Jane Yolen

   With more than 200 books in her repertoire that range from short stories to picture books and poetry to novels, Jane is a recognized name and force in Children's Literature. She served as an editor for Boyds Mills Press, teaches, and has even written novels and picture books in collaboration with admired colleagues and family members, like daughter Heidi Stimple.

   Two-thirds of the year, Jane resides in the States, while her home in Scotland is the draw for the other four months. She loves her time there filled with the sight of cozy cottages and tall gray mansions. Many buildings have been built upon the ruins of older buildings - history is built upon history. Writers too use stones of the past. As a writer she embellishes and broadens the past events or stories that occupy her mind. She refers to fiction as a magical mirror that gives back a changed reflection. Her children in various forms have appeared in her books. Her youngest son (now in his 30's) was the inspiration for Boots and The Seven Leaguers - A Troll Rock 'n Roll. Her husband, a birdwatcher, is featured in Owl Moon along with a little girl, their daughter Heidi.

   While all of this is interesting, Jane doesn't feel it is important for the readers to know much about her. Readers should care about the story and its characters, not the writer. She told us about a letter she received - "Your stories live forever. I hope you live to 99." - but really she doesn't feel that how long she lives is the issue - the true point is how long the story will live.

   Jane is not a journal-keeper. She must do research. Facts and her imagination and memory seem to blend. "Memory is a construct of fiction that slowly comes true." Her storytelling ability does seem to have some genetic roots. Her father was one and a company PR man to boot.

   Owl Moon is a composite of many works. Like her other stories, it started with something real and then went on to become something "realer" to use her words.

   How does Jane work? She begins as early as 6 AM. She reviews e-mail, reads and edits stories, handles correspondence, and due to her fame and popularity, has to work on speeches and travel arrangements. She does write every day. On a good day, she writes 5 to 10 pages and she is able to work on many projects simultaneously.

   As to the editing process, Jane respects an editor who becomes fully engaged - in her words, "wrestles her to the ground" over issues relating to the book. As for collaboration when she and her friend of 15 years, Bruce Coville, undertook the task, their approach to writing was very different. To solve the dilemma (Jane never misses a deadline, Bruce has never found a deadline he liked), she invited him to her house where they wrote and exchanged alternating chapters. Sometimes when working with an illustrator such as Mark Teague, Jane will revise her text, because he had such a brilliant idea, she recognized that it would make a better book. For example in How Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, instead of a single dinosaur in the story, it features multiple dinosaurs.

   For years, she tried not to write Jewish books - she was not even an active Jew until she was in her teens, when her parents joined a temple so she could learn. Then she wanted to do a book about the Holocaust. Except for Briar Rose, her book about the holocaust, The Devil's Arithmetic was the hardest she had ever undertaken because she had to immerse herself in the period.

   Her advice to writers is "BIC" - Butt In Chair. She also recommends joining organizations such as SCBWI that encourage networking and to become part of a writer's group.

Contributor: Marilyn Courtot

For more information visit Jane Yolen's web site.

Reviews

All Those Secrets of the World
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Leslie Baker
   Yolen recalls a special moment in her life when she watched her daddy sail off to war in W.W.II. That day was filled with hugs, butterfly kisses, stirring band music and a cheering crowd. To a 4-year-old that ship was gigantic and yet as it sailed away, it grew smaller, a fact that became a significant discovery in a young child's mind. This story is a warm, touching family story enriched by Baker's soft, dream-like paintings. She excels at depicting children and the seashore. 1991, Little Brown, $14.95 and $5.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1991; United States
   Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1991; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
   Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
   Teachers' Choices, 1992; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-316-96891-9
ISBN: 0-316-96895-1

Alphabestiary: Animal Poems from A to Z
Compiled by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Allan Eitzen
   Children will master the alphabet while they meet mules, mosquitoes, mice and more amazing animals in Jane Yolen's Alphabestiary, an A-to-Z assortment of 70 poems. Allan Eitzen's dazzling illustrations accompany the poetry of Hilaire Belloc, Christina Rosseti, Ogden Nash, and many others. 1995, Wordsong, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 1-56397-222-0

Alphabestiary
Selected by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Allan Eitzen
   Subtitled Animal Poems from A to Z, this collection ranges from the classics (Blake's "Tiger") to the downright silly (several by Ogden Nash). Eitzen's colorful, clever illustrations swirl around the text. The selections vary widely in style and quality, but as a whole, the volume is successful. Children with a love of animals will enjoy this introduction to poetry. 1995, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 4 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 1-56397-222-0

Alphabestiary: Animal Poems from A to Z
Compiled by Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Allan Eitzen
   From the lethargic anteater to the striped zebra, this charming collection of poems looks at the amazing world of animals. Children will enjoy reading the poetic words of Robert Louis Stevenson, Lilian Moore, Jack Prelutsky, John Ciardi, and many other classic and modern authors. 1995, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer Debra Briatico
ISBN: 1-56397-222-0

Animal Fare
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Janet Street
   This zany poetry book of 16 made-up animals has rhythmic read-aloud appeal for the young, and puns to entertain and inspire elementary school-age independent readers and budding poets. From the Anteloop (who "go round and round") to the Whysel (who "will question you to death"), to the Grizzly Bare (who is "fairly froze" because "he don't wear no clothes") to the Wherewolf and kin-Whenwolf, Whowolf, Whywolf, and Whatwolf-the creatures in the collection come alive with clever wordplay. Street's colorful illustrations add just the right touch of silliness to compliment the words. Readers will surely remember the Giraft, a rescue boat with "periscope necks fore and aft." Would-be voyagers can rest assured that, "If you're out in the ocean, afloat on the deep, With the sharks making straight for your craft, Simply close your eyes tightly and whistle a shrill S.O.S. for the nearest Giraft." 1994, Harcourt Brace & Co., Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Julie Steinberg
ISBN: 0-15-203550-8

Animal Train
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Doug Cushman
   Rhyming verse, colorful illustrations and surprises behind dozens of flaps make this book a toddler's dream. The fun way in which the author integrates basic building blocks of knowledge like colors, numbers, shapes, opposites and sounds make it a valuable and entertaining tool for adults. The story whisks young readers away on a busy travel day aboard a train full of animal passengers. Youngsters see boxes and cases being loaded, all sizes and shapes of animal passengers sitting or sleeping or reading in their seats and the dinning car where each animal is about to eat something different and perhaps unexpected. Readers even get a peek inside the sleeping car, where a lesson in opposites will capture the child's imagination. Though the "story" is undistinguished, the verse is pleasing to the ear and is unobtrusive to the child's enjoyment of the whimsical pictures and anticipation of revealing the objects hidden behind dozens of doors. The detailed and humorous cartoon illustrations provide ample opportunity for adults to help their toddlers hone their observation and analytical skills by asking questions about what the child sees in each two-page spread. This book is a winner for schools, daycare centers and home. 2002, Little Simon/Simon and Schuster, $8.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Bethany Miller Cole (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
ISBN: 0-689-84838-2

Atalanta and the Arcadian beast
Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
   Jane Yolen and Robert Harris provide a glimpse into the world of Greek mythology. After her mother's death, Atalanta's father raises her on his own. Deep in the Arcadian countryside, he raises her to hunt, trap, and believe in herself. As the story begins, he is wounded by a mysterious beast. With his last breaths, he gives Atalanta the signet ring that she wore around her neck when he discovered her living with the bears. He confesses that he kept the ring from her to discourage her from wanting to find her birth parents. With her father gone, Atalanta returns to the wild to live with her bear brother, only occasionally venturing into the world of humans, but it is only through the world of man that Atalanta can gain her revenge and find the family she never cared to meet. Yolen and Harris bring the stars to life as they weave Atalanta's tale around the figures of Orion the Hunter and Urso the Bear. In close companionship with these mythical friends, Atalanta crosses Arcadia, hunting the beast that slaughtered her father. Through the vivid descriptions of the forests where Atalanta lives, and Pan, the god who controls them, Yolen and Harris capture the magic of Ancient Greece. With its fast-paced narrative and brilliant characters, Atalanta and the Arcadian Beast is a joy to read. 2003, HarperCollins Publishers, $16.89. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Chrisandra Childs (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-06-029454-X
ISBN: 0-06-029455-8

The Bagpiper's Ghost
Jane Yolen
   While visiting their grandparents in Scotland, twins Peter and Jennifer discover that magic is all around them. It is in their Gran who is a white witch, and a Scottish-speaking dog that communicates with them. While out with the dog one day, they learn that the ruins of Fairburn Castle are haunted by a woman in white. The sound of bagpipes adds to the mystery. When they decide to visit the graveyard at night, Peter becomes possessed by Andrew, the ghostly twin brother of Mary MacFadden, the lady in white. Jennifer, Gran and the dog must determine the problem and free Peter quickly. Yolen obviously is well-acquainted with the Scottish countryside and its folklore. The story moves along quickly and is paced appropriately for the age group. There is a Scottish glossary in the back, which will help readers "translate" the words used by the dog, but some readers may find this distracting. This is the third book in the "Tartan Magic" series. It can stand alone, although references to Michael Scot and events in the previous books may be a bit puzzling. Of course it could also lead the reader to the other books. Thirteen-year-old Peter and Jennifer are likable but not fully developed characters. It is the action--the race against time, resolving the issue between Mary and Andrew, and the battle against the ghost to free Peter--that keeps the story moving. 2002, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-15-202310-0

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. The strong, memorable verse also continues the tradition of pirate mystique, although very small children will miss the irony of the two female renegades "pleading their bellies." 1995, Harcourt Brace, Ages 5 up, $15.00. Reviewer Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-15-200710-5

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories
Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
   This visual feast of a book contains a collection of seven ballets, Coppelia: The Girl with the Enamel Eyes, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Shim Chung: The Blind Man's Daughter, The Sleeping Beauty and Daphnis and Chloe. Readers will instantly recognize some of the ballets while others are lesser-known productions. A finely written introduction discusses dancing and ballet, bestowing interesting little tidbits such as the fact that pointe shoes are newer than ballet itself, having only come into existence at the beginning of the 19th century. Following the introduction, a chronological history of classical ballet is set forth. Each ballet is preceded by a brief introduction (providing an excellent background for those who are unfamiliar with the ballets). A bibliography and a numerous listing of pertinent websites are located at the end of the book. Lovely illustrations broaden the depth of the presentation of each ballet. There are smaller touches too, such as flower petals or other intricate designs surrounding the page numbers and page borders. The authors have collaborated on a number of books together and are also mother and daughter. Highly recommended. 2004, Barefoot Books, $19.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Cindy L. Carolan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-84148-229-3

Bedtime for Bunny: A Book to Touch and Feel
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Lynn Norton Parker
   This "Touch-and-Feel" book takes young readers though the bedtime ritual of one little bunny. Along the way, children are invited to test the texture of various objects like the bunny's fuzzy pink ears, the silky blue pajamas he wears, and the smooth cover of his favorite bedtime story. The sing-song rhyming verse in which the story is told will likely appeal to little ones who recognize the bunny's bedtime ritual as similar to their own. Bunny puts on his pajamas, brushes his ears, and brushes his teeth before snuggling in mommy's lap for a special bedtime story. Finally the sleepy bunny is tucked into bed under his favorite blue blankie and receives a kiss from Momma and Poppa. Children will love the various textures as well as the story and pictures, this book no doubt becoming one of their favorite bedtime stories. 2002, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, $7.99. Ages 0 to 4. Reviewer: Bethany Miller Cole (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-84832-3

Before the Storm
Jane Yolen
Paintings by Georgia Pugh
   One can almost feel the heat radiate from the Gauguin-like colors of the surreal paintings that represent a hot afternoon in a young boy's summer. The rich prose expresses the boy's keen sense of observation and sensory experiences as he moves through a stifling summer day in the backyard with his brother, sister, and dog Strider. While trying to keep cool by turning on the hose and drinking lemonade, a storm suddenly arises sending them scampering indoors. The continuous rain cools the suffocating heat, but not the young boy's desire to return outdoors to revel in the hot sunshine. 1995, Boyds Mills, $15.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
ISBN: 1-56397-240-9

Beneath the Ghost Moon: A Halloween Tale
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Laurel Molk
   This narrative poem is perfect for reading aloud. It tells the story of a group of mean crimson and green creepy crawlies who wreck the beautiful Halloween costumes on Ghost Eve. Led by a small white mouse, the other mice work together to take back their home and the night and soundly defeat the creepy crawlies. In their armor of soda pop tops, the mice then dance under the Ghost moon to tambourine and clarinet music. Young children will enjoy the lovely language and colorful full-page whimsical illustrations about one of the most popular holidays of the year. 1998 (orig. 1994), Little Brown,Ages 2 to 6, $15.95 and $5.95. Reviewer Wendy Pollock-Gilson
ISBN: 0-316-96892-7
ISBN: 0-316-97007-7

Birdwatch
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Ted Lewin
   Short, sophisticated poems describing fourteen common North American birds present a fresh approach to observing common, everyday creatures. The original and creative mix of vocabulary will leave the reader with images that will make future observations of these birds, or any birds, the same intense experience that the author has presented. From the common blackbird to the glorious swan, each elegant being is praised in word and picture. Each poem presents an opportunity for youngsters to extend their knowledge of vocabulary as well as birds. A glossary at the end gives each bird's scientific name and a few facts about it. 1999 (orig. 1990), Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, Ages 7 up, $6.99. Reviewer Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0-698-11776-X

Boots and the Seven Leaguers: a Rock-and-Troll Novel
Jane Yolen
   Gog is a troll who knows all too well that trolls don't do magic--just mayhem. But Gog's pookah friend can do magic, so when the two teens attempt to save Gog's little brother from kidnappers, there's plenty of both. Will they succeed in time to attend the greatest rock-and-troll concert in the kingdom, or will they end up being dinner for the slimy Great White Wyrm? This first-rate adventure has a little bit of everything--expert knowledge of legend and faerie lore, modern teen temptations, fictitious CD titles and song lyrics, excellent writing, and enough "snarly" sights and sounds to cause plenty of shivers. The imaginative details--including greenkids (who bear an effective resemblance to modern drug dealers), wild mabs, doom rooms, and alleys of the undead--will appeal to Harry Potter as well as Hobbit fans. The mythological realm is capably linked with our present-day world, resulting in an old fashioned triumph of good over evil with a contemporary feel. There's also a confidence building affirmation that even not-so-bright trolls can problem-solve if they have motivation and courage. 2000, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Betty Hicks (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, 2000; Voice of Youth Advocates; United States
   Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Finalist 2001 Children's Literature United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Great Stone Face Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; New Hampshire
ISBN: 0-15-202557-X

Briar Rose
Jane Yolen
   Until Gemma's deathbed assertion that she is Briar Rose, nobody considers her peculiar version of the fairy tale to be anything other than a story. In this haunting story, Rebecca, a young woman, tries to unravel the mystery of her grandmother Gemma's past with only the story of Briar Rose as a guide. In Rebecca's search to find out more about her grandmother's past ultimately takes her to a concentration camp in Poland. I do not want to give away any more of the plot, but Yolen seamlessly interweaves Gemma's Briar Rose story with her actual experiences by alternating the stories every other chapter, so the reader accompanies Rebecca as she discovers more about how her grandmother's story and life overlap. The strengths of this book are twofold. It covers a part of the Holocaust that is not well known and it eloquently shows how people incorporate popular myths into narratives of their own lives. What makes this book great is that it accomplishes these two tasks and creates a believable and engaging story. 2002 (orig. 1992), Tom Doherty Associates, $5.99. Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Rihoko Ueno (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2003; American Library Association YALSA; United States
   Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-765-34230-8

Child of Faerie
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Jane Dyer
   Yolen has written a poem of other-worldly love. Based on folk tales, it tells of faeries dancing in the Halloween moonlight and attracting human children. This time, the human girl realizes she cannot stay in Faerie, and instead brings the faerie boy to her home. As much as he loves her and enjoys life in the world, he, too, knows he cannot stay in an alien land. They exchange magical gifts that allow them to travel back and forth and remain friends all their days "...which left all skeptics flabbergast at how they did so well." A charming story perfectly illustrated by Jane Dyer. 1997, Little Brown, Ages 5 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-316-96897-8

Color Me A Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   Good photos and good poems combine to make this book a primer for personal creativity. With fresh visions of nature, and sophisticated poetry, this book is designed to inspire future writers. Each poem is dedicated to a single color with one or more color photographs accompanying the text. Scattered around each page are synonyms for that color that the reader is encouraged to use in her/his own poetry. For the color red, there are two nature haiku's, a photo of a red butterfly and another photo of red berries on a branch, a literary quotation about the color red, and words in the margins in different fonts such as "brick, henna, crimson, rouge, scarlet, vermilion, ruby, cherry, and cerise." The photos are impressive because they seem to isolate one color in particular, and the poems are impressive because they do not rhyme. This book could easily be used to jump-start a creative writing project in third grade through seventh grade. 2000, Wordsong/Boyd Mills Press, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer Seth Berg
ISBN: 1-56397-892-X

Dear Mother, Dear Daughter
Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
Illustrated by Gil Ashby
   Acclaimed storyteller Jane Yolen and her grown daughter Heidi Stemple trade words in Dear Mother, Dear Daughter, a collection of paired poems. Stemple provides the young daughter's voice in the lead poem on each double-page spread and brings up subjects such as homework, crushes, phone calls-to which Yolen's mother poem replies. The poems explore the gamut of emotions-sadness, jubilation, anxiety-and the tone ranges, very believably, from tenderness to a plaintive whine. Gil Ashby's black-and-white illustrations add to the mood without overwhelming the short poems. Who knows, this book may inspire a child/parent poem dialogue in your family. 2001, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 7 to 11, $15.95. Reviewer Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 1-56397-886-5

Dear Mother, Dear Daughter: Poems for Young People
Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrations by Gil Ashby
   This restrained and stylish volume of poetry pairs the work of award-winning children's author Jane Yolen and fellow writer Heidi E. Y. Stemple, who is also Yolen's real-life daughter. In seventeen pairs of sensitive verse, the mother/daughter team tackles a variety of adolescent concerns, from the typical (homework, messy rooms, first love and staying up late) to the topical (school violence and bullying). Each pair of poems convincingly presents a bookend of viewpoints-the headstrong, questioning yet uncertain teenager versus the protective, strict yet understanding parent. Although at times the poems falter in their rhythm, the overall effect of them is pleasing and provides a unique format for communication between the generations. Each set of poetry is illustrated with sensitive, black-and-white pencil drawings by Gil Ashby, which are infused with the rich body language and facial expression familiar to all mothers and their daughters. 2001, Wordsong/Boyds Mill Press, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 1-56397-886-5

The Devil's Arithmetic
Jane Yolen
   Originally published in 1988, this award-winning novel about the Holocaust continues to have significance and appeal. Twelve-year-old Hannah is weary of observing Jewish holidays because she's "tired of remembering." During the Passover Seder, she finds herself mysteriously transported back to Nazi-occupied Poland in 1942. Her memories of 1990's America gradually fade, replaced by the horrors of her life in a concentration camp. Yolen depicts the harsh realities honestly, but compassionately, in this unforgettable story about survival, friendship, and remembering. Today's readers, increasingly dealing with issues of violence and prejudice, will especially value the learned skills Hannah utilizes to live with day to day hardship. This story does more than just remember the victims; it honors the survivors, and reminds that even in the midst of unspeakable sorrow, "the swallows still sing around the smokestacks." 1990 (orig. 1988), Penguin/Puffin Books, $13.00 and $4.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Betty Hicks (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best of the Bunch, 1988; Association of Jewish Librarians; United States
   Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 1997; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Winner 1997 Division II Minnesota
   National Jewish Book Awards Winner 1989 United States
   Sydney Taylor Book Awards Winner 1988 Older Readers United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 1994; Nominee; Colorado
   Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 1992; Nominee; Kentucky
   Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 1997-1998; Nominee; Minnesota
   Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 1994; Nominee; Illinois
   South Carolina Book Awards, 1991; Nominee; Young Adult Book; South Carolina
   Utah Children's Book Awards, 1991; Nominee; Children's Fiction; Utah
   Young Adult Reading Program, 1990; Grades 7-12; South Dakota
ISBN: 0-670-81027-4

Dove Isabeau
Jane Yolen
   Isabeau, always dressed in gray or white, like a dove, is a brilliant fairy tale heroine, who is loved by Kemp Owain, the king's son, and who is betrayed by the witch, her stepmother. Isabeau becomes a fiery dragon, and only her little white kitten can save her. But who will listen to a cat? Highly recommended for all fairy tale lovers, of all ages. 1997, Harcourt Brace Voyager, $13.95 and $6.00. Ages All. Reviewer: Judy Silverman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Texas Reading Club, 1999; Texas
   William Allen White Children's Book Award, 1991-1992; Nominee; Kansas
ISBN: 0-15-224131-0
ISBN: 0-15-201505-1

Dragon's Blood
Jane Yolen
   Book One of the prolific Yolen's fantasy series, "Pit Dragon Trilogy," sets up her premise: Austar IV, originally a convict planet in a distant galaxy, has evolved into a popular intergalactic R&R destination featuring dragon pit fighting. Enter fifteen-year-old bonder Jakkin who means "to fill his bond bag"--attaining master, or free status--by stealing and training a dragon for the pits. Such theft is apparently looked upon as a right of passage for the brightest of bonders, but few succeed. Needless to say, Jakkin is more than motivated; he also has a natural affinity for dragons. Yolen's coming-of-age tale is filled with believable (once one makes the leap into the fantasy mindset) details on dragon husbandry and physiology, a suitable villain, and the beginnings of a romance with the equally independent-minded Akki. Yet the best parts describe Jakkin playing with his very own dragon--turning this into a kind of edge-of-the-universe boy and his dog story. 2004 (orig. 1982), Magic Carpet/Harcourt, $6.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
ISBN: 0-15-205126-0

Eeny, Meeny, Miney Mole
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
   A lovely read aloud for spring, Eeny Mole learns from other underground animals about the wonders of the "Up Above"--light and dark, day and night, summer and winter. While discouraged from her inquiries by her two sisters, Eeny ventures out and is delighted with her own discoveries of the "Up Above." Yolen uses exciting comparisons to tell this tale. Brown's illustrations are rich in colors, varied in size, and skillfully accompany the text. 1992, Harcourt, $13.95 and $6.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-225350-5
ISBN: 0-15-201007-6

Fine Feathered Friends: Poems for Young People
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   Jane Yolen says in her opening note that bird watching during her New York City childhood consisted of "pigeon, not-pigeon." This did not limit her imagination in the least. Years later, as her son would send her photographs of all sorts of birds, "each picture spoke a different poem in my head." Fine Feathered Friends is the second Yolen-Stemple bird book; the first was Wild Wings. Yolen's glorious poetic images accompany Stemple's fascinating close-up photography--a dove puffed up to stay warm on a frozen wire, a barred owlet "like a rag doll sewn from remnants." Together, mother and son catch the humor of a pelican and the rhythm of a woodpecker: "Wood Peck Peck Peck Up the Bark Bark Bark...". Yolen even cleans up the image of the raven--"an unpaid worker keeping all the roads clean." Along with the poetry of birds in word and photograph, there is science--a short paragraph explaining interesting facts about each bird. This is an exquisite book to read and re-read and read aloud to stimulate an interest in birds or poetry or both. 2004, Boyds Mills Press, $17.95. Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Children's Literature Choice List, 2005; Children's Literature; United States
ISBN: 1590781937

The Firebird
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Vladimir Vagin
   A Russian folktale and famous Balanchine/Stravinsky ballet have been brought together beautifully in this wonderful children's story. The princess and her nine maidens are being held captive by the evil wizard, Kostchei the Deathless, in a beautiful garden decorated with stone statues of the men who had once tried to save them. While wondering lost in the forest, Prince Ivan captures the firebird that feeds in the garden of the wizard. The magical Firebird gives Prince Ivan a fiery feather in return for her release, which he can use to call her if he needs. As she flies away, he follows her because he is very hungry. She leads him to the garden where he finds the ten beautiful women. The princess explains what needs to be done to rescue them. With the help of the firebird, Prince Ivan defeats the demons, kills Deathless and marries the princess. Yolen has brought back this wonderful story in the true tradition of storytelling. Vladimir Vagin's illustrations are magnificent, full of vibrant colors and action. Brief vignettes of the ballet are written at the bottom of each page and may need additional explanation to younger readers. A wonderful way to introduce children to the ballet. 2002, Harper Collins Publishers, $15.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Christina Burbage (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-06-028538-9
ISBN: 0-06-028539-7

The Flying Witch
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Vladimir Vagin
   Since "plump young children were difficult to find in a dark tangled forest," Russian witch Baba Yaga had only thin soup for supper. She didn't even have a turnip to add. Then one day, a little girl fell off the back of her father's turnip truck. Baba Yaga found her and told her she would take her back to her father. Instead, however, the old witch took the girl back to her house. Baba Yaga told her she was hungry "for a plump young girl." This girl was not plump, however, but was quite wise and came up with a plan. With some help from her father and a touch of sweetness, the little girl wins her freedom. Yolen has created an original tale using the Baba Yaga motifs. Tension builds as the witch takes the little girl to her house. The little girl maintains her cool, however, and thus gives the reader insight into the importance of thinking through a problem. Vagin employs autumn tones because of the turnip harvest, but they also give a richness to the illustrations. He gives a distinctive Russian look, and much to peruse. The text border sits on chicken legs, just as Baba Yaga's house does. Teachers can use this as an example for students on how to create an original tale from a folktale. Of course, Yolen makes it look easier than it is. 2003, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-028536-2
ISBN: 0-06-028537-0

Girl in a Cage
Jane Yolen & Robert J. Harris
   In a compelling historical novel, Jane Yolen and Robert Harris flesh out the story of eleven-year-old Marjorie Bruce, a Scottish princess captured by the English in 1306. Girl in a Cage paints a vivid picture of the times--times full of intrigue, shifting loyalties, battles royal. For twenty days Edward Longshanks, King of England, tries to break Marjorie's spirit by imprisoning her in an outdoor cage. Subjected to the elements and the villagers' flung turnips, starving and parched with thirst, Marjorie still refuses to acknowledge Edward as king. She is then transferred to a convent and is able to join her father eight years later, when Scotland is free. A wonderful choice for a mother-daughter book club. 2002, Philomel, $18.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).

   In a story that Sara Crewe would have adored, eleven-year-old Marjorie Bruce becomes a princess when her father, Robert the Bruce, is crowned King of Scotland. But she is then captured by their mortal enemy, King Edward Longshanks of England, and is displayed by him to public view for twenty days in an exposed iron cage. Throughout her cruel captivity she remains a princess, befriending and befriended by a loyal band of local children who play the role of her soldiers and ladies-in-waiting, and by a holy-hearted friar who is flogged for his small kindness to her. In the end, love proves stronger than fear, and evil can no longer triumph once the good join forces to rise up against it. This gripping narrative, with each day of Marjorie's captivity juxtaposed against installments of the story of how she came to occupy her unusual prison, brings to life a little-known chapter of Scottish history. It also offers a moving tribute to the human spirit, which, in a memorable closing image, hurls itself like a spider every day into the empty air with its tiny silken thread of hope. Marjorie is a spirited and believable heroine--a real girl and not a saint--who somehow rises, with quiet dignity and some wry humor as well, to the bizarre and heroic challenge facing her. 2002, Philomel, $18.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Books for Young Adults, 2003; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 15, 2002; United States
   The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2002; United States
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2002; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal: Best Books, 2002; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Blue Hen Book Award Nominee 2004 Chapter Book United States
   Blue Hen Book Award Winner 2004 Chapter Book Delaware
   Thumbs Up! Award Nominee 2003 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Beehive Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Young Adult; Utah
   Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-9; Maryland
   Land of Enchantment Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Young Adult; New Mexico
   Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Louisiana
   Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2006; Nominee; Intermediate; Nevada
   Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Pennsylvania
   Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Middle School Students; Rhode Island
   Young Adult Reading Program, 2004; Grades 7-12; South Dakota
ISBN: 0-399-23627-9

Grandad Bill's Song
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Melissa Bay Mathis
   "What did you do on the day Grandad died?" asks the little boy Jon as he struggles with his own loss. The answers he gets from Grandma, Uncle Steve, Mama, Mr. Temple, Great Aunt Rose, and Daddy help paint a full and vivid portrait of the life of his beloved grandfather. The book's soothing cadences by award-winning author Jane Yolen, accompanied by Melissa Bay Mathis's soft pastel illustrations, offers comfort to children who have lost a loved one and are trying to express their feelings. When Dad asks Jon what he did, on that fateful day he can finally start coming to terms with his loss. The sensitive use of drawings presented as photographs gives the feel of a family scrapbook, which makes the experience very real. 1994, Philomel, $14.95. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Bagel (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1994; United States
   Teachers' Choices, 1995; International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 1997; Nominee; Grades Pre-K--2; Michigan
ISBN: 0-399-21802-5

Harvest Home
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Greg Shed
   The sun-drenched hues of Greg Shed's paintings of fields and farm workers are the ideal companions to Jane Yolen's poetry. The lilting voice of the young girl tells of her family's reaping the summer crops. Collaboration, community, a sense of honoring the common good flow with the rhythm of the harvesters' scythes and rakes as they cut and load the wheat. The repeating phrase, "Bringing the harvest home," becomes a kind of affirmation of the poetic lines it follows, much like a congregation who encourages it's pastor with amens and nods of agreement. This book begs to be read with joined voices, a choral reading. It can be used with other stories and poems that celebrate harvest time and the fall season. Yolen includes a brief explanation of harvest customs and the simple directions for making harvest dolls from corn husks. For those schools in which harvest festivals have replaced traditional fall holiday observations, this book will find a warm welcome. 2002, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carol J. Wolfenbarger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award Nominee 2004 United States
ISBN: 0-15-201819-0

Heart's Blood
Jane Yolen
   Book Two of the prolific Yolen's fantasy series, "Pit Dragon Trilogy," finds the hero Jakkin--now seventeen--on top of his small world. He has achieved master status, has a winning pit dragon--his beloved Heart's Blood--and dragonlings on the way. Only the missing Akki could complete his happiness. Meanwhile, it seems that revolution is brewing on the convict planet of Austar IV, and Akki is smack in the middle of it. Drawn against his will into the politics of the time, Jakkin must learn to judge humans as well as dragons. His head bursting with intrigues on top of dragon messages, Jakkin is shoved into his much-desired manhood before he is ready for the consequences. After a slow start, the adventure works up to an action-packed ending. 2004 (orig. 1984), Magic Carpet/Harcourt, $6.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-205118-X

Here There Be Dragons
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by David Wilgus
   An entertaining anthology of poetry and short stories, this book will inspire the imagination of youngsters at story hour as well as those of more mature readers. Jane Yolen welcomes us into a mysterious and romantic world of teeth, tails, wings and scales. The author precedes each piece with a short anecdote citing the inspiration that brought the story to life and exhibiting her passion for the lore surrounding dragons. Traditional ideas of the fearsome beasts are toyed with in the story of a dragon hero told by great-grandfather dragon to his dragon grandchildren, along with a lullaby to sing to a dragon baby. Gorgeous black and white drawings are interspersed amongst the 13 tales. 1993, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 12 up, $10.00. Reviewer Jessica Becker
ISBN: 0-15-201705-4

Here There Be Ghosts
Jane Yolen
Illustration by David Wilgus
   "Ghost. So near the word guest, yet uninvited to our converse, we shook with the raw intrusion." From the opening poem in this mostly prose collection, these words capture the essence of the fascination we have with specters from the beyond. Yolen spins these ghostly tales with her customary ease, playing skillfully on the subtleties of fear. Not all the ghosts are terrifying-each has personality, uniqueness. A delightful post-script to the other "Here There Be..." books (Dragons, Unicorns, and Witches) in what has, happily for Yolen's fans, become a series. Teachers of writing should appreciate the author's background note for each piece, which helps render transparent the process of writing. 1998, Harcourt Brace, Ages 10 up, $19.00. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami
ISBN: 0-15-201566-3

Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons
Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
   Hippolyta, an Amazon princess, faces enormous challenges when it falls her lot to save the entire Amazon society. Her mother Otrere, Queen of the Amazons, has done the unthinkable. Not only did she give birth to a second son, she refuses to kill him, even though an ancient curse threatens the existence of the Amazon community should any queen ignore it. Otrere sends Hippolyta to take the baby on the long and dangerous trip to his father in Troy. Despite the fact that she is an Amazon princess, Hippolyta can't imagine how she can manage such a huge task. But she realizes that she must, no matter how much the idea frightens her. The journey is difficult, but she manages with courage, resourcefulness, and a little help from others, to meet each challenge. Giving the second son to his father does not satisfy the vengeful gods who insisted on the son's death and a curse of a sort of living death falls on the Amazon community. When Hippolyta returns to her home and finds what has happened, she is faced with having to undertake another dangerous quest to save everyone and everything she loves. The action keeps the reader turning pages to see what will happen next. This book is part of the "Young Heroes" series. 2002, Harper Collins Children's Books/Harper Collins, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Garden State Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Juvenile Fiction; New Jersey
   South Carolina Junior Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; South Carolina
ISBN: 0-06-028736-5
ISBN: 0-06-028737-3

Hobby: the Young Merlin Trilogy
Jane Yolen
   This is the second book of the Young Merlin Trilogy. A "hobby" is a falcon, larger than a merlin, and the boy who calls himself Hawk becomes Hobby when he is taken in by the travelling wizard, Ambrosius, and his companion, Viviane. Hobby sees the future "on the slant" in his dreams. That is, the dreams are true visions, but there's always something slightly "off;" about them. One example is: the fire that destroys Hobby's home becomes a dream of dragons that becomes a vision of dragons destroying a wall that he knows has saved him from certain death. It's an Arthurian legend made real for the younger set. A truly enjoyable read from a master storyteller and kids will want to read Passager and Merlin which constitute the trilogy. 1996, Harcourt, $15.00. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Judy Silverman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
   Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner 1998 United States
ISBN: 0-15-200815-2

Honkers
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Leslie Baker
   Sent to her grandparent's farm while her mother awaits the birth of another child, five-year-old Betsy spends her time caring for three goose eggs. In time the eggs hatch and, during the ensuing weeks, Betsy becomes a part of the goslings' lives. The new baby is born just as the geese are ready to head south for the winter. Betsy bids them good-bye and heads home to take her place as the loving older sister. 1993, Little Brown, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).

   Yolen writes about an intergenerational family in this story about five-year-old Betsy who is sent to her grandparents' farm while her mother faces a difficult pregnancy and delivery. Betsy bravely makes a new family by adopting abandoned goose eggs. She shares with the hatchlings her silk security blanket and the kind of nurturing she gets from her grandparents. Yolen again prove herself as one who can weave a story with images that last beyond a single reading. 1993, Little Brown, $14.95. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1993; United States
ISBN: 0-316-96893-5

Hoptoad
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt
   Suspense, intrigue, humor, and helpfulness abound in this satisfying tale told in less than fifty words. The simple story plot centers on how and whether a likable desert toad will succeed in getting from one side of the road to the other. When he undertakes the crossing with his turtle and lizard friend, the toad does not see impending danger in the form of a traveling vehicle. With his friends safely on the other side, the toad is left in a lurch in mid-road with no chance to flee. Or is he? The kind boy, dad, and dog from the vehicle take time to stop and help the toad complete his journey and surface as heroes of the day. Playful illustrations coupled with the text add to the suspense in the tale by allowing the reader and viewer to see "just enough" of the picture to want more. Due to some simple rhyming patterns in the text, youngsters will quickly be reading this book on their own. Add this enjoyable tale to any preschool, kindergarten or home library. 2003, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 15, 2003; United States
ISBN: 0-15-216352-2

Horizons: Poems As Far As the Eye Can See
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   As Jane Yolen explains in her author's note, the book "happened." As her son, photographer Jason Stemple, sent her photographs that he had taken of horizons, she was inspired to create the poems that later came to occupy this book. These poems seem to whisper out from the mountains, the shorelines, and the vast skies that fill the pages; they appear as the voice of nature, rambling along in a train of thought. The book is finely constructed, and every inch of space is marked by the time of day the pictures were taken and the resulting light cast upon each scene. For the reader, the photographs allow the mind, as well as the eye, to travel; Stemple has taken many of his shots in the American west, and many in Scotland. Although the book is meant for an older age group, it will make a fine read-aloud book for children under the age of ten. 2002, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, $17.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: Susan Schott Karr (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56397-197-6

How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague
   My first inclination when I read this title was to say, "very carefully." Assuming that kids can accept the premise that dinosaurs live with a human family (Dinosaur Bob set the precedent), then this story will amuse them. First the dinosaurs try all the usual tricks when it comes to cleaning up--putting toys under the bed, stuffing them in the closet, putting dirty clothes back in the drawer with the clean ones to name a few. Then the dinosaurs contrast this misbehavior with good behavior. An euplocephalus dusts, a dilophosarus organizes his toys and a tropeognathus puts dirty clothes in a hamper. Mom and Dad are really proud and thank the little dinosaurs for doing such a great job. It is silly, but kids who love dinosaurs will have fun. In addition, they will learn the names of ten very different dinosaurs (if the reader can pronounce them all). This is a companion board book to How do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? which means young kids can learn twenty of these tongue-twisting dinosaur names. Teague has fun with the expressions, body positions and coloration of these huge and now extinct creatures. 2004, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $6.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
ISBN: 0-439-64950-1

How Do Dinosaurs Count To Ten?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague
   Assuming that kids can accept the premise that dinosaurs live with a human family (Dinosaur Bob set the precedent), then this is a pretty straightforward board book. On each page a dinosaur has the correct number of items described in the text. No Arabic numerals appear so a little extra reinforcement for the counting lesson is lost. Also, the dinosaurs change on each page. Fortunately, for parents and caregivers, they are all labeled. It is silly, but kids who love dinosaurs will have fun. In addition, they will learn the names of ten very different dinosaurs (if the reader can pronounce them all). This is a companion book to How do Dinosaurs Clean their Rooms? which means young kids can learn twenty of these tongue-twisting dinosaur names. Teague has fun with the expressions, body positions and coloration of these huge and now extinct creatures. 2004, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $6.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
ISBN: 0-439-64949-8

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague
   The team of Yolen and Teague add another amusing set of questions and answers to their "How Do Dinosaurs...?" series. Rhyming couplets across double pages first ask whether dinosaurs practice some of the eating behaviors frowned on by parents, such as making rude noises, fidgeting, spitting out food, etc. A firm "No" is followed by what would make parents happy. These dinosaurs say "Please" and "Thank you" and sit still quietly. They try new foods, and "never drop[s] anything onto the floor." After laughing at the naughty dinos, children are reminded how they can make parents smile as they say "Eat up." On the end-papers Teague displays small paintings of the ten dinosaurs--all labeled--in action to whet our appetites for more antics in the detailed scenes inside. His illustrations are naturalistic enough to handle the funny postures and gestures depicted. The one or two humans and frequent puzzled pets add scale and a surreal touch to the sometimes wild actions. Included in a plastic case inside is a bonus hand-sized soft cover replica of the large format book. 2005, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $15.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-24102-2

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague
   This fun-filled treat for dinosaur lovers should also delight all parents dealing with cranky sick kids, while entertaining all the other readers as well with its very brief questions per page in rollicking verse. "Does he whimper and whine in between each Atchoo?" The answers to the questions on behavior when sick are given with humor, but with a sound sense of what will really help to "get well, little dinosaur." Teague offers a preview of the ten sick dinosaurs to come, each in its own bed, on the end-papers, precisely labeled. Their antic behavior sets us up for the comedy to come. The sculpturesque characters in appropriately detailed settings so close to home make it impossible to keep a straight face despite their obvious misery. Imaginative, pseudo-naturalism creates these characters to help drive home the healthy message. The brief, simple text is in large, readable type. 2003, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Booklist Book Review Stars, Jan. 1, 2003; United States
   Capitol Choices, 2004; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
   Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, December 1, 2002; United States
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, December 23, 2002; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Buckaroo Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades K-3; Wyoming
   Building Block Picture Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Pre School; Missouri
ISBN: 0-439-24100-6

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague; Animated by Maciek Albrecht; Narrated by Jane Yolen
   How do dinosaurs say goodnight? We know that children can be difficult at times and have been known to throw tantrums to avoid going to bed. This clever book shows children doing everything within their power to put off bedtime. All of these shenanigans are contrasted at the very end with how dinosaurs say goodnight. They give a kiss goodnight, turn out the light, and off they go to sleep. Surely children can follow the lead of these large, loveable creatures. Mark Teague's dinosaur illustrations make the creatures look warm and cuddly. Dinosaur lovers will love this book and make it part of their bedtime ritual. Weston Woods includes a teacher's guide on the inside cover of the videocassette, complete with extension activities. An ALA Notable Book. Animated, Eight minutes Closed-Captioned. 2002, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $60.00. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
   Texas Reading Club, 2001; Texas
ISBN: 0-78820-981-7

The Hurrying Child
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson
   Maddy's relationship with her grandmother has been a close one ever since the day the girl was born. Now, she asks to hear that story again, so Grandma pulls Maddy into her lap and begins the tale. It was ten days before the birth was expected when Maddy's mother felt the baby coming. Three states away, Grandma got the call and immediately launched into action. She packed a quick bag, grabbed her knitting, and headed for the train. As Grandma hurried towards the hospital, Maddy was doing some hurrying of her own. In her apparent eagerness to be born, Maddy reveals herself to be a "hurrying child," and all around her--from her mother and father to the doctors and nurses at the hospital--hurry, too, to meet her. But, as shown in the illustrations, no one is actually hurrying quite so much as Grandma, who arrives just in time to wrap the baby in her newly-knitted blanket and give her freshly-born face a loving kiss. Children like to hear stories about their birth. Jane Yolen's tale is a sweet account of one child's entry into the world that will give parents and children (or grandparents and children) who share the book an opportunity to talk about the day they met, too. Kay Chorao's soft illustrations are warm with a nostalgic glow. Given all of the "hurrying" in the story, they have a reassuring feel to them. 2005, Gulliver/Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-201813-1

Jason and the Gorgon's Blood
Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
   Chiron, the wise centaur who has been teaching six boys of royal blood, is severely injured by other marauding centaurs and the two jars of Gorgon's blood of Medusa are stolen. One jar is highly poisonous and the other is universally healing. Jason, supposedly the son of a peasant, must lead the others over the mountains. Acastus, whose father is illegally ruling Iolcus, learns Jason is the true heir and vows Jason will not return alive. Even though Jason is the underdog, he must win the boys' confidence and become their leader. He does so by recognizing each as valuable members of the team and relying on their individual strengths. As a group they cross chasms, trick the harpys, survive a rock slide, and navigate rapids. Hera, queen of all gods, appears to Jason and demands that he kill Acastus and claim the throne, but Jason declares he cannot kill a comrade. The boys defeat the centaurs and Jason saves Acasus's life and drenches the centaurs in Gorgon's blood by one shot of the sling. Jason later reclaims his throne after retrieving the Golden Fleece. Greek myths often don't mention the hero's childhood but this book, a part of the "Young Heroes" series, is a plausible adventure. 2004, HarperCollins Children's Books, $15.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-029452-3
ISBN: 0-06-029453-1

King Long Shanks
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Victoria Chess
   The emperor had no clothes, and neither does the frog king, hero of this re-spinning of an old favorite. This time around, pride over his long shapely legs proves to be his downfall as he succumbs to the crafty tailors' tale of fantastic cloth which can be seen only by those "true, good, honest, smart and loyal." King Long Shanks, disliking their poetry and unwilling to seem any of the above, is no match for the yarns of the "tall tailor who squats to be shorter" and the "short tailor who stretches to be taller"--thus perfectly positioning themselves to poison his ears with their flattery. And so the story unwinds to its predictable but with-a-twist end, and a good laugh is had by all. The illustrations cleverly show two floors of the castle simultaneously, adding to the illusion of "there's more than meets the eye" and giving a young reader plenty of colorful scenes to contemplate while listening. 1998, Harcourt Brace, $15.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 1998; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal: Best Books, 1998; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-15-200013-5

Least Things: Poems About Small Natures
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   Nature's smallest creatures are celebrated in these simple and imaginative verses. The reflections are sensitive, "Do hummingbirds dream/ Of soaring on eagles wings?/ Just for a moment." They are also reverent, as in this tribute to the butterfly, "Can you paint a psalm?/ Can you wallpaper a dream?/ I can with my wings," or playful as in the nod to the squirrel, "You say, What a tail!/ What beady eyes! What quick steps?/ I say, Nuts to you." The brilliant photographs that grace each page add depth and beauty to the wondrous imagery. The final photo of a tiny hand trustingly holding her mother's embodies all the gentleness of these small gems. A few facts about each animal are included with an inset photo. This is a perfect addition for any poetry collection and would be an excellent gift for a new baby in your life, your own "least thing." 2003, Wordsong/Boyds Mills, $17.95. Ages 4 to 10. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-590-78098-1

Magic Three of Solatia
Jane Yolen
   The legend goes back in time for more years than anyone in the fishing village of Solatia can remember. The fishermen tell the stories at night before the hearth fires to their sons and daughters as the old legend illuminates the danger that they will face from the sea. Each chapter carries the story of the magic buttons forward, beginning with Sianna, the daughter of the local button-maker who is swept out to sea. Sianna had never connected her childhood song with the three strange buttons on her jacket. Dread Mary, the sea witch realizes the buttons are magic and steals one. That leaves two powerful wishes left for Sianna, but the magic must not be used irresponsibly for the wishes can have dangerous consequences. Readers will enjoy the rich tales of magic from this master of storytelling. A good item for any middle-school library or classroom. 2004 (orig. 1974), Starscape Books, $5.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Sue Reichard (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-765-34807-1

Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Raul Colón
   This collection of stories opens with a letter from the author to her sons and grandsons and closes with their reply. The premise is that much more is involved in being a hero than using a weapon and that brains often prevail over brawn. The author mentions as heroes Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Johnny Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), Neil Armstrong and those firefighters, police and medical personnel who risked their lives to save others on September 11, 2001. The stories are retold tales from many nations. They include "The Magic Brocade" from China, "Jack and His Companions" from Ireland and "Language of the Birds" from Russia. Perhaps the most compelling story is the last, "Mighty Mikko" from Finland, a version of the "Puss in Boots" tale in which a fox helps a lad named Mikko to gain fortune and happiness. Reading the book over a period of time is advisable because many of the plots are quite similar. A section titled "Notes on the Stories" appears in the back of the book along with an extensive bibliography. 2003, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, $19.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Aesop Prize Winner 2003 United States
   Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Language Arts-Grades K-6 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-15-216391-3

Milk and Honey: A Year of Jewish Holidays
Edited by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Louise August
   Passover is prominently featured in Milk and Honey. Editor Jane Yolen brings together poems, stories, songs, and a brief history of seven Jewish holidays. Full-color linoleum-cut illustrations by Louise August add an Old-World charm to the volume, an entertaining resource for families throughout the year. 1996, Putnam, Ages 4 to 10, $21.95. Reviewer Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-399-22652-4

Milk and Honey: A Year of Jewish Holidays
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Louise August
   This book is a special delight. Yolen relates stories to accompany the religious significance of each of the holidays. Some are Chasidic, Talmudic, or folktales, but always Ms. Yolen's voice is that of the storyteller. Familiar songs are included along with the music. The paintings add to the charm and beauty of the book. The book begins with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and continues through the year ending with an explanation of the Sabbath. 1996, Putnam, Ages 5 up, $21.95. Reviewer Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-399-22652-4

Mother Earth, Father Sky: Poems of Our Planet
Selected by Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Jennifer Hewitson
   In this splendid anthology for young readers, award-winning author Jane Yolen has collected poems about the earth's blessings and sacrifices from thirty-five poets including C.S. Lewis, William Stafford, Joseph Langland, and Christina Rossetti. The inspirational poems in this collection focus on the wonders and joys of the earth, as well as the fragility of nature's environment. Young readers will treasure this moving tribute to our beautiful planet. 1995, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-614-15562-2
ISBN: 1-56397-414-2

Mother Earth, Father Sky: Poems of Our Planet
Jane Yolen
Jennifer Hewitson
   A truly multicultural experience, Yolen brings together works of poets as diverse as Christina Rossetti, N. Scott Momaday, the Teton Sioux people and even Jane Yolen herself. Because of the literary nature of the text, parents may enjoy this anthology of poems even more than their children. Rendered in black and translucent gray on cream-colored pages, the unusual scratch-board illustrations suggest the energy and interdependence of nature, and remind readers of their own reliance on the health of the planet. The tone of the poems ranges from romantic and reverent to sober and cynical; there's something for everyone. By titling the book's sections "Celebrate the Earth," "Sacrifice the Earth" and "Save the Earth," Yolen ends with poems that offer hope to future generations. 1996, Boyds Mills, Ages 6 up, $15.95. Reviewer Michelle H. Martin
ISBN: 0-614-15562-2
ISBN: 1-56397-414-2

My Brothers' Flying Machine: Wilbur, Orville, And Me
Jane Yolen
Paintings by Jim Burke
   Katharine Wright, Wilbur and Orville's sister, provided continual support and was an emotional anchor after their mother died. She nursed Orville after a crash and packed a surprise jar of jam in Wilbur's bag. That was the only thing he ate on a rough two-day boat trip to Kitty Hawk. It makes sense for Jane Yolen to use Katharine as her viewpoint character in My Brothers' Flying Machine. Yolen's book is written in short verse-like lines. These hint at the poetic form her story takes. There are lots of facts and specific quotations woven into her telling, but it is the emotional quality, sensory details and effective rhythms that make this book special. You get a sense of hawk-faced, messy Will who sends away for Smithsonian books to better understand flight and the neat, red-mustached Orv who makes Katharine believe flight is possible. Kitty Hawk, Yolen writes, is a "two-hundred-mile strip of sand with the ocean at its face and North Carolina at its back" where mosquitoes leave "lumps like hen's eggs" and a blustering winter freezes washbasins solid. 2003, Little Brown & Co, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).

   In this beautifully illustrated, sturdy picture book, the well-known story of the Wright Brothers and their flying machine is told through the eyes of their little sister, Katharine. The book opens at the moment the idea seeds itself in Wilbur and Orville's minds, when their father brings home a small flying toy powered by a twisted rubber band. Katharine tells young readers many fascinating details of the fraternal collaboration that begins that day, culminating in the successful flight at Kitty Hawk. The reader also learns about the important contributions Katharine made to her brothers' team effort over the years. The accompanying full-color oil paintings illustrate the story stunningly, with well-selected period details, and rendered in warm, early-1900s hues. Although most of the book concerns the support Katharine gave her famous brothers in her teens and adulthood, Burke's cover art features a full-color portrait of a Katharine as a very young girl, which could easily mislead readers as to the nature of the story between the covers. Yolen's prose varies within the text from lyrical to informational, but the stylistic unevenness doesn't seem to hinder the clarity of her storytelling...and it's a great story she tells. 2003, Little Brown and Company, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 1, 2003; United States
   Teachers' Choices, 2004; International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Emphasis on Reading, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 2-3; Alabama
   Emphasis on Reading Program, 2004-2005; Book List; Grades 2-3; Alabama
ISBN: 0-316-97159-6

O Jerusalem
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by John Thompson
   Brief poems evoke the history and drama of Jerusalem. Muslim, Judaic and Christian themes are interwoven in words that echo the heartache and love that many feel for this ancient city. Each poem is followed by a paragraph of text that explains the historical and religious setting. Thompson's paintings are suffused with light and heat, a perfect counterpoint to the poems. 1996, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Ages 4 up, $15.95. Reviewer Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 0-614-15770-6

Once Upon Ice and Other Frozen Poems
Selected by Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   Ice is an ordinary substance with extraordinary properties. Jane Yolen, along with sixteen other writers, contributed to this collection of poetry based upon photographs taken by Yolen's son Jason Stemple. The photographs illustrate the many strange and ethereal ways ice presents itself and the tone of the book varies from poem to poem. 1997, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 8 up, $17.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 1-56397-408-8

The Originals: Animals that Time Forgot
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Ted Lewin
   Narrative poems describe the ancestry of unusual animals such as the tiny Exmoor pony, Churro sheep, and the Red Jungle Rooster tell the history of these "modern ancients." Ted Lewin's beautiful paintings clarify the poems, some of which require adult explanation for young readers to understand the references to man's need for the animals throughout history. Children will appreciate how the animals have evolved and can be seen in today's world. 1998, Philomel Books, Ages 5 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer Wendy Pollock-Gilson
ISBN: 0-399-23007-6

The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
   The life of the author of the classic tales that have become part of childhood is retold with reference to possible sources for his stories. The pages also have appropriate quotations from his works. His difficult childhood experiences influence his writings; he himself is an "ugly duckling." At fourteen he goes from his small town to Copenhagen, hoping to perform in the theater there. He also begins to write. After suffering in poverty, Andersen finally gets a chance at school and university and becomes successful and famous. Yolen's episodic narrative based on details of Anderson's life is printed on one page facing a full-page illustration of the events. Both pages are framed with a thin gold line which creates a formal appearance. Nolan's subtle, textured colored pencil illustrations with their modulated forms supply portraits of the characters as well as local settings for an informative, respectful introduction to the great writer's life. Yolen includes notes on the translations used in her retellings, along with a bibliography. 2004, Dutton Children's Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).

   Dreamy writing and illustrations fill the pages of this biography of the great fairy-tale writer; they are a perfect match for this picture book biography. The book begins: "Once upon a time, a baby was born on a bed that was made from a coffin platform . . . Or at least such was the story he told." The opposing picture is a softly shaded infant framed by the wings of a gigantic angel and the figure of Father Time. Yolen, famed herself for inventive fairy tales, has the perfect voice for weaving magic into Anderson's life of poverty and struggle for fame and publication, a life made bright by imagination, folklore, story and theater. The diffused cast of Dennis Nolan's sepia and pastel illustrations bring gentleness to the hard realities of the author's life. At the bottom of each page is a quote from one of Andersen's tales. These are described in the page's biographical information; they provide an additional way for children to connect Anderson's life with his stories. 2005, Dial, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).

   It takes a master storyteller to create the perfect tribute to a beloved storyteller and Jane Yolen has done just that with her compassionate and lyrical retelling of Anderson's life. The very ordinary boy was born into poverty to parents who instilled in him a love of folklore and the theater. An awkward and homely child he was teased so often at school that he refused to return. Yet his desire to write was so intense that he risked ridicule and embarrassment and went back to school a "tall, gawky seventeen-year-old" in a schoolroom with boys of eleven. Yolen chooses her words with great care to draw a picture of a man who became a writer against overwhelming odds, a man of many moods from childlike exuberance to bouts of melancholy, one who huddled in a cramped, cold room writing stories and plays, and whose ambition and genius knew no bounds. Warm pastels with a sepia wash are seamlessly matched to the text and have an appropriate aged look. Each page has a carefully selected quote from an Anderson story and each clearly illustrates how much of his own life he poured into his tales. The quotes add a touch of intimacy and insight into this man who is as much tragic as he is triumphant. This is a masterpiece of writing and design that deserves a place on library and personal bookshelves. 2004, Dutton, $16.99. Ages 8 to Adult. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 21, 2005; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-525-46955-9

Roanoke: The Lost Colony: An Unsolved Mystery From History
Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple
Illustrated by Roger Roth
   Third in the "Unsolved Mystery from History" series, this volume examines the background of the famous "lost colony" of Roanoke off North Carolina's Atlantic coast. The facts are presented in a boxed narrative while sidebars, in the form of a girl-investigator's spiral-bound notebook and vocabulary defined on yellow Post-It notes, include extra information. Although there were no survivors apparent when John White finally returned from England, rumors, clues such as nearby Lumbee tribe members with family names the same as some Roanoke settlers, and a recently discovered signet ring provide tantalizing bits of information for detectives to mull. As in previous titles, the authors summarize in Q&A format the five theories put forth by historians and, in one case, folklorists (Virginia Dare became a white doe when she refused to marry an old medicine man), and re-present the evidence. Says the girl detective whose investigations frame the story, "I've got my own theory about what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. And maybe--now--you do too," a sure invitation to go back and read the book one more time to check your theory. Roth's watercolors, some with textured pencil detail, evoke the era unobtrusively. The only thing this mystery lacks is a map so that young readers unfamiliar with Roanoke can place the story geographically. Otherwise, it's a fine contribution to middle elementary history studies and a good open-ended mystery in its own right. 2003, Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-689-82321-5

The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Roger Roth
   The enigma of the Salem Witch Trials is introduced as a young girl explains her desire to be a detective and her interest in finding all the clues possible to solve cases, both present and past. She provides background information about Salem Village and the people who lived there. Realistic full color illustrations fill each double-page. The text appears in a yellow box in different places on each page and a notebook entry explains some aspect of the text in more detail. Various colored "sticky notes" contribute definitions of words and terms. The historical characters involved in this tragic era of our history are described. A notebook entry speculates that the slave Tituba was likely a North or South American Indian, not of African blood. Various reasons for the behavior of the young girls and their accusations are discussed. The medical practices of the time may have contributed to the confusion of the situation. Five possible solutions for the mystery are given near the end of the book and readers are invited to consider the evidence and choose the one that seems most likely for them. This is an innovative way to involve young people in the study of history. 2004, Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-689-84620-7

Sword of the Rightful King: A Novel of King Arthur
Jane Yolen
   "It was an old story but a good one" ends Yolen's text, and in her hands, this old tale of King Arthur is fresh and alive. Merlinnus, to ensure that Arthur is recognized by all as the "rightwise king born of all England," uses his magic to place a sword in stone that can only be retrieved by Arthur. In the meantime, Morgause has sent four of her sons, Gawaine, Agravaine and the twins to Arthur's castle. Intrigue and assassination plots, as well as the arrival of a mysterious person who becomes Merlinnus' assistant, all keep the reader turning the pages. Arthur comes alive as a real person with strengths as well as weaknesses. Yolen conveys a strong sense of place and a real understanding of her characters Small details, such as the superstitions of the people, give richness to the story. She plays to her audience, the readers, when she references the Green Knight and has Gawaine ask what it is that women want. Yolen's words and phrases evoke this ancient time yet will appeal to today's reader. Put this at the top of your read-aloud list. 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).

   The legends of King Arthur have endured for centuries but are readily accessible to today's young readers through such spirited retellings as this one by Jane Yolen, a legend in her own right with over 200 books to her credit. This one retains enough of the lilt and vocabulary of Olde English to feel authentic but is parsed and paced perfectly for moderns. Yolen also retains the most authentic spellings of the famous names, such as: Merlinnus--Merlin, the sage mage (magician)--the hoary forerunner of Harry Potter and his ilk; and Morgause--more familiar as the wicked, magical queen Morgana. Who is the rightful king of All England? Is it, should it be, the newly crowned Arthur or one of his many rivals? Who at the court belongs there, and who spells danger? How shall the people know? How can Arthur command their respect and allegiance? Merlin contrives to place a hero-size sword into a solid rock and announces that only the rightful king will be able to remove it. Many try: two succeed! And an exciting surprise ending neatly ties up this intriguing tale. 2003, Harcourt, $17.00. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
   Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
   Booklist Book Review Stars, Apr. 15, 2003; United States
   Capitol Choices, 2004; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
   The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
   Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 14, 2003; Cahners; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, July 2003; Cahners; United States
   Top 10 Fantasy Books for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
   Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Language Arts Grades 7-12 Novels United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-8; Vermont
   South Carolina Junior Book Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; South Carolina
   Teens' Top Ten List, 2003; Nominee; United States
   Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
ISBN: 0-15-202527-8

Water Music, Poems for Children
Jane Yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple
   This is a book of poems inspired by Jason Stemple's pictures. The pictures illustrate water in all its forms, and the poems are Yolen's responses. From dewdrops to raindrops, from a trickling stream to Niagara Falls, from a froth of soap bubbles to a puddle to a lake, from icicles to steam-water is music. And Jane Yolen is magnificent. 1995, Boyds Mills, Ages All, $16.95. Reviewer Judy Silverman
ISBN: 1-56397-336-7

Where Have the Unicorns Gone?
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Ruth Sanderson
   Yolen's answer to the title question is given in rhymed verses that trace the escape of the mythic creatures from pursuit by knights and from the noise, congestion, and pollution of today. They always run to water, for which they have a legendary affinity. Their racing and galloping is described with vivid imagery. The conclusion brings us back to the sea, where perhaps we may see their traces when the moon is full, "in the moment that separates nighttime and dawn." Sanderson sets the poetic text in large double-page, naturalistic scenes that parallel the emotional surges. She supplies visual, interpretive details barely suggested by the few words. The white unicorns are in every scene in a variety of poses3/4loving portraits that are convincing in their admiration of the unicorns power and sensitive majesty. 2000, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-689-82465-3

White Jenna
Jane Yolen
   Book two in the "Great Alta Saga," this fantasy novel traces the journey of Jenna, the White One, a young woman of great spirit and strength who prophecy predicts will serve as leader and savior during the Gender Wars. Although Jenna is reluctant to accept the role assigned to her, she sets out on a quest with her closest companions to send warnings of war to several communities of women comprised of those who, in earlier days, opted to live among themselves rather than as wives and slaves to the Garunian patriarchs. Jenna's dark sister, Skada, exists as a dual self, emerging physically in the shadows of the moon or by candlelight and remaining hidden but spiritually connected to Jenna at all other times. She is her friend, her critic, her conscience. The voyage sees Jenna and her fellow travelers recruit other soldiers, lose many years in the dark forest of the Grenna (little people), meet the Great Alta herself, and, ultimately, overcome King Kalas and destroy the dominant and hated force in the kingdom. The story is punctuated by versions of myth, legend, and history that both attest to and call into question the authenticity of the tale; readers are left to decide for themselves how much they are willing to believe. The novel begins with a synopsis of the first installment of the series, so it is not necessary to begin with book one. Yet, the first few chapters require the synthesis of much new information--from character names and roles to an understanding of the world in which they live. The tale is fast-paced and vivid. Battle scenes are graphic in detail, and sexual innuendo abounds in the interactions between males and females, entirely appropriate given the underlying tensions in the community. Not for every reader, but engaging, unique, and thought-provoking for those wishing to explore visions beyond that which they know. 2004, Tor Teen, $6.99. Ages 13 to 17. Reviewer: Wendy Glenn, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
   Utah Children's Book Awards, 1993; Nominee; Young Adult; Utah
ISBN: 0-765-34358-4

The Wizard of Washington Square
Jane Yolen
   Do you believe in wizards? David and his Scottish terrier, D. Dog, certainly did not until they met one. While playing ball with D. Dog in Washington Square Park, trying to cheer themselves up because they were feeling out of place and uncertain about their new home in New York City, David is befriended by, of all people, a girl. Leilah not only introduces David to the wizard who lives in the fountain in Washington Square but together they experience many adventures and magical situations. This easy-to-read, fast-paced story is somewhat akin to the Harry Potter series. The magic and intrigue will hold the readers' attention while not frustrating their reading ability. A fun story for boys and girls. 2005, Starscape Books/Tom Doherty Publishing, $5.99. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Joe Ann Hinrichs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-765-35016-5

Updated 2006

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