Book Corner by Sharon Levin
Welcome to a new school year and to Book Corner. For those of you who don't know me or my column, a brief introduction. I always describe myself as a mother who loves children's books. I'm sure that describes many of you as well. I also devote my copious free time (5 minutes a week) to taking classes, attending conferences, reading literature journals and, of course, reading as many children's books as possible. Because I've never been able to keep a good thing to myself, I started writing this column in order to share the books I love with as many people as possible. It's going on 5 years now and the number of people subjected to my opinion has increased quite a bit (truly a frightening thought). If you have opinions, comments or questions, please feel free to e-mail me at sharonlevin@mindspring.com. So, onto the books!
Lullaby Lullabook by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Bruce Whatley (HarperFestival, 2002) A perfect goodnight book to read to your little one. "Mama cow with day-old calf marvels at each spot and curl, nuzzles him as mamas do, sings her babe a lulla-moo." The pictures are muted and soft, the rhythm slow and comforting. Bruce Whatley shows his versatility as he also illustrated the fabulous and cartooney Wait, No Paint!
His Mother's Nose by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2001) So many parents will see themselves in this book which opens, "From the day Percival Puddicombe was born, he was not his own man. Everyone who saw Percival saw something of themselves in him. 'He has my nose!' said his mother." and so on. Poor Percival feels there's not a piece of him that he can claim for himself (our children were informed in utero that they could have my eyes but really needed to have my husband's nose and um, posterior. So far, so good.) One day, Percival cracks and the next day odd things happened. His mother's nose disappears, his father's eyes...etc. Fun reading, and a bit of a wake up call to those of us who insist on seeing our children as reflections.
Smoke Jumpers One to Ten by Chris L. Demarest (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, 2002) How did he do it? In a 1-10 (then back down from 10-1, a wonderful touch) counting book Chris Demarest manages to take us from beginning to end of a forest fire. This book is the perfect example of good children's literature working at many levels. You can read this with little ones for the story and great rhythm, you can read it with older children who feel they've outgrown counting books but they're really into firefighting (raise your hand if you can think of 1 or 100 of those). His illustrations truly convey the emotions and actions from the first call to the fire, to the return home to base. Demarest never talks down to his audience. A great follow up and companion book to his Firefighters A to Z.
A Story for Bear by Dennis Haseley, illustrated by Jim LaMarche (SilverWhistle/Harcourt, 2002). A book for book lovers of all ages. Bear discovers a visitor to the woods who reads aloud every day. He sits and listens, creeping closer, eventually snuggling up as the woman reads. Jim LaMarche's (The Raft, Albert) illustrations make this heartwarming book even more endearing and enduring.
That's it for this month. Please note, if you haven't gotten enough of me (and you live in the Bay Area), I'll be teaching a class on GREAT BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS! through Sequoia Adult Education. September 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. $14.00/person (and cheap at half the price, um, you know what I mean). Call 650-306-8866 for more info.
Reviews
Wait! No Paint!
Bruce Whatley
Beginning from the classic tale of the Three Little Pigs, this soon moves from the traditional building of houses and running from the big bad wolf to the most unusual interruption of a Voice, who turns out to be the Illustrator. His lack of red paint causes not only pale pigs but sickly green and patterned pigs, while the wolf huffs and puffs away. The angry pigs demand to be let out of the story, whereupon the Illustrator gives us the last laugh, in this new romp with an old tale. Three anthropomorphic pigs in blue coveralls and polka-dot neckerchiefs are stylized porkers with big round white eyes, spike-y ears, and barely a mouth, active in vignettes, while the wolf has a wonderfully extensive range of facial expressions. In contrast, finely detailed pictures of a spilled glass of juice, an empty paint tube, a brush, a pencil, or an eraser remind us that we are in an art world where strange things can happen. 2001, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0060282703
ISBN: 0060282711
In this wacky story, Whatley creatively combines text and illustrations to present his own version of "The Three Little Pigs" in which he, the illustrator, changes the outcome of the story. Leaving 73 other little pigs crammed into a house, these three set out to build their own houses. Of course, they encounter a wolf, although this one is not nearly as crafty as the one in the traditional tale. When the wolf scrunches his nose on the closed door of the third little pig's house, the illustrator joins the dialog as the "Voice." He redoes the wolf's nose and then explains that he has run out of red paint and cannot make the pigs pink. Through the use of or lack of color, Whatley changes the pigs from green to polka-dotted to pasty white clowns. Ultimately, the story switches from "The Three Little Pigs" to "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." And just who is Goldilocks? Certainly, it is the wolf. On first reading, the book seems lackluster, but watching children participate in the story changes that opinion. The book could be used effectively as a comparison to other versions of the tale. 2001, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0060282703
ISBN: 0060282711
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
State Reading Lists:
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2003; Utah
His Mother's Nose
Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas
Husband and wife team Maloney and Zakauskas have collaborated on the sprightly text and illustrations for this amusing and yet serious tale of Percival, who has not only his mother's nose, but attributes from every member of his family--at least, so they claim. No one asks Percival what he thinks, until, after a failed attempt to disguise himself as someone else (young readers may or may not recognize Groucho Marx), Percival suddenly disappears. With him go the family's features, including his aunt's ear for music and his uncle's head for numbers. To Percival's relief, he discovers in his grandmother's photo album that everyone in a family has a little bit of everyone else. The delightfully eccentric illustrations should bring a chuckle to readers of all ages, while the ending reassures younger ones that each person is unique. This book could be a wonderful introduction to some genealogical research or the writing of family stories and compilation of family pictures. Young writers publishing their own work should check out the endpapers, the dedication and the family tree on the back cover. 2001, Dial, $15.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 0803725450
A Story For Bear
Dennis Haseley
Illustrated by Jim LaMarche
A young bear finds a piece of paper with writing on it in the woods one day. He muses about it over the next few years wondering what it could possibly be. One day while traveling through the woods his nose leads him to a cabin in the woods. On his arrival, he sees a woman sitting in a chair outside, looking at something that has those same marks that he saw on the paper in the woods. As the lady turns more pages with writing on it, the bear hears her laugh. He returns to the cabin on numerous occasions to witness this strange occurrence. On one such occasion, the lady goes inside, and bear takes a closer look at the strange vehicle that holds these strange marks. The lady catches the bear looking at her book and invites the bear to stay as she reads aloud. This occurs on many occasions, until one day when the leaves have turned gold, the lady is no longer there. But, she has left bear a gift of all of her books. One by one, he takes the books to his den for safe keeping over the Winter, dreaming of the days when the lady will return to read stories to him, again. Having just watched National Geographic's program on wild bears before reading this book, I found a bear as a strange choice of animals to treat in such an intimate fashion. While the colored chalk drawings and story are charming, it seems necessary to assure the young reader that this is strictly make-believe. 2002, Harcourt, $ 16.00. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0152002391
Firefighters A to Z
Chris L. Demarest
This book arrived just in time for fire safety week, making it the perfect trial situation. It was a big hit with the kindergarten. The format is a familiar "A is for...", but the text has a rhythm that keeps it fresh. A storyline is contained within the format. It takes the reader from the first ring of the alarm to a fire scene, and ends with the tired firefighters zipping into bed for a rest. Interesting objects are introduced throughout the story--ones that are foreign to those outside of the field. The author, who is a volunteer firefighter, adds a note at the end of the story to explain the dangers of fire and why it is so important to educate children about the business of firefighting. Large, colorful illustrations dominate each page to bring the simple lines of text to life. 2000, Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carol Lynch
ISBN: 0689837984
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 2000; Cahners; United States
State Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Kentucky
The Raft
Jim LaMarche
Nicky is far from enthusiastic about being dropped off in the north woods to spend the summer with his grandmother. But grandma is an artist and free thinker. She gives the quiet boy lots of space and maybe even a very special gift. When an old raft bumps up next to Nicky along the river one day, he begins to explore its possibilities. Along the way, he finds a love for the river, for nature and art, and for his grandmother, too. All summers should pass this way. LaMarche's story and lovely pictures are based on his own childhood experiences. He tells and illustrates his tale gently and with much affection. This is a keeper. 2000, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0688139779
ISBN: 0688139787
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2000; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 2000; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2000; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2000; Cahners; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2001; International Reading Association; United States
State Reading Lists:
Georgia Children's Literature Awards, 2003; Georgia
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2003; Texas
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2002; Washington
Albert
Donna Jo Napoli
Illustrated by Jim LaMarche
Albert seems to have opted out of life until one day, when he puts his hand out through the grill of the window to check the weather, a pair of cardinals builds a nest and deposits four eggs in it. Arthur can't move without disturbing them. If we can accept the premise that he stays there, day after day, subsisting on the berries fed him by the cardinal, then we can rejoice with him at the fledglings' hatching and final flight away. It is a changed Albert that finally goes out for a walk and, sometimes, "when no one's looking, he flies." Albert looks out at us from the jacket/cover with an appealing, whimsical expression behind his spectacles and a cardinal on his head. LaMarche creates a friendly neighborhood where magical events seem perfectly possible. The large, mostly full-page, naturalistic and detailed scenes are created with colored pencil and a textured romanticism that allows the light paper to glow through the applied pigment, just as the skies glow when Albert finally ventures outside. 2001, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0152015728
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001; Book Sense 76; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 2001; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2001; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2001; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner 2001 United States
State Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Kentucky
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2003; Utah
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Added 9/1/02
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.