Month: February 2018

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Simon and Schuster

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Summary:  A child in a yellow slicker takes a big, friendly red umbrella out on a rainy day.  This umbrella helps everyone stay dry, no matter if they are tall, hairy, plaid, or have four legs.  It likes to gather people (and other creatures) in and give them shelter.  “Some people worry that there won’t be enough room under the big umbrella.  But the amazing thing is, there is always room.”  On the final page, the sun has come out, and the umbrella has expanded to cover an entire park.  40 pages; ages 4 to those old enough to serve in the United States Congress.

Pros:  The illustrations are charming and show a wide diversity of humans and other living things; the message could lead to some interesting discussions for all ages.

Cons:  Maybe back matter would take away the opportunity for discussion, but I couldn’t help thinking there could be some good resources after the story.  Also, it was written by a mother and her 7th-grader daughter; I would like to know how they got the idea and carried it out.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Elmore by Holly Hobbie

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Published by Random House

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Summary:  Elmore loves his cozy home inside a maple tree, but he’s lonely.  He can’t understand why he has trouble making friends until he overhears some animals saying, “He’s too prickly.  It’s hard to be around him.”  What’s a porcupine to do?  When Elmore’s uncle comes by for a visit, he tells him he should treasure his quills rather than wishing them away.  This gives Elmore an idea, and he gets to work gathering up the quills around his house and tying them into bundles.  Next, he sets up shop giving away his genuine quill pens.  The neighbors love them, and before long, he is receiving friendly notes from all over.  40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  Elmore is a lovable character, and the portrayals of his tree house are cozy; his story gently reminds readers of the importance of appreciating yourself and reaching out to others to make new friends.

Cons:  While Elmore receives many friendly notes by the end of the story, he still doesn’t seem to have any in-person friends.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

 

Bad Princess: True Tales from Behind the Tiara by Kris Waldherr

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Published by Scholastic

Amazon.com: Bad Princess: True Tales from Behind the Tiara eBook: Waldherr, Kris, Waldherr, Kris: Kindle Store

Summary:  For centuries, princesses have captured the public’s imagination.  From the “princess wars” between Henry VIII’s daughters Mary and Elizabeth to the 21st century obsession with Kate Middleton, princesses have long been in the public eye.  This book looks at some of history’s “bad” princesses who have been surrounded by scandals ranging from divorce to murder.  Many are European, but there are also appearances by other nationalities like Hawaii’s Princess Ka’iulani and Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, a Dubai sheikha who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in tae kwon do.  Sidebars give interesting additional information about real-life princesses and their fairytale counterparts.  The book ends with a tournament of historical and storybook princesses (you’ll have to find out for yourself if Diana or Cinderella takes it all) and a princess board game.  Includes resources for further reading.  128 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A heavy dose of history is handled with a light touch, complete with pink-tinged black-and-white illustrations and plenty of humor.  

Cons:  So many princesses to keep track of.

If you would like to buy this book through Amazon, click here.

Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Schwartz & Wade

Summary:  Move over Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford; Strongheart is center stage in this novelization about a real-life canine silent film star.  When 1920’s-era director Larry Trimble had the idea to make a movie about a dog, he traveled all the way to Europe in search of the perfect animal.  He discovered Etzel, a ferocious German shepherd police dog, and was able to see past the growling and snapping to an intelligent, loveable pet.  They teamed up with screenwriter Jane Murfin to produce six films, making Strongheart a celebrity.  He never lost his police dog instincts, though, and the end of the book has him standing in his own defense at a trial to determine if he killed a little girl or not.  Several of his youngest fans come to his aid, and not only Strongheart is declared innocent, he helps apprehend the real criminals.  (Don’t worry, there’s no real murder; it was all a money-making scam).  End matter includes the facts about Strongheart and his career, photos, a bibliography, and notes.  256 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Dog lovers will be enchanted with Strongheart, from his early days as a puppy forced to become a vicious police dog to his movie star career, and finally full circle to the father of his own puppies.  Illustrations on almost every page make this a good choice for reluctant readers.

Cons:  I was disappointed to learn that only one of Strongheart’s films, his last one, still survives.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel by Lisa Pliscou, illustrated by Jen Corace

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Summary:  Jane Austen grew up in England at a time when women received little education, and marriage seemed like the only way to get ahead.  Her family was poor, and when they did manage to send her to school, she learned only what she would need to know to become a good wife.  But Jane was observant and she loved to read.  As she grew older, she began to write about the people she saw around her, poking fun at them and the conventions of the day.  Her first book, First Impressions, was rejected by a London publisher, but she continued writing, even turning down a marriage proposal to live life on her own terms.  Finally, she published Sense and Sensibility, soon followed by First Impressions which was renamed Pride and Prejudice.  She died at age 41 in 1817, the same year two more of her books, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, were published.  Includes biographical information, Jane Austen quotes, others’ quotes about her work, and sources of additional information.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Quite a thorough look at Jane and her times, placing her and her work in the context of her era.  The gouache illustrations are charming and bring the time period to life.

Cons:  Most kids won’t have any idea who Jane Austen is or be familiar with her work.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  In case you haven’t read the original book, the young readers’ edition, and/or seen the movie, this picture book tells the story of four women who worked for NASA between 1943 and 2007.  Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were all good at math.  Very good.  This refrain is repeated throughout the story, as each one is shown overcoming the barriers in place for them at school and later on at NASA.  But they succeeded, and their work helped launch the space program and eventually send men to the moon.  As they looked to their careers after that dream had been fulfilled, “Dorothy, Mary, Katherine, and Christine knew one thing: with hard work, perseverance, and a love of math, anything was possible.”  Includes a timeline, additional biographical information about each woman, a glossary, and an author’s note.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Many kids will recognize these women from the movies.  All are inspiring, and emphasize the importance of hard work and the exciting adventures to be found in STEM careers.  Laura Freeman illustrated Fancy Party Gowns, one of my favorite biographies of last year, and does an excellent job here portraying the four women, NASA, and outer space.

Cons:  The story of Christine Darden (who wasn’t portrayed in the movie) didn’t seem as well integrated to the rest of the book as the other three.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Awards Day!

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

The ALA awards have been announced, and Kids Book A Day predicted…drum roll, please…zero.  Here’s the list.  Okay, I’m a little disappointed I didn’t pick either one, but come on, Newbery committee!  The three honor books are a picture book and two YA books.  Believe me, I’m the last one to begrudge Jason Reynolds a Newbery honor, but Long Way Down features a 15-year-old protagonist contemplating whether or not to murder the guy who killed his brother.  And the protagonist of Renee Watson’s Piecing Me Together is a high school junior.  The Printz award was created for books like these!  Tell me what you think in the comments!

The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

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Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:  Mason Buttle feels dogged by bad luck: not only is he the biggest, sweatiest kid in the 7th grade, but his mother died in a car accident a few years back, and more recently, his best friend Benny died when he fell out of their tree fort one night in the Buttle apple orchard.  The orchard is falling into ruins, since Mason’s grandmother and uncle haven’t been able to work since his mom died.  And the local police lieutenant keeps coming around to ask Mason uncomfortable questions about where he was the night Benny died.  On the brighter side, there’s Calvin, the new kid in the neighborhood who becomes a friend and ally as the two try to dodge the local bullies after school.  They discover a root cellar under Mason’s house, and fix it up as their secret hideaway.  There’s also Moonie, the dog who belongs to one of the bullies, but who seems more attached to Mason. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself under a cloud of suspicion; but not only does he find Calvin, he unwittingly uncovers the culprit responsible for Benny’s death.  That discovery begins a chain of events that leads to happier circumstances for Mason and those he loves. 336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Mason is a one-of-a-kind character, and his voice rings true as he finds his way through a difficult season of his 7th grade year.  Not only does he manage to survive the hardships at school and at home, but he does so in a way that makes life better for those around him.

Cons:  The book gets off to a slow start; the detailed parts about Calvin and Mason fixing up the root cellar dragged a bit.  The reader will have to persevere to get to the second half where the action really picks up.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

 

Love by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Loren Long

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Summary:  What is love?  For many, it begins with two happy parents gazing at you while you sleep.  Life can get more complicated later on, as friendships and other relationships end, and scary things happen that you may not always understand.  But love is reassuring in those times.  After awhile, you begin to recognize love even in imperfection, like burned toast made just for you and the lines on your grandfather’s face.  And when the time comes for you to go off on your own, the love of the people around you will go with you.  40 pages; ages 4 and up.

Pros:  Newbery author Matt de la Pena explores the complexities of love, beautifully illuminated by Loren Long’s illustrations of a diverse group of people from many walks of life.  This would make a good graduation gift.

Cons:  While this has the look of a picture book for young children, much of it will be appreciated more by older readers.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

My Pillow Keeps Moving! by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Christopher Weyant

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A cat and dog sit shivering outside a store with a sign reading “Pillows on Sale Today!!!”.  The dog scoots in just ahead of a customer and curls himself into a pillow shape.  When the man gets home with his new “pillow”, he finds that it keeps moving while he sleeps.  He tries to return it, but the clerk asks, “Is your pillow soft? Is it fluffy?” to which the man can only reply, “Yes”.  Next, he goes shopping for a footstool, and the routine is repeated.  (“My footstool is noisy!”)  It happens again when he tries to buy a jacket.  Finally, he tells the dog, “As a jacket, you stink, but maybe you’re more of a Jackie than a jacket,” and the dog has a new home.  As the two head out to shop for a new hat, Jackie winks at the cat, and the next to last page shows Jackie and the man walking home with the cat perched on his head.  On the final page, the three are sitting happily by the fire.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Told entirely with cartoon dialog, kids will find the visual humor hilarious.

Cons:  That cat looks like a heavy hat.

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