Book Corner by Sharon Levin
On the San Francisco Bay Peninsula, where urban sprawl has made us less susceptible to the kinds of fires that decimated many homes and lives in Southern California, it was with great interest that I read Chris L. Demarest's latest book on firefighting, Hotshots! (Now watch, some developer-backed politician is going to start campaigning on 'Subdivisions, the wildfires' foe, the firefighters' friend'. Sorry, the cynic in me is showing. Cut me some slack, though, I live in the state that elected Arnie for governor.) Just released by Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, this timely book is perfect for reading and discussion both by those who survived the fires and those who just saw pictures in newspapers and on television.
Mr. Demarest's first two books on firefighting, Firefighters A to Z and Smokejumpers One to Ten gave detailed description and tons of firefighting vocabulary, this one shows firefighting from the 'hotshots' viewpoint. Hotshots being "the elite ground firefighting corps". Covering the blaze from the first spark "Sparks from a train ignite a field baked for days. Then winds whip it into a fast-running blaze." to "Police drive through streets, calling "EVACUATE" For some people's homes, it is just much too late." to the final "Time to reload tools and grab a quick bite, for the hotshots know there's more fire to fight." it makes you feel as if you're there with the hotshots. I did find some of the text and rhymes a bit clunky i.e. "A skycrane swoops down to drop its water load, but fire jumps effortlessly over the road." but his beautiful illustrations, attention to the details of firefighting (the author is a volunteer firefighter) and educational opening illustration of a fully outfitted hotshot makes this book interesting and accessible to all ages.
Ellsworth's Extraordinary Electric Ears and Other Amazing alphabet Anecdotes by Valorie Fisher (Ann Schwartz Book/Simon & Schuster, 2003) is a fun and funny alphabet book that works at so many levels. Parents of non-readers can enjoy reading the tongue twister text, "Alistair had an alarming appetite for acrobats. Josie joined Judy on a jittery, jerky, jolly jaunt on her jackrabbit." Readers and pre-readers can look for all the items on the page that start with the featured letter and everyone can laugh at the clever photographs of plastic figures that illustrate the text. The hungry Alistair, for example, is an alligator whose gaping jaws are under a figure on a tightrope. In that picture, one can find ants streaming toward an apple, an armadillo and an airplane. Luckily, Ms. Fisher has put a key on the last page, to help you identify anything you may have missed (which was good for me, since my pre-coffee mind identified the armadillo as an anteater.) This book reminds me of one of my favorite and more complicated alphabet books, Michael Rosen's ABC. Enjoy Ellsworth I earnestly entreat you.
I'm Still Here in the Bathtub by Alan Katz, illustrated by David Catrow (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, 2003). I can't even look at this book without grinning as the songs instantly start going through my head. This absolutely delightful sequel to Take Me Out of the Bathtub features songs such as I'm a Menace (the tune is Frere Jacques) "I'm a menace, I played tennis, In my house, In my room, Didn't know a racket, Could hit a lamp and crack it, I smell doom, In my room!" All the tunes are familiar and the new lyrics fit in seamlessly and David Catrow's hilarious illustrations just add to the enjoyment.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick Press, 2003) A short, simple book that says so much. Vashti sits with a blank piece of paper in art class, "I just can't draw." she says. The teacher asks her to "make a mark and see where it takes you." Vashti jabs the paper and makes a dot, her teacher asks her to sign it. The next day, Vashti sees her dot "All framed in swirly gold!" From there Vashti explores her creativity (which is not how our children will put it, they'll just say, "she's making a lot of pretty dots."), inspires others and finishes with an 'aww' ending that just makes you want to hug the book. This is NOT a treacly message book, it is a sweet, accessible story that resonates for all ages.
Frog on His Own, Frog Goes to Dinner, by Mercer Mayer One Frog Too Many by Mercer and Marianna Mayer (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1973, 1974, 1975). Yes, I know these have an old copyright date, but Dial has just rereleased these wonderfully charming wordless, sized perfectly for little hands, books. The adventures of a boy, his dog, his turtle and his frog (frogs, by the third book) are perfect for sitting down with our kidlets and letting THEM read us the story. My favorite is definitely the third book, with all its images of sibling rivalry.
A Cold Snap by Audrey B. Baird, illustrated by Patrick O'Brien (Boyds Mills Press, 2002) Reading this book 2 weeks ago when it was 88 degrees didn't really work, now that the cold has hit us (well, that's a relative term, 65 degrees in November is considered a heatwave in Colorado, where I grew up ) this is the perfect book for reading while snuggled under covers, drinking hot cocoa. These 'frosty poems' really convey the feelings of children and chilly weather. Yes, it's a poetry book, have you all missed my lectures on making sure you expose your children to poetry? Poetry is FUN, beautiful, NOT intimidating. Gravity's Rainbow is intimidating (or in my case, it's a doorstop, please don't tell my college English professor that), poetry is for EVERYONE! Listen to this poem titled Trees and Me "Trees undress in November, dropping their clothes where they stand. I wonder if Mother Nature shakes her head and says, "Socks and underwear everywhere!" like my mother does." The exquisite illustration that accompanies this poem: bare tree, sunset, figure in background entering a covered bridge or old building, really draws the reader into the scene. Just reading these poems brings back so many childhood memories, bringing out the winter clothes, snow days, icy puddles that are fun to crack, seeing your breath in the cold air. "My December breath hangs frozen in the air-- a balloon without string." Remember one of the points of literature is vicarious experience, even if your children live in snowless climates, they can really feel what winter is like through Cold Snap. So, make some cocoa, snuggle under the covers and Happy Reading!!
Sharon Levin can be reached at sharonlevin@mindspring.com.
Read previous months' Book Corner features from Sharon Levin:
February
December
November
October
September
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Added 12/2/03
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