Month: June 2015

Wild About Us! By Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Janet Stevens

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Warty Warthog introduces himself and his friends at the zoo, explaining in rhyming text why each animal is perfect the way he/she is.  Rhino likes his wrinkly skin, Elephant knows his nose is supposed to be long, Chimp’s sticking-out ears are charming, etc.  Each animal gets a large illustration on a white background, every animal looking as happy as can be.  The final conclusion? “It would be such a shame if you came to the zoo and we all looked the same!” Ages 3-8.

Pros:  An upbeat message for kids to appreciate differences, joyfully illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Janet Stevens.

Cons:  If you read this aloud, you will have to endure endless laughter about Hippo’s wiggly, jiggly behind.

Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs by Davide Cali, illustrated by Raphaelle Barbanegre

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Tundra Books

Summary:  In this retelling of the classic fairy tale, Snow White finds refuge from the evil queen in a house inhabited by dwarfs.  Only this time, it’s not seven dwarfs, it’s 77.  Just learning their names (Elvis, Dudley, Bilberry, Kiki…) proves to be a chore, never mind fixing three meals a day and cleaning up afterward.  After a few days of this routine, Snow White decides the queen is a better option.  She requests two poison apples, and finally gets to enjoy a well-earned sleep.

Pros:  Fractured fairy tales are always fun, and kids will enjoy the 77 rainbow-hued dwarfs on many of the pages.

Cons:  The ending seemed a bit abrupt and unsatisfying to me.  Kids may not quite get it, even if harried parents do.

Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Amistad

Summary:  Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are back in the final installment of this trilogy.  Having started their journey with their mother and the Black Panthers in Oakland, continued it at home in Brooklyn, they conclude with a visit to their grandmother and great-grandmother in Alabama.  Narrator Delphine is concerned that her family is breaking apart.  Her new stepmother is expecting a baby, Uncle Darnell and his favorite niece Vonetta are no longer speaking, and their great-grandmother and her sister refuse to see each other, although they both enjoy relating their own versions of family history to the three girls.  It takes a near tragedy to bring the family together again, but in the end all members of Delphine’s family, even her California mother, are under one roof, and the bonds of sisterhood are stronger than ever.  Grades 4-7.

Pros:  The first two books in this series were multiple award winners, and this one is sure to be too.  Chock full of unique, well-drawn characters, rich historical details, and you-are-there settings, this is historical fiction at its best.

Cons:  This book will be more enjoyable for readers who have read the first two.

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Capstone Young Readers

Summary:  When Mazie is mad at being told no, her father tells her about her great-great-great grandfather Mose who was a slave and heard “no” even more.  He learned about the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865, and now Mazie and her family celebrate Juneteenth every year.  Her father talks about others who worked and fought for civil rights after they got their freedom, all the way to the present.  The last page includes a paragraph of information about the origins of the Juneteenth celebration.

Pros:  This is a great introduction to Juneteenth and the Civil Rights Movement for primary grades. The 150th anniversary is coming up on June 19. Mazie looks to be about six years old, and the facts are presented appropriately for her age.  The illustrations are very appealing.

Cons:  The information is pretty simple and basic.  Pairing this with another book like Angela Johnson’s All Different Now will give a broader perspective.

Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Birgitta Sif

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  As the title suggest, Miss Hazeltine has opened a home for shy and fearful cats, and it’s very popular with pet owners.  Their cats have all kinds of issues from a fear of mice to an inability to pounce, but the one that is scared of everything is Crumb.  He refuses to participate in Bird Basics, Scary Noises, Meeting New Friends, or any of the other trainings Miss Hazeltine offers.  That’s okay with her.  She lets him just sit and watch, and he proves to be a good observer.  One afternoon, when the other cats are sleeping, she goes out for more milk and doesn’t come back.  It’s Crumb who knows just what to do and leads the other cats on a rescue mission.  He alone knows what scares Miss Hazeltine and how to help her overcome her fears and find her way back home.  Upon their return, the cats change the sign on the house to Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Pretty Brave If You Ask Us Cats.

Pros:  Miss Hazeltine’s approach, to allow her cats to proceed at their own pace in overcoming their fears, seems like a very comforting one to cats or children.  Kids will enjoy the cartoonish illustrations and relate to the cats’ difficulties and ultimate success.

Cons:  The cats are a little too bug-eyed to be cute in the classic cat sense.

Up In the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  A little girl and her grandmother plant a garden in spring, care for plants in the summer, and harvest in the fall.  While they watch what is happening up in the garden, there is plenty of activity down in the dirt.  Many animals make their homes in both places, some helpful to the garden plants and some harmful.  The last few pages list the sixteen animals pictured in the book and give a bit more information on their roles in the garden.

Pros:  This is a perfect beginning-of-summer book to take into the garden.  Readers will enjoy finding the different life forms pictured in the bold, beautiful illustrations.

Cons:  The picture of the garter snake about to chomp a grasshopper may give you nightmares.

Rain Forest Relay (Race the Wind series) by Kristin Earhart

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Scholastic Paperbacks

Summary:  Russell has been chosen to take part in “Race the Wild”, a race that takes place through several ecosystems and carries a $1 million prize for the winners.  Much to his disappointment, the friends who were also chosen are all on the same team, and he’s been placed with three strangers.  They quickly bond as they make their way through the Amazon rain forest, solving the clues and photographing animals to move on to the next challenge.  They finish this first leg of this race second to Russell’s friends’ team, but Russell has evidence that his friends have cheated.  Stay tuned for episode two, which takes place in the Great Barrier Reef.  Grades 2-4.

Pros:  Lots of adventures as the kids move through the rain forest.  At the end of each chapter is information on an animal mentioned in the chapter.  The cliffhanger at the end will leave readers looking for the next book in the series.

Cons:  Prepare to suspend your disbelief as you read about these minimally supervised kids racing dodging piranhas and jaguars to split a million dollars

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Jack’s seven-times-great grandfather and namesake was a giant killer, and Jack is sure he is destined for adventure.  When his neighbor’s cabbage crop disappears overnight, Jack is the only one who believes the crazy peddler who says that it’s the work of giants.  A few nights later, the giants come back, this time to wipe out the entire village and its neighboring farms.  Jack’s father gets taken away, and Jack is determined to find the giant’s land and rescue Papa.  He questions the peddler, who gives him three giant beans in exchange for the family cow (and last source of food).  You may think you know the rest of the story, but just wait.  There are pixies, a greedy king, an adventurous younger sister who follows Jack up the beanstalk, and a curse on giant land that only Jack can break.  Recommended for grades 3-7.

Pros:  This fun retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk is nonstop action, taking place in a magical world rich with details and engaging characters.  It would make a great read-aloud for elementary kids, and could include comparisons to other versions of the story. Look for the companion book Rump, a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Cons:  At over 300 pages, this could be an ambitious undertaking for younger readers.

The Underground Abductor (An Abolitionist Tale About Harriet Tubman) by Nathan Hale

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Nathaniel Hale is about to be executed, but his executioners want to hear another one of his tales.  One of them accuses him of always making America sound perfect.  So Nathaniel tells the story of Harriet Tubman, which is also the story of slavery and the Underground Railroad.  Told in graphic novel format, the story spans the years from Harriet’s (or Minty’s, as she was known as a child) birth through the end of the Civil War.  Brief stories of Frederick Douglass and John Brown are woven into Harriet’s tale, and additional resources are listed at the end.  Ages 9 and up.

Pros:  This is the fifth installment in Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. (It’s a little confusing. Nathan Hale is the real name of the author, but Nathaniel Hale of Revolutionary War fame narrates the stories). These books do an amazing job of teaching history through an appealing graphic novel format.  I learned a lot from reading this book, and it reads like a great story from start to finish.  I have a small but dedicated group of fifth grade boys in my school who have read all these books, and I can’t wait to give them a copy of this one.

Cons:  It’s impossible to tell Harriet Tubman’s stories without relating some of the horrors of slavery, so make sure readers are prepared.

Ava and Taco Cat by Carol Weston

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Sourcebook Jabberwocky

Summary:  When Ava’s mom tells the family about the beat-up cat being treated at the vet clinic where she works, Ava decides she must have this cat for her birthday.  She launches an ingenious, and ultimately successful, campaign, and the cat is theirs.  She and her family love all kinds of wordplay, and they give their cat a palindrome for a name, Taco Cat.  Written in diary form, Ava relates how she helps the timid new cat bond with her family, and how he influences aspects of her life like friendships and her writing.  A story she writes about Taco ends up in the newspaper, and disaster strikes when Taco’s original owner sees it.  Ava is forced to make a very difficult decision about what is best for her new pet.  Grades 4-6.

Pros:  Ava is an endearing, intelligent, and not overly sophisticated narrator.  The diary format keeps the story moving swiftly.  Fans of Judy Moody and Allie Finkle will enjoy this book and its predecessor, Ava and Pip.

Cons:  Ava occasionally seems a bit wise beyond her years.