October Books Read

OCTOBER 2011 BOOKS


514. PAINTINGS FROM THE CAVE
515. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABYMOUSE
516. LUNCH LADY AND THE FIELD TRIP FIASCO
517. PETER AND THE WOLF audio
518. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT
519. OTIS AND THE TORNADO
520. LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT
521. MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
522. UNDER THE HOOD
523. PAUL THURLBY'S ALPHABET
524. THE HUNGRY GHOST OF RUE ORLEANS
525. EYE OF THE STORM
526. MASTERWORK OF THE PAINTING ELEPHANT
527. THE NEAR WITCH
528. P*TAG
529. THE FUTURE OF US
530. OyMG
531. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
532. THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED BLUE HORSES
533. CLARA AND THE CURANDERA
534. ADELITA AND THE VEGGIE COUSINS
535. A BAILAR!
536. SIGN LANGUAGE
537. BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX
538. WORDS IN THE DUST
539. WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
540. THE DOWN SIDE OF BEING UP
541. BLOOD LIE
542. DOWN SIDE OF BEING UP
543. PLANT HUNTERS
544. THE FLYING BEAVER BROTHERS GN
545. HOW THE LEOPARD GOT HIS CLAWS
546. COWS TO THE RESCUE
547. CHOCOLATE ME
548. CHILLY MILLY MOO
549. MOVING HOUSE
550. KOKO BE GOOD
551. FLY GUY VS. THE FLYSWATTER
552. SUPER DIAPER BABY #2
553. SECRETS AT SEA
554. LIE
555. THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE
556. THE SCRAWNY LITTLE TREE
557. SUBWAY STORY
558. POWER OF CUTE
559. OLLIE THE PURPLE ELEPHANT
560. INTO THE OUTDOORS
561. HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA SIZED TROPHY
562. THE FAIRIE RING
563. A BAD KITTY CHRISTMAS
564. THE CROWN ON YOUR HEAD
565. FEEDING FRIENDSIES
566. MUSTACHE
567. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
568. HEEBIE-JEEBIE JAMBOREE
569. COOL CITY
570. SAMANTHA ON A ROLL
571. SAME, SAME DIFFERENT
572. HOMER THE LIBRARY CAT
573. BEDTIME KISS FOR CHESTER RACCOON
574. THE ORPHAN
575. DUCK AND COMPANY CHRISTMAS
576. MY DOG, MY CAT
577. WILD ROSE'S WEAVING
578. LALA SALAMA
579. THE SCAR
580. HAPPY PIG DAY
581. EVERY-DAY DRESS UP
582. PUTTING MAKEUP ON DEAAD PEOPLE
583. THE PS BROTHERS
584. ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE

Narrative Nonfiction

Yes, this is me peering from behind the cover of the forthcoming book from Anita Silvey. And, yes, I know I the print is reversed. New laptop, folks. Still need to figure out how to do some of the photo editing. I will replace this as soon as I can do that. In the meantime, put this book on your radar (as my pal Paul Hankins would say). There is a HUGE demand for narrative nonfiction here in Texas, and here is a perfect selection to share with kids. THE PLANT HUNTERS: TRUE STORIES OF THEIR DARING ADVENTURES TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE EARTH (FSG, April 2012)introduces readers to some of the early hunters of plants. Some hunted to extend the plants available in their region of the world. others hunted plants for their medicinal value (those that produced quinine for example) and others were plant smugglers of sorts. The text is lively and there are plenty of photos interspersed throughout the book. Check out Silvey's children's book almanac as well: http://childrensbookalmanac.com/ <543>

is there a down side?

OK, I am going to drop all pretense of propriety here because THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING UP by Alan Sitomer (Putnam 2011) is about erections, boners, you know. Seriously, the story focuses on a 13 year old named Bobby who ends up having to see a therapist because of an unfortune incident in math class. Warning: do not drink liquids when reading this scene (or much of the book for that matter) as it will be cause for spewing said liquid painfully through nose and mouth, I suspect. Bobby ends up facing expulsion because of his "behavior" and opts for therapy sessions with one of the most whacked out therapists ever to enter the profession. However, Bobby manages to survive, even maybe to find a girl who is not repulsed by his, ahem, history in class. Sitomer has written a frank and funny look at what it is like to be a normal boy. Along the way he adds some eccentric characters (Gramps in particular) and unusual situations to add to the merriment. while I am far removed from being a 13 year old boy, it does not take super Spidey sense to know this book will be wildly popular with its target audience. <542>

pictures, words, story

COWS TO THE RESCUE by John Himmelman (Holt 2011) shows how the cows come toe rescue of Farmer Greenstalks and his family and livestock as they all travel to the country fair. Kids will chime in with the refrain, COWS TO THE RESCUE!" making this a perfect paired reading selection. Readers who like the Cronin Lewin CLICK CLACK MOO series will find this one fun as well. <538>



Taye Diggs joins the list of celebrities writing books for children in CHOCOLATE ME illustrated by Shane Evans (Feiwel and Friends 2011). A young boy is teased because of his skin color, his hair, his nose. He asks his mother why he needs to be different. Her explanation lets him know he should celebrate who he is. A message book to be sure, but an important message to share as well. <539>



CHILLY MILLY MOO by Fiona Ross (Candlewick Press 2011) is always too warm. As a result, she is not producing milk as are the other cows. The farmer has threatened to get rid of Millie unless things change. And then along comes a cold front that saves Millie and makes the other cows just a bit envious of her ability to produce not milk but ice cream. Soft colors are a nice emotional touch to this story that has words on walls, on bricks, and in other places. <540>



Mark Siegel, editor of First Second Books gives younger readers a moving (pun intended) story in MOVING HOUSE (Roaring Brook 2011). The fog in Foggytown so obscures streets and buildings that people bump into one another even during the day. Joey and Chloey are disappointed to learn that, due to the fog (really more like smog), the family plans to move. The house, however, has other plans. Siegel combines picture book with more of a graphic novel/comic book approach in this break-the-rules book that should be perfect for independent readers. <541>
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Blood will tell

Anti-Semitism is alive and well in New York in the 1920s in BLOOD LIE by Shirley Reva Vernick (Cinco Puntos Press 2011). Jack Pool and his family run a store in town. People are pleasant enough to their faces, but behind their backs, their true feelings and fears surface. When a local child disappears, the man who runs the diner helps spread a rumor that the Jews use children in human sacrifices for their holiday celebrations. Perhaps the missing girl has fallen victim to the needs for blood sacrifice? <537>

Based on some real life incidents, this is a frightening examination of the power of gossip, lies, innuendo, and prejudice.

with a name like Love

Ollie Love is the daughter of an itinerant preacher in WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE by Tess Hilmo (FSG 2011). She longs to stay more than a few days in a town so she could maybe go to a real school and make some friends. When Ollie and her family reach the town of Binder, Arkansas, Ollie meets a boy about her age with a slew of problems. She hopes that if she can get her father to help Jimmy that perhaps the family can stay a while longer. Ollie and her father the Rev. Everlasting Love try their best to help Jimmy despite the obstacles thrown their way by some of the local residents. <536>

It would be simple for this novel to become either sentimental or predictable. But Tess Hilmo has created some intereting, albeit eccentric and offbeat, characters both in the Love family and in the townspeople. Avoiding stereotypes is no easy thing either, but Hilmo manages to do just that. Round characters, flawed, bring this piece of historical fiction (1957) to life.

Denying Access

I have been trying to avoid posting a rant, really I have. But today, several items came across my desk that just set this off. I will not elaborate on the confluence. Suffice to say, they were tiny pieces of sand that rubbed me wrong and thus produced the rant (no pearl, sorry).

I keep hearing about cutting school libraries in terms of books in favor of a collection of eBooks. Those of you who know me understand that I love technology. I read books on the iPad and Kindle and even my iPhone. I have access, though. I wonder how many students do nationwide (here is something you can tackle, Mr. Duncan, as you collect useless data from test scores, why not ask how many kids have limitless online access outside of school?)? I can look around the district in which I reside and tell you right now that I would estimate about 30-40% of the students more than likely have to get access at school or at the public library. ACCESS is key when it comes to eBooks. I have access. But for those who do not, the digital divide grows wider as does the achievement gap.

It is more than that, though. Some books are perfect fodder for eBooks. I recently read and reviewed P*TAG edited by Vardell and Wong. It was designed to be an eBook and is perfectly suited to the format. Ditto the latest from Fontichiaro and Hamilton on school libraries. Immediate distribution (and heard today it has been downloaded over 3000 times in a little over a week). There are other books, though, better suited to traditional text, especially those books with diagrams, charts, etc. that deserve a large page and clear print. And, quite frankly, I still enjoy curling up with a book. I love the feel and smell of books (and if you are reading this blog, I bet you do as well).

More to chew on: if school libraries will be all eBooks, will there actually be a physical place in the school? Will the librarian be outsourced? I can see that happening (and it is already). Another loss as research indicates losing a school librarian leads to a DECREASE in test scores. I see the loss of a place to study, to do research (thanks, Holly, for pointing that out), to gather. I see the loss of someone uniquely educated to assist students in searching. More importantly, I see yet another loss of someone who might connect kids to books.

Since I posted a small tweet before this rant, I have heard from several school librarians who are echoing these same concerns. Of course, theirs are not the voices we hear. Instead, the architect (and gee there is someone with school experience) or someone outside of the day to day operation of the school is making decisions like this. It is frustrating to these folks with experience and expertise who have to sit and watch someone dismantling what has taken them forever to create.

I am all for using technology and for extending the definition of books and reading. However, until we can find a way to ensure that everyone has access to literacy in all its forms, we should be making choices based on ACCESS and what is BEST not which is most expedient.

into the dust and heat

Zulaikhu, an Afghan teen, was born with a cleft palate. She has been the butt of cruel jokes from the enighborhood boys and pitying glances from the shopkeepers and even family members. In WORDS IN THE DUST by Trent Reedy (Scholastic, AAL 2011), readers meet Zulaikhu and her family. Her sister is promised to someone in marriage; her younger brothers are pretty much pains to keep track of, and her stepmother sometimes treats her as a servant. But Zulaikhu somehow manages to sustain herself. One day, her life changes when she meets a woman who offers to teach her to read and write. And then the best news of all: the Americans have offered to repair her cleft palate. Could Zulaikhu's life be about to change? <535>

Reedy offers some insight into the day to day life for Afghans living somewhat uncomfortably with the Americans who are occupying their country. He allows the characters to voice the sentiments, varied as they are, about the Taliban, the new government, and the odd customs of the American soldiers. Zulaikhu and her family are not archetypes or stereotypes; they are salt of the earth Afghans who are trying their best to live a good life. There are precious few books, especially for teens, set in this country. Reedy's offering is one that needs to be shared.

Bigger than a Bread Box

Laurel Snyder's BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX (Random House 2011) is a skillful blend of realism and magic (magical realism) that centers on Rebecca, aged 12. Rebecca's parents are having issues and one morning Mom simply packs up suitcases and whisks Rebecca and her toddler brother off from Baltimore to Atlanta to stay with Rebecca's maternal grandmother. Rebecca is hurt, of course. She adores her father and did not have any hint that she was going to be separated from him. She did not even have a chance to say goodbye to her best friend. Full of resentment, Rebecca hides herself away in Gran's attic where she discovers a bread box, a magical bread box, that seems to grant her wishes. What Rebecca wishes for more than anything else, though, might just be ebyond the capabilities of the bread box. Rebecca wants something that will bring her parents back together. <534>

The magic of the bread box in no way detracts from the all-too-real situation in which Rebecca finds herself. Separating from a parent can leave a huge void in the life of a tween. Rebecca longs for something that might never be possible and acts in any way she thinks might further her cause. Snyder captures the petulance, the resentment, the anger, and the other emotions of a 12 year old perfectly.

tuck a kleenex inside the covers

SIGN LANGUAGE by Amy Ackley (Viking 2011) is one of those books that a poet once wrote should come with kleenex tucked inside. Twelve year old Abby's father has terminal cancer. The first half of the book follows Abby and her family as they deal with Dad's declining health and eventual death. However, the second half of the book deals with the grieving process of Abby and her mother. Anger, denial, depression: it is all here. Abby pushes away all those close to her in her desperate grief. <533>

The inimitable Eric Carle

Is there anyone out there who knows children's books and does not immediately recognize the work of master illustrator Eric Carle? Unlikely. And the arrival of a new book with his vibrant collage illustrations is always reason to drop everything and read. Here is THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE by Carle (Philomel 2011), Carle's tribute to German painter Franz Marc whose outlandish paintings of animals, mostly horses, in unconventional colors, is celebrated in the simple text and incredible collages that are the hallmark of Carle's work. <532>

Picture Books

Thanks to Arte Publico for sending me these 3 wonderful books with text in English and en Espanol.



Diane Gonzales Bertrand gives us ADELITA AND THE VEGGIE COUSINS or ADELITA Y LAS PRIMAS VENDURITAS illustrated by Christina Rodriguez (Arte Publico 2011). Adelita is the new girl in school and she is feeling a little apprehensive since she does not know anyone. Her teacher, Ms. Cantu, brings in a basket of fresh vegetables and asks each student to select one. Little does Adelita suspect that the veggies will bring her some new friends. <529>



As Marita and her mother finish their Saturday chores, Papi is preparing for the salsa concert in the park. In A BAILAR! by Judith Ortiz Cofer with illustrations by Christina Ann Rodriquez (Arte Publico 2011), Marita and her mother dress up and dance their way through the neighborhood to the park. Soon, a line of neighbors are following and joining in their song. <530>



Finally, we have CLARA AND THE CURANDERA by Monica Brown with illustrations by Thelma Muraida (Arte Publico 2011). Clara is grumpy and out of sorts until her mother insists she visit the curandera. Somehow, the strange orders of the curandera have Clara feeling happier than she ever has. What is the curandera's secret? <531>

Such a mitzvah

OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy (Walker 2011) talks about a subject not often found in books for tweens and teens: religion, spirituality, and religious identity. Ellie has been accepted into a prestigious summer camp for speech and drama students. She hopes that her talent will win her a scholarship to school in the fall. There are a few hurdles, first. One is to deal with her grandfather, Zeydeh, who is concerned that the camp is run by a Christian organization and Ellie is Jewish. A second hurdle presents itself in the form of the stunningly handsome Devon, grandson tot he woman who decides who will win the scholarship to Benedict's. Ellie seems to get tongue tied around him: not good for someone who wants to succeed in oratory. And then there is Devon's grandmother. <527>

Dominy considers issues of racism and prejudice and how being silent is actually being complicitous. She does so with a light but firm touch so that readers will pause and consider how they must learn to speak up when faced with prejudice even in humor. I also have to admit that I now have a craving for some good matzo ball soup, too.

seeing the future while living in the present

Imagine that you are living a typical teen's life in the latter half of the 1990s. Your absent father who is living with his new family has sent you a computer (maybe to ease his guilt?) and your neighbor offers you an AOL CD so you can get online. That is the scenario as THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler (Razorbill 2011) opens. Emma and Josh have been neighbors and friends for a long time. Their relationship has been strained lately, but Josh and Emma are hoping to make he friendship work. Emma inserts AOL and sets up her online account. A strange site pops up under her favorite sites, something called Facebook. At first, Emma and Josh think someone is pulling a prank, showing them scenes from their future with status updates, friends lists, and photos. But what is it is real? What if somehow Emma and Josh can see their future? Can they change it? What "ripples" will that cause? <526>

Asher and Mackler begin with this rather improbable scenario. However, because Emma and Josh and their friends and parents seem so real, it seems plausible. Older readers will chuckle ruefully at the reactions of Emma and Josh to something quite foreign to them but something quite real in the lives of contemporary teens. How did we ever get along before Facebook? How do our actions today dictate our future possibilities? Are relationships made more difficult with online networks? These are just some of the questions this novel tackles. Most importantly, though, is the question at the very heart of the book: what will make us truly happy? What role do we play in our own happiness? While countless books tackle a dystopic future, Asher and Mackler instead turn to the past for answers about our future.

Woman of Steel

Elisa has been promised in marriage to a man she has not met. Her father is trying to form alliances that will save his kingdom from the threat of invasion from a neighboring region. Elisa is nervous about meeting Alejandro. Her discomfort is made deeper by the fact that he intends not to tell his subjects about the marriage. After a perilous journey from her home to Alejandro's kingdom, Elisa is ensconced in a room. She is treated with some deference due to her status as a princess. Should others at the court learn she is also the bearer of a Godstone, attitudes could change quickly. As a bearer, Elisa is destined for something. But what? As she searches for an answer to her purpose, Elisa suddenly finds herself kidnapped and placed square in the middle of a raging war that will affect not only her own country but her new kingdom as well. Can a pampered princess perform the heroics expected of her? <528>

THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson (Greenwillow 2011) has echoes of GRACELING, FIRE, and FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK and yet it is not in the least derivative of these excellent books. Instead, Elisa and her world, subtly but completely built by Carson, are unique and unforgettable. Romance, mystery, intrigue and espionage: there is much here for readers who enjoy action and adventure with a soupcon of religion and myth.

Storm's Brewing!

EYE OF THE STORM by Kate Messner (Walker, March 2012) provides readers a frightening glimpse into a future where, thanks to global warming, storms have grown exponentially. Hurricanes, monsoons, and tornadoes all have new scales for measuring their intensity because the old ones do not come close to providing the true nature of these super storms. Into this chilling scenario, Messner introduces three teens: Jaden, who has come to spend the summer with her father at an institute designed to foster the thinking of the best and brightest kids; Alex, the son of a farmer whose crops and existence are constantly threatened by the storms, and Risha, a teen from the neighborhood where Jaden's father lives: Placid Meadows. As Jaden begins to study, along with Alex, the data from past storms and equations that might address how to stop the storms in their tracks, she inadvertently discovers a dark secret of the StormSafe project, one that threatens the lives of many people including Jaden herself. <525>

Messner creates a suspenseful and utterly believable story with EYE OF THE STORM. Jaden, Alex, and Risha are all intelligent kids but they are, first and foremost, kids and not amateur detectives. They make errors in judgment; they fall in love; they feel betrayed by those they love, too. Readers will be turning the pages frenetically to ensure that all escape with their lives.

Lyrical Art

THE MASTERWORK OF A PAINTING ELEPHANT by Michelle Cuevas with pictures by Ed Young (FSG 2011) can be deceptive at first glance. It appears to be a slim, small book for young readers. However, open the book and read Chapter One, and it is readily apparent that the intended audience is a tad older and more rich in literary experience. For what follows is a lyrical allegory about family, about friends, about art, about love, and more. Birch, a white elephant, works in a car wash doomed to a life of spraying water to rinse the cars as they pass along. What he wants to do is to paint, to create art. He also secretly longs to reconnect with the graceful acrobat who once danced on his back. Into his life comes Pigeon, a young boy whose parent abandon him at an orphanage. Pigeon, though, crawls away. Somehow Pigeon and Birch connect. Now Pigeon lives on Birch's back. The two are inseparable, the bond that connects them as strong as Birch's trunk and Pigeon's belief that one day he will find his parents. To tell more would deprive you of the rare reading experience in store for you. This book begs to be read aloud (and even studied, though please not so deeply that it loses its charm for the reader). Tie this one to THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT, THE DREAMER, PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES, THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING, and so many more titles that connect the heart of this story. <524>

Getting More Graphic

A newly redesigned edition of Derek Kirk Kim's SAME DIFFERENCE (First Second 2011), winner of an Eisner, Ignatz, and Harvey Award, will welcome readers to some of the earlier work of Kim. His collaboration with Gene Yang in THE ETERNAL SMILE was my introduction to this gifted artist. Yang writes the foreword for this new edition, and that alone makes the book a terrific read. What follows, though, is an incredibly spot-on examination of the lives of young adults. Not teens, but young adults who are exploring what the new life without high school has to offer, young adults who are looking back occasionally with some regret as well as looking forward with some fear. Simon and Nancy's conversations ring true. Kim adds depth to their characters not just with words but with his use of line and shading also. Simon is returning to his hometown so that Nancy can connect with someone she has been talking to via mail and online using someone else's identity. However, once home, Simon has the rare opportunity to right a wrong from his past. Coincidental? Could be. However, Kim makes it all work in this engaging GN. <523>

Graphic Series

Jarrett Krosoczka gives us another episode of his Lunch Lady series in LUNCH LADY AND THE FIELD TRIP FIASCO (Knopf 2011). Lunch Lady joins the Breakfast Bunch on a field trip to an art museum. When the kids suspect that all is not right, they begin to investigate. Lunch Lady, of course, is on hand to help foil the plans of the art thieves aided by her assistant Betty. I am still flummoxed how Krosoczka is able to accomplish storytelling with few colors on the palette B&W with touches of yellow) but his characters and the details we come to know and love about each of them add depth to the story as well. <521>



Ah, A VERY BABYMOUSE CHRISTMAS by Jennifer and Matthew Holm (Random House 2011) is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season to come (though Target and other stories think it nearer). Parodies of A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL are just two of the humorous elements of the story as BabyMouse covets the newest electronic gadget for her Christmas gift. The Whizbang does it all including folding laundry and doing homework (if the ads are to be believed). What makes BabyMouse tick is that though rodent she reflects so much of the exuberant though misguided kids we all know and love. The best gift for Christmas? More BabyMouse. <522>

Witchy Woman

Lexi has heard the tale of The Near Witch her entire life. Her father included it as a bedtime story, part of the lore he imparted to Lexi before his death. Now, though, it seems as though the Near Witch is more than lore. In her novel THE NEAR WITCH (Hyperion 2011), Victoria Schwab blends lore and superstitions and fear to create the atmosphere of a village on a witch hunt. When a stranger arrives on the moor, suspicions are immediately aroused in Lexi's village. And then a child disappears and another and a third. Lexi knows where the stranger is hiding. She befriends Connor, an action with consequences that extend beyond suspicion. Dark, mysterious, suspenseful: Schwab's story draws readers into the village and the minds (closed) of its leaders. <520>

Gary Paulsen Rocks!

Let's open with the disclaimer: this book is dedicated to me and my good friend Kylene Beers. Having said that, I need to insert another disclaimer here: I love Gary Paulsen. I first heard him speak when he had completed his first Iditarod. He had the entire audience laughing and weeping throughout his presentation. And, of course, then there are the books. HATCHET, DOGSONG, THE WINTER ROOM, THE ISLAND, HARRIS AND ME...the list goes on. I have read each and every one of his books. Gary has a way of reaching deep inside and finding that nerve and touching it, probing it, making sure we are fully alive in the story. So now we come to PAINTINGS FROM THE CAVE (Wendy Lamb Books 2011).

Three novellas tell the stories of kids who are the cast offs from society, kids who are living on their own for a myriad of reasons. Jake, Jo, and Jamie live on the fringes, surviving but barely. It is art that keeps them sustained. For Jo, it is the art of tending to her dogs and learning to listen to them speak to her. She can "read" them. Jamie is an artist who hopes his art will be a way for him to help earn money so he and his brother can find a permanent place to live. And for Jake, art is about movelment, learning how to move to stay safe from the winos and junkies and dealers who inhabit his world. Brutal, spare, heart-breaking, and redemptive: here is Paulsen writing about the kids who fall through the cracks, the ones left behind. <519>

Tag, You Are It!

Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have collaborated on a collection of poetry that simply: YOU. MUST. HAVE. P*TAG is available in download from Kindle for $2.99(http://www.amazon.com/P-TAG-PoetryTagTime-ebook/dp/B005OSJ5PO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317825300&sr=1-1). Vardelll and Wong have brought together some of the finest contemporary poets including Lee Bennett Hopkins, Noami Shihab Nye, Betsy Franco, Paul Janeczko, Sara Holbrook, Margarita Engle, Marilyn Singer, Arnold Adoff, Kathi Appelt, and J. Patrick Lewis (and there are many more). The rules for this poetry tag game were that one poet was tagged, selected a photo (all taken by Vardell) and wrote a poem and a short narrative about the inspiration for the work. Then, a new poet was tagged. This poet had to select a new photo and then include a minimum of three words from the previous poem in the new addition. The results are spectacular. Here is an eBook worthy of classroom use with plenty of teen appeal. Plus, it is perfect for reading aloud as well. <518>

reading with my ears (again)

This past weekend, my better half and I drove more than 900 miles in three days. Most of those miles were the getting to and from McAllen, TX, in the Rio Grande valley, where I taught a YA lit class on Saturday. While we do spend a great deal of car trips in conversation, we also took time to listen to two short audiobooks. They provided even more fodder for the conversations. Here is the audio for the trip south.



THE BIPPOLO SEED AND OTHER LOST STORIES BY DR. SEUSS from Books on Tape was a trip down memory lane. Both the better half and I recalled watching a video of the newlywed, then about 4, "reading" GREEN EGGS AND HAM to her newly arrived baby sister. I love the cadence of Seuss and this audio captures it. Neil Patrick Harris is perfect for the title track. He is joined in this audio by Anjelica Huston, Joan Cusack, Edward Hermann and others reading individual stories. The afterward (which was the foreword in the book) by Seuss scholar Charles Cohen is a must listen as well. I plan to listen to this one on those days when a little rhythm, rhyme, and nonsense are just the ticket to dispel the stress of work. <516>



The drive north from the Valley was marked by the paying of PETER AND THE WOLF narrated by Jim Dale with the Seattle Symphony (Brilliance Audio 2011). Can Jim dale do wrong when it comes to narration. NO! This was also a trip down memory lane for me as I had a recording of Leonard Bernstein narrating PETER AND THE WOLF when I was young and fancied myself a conductor in the future (and I think I am not far from that come to think of it). <517>

seeing with new eyes

Will Moses' great grandmother was Grandma Moses. Now, we see her great grandson use much of her techniques and approach in MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB: THE TRUE STORY OF THE FAMOUS NURSERY RHYME (Philomel 2011). I had always thought Sarah Josepha Hale the author of this rhyme, but now know the story of how it all began. Like some of the Mother Goose rhymes, this one had a basis in a real life event. <513>



PAUL THURLBY'S ALPHABET (Templar Books 2011) takes each letter of the alphabet and illustrates it with an object beginning with that letter. Nothing ground breaking there, right? But, take a look at the illustrations and how the letter itself is woven into the object (or rather how the object contains the letter) and you have an alphabet book that takes readers to a new level. <514>



THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT (Schwartz & Wade 2011) by Margaret McNamara and Mark Fearing takes three little aliens and sends them off into the galaxy in search of a new place to live. Two do not heed their mother's warning about the big bad robot. Luckily little alien #3 builds a home suitable for sharing. <515>

machines with problems

I adore Otis. He is back in OTIS AND THE TORNADO (Philomel 2011). This anthropomorphized tractor has the most expressive "face" ever witnessed in a book for young readers. Loren Long imbues Otis with headlamp eyes that immediately convey emotions to readers. As the title indicates, Otis will face a rather frightening situation in the form a tornado. First, though, there is the bull. <511>



UNDER THE HOOD is a lift the flap book by Merlin (Candlewick Press 2011). Lift the flaps and see what is causing so much trouble with Mr. Bear's car. Wonderfully interactive and sure to appeal to all mechanically or not so mechanically inclined. <512>

Dark and not so scary

In LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT by Divya Srinivasan (Viking 2011), Little Owl comes awake as the other animals are seeking a place to sleep for the evening. He watches other animals who are still active in the fading light as skunk hunts for food and a mother possum walks with her family. The colors glow against the black backdrop of the double page spreads, making the illustrations seem almost three dimensional. <509>



Mary Quattlebaum and illustrator Patricia Castelao give readers a Casper meets Ratatoiuille in THE HUNGRY GHOST OF RUE ORLEANS (Random House 2011). Fred enjoys his old house but is disturnbed when new residents open a restaurant. Thhings are too clean and neat for his taste. How can these duiametrically opposed residents find peace? <510>

So Shelly, Bryon, and Keats!

As SO SHELLY by Ty Roth (Delacorte 2011) opens, readers meet Gordon Byron and John Keats as they are stealing Shelly's ashes from the altar of the church where her funeral is being held. Shelly has left instructions for both of them, though separately. They are to head out to "her" island, spread her ashes, and listen to a CD she has made. Shelly, it seems, has thought of everything. This modern environment of he friendship among these writers of a bygone era follows some of the history the three shared in their lives. Setting the story in contemporary society will permit those who know the works of these three to see their timelessness in art and in personality. However, readers who are not privy to the past will also find much to appreciate here. <508>

Arrooooo for Hound Dog True!

HOUND DOG TRUE by Linda Urban (Harcourt 2011) demonstrates once more the power of this author who gave us the impossibly unpredictable A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT. In HOUND DOG TRUE readers will meet Mattie Breen. Mattie is getting ready for yet another new school: this time it will be the one where her Uncle Potluck (yes, that is what the family calls him) is the janitor. Mattie finds comfort in being his assistant in the weeks leading up to school. Perhaps, she thinks, she can assist him instead of sitting by herself at lunch or recess? Things have a way of working out even if they are kind of a "crooked perfect" at the outset. <507>

Telling you any more about the story would deprive you from the sheer pleasure of reading and turning the page and reading more. Mattie is a memorable character as is Uncle Potuck and the Sweet family next door. Add in the principal of Mattie's school and Mattie's mother and you have a story that will touch you in places unexpected. Thanks to Kate Messner for giving me a heads up on the book and to Harcourt for being so kind to send me an ARC which will certainly be handed on to more readers.

reading with my ears

I loved CARTER FINALLY GETS IT in audio so it should be no surprise that the sequel CARTER'S BIG BREAK by Brent Crawford and narrated by the inimitable Nick Podehl (Brilliance 2011) is another incredibly funny adventure in audio. Carter is cast in a movie being filmed in his home town. His co-star is none other than Hillary Idaho (think Hannah Montana). She comes complete with entourage which includes a bodyguard. Carter learns what it is really like behind the scenes as he makes his debut in acting in a movie. Carter stumbles into all manner of situations here including becoming the cover boy for a tabloid when he and Hilary go swimming. Carter is brash and profane yet also sensitive to the feelings and needs of others from time to time. He is a memorable character who begs to be the star of another book. <506>

Dressing it up

KIMONOS by Annelore Parot (Chronicle 2011) takes kokeshi dolls (remeber those from Sadako and the Paper Cranes?) and outfits them in kimonos. The cover has a fabric strip under the title and a "tag" at the bottom that resembles a tag from a piece of clothing. The book contains riddles and puzzles for readers to solve. Can they spot the kokeshi dolls on school uniforms? Can they tell from the back of an outfit the match for the kokeshi seen from the front on the opposite page? Japanese words can be found on classroom walls, tidbits about culture can be gleaned from the spare text. <505>

cultured

Ed Young provides an intimate glimpse into his childhood in THE HOUSE BABA BUILT: AN ARTIST'S CHILDHOOD IN CHINA (Little Brown 2011). From the endpapers, different beginning to end, to the incredible artwork, this is a book to be experienced over and over again. One reading will not be sufficient for kids (nor adults) to discern the detail. The thousands of birds flying in the sky with the red outline of Ed's family outlined in bright red that greets readers on the first double page spread is followed by pages that move from double page spreads to fold outs that provide even more detail about the house Ed's father designed. Illustrations combine paint, realia, black and white, collage, and more as readers eyes will be drawn from one place to another to the next, an aerial feat. Though the book appears to be a picture book, the audience for this one is boundless. Pair it with DRAWING FROM MEMORY by Allen Say for an interesting comparison. <504>

underneath it all

As you can see from the cover oif LEO GEO AND HIS MIRACULOUS JOURNEY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE EARTH by Jon Chad (Roaring Brook, March 2012), this book looks a bit different even before you turn the page. Once you open the cover, be prepared for more surprises. The book is meant to be held in a different way as well (and the inside endpaper gives you instructions as to the proper way to hold and read the book. Join Leo as he begins his journey into the center of the earth and perhaps even out the other side. Along the way, readers will learn quite a bit about the geological structures of the crust and mantle and core. There is some fiction here, of course, and the afterword by the author separates out fact and fiction nicely. Science teachers could use this book to do just that: ask students to list the fictional components of the story after a study of geology. <502>




Kate Messner's OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle Books 2011) with illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal also concenttrates on what is under us. In this case, it is the life under the snow. A young girl (could be a boy) and her father are skiing. Father relates information about the life under their feet in the winter. In lyrical language that parallels the rhythm of the skis, Messner provides a story that informs and entertains. There is a terrific author's note, a list of books for more reading, and other back matter as well. <503>

September Books Read

SEPTEMBER BOOKS

460. IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOREVER (AUDIO)
461. PAPER COVERS ROCK
462. KARMA
463. DESERT ELEPHANTS
464. ANIMAL ATTACKS
465. MAGIC TRASH
466. DOT
467. A IS FOR AUTUMN
468. RAH RAH RADISHES
469. WHO HAS THESE FEET?
470. TEN LITTLE BEASTIES
471. THE TWINS' BLANKET
472. ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
473. BAKE SALE
474. SPOILED
475. OUT OF SHADOWS
476. FEYNMAN
477. ADDIE ON THE INSIDE
478. MONSTROUS BOOK OF MONSTERS
479. WHO HAS WHAT?
480. NAMAAH AND THE ARK AT NIGHT
481. KING HUGO'S HUGE EGO
482. GEORGE FLIES SOUTH
483. HOUND DOG'S HAIKU
484. PEARL VERSES THE WORLD
485. BENJAMIN BEAR IN FUZZY THINKING
486. STEP GENTLY OUT
487. FASTER! FASTER!
488. NIGHT KNIGHT
489. RANDY RILEY’S BIG HIT
490. ROBOT ZOMBIE FRANKENSTEIN
491. HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES
492. DEAR MRS. LARUE, LETTERS HOME FROM OBEDIENCE SCHOOL
493. THE UNFORGOTTEN COAT
494. ANIMAL BATHS
495. COUNT DAGMAR
496. TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
497. I WANT MY HAT BACK
498. THE OBSTINATE PEN
499. CHANUKAH pop up
500. THE HOUSE THAT BABA BUILT
501. DUKE ELLINGTON’S NUTCRACKER SUITE
502. KIMONOS
503. WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
504. OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW
505. THE ARROW FINDS ITS MARK: A BOOK OF FOUND POEMS
506. LEO GEO
507. CARTER’S BIG BREAK (audio)
508. SO SHELLY
509. HOUND DOG TRUE
510. THE SUMMER I LOST IT
511. SAME DIFFERENCE GN
512. THE NEAR WITCH
513. BIPPOLO SEED audio

rhythm, rhyme, and "harmony"

I must admit that I was unfamiliar with the song which is the basis for this picture book, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? by George Ella Lyon with illustrations by Christopher Cardinale (Cinco Puntos 2011). Now, on its 80th anniversary, we learn of the origins of this song about unions penned by the wife of a coal worker who was being hunted down because he dared tried to join a union for better working conditions. never has this book seemed more timely since then, I imagine, in this day when others seek to ban unions that protect workers. The illustrations capture perfectly the tenor of the story behind this song. Words and music are included on the back cover. There is also an appendix with author notes. <500>





Since music seems to be important, it seemed logical to tie this book in here. DUKE ELLINGTON'S NUTCRACKER SUITE by Anna Harwell Celenza with illustrations by Don Tate (Charlesbridge 2011) again recounts a story unknown to me. Ellington and his collaborator Billy Strayhorn composed a jazz variation on the Nutcracker Suite. A CD includes a recording of this incredible piece. I played it in the background as I was reading the book for a total reading/listening experience. Music teachers would find this not only interesting but perhaps a sort of mentor text as well. <501>