Poultrygeist by Eric Geron, illustrated by Pete Oswald

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Poultrygeist: Geron, Eric, Oswald, Pete: 9781536210507: Amazon.com: Books
Poultrygeist: Geron, Eric, Oswald, Pete: 9781536210507: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The spread before the title page shows a chicken crossing the road…and a large truck rounding a bend.  The title page shows a flash of light and some feathers smack up against the front of the truck.  And then…”What happened?” asks a ghostly chicken, rising from its flattened body on the road.  Ghostly animals appear to fill her in on the fact that she’s become…poultrygeist!  The chicken wants to be a friendly ghost, but the other animals insist she’s just being chicken, and should use her haunting powers to their fullest.  Finally, she pulls a scary face that terrorizes the other ghosts back into hiding.  The final page shows a happy squirrel about to cross the same stretch of road, with another truck barrelling around the bend.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  For kids who like funny scares, this one will surely get a lot of laughs, and older readers will appreciate the clever wordplay (“Cock-a-doodle-boo!”).  The neon illustrations against a black background provide a fun haunted look.

Cons:  More sensitive readers may find this more gruesome than funny, and especially be disturbed by the cute little squirrel on the last page.

Portions of this review was featured on Twinkl as part of their Great & Ghostly Guide to Halloween.

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Balzer + Bray

Ophie's Ghosts: Ireland, Justina: 9780062915894: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Ophie learns that she can see ghosts the night her father is killed by a lynch mob, and his spirit directs her how to save herself and her mother.  The two of them flee to Pittsburgh, where they stay with relatives.  The cousins bully Ophie, but her Aunt Rose, who also has the ability to see ghosts, instructs Ophie how to use her gift.  When Ophie and her mother start working at Daffodil Manor, Ophie has her hands full serving mean old Mrs. Carruthers and trying to figure out with the various “haints” that occupy the house.  One spirit in particular, a beautiful young woman named Clara, is kind and helpful to Ophie.  Clara was killed in the house, but has no recollection of how it happened, and enlists Ophie to help her solve the mystery.  Although Clara seems kind, she’s a ghost, and Aunt Rose has warned Ophie that ghosts can always be dangerous no matter how friendly they seem.  As Ophie begins to unravel Clara’s mystery and close in on the murderer, it starts to seem as though danger is waiting for her in every corner of the spooky old mansion.  336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Part ghost story, part historical fiction, this engaging story will draw readers in from the suspenseful prologue, and keep them guessing all the way to the end.  Ophie’s life as a Black girl in the 1920’s, first in Georgia and then in Pittsburgh, is filled with injustice and hardship, and it takes all her strength and special gifts to turn things around for her and her mother.  I hope this book will get some award consideration.

Cons:  Not really a con, but more of a warning: if you don’t like spooky stories or aren’t quite ready for Halloween just yet, you may want to take this week off from reading the blog! 😉

See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Amazon.com: See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat: 9781536216295: LaRochelle, David, Wohnoutka, Mike: Books
Amazon.com: See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat: 9781536216295: LaRochelle, David, Wohnoutka, Mike: Books

Summary:  In this sequel to See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog, the cat fills in for the dog who is out sick.  The narrator (referred to as “book”) has stories about the dog doing un-cat-like things like digging a hole, swimming, and protecting a sheep.  The cat is not pleased to be given these assignments, but finds some interesting ways to carry out her duties.  Dog appears at the end, just as the cat is about to faint under the stress of having to protect a sheep from a wolf.  Dog takes over, and Cat retreats to a hammock under the trees with a cold beverage in paw; “Now, THIS is the way to end a story!”  64 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  See the Cat is one of my favorite early readers, and the author-illustrator team has created another winner with these three stories that are sure to give new readers some laughs.  The first book won a Geisel Award, and this one is worthy of a similar honor.

Cons:  I missed Dog.

We Give Thanks by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Amazon.com: We Give Thanks: 9781442465077: Rylant, Cynthia, Ruzzier, Sergio: Books

Amazon.com: We Give Thanks: 9781442465077: Rylant, Cynthia, Ruzzier, Sergio: Books

Summary:  “We give thanks for mittens and for coats and boots and hats.  We give thanks for yellow dogs and yellow kitty cats.”  A frog and a rabbit show their gratitude for different aspects of their lives, like food, family, and nature.  They travel around their neighborhood, then end up back at home where they prepare a feast as friends and relatives start to arrive.  “Bless our nights and bless our days and bless all those we meet.  We give thanks for everything, and now…it’s time to EAT!”  32 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  With many of those Pilgrim and Indian Thanksgiving books feeling more problematic each year, I am thankful for books like these that focus on gratitude and make perfect Thanksgiving read-alouds.  Cynthia Rylant’s rhyme is bouncy and fun, and Sergio Ruzzier (who is quickly becoming one of my favorite illustrators) has done an outstanding job creating an animal world to complement the text.

Cons:  The Thanksgiving feast seems to be a little light on vegetables (although some may consider that a pro, not a con). 

Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic by Flora Delargy

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Wide-Eyed Editions

Amazon.com: Rescuing Titanic: A true story of quiet bravery in the North Atlantic (Hidden Histories): 9780711262782: Delargy, Flora: Books
Rescuing Titanic: A true story of quiet bravery in the North Atlantic (Hidden Histories) : Delargy, Flora: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Summary:  On April 10, 1912, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, bound for New York.  The next day, the Carpathia left New York, heading for various ports in Europe.  A few nights later, just after midnight onboard the Carpathia, 21-year-old radio operator Harold Cottam received a message saying, “Come at once…we have been struck by a ‘berg.”  As soon as Captain Arthur Rostron got the message, he turned his ship around and headed full-speed for the Titanic, navigating through iceberg-infested waters to see if he could save anyone.  Around 4:00 a.m. the Carpathia reached the lifeboats and started bringing survivors onboard.  The heroism didn’t end there, as the ship headed back to New York, with passengers and staff providing food, clothing, and medical care.  The Carpathia docked in New York on April 18, where it was greeted by a crowd of 30,000 people.  Includes a glossary and lists of sources and further reading.  80 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  I had pretty much vowed to never read another Titanic book for the rest of my life, but I really enjoyed this one, which focused on the heroism of Captain Rostron and others on board the Carpathia, usually just a footnote in the Titanic tragedy.  The illustrations are well-done and really support the text, and there’s lots of interesting information about all things nautical, as well as the historical stuff.

Cons:  My Heart Will Go On is now stuck in my head.

The Secret Explorers and the Missing Scientist by SJ King

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by DK Children

Amazon.com: The Secret Explorers and the Missing Scientist: 9781465499899: King, SJ: Books

Summary:  Kiki is tinkering with a bicycle near her home in Ghana when she gets the signal that the Secret Explorers have a mission.  When they’re all gathered, they learn that they’ve been assigned to the Arctic, and Kiki and marine specialist Connor are the two chosen to go.  When they get there, they find a ship stuck in the ice and learn that one of the scientists has gone missing.  As they carry out their rescue mission, they learn a lot about the polar environment, and have a close encounter with a polar bear.  Not only do they find the scientist, but Kiki’s engineering skills allow them to free the ship from the ice as well.  Includes additional information on the Arctic, the people who live there, and polar bears; a quiz; and a glossary.  128 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  Somehow I’ve missed this series until this book, #7, which got a starred review from School Library Journal.  Kids who like science and reading nonfiction will enjoy learning all the facts that are woven into the story and given in the backmatter.  There’s a diverse cast of characters that apparently answer the call from all around the globe when there’s a new mission. I was a little vague as to the group works, so definitely start with book 1.

Cons:  Even though there are plenty of illustrations, there’s no credit given on the cover or title page. Unless SJ King is also the illustrator?

Boogie, Boogie, Y’All by C. G. Esperanza

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Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Amazon.com: Boogie Boogie, Y'all: 9780062976222: Esperanza, C. G., Esperanza, C. G.: Books
Boogie Boogie, Y'all: Esperanza, C. G., Esperanza, C. G.: 9780062976222: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Although not everyone in her neighborhood loves graffiti, this girl sees it as beautiful art decorating the walls and trains of her community.  Some people complain about it, while others are too busy to notice it.  In the park, there’s a big block party, and suddenly the art comes to life and joins in the celebration.  Everyone boogies away except the girl, a friend, and their dog, who shake up some cans of spray paint and get busy creating art.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  A rollicking rhyming book that celebrates the art and life of an urban neighborhood.

Cons:  I didn’t really understand the ending.

Hispanic Heritage book list

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

For some reason, interlibrary loan has been very slow recently, so I’m low on books to read and review. Don’t worry, September is a big month for new books, so the good stuff is coming. In the meantime, I recently added a book list for Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) that you might want to take a look at. You can find it under the Book Lists section on my blog (just move the cursor to Book Lists and you should get a drop-down menu of all the lists), or use this link.

Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom by Josh Allen, illustrated by Sarah J. Coleman and Hide and Don’t Seek and Other Very Scary Stories by Anica Mrose Rissi

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Holiday House

Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom: Allen, Josh, Coleman, Sarah J.: 9780823449064: Amazon.com: Books

Published by Quill Tree Books

Hide and Don't Seek: And Other Very Scary Stories: Rissi, Anica Mrose: 9780063026957: Amazon.com: Books

Summary: These two collections of scary short stories were released in August, just in time to get in the library before Halloween.  Only If You Dare has 13 stories, mostly about kids whose normal lives are disturbed by some supernatural aspect.  They try to dismiss it at first, but eventually the nightmare comes true, the doll comes to life…well, you get the idea.  Hide and Don’t Seek is a collection of 19 stories, with a little more variety in the format, including a poem, a story told all in texts, and a collection of letters from a summer camp that you might want to avoid sending your kids to.  Both books have plenty of illustrations just in case your imagination isn’t overstimulated enough.  Only If You Dare is 208 pages, Hide and Don’t Seek is 224; both recommended for grades 4-7.

Pros:  Anyone who has worked in a library frequented by kids knows that these books will never be on the shelves.  The demand for scary stories is huge, and these stories are truly creepy.  Some kids’ horror is more funny than horrifying, but not these two collections.  They are definitely scary without being too disturbing for the intended age group.

Cons:  Horror is not and has never been my favorite genre, so reading 32 scary stories in a row…let’s just say I’ll be avoiding dolls and clowns for a while.

Chunky by Yehudi Mercado

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Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Chunky: Mercado, Yehudi, Mercado, Yehudi: 9780062972781: Amazon.com: Books
Chunky: Mercado, Yehudi, Mercado, Yehudi: 9780062972781: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Hudi just wants to hang out with his imaginary friend Chunky and make people laugh, but his parents think it’s better for him to play sports.  Not only are they concerned about his weight, but he had some health issues as a child that resulted in him losing part of a lung.  Most of the chapters have sports titles: “Soccer”, “Football”, “Swimming” as he tries one after and other and not only fails, but often ends up in the emergency room with some sort of injury.  in the last chapter “Theater”, he finds his true passion; his parents eventually come around and become his biggest cheerleaders.  Includes an author’s note with additional autobiographical information and a couple of photos.  208 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  An engaging graphic memoir; kids struggling to find their own identities will relate to Hudi’s difficulties on the sports field and cheer for him as he discovers where he really belongs–on stage.

Cons:  In his author’s note, Mercado says how he and his dad shared a passion for art.  While this is alluded to very briefly in the story, it would have been an interesting dimension of their relationship to play up a little more.