The Children's Literature Choice List for 1996 Books For Children 3 And Under Baa! Who’s on the Farm? Grr! Who’s in the Jungle? Richard Powell Illustrated by Steve Cox Lift the flaps and figure out which animal is making the sounds 1995, Little Simon, Ages 6 months to 3, $4.50ea. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Plane Ship Written and illustrated by Chris L. Demarest Bold, woodcut illustrations are paired with simple rhyming text in these charming board books. 1995, Red Wagon Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 1 to 4, $4.95 each. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Happy Moose, Grumpy Goose Red Strawberry Spots on My Shoes The Sun Rises, The Star Shines Written and illustrated by John Clementson New board books for the very young with bright bold collage pictures conveying simple concepts. 1995, Red Wagon Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 6mo to 2, $4.00 ea. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Color Fun Let’s Count Shapes Galore Happy Times Tab Board books showing favorite animals and objects plus teaching concepts. 1995, Dorling Kindersley, Ages 6 months to 3, $3.95ea. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen When It’s Time for Bed When There’s Work to Do When We Go Shopping When We Play Together Written and illustrated by Nick Butterworth Four enchanting board books follow the daily activities of a child and six friendly stuffed animals. 1994, HarperCollins, Ages 1 to 4, $4.95 each. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Wibbly Pig Opens His Presents Wibbly Pig Likes Bananas Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent Wibbly Pig is Upset Wibbly Pig Makes Pictures Wibbly Pig Can Dance Written and illustrated by Mick Inkpen With just a few strokes Mick Inkpen manages to create a delightful character in lots of familiar situations. 1995, Artists & Writers, Ages 2 to 4, $3.95 ea. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Picture Books Generally For Children Ages 4 To 8 The Biggest Boy Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Nancy Tafuri Two master storytellers work their magic in this fanciful tale aimed at taking the potential “sting” out of growing up. 1995, Greenwillow Books (William Morrow), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Biggest, Strongest, Fastest Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins Animal trivia. 1995, Ticknor & Fields (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot A Bold Carnivore: An Alphabet of Predators Written and illustrated by Consie Powell Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an intricate, full-color illustration of a North American predator. 1995, Roberts Rinehart, Ages 3 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Brer Tiger and the Big Wind William J. Faulkner Illustrated by Roberta Wilson The author, a Southern folklorist, recounts the story first told to him by Simon Brown, a former slave. 1995, Ages 5 up, Morrow Junior Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), $15.00. Reviewer: Barbara Disckind The Butterfly Seeds Written and illustrated by Mary Watson How hard it is to leave someone you love behind. 1995, Tambourine Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Do You See a Mouse? Written and illustrated by Bernard Waber Humor at the Park Snoot Hotel. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 3 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Feliciana Feydra LeRoux Tynia Thomassie Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith This “Cajun tall tale” stars a delightful, spunky heroine. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Gluskabe and the Four Wishes Retold by Joseph Bruchac Illustrated by Christine Nyburg Shrader Mative American legend. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages, $14.99. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney Illustrated by Anita Jeram Endearing pen and ink/watercolor illustrations complete this sweet tale of familial devotion. 1994, Candlewick Press, Ages 2 to 7, $13.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Have You Seen Trees? Joanne Oppenheim Illustrated by Jean Tseng and Mou-sien Tseng The full page pen and watercolor illustrations jump from the pages of this poetic dissertation on trees. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner Hey, Pipsqueak! Kate McMullan Pictures by Jim McMullan It does not matter how big and strong you are. It’s your mind that counts. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Samita Arora Hilda Hen’s Happy Birthday Written and Illustrated by Mary Wormell Have her farmyard friends remembered her birthday? 1995, Ages 3 to 5, Harcourt Brace & Company, $14.00. Reviewer: Barbara Disckind Hog-Eye Written and illustrated by Susan Meddaugh This humorous tale of woe begins with boarding the wrong school bus, getting off at an unfamiliar intersection, reading road signs and opting for the path through the forest. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 7 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner The House Gobbaleen Lloyd Alexander Illustrated by Diane Goode Alexander’s original tale and Goode’s expressive illustrations are sure to make this book a hit with all ages. 1995, Dutton Children’s Books, Ages 7 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet: Native American Animal Origin Stories Collected and retold by Gerald Hausman Illustrated by Ashley Wolff Besides learning why chipmunk has tiny feet, these seven origin or pourquoi tales also explain facts of nature. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan I Love Guinea Pigs Dick King-Smith Illustrated by Anita Jeram Long hair, short hair, brown and white, tan and black, striped or not these endearing creatures come in thousands of combinations. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot If You Should Hear A Honey Guide April Pulley Sayre Illustrated by S. D. Schindler The honey guide bird leads readers on a gentle journey through the wild bush lands of western Africa. 1995, Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh The Iguana Brothers Tony Johnston Illustrated by Mark Teague The illustrations evoke the torpor of a tropical afternoon, and imbue the accurately drawn iguanas with unique personalities. 1995, Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen In the Woods: Who’s Been Here? Written and illustrated by Lindsay Barrett George Take a walk in the autumn woods with a boy and his younger sister as they discover clues to animals who have been there. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Carol A. Flowers. It’s a Spoon, Not a Shovel Caralyn Buehner Pictures by Mark Buehner Your kids will laugh, and just might learn some manners in the process! 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 10, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen The Library Sarah Stewart Illustrated by David Small Elizabeth Brown loves books‹reading and collecting them, and ultimately sharing them. 1995, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz Like Butter on Pancakes Jonathan London Illustrated by G. Brian Karas A smooth and sweet offering set on a farm. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 3 to 6, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Lion’s Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale Nancy Raines Day Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi Ethiopian folktale about building a stepfamily. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith Campbell Lucy’s Summer Donald Hall Illustrated by Michael McCurdy A wonderful historical trip to New England. 1995, Browndeer Press (Harcourt Brace & Company), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Mary Had a Little Lamb Sarah Josepha Hale Pictures by Salley Mavor The familiar song is brought lovingly to life by Mavor’s stunning fabric relief art. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 1 to 5, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen More Than Anything Else Marie Bradby Pictures by Chris K. Soentpiet When Booker jumps for joy, you know that nothing will stop him from being “the one children will crowd around,” so he can teach them to read. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The New King Doreen Rappaport Pictures by E. B. Lewis Young Prince Rakoto is devastated to learn of his father’s untimely death while on a hunt. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 5 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Nights of the Pufflings Written and illustrated by Bruce McMillan This beautifully photographed book manages to teach some natural history, expose children to an unfamiliar culture, and convey the sense that children can make a difference in our world. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 4 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Oliver’s Vegetables Vivian French Illustrated by Alison Bartlett A gently humorous tale brought to life by full color paintings. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 3 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen The Rabbit’ s Escape Suzanne Crowder Han Illustrated by Yumi Heo This folktale about a tricky rabbit came to Korea from India in the Fourth Century. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 5 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Rae Valabek Rhymes for Annie Rose Shirley Hughes This beautiful collection of nursery rhymes clearly shows the author’s strong affection for young children. 1995, Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), All Ages, $16.00. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci Sail Away Written and illustrated by Donald Crews A family outing on a sailboat runs into rough seas, but is landed adeptly through the use of clever vocabulary. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 3 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer Meredith E. Kiger Snow Day! Barbara M. Joosse Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas Family fun on the first big snow day. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Something Is Growing Written and illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop A planted seed quickly gets out of control in this humorous story. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 5 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Three Cool Kids Written and illustrated by Rebecca Emberley This is a variant of the ŒThree Billygoats Gruff’ tale set in the inner city, with a nasty rat replacing the usual troll. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Tops and Bottoms Janet Stevens A clever reworking of several childhood fables puts them into the language of the modern business world. 1995, Harcourt, Brace & Company, Ages 6 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer: Meredith E. Kiger The Tortilla Factory Gary Paulsen Illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen In a simple but graceful text, the author follows the corn cycle. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 3 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Whistling Dixie Marcia Vaughan Illustrated by Barry Moser The superstitions and promises of childhood are amusingly shared by spirited Dixie Lee. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz Short Books Or Picture Books With More Text Than Usual For Young Readers (Children 5 To 10) The Ballad of the Pirate Queens Jane Yolen Illustrated by David Shannon Exquisitely dramatic-and sometimes a little scary-images in the style of N.C. Wyeth illustrate this poem of the capture and freeing of the famous women pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Reade. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 5 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Boy Who Lived with the Bears and Other Iroquois Stories Told by Joseph Bruchac Murv Jacob Once again Bruchac has masterfully recorded the tales of his ancestors for all to enjoy. 1995, HarperCollins. Ages 5 and up, $15.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner Call Me Ahnighito Pam Conrad Illustrated by Richard Egielski Factual information is told in a most unusual way. The meteorite has feelings and thoughts as well as a point of view. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Cat and the Cook and Other Fables of Krylov Retold by Ethel Heins Pictures by Anita Lobel The twelve classic fables retold in this edition highlight the importance of hard work, the foolishness of greed and vanity, and the need to respect other’ individuality. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 6 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Carol A. Flowers Dinner at Magritte’s Written and illustrated by Michael Garland Here’s some good fun with the concept of surrealism. 1995, Dutton Children’s Books, Ages 5 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Emily and Alice Again Joyce Champion Illustrated by Suçie Stevenson A collection of three entertaining stories about two best friends that also show how the two girls manage to get through, and get along in, varying situations. 1995, Gulliver Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 5 to 9, $14.00. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels. The Faithful Friend Robert D. San Souci Illustrated by Brian Pinkney This magical tale from the island of Martinique in the French West Indies tells of two devoted friends, Clement and Hippolyte, who “were so close that the happiness of one was the happiness of both.” 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 10, $16.00. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson Folks Call Me Appleseed John Andrew Glass Although Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman, was a historical person, many legends and tall tales have grown up about his life and deeds. 1995, Doubleday (Bantam Doubleday Dell), Ages 5 to 11, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan. Grandaddy’s Stars Helen V. Griffith Pictures by James Stevenson A delightful story about Janetta and her Grandaddy who travels by train from his farm in Georgia to her home in Baltimore. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 5 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Hayloft Lisa Westberg Peters Illustrated by K. D. Plum A day and night on the farm. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 6 to 9, $12.99. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All Cynthia Rylant Pictures by Suçie Stevenson The adventures never seem to end for redheaded Henry and his big dog Mudge. 1995, Macmillan, Ages 6 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Math Curse Jon Scieszka Illustrated by Lane Smith An irreverent look at math and the way we teach it in school. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 6 and up, $16.99. Reviewer: Judy Katsh The Night the Grandfathers Danced Linda Theresa Raczek Illustrated by Katalin Olah Ehling The Bear Dance of the Ute Mountain Indians is an annual springtime event. T 1995, Northland Publishing, Ages 7 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Gina Sides Older Brother, Younger Brother Nina Jaffe Illustrated by Wenhai Ma This is a Korean legend retold, of two brothers “as different as day and night.” 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 5 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami One Night: A Story From the Desert Cristina Kessler Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr Muhamad an eight-year-old Tuareg, describes his happy life. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 6 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale Ruth Sanderson Papa Gatto is a very clever cat who serves as advisor to the prince. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 4 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Pinky and Rex and the Double-Dad Weekend James Howe Illustrated by Melissa Sweet It is time for the big weekend camping adventure with their Dads, and Pinky and Rex are really excited. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 5 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot She’s Wearing A Dead Bird On Her Head! Kathryn Lasky Illustrated by David Catrow In order to save endangered and potentially endangered birds, the two women urged other concerned women and men to educate the public and pass protective legislation by forming the Massachusetts Audubon Society. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 7 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan. The Story of the Three Kingdoms Walter Dean Myers Illustrated by Ashley Bryan The power of a shared story, intelligence and cooperation are the messages in Myers original fable.. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Tchaikovsky Discovers America Esther Kalman Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson The daughter of Russian immigrants, eleven year old Jenny is thrilled to see Tchaikovsky conduct a symphony in the newly constructed Carnegie Hall, and is even more excited to meet him in person during a train trip to Niagara Falls. 1994, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Theodoric’s Rainbow Stephen Kramer Illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy Theodoric was a fascinating scientist who was much ahead of his time. 1995, W. H. Freeman and Company, All Ages, $17.95. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci Too Far Away to Touch Lesléa Newman Illustrated by Catherine Stock We gradually come to understand that Uncle Leonard has AIDS. This is a sensitive, touching treatment of a difficult subject. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen What Do Authors Do? Eileen Christelow How a book comes about. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 7 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami When the Whippoorwill Calls Candice F. Ransom Kimberly Bulcken Root In 1924, the Blue Ridge Mountains became the site of a new national park. Polly and her father venture back to their former home, discovering new treasures in nature. 1995, Tambourine Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), All Ages, $16.00. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner Nonfiction All About Owls Written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky Noted naturalist, author, and painter, Jim Arnosky has created another fine addition to the All About series of books. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 3 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Angel Falls: A South American Journey Martin Jordan and Tanis Jordan This book was inspired by five months travel down Venezuela’s Carrao River to Auyantepui, the mountain which is home to the highest waterfall in the world. 1995, Kingfisher, Ages 4 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Buffalo Gals: Women of the Old West Brandon Marie Miller Fascinating black and white photographs and excerpts from journals and letters of the period, help to enliven this history of women exploring and settling the western United States. 1995, Lerner, Ages 9 to 14, $18.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan From Pictures to Words:A Book About Making a Book Written and illustrated by Janet Stevens The perfect book to encourage the young would-be author without being too serious. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer; Meredith E. Kiger Katie Henio, Navajo Sheepherder Peggy Thomson Illustrated by Paul Conklin Katie Henio is a vital great grandmother, sheepherder, weaver, plant expert and storyteller.. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 7 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Launch Day Written and Illustrated by Peter A. Campbell Take a journey on the space shuttle Atlantis with NASA artist Peter Campbell, and it may be a trip you won’t soon forget! 1995, Millbrook Press, Ages 7 and up, $15.40 and $7.95. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci The Red Poppy Irmgard Lucht Large, detailed, close-up acrylic paintings take us through every stage of the poppy flower. 1995 (first published in Germany, 1994), Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 4 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels. A Remainder Of One Elinor J. Pinczes Illustrated by Bonnie Mackain A charming introduction to division and remainders, A Remainder Of One uses poetry and vibrant illustrations to teach children a sometimes confusing concept. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 7 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Pat Simon Sod Houses on the Great Plains Glen Rounds This nonfiction picture book describes why and how sod houses and their cousins, dugouts, were built, and touches on some of their advantages and disadvantages. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats Ann Earle Illustrated by Henry Cole Bats, the only flying mammals, are fascinating, gentle creatures. 1995, HarperTrophy, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95 and $4.95, Reviewer: Dia L. Michels Longer Books With More Sophisticated Themes For Middle Readers (Children 8 To 12) Arabian Nights: Three Tales Retold and illustrated by Deborah Nourse Lattimore Retelling three ancient tales, Lattimore has combined a challenging yet accessible text with rich illustrations for “Aladdin,” “Queen of the Serpents” and “Ubar, the Lost City of Brass.” 1995, Joanna Colter Books (HarperCollins), Ages 9 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin Atalanta’s Race: An Ancient Greek Myth Told by Shirley Climo Illustrated by Alexander Koshkin An ancient Greek Myth that tells of the young woman abandoned by her royal father, rescued by a bear, and raised by a woodsman. 1994, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 5 to 9,$15.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Binya’s Blue Umbrella Ruskin Bond Illustrated by Vera Rosenberry Binya meets some urban picnickers, trades her leopard-claw necklace for a lacy blue umbrella, and we are launched on an engaging, moving, joyful journey. 1995, Caroline House (Boyds Mills Press), Ages 8 to 12, $12.95. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami The Bones in the Cliff James Stevenson This is a lively, interesting, mystery just spooky enough for the middle grades.. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 to 12,$14.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman The Burnt Stick Anthony Hill Illustrated by Mark Sofilas This heart rending story is of one boy, John Jagamarra, who at age five was taken from his mother and educated at a mission school. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 10 up, $12.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Coast to Coast With Alice Patricia Rusch Hyatt The reader of this book is privileged to join sixteen year old Minna Jahns as she rides across the United States with Alice Ramsey, the first woman driver and only the third person to ever make the trip. 1995, Carolrhoda Books (Lerner Group), Ages 10 up, $13.13. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami Jason and the Losers Gina Willner-Pardo Surely life can’t get any worse for Jason. His parents are divorcing and he has to move in with his aunt and uncle and cousin Everett. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Mennyms in the Wilderness Sylvia Waugh Waugh gently pokes fun at human behavior through the actions and words of the Mennyms‹living dolls who never age. 1994, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 and up, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz The Mona Lisa of Salem Street Jan Marino Nettie and John Peter have been shuttled between various relatives ever since their parents died in an accident.. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 12 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Moriah’s Pond Ethel Footman Smothers The uneasiness of race relations in the South in the 1950’s is an undercurrent of the story. 1995, Knopf (Random House), Ages 12 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen The New Nick Kramer, or My Life as a Baby-sitter James Howe Fast paced and lots of laughs. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 9 to 13, $13.95. Reviewer: Mary Clayton Rowen Nick’s Mission Claire H. Blatchford It’s the last day of school, and Nick is heading out the door for the lake with his snorkeling gear and his dog Wags when mom breaks the bad news. 1995, Lerner, Ages 10 up, $17.50. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Ozzie On His Own Johanna Hurwitz Illustrated by Eileen McKeating Ozzie On His Own is a well-written story that portrays a modern family in a realistic, positive way. 1995, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 8 to 13, $15.00. Reviewer: Karen White Pinocchio’s Sister Jan Slepian Set in the days of vaudeville, this haunting novel of love and jealousy will keep readers turning the pages. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Pomegranate Seeds: A Classic Greek Myth Laura Geringer Illustrated by Leonid Gore Basing this story on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Pomegranate Seeds” from his 1853 Tanglewood Tales, Geringer skillfully retells the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone with a distinctly modern touch. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer; Michelle H. Martin The Private Notebook of Katie Roberts, Age 11 Amy Hest Illustrated by Sonja Lamut Alternately sweet, feisty, funny and wry, Katie’s notes and the squiggled margin pictures portray with intelligence and humor the problems of growing up and adjusting to new realities. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Utterly Yours, Booker Jones Betsy Duffey Booker Jones’ life used to be perfect; he had a typewriter on which to write his science-fiction novels, and a desk to study at, and a room to work in. Now he has none of those. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 10 and up, $13.99. Reviewer: Jyotsna Sreenivasan The Van Gogh Cafe Cynthia Rylant Each chapter of the book is a brief vignette about the people who frequent the cafe, and the magic that happens in their lives as a result. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 12 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Adventure In Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble Elaine Scott and Margaret Miller This exquisite photo-essay tells about the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s mission to repair the orbiting Hubble Telescope. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh The Book of North American Owls Helen Roney Sattler Illustrated by Jean Day Zallinger This is a fairly encyclopedic look at the natural history of owls. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Coral Reefs: Earth’s Undersea Treasures Lawrence Pringle Stunning photographs and a lively and informative text take readers on a tour of the endangered reefs of the world. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 10 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Earth Daughter: Alicia of Ácoma Pueblo George Ancona The fascinating story of Alicia Histia, a young girl from Ácoma Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Great Fire Jim Murphy The terrible fire of 1871 turned the bustling city of Chicago into one of the country’s worst disaster areas, practically overnight. 1995. Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan I Was Dreaming to Come to America: Memories from the Ellis Island Oral History Project Selected and illustrated by Veronica Lawlor Hand-painted collages grace these short, moving glimpses into the lives of immigrants who braved the voyage to America around the turn-of-the-century. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), All Ages, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr In Search of the Grand Canyon: Down the Colorado with John Wesley Powell Mary Ann Fraser On May 24, 1869, Major Powell set out from Green River Station with four wooden boats, ten men and supplies for ten months. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 9 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson Isaac Johnson: From Slave to Stonecutter Hope Irvin Marston Illustrated by Maria Magdalena Brown This harrowing but inspirational biography is based on Isaac Johnson’s own work, Slavery Days In Old Kentucky. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 8 to 14, $14.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend Robert D. San Souci Paintings by Max Ginsburg This heartwarming true story of bravery is graced with evocative illustrations. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 6 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Mother Jones: One Woman’s Fight for Labor Betsy Harvey Kraft A controversial figure from America’s period of industrialization is brought to light in this evenhanded account of the small, but feisty Mother Jones. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 9 and up, $16.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Portrait of a Farm Family Raymond Bial This photographic essay follows the Steidinger family during their days working on their dairy farm. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 9 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen The Real Johnny Appleseed Laurie Lawlor Wood engravings by Mary Thompson The woodcuts and wood engravings add much to this account of the life of John Chapman, otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed. 1995, Whitman, Ages 7 to 10, $13.95. Reviewer: Rae Valabek Rocket! How a Toy Launched the Space Age Richard Maurer Here is a history of rockets: their invention and increasing sophistication as well as their military and peacetime applications. 1995, Crown Publishers Inc., Ages 10 and up, $17.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh Taking Flight: My Story by Vicki Van Meter Vicki Van Meter and Dan Gutman Vicki became the youngest girl to fly across the country. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 10 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Talking with Artists Volume II Pat Cummings As she did in the first volume Cummings has compiled another series of entertaining and informative visits with contemporary illustrators of children’s books. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 9 and up, $19.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times Albert Marrin Marrin’s biography of the man the Spaniards knew as El Draque, the Dragon, traces Drake’s life from his early years on the edge of the North Sea, to his death as a disillusioned old man. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 12 up, $18.00. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami Walt Whitman Catherine Reef Reef has crafted an intelligent, interesting, eminently readable book about one of America’s greatest poets and eccentrics. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewed by Kathleen Karr Yanomami: People of the Amazon David M. Schwartz Photographs by Victor Englebert This large-format, beautifully photographed nonfiction books take us to a typical, untouched yano, or village, to show us how a group of 20 families still live in the old way in harmony with their jungle environment. 1995, Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jerniga Young Adult (Generally Children 12 And Up) Alien Game Catherine Dexter Zoe Brook and all the kids at Oak Hill are playing Elimination, but this game and the eerie expertise of the new girl Christina have made this year’s game terrifying. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 11 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Angel’s Gate Gary Crew Two “wild” children have witnessed a murder, and they must be found and protected.. 1995 (orig. 1993), Simon & Schuster, Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Canto Familiar Gary Soto Illustrated by Annika Nelson This book of “familiar songs” is a delightful collection of poems that touch on the universal aspects of childhood. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 10 up, 17.00. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye Eclipse Kristine L. Franklin Eclipse explores the effect of a parent’s depression and suicide on the family left behind. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 12 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele A Fate Totally Worse Than Death Paul Fleischman In this sarcastic spoof on young adult horror novels, Fleischman presents a group of teenage girls from Cliffside High who are so vane, cruel, and totally popular that the reader almost enjoys watching them grow old prematurely. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn’t Called You Back? Valerie Hobbs Bron Lewis resents her parents for their decisions that mess up her life. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), 14 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Gina Sides I Am An Artichoke Lucy Frank Fifteen-year old Sarah takes a summer job as companion to twelve-year-old Emily. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Ironman Chris Crutcher Ironman is a five-star book that leads readers to realize that physical bravery is hollow without the will to live first with emotional courage. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 12 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele Kokopelli’s Flute Will Hobbs Will Hobbs has created a marvelous, mystical world that is intimately connected to our own. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Like Sisters on the Homefront Rita Williams-Garcia Unable to raise her headstrong 14-year-old daughter in New York, Mama sends Gayle and her infant son on a one-way trip down South, to the family home. 1995, Lodestar Books, $15.99, ages 13 up. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner Liza’s Blue Moon Diane Stevens Liza is a precocious thirteen, living in a dysfunctional family. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 12 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Missing Pieces Norma Fox Mazer How Jessie manages to find her father and come to terms with her own identity is skillfully interwoven with the story of her growing relationships with her mother, great great aunt, two girlfriends and first boyfriend. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Moon Dancer Margaret Rostkowski As a refreshing twist, this teenage love story takes place during an expedition into the canyons below Bear Mountain in Utah. 1995, Browndeer Press (Harcourt Brace & Company), Ages 12 up, $5.00. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa Shonto Begay By pairing his striking oil paintings with powerful and graceful poetry, Navajo artist, Shonto Begay, shares many aspects of his life and culture in a very personal way. 1995, Scholastic, All Ages, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan New World Gillian Cross This British import is an exciting read about the frightening potentials of virtual reality games. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 11 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr Slot Machine Chris Lynch Told from Elvin’s point of view, this book presents a hysterically funny look at the lives of teenagers forced to fit into slots. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 11 and up, $14. 95. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph Somewhere Around the Corner Jackie French French has brought us a time fantasy from Australia that teaches a bit of world history as well as giving us a romp in a land very different from our own. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 11 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Spying on Miss Müller Eve Bunting Inspired by Bunting’s own school experiences, Spying is a readable and humorous‹at times moving‹account of adolescents trying to deal with each other, their own secrets, and the unaccountable hate war inspires. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr The Tinker’s Daughter Sheila Hayes This realistic novel- explores issues of true friendship and the mother/daughter relationship, as well as trying to reconcile somewhat unconventional life-styles with the constraints of a small, conservative Vermont town. 1995, Lodestar (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 11 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Tomorrow, When The War Began John Marsden What would you do if you came home from a camping trip in the desert to find the houses in your neighborhood abandoned, food rotting, your pets dead, and the electric power cut off? 1995, Houghton Mifflin Co., Ages 12 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele The War of Jenkins’ Ear Michael Morpurgo Toby Jenkins is not looking forward to the start of a new year at Redlands, the traditional, all-boy boarding school that the attended last year. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan The Watsons Go to Birmingham‹1963 Christopher Paul Curtis The story of the Weird Watson family of Flint, Michigan as told by ten-year-old Kenny Watson is achingly funny. Kenny’s story is also a heartbreaking look at one child’s attempt to cope with a crisis of spirit after a shattering event in Birmingham. 1995, Delacorte (Bantam Doubleday Dell), Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson Wren’s War Sherwood Smith For fantasy readers, there is plenty of intrigue, enchantments, and transformations‹all of which have a profound impact on Wren and her friends Tyron, Connor and Tess as they struggle to save the kingdom of Meldrith. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 12 up, $17.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot The Day Sky Split Apart Roy A. Gallant What would happen if a large object from space hit the earth or exploded in the atmosphere?. I 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Extraordinary Women Scientists Darlene R. Stille The lives and contributions of 49 women scientists are encapsulated in short (2 to 4 page) biographies, accompanied by black and white photos. 1995, Childrens Press, Ages 10 up, $32.80. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen Keeping Secrets: The Girlhood Diaries of Seven Women Writers Mary E. Lyons The author skillfully brings together excerpts from the journals of seven, special 19th century American women. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan Rhythm of the Reef: A Day in the Life of the Coral Reef Rick Sammon Travel around the world stopping to visit the world’s coral reefs depicted in stunning full color underwater photographs by author/photographer/explorer Rick Sammon. 1995, Voyageur Press, Ages 12 up, $29.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II Penny Colman In 1943 while America’s fighting men were on the front lines in World War II, millions of the nation’s women valiantly filled vital defense and civilian jobs, from riveting airplane parts and reconditioning machine gears to driving buses and becoming police officers. 1995, Crown Publishers Inc., Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Bagel. Science on the Ice: An Antarctic Journal Rebecca L. Johnson Join the author on one of her remarkable journeys, visiting the scientists working in the Antarctic. 1995, Lerner, Ages 11 up, $29.95 Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS James Cross Giblin Illustrated by David Frampton A book about plagues? How macabre, one might think. But this page-turner is not just about people dying in droves. It is also about attempts to solve medical mysteries. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Jyotsna Sreenivasan Poetry Black Swan/White Crow J. Patrick Lewis Illustrated by Chris Manson If you’re the kind of person known to take a snobbish attitude toward haiku, this is the book that will put you in your place. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster) Books for Young Readers, Ages 7 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer: Andrea Brott The Night Is Like An Animal Candace Whitman Beginning readers will be enchanted with this bedtime poem about the night. 1995, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 2 to 6, $13.00. Reviewer: Debby Buchanan The Pelican Chorus: and Other Nonsense Edward Lear Fred Marcellino A new edition brings us three of Lear’s totally nonsensical poems, two of which are, sadly, not much recited in modern times. 1995, Michael di Capua Books (HarperCollins), Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Susan Gaber The perfect first book of poems! 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 4 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Meredith E. Kiger Street Music Arnold Adoff Illustrated by Karen Barbour Like tiny light bulbs flashing on and off across the cityscape, each poem tries on a different vantage point, a new apartment window or a shifted time of day, and street music requires that you move fast to keep the beat. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $16.00. Reviewer: Jessy Deutsch Sweet Corn James Stevenson The jacket flap for this book of original poetry says that “this book will turn you head over heels with delight”‹and so it will. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 8 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele If you would like the full reviews for the books on the 1996 Choice List, it is available from Children’s Literature for $14.99. Also Children’s Literature can provide copies of the books. Use the on-line order form or call 1- 800 469 2070. Mention our Web site and get a 15% discount on your book order.