An Aesop Fable Brought to Life
Posted on: February 2, 2012
Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert. Illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. (2011). Pages not numbered. Scholastic. Ages 3-10. Picture book.
This is a beautifully crafted, elegant retelling of the Aesop fable about the powerful lion who is saved by the lowly mouse. The setting is Africa in an area bordering Botswana and Namibia. The detailed illustrations feature the African grass mouse and a splendid lion. Most scenes show close-ups of the animals, some from the mouse’s perspective – a huge paw holding the mouse’s tail or the lion’s gigantic mouth wide opened, displaying his fearsome teeth. The illustrator shows every hair and whisker on each animal. One two page spread shows the baobab tree resplendent in front of a setting sun. Light infuses the pages as the illustrator uses the white background effectively. The choice of paper, design of the book, and gorgeous illustrations combine with the well paced, character enhancing text. Team this with Jerry Pinkney’s wordless version, Lion and the Mouse to discuss how illustrators and authors make choices about the stories they produce.
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed by Eileen Christelow. (2011). Pages not numbered. Clarion Books. Ages 2-6. Picture book.
The five little monkeys from Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed are back! This time Mama reads them bedtime stories but when it’s time for “Lights out! Sweet dreams!” the monkeys keep reading. The books are so good, they laugh, cheer, scream and cry. Each time Mama comes back to tell them, “Lights out! Sweet dreams! No more reading in bed!” But each time the monkeys find another book they just can’t resist. Finally, they are sleepy and say, “Just wait till tomorrow, and then we’ll read more!” The front endpapers add to the fun, showing each monkey reading in a different spot – on the toilet, outside, swinging, in a comfy chair or while eating. The expressive monkeys and their loving and patient mom are softly colored. A great read aloud to celebrate the joys of reading.
A Fun Beginning Reader
Posted on: February 2, 2012
Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider. (2011). 47 pages. Clarion Books. Ages 5-9. Beginning Reader.
Josh Schneider has created a fun and inventive story about kids who are picky eaters. James is the picky eater and when he objects to foods like broccoli, he is clear about how he feels about it – “It’s disgusting.” When James asks, “What else is there?” his father tells him about alternatives – dirt “mixed by specially trained earthworms…,” Or, “fine gum carefully chewed one thousand times by special children with very clean teeth, …” Or, a “…very sweaty sock, soaked in sweat sweated by the world’s fastest and tastiest runner who was fed nothing but apples and cinnamon for three months before running a marathon in this very sock.” …” Each of the five chapters features father’s hilarious suggestions of alternatives to the foods James doesn’t like. Finally, James discovers that if he tries the foods he objects to, he just might like them. The sprightly illustrations add to the fun and enjoyment of this book. Winner of The Geisel (Dr. Seuss) Award given for the most distinguished American beginning reader.
The Story of Levi Strauss
Posted on: February 2, 2012
Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea by Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Stacy Innerst. (2011) Pages not numbered. Harcourt. Ages 6-12. Picture book.
The subtitle for this rollicking story is “A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants.” That is exactly what Johnston achieves. She has created a tall tale of how Levi Strauss made blue jeans famous. She writes in her author’s note, “The story of Levi Strauss and the invention of blue jeans is mostly legend with threads of truth, which my version stretches to near popping.” Johnson uses colorful language that adds flavor to her tale– “Levi Strauss rushed away. The miners barreled right behind, rattling and racketing and rolling.” Innerst painted his animated illustrations on old Levi’s. which gives texture to each picture. Read this one aloud and then lead your listeners to divine the true facts about Levi Strauss as you read the author’s note.
More Excellent Novels, Part 3
Posted on: January 31, 2012
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. (2011). 341 pages. FSG. Ages 11- 14.
Gantos won the Newbery for 2012 for this humorous, autobiographical novel. In 1962, twelve-year-old Jack gets in trouble and is grounded for the summer. His mother only lets him out of his punishment to help an elderly neighbor type obituaries for the local newspaper. Gantos loads his story with unexpected twists and turns that are zany and sometime mysterious.
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard. (2011). 183 pages. Delacorte Press. Ages 14-adult. Realistic Fiction.
As sixteen-year-old Alex begins the school year at his boarding school, he is unable to save his roommate from drowning. That event consumes Alex as the truth of what happened consumes him with guilt. A supporting English teacher nurtures Alex’s poetic talents and tries to help him come to terms with the drowning. This novel explores moral issues and the cost of peer pressure in a way that demonstrates the complexity of being a teenager.
Sparrow Road by Sheila O’Connor. (2011). 247 pages. Putnam. Ages 11- adult.
Reading this book was a gift. The story features lovable and intriguing characters that by the end of the book seem like friends. The Mother of seventh grader, Raine, unexpectedly takes a job for the summer at a small artist retreat, Sparrow Road. Raine is not happy about having to leave her home in Milwaukee. It turns out that her mother wants Raine to meet the father she has never known who lives near Sparrow Road. The summer turns out to be memorable and life changing for Raine.
Bluefish by Pat Schmatz. (2011) 226 pages. Candlewick Press. Ages 12- adult.
Travis has hidden a secret – he can’t read. When he gets to middle school he encounters a teacher who discovers his secret and offers him a solution. A new friend, Velvetta, also helps him with his reading. Both Travis and Velvetta are dealing with grief and loss. How they learn to trust and support each other as they become friends makes a story that sticks to the heart.
More Excellent Novels Part 2
Posted on: January 30, 2012
The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango. (2011). 352 pages. Delacorte Press. Ages 12-adult. Realistic Fiction.
This moving novel is based on the life experiences of Farinango who at seven was taken from her rural, very poor family in Ecuador and made a servant to a family in the city. In the face of very difficult challenges the girl manages to teach herself to read and write and finally escapes when she is a teenager. The story shows the cost of being caught between two cultures.
Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle. (2011). 145 pages. Henry Holt. Ages 12-adult.
The setting is 1510 in the Caribbean. A young boy of Spanish and Taino ancestry is a slave on a pirate ship that is eventually shipwrecked during a hurricane. The boy speaks the language of the native people who save him. He suddenly is given power over his former captors who also survive the storm. Engle tells her story in lyrical verse in the voices of five different characters. This book would make an effective choice for readers theater. Historical notes at the end provide a fuller picture of the events.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. (2011). 224 pages. Lee & Low Books. Ages 12-adult.
This is another novel told in verse. The story is about a Hispanic family whose mother is battling cancer. The oldest daughter, Lupita, tells how she becomes responsible for her seven younger siblings. However, she is still able to enjoy her passion for acting in her high school drama classes. The author captures the loving tenderness of the family.
Excellent Novels
Posted on: January 29, 2012
I have been sick for most of the last month, and haven’t been able to post any reviews. However, I have been reading and found some terrific books to recommend. Since there are so many, I will just give a brief reviews over the next few days. Please note that most of these books have a wide age appeal.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Slobhan Dowd. Illustrated by Jim Kay. (2011). 204 pages. Candlewick Press. Ages 11-adult.
This powerful book enthralled me from the first pages. I think it is one of the most compelling and honest novels I have ever read. Colin’s mother is dying of cancer and he is haunted by a monster. Is the monster part of a nightmare or, is it real? Will the monster help Colin face the truth of his mother’s situation? The ending is tremendously moving and brought me to tears.
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. (2011). 312 pages. Walden Pond Press. Ages 9-12. Fantasy.
Breadcrumbs is an intriguing mix of realistic fiction and fantasy with the theme of the power of friendship. Eleven-year-old Hazel and Jack are the best of friends in our contemporary world. They love to read fantasies. When Jack suddenly disappears, Hazel goes into a magic wood to rescue him from a white witch who has frozen his heart. The story is enriched by many references to beloved fantasies.
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt. (2011). 360 pages. Clarion. Ages 11-15. Historical/Realistic Fiction.
Eighth grader, Doug Swieteck surmounts difficult challenges in 1968 when his family moves to a new home in upstate New York. Doug’s perseverance, hard work, discoveries in art and kindness to others blesses himself his family and the people in his new community. Schmidt tells the story in Doug’s voice which is humorous and endearing.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. (2011).. 422 pages. Greenwillow. Ages 12-adult. Fantasy.
What a captivating, fantastic romance and adventure. The heroine is a princess who has always believed that she is nothing compared to her older sister. How she discovers her own strength, intelligence and ability to lead makes an engrossing and enchanting story.
Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak. Illustrated by Philip Hopman. (2011). 145 pages. Eerdmans. Ages 10-adult.
Here is a story based on real events of a troop of Polish soldiers in World War II. The soldiers discover a small bear cub and adopt him. The bear travels with the soldiers from Iran to Egypt and finally to Scotland at the end of the war. In the midst of war, the bear provides a relief from tragedy with his humorous antics. Maps of the soldiers’ journey and photographs at the end enrich the story. Winner of the Mildred Batchelder Award which is given to book originally published in another country in a language other than English.
The Lily Pond by Annika Thor. (2011). 217 pages. Delacorte Press. Ages 10-14.
A sequel to A Faraway Island, winner of the Mildred Batchelder Award in 2010. This book follows thirteen year old Stephie Steiner, as she goes to school on the mainland. Her Jewish parents have sent Stephie and her sister to Sweden to protect them from the Nazi persecution. Stephie must please her foster parents, navigate through the difficulties of a new school and the responsibilities of being a scholarship student while she experiences her first love.
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg. (2011). 221 pages. Houghton Mifflin. Ages 11-adult. Short Stories.
When I last taught sixth grade my students were inspired to tell the stories they saw in the gripping pictures of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. Now fourteen talented authors have created their own stories that are evoked by each the pictures. The original pictures are included with each short story. Young people will enjoy the stories and want to compare them with their own versions. Read the some of the stories aloud to hook listeners who will want to read more who will want to read more on their own.
A New Feature!
Posted on: January 25, 2012
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It has always been my mission to help my readers connect with newly published, excellent books for children. The books I select are distinguished not only by their quality, but by their capacity to encourage children to love reading. I am now going a step beyond identifying these books. Now you will be able to acquire selected books directly from this blog by clicking links to Amazon.com. I hope this will make The Children’s Book Compass an even better tool for finding excellent children’s literature.
Scorpio Races
Posted on: January 3, 2012
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Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. 409 pages. Scholastic. Ages 11-16. Fantasy.
Stiefvater imagines an island world where dangerous horses, capaill uisce, emerge from the sea to be tamed (somewhat) and run on race day in November. The opening line hooks the reader, “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” Only the capaill uisce are raced on the beach against the cliffs in November. Two teens alternately tell their stories of preparing for the race. The two stories seamlessly merge by the end of the book. Sean at age ten saw his father killed in the race, viciously pulled from his saddle by a capaill uisce and trampled to death. Later, Sean becomes a gifted trainer of the capaill uisce. But he works for the richest man on the island and although he has won the race four times, he hopes to win again to gain the horse he loves. Puck’s desperate goal is win the race so she can use the award money to save her family farm for herself and her brothers. Only, her problem is that no girl or woman has ever ridden in the race and, instead of riding one of the magic water horses, she wants to ride her own land pony. The novel is a page turner as it races toward a resolution. Beware don’t start it late at night. Romance, adventure and a cast of intriguing characters are the story elements that zip the story along. The island setting takes an active role in the plot. The author was inspired by several myths about dangerous fairy horses from the sea that have been told in the British Isles.
An African Lullaby
Posted on: December 31, 2011
Lala Salama: A Tanzanian Lullaby by Patricia MacLachlan. Illus. by Elizabeth Zunon. (2011). Unpaged. Candlewick Press. Ages 1-6.
In Swahili the words, Lala salama, means sleep peacefully. Reading this lyrical, sweet book will ensure sweet dreams for any child. An African mother works through the day keeping her baby close on her back, her lap or in her arms. As the day unfolds the mother croons to her child with words that describes the day i.e. “LONG AGO, this morning,/ the sun rose/ above the hill/above our house,/ spilling light over the hills of the Congo/and the lake with the beautiful name,/ Tanganyika,/ like a song. Lala salama, little one.” The day comes full cycle with the mother singing the baby to sleep, “Close your eyes,/my/dear/child. Lala salama.” The luscious oil paintings in rich and soothing colors show all the day’s activities in detail with the landscape in beautiful vistas.
Marilyn Carpenter, PhD.
The Children's Book Compass 