Letters

Blaming the accelerated reader program for poor book selection ("Not So Fast, Accelerated Reader ," Feb. 2002) is unfair to its creator, Renaissance Learning. Accelerated Reader provides content-based quizzes for a great number of titles, many of which are requested by teachers and librarians. I have never read or heard anywhere that the company recommends the books for any particular age level. Using Accelerated Reader as a motivational tool for independent reading does not excuse a librarian from doing his/her job in selecting titles for the clientele served.

Grace Ann Hansen
Librarian
Barlow Park and Murray Park Elementary Schools
Ripon, WI

The Author of your Review of Scott E. Sutton's The Legend of Snow Pookas (Action, 2002; Feb. 2002, p. 114) has her standards and is welcome to them. She seems, however, to have lost sight of the basic principle, often expressed in SLJ , that for children to gain a lasting love of reading they must discover books that they love to read. Sutton's "Family of Ree" series, of which Snow Pookas is the latest release, has over 75,000 enthusiastic young readers. Let's compare standards.

The reviewer says the colors are "garish." Kids say, "Bright." Reviewer says, "Language inaccuracies." Kids say, "Funny." Reviewer says, "Didactic." Kids say, "I've read the book ten times." Reviewer says, "Impossibly confusing cast of characters." Kids say, "Are you kidding? We can rip off the tongue-twisting names of a dozen dinosaurs and list the secret powers of 65 Pokémon characters without blinking an eye."

Here's an alternate viewpoint from a review of The Legend of Snow Pookas by Lynn Deakers, librarian at Saints Simon and Jude School in Huntington Beach, CA: "young non-readers ogle over the colorful illustrations and those who read laugh out loud at the humorous rhymes. Children love to explain to adults what the Family of Ree characters are all about and to create and draw new scenes and stories about them, using their own imaginations."

Ms. Deakers's comments are typical of parents, teachers, and librarians familiar with the Family of Ree series and how kids respond to it. I hope that in at least a modest way it also reflects the achievement of the underlying purpose of both author and librarian: to help imbue children with a love of books and reading.

I will take a ruler across the knuckles on just one point: there is a typo in the book. I apologize. To any school librarian who places The Legend of Snow Pookas in their library, reads it, and finds the typo, I will be pleased to send a copy of Scott Sutton's new book, How to Draw Stuff , with my compliments. Write to me at publisher@actionpublishing.com.

Michael Metzler
Publisher
Action Publishing
Glendale, CA

In response to Michael Metzler's letter defending Scott Sutton's The Legend of Snow Pookas, I must reassert my belief that, although the book may indeed appeal to young readers, it has no literary merit whatsoever. There are so many books that are both well written and have child appeal that I feel that librarians—most of whom have limited budgets—should know when a book falls seriously short of accepted standards of good writing.

Sally Dow
Children's Librarian
Ossining (NY) Public Library

I wish to respond to Margaret Bush's review of the book I illustrated, From Daybreak to Good Night: Poems for Children (Annick, 2001; Feb. 2002, p. 126). She has made some errors in her assessment of the book's credits. The book follows a standard convention—all the writing in the book is by Carl Sandburg, or otherwise noted on the pages on which the other poems appear: "Bee I'm Expecting You!" by Emily Dickinson. Bush incorrectly states that Dickinson is acknowledged only at the end of the book. Dickinson's name is clearly indicated on page 15, under the poem's title. Bush notes "Lyrics" by Red Lewis as having been properly credited on page 19.

Bush incorrectly states that there are "pieces" (two riddles) by Helga Sandburg that were not credited within the book. Carl Sandburg wrote the riddles and that is why Helga is not credited. In addition (following another convention), all sources were acknowledged on the last page, and were done according to proper contractual arrangements. On this last page, there is the citation explaining that these two riddles were quoted from a book by Helga Sandburg. Given the conventions that were being followed, there should not have been any confusion. Please note: Helga Sandburg, writer and poet, and youngest daughter of Carl Sandburg, has said about the book: "The book is a beauty and I think my father's spirit is pleased."

Bush feels some of the poetic imagery in the book may be "beyond the young audience that will be attracted to the art" (the book's illustrations). She then quotes a Sandburg line that is, I agree, complex, though not typical of the poems in the collection. I contend that young children should be exposed to some poetry that they may not understand immediately but will eventually come to appreciate. Why didn't Bush quote any of the other Sandburg poems in the book—poems that would be so accessible to so many young children?

By this omission, Bush may have done a disservice to the book. I therefore invite your readers to visit Annick Press's Web page for From Daybreak to Good Night to see samples of the artwork and some other reviews: www.annickpress.com/catalog/fromdaybreaktogoodnight.htm.

Better yet—read the book!

Lynn Smith-Ary
Montreal, Quebec

The creator of this book is quite right about the inaccurate statement about the Emily Dickinson poem, which is attributed right where it appears in the book. This careless observation by the reviewer, not corrected by the SLJ Book Review editors, certainly warrants an apology. The riddles from Helga Sandburg's book should probably seem obviously to be by Carl Sandburg, but may continue to be a bit perplexing for adult readers who scan the concluding source list.

The suggestion that readers consult the publisher's Web page is a good one. While not necessarily a practical alternative for librarians who are charged with ordering large quantities of books, such sites can give prospective readers a bit more sense of the book, in addition to finding review quotes that help promote it.

However, many people rely on the opinions of their professional colleagues to evaluate materials and help them make informed purchase decisions. I stand by my assessment that this eclectic, somewhat sentimental volume holds more appeal for adults than for the intended audience.

Margaret Bush
Professor
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Simmons College
Boston, MA

I did not see your Review pf George Harrar's Parents Wanted (Milkweed, 2001; Nov. 2001, p. 158) until after I read the book. Had I trusted your comments, I would have missed the best book I have read to date with the dual subjects of adoption and ADD. Harrar's presentation of Andy Fleck is realistic, yet sensitive to the roller-coaster emotions that a child can exhibit under these circumstances.

Andy has lost his parents, been literally abandoned by them, and feels unwanted by anyone. Andy is certain he's unlovable and unconsciously sets about to prove it by sabotaging his chance at having truly caring adoptive parents. His uncontrollable actions, exacerbated by the ADD, lead him both humorously and sadly to behave in a self-destructive manner. This presentation, wisely told in the first person, is psychologically astute. Harrar has both the understanding and the empathy necessary to portray his topics with effectiveness.

It was unfortunate that you cautioned libraries not to buy Parents Wanted . For its depiction of adoption alone, it should be added to any library. Also, Harrar's treatment of ADD was far more realistic than Jack Gantos's almost slapstick portrayal of the condition in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Farrar, 1998). In fact, a few of my friends refused to let their ADD children read Joey Pigza because they thought it would harm their already fragile self-esteem.

In conclusion, I would like to suggest that someone with a better knowledge of both adoption and ADD might see this book in a different light. Certainly the other reviews I read were far more favorable. Although I often agree with your reviews, SLJ missed the mark on this one.

Valerie Cloud Kerzner
Children's Book Author
Duxbury, MA