National Hot Dog Month

   In July, we in the U.S. pays tribute to the Fourth AND National Hot Dog Month - which we co-celebrate by consuming more than 150 million hot dogs. Americans eat an average of 60 hot dogs per person a year. My uncle called them wieners and my aunt said "dawgs," my next door neighbor ate frankfurters, my dad insisted that the exact same food item should be called "foot longs," and all the time I thought they were just hotdogs. Of course, others request "half smokes," or "franks" (frankfurters have a nickname?). Hot dog trivia includes such interesting facts as: New York City sells the most hot dogs (retail sales) in the U.S., enough hot dogs are consumed at Major League baseball games to make a hot dog highway from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, and "always dress the dog and not the bun" - dogs wear dresses?!? The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council also recommends the following order for condiment application: first wet (mustard for example), then chunky (relish or onions), then cheese if desired, then any spices. Hungry for more facts about one of the top ten American foods as listed by "Epicurius" -- Visit the following web sites to satisfy your "tube meat" yearnings. http://www.factmonster.com/spot/hotdog1.html (take the favorite condiment poll - mustard wins hands down for me).

   The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council: http://www.hot-dog.org/

Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Warning: Puns were actually intended.

Reviews

Classroom Cookout
Susan Blackaby
Illustrated by Amy Bailey Muehlenhardt
   A classroom cookout sets the stage to test basic addition and subtraction skills as readers count the number of hotdogs students will eat at the cookout. Designed with the help of certified reading specialists, the text is big and the illustrations are bright to help readers with their vocabulary progress. This book in the second to highest reading level of the "Read-It! Readers" series of classroom tales, combines a more advanced vocabulary with elementary math practice in an entertaining and easy-to-follow storyline. The size of this hardcover book is good for little hands to hold and is a great addition for educators or parents to utilize in either a classroom or home setting. 2005, Picture Window Books, $18.60. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Mary Forbes (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-40480-583-4

Food ABC: An Alphabet Book
Amanda Doering.
   What child cannot identify a big glass of milk? A pepperoni pizza? A bowl of vegetable soup? Each spread in this book displays an alphabet letter, names the food-related word associated with the letter, gives a brief description of the word, and has an appropriate illustration. Photos are large and bright, showing real kids with real food. For example, the letter "H" stands for hot dogs which we enjoy at ballgames and in our backyards. The associated photo is a full-page picture of a hot dog with mustard on a bun. Many foods are covered as ABC designations alternate from specific (e.g., Kiwi, Quesadilla, Watermelon) to general (e.g., Dessert, eXtras, Leftovers). Some of the fun facts are sure to be hits with children: "Americans eat 350 slices of pizza per second." Some photos display a spirit of fun, as in the collection of animals made from zucchini and the upside down cake shown with an upside down child. Thirty-two pages include an index, a glossary, two pages of fun facts, plus book and web references. Other titles in this ABC series include Cats, Desert, Dogs, Pets, A Rain Forest, Toys, and Wild Animals. 2005, Capstone Press/A+ Books, $16.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-2610-6

Meet me in St. Louis: A Trip to the 1904 World's Fair
Robert Jackson
   The 100th anniversary of the St. Louis World's Fair is commemorated here in a fascinating vicarious journey to the marvel that inaugurated a new century for America. Jackson, in his first book for young readers, takes us on a Ferris wheel ride to survey the manifold attractions of the "Louisiana Purchase Exposition": magnificent palaces fashioned of a substance called "staff" to resemble Old World splendors, built in a year to be torn down in a matter of days; illumination of the fair through the new magic of electricity; the first Olympic games ever to be held in the United States; swarming visitors from around the nation; and the world devouring the unfamiliar treats of ice cream cones and hot dogs. While Jackson glowingly portrays the infectious excitement of the fair, he does not flinch at revealing its darker side: the destruction of a beautiful forest to prepare the fairgrounds; the racist exclusion of African-Americans, including composer Scott Joplin, from many attractions; and the importation of various indigenous groups who were forced to live for seven months in cramped, filthy housing as "anthropological exhibits" for the curious tourist's gaze (their treatment protested at one point by Laura Ingalls Wilder). But it is the wonder of the fair that the reader remembers most, as painted in Jackson's engaging prose and the accompanying black-and-white period photographs--and its promise, sometimes fulfilled, sometimes betrayed, of human progress and international friendship to come. Jackson is to be warmly welcomed into the fellowship of those writing distinguished nonfiction for children. 2004, HarperCollins, $17.99. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-009268-8
ISBN: 0-06-009267-X

My Day at the Baseball Game: A Book About a Special Day
Heather Feldman
   A young African-American boy describes what happens when he and his dad go to a baseball game. They eat hotdogs, cheer for the home team and make observations about the game. While the pictures look staged--with backgrounds superimposed, the boy and his dad having a good time appears genuine. This is a nice choice to celebrate a very special day with dad. The book is also useful to familiarize emergent readers with the basic components of a book--table of contents, bibliography (note, no dates are given for the cited books) web sites, and index. There is a picture glossary but no definitions. Part of the "My World" series. 2000, Rosen, $14.60. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8239-5525-7

On Independence Day/El Día de la Independencia
Judy Zocchi
Illustrated by Rebecca Wallis
   Front porch decorations, parades, picnics, and fireworks: this entry in the bilingual English/Spanish "Holiday Happenings" series focuses on how Americans celebrate Independence Day. Simple rhyming text is accompanied by explanatory sidebars ("At picnics and barbecues, people usually serve simple food…hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and soda"), making this a particularly good choice for children who are new to the United States or unfamiliar with American customs. Bright, cartoon-like illustrations depict children and families participating in the activities described. A brief appendix explains the origins of the holiday, and an enrichment section (in English only) offers additional facts and ideas for building character and cultural connections in the classroom, although no mention is made of related holidays such as the Mexican Independence Day. Includes a craft project. 2005, Dingles & Company, $15.50. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Anamaria Anderson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-891997-44-0

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
Mo Willems
   The Pigeon from Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is back and this time he's found a hot dog, which he plans to eat by himself even though a Duckling has "scooty, scoot scoot-ed" to the corner of the picture's frame. "A taste sensation...A celebration in a bun" the Pigeon brags to the hopeful and savvy little Duckling who'd like to have a bite. While the duck whittles away the Pigeon's resolve to eat his hot dog by asking plaintively what does it taste like, the Pigeon staunchly defends his find--It's mine! It's my right! Finders, keepers. But in the end guilty triumphs, or maybe it's compassion but we doubt it, and the Pigeon asks for help in solving this impasse. Share, is the Duckling's open-faced reply. Preschoolers who are very sensitive to sharing will laugh at the obviousness of it all, while older readers are sure to get the implied manipulation of the Pigeon by the knowledgeable Duckling when the little guy who has supposedly never even tasted a hot dog ventures that it "needs mustard." Willems' sophisticated cartoon makes great use of a cocked eyebrow, the big-eyed Duckling's postures, and the conversation balloon chat that escapes encapsulation when the Pigeon is exasperated. Children will be sure to note the single half-chomped hot dog on the back interior endpapers nearly lost in the repeating hot dog images that decorate both front and back endpapers. It's another triumph for Mo Willems and a generous serving of humor for hungry young readers. 2004, Hyperion, $12.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:

  • Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books , 2004 ; Cahners; United States
  • School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2004 ; Cahners; United States
    State and Provincial Reading Lists:
  • The Golden Archer Award, 2006 ; Nominee; Primary; Wisconsin
  • Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award, 2005 ; Nominee; Missouri
    ISBN: 0-7868-1869-7

    Showdown at the Food Pyramid
    Rex Barron.
       The recommended foods from the U. S. Department of Agriculture Food Pyramid come alive for an entertaining encounter with "junk food." Youngsters may learn a lesson about good nutrition that they will remember as they watch King Candy Bar and his friends Hot Dog and Donut take over the solid, strong pyramid. While the new arrivals party, the deposed fruits and vegetables watch until the crash. Then they rebuild from the bottom up, each food adding its valuable assets for health. After allowing a few sweets on top, the healthy pyramid is again complete. The animated foods created with acrylics, oils, and colored pencils use the double-page scenes in humorous ways to demonstrate the destructive folly of the junk foods and the stolid cooperative enterprise of the healthful foods as they reconstruct. The pyramid is complete on the end-paper. 2004, GP Putnam's Sons, $15.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 0-399-23715-1

    Two Hot Dogs with Everything
    Paul Haven
    Ilustrated by Tim Jessell
       If you are a baseball fan then you know that a lot of players are superstitious. It turns out that many fans are too: They might wear the same shirt to each game or go through a special routine to make sure that they do not bring any bad luck to their team. Baseball and its superstitions are the focus of this mystery. The Sluggers have not been a winning team for more than 100 years--107 to be more precise--but they still have loyal fans. One of them, young Danny Gurkin, loves the team and has plenty of ways that he shows his support. He always eats two hot dogs with everything before the first pitch, makes sure the windows are closed, and other such superstitious actions. Danny, his two friends, and a strange cast of characters (one of whom is a 126-year-old man) manage to save the mansion of the Slugger's founder, who was a bubble gum millionaire. That sticky stuff is also an essential element in this story when the reader must suspend belief and just enjoy a tall tale with a baseball focus. You will root for Danny and perhaps the Sluggers, who finally have a chance to turn their century old loosing streak around. 2006, Random House, $15.95 and $17.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
    ISBN: 0-375-83348-X
    ISBN: 0-375-93348-4
    ISBN: 0-375-83349-8

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    Added 6/30/06