Author: Janet Dawson

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Dial Books

 

Summary:  The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles has an important, if lonely, job.  He removes the corks from bottles found in the ocean and delivers the messages to the addressees.  Although he loves his work, the Uncorker wishes he could find a message addressed to him.  Since he doesn’t even have a name, this seems unlikely.  But one day he finds a message with no name on it; it’s an invitation to a party to be held at the beach the next evening.  The Uncorker goes to work, asking around to see if it belongs to anyone.  No one knows about it, but everyone thinks a party seems like a good idea.  That night, the Uncorker goes to the beach to apologize to the sender for not delivering the message.  When he gets there, he discovers a gathering of all the people he asked about the party.  He has such a good time that night that he leaves planning to deliver the same message again the next day.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Beautiful language and voice used to tell a captivating story of new friendship.  The illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Erin E. Stead perfectly capture the dreamy, seaside quality of the text.

Cons:  How did the Uncorker wind up with no name?

Steamboat School: inspired by a true story by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Ron Husband

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Published by Disney Hyperion 

Summary:  James isn’t too enthusiastic on his first day of school.  Held in a windowless church basement, it’s the only school available for free blacks living in Missouri in the 1840’s.  It’s called a Tallow School, because it’s lit by candles.  “We make our own light here,” explains his teacher, Reverend John.  When a state law is passed prohibiting schools for “negroes and mulattoes”, Reverend John is undaunted.  He spends months building and refurbishing a steamboat on the Mississippi river.  Finally, one morning at dawn, the children meet their teacher, who rows them out to the boat.  It’s a school!  And state law doesn’t apply to the river, so the students are safe to resume their education.  An author’s note tells more about John Berry Meachum, who was the real Reverend John.

Pros:  A fascinating and inspiring piece of historical fiction, beautifully illustrated by the first African-American animator at Walt Disney Studios.

Cons:  Not much is known about this school and the students who attended it.

The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by Brian Farrey

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Published by Algonquin Young Readers 

Summary:  Princess Jeniah has just become Queen Ascendant, by virtue of the fact that her mother, the queen, is dying.  Jeniah’s training is rushed due to the circumstances, but she stumbles over one of her most important lessons: if any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall.  The dark, swampy Carse is uninviting, but Jeniah feels she must find a way to explore it.  In her quest to do so, she crosses paths with Aon, a peasant girl who feels broken because she’s the only person she knows who feels emotions other than happiness. She’s also one of the only people to be able to enter the Carse, so Jeniah enlists her to go deeper into it than she ever has before and report back.  As Jeniah learns more about her kingdom and Aon explores the Carse, both girls discover secrets about their land and themselves that threaten the eternal happiness that has been part of the Monarchy for many generations.  256 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  An enchanting fairy tale with plenty of adventure and some good messages about embracing the full range of emotions, not just happiness.

Cons:  Putting a 12-year-old in charge of the Monarchy seemed like a bad idea.

Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick Press 

Summary:  On April 6, 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke drove off from New York City in a little yellow car packed with, among other things, a tiny black kitten.  On September 30, they pulled back into New York City, smiling, sunburned, and with a full-grown cat.  They had circled the United States, driving south out to California and north back to New York, to promote the cause of women’s suffrage.  They got stuck in the mud, drove through a blizzard, and dodged bullets by the Rio Grande.  They attended parties and teas, drove in a circus parade, and won a medal at a fair in California.  It was a remarkable trip, given that the first cross-country car trip had only happened thirteen years before, and these two women doubled that. Each step of the way, they worked tirelessly for their cause, “Votes for women!”  At the end of the journey, Nell stayed home to rest, but Alice boarded a train and began the journey all over again.  The author’s notes give more information about both the drive and women’s struggle to get the vote in the United States; there’s also a list of books for further reading. 40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A great addition to any unit on women’s studies or the right to vote.  The lively text is complemented by the cheerful, predominantly yellow (the color that represented women’s suffrage) illustrations.

Cons:  It seemed kind of icky that the women brought a sewing machine so that if anyone told them women should stay home to cook and sew, Nell would sew while making a speech to prove women could do both.

Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper

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Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

 

Summary:  Elyse was born with cognadjivisibilitis, or CAV, a disorder in which words people use to describe her show up on her arms and legs.  As a baby, it was soothing words like “adorable”, but by the beginning of sixth grade, there are words like “loser” and “pathetic” that are itchy and uncomfortable.  In elementary school, the kids knew about her CAV and only used kind words, but in middle school, Elyse is determined to hide her condition from her new classmates, wearing pants and long-sleeve shirts year-round.  When she decides she wants to try for Explorer Leader, the biggest honor in sixth grade, she risks losing her anonymity and opens herself up to being the target of labels that are both emotionally and physically painful.  A series of unsigned notes both mystify and inspire Elyse, and by the end of sixth grade she has learned that some rewards are worth the risks, and that good friends can help take the sting out of unkind words.  288 pages; grades 4-6.

Pros:  A fun and interesting take on the theme of rising above what others say about you.  Readers will cheer for Elyse and she moves through sixth grade into a hard-won confidence.

Cons:  It seemed unlikely that anyone as shy and insecure as Elyse would be one of the select few chosen as a candidate for Explorer Leader.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

 

Summary:  “The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws…”  So begins this study in perception and point of view.  The refrain is repeated throughout the book, always followed by, “and a child saw the cat,” or “and a dog saw the cat,” and so on, with the illustrations showing how that particular creature sees the cat.  To a child, the cat is friendly and furry, with big round eyes.  To the mouse, it’s a fearsome monster with pointy claws and teeth, surrounded by red.  The fish sees a blurry cat through the water, and the flea is surrounded by a world of cat fur.  Finally, the cat comes to some water, looks in, and the reader is asked, “and imagine what it saw?”  44 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Even the youngest readers will enjoy the cat in its various incarnations, and older readers will get to think about questions about observation and perception.

Cons:  This is more of a thinking exercise than a real story.

Painting Pepette by Linda Ravin Lodding, illustrated by Claire Fletcher

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Published by Little Bee Books

 

Summary:  Young Josette Bobette lives in a house filled with paintings, many of them portraits of family members.  One day she realizes that there are no portraits of her stuffed rabbit Pepette, so she goes out into the streets of Paris to try to find a painter.  It’s the 1920’s, when artists were everywhere, so she has no trouble finding someone who will do the portrait.  Each man has his own style, but none satisfies Josette and Pepette.  Returning home at the end of the day, Josette decides the only way to get what she wants is to do it herself.  She gets out her own box of paints, and pretty soon Pepette’s portrait is hanging with the other family members’.  An author’s note identifies the various painters Josette meets as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Henri Matisse.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A charming story, as well as an introduction to the works of early 20th century artists.

Cons:  It’s hard to get a sense of the artists’ styles from the small pictures of Pepette that are in the illustrations.

Living in…Brazil by Chloe Perkins, illustrated by Tom Woolley

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Published by Simon and Schuster 

Summary:  Kids will find out what it’s like to live in Brazil, courtesy of an enthusiastic narrator whose home is in Recife, on the coast.  He takes readers on a tour of Brazil, describing its geography, natural features, and some of the cities.  Then he focuses on his own home, giving kids a look at what his typical day is like.  Additional information about Brazil is conveyed through what the narrator learns about in school.  The last page has a picture of the Brazilian flag and some fast facts.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  Part of a new Living in… series, this book would be enjoyed by kids who like learning about other cultures.  The series would also work well for a classroom research project on different countries.

Cons:  A detailed map of Brazil and some photos would have been nice additions.

Lady Liberty’s Holiday by Jen Arena, illustrated by Matt Hunt

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  The Statue of Liberty is feeling blue, even though she’s green.  She’s stiff, achy, and tired of seeing the same skyline every day.  Her friend Moe the pigeon suggests she take a vacation.  So one night, Lady Liberty breaks free of her pedestal and goes on a walking tour of the United States.  She’s delighted by all she sees—from the Jersey shore to the wheat fields of Kansas to the Rocky Mountains to the Golden Gate Bridge.  Unfortunately, she is missed back in her home town of New York City, and, as spring moves into summer, there are rumors that the Fourth of July celebration will be canceled.  Moe goes off in search of his friend, and finds her perched on the edge of the Grand Canyon, feeling small for the first time in her life.  Hearing about the Fourth of July, Lady Liberty rushes home, making it back just in time for a grand fireworks display on the Fourth.  The final two pages tell the story of the Statue of Liberty and some little known facts about her, along with some additional resources.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  This would make a great introduction to some of America’s famous landmarks, as well as a great Fourth of July read-aloud.

Cons:  Sorry to be reviewing a great Fourth of July read-aloud on August 30.

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  On September 10, 2010, four kids deal with difficulties in their lives.  In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Will is still grieving the loss of his father, killed when trying to help a stranded motorist on the highway.  Aimee’s mother is off on another business trip to New York City, while Aimee stresses about starting a new school in California.  Sergio is so upset with his absentee father that he skips school and rides the NYC subway, where he meets a kind firefighter who takes Sergio under his wing.  Naheed is starting middle school and for the first time in her life, is self-conscious about the hijab she wears.  Everything changes early the next morning, when events unfold across the U.S. that will impact all four children for a long time into the future.  The final chapter, “One Year Later” brings them together for the one-year ceremony at Ground Zero.  An author’s note tells her personal story of 9/11 and how she came to write this book.  208 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Four engaging stories come together on two fateful days.  Fans of the “I Survived” series will enjoy this book—while there isn’t much of the survival element, it is gripping historical fiction about a catastrophic event.

Cons:  So many characters in a relatively short book makes it hard to get to know any one of them.