Eve Bunting
Eve Bunting has more than two hundred books to her credit. She consistently receives praise and is not afraid to take on controversial topics. That includes Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, which focused on the race riots in Los Angeles, and most recently Riding the Tiger illustrated by David Frampton (2001, Clarion, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00), and Gleam and Glow illustrated by Peter Sylvada (2001, Harcourt, Ages 7 to 9, $16.00). In the latter, a family hastens to escape their war-torn county, but before leaving the young boy puts two beautiful fish in their pond in the hope that they may live a day or two more. The family escapes to the safety of a refugee camp. When the war ends, they return home only to find that all is destroyed except that the beautiful fish have multiplied and filled the pond-adding some joy to their return. As she remarked in one presentation "the saddest wars are civil wars."
Riding the Tiger, according to our reviewer Beverley Fahey, is a haunting allegory-how to avoid the temptation of conformity and to stand tall for individualism-is related in vivid language. "Bunting has crafted a tale for today's children, who often find themselves riding the tiger. Used as a discussion starter, this book will empower kids to become masters of their own fate." Another difficult subject is addressed in The Days of Summer. It is one of the few picture books that discusses the divorce of grandparents. It, like the other thought-provoking stories she has written, ends on a positive note.
Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Eve Bunting relocated to California in 1958 with her husband. She began her writing career, when her three children were in high school and college. She enrolled in a writing course at a junior college, and in 1972, her first book, a retold Irish folktale called The Two Giants, was published. Eve Bunting writes picture books, middle grade novels, and novels for young adults. Her books have received many awards including the Regina Medal, the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, and the Golden Kite Award. She has also been honored with the Kerlan Award. Probably most telling is her appearance on more than twenty state lists where the children have chosen her books for their state awards.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
For additional information about Eve Bunting, click here.Reviews
Blackwater
Eve Bunting
Brodie Lynch, a thirteen-year-old preacher's son, begins his summer by playing a practical joke on the girl of his dreams and her boyfriend. The results are so tragic that he succumbs to his disliked cousin Alex's interpretation of them to the police-a lie that makes Brodie a hero. Now Brodie must live with his lie that destroys the reputation of another. He's torn between Alex-the devil's advocate-his upbringing, and the Batgirl Hannah's sound advice. Bunting's moralistic novella is terse and to the point, though her picture of the inter-relationships in a small town is nicely drawn. 1999, Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-06-027838-2
Blackwater
Eve Bunting
In spite of the dangers of swimming in the Blackwater River, teenagers swim out to the rock on whose backside the river rages. One summer afternoon, Brodie takes his visiting cousin, Alex, to the river ostensibly to teach him to swim. When he sees a young girl on whom he has a crush sunning herself on the rock and flirting with a rival, he decides to tease them. His innocent prank results in both kids being thrown into the raging current. Brodie's heroic efforts to save the teens fails and he himself must be rescued. Rescuers hail him a hero and Alex, who has an agenda of his own plays up Brodie's rescue attempt, making it difficult for Brodie to tell the truth. When a letter arrives at his home with only one word on it -Tell!- Brodie knows someone is aware of his secret. With lie building upon lie, Brodie's internal conflict deepens and readers become involved and sympathize with his dilemma. Bunting explores the many facets of friendship and takes a long, hard look at guilt and forgiveness. Pair this with Marion Bauer's On My Honor (a more finely crafted novel) for a good discussion. 1999, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-06-027838-2
Butterfly House
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Greg Shed
Bunting's story is filled with warm, wonderful illustrations in gouache on canvas created by Greg Shed. Together they tell the story of a larva's transformation. After a young girl rescues a larva from a hungry bird, her grandfather helps her build a butterfly house so they can observe its transformation. When the butterfly emerges, she sadly lets it free. But every spring thereafter, the butterflies come to her garden. Can it be that the tale of her rescue has passed down through the generations? Bunting raised a butterfly of her own during a local Earth Day celebration, and detailed instructions for raising a butterfly are found on the book's closing page. 1999, Scholastic, Ages 4 up , $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-590-84884-4
Can You Do This, Old Badger?
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by LeUyen Pham
As Old Badger and Little Badger take a walk before dark, Little Badger finds it sad that there are many things that he can do that Old Badger no longer can. But there are many things he can still do, including teaching Little Badger how to find worms, or beehives, or how to fish. The simple tale reinforces the cycle of life for youngsters. As an old badger taught him, Old Badger assures Little Badger that some day he will teach another little badger, and he will love him "as much as I love you." Whether badger or human grandfather, the story would be the same. There's a natural anthropomorphism to Pham's animals and a sense of warm rightness to the depictions of their forest home. In gouache-painted, full-page scenes and frequent vignettes the artist refrains from any dark thought of predators or of grandpa's mortality. From the jacket/cover on there is a nosy frog not mentioned in the text, a character we look for as a sort of comic relief from the lessons taught. Old Badger's wisdom is shown in many ways; mutual love is also successfully visualized in both facial expressions and body language.1999, Harcourt Inc., Ages 4 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-15-201654-6
Cheyenne Again
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Irving Toddy
It is a sad and frightening day when the Taking Man insists that ten-year-old Young Bull must leave his home and family on the Cheyenne Reservation and spend most of the year at a faraway boarding school, learning the white man's ways. Young Bull is very homesick at the harsh, regimented school and tries to run away back to his home. He is unsuccessful, but he learns that he can be "Cheyenne again" in his art and memories. The author does a good job of presenting this difficult situation in a picture book format. A brief Afterword gives some background information on this part of American history. The realistic, watercolor illustrations by a Navajo artist, who had a similar school experience, complement the text well. 1995, Clarion, Ages 5 to 11, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 0-395-70364-6
The Day the Whale Came
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Scott Menchin
A whale is coming to Johnstown, Illinois by train, and although the whale is dead, everybody in town is anxious to see it. Ben and Tommy are friends and they are going to see the whale. Sometimes Tommy doesn't like what Ben does, but he usually doesn't say so. Ben has brought a penknife to the train station. He is hoping to get a piece of the whale as a souvenir. He wants Tommy's help to distract Captain Pinkney so that he can get his souvenir. Tommy feels sorry for the poor animal, and the events that follow teach Tommy something about himself. It's a story that presents a message about self-confidence and trust in oneself that even the youngest reader will understand. 1998, Harcourt Brace, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Joyce Rice
ISBN: 0-15-201456-X
A Day's Work
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Ronald Himler
What begins as a search for day-work ends with discovering one of life's valuable lessons. Grandpa speaks no English, so Francisco accompanies him to help him find day work. Even without the benefit of an English vocabulary, however, Grandpa makes himself understood in a meaningful way that benefits them both. Himler's sensitive illustrations meld with Bunting's insightful account, conveying emotions so convincing that the reader is swept inside the pages. 1994, Clarion, Ages 5 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Bagel
ISBN: 0-395-67321-6
The Days of Summer
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by William Low
The long days of summer are coming to an end. So, too, is the marriage of the grandparents of two young girls, Nora and Jo-Jo. Both girls are shocked and saddened by this unforeseen event. Grandma assures them that they will still see their grandfather frequently. She tells them that she and Grandpa were very unhappy together and that this was coming for a long time. Although the entire family is having difficulty dealing with this sensitive and emotional issue, a subsequent phone call from Grandpa helps Nora see the situation from a different perspective. Grandpa tells Nora that he has moved only a short distance down the road and although things will never be the same, sometimes change is for the better. Upon reflection, Nora realizes that she will still have both a loving grandmother and grandfather, and that she can learn to accept change. 2001, Harcourt, Ages 5 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Denise Daley
ISBN: 0-15-201840-9
December
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by David Diaz
A homeless boy and his mother live in a lean-to of cardboard in the heart of the city. One wall is decorated with the picture of an angel, the December illustration from a discarded calendar. Christmas is coming, and they intend to celebrate with a small Christmas tree decorated with found objects and two cookies purchased with returned soda cans. On Christmas Eve, they are visited by a homeless old woman. They share their home and a cookie with her. On Christmas day, the woman has disappeared, but left behind a spirit that seems to change Simon's and his mother's luck. Bold, batik-like illustrations add to the mystery of this touching story. 1997, Harcourt, Ages 5 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0-15-201434-9
Doll Baby
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Catherine Stock
This is a curious hybrid of a book - a young adult novel presented as a short picture book. But in a way, this is a reflection of its subject-how little-girl dreams of motherhood are based on pretty fantasy. Pregnant by her first boyfriend, Ellie is determined to keep the baby. Like any romantic fifteen-year-old, she is convinced that her wanting everything to be all right will MAKE everything be all right. With simple, poignant writing, Bunting shows how Ellie's life changes-she misses schoolwork, can't play softball or sing in the chorus, finds that her friends don't want a baby around, and must watch as her boyfriend (who denies the child is his) dates another girl. Ellie endlessly second-guesses her decision, "I wonder if I was right to want Angelica, to keep her." Dreamy-eyed preteens might be given this book, in the hopes that it will remind them that being a parent means never again being a child.2000, Clarion Books, Ages 10 up, $15.00.Reviewer: Donna Freedman
ISBN: 0-395-93094-4
Ducky
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by David Wisniewski
In 1992, a ship bound for Tacoma left Hong Kong with 29,000 plastic bathtub toy animals that were washed overboard in a storm. Some were found off the coast of the Gulf of Alaska but one lone duck was found off the coast of Washington State. This inspired Eve Bunting's tale. We journey with the duck on the adventure of his toy life, feeling his terror and fears. The illustrations are buoyant cut-paper designs in startling shades of red, magenta, yellow and blue. 1997, Clarion, Ages 3 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-395-75185-3
Gleam and Glow
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Peter Sylvada
The story is all too familiar, unless you haven't been reading the papers or watching television news. A family hastens to escape their war-torn county, but before leaving an older man leaves his fish bowl with the family. Little Marina names them Gleam and Glow and Viktor her brother places the two beautiful goldfish in their pond in the hope that they may live a day or two more. The family escapes to the safety of a refugee camp and when the war ends, they return home. Sadly it is only to find that all is destroyed except that the beautiful fish have multiplied and filled the pond with shades of gold-adding some joy to their return home. As Eve Bunting remarked in one presentation "the saddest wars are civil wars." This story is sad but it ends on a bright note and the closing picture is filled with the golden glow of the fish. The beautiful endpapers and cream-colored pages are a perfect complement as are the paintings by Sylvada which early on are filled with dark colors to reflect the bleakness of war and then brighten as the people return home. This is a picture book that will also appeal to older readers. Harcourt, Ages 7 to 9, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-15-202596-0
Going Home
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by David Diaz
The award-winning team of Bunting and Diaz blend their talents to tell the story of Carlos, a boy whose family takes time from migrant work in the US to visit their home in Mexico. Carlos and his older sister are confused as to why his parents left home, chose such a difficult life, and want to return to a place doesn't seem so special. After a long night of warm conversation with their Mexican family, Carlos and his sister watch their parents dancing barefoot in the street of the small village. Their sore shoulders and bad knees are temporarily forgotten in the magic mood of the night and Carlos, watching them, understands their sacrifice for the promise of opportunity. Bunting's characters lead children thorough the emotional levels of the situation, while Diaz creates a celebration of illustration accenting the joys of family warmth found in a small Mexican village brightened by Christmas festivities. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-06-026296-6
ISBN: 0-06-026297-4
I Am the Mummy Heb-Nefert
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by David Christiana
In this evocative picture book, Heb-Nefert, a mummy residing in a museum, recalls the events of her past life. In lyrical prose, she tells of her beginnings as the daughter of the chief magistrate, describes her life of leisure and joy with her royal husband and faithful cat on the banks of the Nile, explains how she floated above her body when she died and watched her corpse being embalmed and mummified, and sadly remembers how she viewed the construction of her tomb and observed as the faithful mourned and wept at her passing. Emotional watercolor paintings perfectly capture the drama of this compelling tale and reveal the majesty and mystery of royal life in ancient Egypt. 1997, Harcourt Brace, Ages 7 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-15-200479-3
I Have an Olive Tree
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Karen Barbour
Sophia is disappointed on her seventh birthday when she doesn't get the skateboard she had wanted, but instead is given an olive tree by her Greek grandfather. The tree isn't even where she can see it, the tree is in Greece! When grandfather is on his deathbed a year later, he gives Sophia his beloved wife's beads and requests she hang them on the branches of her olive tree. Sophia is saddened by her grandfather's death, but can't understand why it is so important to her grandfather that she should take the beads to Greece. However, Sophia and her mother, who left the Greek island when she was a small girl, travel to their homeland. Through their travels and ultimate goal of hanging the beads on the now old and gnarled tree the mother and daughter come to love and appreciate their cultural heritage and family history. Bunting, who is prolific in her writings on family issues and multiculturalism, has created a wonderful story about family heritage. The illustrations are bold and colorful and well represent the extraordinary Greek culture. 1999, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Betsy Barnett
ISBN: 0-06-027573-1
I Like the Way You Are
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by John O'Brien
Stopping at unpretentious McMollusks for a snack of slug nuggets and cricket fries, after being thrown out of the stuffy Posh Place, is just one of the mini-adventures of two good turtle friends in this heartwarming and amusing picture book. Turtle and Spottie star in five brief tales that each teach a lesson in friendship, but in a very lighthearted, non-preachy way. Lively, cartoon-like drawings illustrate values such as-kindness, respect, compromise, and being true to one's self, with warm humor. The author and illustrator do an especially good job of creating an anthropomorphic turtle/pond environment.2000, Clarion Books, Ages 4 to 10, $15.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 0-395-89066-7
In-Between Days
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Alexander Pertzoff
The in-between days are those days when the folks on Dove Island are marooned. The ice is too thick for boats to get through, but not thick enough for the forty-three families to walk across to the mainland. George Bowser doesn't want anything to change. He and his father and brother live happily on the island until Caroline Best comes over, first as a tourist and then as a friend, and then-George's father wants to marry her. George thinks he's found a way to keep her out of his life, until he realizes the pain he's caused his father and younger brother. Eve Bunting's tale of George's struggle to accept change and a new relationship makes wonderful reading. 1994, HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 11, $14.00 and $13.89. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-06-023609-4
ISBN: 0-06-023612-4
Jin Woo
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
The anticipation, excitement and hopes of adoptive parents waiting to greet a new family member are perfectly captured in the text and illustrations of this extraordinary book. Captured also are the mixed feelings of siblings awaiting a new little brother or sister. Older brother David is the narrator in this book about a family adopting a baby boy from Korea. "Were they this excited when they adopted me?" David wonders, as he watches his mom and dad prepare for the precious baby's arrival. The trio go to the airport together to meet Jin Woo's plane and know they will come home a foursome. David tries to work through his mixed feelings alone; he doesn't want his parents to know he is feeling threatened by their love for the child they have yet to meet. When the new family returns home, David's mom gives him a letter they say was written by Jin Woo. This reassuring letter explains that his parents "have so much love inside of them that what they give to me won't take any away from you." Of course this makes all the difference to David. He can smile again and feel truly happy in his new role as big brother. The text is poignant and authentic. The glowing illustrations are infused with heart. The artist is himself an adoptee; his work captures the essence of what it means to build a family through adoption. In Korean "Jin Woo" means Happy Jewel-an apt title for this welcome book, which is highly recommended for all adoptive families and others desiring insight into the world of adoption.2001, Clarion Books, Ages 4 to 9, $16.00.Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati
ISBN: 0-395-93872-4
Little Badger, Terror of the Seven Seas
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
In this tribute to the power of imagination, Little Badger swaggers through the forest, telling his animal friends that he is a pirate. Each in turn reminds him that he needs something else he doesn't have to be a real pirate. But Little Badger isn't concerned; he knows something they don't-"He could be anything he wanted to be... as long as he used his imagination and was home in time for supper." So with Old Badger waving goodbye, Little Badger sails "off across an ocean of bluebells to be the terror of the seven seas." Bunting's spare, poetic text is a fine foil for Pham's imaginative visual story. He creates solid anthropomorphic animals with distinct personalities, placing them in detailed settings replete and enriched with items not even hinted at in the words. Gouache painted, full-page scenes and opposing vignettes add zest, managing to help us see what our hero only imagines without draining the magic and good humor from the pictures.2001, Harcourt, Ages 3 to 6, $15.00.Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-15-202395-X
The Memory String
Eve Bunting
Pictures by Ted Rand
Even after three years, Laura still feels the pain of her mother's death and cannot yet let herself love Jane, her new stepmother. In fierce determination to keep her mother's memory alive, Laura continually examines her memory string of buttons. But when her cat, Whiskers, accidentally breaks the string and scatters the buttons in the grass, she is devastated. Her dad and Jane come to help find the forty-three buttons, and the three of them find all but one-the one from her dad's uniform from the Persian Gulf War. Jane finds the missing button after Laura goes to bed, and she leaves it on the porch for Laura to find the next day. Laura comes to understand that Jane loves her and can become part of her memories, too. Bunting and Rand combine to produce a powerful, touching, realistic story about loss and love, but it is difficult to pinpoint the audience for this particular book. The protagonist's age is not given, yet in the illustrations she appears to be nine or ten. The more mature theme, the picture book format, the extensive text, and the age of the main character seem incongruous and make this book hard to place.2000, Clarion Books, Ages 9 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0-395-86146-2
My Backpack
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
"My backpack's big, my backpack's blue, my backpack's very nearly new. Grandma sent it in the mail. She bought it at a garage sale. She says by now I'm big enough to fill it with important stuff." What kind of important stuff , you might ask, can a young boy find to fill his backpack with? How about a teddy bear, a train, and blocks to begin with. What else will fit? How about mom's keys, dad's glasses, and older brother's baseball mitt. Would you believe there's still room for more? Bunting's rhythmic text accompanied by Cocca-Leffler's jaunty illustrations makes this a wonderful read-aloud book to be shared by parents and children. 1997, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 2 to 6, $14.95. Reviewer: Trina Heidt
ISBN: 1-56397-433-9
Night Tree
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Ted Rand
The tree in the meadow stands all alone,/ With fir-needle leaves and tiny cones,/ One family comes when the night is still,/ To decorate the tree for the animals fill./ Tangerines, apples, millet, seeds with honey,/ Strings of popcorn and berries cost little money./ The tree is lovely in Dad's lantern-light,/ "Oh, please, dear animals, come tonight./ But if they don't, we've completed our mission./ This tree is our gift to them, our yearly tradition." My poetic review provides the gist for a gem of a Christmas book . It may inspire your family to begin a special yearly tradition. 1995 (orig. 1991), Harcourt, Ages All, $16.00 and $6.00. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-15-257425-5
ISBN: 0-15-200121-2
On Call Back Mountain
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Joe and Ben live with their parents at the foot of Call Back Mountain. Every summer, their friend Bosco returns to work as a lookout at the fire tower up on the mountain. The relationship between Bosco and the family is well established before Bosco heads up to the fire tower. He s too far away to visit, but every night the boys signal with their lanterns to say goodnight and Bosco shines his lantern in return. Then one night Bosco s light doesn t shine. The next morning, Mom and Dad hike up to the fire tower to check things out. Bosco has had a heart attack. This beautifully illustrated book deals with friendship and loss without stooping to melancholy. 1997, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Dori Butler
ISBN: 0-590-25929-6
A Picnic in October
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
This is a picture book about a New York City family's bus and ferryboat ride to attend their Grandmother's annual October birthday party on Liberty Island, home of the Statue of Liberty. We see and hear young Tony as he struggles to make personal sense of his family's ritual event. To Tony, the whole performance is too far, too cold, and just plain too embarrassing-until he understands why. Art and text present a strong three-generation family supporting their matriarch. Tony comes to realize the value of family in the trip to Grandmother's birthday picnic. Art depicting harbor vistas and "zoom ins" of family faces make a satisfying storybook whole.1999, Harcourt Brace, Ages 6 to 12, $16.00.Reviewer: Carolyn Dennette Michaels
ISBN: 0-15-201656-2
Riding the Tiger
Eve Bunting
Woodcuts by David Frampton
Danny, a new boy in town, is lonely, unsure of himself and a bit bored. He is flattered when a massive tiger invites him to climb upon his back. They cruise the neighborhood, and Danny feels powerful and proud as shopkeepers give him space and kids envy his status. When a group of boys invites Danny to join them in a game of basketball, Danny learns that it is not so easy to climb down from the tiger. What he thought was respect from his peers he now realizes was fear. Controlled by the tiger, Danny is afraid of the path he is taking, but when he chooses to come to the assistance of a homeless man, Danny is able to break free of the tiger's hold. The message of this haunting allegory¾to avoid the temptation of conformity and to stand tall for individualism¾is related in vivid language. The metaphorical tiger is rendered in his blunt, angled woodcuts that capture his power and control. Bunting has crafted a tale for today's children, who often find themselves riding the tiger. Used as a discussion starter, this book will empower kids to become masters of their own fate.2001, Clarion, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00.Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-395-79731-4
Rudi's Pond
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Ron Himler
Bunting and Himler continue their collaboration on picture storybooks which deal with deep human emotional experiences, in this case a child's death and his best friend's mourning. Rudi and a girl revealed only as "I" share a friendship, painting a garden gate with yellow tulips and making a hummingbird feeder together. But Rudi is often sick and when he dies, his friend grieves with her parents. At school, she and her classmates make something lasting to remember Rudi, a book of poems and a pond at which the girl hangs a hummingbird feeder. As a hummingbird comes each day to her window at school, she remembers her friend and the text skirts the idea that the hummingbird is a message, "the strangest thought, but I knew it couldn't be true. Probably the hummingbird came to see itself in the glass." Parents and the teacher sensitively help children react to a classmate's death and provide some comfort in talking and doing something constructive. But the limp ending in which she takes the feeder home for the summer in case the hummingbird might "remember" leaves the reader vaguely hopeful-but of what? Perhaps nature and time help heal. The jacket copy states that the story was inspired by a true story but is unclear what is true, the child's death or the strange visit from a hummingbird. Himler's watercolors are perfectly suited to the text, suggesting rather than detailing faces and action, but depicting the ruby-throated hummingbird clearly and magically hanging in the air to remind the girl of her friend. 1999, Clarion, Ages 5 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-395-89067-5
Smoky Night
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by David Diaz
This book, the Caldecott Award winner for the year's finest illustrations, is a story of tolerance placed in the violent setting of the LA riots. The illustrations are collages that add intrigue and extend the story. Shattered glass surrounds a picture of looting; spilled multi-colored cereal accents items spilled from grocery store thieving; and plastic bags describe the senseless stealing from a dry cleaner. The young hero is confused by the chaos and frightened by fire, smashed glass, and his missing cat. His protective mother calmly explains every part of the night's madness. But it is the boy who is the agent of change when he notices how his cat has made friends with another cat; an enemy cat belonging to the Korean woman who owns the grocery down the street. The Korean woman, who had always seemed different and separate becomes a friend in the shelter during the smoky night. This book would be incredibly helpful for children who have shared the protagonist's experience. It is a meaningful book to help talk about the violence that surrounds today's children. Diaz helps to convey the strong message by placing dramatic insets in his powerful collages. 1994, Harcourt Brace, Ages 6 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-15-269954-6
So Far From the Sea
Eve Bunting
Chris K. Soentpiet
The Iwasaki's, a fictional family, visit the Manzanar War Relocation Camp in Eastern California to say good-bye to Laura's grandfather who is buried there. Laura's father, who was a boy during the internment, recalls life at Manzanar. A story he tells her helps her decide on the perfect memento to leave at her grandfather's grave. Mr. Soentpiet's paintings are in color to show contemporary time and sepia to show the past. They convey the painful emotions and the familial love of those who endured and are remembered. Story and characters take center stage in Ms. Bunting's books. She tackles tough subjects in picture book format perhaps because the fewer the words, the stronger the effect of the book's theme. 1998, Clarion, Ages 9 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-395-72095-8
So Far from the Sea
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet
Laura Iwasaki and her family visit the Manzanaar War Relocation Camp in California, where ten thousand Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. Laura's father went to school there; her grandfather is buried there. Grandfather was a fisherman; the government took his boat and "his dignity when they brought him here, so far from the sea." Laura leaves a memento on the grave-her father's old Cub Scout neckerchief that he was wearing when he was taken to the camp. The ends of the neckerchief flutter free, like "a boat, moving on." Eve Bunting weaves a touching and emotional story around the facts of this wartime tragedy. Chris Soentpiet (pronounced soon-pete) alternates somber black and white paintings of the camp with richly colored, touching illustrations of the family visit years later. So Far From the Sea offers an elegant and very human approach an extremely difficult episode in American history. 1998, Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, Ages 7 to 10, $15.00. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-395-72095-8
Some Frog!
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Scott Medlock
Billy is ready for his class frog-jumping competition. Mom has made green frog cookies for the party afterward. Grandma's hand-made frog costume is sure to make everyone smile, Grandpa's wading boots are by the door waiting...and so is Billy. Will Dad finally keep a promise and take him to catch a real jumper? If he could only win, he and Dad could go to the Cubs game with the prize tickets. But when Dad doesn't show, Mom appears in wading boots and tosses Billy his coat. Together, they catch the biggest frog in the pond, who is lovingly dubbed Amphibian. Not only does Amphibian win the contest, but he also shows Billy that his family, although it could be better, is pretty good the way it is. 1998, Harcourt Brace, Ages 6 to 10, $15.00. Reviewer: Leslie Verzi Julian
ISBN: 0-15-277082-8
The Summer of Riley
Eve Bunting
Eleven-year-old William believes he's adopted the perfect dog, until Riley chases down and injures a neighbor's aging racehorse. The authorities take Riley away because, in Oregon, the punishment for that canine crime is death. With his best friend, Grace, William mounts a campaign to save Riley's life, but public support for his cause is divided. The opposition leader, Ellis Porter, is a dog-hating bully on a mission to see Riley euthanized. Still struggling with his grandfather's unexpected death, his parent's divorce, and his father's impending marriage, William refuses to accept Riley's fate and uses every resource at his disposal to obtain a reprieve for his beloved pet. Bunting's moving novel is populated with sympathetic, multi-faceted characters and set against a backdrop of loss, grief, and healing. It's an inspiring story about fighting for your beliefs, never giving up, and learning to cope with change that will grab young readers from the very first page and hold them tight until the last. 2001, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Ellen R. Braaf
ISBN: 0-06-029141-9
ISBN: 0-06-029142-7
SOS Titanic
Eve Bunting
Barry O'Neill is leaving his beloved grandparents' home in Ireland to rejoin his parents in America. Although he is traveling first class on the new, unsinkable ocean liner Titanic, he feels more at home with the other Irish passengers sailing steerage. He is especially drawn to Pegeen Flynn, despite her brothers' threats to push him overboard to settle an old score. When the ship strikes an iceberg, his only thoughts are of saving Pegeen. The plot is engrossing, interlaced with details about the Titanic's construction and fateful voyage. 1996, Harcourt Brace, Ages 12 up, $12.00 and $6.00. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 0-15-200271-5
ISBN: 0-15-201305-9
Spying on Miss Muller
Eve Bunting
Miss Muller had been everyone's favorite teacher until W.W.II began. Half-German in a Belfast school, the teacher's loss of friends and eventual isolation is upsetting and the change in the girl's attitude to Miss Muller is unsettling. Yet, when fear consumes people, rumors feed on half-truths, and no one is willing to speak out for fear of being labeled "a German lover." Eve Bunting takes a page from her own school life in Ireland by writing this engrossing story. The girls are drawn together by friendship and their desire to help each other through the difficult times. Secrets of all types abound in their personal lives. What makes this story so engaging is that the girl's behavior and concerns are universal and similar to those of youth today. An excellent choice for reading aloud and discussing. 1995, Clarion, Ages 10 to 14, $15.00. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-395-69172-9
Spying on Miss Müller
Eve Bunting
When the first bombs of World War II fall on Belfast, Northern Ireland, they miss Jessie Drumm's boarding school, but serve to cast suspicion upon Miss Müller, the school's lovely, half-German teacher. Jessie and her best friends turn on their favorite teacher as they seek to learn her dark secret. Inspired by Bunting's own school experiences, Spying on Miss Müller is a readable and humorous-at times moving-account of adolescents trying to deal with each other, their own secrets, and the unaccountable hatred triggered by war. 1995, Clarion, Ages 10 to 14, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-395-69172-9
Sunflower House
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Kathryn Hewitt
Rich watercolor and colored pencil illustrations display the sun-drenched setting of the beautiful outdoors as a young boy creates a summer playhouse made from sunflowers that he planted. The story is told in rhyming verse, and it follows the boy and his friends through a whole summer of fun and make-believe in their sunflower house. In the fall, when the sunflowers begin to fade, the children decide to save some of the seeds to plant the following year. Sharp-eyed readers may notice the wide scattering of seeds that occurs in the last scene and deduce that the following summer will yield an even larger bunch of flowers where the children play. 1996, Harcourt, Ages 3 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci
ISBN: 0-15-200483-1
Sunshine Home
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Diane De Groat
Sunshine Home may be sunny, but it is not a home. Not Grandma's home, anyway. As much as Timmie's mom and dad try to act as if everything is normal, and as cheery as Grandma tries to be when they visit her, Timmie can see that they are all miserable. When he forces his parents to see what they're doing, both to each other and to Grandma, they realize they're in for a long, hard time, but that they will come through-maybe. This is not an optimistic book, but as usual, Bunting has come up with an absolutely riveting story about a common situation, making it personal and heartbreakingly real. Read this book before you give it to kids, but read this book. 1994, Clarion, Ages 6 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-395-63309-5
Swan in Love
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen
In this beautiful tale of unsuitable love, Swan falls in love with Dora, the swan-shaped boat on the lake. Despite the mocking of the other creatures, Swan is steadfast in his love, encouraged by a mysterious voice. When winter comes and all the others leave or hibernate, Swan remains with Dora. One spring, the man who owns Dora sees she is too worn out to fix, and plans to return and break her up. Swan himself is old and worn. So "love makes magic" for an ending to ponder. There is a quiet formalism to the page design. Large pictures fill most of the double-page spreads but leave white borders which maintain mythic distance. Stammen's use of pastels adds to the dream-like quality, creating naturalistic scenes with the soft-edged objects perhaps reinforcing Swan's feathery perception of reality. The illustrations exude a romantic aura in keeping with the message.2000, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.00.Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-689-82080-1
Swan in Love
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen
Anyone who has ever been in love knows what a powerful force it can be. Despite the ridicule of other swans, fish, and various animals Swan has fallen in love with Dora, a swan boat, and follows her all through the summer. He knows that his true love is different, but it does not matter. A mysterious voice supports him and cautions him to never stop loving. When winter comes he remains on the frosted grass near his love, although all the other swans have migrated. The blustery season has been rough on Swan and Dora has too many cracks to be seaworthy. Before her owner can break her apart a magical transformation occurs showing that indeed love will persevere. This heart-warming and emotional tale has been complemented by breathtaking pastels. Bunting and Stammen have created an enchanting story that begs to be shared with a much-loved child.2000, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 up, $16.00.Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-689-82080-1
Train to Somewhere
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Ronald Himler
Eve Bunting has always been an author who sheds light on emotional issues. Recently she has turned her writing talents to historical subjects. Train to Somewhere illuminates the times of the Orphan Trains, which ran from the mid-1850's to 1920, bringing an estimated 100,000 homeless children by train from New York City to small towns and farms in the Midwest. Bunting's tale tells the story of Marianne, a young female orphan, traveling with thirteen others on an orphan train. Bunting's genius shows when she takes the general subject into the specific by showing us Marianne's hopes, dreams, and disappointment. Marianne's mother, leaving her at the orphanage, has promised she'd make a new life for them in the West, and return before Christmas, but Marianna has "waited through so many Christmases." Still she hopes to be greeted by her mother at every stop the train makes. Her journey, marred by rude comments and rejection, turns Marianne's dreams to disappointment. She is, finally, the last orphan, headed to the last stop, the town of Somewhere. The train is greeted by an elderly couple who'd hoped for a boy, but welcome her lovingly. The woman speaks of her happy late-in-life marriage, saying "sometimes what you get turns out to be better than what you wanted in the first place." Marianne's dreams of finding her mother begin to fade in her new hopes for a secure home with people who care about her. 1996, Clarion, Ages 8 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-395-71325-0
Trouble on the T-Ball Team
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Irene Trivas
Everyone on Linda's T-ball team is losing something, and as young readers will soon deduce, that something is a tooth. Poor Linda despairs that she will never lose her first one, but in this baseball setting, no one on the team is left out. The delightful watercolor illustrations of the ballplayers and their families make this book a real treat, and young first and second graders will empathize with Linda's concern. 1997, Houghton, Ages 6 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-395-66060-2
Wanna Buy an Alien?
Eve Bunting
Illustrations by Tim Bush
Ben receives a mysterious eleventh birthday present from his friend, Jason. It's photographs of Ben with a seemingly friendly alien taken two days from now! Also included is a tape, some weird stones, and some souvenirs. Jason has answered an ad and provided basic photos and a tape which have been doctored by someone to sound like an encounter with an alien. But the two boys join their friend Paloma to sneak out in the night and watch the field where the alien ship is to land. It does but it isn't friendly. Bunting keeps the three friends moving, the set-up is believable, and the ending save (by the dog) is happy theater. Parents have the last say, but the kids have the satisfaction of having shared an adventure.2000, Clarion, Ages 7 to 10, $14.00.Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-395-69719-0
Your Move
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by James Ransome
Eve Bunting does it again! The author of Smoky Night and Dandelions has the wonderful ability to create three-dimensional characters even within the length constraints of a picture book format. Ten year old James badly wants to join the gang K-Bones. To join the group however, James has to "prove himself." The gang initiation act endangers the life of James' six-year-old brother Issac. When this happens, the two boys have the courage to say "thanks, but no thanks" to the gang members. This story deals with the issue of peer pressure, in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. The book can help children understand that its OK to say "no" to something they know is wrong. James Ransome's beautiful illustrations in oil have the quality of priceless art and capture every nuance of this wonderful book. 1998, Harcourt Brace, Ages 6 to 10, $16.00. Reviewer: Shalini Murthy
ISBN: 0-15-200181-6
Updated 09/16/01
To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.