages 7-12.
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say is 1994's Caldecott winner and beautifully illustrated with painted images. This story follows a young Japanese man as he immigrates to North America where he is enchanted by California. He goes back to Japan where he marries his childhood sweetheart and brings her back to California with him. They start a family and live happily for many years until he starts to yearn for home. This story is a beautiful depiction of immigration and cultural exchange. There are a couple of sentences to each page and the words go from easy to moderate making this book good for children up to 8.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Board Books
Winnie-the-Pooh's Colors is inspired by A.A. Milne and the illustrations are after the style of Ernest H. Shepard. These classic characters introduce colors to toddlers. The book is simple with very few words and simple sentences on each page and an illustration of each color discussed on that page.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems is an adorable board book about a pigeon that doesn't like to be told what to do. We can all relate to that. The pigeon goes from Angry to sad and finally happy until he discovers that he has given the bus driver exactly what he wanted in the first place. The simple drawings still manage to convey quite a bit of emotions and with simple words and sentences this is a cute book that parents won't mind having to repeat over and over again.
My Very First Book of Animal Sounds by Eric Carle is a board book meant for the littlest of readers. The book is uniquely designed to engage your little ones in learning what sounds go with each animal. The book is a flip book, but the bottom half flips separate than the top with an animal on top and a sound on the bottom. Adults will have fun making their kids giggle while making a rooster say roar and a cow meow. There is one word on each page making this book ideal for a first book.
llama llama hippity-hop is a book by Anna Dewdney author of one of my favorite children's series. All of the llama llama books are great for rhyming which help children with their early literacy skills. This board book has very few words, but they do rhyme and the little llama is so cute.
In The Garden is written by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Manelle Oliphant is a book for toddles. The story is about a boy who starts a garden and waits patiently while it grows. While there are only one or two words on each page the book tells a much longer story with it's charming illustrations. It's amazing how much of a story can be told from so few words.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems is an adorable board book about a pigeon that doesn't like to be told what to do. We can all relate to that. The pigeon goes from Angry to sad and finally happy until he discovers that he has given the bus driver exactly what he wanted in the first place. The simple drawings still manage to convey quite a bit of emotions and with simple words and sentences this is a cute book that parents won't mind having to repeat over and over again.
My Very First Book of Animal Sounds by Eric Carle is a board book meant for the littlest of readers. The book is uniquely designed to engage your little ones in learning what sounds go with each animal. The book is a flip book, but the bottom half flips separate than the top with an animal on top and a sound on the bottom. Adults will have fun making their kids giggle while making a rooster say roar and a cow meow. There is one word on each page making this book ideal for a first book.
llama llama hippity-hop is a book by Anna Dewdney author of one of my favorite children's series. All of the llama llama books are great for rhyming which help children with their early literacy skills. This board book has very few words, but they do rhyme and the little llama is so cute.
In The Garden is written by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Manelle Oliphant is a book for toddles. The story is about a boy who starts a garden and waits patiently while it grows. While there are only one or two words on each page the book tells a much longer story with it's charming illustrations. It's amazing how much of a story can be told from so few words.
Marvel 1602
Gaiman's Marvel 1602 is a graphic novel set in an alternate reality that seems like a combination between historical and fantasy. Superheros from this time period take on different pesonas in this adventure. The identities become known the farther you delve into this graphic read. Javier works to find people with superhuman powers and provide a safe place for them to live in peace while another group is seeking to hunt them down at the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign all while a eminent storm is brewing. I won't divulge who will prevail in this Marvel creation, but those who are fans of Marvel superhero graphic novels are sure to enjoy this creation by Gaiman. It's fun figuring out which superheroes are the characters are as the story unfolds.
Those who like this graphic novel may also like Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 Torn by Joss Whedon.
Those who like this graphic novel may also like Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 Torn by Joss Whedon.
Friday, May 3, 2013
California Connection
California Connection by Chunichi Knott was an interesting read for me. It's classified as an Urban Fiction and I have to say that honestly I had never read anything from this genre. This genre seems popular with Sollers Point crowd and Chunichi is one of the more circulated authors.
This novel focused on the interaction of several characters living in urban Virginia. The protagonist is Jewel though each chapter focuses on a different character in the first person. The reader follows as Jewel seeks out a wealthy man, Calico and finds that his wealth comes from dealing drugs. His name is Calico because he is the "Connection" in California. Jewel seems to want to impress Calico by showing how much of a gangstress she can be, but this only gets her into trouble with the law at the same time that drama arises with Sasha, a good friend of hers. While she tries to help Sasha out of a financial mess and teach her the ways of gold digging Sasha has more nefarious plans.
The storyline sped up the more that the characters were developed and it became a quick read. It's not for the faint of heart as there are lots of drug references, strong erotic language and gratuitous swearing. The book ended with a surprise and left you wondering what happened. Luckily there is a sequel on the shelves called California Connection 2.
This novel focused on the interaction of several characters living in urban Virginia. The protagonist is Jewel though each chapter focuses on a different character in the first person. The reader follows as Jewel seeks out a wealthy man, Calico and finds that his wealth comes from dealing drugs. His name is Calico because he is the "Connection" in California. Jewel seems to want to impress Calico by showing how much of a gangstress she can be, but this only gets her into trouble with the law at the same time that drama arises with Sasha, a good friend of hers. While she tries to help Sasha out of a financial mess and teach her the ways of gold digging Sasha has more nefarious plans.
The storyline sped up the more that the characters were developed and it became a quick read. It's not for the faint of heart as there are lots of drug references, strong erotic language and gratuitous swearing. The book ended with a surprise and left you wondering what happened. Luckily there is a sequel on the shelves called California Connection 2.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
A Time to Kill
A Time to Kill by John Grisham is set in Ford County Mississippi where people are treated differently based on their heritage. Carl Lee Hailey's 10 year old daughter was raped, beaten and nearly killed by two drunk and drug influenced, ignorant men. The catch is that this sweet young girl is black and the two men were white. Enraged, Hailey decides to take the law into his own hands and kills the two men with an M-16, accidentally wounding an officer in the process.
The main protagonist is a lawyer named Jake Brigance who represented Hailey's brother when he was tried for murder. Hailey confides in Jake before he commits the crime and trusts Jake to defend him so that he may be returned to his family. Jake questions weather Hailey can get a fair trial in a county that is predominately white and conservative. Though getting paid next to nothing, Jake can't help but pour himself into the case at the expense of his safety and that of his wife and small child.
The book delves into the legal world of defending a man accused of murder, but Grisham does so in a way that though filled with jargon is easy to comprehend. While Jake works he has to explain his decisions to his cliet and allows the reader to understand what is going on as well. The piranha like reporters jump into the mix with the KKK and peaceful protesters this books is a good combination of drama and action. By the end of the book you hoping the jury will be unbiased, but Grisham keeps you guessing until the very end. I can see why Grisham is a favorite at Sollers Point.
If you like this read and wanted something else along the same vein you could try The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly or Smash Cut by Sandra Brown.
The main protagonist is a lawyer named Jake Brigance who represented Hailey's brother when he was tried for murder. Hailey confides in Jake before he commits the crime and trusts Jake to defend him so that he may be returned to his family. Jake questions weather Hailey can get a fair trial in a county that is predominately white and conservative. Though getting paid next to nothing, Jake can't help but pour himself into the case at the expense of his safety and that of his wife and small child.
The book delves into the legal world of defending a man accused of murder, but Grisham does so in a way that though filled with jargon is easy to comprehend. While Jake works he has to explain his decisions to his cliet and allows the reader to understand what is going on as well. The piranha like reporters jump into the mix with the KKK and peaceful protesters this books is a good combination of drama and action. By the end of the book you hoping the jury will be unbiased, but Grisham keeps you guessing until the very end. I can see why Grisham is a favorite at Sollers Point.
If you like this read and wanted something else along the same vein you could try The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly or Smash Cut by Sandra Brown.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Innocent
Innocent by David Baldacci is another book that is popular amongst the Sollers Point crowd so i decided to give him a go. His writing style is very similar to James Patterson; however I didn't find myself sucked in nearly as much as with Private.
This story follows Will Robie, a government assassin as he works a couple of jobs before things go completely awry. On a seemingly straight forward job Robie for the first time, finds that he's not able to follow through with the job. Seeing a child laying beside his mother Robie feels that the mission may not be on the up and up and then is thrown into a cat and mouse game that threatens not only his job, but his life as well.
While on a bus and scrambling to a safe house to figure things out he sees that another assassin is about to end a teenagers life and is about to intercept before the girl thwarts the attack. Shocked by the girls quick thinking all Robie can do is see that the girl gets off the bus without the assassin following. Shortly after exiting the bus, it explodes throwing the two to the pavement. The explosion links the odd couple together. Robie being a loner is unaccustomed to having someone tag along on his exploits especially a teenager.
This book is action from beginning to end with espionage, murder, and a dash of romance to top things off. Those who like this book may also be interested in John Sandford and Vince Flynn.
This story follows Will Robie, a government assassin as he works a couple of jobs before things go completely awry. On a seemingly straight forward job Robie for the first time, finds that he's not able to follow through with the job. Seeing a child laying beside his mother Robie feels that the mission may not be on the up and up and then is thrown into a cat and mouse game that threatens not only his job, but his life as well.
While on a bus and scrambling to a safe house to figure things out he sees that another assassin is about to end a teenagers life and is about to intercept before the girl thwarts the attack. Shocked by the girls quick thinking all Robie can do is see that the girl gets off the bus without the assassin following. Shortly after exiting the bus, it explodes throwing the two to the pavement. The explosion links the odd couple together. Robie being a loner is unaccustomed to having someone tag along on his exploits especially a teenager.
This book is action from beginning to end with espionage, murder, and a dash of romance to top things off. Those who like this book may also be interested in John Sandford and Vince Flynn.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Bomb
Bomb: The Race To Build- And Steal- The World's Most Dangerous Weapon was written by Steven Sheinkin and it was amazing! Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so either as it has won the 2013 Sibert Award, is a 2013 Newbery Honor Book, a 2012 Washington Post best kids book of the year title, and was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature.
This book follows many different aspects in the race between the U.S., Germany and USSR to build the worlds first atomic bomb. The book starts by locating Henry Gold, a spy who smuggled documents to the KGB regarding information on how to assemble an atomic bomb. The reader follows the amazing exploits of Knut Haukelid, a Norwegian freedom fighter who aided in the delay of Germany assembling an atomic weapon. Sheinkin pieces these stories altogether with Robert Oppenheimer's race to build a "gadget" for the U.S. to use in an effort to end WWII.
This enthralling non-fiction book designed for children will grip the attention of almost anyone who picks it up. It's action and intrigue captivate you the moment you begin reading and the historical pictures add a nice touch to aid the reader in picturing the people and places as they read about. The book was clearly researched thoroughly, but reads like a novel.
This book follows many different aspects in the race between the U.S., Germany and USSR to build the worlds first atomic bomb. The book starts by locating Henry Gold, a spy who smuggled documents to the KGB regarding information on how to assemble an atomic bomb. The reader follows the amazing exploits of Knut Haukelid, a Norwegian freedom fighter who aided in the delay of Germany assembling an atomic weapon. Sheinkin pieces these stories altogether with Robert Oppenheimer's race to build a "gadget" for the U.S. to use in an effort to end WWII.
This enthralling non-fiction book designed for children will grip the attention of almost anyone who picks it up. It's action and intrigue captivate you the moment you begin reading and the historical pictures add a nice touch to aid the reader in picturing the people and places as they read about. The book was clearly researched thoroughly, but reads like a novel.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Private
James Patterson is a popular author amongst the Sollers Point crowd. Honestly I hadn't read anything by him and it was interesting to see what all the fuss is about. Private is a fast paced novel that follows Jack Morgan, a private investigator, on a busy couple of weeks. Jack owns a private investigation firm, aptly named Private, that deals with a lot of high profile cases from the NFL to Hollywood. The company employs only the best, highly trained people who are willing to go above and beyond for not just the job, but Jack as well.
In this novel Private takes on three intense cases at once and they all work overtime trying to identify a serial killer, untangle a murder, and track down how games are being rigged in the NFL. The novel is told from Jacks persepective in the first person while some chapters give the reader insight into what other characters are doing in the third person perspective. The chapters are very short which make this action novel a quick and engrossing read. Just one more chapter I kept saying to myself.
In this novel Private takes on three intense cases at once and they all work overtime trying to identify a serial killer, untangle a murder, and track down how games are being rigged in the NFL. The novel is told from Jacks persepective in the first person while some chapters give the reader insight into what other characters are doing in the third person perspective. The chapters are very short which make this action novel a quick and engrossing read. Just one more chapter I kept saying to myself.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Diviners
The Diviners by Libba Bray is a Young Adult paranormal fiction novel that follows many characters though the main character is Evangeline O'Neil. Evie, as her friends call her, is a 17 year old flapper in 1926 who has a penchant for trouble. She is also a Dinver because of a paranormal gift that allows her to read objects that are special to a person and tell them something about themselves. It's this very gift that gets her into trouble and sent to New York to live with her bachelor uncle who runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult.
While with her uncle, he is called upon to help with a murder investigation that has occult overtones. Evie being the mischevous seeking teen that she is weasles her way into helping with the investigation. As the story unfolds there is a secondary plot that follows other young Diviners, allowing the reader to get a feel for the gifts that other Diviners have.
The novel is full of extensive description and it's very clear that the author has done a vast amount of research on the 1920's era as well as the history of New York City. The amount of description gives a very vivid depiction of the scenes and thoughts of the characters.
Read alikes for this book are Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber, The Seer by Linda Joy Singleton, and Gods of Manhantan by Scott Mebus.
While with her uncle, he is called upon to help with a murder investigation that has occult overtones. Evie being the mischevous seeking teen that she is weasles her way into helping with the investigation. As the story unfolds there is a secondary plot that follows other young Diviners, allowing the reader to get a feel for the gifts that other Diviners have.
The novel is full of extensive description and it's very clear that the author has done a vast amount of research on the 1920's era as well as the history of New York City. The amount of description gives a very vivid depiction of the scenes and thoughts of the characters.
Read alikes for this book are Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber, The Seer by Linda Joy Singleton, and Gods of Manhantan by Scott Mebus.
Monday, February 4, 2013
This is not my hat
As many of you know This is not my hat by Jon Klassen is the 2013 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner. It's an adorable book that fallows a small fish just after he's stolen a small hat from a big fish. He feels that he is justified in doing so because it both fits him better and looks better on him. He believes that he's taken adequate precautions in escaping the big fish, but this may not be the case. I won't give away the ending for you, but I think both the story line and graphics of this book will make you giggle whether you are a kid or just a kid at heart.
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