A Pond Full of Ink (Schmidt)
©2014 by Sieb Posthuma

Raschka, Chris. The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy is Enlightening. illus. by Chris Raschka. 40p. Candlewick. May 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763658069. LC 2013944131.

Gr 3-6 –Raschka’s proven ability to convey in words and images the musical essence of composers or traditions as diverse as Sergei Prokofiev, John Coltrane, and Shaker hymnody now extends to the avant-garde jazz of Herman “Sonny” Blount. Carefully selected details respect subject and audience: “Sun Ra always said that he came from Saturn. Now, you and I know that this is silly…. And yet. If he did…it would explain so much. Let’s say he did….” Readers learn that this “intergalactic boulevardier” was born in Birmingham, had an early aptitude for music, and enjoyed reading about philosophy. They discover his views on race and war, meet the “Arkestra,” and follow his global footprints. It is the art, however, that transmits the showman’s spirit and eclectic sound that featured big band elements, synthesizers, improvisation, and percussion. Raschka pulls out all the stops in what may be his finest work yet. Strong, black outlines define richly layered, multi-hued watercolors. The artist captures both the focused intensity of a composer’s face in an intimate close-up and the verve of a musician playing through celestial cityscapes. Wet and dry brush strokes create a lively but fluid dynamic, while stars and motion lines electrify. Musical composition paper is cleverly integrated into particular page designs, including the cover, in which the musician, arrayed in his dazzling robe, is one with the staff and hand-lettered title. Endpapers display album titles; a selected discography is available. Pull up a YouTube recording, and enchant a new generation with this ode to transcendental joy.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

Schmidt, Annie M. G. A Pond Full of Ink. tr. from Dutch by David Colmer. illus. by Sieb Posthuma. 34p. Eerdmans. 2014. Tr $16. ISBN 9780802854339. LC 2013030888.

Gr 1-4 –Fans of Shel Silverstein will love this collection of light, humorous poems that is full of fantastical characters. The titular pond features in the first selection about a prolific fairy-tale writer who refills his pen at the giant inkwell. Troublemakers abound in poems like “Nice and Naughty” and “Isabella Caramella,” whose crocodile eats annoying visitors, “like Mrs. Hudson-Rote, who thought that children were a pest,/and the lady with the fox-fur stole, who was awfully overdressed.” Other poems introduce Mrs. Keller, who owns seven bears, to the chagrin of her neighbor, and Aunt Sue and Uncle Steve, who live and raise their family in a tree. Inanimate objects come to life in “The Singing Tea Kettle” and “The Furniture,” in which a house’s furnishings head out for a seaside stroll. The well-constructed rhymes are fun to read aloud. Complemented by whimsical illustrations, they offer glimpses into an unusual world that readers will want to visit again and again. The drawings and collage images are colorful and quirky, full of patterns and details that add depth. Illustrated spreads follow some of the poems, providing a closer look at the situation or characters introduced in the preceding poem. This book is a kid-pleasing must-have for any poetry collection.–Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT

Adler, David A. The Story of Passover. illus. by Jill Weber. 32p. ebook available. Holiday House. Apr. 2014. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9780823429028. LC 2012045839.

Ajmera, Maya & others. Music Everywhere! 32p. glossary. maps. photos. Charlesbridge. 2014. RTE $17.95. ISBN 9781570919367; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9781570919374. LC 2012027113.

Allen, Nancy Kelly. First Fire: A Cherokee Folktale. illus. by Sherry Rogers. 32p. (Common Core & Science Series). chart. maps. notes. photos. websites. Sylvan Dell. 2014. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781628552164; Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781628552072; ebk. $9.95. ISBN 9781628552348.

Becker, Helaine. Zoobots: Wild Robots Inspired by Real Animals. illus. by Alex Ries. 32p. Kids Can. Apr. 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781554539710.

Blobaum, Cindy. Explore Gravity!: With 25 Great Projects. illus. by Bryan Stone. 96p. (Explore Your World Series!). chart. chron. diag. further reading. glossary. index. websites. Nomad. 2014. pap. $13.95. ISBN 9781619302075.

Cleary, Brian P. If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems. illus. by Andy Rowland. 32p. (Poetry Adventures Series). further reading. websites. Millbrook. May 2014. RTE $26.60. ISBN 9781467716093; pap. $6.95. ISBN 9781467744126; ebk. $19.95. ISBN 9781467725316. LC 2013018079.

Elya, Susan Middleton. Little Roja Riding Hood. illus. by Susan Guevara. 32p. glossary. Putnam. Apr. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399247675. LC 2012022545.

Estellon, Pascale. It’s About Time: Untangling Everything You Need to Know About Time. tr. from French by Sarah Quinn. illus. by Pascale Estellon. 48p. Owlkids. Apr. 2014. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781771470063. LC 2013946678.

Fern, Tracey. Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud. illus. by Emily Arnold McCully. 40p. glossary. maps. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. 2014. RTE $17.99. ISBN 9780374316990. LC 2013007868.

Flatt, Lizann. Shaping Up Summer. illus. by Ashley Barron. 32p. (Math in Nature Series: Bk. 4). ebook available. Owlkids. 2014. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781926973876. LC 2013944413.

Francine, Gabriella with Solara Vayanian. Let’s Make a Difference: We Can Help Protect Mountain Gorillas. illus. by Phil Velikan. 32p. (Save Coins for Causes Series). photos. websites. Big Blue Marble. 2013. Tr $15. ISBN 9781938504020. LC 2013940230.

Hoefnagel, Marian. Anne Frank: Her Life. 124p. glossary. photos. reprods. ReadZone. May 2014. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9781783220045.

Kimmelman, Leslie. Hot Dog!: Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic. illus. by Victor Juhasz. 40p. Sleeping Bear. Apr. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781585368303. LC 2013024897.

Kontzias, Bill. Look and See: A What’s-Not-the-Same Game. photos by Bill Kontzias. 32p. ebook available. Holiday House. Apr. 2014. RTE $16.95. ISBN 9780823428601. LC 2013019678.

Korngold, Jamie. Seder in the Desert. photos by Jeff Finkelstein. 32p. Kar-Ben. 2014. RTE $17.95. ISBN 9780761375012; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9780761375029; ebk. $6.95. ISBN 9781467724319. LC 2013002180.

Lewin, Ted. Can You See Me? illus. by Ted Lewin. 32p. (I Like to Read Series). ebook available. Holiday House. 2014. RTE $14.95. ISBN 9780823429400. LC 2013009555.

Mikkigak, Qaunaq & Joanne Schwartz, retels. Grandmother Ptarmigan. illus. by Qin Leng. 24p. Inhabit Media. Apr. 2014. Tr $13.95. ISBN 9781927095522.

Murawski, Darlene & Nancy Honovich. Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever. 272p. (National Geographic Kids Series). chart. glossary. index. photos. websites. National Geographic. 2013. Tr $24.95. ISBN 9781426313769.

Namm, Diane, retel. Roman Myths. illus. by Eric Freeberg. 153p. (Classic Starts Series). chart. Sterling. 2014. Tr $6.95. ISBN 9781454906117. LC 2013026661.

Pringle, Laurence. The Secret Life of the Woolly Caterpillar. illus. by Joan Paley. 32p. diag. glossary. Boyds Mills. Apr. 2014. RTE $16.95. ISBN 9781620910009. LC 2013947716.

Rabinowitz, Alan. A Boy and a Jaguar. illus. by Cátia Chien. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. May 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547875071. LC 2012025531.

Rosenstock, Barb. The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio Became America’s Hero. illus. by Terry Widener. 32p. Calkins Creek. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781590789926. LC 2013947717.

Shyam, Bhajju & others. The London Jungle Book. 48p. Tara Bks. May 2014. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9788192317120.

Skrypuch, Martha Forchuk. When Mama Goes to Work. illus. by Jessica Phillips. 32p. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2014. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781554553143.

SNYDER, Elaine . Anna & Solomon. illus. by Harry Bliss. 32p. Margaret Ferguson Bks. May. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780374303624. LC 2013007872.

Space Exploration: It Is Rocket Science!. adapted by Dan Green. illus. by Simon Basher. 64p. (Basher Basics Series). glossary. index. Kingfisher. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 9780753471647; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780753471654.

van Hout, Mies. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. tr. from Dutch. illus. by Mies van Hout. 32p. w/CD. Lemniscaat. Apr. 2014. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781935954378.