Book Corner by Sharon Levin
It's that time of year again pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons and, if you live in California, the occasional 95 degree heat wave (it can make it a little hard to get into that fall spirit when you're busy putting on sun screen).However, before we get into the books that will get us into the mood (regardless of the weather), there are two new books that need to be talked about.
King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland (Tricycle Press, 2002). This starts off as the typical prince finding a bride story, Queen is tired of ruling, orders prince to get married. She harasses him enough until he agrees and they invite princesses from all over the world to come parade before the prince. He's bored, the queen is disappointed and it looks hopeless until the last princess comes in accompanied by her brother, Prince Lee (get it? Princely? Someone had to point that out to me, I'm a little slow) and the two princes' eyes meet and they fall in love. They get married and rule as King and King. Well, all I can say is, it's about time! A fun story with a message that doesn't hit you over the head with a baseball bat (unlike Heather Has Two Mommies which broke new ground, but is NOT a well written book). The art is unique with sprinklings of Dutch words in paper cut outs and all kinds of princesses. I was a little uncomfortable that the princess from Bombay seemed to be teased about the length of her arms, but that could be me being oversensitive, since no one else seems to be bothered by it. All in all, a wonderful addition to bookshelves anywhere.
Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James Ransome (Scholastic 2002) The first time I read this book I said, "Hmm." The second time I said, "Aah." This is about a little girl and her grandma getting ready to visit her daddy. Grandma is "smiling her secret just-for-Daddy-and-me smile and me lying in bed, smiling my just-for-Grandma-and-Daddy smile." Daddy is in prison, we don't know why in this book and it doesn't matter. This book is about family love that extends beyond time and prison walls. This book is the story of too many children in this country and it's touching, heart-wrenching and beautiful. Many of you may believe that it doesn't apply to anyone you know, but one never knows. It is a part of the story of both the author and illustrator and in fact was a closely held family secret, for the illustrator, until this book. The illustrations are rich, beautiful and occasionally painful as the father and daughter must part until the next month. This is a treasure.
So, on to the Autumn/Halloween books. Here you go.
Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson, photos by Shmuel Thaler (Tricycle Press, 1999) Yes, I have written about this before, but I can't risk anyone missing this, so GO GET IT!! (There is an EXTREMELY expensive video available which is worth seeing, but can be checked out from the library).
Halloween Is... by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House, 2002). The master, um, mistress of nonfiction picture books does it again! Ms. Gibbons explains many of our Halloween traditions and gives a brief history of the origin of the holiday. I even learned where the term Jack-o-lantern came from (I won't tell you, get the book).
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2001). Yes, sorry, also a repeat. But it is nice to have a book at Halloween about a nice, sharing witch who always has 'room on her broom.' Great rhythm, fun read aloud.
Note to my Bay Area readers: There are many wonderful authors visiting the area this fall. To find out more about them you can subscribe (for free) to my e-mail list or contact your local, independent bookstores. San Mateo - M is for Mystery. Los Altos - Linden Tree Bookstore. Menlo Park - Keplers. San Jose - Hickelbee's.
Until next month......
Sharon Levin can be reached at sharonlevin@mindspring.com.
Reviews
King & King
Linda de Haan & Stern Nijland
Most picture books deal with the acceptance of differences and diversity in an oblique manner, but this story takes a more direct approach to the subject of homosexuality. A young crown prince is being urged by his mother to marry before the end of summer. She has tired of ruling the country and wishes him to pick out a princess and settle down so she can take life easy. The eligible princesses come to visit, but none are just right. Then Princess Madeleine and her brother, Prince Lee, arrive and the prince falls in love with Prince Lee. They have a festive wedding and, as in most such stories, live happily ever after while the queen relaxes. This story recognizes no differences between homosexual and heterosexual relationships. Many youngsters will accept this in a matter-of-fact way, but others will have questions so parents should be prepared with age-appropriate answers. The colorful, amusing illustrations and the humor of the story will appeal to kids. 2002 (orig. 2000), Tricycle Press/Ten Speed Press, $14.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewers: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 1582460612
The queen insists that the prince must marry, in this unusual twist of a common theme. Although he "never cared much for princesses," the prince agrees to choose a mate from a parade of hopeful princesses, all with amusing but unappealing qualities. The final candidate arrives with her brother. "It was love at first sight," but between the prince and the brother. This "happily ever after" takes the unusual pair completely for granted, with neither surprise nor shock, and it's on with the celebration! The sparse, simple text is almost lost in the wild collage illustrations. All sorts of materials, from torn paper scraps to netting and wallpaper, are assembled with drawings into actively surreal scenes with lively, unforgettable characters, assuring lots of laughs. 2002 (orig. 2000), Tricycle Press/Ten Speed Press, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 1582460612
Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden
George Levenson
Photography by Shmuel Thaler
This charming account of a pumpkin life cycle is based on an award-winning video. Pristine, brightly colored photographs illustrate how seeds sprout and grow, twine and lean to the sun, flower and attract bee pollinators, and finally produce pumpkins. A straw-hatted, orange-gloved, black-clad man appears unobtrusively to demonstrate, hold, or merely appreciate what is going on in this pumpkin patch. Five varieties of squash are grown and in the end, pumpkins are carved, they decay, rot and turn to earth where in next year's muck and dirt, a seed sprouts again. Just in time for Halloween, this beautifully realized book nurtures children's wonder at this seasonally familiar crop. Levenson's text rhymes when it wants to, but the lively pictures overshadow the rhyme, and the whole package finishes with "How to grow pumpkins." All in all a winning entry in the life-cycle books and a must-read in preschools and early elementary grades for October. 1999, Tricycle Press, $14.95. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 1582460043
Room on the broom
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
The witch loses her hat, leading to a series of misadventures, each of which adds another passenger on her broom. The combined weight finally snaps the broom, leaving the witch at the mercy of a mean, hungry dragon. She is saved by her clever flying companions, and the jolly verses end with them all flying happily together on a larger, "truly magnificent broom." In large, colorful, action-filled scenes and vignettes, Scheffler depicts an appealing pigtailed witch, a benign landscape, and a magical world in a humorous, cartoon-y style. Even the final confrontation between the dragon and the "horrible beast" of her friends is conceived for fun, not fright. 2001, Dial Books for Young Readers, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0803726570
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Added 9/27/02
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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.