Preschool to Grade 4 Cont.

-- School Library Journal, 7/1/2006

Fiction Cont.

KROMHOUT, Rindert. Little Donkey and the Baby-Sitter tr. by Marianne Martens. illus. by Annemarie van Haeringen. unpaged. North-South 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-7358-2057-0. LC number unavailable.

PreS-K–Mama Donkey goes to a movie, leaving grandmotherly Nanny Hen in charge of her toddler, who is suited up in blue pj’s and matching hood. Taking advantage of his sitter’s novice status, Little Donkey insists that his mother lets him play outside at night, eat fries instead of oatmeal, and leave a general mess. Nanny’s relaxed temperament and cuddling win over the wayward donkey, who insists, on Mama’s return, that Nanny Hen says he doesn’t have to have a bath. Frolicsome color cartoons are captivating in their simplicity and amusing details, such as Little Donkey pouring tea from three feet above the table. Kromhout aptly captures preschooler dialogue and the art of a youngster’s good-natured manipulation. Children will relish many readings of this tale that promises a constant grin.–Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

PreS-Gr 3–Another appealing offering featuring the spirited fox sisters. In the first chapter, Zelda and Ivy run away from home when cucumber sandwiches appear on the lunch menu. They take a blanket and their favorite toys to their backyard, where they can keep an eye on their parents, who don’t seem to miss them at all. When they finally go back inside, they discover that their father has saved them the very sandwiches that they were trying to avoid. In the second episode, the siblings are making a time capsule to be opened in one hundred years. Zelda drops in her lucky jewel, while Ivy adds her cherished doll. It doesn’t take long, however, for the sisters to realize that they can’t part with their favorite possessions. The third chapter finds Ivy making a secret potion and Zelda struggling to write a haiku. Then their friend Eugene comes up with a clever way to use Ivy’s concoction to ease Zelda’s writing pains. Bright, expressive cartoon illustrations complement the fine writing in this beginning reader.–Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

PreS-Gr 1–In this follow-up to Rocko and Spanky Go to a Party (Harcourt, 2004), the twin sock monkeys are expecting a guest, so they clean the house, plan the menu, and go shopping. Chaos ensues as Spanky throws all the toys into the closet haphazardly, and Rocko’s trip to the grocery store yields only his favorite junk food. Fortunately, their visitor is Momma and she brings their favorite food, Momma Socko’s Deee-licious Peanut-Butter-and-Banana Sandwiches. (The recipe is included.) The illustrations, done mainly in shades of red, green, and yellow, have a 1950s look; the story itself is rather flat and lacks action because of the bland narrative. Strictly an additional purchase.–Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, Skokie Public Library, IL

Gr 1-4–Ugly Fish is big, mean, and not keen on sharing his space with others. Whenever new tank-mates arrive, he chases them around and then eats them. Once they’re gone, he wishes that he had someone to play with and regrets his actions. However, wishes can be dangerous things, and soon Shiny Fish arrives on the scene. He is much larger than Ugly Fish and looks vaguely sharklike. Ugly Fish, lonely no more, proudly shows his new friend around the tank. Impressed, Shiny Fish decides he wants it all to himself, and, after a short chase, polishes off Ugly Fish with a burp. Edgy pen-and-ink, digitally colored cartoon illustrations perfectly complement the short text’s dry and wicked humor. The comically exaggerated details within the sharp pictures prevent the plot from becoming too heavy. While not for the faint of heart, this book will appeal to many kids; they’ll thoroughly enjoy its humor and shock value.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

K-Gr 3–Pirate Bob and his shipmates live to loot. If the scar on Bob’s nose itches, then gold is near. His friendship with Yellow Jack, a scurvy-ridden old salt, is genuine yet complicated. After all, pirates are outlaws and they do not really trust one another. Pirate Bob dreams of the day when he has put aside enough wealth to leave his dangerous life behind, and maybe make some true friends, too. This uneven book is one part history lesson, one part philosophical debate. The details of the pirates’ lives are minute and impressive. From the description of a well-orchestrated (bloodless) attack, in which each man performs his task like a cog in a large machine, to the casual mentioning that Pirate Bob eats turtle, Lasky puts readers squarely in the scene. Clark’s google-eyed buccaneers appear to be a fun-loving bunch, if slightly deranged. But the quieter, introspective moments in the book, where Pirate Bob contemplates his relationship with Yellow Jack and the nature of happiness, do not always gel with the organized mayhem of the action scenes. Children expecting a ripping yarn from start to finish might be derailed by the antihero’s soul-searching. For a smoother blend of pirate guile and pirate heart, revisit Mem Fox’s excellent Tough Boris (Harcourt, 1994).–Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA

K-Gr 3–Cauliflower announces his intention of attending the Flower Ball. Some of the vegetables tell him that he should “stick with [his] own kind” and flowers are only “stuck-up vase stuffers,” but Carrot agrees to go with him. The flowers are at first scandalized that the veggies should crash their party but they are such good dancers and charming guests that a splendid time is had by all. Wordplay and alliteration abound, and the imaginative text matches the whimsical watercolor illustrations. Leffler’s anthropomorphized flowers and vegetables have a great deal of personality and are reminiscent of David Ellwand’s flower folks in Christine Tagg’s Cinderlily (Candlewick, 2003). They clearly communicate the drama of mixing for the first time with those who are different. Children will be charmed and encouraged by this unusual flight of floral fancy.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT

PreS–A young prince insists that his potty “doesn’t please” him, leading his poor parents to envision him as a diapered king. At the advice of the Royal Wise Man, they get the boy a puppy, and seeing how the animal learns to do its business on a cloth inspires the prince to use his potty after all. The book ends with a grand celebration of his accomplishment. Motoyama’s colorful cartoon illustrations lend life to this shallow tale, but the facile solution is likely to frustrate parents and youngsters alike.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

K-Gr 3–It’s 1910 and Olivia works as a clown in a traveling circus with her father, the “Great Funnybones.” She is surrounded by odd but doting friends, animals that she helps tend, and a loving parent who homeschools her. However, as she performs in towns across the prairie, she dreams of a more stable life. While Olivia is visiting a farm couple, a severe storm causes a flood, and she is separated from the circus for several days. During her stay, she enjoys the comforts of a “real home,” learning to make “krumkakes,” playing checkers, and sleeping in a soft feather bed. Her hostess even talks to her about going to school, but when the quilting ladies come to call, Olivia overhears them say that clown children “ain’t much on learnin’!” When Pa arrives, she is happy to move on with a wave and an “I’ll see you next summer” to the farm couple. Root uses a blue palette to draw the comfortable interior of the farmhouse and reds and yellows to denote the bizarre yet enticing circus scenes. The artwork pairs soft-edged smudges of rich color with detailed patterns to bring readers into another time and place. A lovely read-aloud that illustrates that home can be a feeling rather than a place.–Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library, IL

Gr 1-3–Ruby Lu takes her role as Smile Buddy to her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, so seriously that her work suffers, dooming the second grader to a vacation marred by summer school and a repeat of last year’s swimming lessons. She is also dealing with the ups and downs of her relationship with her sometimes-best-friend, Emma. In the first two chapters, Ruby Lu’s feelings about her cousin’s arrival from China fluctuate from loving to disliking to accepting. Simple sentence structure, clear but varied word choice, and attention-grabbing transitions create a smooth chapter book that is suitable for early and reluctant readers. Black-and-white cartoon drawings add emotion, characterization, and humor, showing, for example, the exaggerated water-safety gear that the feuding Ruby Lu and Emma wear in the waist-deep pool before learning to swim. Pleased with accomplishing all 7 goals on her 12-step summer plan, Ruby Lu realizes too late that she has forgotten her summer reading, leaving readers anticipating another book fresh with third-grade misadventures. With exuberant impulsivity yet earnest introspection, Ruby Lu invites readers into a contemporary world that honors differences while ultimately celebrating universal moments of childhood–friendship, school, and self-realization.–Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Island Branch Library, Stevensville, MD

PreS-Gr 2–Digby is excited about starting school, but he refuses to get out of bed the next morning. “I want to stay here with you,” he tells his mother. When they arrive at school, the youngster hangs back. In a gesture reminiscent of Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand (Child & Family, 1993), his mom places 12 kisses that she has blown into her hands into Digby’s pocket. “There! If you’re worried, you can take a kiss from your pocket and imagine I am with you.” The ink-and-watercolor artwork shows Digby throughout the day, occasionally seeking a pocket kiss. The charming illustrations help move the story along, and young readers will identify with the small, furry protagonist in bright-red glasses and a soft blue coat. This is a wonderful story to share with a group or to read to a child who needs some extra attention on that first, hundredth, or thousandth day of school.–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY

PreS-K–This is an oversize version of the endearing bedtime tale about a young rabbit and his indulgent father for beginning braille readers. Little Nutbrown Hare doesn’t want to go to bed and keeps coming up with example after example of how much he loves his father in order to stay up longer. Both he and his dad try to outdo one another until Little Nutbrown Hare says he loves his father, “right up to the moon,” and his father replies, “I love you right up to the moon–and back” as his son finally falls asleep. This sweet tale is accurately translated into grade 1 braille (no contractions or abbreviations, just the standard alphabet word for word) that is brailled directly onto heavy board-book pages. However, the glossary isn’t in braille, for some reason. Only the text is translated into Braille, so young readers will miss the expressive and charming watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations, but this is a perfect book for a blind child and a sighted parent to share together.–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton

Gr 1-3–Judy Moody’s seven-year-old brother is back with new super-galactic adventures. Stink buys the World’s Biggest Jawbreaker and slurps, sloops, and shloops it all day until in one crunch, it is G-O-N-E. Disappointed that his jaw isn’t broken, he decides to use his new letter-writing skills to complain to the company. He receives 21,280 jawbreakers, prompting him to write more letters in an attempt to get more free stuff. Candy, toys, and zoo passes arrive daily for Stink, who won’t share any of his treasures with his “green with envy” older sister, Judy. He is so busy receiving the free goodies that he overlooks his super-best friend Webster’s birthday party invitation, and he has to find a way to mend their friendship. He has also been learning about idioms in school and peppers them throughout the story along with his colorful Stink-isms. Black-and-white comic-book-style illustrations are clever and zany. This early chapter book is bound to be a hit with fans of Stink or Judy Moody, and it makes a hilarious read-aloud.–Michele Shaw, formerly at Yorkshire Academy, Houston, TX

PreS-Gr 2–Leo Leotardi has a problem, and it’s plainly stated by the title and cover art. “I’m not a baby!” declaims the indignant child in a fussy Victorian pram, preposterously attired in rompers, a ruffle-edged baby bonnet, and booties. As he progresses through life–from tricycling off to school in his rompers, to his graduation speech in which he declares independence from booties and blankies, to his entry into the workforce (his nanny tying his bonnet under his manly chin), to his marriage and fatherhood–Leo’s family continues to call him “the baby” against all his protestations (framed by speech balloons). It is when his own infant calls Leo “Dada” that his aging family awakens to reality. It is left to Leo’s doting nanny to toss off the final absurdity, “Who ever said he was a baby?” The story has a child-appealing arc: the visual humor escalates as poor Leo looks more and more ludicrous in his baby clothes, and the predictable patterning of his repeated objections will invite ever-louder participation from listeners. The gouache illustrations on cream-colored paper present Leo’s feckless family in a kind of Victorian tableau. The universality of Leo’s lament and its wonderfully silly treatment will elicit giggles of recognition and, no doubt, requests for repeated readings.–Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT

PreS–Lola loves Tuesdays because that is the day she and her mother go to the library. Everything about the trip is an exciting adventure–from packing her backpack with books and her all-important library card, to storytimes and singing, to choosing new books and the walk home, when they always stop for a special treat. But the best time of all is when Mommy reads her a story at bedtime. Simple text and large, bright acrylic illustrations of this engaging African-American child make this selection just right for sharing. Perfect for instilling a love of libraries and books in the youngest patrons, it’s a winner.–Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY

PreS-K–When his owners move away and accidentally leave him behind, a Teddy bear finds himself in a series of uncomfortable adventures–in a washing machine, hung upside down to dry, snatched by a dog, and as the object in a game of toss. When a squirrel pushes Teddy out of the tree in which he is caught, he lands in the tree house at his old owners’ new home, where they host a party in his honor. Large color illustrations with soft backgrounds that contrast with clearly delineated foreground characters, plus the feel of Teddy’s plush-fabric, soft-to-touch red sweater, may keep youngsters interested in this rather predictable lap-sharing story.–Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, IL

K-Gr 2–In a simple scenario, a zookeeper places the wrong sign in front of the rhino pen. Rhino is flabbergasted at the error and tries a variety of means to correct the offending moniker–“Hippo.” He even attempts, unsuccessfully, to knock down the sign by using one of the tick birds that perches on his back as a dart. Finally, a young boy acknowledges the problem and quickly fixes it. Newman uses watercolor and gouache, along with pencil, ink, marker, and pastel, to create colorful, graphic-style illustrations. There is little text, and most of the story is delivered through the art. Readers will relate to Rhino’s frustration and his inability to effect change. The two tick birds on his back add some emotional interest to the tale as they show empathy for his predicament. Even though the plotline is slight, this simple story requires skill on the part of young readers to construct meaning from the pictures. A clever exercise in promoting visual literacy.–Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada

PreS-Gr 1–When a boy asks his mom to carry his backpack, Mom, loaded down with two sacks of groceries, replies, “I only have two arms!” The child then begins to imagine what might happen if his mother had more arms. She could juggle in a circus, direct traffic, or even pour more lemonade for his visiting friends. The arm counting continues to 20 with little reason for the multiplicity of appendages. “If Mom had five arms, she would look very smart.” Ultimately, the boy realizes that two arms are “perfectly fine” for hugs, wrapping up the story line in a tender moment. The color cartoon artwork is appealingly goofy, but the rhymed couplets sometimes become tedious. There are plenty of zany counting books that hold more charm than this one.–Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

PreS-Gr 2–John Hercules Po has more than the usual angst about starting kindergarten–there are 19 girls in class 9B and one lone boy–him! His brother, a second grader, is worried that the girls will turn John Hercules into a “sissy,” but John Hercules says he’s going to turn them into “tomboys.” Each recess during the first week of school, class 9B has terrific fun using everyday outdoor objects as bridges to imaginary adventures in exotic places. When the second graders and the kindergartners have a picnic together on Friday, John Hercules informs his brother that there are no sissies or tomboys in 9B, just “friends.” The mixed-media illustrations include wild color combinations and dizzying perspectives that provide the backdrops for the children, drawn in a stylishly simple but endearing cartoon style. Readers will have almost as much fun with this title as these 20 energetic and happy classmates have together.–Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library, IL

PreS-Gr 3–Daniel is the bravest boy in the world, able to face spiders, snakes, and thunderstorms...but he “just doesn’t like” dogs. When his aunt goes on vacation and leaves her pet, Bandit, with his family, he stays in his room and refuses to come out. Later that night, he needs to use the bathroom and is startled by Bandit, who has been frightened by a thunderstorm and is cowering behind the toilet. Daniel’s anxiety slowly turns to astonishment as he realizes that he can comfort the pup–and that he does like dogs after all. The boy’s connection to Bandit rings absolutely true, as does his insistence on his lack of fear. Day’s hilarious illustrations, done in pen and ink with watercolor and gouache, show the truth behind his bluster, starting with the comical cover picture of Daniel climbing a lamppost to avoid a group of passing canines. Text and pictures work on every level, and readers will remember Daniel and Bandit long after they put the book down.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

K-Gr 3–Fans of Plourde’s School Picture Day (2002), Teacher Appreciation Day (2003), and Pajama Day (2005, all Dutton) will recognize many old friends in this humorous episode. Here, Dewey Booker is so excited about Book Fair Day that he wheels his wagon to school to carry home all of his purchases. When he learns that his class is not scheduled to visit the fair until the end of the day, he devises a number of schemes to get to the library before the books are sold out. In one determined attempt, he disguises himself as a kindergartner by walking on his knees. Each plan is stymied by his teacher, Mrs. Shepherd, and Mr. Opus, the school librarian. Dewey’s day ends happily when he realizes that both his teacher and Mr. Opus are as eager as he is to get the right books into his hands. Plays on words related to books and reading abound. Wickstrom’s colorful cartoon illustrations capture the zaniness of the boy’s antics. Readers who love a good story as much as Dewey does are in for a treat.–Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

PreS-Gr 1–When Switchman Jack sees a black ant strolling down the railroad track in search of a snack, he tries to reroute a 10-ton freight train. However, the switch is stuck, and, just when readers start to worry that there will be an ant-astrophe, the tale takes a turn: “that ant.../made a beeline for my brown lunch sack/as the train whooshed by, screaming.../CLICKETY-CLACK!” The story builds effectively to a screeching crescendo, but some of the vocabulary, such as “ruin to wrack,” might stump children. The big, bold color caricatures have a timeless feel, in keeping with the text. Pamintuan uses changing perspectives to draw readers into the plight of the ant as it is confronted by the enormous smoking train. When the ambling insect spies Jack’s sandwich on the ground, it gets a determined look in its eye. The folksy rhyme would be most effective as a read-aloud; in the hands of a talented storyteller, the conflict could take on enormous proportions.–Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

PreS-Gr 1–“One summer day, someone new waddled into Baron’s life. Her name was Fluffy.” And so begins this sweet story about the friendship between a German shepherd and a duckling. Baron comes to love her and is bereft when spring comes and she joins the wild ducks on the pond. After they leave and Fluffy’s ducklings hatch, Baron is delighted to share with them all. Children will be captivated by the lush illustrations. The animals, realistically rendered in acrylic and ink, look ready to jump off the page, and the expressions on Baron’s face, which range from curious to unsure to sad to delighted, are priceless. The book is beautifully designed, with the mix of full-bleed spreads, spot art, and full-page illustrations adding interest and moving the story along nicely. The lifelike farm and country backdrops and use of motion add to the visual appeal of the book. While there is nothing new here, and the text is unexceptional and occasionally saccharine, libraries looking for more books on friendship and sharing will find a ready audience for this attractive offering. Accessible to beginning readers, it will also be popular in storyhours.–Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

PreS-Gr 1–A buoyant bunny, drawn in thick ink outline with a fuzzy body and delightfully mismatched ears (one downy and one plain), introduces readers to the senses, numbering them one through five. The rhyming verses and ebullient artwork convey a child’s curiosity and enthusiasm for investigating the world in various ways: e.g., hearing is described, “Happy ears, pay attention!/Did we mention sounds surround you?/Catch the honking, barking, singing./All that ringing will astound you.” After exploring all five means of perception, the youngster encounters mother and father rabbit (one drawn with thick ink outlines and the other with velvety splotches). As the family members interact, the bunny again demonstrates each of the senses–smelling a flower held by one of the adults or listening to the other play the violin. There is no text on these pages, encouraging children to identify each example by looking at the illustration, thus reinforcing the concepts. The book ends on an affectionate note, as the threesome holds hands: “Five senses–just enough–to know the love we have for you.” Featuring supple ink lines, tantalizingly textured potato prints, and splashes of cheerful watercolor, the artwork is irresistible. The clean page design and graceful flow of images keep the action moving quickly. A fresh, fun, and fanciful approach to an often-requested topic.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

PreS-K–Each spread illustrates activities above and below ground in specific locales: a house and its cellar, a stage, a picnic spot, the Antarctic, a jungle, a city street, a desert, a vegetable garden, two boats, a golf course, and a suburban street. The colorful, computer-generated pictures are elaborate and interesting. Most of the below-ground scenes are fairly plausible, but others include animals playing cards, reading, etc. The one beneath the golf course humorously shows gophers using machinelike contraptions to recycle golf balls. The scenes are separated by rhyming couplets. Unfamiliar words such as “performing,” “crew,” “unaware,” and “conceals” offer good teaching moments. Children will want to pore over the details and think about the many activities depicted in the art. Pair this title with Arlene Mosel’s The Funny Little Woman (Puffin, 1993) for another amusing depiction of what goes on above and below ground.–Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ

K-Gr 3–This is a dual-text version of a story of a little girl who emphatically states that she can’t draw. Her wise teacher tells her to “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” After Vashi jabs a dot on her paper, the teacher urges her to then sign it. The next day Vashi arrives at school to find that it has been framed and hung. She is encouraged to create more watercolor dot paintings, and they are subsequently displayed in an art show. When a boy admires her work, she, in turn, encourages his efforts. The braille translation is accurate but the weight of the heavy board-book pages has caused the raised dots to be mashed down in places. This lack of uniformity makes it more difficult for braille readers to decipher. The book includes a glossary with an explanation of the contractions that appear in bold text in the book. The glossary itself isn’t brailled, but perhaps it’s not necessary, since the book is for more advanced readers. Unfortunately, only the text is translated into braille, so the impact of Reynolds’s colorful, free-spirited watercolor illustrations, particularly Vashi’s contributions to the art show, are going to be lost on nonsighted readers. However, the idea of encouraging the creative spirit in all children is still evident.–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton

K-Gr 2–Ben lives every child’s dream when Dad takes him on a surprise trip to the pet shop to select the animal of his choice. After contemplating his options and considering the sometimes-humorous consequences of each one (“…a snake might make Mommy scream”), he decides on a dog. Readers will chuckle through the chapter “Just Like Aggie” as Ben mimics the pup’s routine of panting, sniffing, and playing chase but draws the line at drinking out of the toilet. Funky but tender, Dormer’s pen-and-ink cartoons with watercolor washes add depth to the simple story and provide that perfect illustration-to-text match that one seeks in successful easy readers. If at a loss when seeking another recommendation for graduates of Cari Meister’s “Tiny” books (Viking) and lovers of Cynthia Rylant’s “Henry and Mudge” books (S & S), try Aggie and Ben. This unassuming tale will prove a welcome addition to any collection for emerging readers.–Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC

K-Gr 2–On Shakeeta’s first day at a new school, most of the girls are eager to show her around, but Mia hangs back shyly. The next day, the fickle girls blithely desert Shakeeta to play soccer with a popular boy who refuses to include her. Left by themselves, Shakeeta and Mia gradually strike up a conversation and a friendship is born. While no unfamiliar territory is explored here, the characters are realistically and sympathetically portrayed, and the conversations and actions of the children are natural. Phelan’s cartoon-style watercolors depict a realistic-looking classroom with a mix of children from a variety of backgrounds. The pale hues are nicely set off by crisp white backgrounds, and the characters’ facial expressions are filled with personality and convey a wide range of emotion.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 2-4–Nell is a shy girl who finds solace in knitting and purling. After being told that her voice sounds “like a cricket with a pillow over its head,” she retreats into her shell even more. She loves to knit mittens, scarves, and hats for her family, for herself, and for people in need. When her friends do not show interest in a sweater that she has made, she decides to enter it in the county fair. She wins first prize and is also awarded a special medal for outstanding efforts in the service of others. Her family is proud of her and her friends are amazed. After the fair, Nell begins to use her “happy cricket’s voice,” especially when she is teaching her friends to knit. The watercolor illustrations are soft and bright and surrounded by white space. The layout varies from nine tiny pictures to a single illustration per page. Although smiles abound, the illustrations reflect the protagonist’s quietness. A good addition where there is a demand for books about shyness.–Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

K-Gr 2–Pickles is worried about lots of things as the first day of school approaches, so her big brother, Ham, tries to cheer her up with zany answers to her concerns. He gives her a disguise so the teacher won’t realize that she is related to him, and, when she worries that she won’t make friends, he advises her to “Tell them, 'I’m so glad you DON’T have fleas!’” When Pickles comes to the lunch table crying because Ham’s help is just wrong, he shows he cares by sharing his lunch as she has forgotten hers. While children will probably relate to and enjoy this sweet story, the pictures are a jumble of action and media combining markers, ink, pencils, glitter, photographs, and more. At times it will be difficult for readers to gather clues for decoding. These animal siblings have somewhat disjointed, extra-large eyes, giving them a slightly bizarre appearance. While die-hard “Rotten Ralph” fans might like the illustrations, most young worriers looking for first-day-of-school advice will find Kevin Henkes’s Wemberly Worried (Greenwillow) or Julie Danneberg’s First Day Jitters (Charlesbridge, both 2000) more helpful.–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY

PreS-Gr 2–Henry is definitely not an early bird. His preferred schedule is to play card games with the goats and dance with the cows all night long and then sleep during the day. When his father sets off to attend a Roosters’ Union Convention, Henry is left in charge of waking up the farm. Trouble ensues when he sleeps in and his feeble “Cock-a(yawn)-(yawn)doodle-(yawn)do” fails to wake up the sun. Farmyard chaos reigns until the sleep-deprived chicken decides to embrace his circadian rhythm. He stays up later than ever before and just before falling asleep at dawn, he crows with all his might. Cassidy’s acrylic illustrations are full of visual humor, from the baggy-eyed, droopy-combed Henry, to his messy coop strewn with Fly magazines and animal posters. The vivid images and well-paced text make this a fun read-aloud.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

K-Gr 2–During a sleepover, six boys and their dogs have the run of the attic at Patrick’s house. They have a fine time with food, games, videos, and shadows made with their flashlights. Eventually the dogs crawl into their boys’ sleeping bags, except for Mudge, who has one of his very own. The text and sentence structure seem simpler than some other Level 2 books, making this title one of the easier ones in the series. Stevenson’s colorful cartoons capture the fun-filled antics of the active boys and their pets. All libraries will want to add this book to their beginning-reader collections.–Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

PreS-Gr 1–Hedgehog has finished building a cozy nest for winter. Unfortunately, a ripe apple falls from the tree above and gets stuck in her spines, making it impossible for her to fit in her new digs. She has several friends to whom she can go for advice, but their instructions simply make her situation worse. She ends up with other bits and pieces stuck to her body in addition to the apple–including nuts, a pear, a dried leaf, and some berries. Then she meets another animal that is able to ease her situation by eating everything stuck to her. Bright spreads reveal the harried hedgehog and her helpers. Blooming flowers and the summer green of the trees belie the fact that it’s time to hibernate, but kids won’t mind this anomaly.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 2–This deceptively simple picture book traces the development of an island from an undersea volcanic eruption to a lush, bustling homeland. Similar in format and style to Schaefer’s This Is the Sunflower (Greenwillow, 2000), it has large print and uses poetic language to describe a natural phenomenon: “Waves pound./Sands mound.” The colorful, bold collage illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. Like the narration, the seemingly elementary art is carefully composed, tells a complete story, and exudes energy. This appealing work can be used as a read-aloud, a beginning reader, or a basic science book. Isaac Nadeau’s Islands (Rosen, 2006) and Angela Royston’s Islands (Heinemann Library, 2004) cover the same topic in a traditional nonfiction series format.–Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 1–A baseball entreats a little boy to play with him, suggesting all the fun they can have together throwing, catching, and hitting. Friends will come running for the chance to play, too. “Hear me CRACK off the bat!/See me FLY through the sky.” The promised enjoyment comes with one simple requirement: “could you PLE-E-EASE TAKE ME OUT OF THIS GLOVE?” The simple text reads smoothly, although some of the rhymes are forced. The acrylic illustrations are colorful and inviting. Overall, this is a pleasant package for baseball fans just starting to read on their own.–Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA

PreS-Gr 2–Cowboy Ned and his horse, Andy, spend a hot, tiring day driving cattle. That night, Andy listens as Ned reveals that tomorrow is his birthday and bemoans the fact that his family is not there to celebrate. Unable to sleep, the horse decides that the man must have a cake and heads into the desert to find one. After asking assistance from a singing cricket, a wide-eyed owl, and a grouchy scorpion, Andy comes upon the lonely house of an old cowboy. He cannot provide a cake, but he helps Andy to realize that “the best thing to have on your birthday is a friend to share it with.” As the sun rises, the horse gallops back to camp to give Ned a birthday hug. Stein’s language is simple yet expressive. The old cowboy’s voice is described as “soft, like hooves on sand, and owl wings, and the movements of dust.” These images stir the imagination and also evoke the story’s action and setting. Done in ink and watercolor, the cartoon illustrations make the most of the Western landscape, depicting a pale gold daytime sky, a soothingly blue moonlit night, and a multihued sunrise. Thick lines highlight the characters and background objects, providing contrast to the fluid colors. Andy is the star here, and his equine features comically convey concern, dejection, and, ultimately, happiness. A satisfying tale of friendship.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

K-Gr 3–Sophie is a lonely old woman who longs for companionship and conversation. She talks to the pots and pans, and the furniture and flowers, but never gets a reply. While going to the well in her bright orange hat and fringed shawl, she hears the birds answering her remarks. To befriend them, she bakes bread and scatters crumbs. Thus begins a growing chore. The birds multiply and become greedier and greedier. Sophie wonders, “What to do? What to do?” When she eventually visits a shady fortune-teller, Sophie recognizes the woman’s scam and tricks her into accepting the orange hat and shawl in trade for the fortune. Mistaking the seer in the orange hat for Sophie, the birds follow her out of town. The townspeople smell the fresh bread, see the welcome sign Sophie has posted, and come to visit. At last “Friends were made as good as gold. And Sophie was never lonely again.” The protagonist is likable for her resourcefulness. Not one to let loneliness get the best of her, she cleverly finds solutions to her problems. The light, airy watercolors reflect her bright outlook. The greedy black birds grow in number and size in just a few pages until they dominate the picture. Some of the architecture reflects an Eastern European setting. Children will delight in this picture book in both individual and group settings.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Gr 2-6–Dramatic, quiet, and warming, this is a story of friendship across cultures in 1800s Mississippi. While searching for blackberries, Martha Tom, a young Choctaw, breaks her village’s rules against crossing the Bok Chitto. She meets and becomes friends with the slaves on the plantation on the other side of the river, and later helps a family escape across it to freedom when they hear that the mother is to be sold. Tingle is a performing storyteller, and his text has the rhythm and grace of that oral tradition. It will be easily and effectively read aloud. The paintings are dark and solemn, and the artist has done a wonderful job of depicting all of the characters as individuals, with many of them looking out of the page right at readers. The layout is well designed for groups as the images are large and easily seen from a distance. There is a note on modern Choctaw culture, and one on the development of this particular work. This is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated, though the ending requires a somewhat large leap of the imagination.–Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY

K-Gr 2–Oliver and Amanda Pig return in another irresistible adventure, told in four fast-paced chapters. After an unsuccessful attempt at building the best fort ever, Oliver enlists the assistance of his two porcine buddies and they create a wonderful structure. Amanda asks to help, but is told, “No girls allowed.” However, she and her friend are willing to share their fresh lemonade with the hot, tired boys if they can enter the fort. That night, the boys camp out in the fortress. After hearing a ghost story, they are spooked by a “snake” that turns out to be a garden hose. Then someone or something starts pinching them, and they discover that bringing a bug collection to a sleepover is not a great idea. In their panic, the friends accidentally destroy the fort. They end up sleeping in the house, where they make plans to rebuild. Simple dialogue, short sentences, and repeated words make this a great selection for beginning readers. The cartoon illustrations add amusing details and provide visual clues that support the text. An excellent choice for fans of the series as well as initiates.–Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

PreS-K–In this autobiographical story, readers meet two siblings who are nothing alike. Simon loves to eat and always cleans his plate, but Charlotte would rather suck her thumb and daydream. Even when the twins share a common interest, they take their own approach. Both love books–Simon looks at the pictures, while Charlotte enjoys enhancing the pages with a few pictures of her own. When they take their toys for a stroll, Charlotte pushes the baby carriage gently, but Simon propels it forward with a jolt, ejecting a doll and stuffed animal. Despite their differences, however, they “like each other just the way they are.” The lithesome watercolor-and-ink illustrations are amusing and consistently expand the simple text. The twins and the objects they play with are drawn with thick lines embellished with splashes of vivid paint, and the large images fill the pages. The heavy cream-colored paper makes a cozy backdrop for the action, and the book’s clean design keeps attention focused on the endearing characters and their relationship. A charming addition to the oeuvre of twin tales that focuses on individuality as well as unity.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Gr 2-4–Two loosely connected tales evoke the days when baseball legends interacted with ordinary fans. A prologue describes a boy and his friends retrieving a foul-smelling object from a sewer in 1951. In the first story, which harks back to 1927, Babe Ruth hits a ball into the stands and strikes a young spectator. As Mona Finkel recovers after the game, Ruth presents her with a ball signed by the entire Yankee team. It is a cherished family heirloom, until her brother, Harry, loses it down a sewer hole while playing stickball. The second tale is set in 1951 and concerns Harry’s son, Peter, who loves playing stickball and watching Giants great Willie Mays. When Peter hears that Mays is playing stickball in Harlem, he goes to watch and ends up rediscovering his family’s missing treasure. Sidebars provide some baseball facts; explain the equipment, rules, and history of stickball; and include anecdotes from players. Waldman’s stylized watercolor illustrations do a fine job of detailing the action and supporting the nostalgic mood. There’s a lot going on in this brief picture book, but the slight stories and characters fail to come to life. Nor do readers gain any insight into the personalities of Ruth and Mays. The main audience for this title will be adults looking to share their memories with youngsters.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

K-Gr 3–After loading Buster the bull into the back of their pickup, Zack and his dad begin the long drive to Denver for the National Western Stock Show, singing all the way to keep the animal calm. When they arrive, a winter storm forces them to detour through the downtown area where traffic is creeping along. This makes Buster nervous, and he breaks out of the truck and races straight through the open doors of the Brown Palace Hotel. The rest of the story tells how Zack and a girl he meets save Buster from disaster. The colorful pen-and-ink-on-gouache artwork sets the mood and atmosphere for this adventure. The snowy scenes are so realistic that readers will want to pull their sweaters a little closer, and the pictures of young Alice calming the huge beast are totally satisfying. Varied perspectives add to the movement, energy, and excitement of the story. An author’s note describes a similar incident that occurred in 1996.–Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Gr 2-5–Barkbelly is a boy made of wood, mysteriously hatched from an egg and adopted by a childless couple. Their village is located in a world much like the ones found in European folktales, with a few magical features such as giant hedgehogs with magical spines and the wooden people to whom Barkbelly belongs. When he accidentally kills a younger playmate, he runs away, sure that the villagers will turn on him. Barkbelly has adventures in an industrial city, on the road with a circus, and on a pirate ship. When he discovers that he is not unique, but a member of a group of wooden people, he goes searching for his own birth family, a search with unexpected and unhappy results. The resolution seems convenient rather than convincing. Weatherill is a performance storyteller, and there is an oral storytelling feel to the characters and their reactions, as well as to the circularity of the plot. This does not translate wholly successfully to the longer chapter-book format, and independent readers might find the characters rather one-dimensional.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

PreS-Gr 2–While searching for her lost baby, a mouse is chased by a “great, big, hairy, scary ape!” The gorilla follows her from the rainforest to China, to America, to Australia, and even to the Arctic, yelling, “Stop!” all the way. But the mouse keeps on running, exclaiming again and again, “Help! Help! He’ll catch me!/He’ll squash me and scratch me,/He’ll mince me and mash me,/And crunch me up for lunch!” Young readers will guess what the mother mouse, in her terror, can’t see–that the seemingly fierce gorilla is simply trying to return her baby to her. The brief, lively text and the melodramatic refrain make for a humorous and boisterous read-aloud. Ross’s bright pastel illustrations capture the mouse’s fear and the gorilla’s determination with verve. This deceptively simple, satisfying tale is sure to be a storytime hit, and it subtly conveys a great message about prejudices to boot.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 2–A mystery character is introduced in this fourth book about Bear and his friends. One summer morning, the cub heads out to play. He hears someone in the tree and thinks it might be his friend Mouse. But Mouse arrives and eliminates that possibility. So begins the guessing game that makes up the rhyming text as, page by page, the various woodland animals come on the scene narrowing the choices of the creature’s identity. The refrain “And the Bear asks, 'Who?’” gives readers a heavy-handed clue, but not until the end does this shy newcomer make his appearance. Chapman’s acrylic illustrations are as soft and cuddly as ever and the familiar rhythm works well for reading aloud. While this isn’t the strongest of the titles, Bear’s many fans won’t want to miss it.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

K-Gr 2–A bottlenose dolphin wonders what being a different animal would be like. This conceit is used to teach facts about other creatures; for example, if Delfina were a fish, she’d spend her time entirely underwater and not have to come to the surface to breathe. When she wonders what it would be like to be a sea turtle, she has a turtle shell; when she wonders about manatees, she eats plants. However, when she imagines being a bird, she is almost unrecognizable; some children will have trouble finding her on the page, and the bird is not identified as a pelican. The colored-pencil illustrations are muted and sometimes confusing; Delfina swims by icebergs on one page and in a reef on another. The story presents only minimal facts about dolphins, never even mentioning that they are mammals, and the text is simply not interesting enough to read aloud. Back matter includes more facts and a reproducible “Dolphin Adaptation Craft.” For a story about dolphins, try Lambert Davis’s Swimming with Dolphins (Scholastic, 2004). For facts, there are plenty of easy choices, including Allan Fowler’s Friendly Dolphins (Children’s Press, 1997).–Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL

PreS-K–A simple story with a twist. A small bear wakes his father up to inform him that there’s a monster under the bed. Though Dad reassures the cub that it just isn’t so, the young one insists and describes the creature in great detail: huge body, scaly hands, two heads, eight legs, etc. When father firmly states there is definitely no monster under the child’s bed, the young brown bear agrees by crying, “Not under my bed, dad, under YOURS!” The last page reveals a shocked papa and a pop-up monster complete with all the appendages clearly delineated. Kids will get a kick out of the surprise ending, but the pop-up makes this title better for storyhours than circulation.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Previous

Next