Grandparent's Day September 9, 2007

   Becoming a grandparent is another stage in life that comes as a pleasurable bonus to parenting. The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren often creates a special, almost magical, bond that gives great joy to all parties. National Grandparents Day, established in 1978 by President Carter, is celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day. Visit this site http://www.grandparents-day.com/ to learn more. If you are looking for some special activities to share with grandchildren then visit this site http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/. Make some selections from the following books to read with those special little people in your life...even if you have to "adopt" a grandchild these are all great fun to share.

Reviews

Ahwoooooooo!
Yannick Murphy
Illustrated by Claudio Muñoz
   Little Wolf wants to learn to howl, but his mother and father are too busy to teach him. His impatience leads him to ask Owl, Frog, and Whippoorwill to teach him. Of course, they can only teach him their own sounds and he is unable to learn how to hoot, croak, or trill. Finally, coming upon his grandfather, he learns that to howl he must reach deep inside and think about the things he loves. Though very sweet, the ending is a bit predictable--Little Wolf loves his mother, father, and grandfather, the moon, Owl, Frog, and Whippoorwill, and he emits a tree-shaking champion howl. Muñoz's watercolors express Little Wolf's happy world and lovely adventure through their soft lines and colors. Children will love howling along with Little Wolf when he finds his voice. 2006, Clarion/Houghton, $16.00. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Ilene S. Goldman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-11762-8
ISBN: 1-415681007
ISBN: 978-0-618-11762-8
ISBN: 978-1-415681008

Banjo Granny
Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrated by Barry Root
   "When Owen's granny heard he was a baby who went wiggly jiggly, all-around giggly, and tip over tumble for bluegrass music," she became one determined lady! Setting off with her trusty banjo in its worn out case and her thousand-mile shoes, she traversed a rapid river, a steep mountain, and a wide desert. How? Through the universal language of music. As she came upon each obstacle, she pulled out her guitar and played a song of her grandbaby, overcoming each problem with her music and her deep desire to see Owen. A little bird keeps Owen abreast of Granny's progress; with each report, Owen is pulled from his bed to the window and finally to the front door where he waits for her to arrive. The pair joyously dance among sunflowers when, at last, she does. Busse and Martin have written a rhythmic, lyrical text, packed with descriptive words as Granny travels and Owen waits. Root's paintings, a combination of whimsy and realism, are filled with movement and warmth. Colors change with the scenery, accurately reflecting Granny's journey. This is a wonderful tribute to love and the power of music; with so many families separated by great distances today, it will be especially enjoyed by those whose grandparents live far away. Lyrics and music for Granny's song are included, as is a note on the origin of Bluegrass Music. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, October 30, 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-618-33603-6
ISBN: 978-0-618-33603-6

Bravo Zulu, Samantha!
Kathleen Benner Duble
   When her parents must go away for a month to help her aunt move, Samantha is forced to live with her grandparents during the best part of the summer. Not only does she have to be away from her friends and the swimming pool but, worst of all, she has to spend every day with her grumpy grandfather, the Colonel who has not cracked a smile since he retired from the Air Force. After a few days with him, Sam realizes the Colonel must be up to something and determines to find his secret. With the help of a neighborhood boy, Sam discovers the Colonel is making his own airplane, and Sam is sure her grandma would not approve. Duble adds excitement to the story as the granddaughter and grandfather butt heads over the importance or random crazy facts versus aviation facts. Tying this theme in at the end, Duble also adds a creative and feminist twist. However, the feminist appeal is undercut with a distracting and unnecessary romance between the two twelve-year-olds. In spite of the many women who have had dominant roles in the history, the reader is left to suppose that even if young girls like aviation, they are still only socially acceptable if they are able to have romance in their lives, even at so young an age as twelve. Though tainted with a potential interpretation of Sam caving in to a manipulative old man, the overall effect is more positive, and Duble does demonstrate positive qualities of good relationships, as Sam and the Colonel learn to get along and help each other with their weaknesses. 2007, Peachtree, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Heidi Quist (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56145-401-X
ISBN: 978-1-56145-401-3

Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular
Kirk Scroggs
   Upper elementary and older reluctant readers will escape from the everyday world with this book-length chapter book cum comic strip. With a tornado predicted, Wiley and his balding, snaggle-toothed, Hippie Grampa defy Gramma and spend Halloween night at Colonel Dracula's Monster Truck Spectacular. Their adventures are silly rather than scary when they volunteer to drive a British Mini Pip-Squeak over a flaming pit of robot shellfish, eat a tarantula burger, visit Drac's private lair, and escape with the help of an angry Gramma when Drac chases them. Black and white cartoon drawings match prose like "The tension was unbearable, as was Grampa's underarm odor" (p. 43). Of course, all turns out okay because Drac wants only to buy Gramma's 1956 Buick. The back cover describes this tale as "outrageous" and that really says it all. 2006, Little Brown, $12.99 and $2.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Mary Bowman-Kruhm, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-316-05902-1
ISBN: 978-0-316-05941-1
ISBN: 978-0-316-05902-2
ISBN: 0-316-05941-2

Eoin Colfer's Legend of the Worst Boy in the World
Eion Colfer
Illustrations by Glenn McCoy
   If one were to judge this book by its wonderfully goofy cover-or by any of its other wonderfully goofy illustrations-one would expect it to be a wonderfully goofy chapter book for graduates of Captain Underpants. But it's not. It's actually a rather sweet little story about a boy named Will who seeks the attention of his grandfather because his parents don't have time to listen to the daily sorrows and complaints of all five of their children. Every Saturday, Will helps his grandfather clean the lenses in his lighthouse, and the two of them tell each other their problems. Certainly there's humor in the story, but it's not particularly wild or goofy. This is actually a rather thoughtful little book. Even in this short format, Colfer (author of the Artemis Fowl books) writes with polish and grace, creating vivid characters with a few deft strokes. Too bad Hyperion chose to slap on the mass-market gloss with a title and illustration style that do not suit the book at all. 2007, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 7 to 10, $12.95. Reviewer: Barbara Carroll Roberts
ISBN: 978-0-7868-5503-2
ISBN: 0-7868-5503-7

Fish for the Grand Lady
Colin Bootman
   Colin Bootman, a Coretta Scott King Honor-winning artist, brings a magical touch to the illustrations of Fish for the Grand Lady. Each page of the story takes readers further into the heart of Trinidad's beautiful landscape where Bootman was born and raised. Bootman textures the story with an island dialect that is carefully explained in an author's note at the end of the book. Early one morning, Colly and Derrick wake up and begin a fishing expedition. When the boys arrive at their favorite fishing spot, they are determined to catch fish and make Grand Lady proud. They bring home a bucket of fish--and great memories to share with Grand Lady. Each page is a stand-alone illustration, beautifully composed with an unforgettable illustration that carries readers through the landscape of Trinidad as seen through the eyes of two young boys. Bootman's wonderful talent illuminates this book, and readers of all ages will find the illustrations appealing. 2006, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-8234-1898-7
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1898-5

Grandfather Buffalo
Jim Arnosky
   This heart-warming tale of love across the generations should have particular appeal to grandparents and animal lovers. "Grandfather Buffalo was old and slow, but he was still strong." Although he tends to fall behind the herd, he keeps it in sight. Coming upon a young buffalo cow also falling behind because she is heavily pregnant, he protects her, then helps her young calf along. The calf, in turn, warms him sleeping by his side. Grandfather is contentedly still "part of the herd" at the end of the simply told story. The text tends to have qualities of a tone poem, a sequence of emotional expressions rather than dramatic adventure. The double-page watercolor scenes use color to stimulate our emotions as they depict the changing skies and grassy landscapes. They focus on the grandfather, at first isolated but then together with the calf, and then other members of the herd. The style is naturalistic, but dominated by an esthetic sensitivity that emphasizes the emotional content. 2006, G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).

   A buffalo, old but still strong, walks alone following the tracks of the herd in the distance. Near a stream a cow has also fallen behind, as the birth of her calf is imminent. The old buffalo stays near her under a starry sky until the calf is born. As the three struggle to catch up to the herd, a blinding dust storm rages around them. The calf stays close to the old buffalo. Later that night, safe at last, grandfather buffalo awakes from sleep to feel something pressing close to him--the young calf. Arnosky tenderly writes of the bond foraged between the young and old and the important role the elderly play in the life of the young. This peaceful, poetic circle of life story is complemented by the simplicity and beauty of the artwork. Arnosky's palette and attention to detail reflect his own deep communion with nature. 2006, Putnam/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-399-24169-8
ISBN: 978-0-399-24169-7

Grandpa for Sale
Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum
Illustrated by T. Kyle Gentry
   This amusing story to warm any grandparent's heart begins at Oldman's Antiques, where Lizzie is dusting and minding the store while her grandpa naps and her mother has stepped out. Mrs. Bradley Larchmont the Third stops in with her poodle, Giselle, to browse. After selecting a few items, Mrs. Larchmont notices grandpa asleep on the settee, and demands to know how much he costs. Lizzie explains nervously that he is not for sale. Then Mrs. Larchmont begins to make offers. As the amount rises from five hundred to a thousand on up to fifty thousand dollars, Lizzie's imagination goes wild imagining what she could buy with each. But then she realizes that she could not enjoy the treehouse, or even an entire amusement park, without her grandpa. Out goes Mrs. Larchmont in a huff, for it's "No sale." Black and white drawings create the jumbled details of the shop, while Gentry combines graphite pencil and digital pencil with watercolors and chalk for the characters and Lizzie's imaginative creations. There's a comic, almost cartoon quality to the characters, even the poodle, and particularly to Lizzie's expressions as the bid for grandpa climbs. 2007, Flashlight Press, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-9729225-8-X
ISBN: 9780972922586

Grandpa's Clock
Rachna Gilmore
Illustrations by Amy Meissner
   What a wonderful world it would be if every child could be blessed with a grandfather like Cayley's Grandpa. The opening line sets the tone for this story of generational respect and affection. "Grandpa's saw sings me awake." Immediately the reader is aware that this is a good sound, a welcome beginning to the day. Since Grandpa moved in with Cayley's family, he has made nineteen clocks and Cayley has helped him. He made a little table clock for her to chase away nightmares. He told Cayley to listen to the ticking. "Grandpa's here, tock /All is well, tock./Grandpa's here, tock,/All is well, tock." Now he and Cayley are making a bigger clock for her, a Lord Nelson with glass panels so she can see the pendulum and the chimes. When Grandpa must be taken to the hospital, Cayley puts her little table clock next to his bed with its refrain of "All is well, tock." Grandpa returns home although it is apparent he is not entirely well, but they finish the clock and Cayley's dad plans to help as they make a clock for Cayley's little brother, Aaron. The appealing watercolor illustrations are done with a true attention to detail. 2006, Orca Book Publishers, $17.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature). Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 1-55143-333-8
ISBN: 978-1-55143-333-2

Hit the Road
Caroline B. Cooney
   Brit got her driver's license only eleven days ago, and like any new teenage driver, she cannot wait to use it. The last thing she wants is to be stuck staying with her grandmother, Nannie, while her parents vacation in Alaska. Brit's grandmother wants to attend her 65th college reunion with her three best friends, and the last thing she wants is to baby-sit her sixteen-year-old granddaughter. Both get their wishes when Nannie , whose daughter has taken her license away because she is a hazard behind the wheel, rents a van and talks Brit into driving her and her friends to the reunion. So begins a hilarious romp across three states in which not only does Brit reluctantly (and illegally) get behind the wheel of the rental car, but she also gets herself deeply involved in a kidnap caper, "rescuing" one of the roommates from a nursing home where she has been left to die by her evil money-hungry son. Brit only went along with the plan at first because Nannie totally trashed the yard trying to get the van out of the driveway, and Brit fears her grandmother will never make it alive if she drives herself. Along the way, however, she grows to love "the girls" and is determined to get them safely to their reunion at all costs. A laugh a minute adventure, this heartwarming story of the exuberance of youth and the frailties and heartaches of ageing is sure to be a hit with teens everywhere. 2006, Delecorte Press, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Pat Trattles
ISBN: 0-385-72944-8
ISBN: 0-385-90174-7

Journey Home from Grandpa's
Jemima Lumley
Illustrated by Sophie Fatus
   In this musical CD and book combination, young children will have fun exploring colors and rhythms as they travel from the country to the city. A purple train, a white helicopter and many other charmingly illustrated objects, are spotted whizzing by outside the window as the family travels home from their grandfather's house. Where's the red fire engine headed? What about that blue barge? Funny animals, winding roads, and lots of modes of transportation make this book perfect for reading and re-reading. The rhythm and repetition of the story invite readers to sing along, with or without the accompanying CD, and the bright illustrations will have them looking at the pages again and again. The map on the back page helps bring all the elements of the journey together. This book is delightful experience for grownups to enjoy along with youngsters. 2007, Barefoot Books, Ages 3 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Augusta Scattergood (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-9052-3637-9
ISBN: 978-1-9052-3637-4

Max Goes to a Cookout
Adria F. Klein
Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole
   Young readers who pick this book up may realize that it is part of a series about Max and his life. Max has several friends and they generally represent kids in a variety of home life situations. The other interesting fact is that Max is African-American, but you only know that from looking at the pictures. Zoe is one of Max's friends and he has been invited to dinner at her house. She lives with her grandparents who appear to be quite youthful in the illustrations. They enjoy a cookout with hotdogs from the grill, baked beans, and fresh juicy watermelon filled with seeds. The two friends enjoy playing checkers and the family obviously encourages Zoe to have her friends visit. It is a perfectly normal family situation for many kids in this country, and this story should help them feel quite comfortable. The stylized illustrations are generally pleasing except when they show the kids or adults smiling. The big white teeth in their mouths seem to be over emphasized and are not attractive. A Red Level book in the "Read-it! Readers" series. 2007, Picture Window Books, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4048-3146-9
ISBN: 1-4048-3146-0
ISBN: 978-1-4048-3290-9
ISBN: 1-4048-3290-4

The Middle of Somewhere
J. B. Cheaney
   Due to a squirrel running amok in their home and causing their mother to injure her knee, twelve year old Ronnie Sparks and her little brother, Gee are about to embark on a great summertime adventure. They are going to travel all over Kansas with their grouchy grandfather as he searches the state for suitable places to build wind farms. The new RV seems to be the perfect way to go, but soon Ronnie is caught in the middle while trying to keep her ADHD brother occupied and happy so that he does not annoy Pop who has a very short fuse. Ronnie continually relies on a book she has read called "Seize the Way: Ten Weeks to SuperSize Your Life," but she is often frustrated and upset by all the responsibility. Then Gee vanishes while they are at a truck stop, and now Pop and Ronnie have to try and find him. This fast paced adventure is sure to appeal to youngsters as the characters are entirely believable and the situations realistic. The postcards between chapters are an extra bonus. This is definitely a book to consider for purchase. 2007, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Ages 9 to 12, $ 15.99. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth
ISBN: 978-0-375-83790-6
ISBN: 978-0-375-93790-3

My Grandpa Had a Stroke
Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrated by Nicole Wong
   This book is specifically written for children, and their parents, who have a loved one who has suffered a stoke. Ryan's Grandpa Joe lives near a lake and loves fishing, and Ryan likes nothing better than accompanying Grandpa on Saturday mornings. First they have breakfast at Morrie's Diner, and then they get the bait and head out in the boat to a special fishing spot. Then Grandpa suffers a stroke and nothing is the same. In fact, to Ryan, Grandpa does not seem like the same person. As Grandpa gets well enough to have physical therapy, Ryan gets more and more reluctant to visit him, but he does love his grandfather, so he continues to go. When Grandpa is well enough to leave the hospital, he moves in with Ryan's family. Grandpa is not happy and spends a lot of time just watching television. That is when Ryan comes up with the idea to take Grandpa fishing, and they spend happy days fishing off the dock; however, the illustration shows Grandpa in his wheelchair which is perched precariously near the edge of the dock, and the dock does not have a rail. Because the story is meant to educate, this should have been corrected. At the back of the book is a lengthy note helpful to parents who are trying to explain to youngsters what a stroke is and how to cope with their feelings. 2007, Magination Press/Educational Publishing Foundation/American Psychological Assn, Ages 6 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-59147-806-5
ISBN: 1-59147-807-3
ISBN: 978-1-59147-806-5
ISBN: 978-1-59147-807-2

My Little Grandmother Often Forgets
Reeve Lindbergh
Illustrations by Kathryn Brown
   The positive side of helping an older relative who is beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's or related dementia is chronicled in rhyming, rhythmic text. So are the problems and coping strategies of those suffering from these illnesses and their caregivers. There are no references to the more negative features of these conditions, such as the real grief of no longer being recognized or the effect of poor hygiene when the aging relative won't bathe or change clothes. The young boy in the story never gets impatient or expresses any regret and resentment over that the changes that have occurred since his grandmother moved in. The illustrations are as lyrical as the text and effectively support the words. They could contribute more if they also showed, in pictorial progression, how much the grandmother's life has fallen into disarray by the time she comes to live with the boy's family. The grandmother is noted as losing track of many things and sometimes getting lost. The seriousness of this decline would be strengthened if the grandmother's housekeeping was clearly becoming substandard or if she was seem to be switching night for day in her routine and clothing. The grandmother is oddly-coiffed, but her style may be part of the elfin quality of the illustrations. The book is evocative of a fable in its use of verse, seamless flow from beginning to end, and light treatment of the realities of aging. This book offers a way to begin an exploration or discussion with young children of an older relative in decline and would be a good addition to a preschool or early elementary classroom or library collection. 2007, Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 6, $16.99. Reviewer: Hazel Buys (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-1989-3

My New Shirt
Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dusan Petricic
   Our young narrator usually enjoys visiting his bubbie, or grandmother, but not on his birthday. As he drives to her home in the city with his parents and his dog Pupik, he dreads receiving his yearly birthday present from her, an uncomfortable, scratchy, collared white shirt. Despite himself, he tosses the shirt out the window. Chaos follows. The wild chase as Pupik races away with the shirt ends with his grandmother restoring it, another toss out the window, and a final happy understanding between generations. The story is told like a memoir, visually in snapshots stuck on tan pages with strips of tape. The pictures vary in size and are in both black and white and color. Petricic seems to have fun drawing his comic characters with fine lines, using transparent watercolors to provide contexts. The text appears here and there on the pages; on occasion for emphasis large cursive type jumps out at the reader. On the front jacket/cover, a white shirt is reaching out its sleeves to choke our unhappy hero; on the back he smiles as white shirts fly off into the skies. The humor is universal, despite the Yiddish touches. 2007, Tundra Books, Ages 4 to 8, $18.95. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-88776-715-9

Once Upon a Full Moon
Elizabeth Quan
   Elizabeth Quan's soft watercolors bring the story of a Chinese immigrant family's journey to life. Asian stylized pictures capture the mood of the Lee King family as they travel across Canada and the Pacific on their journey to visit grandmother. The story takes place in the 1920s when travel included steam trains, ships, ferries, and assistance by coolies. The children are introduced to many new sights, sounds, and smells. "All around were the odors of dirty streets . . . sweating coolies straining to pull incredible loads." After a journey taking one full cycle of the moon, the King family finally arrives in Dun Ngan Lai. Quan's text is engaging and helps the reader understand the excitement and anticipation of the children as they meet their grandmother for the first time. A great title for Grandparent's Day! 2007, Tundra Books, Ages 6 to 9, $19.95. Reviewer: Terri Finch (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-88776-813-2

Runaway Gran
Sonia Craddock
   On good days Gran remembers Rose as Rose. On bad days Gran calls her Josephine after her own sister. Eleven-year-old Rose and her family are in trouble. Her mother died recently and her father is having a hard time concentrating on their gardening business. Gran is deteriorating mentally but determined to help the family by finding a "box." Rose is the closest of her three siblings to her Grandmother and tries to help by digging up the roses (at her grandmother's direction), climbing the old cedar tree, and sorting through the umbrellas. Gran "escapes" several times from the household and hitches a ride to her old house to look for the box. Although an oriental family lives in the house now, the Chinese grandmother believes Gran is looking for something special. When Rose starts believing in Gran herself, she is able to help unravel the mystery. This easy read is a touching story about all-too-true events of an older loved one dealing with dementia and how various family members are affected. 2006, James Lorimer & Company, Ages 9 to 13, $7.95. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55028-953-5
ISBN: 978-1-55028-953-4

The Scarves
Daniela Bunge
Translated by Kathryn Bishop
   Grandma and Grandpa don't love each other anymore. If that doesn't pull you into this beautifully illustrated picture book, the sweet ending should. This simply told story is the tale of a little girl who visits her grandparents every weekend. One weekend she goes to visit and finds out her grandpa is moving to a new house--just down the street from Grandma's house. It appears that her grandma likes the color blue, gets up early, watches certain television programs, likes the beach, and enjoys pudding. On the other hand, Grandpa likes the color red, sleeps in, watches different programs than grandma, likes the wilderness, and doesn't want to share his pudding. After a while, they find they are very sad and lonely without each other. So, the little girl brings Grandma and Grandpa together in a very special way. If the simply written yet deep story line doesn't pull at your heartstrings, the beautiful illustrations will. The illustrations are whimsical, yet detailed, colorful, and vibrant. The book reads like a well-played, soft-hearted, sweet-tempered song. This is the first book that the author both wrote and illustrated. 2006, Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Kelly Grebinoski (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
   Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 11, 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-698-40045-3
ISBN: 978-0-698-40045-0

A Snout for Chocolate
Denys Cazet
   Barney has chicken pox and Grandma thinks he needs to rest and is not ready for one of Grandpa's "famous anti-itch chicken pox stories." Grandma orders Grandpa to wash the windows. He gets the ladder from the garage and realizes he can do two things at once. He places the ladder at Barney's window and tells his story about Mrs. Piggerman, whose snout freezes to a box of chocolates she is trying to extricate from the freezer of her refrigerator. Her calls to the fire station are garbled and may be confusing for a developing reader. Grandpa, the fire chief, rides the fire engine to her rescue. The start of the story within a story is clear; resumption of the frame is not. Several of the illustrations include adult jokes. For example, there is one about a firemen playing poker who comments, "Who dealt this mess?" Much of the humor is built around fat jokes--"How are we going to get her out? Blowtorch?" Animal characters populate this controlled vocabulary "I Can Read Book," a part of the "Grandpa Spanielson's Chicken Pox Stories" series. 2006, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99. Ages 6 to 7. Reviewer: Mary B. Bauer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-051093-0
ISBN: 0-06-051093-5
ISBN: 978-0-06-051094-7
ISBN: 0-06-051094-3

The Squeaky Door
Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald
Pictures by Mary Newell DePalma
   Storyteller and author Margaret Read MacDonald retells a Puerto Rican folk song she learned from New Zealand storyteller Liz Miller. A little boy sleeps over at Grandma's alone in a big bed in a room with a squeaky door. "WAAAAAH!" Grandma asks if he is scared. "Yes!" She brings in a cat, a dog, a pig, and finally a horse, and of course the bed breaks and the boy ends up sleeping with Grandma and Grandpa. The next day Grandma oils the door. That night the boy and the cat sleep soundly in the big bed in a room with a silent door. Rhythmic refrain invites participation. In Mary Newell DePalma's humorous illustrations, Grandma cleans and dresses the animals before bringing them in to bed. She enhances fear with pacing, type face, and size, along with the child's experience of the size of the big bed. The feet of the child and the animals almost wiggle under the red and green bedspread. 2006, HarperCollins Publishers, $12.99 and $13.89. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Mary B. Bauer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-028373-5
ISBN: 978-0-06-028374-2
ISBN: 0-06-028373-4
ISBN: 0-06-028374-2

That's What Grandmas Are For
Harriet Ziefer
Pictures by Amanda Haley
   While this book stands on its own, it does have a companion: That's What Grandpas are For. The text opens with the grandchildren listing all the ways that grandma helps them. She will fetch forgotten homework, make a small loan when out shopping, and will defer to you and eat your favorite food. Best of all grandmas will invite you to a sleep-over. The second part of the book is presented from grandma's viewpoint. She remarks that there is always something to learn from the grandkids, particularly on the computer and grandma is not too bad at playing tennis either. The generations seem to relate well, and I myself remember all the wonderful times I spent with my grandparents--one of the lucky few to have them around until well into my forties. The other delightful facet of this book is that the grandparents are active, vibrant individuals. In this and the companion book, grandchildren fill the arms and lives of their grandparents. The only possible drawback is that many grandchildren do not live near their grandparents so some of these everyday occurrences will not be a part of their lives. 2006, Blue Apple Books, $12.95. Ages 2 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59354-098-2
ISBN: 1-59354-098-1

That's What Grandpas Are For
Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by Deborah Zemke
   While this book stands on its own, it does have a companion: That's What Grandmas are For. The text opens with the grandchildren listing all the ways that grandpa helps them. He will drive them to school if they miss the buss, bait the hook on fishing trips, and happily discuss where in the world they could run away. The second part of the book is presented from grandpa's viewpoint. He remarks that there is always something to learn from the grandkids and that they love him even if he is grouchy and does not do everything perfectly. The generations seem to relate well, and I myself remember all the wonderful times I spent with my grandparents--one the lucky few to have them around until well into my forties. The other delightful facet of this book is that the grandparents are active, vibrant individuals. Grandpa has a computer and really only looks middle-aged. In this and the companion book, grandchildren fill the arms and lives of their grandparents. The only possible drawback is that many grandchildren do not live near their grandparents, so some of these everyday occurrences will not be a part of their lives. 2006, Blue Apple Books, $12.95. Ages 2 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59354-097-5
ISBN: 1-59354-097-3

The Trap
John Smelcer
   Life in the frozen north is tough, even for the hardiest of souls. There comes a time when every man must leave the rigors of trapping to the younger generation. But not Albert Least-Weasel. He's been checking his traplines in the Alaskan wilderness, alone, for the past sixty years and even though he's approaching eighty, he's not about to stop now. Nothing has ever gone wrong before. He knows the trails like the back of his hand, and has built a couple of trapper's cabins along the way, where he can go and wait out the cold if need be. When Albert doesn't return on the day expected, no one seems worried. No one, that is, except Albert's grandson, Johnny Least-Weasel. Only Johnny worries that something might have happened to his grandfather. Should he go after him? Or should he listen to those who insist that his grandfather is waiting out the cold in one of the cabins? Told in chapters alternating between Albert's and Johnny's point of view, this is a beautifully written tale where readers will be transported to the rugged Alaskan wilderness and experience it's wonder and horror right along with Johnny and Albert. Although it doesn't have the happy-ever-after ending one might hope, it will keep readers riveted until the very last page. The side information readers will pick up about the culture and traditions of the native Athabaskan Indians enriches the story even more, making it a must-read book for adventure lovers everywhere. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, $15.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).

   This simple yet haunting novel portrays the best and the worst of the lives of the modern day Alaskan Native Americans. The story focuses on men of two different generations: seventeen-year-old Johnny Least-Weasel and his elderly grandfather Albert. Albert has been checking his own trap lines for sixty years and sees no reason to stop, until a freak accident traps him. Trapped and chained to a tree mere feet from his snowmobile and survival equipment, Albert has plenty of time to ponder his fate and contemplate his life. Johnny is worried about his grandfather's prolonged absence, but other community members convince him that his concern is unnecessary. Johnny waits as long as he can before anxiety overcomes him and he sets out to look for his overdue grandfather. Written in chapters alternating between Johnny and Albert, the similarities and the differences of the two men's lives stand out in icy relief. Johnny wants to improve his life and moves toward that end by taking high school correspondence courses, necessary because the village has not been able to keep a teacher. Johnny points out the high suicide rate amongst teens, caught between a world of plenty they can see on cable TV and the frozen tundra they are ill equipped to leave. Albert is holding on to the old ways in a world where they are no longer enough for survival. The journeys of both men are compelling and dramatic in addition to the no-holds-barred portrayal of the Alaskan wilderness. A fantastic read that transcends genres to appeal to many different YA readers. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, $15.95. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Choices, 2007; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
   Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2007; YALSA; United States
ISBN: 0-8050-7939-4
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7939-5

The Turning
Gloria Whelan
   Whelan returns to her exploration of Russian history with this novel set during the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tatiana, a promising young ballerina with the Kirov Ballet of St. Petersburg, is tempted to defect during an upcoming French tour. She weighs the loss of her family, a serious boyfriend, and her country against the possibility that she could be a star in a more comfortable country, sending money home. Suspense centers on whether or not she will make the trip, her friend Sashas plan to defraud an English art buyer, and, when she actually reaches Paris, how she will decide. In the background, exciting political events are taking place--Yeltsin wins an election and Tatiana is accidentally caught up in events surrounding an unsuccessful coup attempt by old guard Communists. Perhaps it is the old family tradition of political involvement that convinces her, but conveniently her friend's plans change, as well. This stand-alone story is the fourth in a set of books about 20th century Russian history that began with Angel on the Square, set during the Russian revolution. Tatianas great-grandmother Katya is the protagonist in that book; her grandfather Georgi, from The Impossible Journey and Burying the Sun still lives with her in this novel, still works for democracy for his country, and still loves the Hermitage. Heavy on the description of Russian daily life and the ballet world and light on character development, this book will be of most interest to fans of Whelans previous books and new readers who care passionately about ballet. A glossary of Russian words and French ballet terms is appended. 2006, HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 10 to 16. Reviewer: Kathleen Isaacs (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
   Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States
ISBN: 0-06-075593-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-075593-5
ISBN: 0-06-075594-6
ISBN: 978-0-06-075594-2

Welcome, Precious
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
   This celebration of the arrival of a new baby to an African American family should fill the hearts of young listeners almost as much as it will those of welcoming parents. The brief text is rich in the sensations of the world around, "brimming with things to see and hear, taste and touch." From the "robin song" to the "silk of grass" to "the mystery of soap bubbles" it will all be a part of life safe in the love of Mommy, Daddy, and Grandmother. Collier uses watercolors and collage to create naturalistic scenes which cover most of the double pages. He picks up a few words for each illustration, like noses rubbing a belly button, or the enjoyment of an ice cream cone. His visual tale is told in detailed scenes with a cast of loving characters. Each scene is complete but also contributes to the emotion-packed sequence. The mood is set by the loving family on the front cover, with the back showing the peaceful night, both repeated inside as the last two illustrations. 2006, Orchard Books/Scholastic, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-55702-X
ISBN: 978-0-439-55702-3

What the Moon Saw: A Novel
Laura Resau
   Clara Luna is fourteen and is experiencing discovered a feeling of unexplained restlessness. Clara's father came to the United States from Mexico as an illegal immigrant and while now a legal resident, he has never returned to his home country. Clara receives a letter from her father's parents inviting her to spend the summer. Because they sense Clara's restlessness her parents decide the best place for Clara to be for most of the summer is with her family in Mexico. Clara, who has no knowledge of her father's family, is excited to have the chance to learn more about his life before he arrived in the United States. She imagines what her grandparents and their home will be like and draws pictures in her sketchbook. What she draws are images she has of Mexico, the flowers, adobe homes, and bright, bright colors. What she finds are small buildings, what would be considered shacks in her hometown in suburban Maryland. Clara is horrified, but quickly learns how kind and hardworking her grandmother and grandfather are. She learns that her grandmother Helena is a healer, and that she "sees" things that others do not. Clara's negative attitude when she discovers that there will be no entertainment, telephone, or easy contact with her home disappears quickly as she learns more about the culture in Yucuyoo. She forms an unlikely friendship with Pedro, a goat herder as she learns more about the heritage she has embraced. The story is told in the voices of both Clara, recording her summer visit, and her abuelita Helena, talking of her life as a teenager and later as a healer in the village. Resau is very familiar with the culture described in this book, and while some may find it hard to believe that Clara accepts the changes in her life so easily, they may also see the simplicity of the life and understand why it might be appealing to a reader who is a product of the fast-paced world in which they live. The possibility that Clara may also have the ability to heal adds an additional dimension to the story. 2006, Delacorte Press/Random House, $15.95 and $22.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
   Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 15, 2006; United States
   Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2006; United States
   School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2006; Cahners; United States
   Top 10 First Novels for Youth, 2006; Booklist; United States
ISBN: 0-385-73343-7
ISBN: 0-385-90360-X
ISBN: 978-0-385-73343-4
ISBN: 978-0-385-90360-8

Yetsa's Sweater
Sylvia Olsen
Illustrated by Joan Larson
   As Yetsa and her mother work with her grandmother, we follow the steps necessary to prepare fleece shorn from the sheep: first cleaning it of debris, then washing, rinsing, and wringing it out. The following week, they tease or fluff the clean wool, card it, and spin it into yarn. A week later, Grandma has rolled the black, gray, and white yarn into balls and has begun to knit, using the traditional patterns of the Coast Salish women of British Columbia for Cowichan sweaters. Yetsa has outgrown her old sweater and is happily wearing a new one knitted by Grandma as the book ends. The story proceeds in sequence in the simple text; the illustrations are naturalistic scenes depicting the steps used as the three generations produce the distinctive sweaters. Emotional ties are subtly incorporated into the illustrations as the tasks are shared. Yetsa learns each as she enjoys the ritual eating of Grandma's "blackberry jam and fresh bread." An extensive note fills in information on the history of the Cowichan sweater. 2006, Sono Nis Press/Orca, $17.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55039-155-0
ISBN: 978-1-55039-155-8

For reviews of books on grandparents from previous years, click on the following links.
2006
2005
2002
2001

Updated 8/27/07

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