May 23, 2008
May 23, 2008
Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Sting Ray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic, by Emily Jenkins, is a charming story for grades K-3. Here we see how toys live their private lives. They endure rivalries, they help one another when there’s a crisis, and they must overcome fears as they learn to live in the world of their young owner.
April 08
April 25, 2008
Our 3rd and 4th graders will enjoy Sallie Gal And The Wall-A Kee Man, by Sheila P. Moses. This story about Sallie Gal describes a nine-year-old and her best friend, Wild Cat. The girls go to school during the winter but in the summer they help pick weeds from the cotton fields where every adult works five days a week and on Saturday until noon. Money is not plentiful for Sallie Gal but she desperately wants ribbons for her braids. Her wealthier cousin has them, and just seeing them makes Sallie jealous. But how can she get them—especially when her mother will never let her take charity from anyone?
Lucky Jake, by Sharon Hart Addy, is a charmer for our younger students. Jake and his father are panning for gold, but what Jake wants most is a dog. There’s no dog, but Jake gets a pig and he names him Dog. And this is only the beginning of good fortune happening to Pa and Jake.
Pictures from Our Vacation
March 28, 2008
A wonderful book for young readers is Pictures from Our Vacation, by Lynn Perkins. This is a warm feel-good story about a family of four taking a summer vacation at the family farm. As the trip starts, the mother gives the children cameras so that they can record their adventures. And do they ever! They take pictures of the scenery they pass: cows, bridges, and their feet. When they get to the farm they’re greeted by their grandparents—but the house is not much to see. Where they see cobwebs and dust their father sees happy memories. They go to play badminton but it rains—for three days. They try to watch TV but there are only three channels. When they go looking for the lake their father used to swim in, they get lost. Things look bad—but they soon improve.
02.29.08
February 29, 2008
For our younger readers, Chris Van Allsburg has created another delightful book, Probuditi!. Ten-year-old Calvin gets to celebrate his birthday by taking his friend Rodney to see a magic show at a neighborhood theater. He and Calvin are fascinated by the way the magician uses hypnotism. They decide to hypnotize Calvin’s little sister Trudy, and soon she believes she’s a dog. She barks a lot, crawls out of the room with her tongue hanging out, and soon she’s outside chasing squirrels. The boys have a terrific time, but then it’s time to turn Trudy back into a girl…and they can’t.
01-18-08
January 18, 2008
For Primary students, Toad by the Road: A Year in the Life of these Amazing Amphibians, by Joanne Ryder, is a delightful title. Ryder writes poems that describe the different stages in the lives of toads, how they live and the dangers they face.
One other title our younger students might enjoy is Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas, by Meghan McCarthy. McCarthy has written a biography of a young immigrant, Angelo Siciliano, who came to the United States from Italy. Angelo started out small and weak and wanted to be strong and important. Over the years he was able to work hard and fulfill his dreams. How he did it and how he became Charles Atlas is the story of this inspiring book.
11-09-07
November 09, 2007
Second through fourth graders are sure to enjoy Malory on the Move, by Laurie Friedman. This book describes a young girl whose family is about to move and she doesn’t want to accompany them. She would be leaving her best friend—so she doesn’t want to go. But move they do—and in her new neighborhood she makes friends with the boy next door, Joey, and life becomes tolerable. Together the two harass their respective older brother and sister, who deserve it. But that is just the beginning.
The Moon Might Be Milk, by Lisa Shulman, deals with the question, “What is the moon made of?” This title for our younger readers offers various hypotheses: perhaps it’s made of flour or milk or sugar. This is a sweet book with a sweet recipe at the end.
And for youngsters particularly interested in science, Alexander Siy and Denis Kunkel’s book, Sneeze, is a pleasure. The authors talk about the variety of causes that make us sneeze and then describe what is happening in our nervous system when we do it.
Lower Reader
October 26, 2007
Dog and Bear: Two friends: Three Stories, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a perfect tale for our early grades. A dog and a bear have a wonderful friendship but they still must learn to help one another, to respect one another’s space, and when to play with each other.
September 14, 2007
Mama Panya’s Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya, by Mary and Rich Chamberlin will entertain many younger students. The authors describe life in a small village where people share the things they have and in so doing make life much richer for everyone. Young Adika invites everyone to his house because Mama Panya is making pancakes, but does she have enough to serve everyone?
May 18, 2007
Second and third grade students will enjoy Ivy & Bean, the first in a series by Annie Barrows. Here we have that typical situation where Bean’s mother keeps on telling her daughter to get to know Ivy, the girl across the street, and the daughter rejects the idea because she knows she won’t like Ivy. And then they meet and they become fast friends.
365 Penguins, by Jean-Luc Fromental, is a picture book that describes a family home on New Year’s Day when a package arrives in the mail. It contains a penguin, and for the next 364 days a penguin is delivered to their home each day. The author discusses math concepts and environmental issues and has much fun with the family in the course of the year as their food bill and space problems grow with each new delivery. Who is sending the penguins—and what does it mean? The illustrations in this title are extraordinary.
04.20.07
April 20, 2007
I rarely recommend books that obviously preach moral lessons, but this book is an exception. Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, is a book that introduces youngsters to concepts like respect, patience and trustworthiness, but in a most charming, appealing way. The illustrations are delightful and contribute to the success of the book.
In Three Questions, by Jon J. Muth (based on a story by Leo Tolstoy), a boy wants to know how to be a good person. He thinks that if he finds the answer to three questions he can succeed in his goal. When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important person? What is the right thing to do? As in any successful fable, the boy finds the answers.
03.15.07
March 15, 2007
Jazz, by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by his son, Christopher Myers, is a fabulous celebration of Jazz. The book begins with a brief explanation and history of Jazz. Then the pages are filled with rhythm and syncopation, a poem in praise of Louie Armstrong and descriptions that throb with the jive and pulse of Jazz.
For youngsters who loved Casey at the Bat, we have a new version, Casey Back at Bat, by Dan Gutman. Once again Casey has a chance to help his team achieve the crucial victory—the one that would bring them fame and wealth. Can he do it? Does he do it? Read and find out.
1.12.07d
January 12, 2007
For lower grade students, Landed, by Milly Lee, is a fine title about a 12-year-old Chinese boy, Sun, back in the 1870s. He is told by his father that he will accompany him to America. He has three older brothers already in the U.S., and now he will have to memorize the information that he’ll need to answer the questions posed by the inspectors at Angel Island. This will enable him to get into the country--but it won’t be easy.
It’s My School, by Sally Grindley, is a delightful book for K-3rd graders. Young Alice is thrilled about beginning school with her brother, but her brother is very anxious about the event. He is not keen on sharing his school.
December 08, 2006
Third and fourth graders will want to read The School Is Not White! A True Story Of The Civil Rights Movement by Doreen Rappaport. This powerful book describes what life was like for the children of Mae Bertha and Mathew Carter when they decided that they would no longer send their youngsters to the dilapidated and inferior black schools in Mississippi. In 1965, relying on a new federal law, the Carters sent their children to an all-white school. It was a terrifying and yet character- building experience for them.
November 09, 2006
For our primary grade readers, Colin McNaughton has written a delightful book, Once Upon An Ordinary Day. An ordinary boy goes to his ordinary school on an ordinary day and runs into a new teacher who will make his life anything but ordinary.
For Younger
October 13, 2006
Our younger readers will enjoy Too Small For Honey Cake, by Gill Lobel. Little Fox is jealous of his new baby brother. What he needs to learn is that despite the new baby, his parents still love him.
Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! is a Palestinian folk tale retold by Margaret Read McDonald. A woman prays for a child and is given a cooking pot to love. The “little pot” is happy and full of life but needs to learn the difference between right and wrong.
Daniel Pinkwater’s book, Bad Bear Detectives, introduces Irving and Muhtuk, two polar bears who have earned bad reputations. When a shipment of muffins disappears from the nearby dock they are the number one suspects.
September 08, 2006
In Into The Forest, Anthony Burns has written a fascinating book for the younger reader. A young boy is asked by his mother to carry a cake to his sick grandma. The mother warns the boy to take the long
route, because the shortcut through the forest is dangerous. But does our hero listen? No.
May 19, 2006
Younger readers will enjoy Mercy Watson to the Rescue, another charming book by Kate DiCamillo. Mercy Watson is a pig who lives with a lovely family who treat her very well. One night she decides to sleep in bed with the Watsons-–not such a good idea. There’s a crash and the house is in danger of falling off the hill. Mercy, unaware of the danger to her family, goes out to find some food, while the Watsons are left in bed, dangling over the cliff--what next?Another delightful book for our younger readers is If You Decide to Go to the Moon, by Faith McNulty. Just imagine being shot into space!
April 21, 2006
Jacqueline Woodson has written a beautiful book for second to fifth graders called Show Way. The narrator, Soonie, tells about her great grandmother, who was seven years old when she was sold by her Virginia owner to a South Carolina plantation. There she learned from a kind older woman how to sew messages and secret directions into quilt patterns, “a show way.” This is a stunning book that follows many generations of women and shows how important quilts were in their history.
March 06, 2006
For the younger reader, Aliki has written and illustrated The Play’s the Thing. Miss Billian’s class is preparing to put on a play, “Mary had a Little Lamb,” and in the process they learn how to create new ideas for an old plot, and learn how to take individual responsibility and how to cooperate.
Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora have written another delightful book for our primary grades, George Washington’s Teeth. Our first president suffered from bad teeth, and as the book unfolds, Washington is fighting all the important battles of the Revolutionary War while teeth are falling out of his mouth. How can he face his soldiers and the nation with no teeth?
One last title for our younger readers is Good Dog, by Maya Gottfried. This is actually a book for all ages. It is a collection of poems written by dogs in which they demonstrate skills, apologize for some of their bad behavior and ask for the loyalty of their caregivers.
February 17, 2006
For younger readers, Martin Bridge, Ready For Takeoff, by Jessica Scott Kerrin, is a cute book about the daily life of a young boy. First there is a short story about Martin and his relationship with his bus driver. Then there’s a chapter about a hamster he is taking care of for his neighbor. Each story is poignant, sweet and teaches a bit—to Martin and to the reader.
January 12, 2006
For first grade and up there is a quite serious book called Hannah Is My Name, by Belle Yang. In this tale, Hannah and her parents have come from China and want to settle here for a better life. Things are difficult, because the family must learn English, find a place to live, and find jobs to pay for food and rent. However, without a green card from the U.S. government, they are not allowed to work in the United States. Hannah worries that the government police will find her father is working and punish them all by sending them back to China. When will the green cards come? This is the kind of worry that many immigrant families have experienced, and this book helps us all feel the fears that are part of the immigrant experience in this country.
One last recommendation for primary grades is So What’s It Like To Be A Cat? by Karla Kuskin. A young child asks a cat questions about its lifestyle, such as how much and where does it sleep, what does it eat, and does it like its owners? It’s most interesting to look at cat behavior from the perspective of a cat.
December 09, 2005
The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked The World, a history of blues music and the people who made it famous. Singers like Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters and Ray Charles Robinson are just a few of the artists he brings to life in this collective biography.
November 04, 2005
Little Red Cowboy Hat, by Susan Lowell, a Southwestern version of “Little Red Riding Hood,” is a delightful title for our younger readers. The main character rides off on her pony, Buck, to take a jar of cactus jelly to her ailing grandmother. Unfortunately, she runs into a wolf with ideas of his own about how “Little Red” should spend her day.
October 07, 2005
For our younger readers, The Story Goes On, by Aileen Fisher is a fascinating title. It is a story of the cycle of life, beginning when a seed sprouts. Next a bug eats from the plant, then a frog eats the bug, and so it goes. The book, Squashed in the Middle, by Elizabeth Winthrop, is about a middle child, Daisy, who feels that no one ever listens to her. She has one older brother, a know-it-all younger sister and somehow she has to make herself heard. This is no easy task.
September 10, 2005
Two delightful poetry books would be perfect for the younger set. Wild About Books, by Judy Sierra, is an adorable story about a librarian who finds herself at the zoo and sets up a library bookmobile for the animals, who naturally fall in love with reading. In A Kick in the Head, by Paul Janeczko, the students receive a guide to poetic forms. What makes a couplet, an ode, an acrostic or a Haiku?
Ruby’s Wish, by Shirin Yim Bridges, is a story about a young girl who had dreams. She lives in China at a time when very few girls have the opportunity to get a higher education. However, she works very hard to
make her dream come true.
March 11, 2005
Blabber Mouse, by True Kelley, is a sweet story about a little mouse who could never keep his mouth shut. He divulges secrets about his teacher, his friends and anything else that he happens to learn. His classmates and teachers decide to give him a party and a diary to help him control his urge to gossip.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, by Mo Willems, tells the story of young Trixie who goes off one morning to help her father do the laundry. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Trixie starts fretting and complaining on the way home. Unfortunately she can’t talk yet, so her father cannot figure out what is upsetting her.
February 12, 2005
Good Morning Garden, by Barbara Brenner, is an excellent title for our primary grades. A child goes into his garden and greets all the flowers and plants that he sees. Ellington Was Not a Street, written by Kadir Nelson, is a poem that commemorates esteemed and significant African-Americans. The author recalls these great men who came to visit her home when she was a child. Yesterday I Had the Blues, by Jeron Ashford Frame, is a book about a boy reflecting on his own emotions and those of the other members of his family. It gives us all a chance to think about how we really feel.
January 14, 2005
Little One Step, by Simon James, is a delightful book for the very young. A little duckling is lost and frightened. She is terrified that she won’t be able to make it home to her mother. Fortunately, her older brothers are there to comfort her and help her find the way.
December 10, 2004
Third through Fifth Grade Recommendation
J.T.,by Jane Wagner, is a wonderful book, especially for the winter holidays. A young African-American boy, J.T., lives with his mother in an apartment in a big city. He starts out in trouble when he sees a transistor radio in a nearby car, sees two other neighborhood boys about to steal it, and decides to grab it himself and run away. They chase him, but somehow he eludes them and finds himself in an empty lot, where he stumbles over a very needy, wounded, black and white kitten.
Hidden Buffalo by Rudy Wiebe
This Spot through Time by Susan E. Goodman
November 04, 2004
Hidden Buffalo, by Rudy Wiebe, is a folk tale of the Cree people. As the story opens, Sky Running is searching everywhere for the buffalo his people desperately need to survive the winter. His people meet at night to talk about this crisis, and then Sky Running has a dream that shows him the buffalo residing among the Sikskia people, fierce enemies of the Cree.
This Spot through Time, by Susan E. Goodman, is a very clever book. It begins with a spectacular view of New York City as it is now. Next we see New York as it was 175 years ago, accompanied by a brief narrative. And as the book goes on it traces back this spot in New York to millions of years ago.
What Do you Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
The Twins and the Bird of Darkness by Robert San Souci
October 02, 2004
Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have put together a fascinating book called What Do you Do with a Tail Like This? They display pictures of the tails of various animals and challenge youngsters to identify which tail belongs to which animal and then determine how the tail is used. The authors do the same with animal ears, eyes, and other body parts.
In The Twins and the Bird of Darkness, Robert San Souci creates a story about a beautiful princess who offered herself to an evil seven-headed bird to prevent the bird from destroying her kingdom. Soon two brothers hear about the princess’ sacrifice and one of them vows to kill the bird and rescue the princess.