Spring
Backyard Bear
Anne Rockwell
Pictures by Megan Halsey
A baby bear is born in the winter and stays close to his hibernating mother until she wakes in the spring. That spring and summer, the mother bear teaches the cub how to find food and climb trees. But when they wake the next spring, the woods are gone and houses are being built. When the mother bear leaves, the cub doesn't know what to do, but the houses offer easy-to-find food and the bear happily scavenges through garbage cans and beneath picnic tables until two game wardens come to take him to a new wood where he can live in the wild again. This simple story shows how quickly wild habitats can change and how dangerous it can be for humans and animals when wild animals' homes are encroached upon by new development. It is important to understand that the animals are simply reacting to new situations the only way they know how. While it is not healthy or safe for the cub to eat from the garbage, when their source of food is gone, they will persist in finding food any way they can. The author's note at the end of the text explains how dangerous wild bears can be and how important it is to take proper precautions when faced with a wild bear. The author also provides tips on how to prevent bears from finding food left out for pets or tossed out in garbage cans. 2006, Walker Publishing Company, $15.95. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9574-8
ISBN: 0-8027-9574-9
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9573-1
ISBN: 0-8027-9573-0
Bearcub and Mama
Sharon Jennings
Illustrated by Melanie Watt
The powerful but gentle bond between mother and child is warmly told and richly illustrated in this charming story. Bearcub goes everywhere with his Mama and she teaches him many things. In spring and summer, with her help, he learns to fish and climb trees to find sweet honey. When autumn comes he splashes in a waterfall and feasts in a cornfield. At the end of each day he rests secure beside his mother. One day he notices a thin layer of ice has formed along the shore and a few gentle snowflakes soon become a whirling snowstorm. Lost and frightened, Bearcub hides his eyes with his paws and cries for his Mama. Then he remembers something important she taught him. Through deep snow, he follows her scent until he reaches the safety of the den and snuggles up once again by his warm, strong Mama. The beauty of this tale is in the handsome full-page acrylics on canvas. Each expresses the mood of the text from the gentle playfulness of summer and the velvet black of a star-studded sky, to the howling snowstorm, to the dark warmth of the den. Bearcub is ever the inquisitive toddler and Mama's gentleness and love are reflected in her eyes. Delicate brush strokes give the bears' fur such definition that one is tempted to stroke it. One minor quibble is with Watt's use of a harsh orange to color her bears when a warm brown would have been more realistic. 2005, Kids Can Press, $15.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55337-566-1
Busy in the Garden
George Shannon
Pictures by Sam Williams
Babies and toddlers are notoriously "busy." In this absolutely delightful collection of poems the little ones are invited, encouraged, even exhorted to set about planting seeds, pulling weeds, and reaping the results of their efforts. "Zucchini" is one of my favorites as it addresses the plight of zucchini growers everywhere--too much of the green stuff. Beginning with "zucchini / meeny / miney / moe" and ending with "zucchini hash and succotash. / Zucchini / meeny / miney / MOAN," this one is the perfect description of the zucchini gardener's overabundant crop. The charming illustrations show plants in all of their stages of development from seed to flower to fruit as an integrated part of the pictures of the darling children who cavort about the garden. One of the poems is a little riddle about the parts of a plant that people eat; "sister ate the seeds and tossed the rest" is the line about eating peas. Reading this book will result in lots of discussions about the parts of plants that are consumed and would pair well with the book Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens. Grab your own garden basket and pack it with these twenty four poems for a "garden of delight"--guaranteed. You'll love the one about how to grow Jack O'Lanterns--plant a candle with every pumpkin seed! The cute-o-meter goes to the top on this one but do not overlook the many teachable moments captured in this celebration of all things "garden." Wrap this up with a "bunch of seeds" and give it as a wonderful gift of spring. 2006, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-000464-9
ISBN: 0-06-000465-7
ISBN: 978-0-06-000465-1
ISBN: 978-0-06-000464-4
Butterflies
Fran Howard
Consulting editor, Gail Saunders-Smith
Consultant Gary A. Dunn
There is nothing like having a little beauty flutter into our lives along with some learning! Here is how it goes--we learn what butterflies are (insects), what they look like (about the size of a child's fist with four wings and two antennas), and what they do (drink nectar, transfer flower pollen). Minimal easy text on one page faces a large bright butterfly picture on the second page of the two-page spreads. Some butterflies in these full-color photos are bigger than my fist. So, with these pictures, you can clearly see the straw-like mouth, hair on their legs, their feet (used to taste things), and their smelling, feeling antennas. Keeping to a very simple presentation, this book does not tackle the caterpillar and chrysalis stages. A note in the book reads: "The 'Bugs, Bugs, Bugs! set supports national science standards related to the diversity of life and heredity." Twenty-four pages include 94 words, a table of contents, a glossary, book and internet references, and an index. Other titles in the "Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!" series include Bumble Bees, Moths, Praying Mantises, Spiders, and Walkingsticks. 2005, Capstone Press/Pebble Plus, $18.60. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-3643-8
Carrot Soup
John Segal
It is spring, Rabbit's favorite season. It is time to plant his carrot garden. Rabbit plants, waters, weeds, and tends his garden. He waits and waits and waits. Finally it is time to pick his carrots and make his favorite carrot soup. But there is a problem. With his wheelbarrow and all his tools, rabbit goes to the garden to find--no carrots. Rabbit asks his friends Mole, Dog, Cat, Duck, and Pig in turn if they have seen his carrots, but all claim to know nothing. Sadly Rabbit returns home to discover all of his friends surprising him with piping hot bowls of carrot soup. Rabbit's heartwarming story is told in simple, sparse text and accompanied by whimsical illustrations. Youngsters will delight in watching Rabbit's friends lugging carrots and balloons behind his back as they get ready for the surprise party. A recipe for carrot soup follows the story. It all makes for a delightful book that is sure to please young listeners. 2006, Margaret K. McElderry Books, $12.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature).
Rabbit is looking forward to growing all sorts of carrots in his garden so he can make his favorite food, carrot soup. He plows, he plants, he waits. But when he goes to harvest, there are no carrots! He asks his friends--mole, dog, cat, duck--and nobody helps him solve the mystery. When he goes home, all his friends are there and they have made all of his carrots into carrot soup as a surprise. The recipe is included for Rabbit's Favorite Carrot Soup. This would team nicely with Kraus' The Carrot Seed or Eating Alphabet Soup by Lois Ehlert. Other recipes using carrots might be found on http://www.cookingupreading.com web site. 2006, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster, $12.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Gwynne Spencer (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 23, 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-689-87702-1
ISBN: 978-0-689-87702-5
Counting in the Garden
Kim Parker
Art and information merge magically in this enchanting counting book. Created by a textile designer, the bright and busy watercolors splash the pages with dozens of delicate flowers, a calico garden filled with ladybugs, dragonflies, birds and butterflies, just waiting for little ones to finger and count them. Snuggling up with a number book should be a rich and full experience for little ones and this picture book certainly excels. Teaching counting from one to ten, the first four numbers are easy to find, presenting cats, dogs, bunnies and turtles. However, the higher numbers require just a little searching as young readers account for each creature, making the learning process a game. There are very few words, but deftly chosen. The challenging language features a musical blend of alliteration and assonance, a flow of words that can be easily memorized to encourage first readers. 2005, Orchard Books, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Deborah Zink (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-69452-3
Demeter and Persephone: Spring Held Hostage
Justine Fontes and Ron Fontes
Pencils by Steve Kurth
Inks by Barbara Schulz
There were gods and goddesses who lived in a world above Mt. Olympus and everything was beautiful, food was plentiful, and everyone was happy. Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon ruled the seas and oceans, and Hades ruled the underworld. Queen Demeter had a lovely daughter Persephone, who gave her much happiness. Hades kidnaps Persephone and takes her on a journey through the underworld that showed both pain and pleasure. And the two of them fall in love. When Demeter learns of this she becomes so sad that the world falls into permanent winter. Does Persephone really want rescued? How can Demeter learn to live with her daughter's decision? This book is written in graphic format that is favorites of mine! It makes it perfect for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will also enjoy the graphics and fast paced text. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. I do wonder why the author chose to write the entire story in upper case. This is not a good example to send to young adults. At the end of the book are a glossary and a mini biography about the author and artist. Also included is a list of other books and websites that might be of interest to the reader. I do recommend this book. 2007, Graphic Universe/Lerner Publications Company, Ages 9 to 14, $26.60. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8225-5966-8
Duck & Goose
Tad Hills
What a great combination! Duck and Goose each spy an "egg" decorated with large brightly hued circles, and each claim it as their own. Feathers are ruffled; webbed feet are tangled, as each vie for the best position to sit on the new found orb. Though each have their own individual ideas and agendas about hatching the "egg," ultimately realizing what is best for the new baby results in both fowl sharing the parental duty. Everyone can relate to the antics of these two, from one-up-man-ship to sibling rivalry, culminating in peace making and being protective of the impending new arrival. What Duck and Goose don't realize is that their egg is not an egg, and it takes another friend to reveal their misunderstanding. Find out what the egg really is while enjoying this entertaining tale of newfound friends. The colors are delightful, the whimsical portrayal of each bird is attractive enough, and the text weaves it all together in a happy resolution in this wonderful story of sharing, conflict resolution, humility, and even play. Mr. Hills has a bright future ahead of him if this book is indicative of forthcoming works. 2006, Schwartz and Wade Books/Random House, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books, 2006; Kirkus; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, Dec. 15, 2005; United States
Notable Children's Book, 2007; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, December 12, 2005; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Armadillo Readers' Choice Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Texas
ISBN: 0-375-83611-X
ISBN: 0-375-93611-4
ISBN: 978-0-375-83611-4
Flowers
Vijaya Bodach
Brilliant and interesting photographs, simple diagrams, and a short, informative text are the highlights of this "Plant Parts" series, which features titles on flowers, leaves, and stems. The photography is exquisite, as each flower drips with dew or appears ready to be plucked from the page. We learn that cauliflower and artichokes are flowers and by seeing the photograph on each page, young readers easily learn these two big new words. There are photos of fruit beginning to grow in a pollinated flower-- and a hummingbird sipping nectar from a flower. There is a very short index, a list of additional books, and a reference to the www.facthound.com web site with links to age-appropriate sites for each book. This is an outstanding series of concept books for new and pre-readers; the photographs make the book interesting enough to use with older children who struggle with reading and concepts. 2006, Capstone, $19.93. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6342-1
ISBN: 0-7368-6342-7
Flowers and Showers: A Spring Counting Book
Rebecca Fjelland Davis
This is a counting book using a colorful kite, two fat robins, three blue eggs, four stripped caterpillars, five little bunnies, six drops of dew, seven bright umbrellas, eight bean seeds, nine hatched chicks, and ten yellow tulips. The pictures are large, colorful, and understandable. An introductory page about spring is first. There is a small amount of text on each page that lends itself to learning and some fun, especially when an adult is helping and/or doing the reading. There is a simple quiz that the beginning counter can do. One page with a picture gives a summary of what spring is all about, and there is a page about what fun it can be for children. The "Facts about Spring" pages refer back to the pictures and text and reinforce learning about spring. "Words To Know" is good for pronunciation and meaning. "Read More" suggests four similar books. There is even a safe Internet site listing, FactHound, that will fetch the best sites for you. The "Index" is simply a listing of key words that have been used and on what page to find them--great idea! The colorful cover will attract the right age child. It is an A+ book that is designed to be read to a pre-reader or to be read independently by an early reader. There are reading consultants who have helped the author develop this series. 2006, Capstone Press, $23.93. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Naomi Butler (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5377-4
ISBN: 0-7368-5377-4
A Grand Old Tree
Mary Newell DePalma
Trees are a source of life in many ways. They give housing to animals, help make oxygen, and purify the air. Trees also reproduce. This picture book explores the life of a tree that has deep roots, long arms, and many children. She provides shelter for many animals and bears fruit. The old tree dies but is still useful because she houses animals. Eventually, she becomes part of the earth, but her grandchildren live on. They have children who also provide shelter for animals while the seasons change and years go by. The old tree helps to tell a wonderful story about the circle of life. The author uses colorful, simple, yet detailed watercolor illustrations to convey her words. The charming pictures show the many aspects in the life of a tree down to the caterpillars that eat the leaves. This book is perfect for toddlers and young readers. 2006, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, $16.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Anne Marie Rogers (Children's Literature).
A tree's life cycle is described in this picture book for very young readers with simple text and colorful, spare illustrations. It is a primer for future nature books about trees that children will meet in the elementary school. The creatures using the tree as a home are a dominant feature on every page. The type of tree is never named nor does the author identify the seasons when the tree flowers, bears fruit, and sows seeds. In that sense, the book perpetuates misconceptions about nature by its omissions. Yet, the book is more a celebration of one tree and does address the natural decline and its use as a home to many creatures once it dies. When read aloud to young children, adults may be required to explain or show how a dead tree crumbles and becomes "part of the earth" or how the "many children" of one tree will change "the landscape for miles around." The book offers an opportunity to jump from the text to the use of correct, environmental terms such a seedlings, decay and recycle. 2005, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Inc, $16.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
This refreshing new look at the familiar tale of the life cycle of a tree is presented simply but vividly. Her roots "sank deep into the earth; her arms reached high into the sky." The tree offers a home to many creatures as she goes through the seasons, sending her seeds out to form "many children." When she is very old, she falls and dies, but still offers refuge until she crumbles back into the earth, to be succeeded by her children. The visual story is told in daylight, except for the one snowy moonlit night when "finally she fell." Lots of white space and gently manipulated collage or mixed media on double pages are designed for pleasant viewing, with small animals and birds in large landscapes. A special spread depicts the tree over "a long, long time," through seasons and changing weather. The next page shows us a few of "many millions of leaves" floating down with a few ladybugs enjoying the ride. The tale of life and death and rebirth is visualized in a positive, light-hearted fashion. 2005, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, $16.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Childrens' Choices, 2006; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-439-62334-0
ISBN: 0-439-62335-9
Handsprings: Poems & Paintings
Douglas Florian
Just in time to welcome spring, Florian has completed his seasonal cycle of poems that already include Winter Eyes, Summersaults, and Autumblings. His verses are concise, frequently fun, and always filled with the love of and play with words begging to be read aloud. Here he celebrates colors, sounds, activities, and the feel of spring, including March winds and April Fool's. Sometimes the words march down or around the page; the letters of "Rain Reign" fall like showers. The watercolor and color pencil illustrations of varying sizes that accompany these innocent verses are also playful and full of youthful enthusiasm. No backgrounds are needed; no distracting details keep us from the direct appeal of a mouth tipped open to catch the dripping rain, or the jumping lift of a youngster as if from a coiled spring, or a grin so wide it needs three separate frames to contain it, or a daisy coming around a corner smiling at us, "Spring is one big daisy chain...Spring is silly daffodilly." And Florian helps us open our arms to it. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Celebrate spring! Each of these thirty poems and paintings offers another reason to rejoice in this special season. There are things to love, like trees growing, springs flowing, flowers blooming, sports playing, and birds singing. Of course, there are a few drawbacks, like thunderstorms, insect swarms, bumblebees, and skinned knees. All of these subjects and more are explored in bouncy verses with the words sometimes moving about on the page. Clever word play and surprising images stimulate all the senses. For instance, in "Rain Song" the reader is treated to the sound of rain playing on the windowpane, the sight of rain pouring into puddles, and the feel of rain dripping on nose and lips. The poem about "mud, mud, mud" aptly shows the only cure, "suds, suds, suds." Active full-color illustrations launch the reader into the season of growth and greenery. This book is a companion to Florian's other seasonal books, Winter Eyes, Summersaults, and Autumnblings. Good choices year 'round. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 6 to 15. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Books of the Year Winner 2006 5 to 9 Years United States
ISBN: 0-06-009280-7
ISBN: 0-06-009281-5
ISBN: 978-0-06-009280-1
ISBN: 978-0-06-009281-8
Honey in a Hive
Anne Rockwell
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler
We follow the busy bees of springtime and summer from flower to flower as they gather nectar to make honey and pollen to feed the queen bee and her babies. The life cycle begins with the flying and mating of the queen. In the hive, we see the worker bees that not only gather the food but also guard and clean the hive along with feeding the queen and her young. The discovery of a field of flowers full of nectar has the workers show the others where to go. We see the bees construct the wax cells and make the honey. They also must construct a special place for the new queen bees when it is time for the old queen to swarm to a new hive. The strongest new queen will fly, mate, and begin the cycle again. Rockwell concludes this simply written volume of the "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science" series with some more information on the bees and the honey from the hives. Richly informative, the naturalistic mixed-media illustrations fill the double pages with attractive action. The picture of the swarming of thousands of bees is visualized for high dramatic effect; even the skies are darkened. In contrast, abundant joy is evident in the scenes of the spring flowers and the busy workers. 2005, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.99, $16.89 and $4.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2006; National Science Teachers Association; United States
ISBN: 0-06-028566-4
ISBN: 0-06-028567-2
ISBN: 0-06-445204-2
Hop! Hop! Hop!
Ann Whitford Paul
Illustrated by Jan Gerardi
As Little Rabbit and Big Rabbit travel through the meadow Big Rabbit hops over a flower, a puddle, the root of a tree, a log, a rock and a stump. Little Rabbit is unable to hop as far or as high and always ends up in trouble. As a result, when Little Rabbit arrives at the stump he hops around it rather than over it. As Part of the "Step into Reading" series, Step 1 book, this has many visual clues for the beginning reader. Gerardi uses lots of geometric shapes to create the rabbits and the background with its signs of spring: flowers, frogs, bees, snails. etc. Short sentences, large type, repetition, and Little Rabbit's success make this a good book for young children who are on the cusp of learning to read. 2005, Random House, $3.99. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-82857-5
ISBN: 0-375-92857-X
Hurray for Spring!
Patricia Hubbell
Illustrated by Taia Morley
This joyful celebration of spring exudes exuberance with its appealing colorful illustrations of a young boy enjoying the many delights of the warming season. We see him exploring a variety of nature settings (my favorite: "I lie on my tummy. I talk to the ants."). Many of the pictures compare the boy with a creature, such as in the scene of him leaping across a flower-strewn field where we see a grasshopper, which is also stretching its legs as it leaps across the field with the boy. The illustrations abound with dragonflies, bees, clover blossoms, mice, ducklings, bunnies, and other sure signs of spring. The pictures are watercolor cartoons with a realistic bent: the fauna and flora are depicted naturally and realistically. We see the boy interacting with a variety of friends and enjoying activities involving lots of splashing in puddles and streams. The lively scenes are matched with wonderful language that includes such words as "jumpity jump," "thumpity thump,"and "scampering and skittering." This title is a pleasure to read aloud and discuss with a young child--it should also serve as an incentive to get out and explore nature with a child. 2005, NorthWord, $15.95. Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1559719133
Hurry and the Monarch
Antoine Ó Flatharta
Illustrated by Meilo So
The life cycle of the monarch butterfly here becomes a story with characters that involve us in their tale. It begins when a monarch lands on the back of a Texas tortoise named, ironically, Hurry. Hurry tells her that he has been there "forever," while she tells him how she broke out of her "shell" in Canada to fly. She joins other monarchs flying south, as Hurry closes his eyes to await the spring. The monarch flies on into Mexico, through many dangers, until she finds the place in the forest where she and the others can finally rest. When spring arrives, the monarch returns to lay her eggs in a place near Hurry, then rest "forever." Hurry watches as a caterpillar emerges from an egg, eats, spins a cocoon, and finally comes out as a monarch to begin the cycle again. This gentle, lyrical text is paralleled by So's almost delicate sequence of watercolor paintings. Composed mainly of butterflies, they manage to create sufficient flower-filled design variations to maintain esthetic interest while remaining true to the natural history of the life cycle. Of added appeal is Hurry's personality, curious in his questioning yet so patient in his observations as he waits for answers. A map of monarch migration appears on the end-papers, while two pages of additional facts are included. 2005, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books, $14.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, May 15, 2005; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, May 2, 2005; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2006-2007; Book List; Picture Book; Maryland
ISBN: 0-375-83003-0
ISBN: 0-375-93003-5
I Heard It from Alice Zucchini: Poems About the Garden
Juanita Havill
Illustrated by Christine Davenier
This charming picture book highlights the "life" of a garden, from the conception of the garden to the harvest of the last vegetable buried in the ground. With the narrator as guide, the reader is led through a variety of free verse and occasionally rhymed poems that fill in the story of a garden and its inhabitants. Cucumbers, pumpkins, and pea pods all get their shot at poetic fame. And relationships, like the one between Sweet Cicely and the bee, are examined. Gossip, too, becomes fodder for one poem as neighborhood busybody Alice Zucchini shares the lowdown on Max Bean, Ms. Spinach, Sam Melon, and Jill Celery. While some of the poems are very short, others, like "Sweet Cicely and the Bee" and "The Pumpkin's Revenge" (based on Cinderella), tell mini-stories of friendship and retribution, yet do so in a way that will entertain. The pictures, delightful watercolors in bright pastels, add to the whimsical feel of the poems. Young readers will certainly enjoy this fun and fanciful text. 2006, Chronicle Books, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2006; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-8118-3962-1
ISBN: 978-0-8118-3962-4
Little Green
Keith Baker
A bright green and red hummingbird named Little Green is the star of this board book; although sharp-eyed kids will also find the little caterpillar hidden in most of the pictures. Young ones not familiar with these amazing birds will learn that they dart about at great speed and rarely take a straight path. Hummingbirds have another unusual skill, they can hover. The young boy watching Little Green seems to be drawing, but it is not until the very end that we see his interpretation of the hummingbird's antics. There is a lot to enjoy in the brightly colored illustrations and a white stroke on the page shows Little Green's peripatetic path through the flower garden and in the sky. 2005 (orig. 2001), Red Wagon Books/Harcourt, $6.95. Ages 6 mo. to 3. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-205308-5
A Promise Is a Promise
KNISTER
Pictures by Eve Tharlet
Translated by Kathryn Bishop
After his winter hibernation Bruno, a young marmot, is delighted to meet beautiful Dandelion. They play happily together through days and nights. One day Dandelion asks Bruno if he trusts her. "No matter what happens," he replies. Then Dandelion tells him to blow as hard as he can at her, promising everything will be "just fine." Bruno is shocked and sad when his friend's puffy seeds are all gone but has to trust her promise. In the fall he returns to the place they met, to hibernate again. And in the spring, her promise is kept, in this simply told, delightful tale of friendship and trust. "Oh, what a sight he saw!" of his beautiful friend again. Tharlet starts the visual story on the front endpapers with a delicate painting of a snowy field. The animal actors are introduced later in their awakening from their sleep. We follow Bruno's adventures from his discovery of the lovely yellow blossom, through his sadness, to the happy ending. Tharlet has added as incidental visual accents a delightful assortment of beetles, bugs, and bees. The final endpapers close the story with a summery version of the front winter scene, complete with ladybugs. 2006, minedition/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-698-40040-2
Punxsutawney Phyllis
Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Sometimes the best guy for a job is a girl, according to Punxsutawney Phyllis. Phyllis comes from a long line of distinguished rodents who emerge from their burrows on Groundhog Day (February 2) to predict either a lingering winter or an early spring. Phyllis longs for the honored task but is told repeatedly by extended family that it has always belonged to "a fellow," preferably one named Phil. However, when all the males old and young miss the signs of spring, Phyllis is able to point out the running brook, west wind, singing birds and lack of shadow. The current prognosticator, elderly Uncle Phil, then appoints Phyllis his successor. Author Susanna Leonard Hill's tale of a can-do critter is wonderfully complemented by Jeffrey Ebbeler's lively acrylic illustrations. 2005, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Why does the groundhog who predicts the arrival of springtime have to be Punxsutawney Phil? "Why can't it be me?" wonders Phyllis, who loves the outdoors, the spring rains, all the weather. The grown-ups say it has to be a "fellow." But one Groundhog Day, Uncle Phil just does not want to wake up and do his job. Phyllis is eager to do it, insisting she can feel that spring is coming early. Uncle Phil takes her out with him to try to show her she is wrong. But she points out all the signs of spring she can see and feel. When they go back underground, Uncle Phil not only admits that she is right; he retires in her favor rather than the other "fellows." Acrylic paintings on oak veneer provide a comic zing to the visual story of the anthropomorphic family. Phyllis, in particular, with her sassy attitude and bright smiles, is the charming moving spirit, while Uncle Phil is almost Dickensian in character with his frock coat and top hat. A final page answers the questions of "What is Groundhog Day?" and "Who is Punxsutawney Phil?" 2005, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Amelia Bloomer Project, 2006; SSRT American Library Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2007; Nominee; Washington
ISBN: 0-8234-1872-3
A Seed in Need: A First Look at the Plant Cycle
Sam Godwin
Illustrated by Simone Abel
Come along with Worm, Ladybug, and Snail for a first look at the plant cycle. Spring adds water and warmth, encouraging a seed to wake up. Roots push down and shoots push up, forming a seedling. The stem thickens and leaves appear. Buds appear and begin to unfold, turning into beautiful flowers. As flowers die, gardeners collect seeds and store them for the next season. Along the way, plants supply food and shelter to garden creatures and often reseed themselves. The plant used as an illustration throughout is the sunflower. Soft watercolors and smiling insect escorts give this book a warm and comfortable feeling that children will enjoy. The thirty-two page title includes an index, book and website references, a page of fun facts, and a glossary. The web reference is www.facthound.com--a "safe, fun way to find" related Internet sites. Other books in this series investigate colors, seasons, the forces of motion, the water cycle, a tree's life cycle, a butterfly's life cycle, a chicken's life cycle, and a frog's life cycle. 2005 (orig. 1998), Picture Window Books, $22.60. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4048-0920-1
Spring
Jill Kalz
This is a book in the series "My First Look at Seasons." It is somewhat different from many of the season books for young readers because of the layout and the photographs that are used. The chapters are divided into "Good-bye to Winter," "Time to Wake Up," "Eggs and Babies," "A Colorful Season" and an extra--"Hands-On: Taco in a Bag." The pictures and the text seem to be a bit sophisticated upon first look. However, the text is really not that difficult and basic facts are presented. The more difficult and/or seemingly unfamiliar words are highlighted. "The Hands-On: Taco In A Bag" does not seem to fit except that it may have to do with the photograph on the opposite page about the fifth of May celebration. Included in the back is the "Index," "Words To Know," "Read More" and "Explore the Web." There is a lovely colored cover picture but it would not have the same appeal to children as it has to an adult. 2006, Creative Education, $22.80. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Naomi Butler (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1583413634
Spring / La Primavera
Tanya Thayer
Emerging Spanish readers will gain overall knowledge about springtime days in this simplistic text. The season of warmer weather, the longer duration of the days, plants beginning to bud, birds building their nests, and bees pollinating are vividly portrayed through the actual photographs supplementing the one- sentence text on each page. The book is compact in size and makes it easy for beginning readers to flip the twenty-three pages. Vocabulary words are in bold type throughout the pages, and a glossary is located at the end of the book. In addition, the four seasons, with the sun's positioning for each, is explained in a straightforward visual manner for young children to learn. Other additional information about spring is provided for readers, such as certain animals hatching from their eggs and rain assisting in the growth of plants and flowers. 2006 (orig. 2002), Lerner Publishing Group, $4.25. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Rosa Roberts (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8225-3158-5
Spring Fever
Udo Weigelt
Illustrations by Sarah Emmanuelle Burg
Translated by Marianne Martens
With the coming of spring, Freddy the Cat goes hunting. He catches a mole who does not seem to care that he has been caught because he can only think about meeting a pretty mole. Freddy is shocked, and the mole slips away. Next he catches a sparrow, but the sparrow does not care because he is busy admiring another bird. Freddy lets him go, but "he wasn't really sure why." Freddy wonders if everyone has gone crazy, but then he meets the hedgehog who tells him that they are all in love. Freddy thinks this is a good idea, so after a few missed chances, he finally finds his love. In a delightful ending, the two cats go off together to chase mice. Both children and parents will enjoy this fun and warmhearted story. The unique illustrations in warm pastel watercolors suit the lighthearted spirit of the story. 2005, North-South Books, $15.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7358-2033-3
Spring Is Here
Lois Lenski
First published in 1945, this reissued picture book classic will charm a new generation and delight parents and grandparents who remember the original. With spring's arrival, "winter's gone away," and the children come outdoors to play. They laugh and sing and dance. They enjoy nature, from the sunshine to the apple blossoms to the baby birds and lambs. And, if children today do not have their milk delivered by a milkman's carriage, and their parents do not hang clothes outside on the line to dry, the other rites of spring--from flying kites to picking flowers to skipping rope--still ring universally true. After all, "Spring is here--Spring has come to stay." The author's original illustrations, though color enhanced, have been retained in this edition, giving the small-sized book its old-fashioned yet timeless feel. Acclaimed author Lois Lenski, a Newbery Medalist and IRA Children's Book award winner, wrote and illustrated more than ninety books for children. 2005 (orig. 1945), Random House Children's Books/Random House, $9.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-82729-3
ISBN: 0-375-92729-8
The Surprise Visitor
Juli Kangas
Edgar Small, a serious anthropomorphic mouse, is trying to think of what to write to his brother when a roundish thing arrives at his door. Thinking it looks like one of the children of his artist friend Mr. Crustydome, the tortoise, he takes it to him. But Crustydome says that all of his children are hatched. So he paints the object to make it more attractive and sets out to help Edgar find it a good home. Mrs. Twitch, a rabbit, adds a face to make it more appealing. Then she takes them up a tree to the squirrel family Chibbles, who dress up the object before going on up the tree to their lonely bird friend Mrs. Fleedle. She, however, is distraught at having lost her egg-child Oliver. To the surprise of all, the object cracks open to reveal her precious child. After a celebration dinner, Edgar returns home with a lot to write to his brother. The detailed scenes of the anthropomorphic animals almost ooze sweetness. Ink, watercolor, and oil wash are used to fine effect to describe the peaceful woodsy environment inhabited by civilized creatures. There is abundant humor in the actions of the baby bunnies and the valiant efforts of the friends to climb the tree. 2005, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Imagine the expression on Edgar Small's face when a surprise object appeared in his shrubbery one spring morning! In his meek, mousy way, Edgar seeks out the owner of the round, pale blue item. Throughout his colorful floral journey through the woods, he encounters various woodland friends--Mr. Crustydome, Mrs. Twitch, Mr. Chibble, and others. Edgar's curious trek leads him to ease the worries of Mrs. Fleedle just as her baby bird hatches from the treasured egg. Precious illustrations make this springtime story a treat! Beautiful forest scenery; animated, furry animals; and special tiny details along the trail keep readers absorbed in the tenderhearted mouse's journey of kindness. Children will love the little details that they can spot and share--the animals, the bugs, the berries, pinecones, and leaves--as they take the verdant walk with tiny Edgar. A unique comparison could be drawn between this colorful nature treasure and the simple, but well-loved Are You My Mother? Both share the same paths of curiosity but with different animals, settings, and colors. 2005, Dial Books/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Kara Byrne (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 7, 2005; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-8037-2989-8
Today at the Bluebird Cafe: A Branchful of Birds
Deborah Ruddell
Illustrated by Joan Rankin
It is hard to believe this fascinating book, with interesting and humorous poems, is the first book the author has written for children. We hope she writes many more. The charming illustrations are rendered in watercolor; this gives the bird book a unique appearance. The poems are funny and have a rhythm that most children will not be able to resist. The reader, or caregiver, will no doubt be asked to read and discuss the poems many times. Children who can read will want to read and re-read the clever poems while looking at the interesting pictures. The first poem ends with the line, "A sip of the lake and a bite of the sky," ensuring the reader that the book has much to offer. Children rarely hear enough poetry, or rhyming words, which will help them to learn their language as well as learn to read. Each poem is about a different bird, and each bird has something whimsical and unusual about it. The poem about swans starts, "Fairy-tale bird on a moonlit pond, pulled by stars or a magic wand," making children and adults want to finish reading it. The interesting poems about birds and the attractive illustrations will make this an winning addition to any library. 2007, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, $15.99. Ages 4 to 10. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 1, 2007; United States
ISBN: 0-689-87153-8
Up!
Kristine O'Connell George
Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
Toddlers are a busy bunch by nature and this charming book perfectly captures their high levels of energy and enthusiasm. In this tale, a young toddler rustles up her father from his cozy bed and gets him outside for a wonderful day of fun and adventure. After breakfast (and a few bounces on a chair and tosses in the air), this father-daughter duo heads to the park, where they find all kinds of enjoyable things to do. With her dad in tow, this young pig-tailed wonder excitedly jumps from one activity to another--she swings so high she almost touches the sky with her toes, she climbs up the slide's ladder only to quickly whoosh down the other side, and she runs to the top of the hill and tumbles down in a dizzying display. She is not the only one having fun during this action-packed jaunt to the park. Her father gets involved, too. He holds her upside down by her toes, he swings her around in circles, and he tosses her up into the sky like an airplane. After the pair tires from their activities, they head to the nearest tree, where they sit up high on a branch and take in all the beautiful sights of their sun-filled day at the park. The simple, rhyming text and humorous watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the magic of "toddlerhood" and the important role parents play in their young children's lives. 2005, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, $15.00. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 1, 2005; United States
Choices, 2006; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
ISBN: 0-618-06489-3
Zinnia's Flower Garden
Monica Wellington
Looking for a children's book that conveys not only the work involved in gardening, but also the wonder? That is what you will find in Zinnia's enthusiasm for growing things. Springtime finds Zinnia preparing her garden for planting. After planting and watering, Zinnia waits while the sun and rain nurture her seeds. While watering, weeding, and debugging, she measures her plants' progress. Buds appear and then finally her first bloom! Of course, a garden is not just for working. Zinnia paints, reads, and picnics among the blooms, butterflies, and bees. She cuts flowers for bouquets and enjoys their fragrance. One day, she even features a "Pick Your Own Flowers" event at her lemonade stand. At the end of the season, she saves seeds for next year. During the winter, Zinnia plans next year's garden. Each spread sports one page with Zinnia performing the tasks described on the opposite page. The text pages carry engaging borders naming cloud types, showing stages of germination, illustrating what different seedlings look like when they sprout, and showing excerpts from Zinnia's garden journal. Boldly-colored drawings mixed with cutouts of plant photos brighten every one of the 32 pages. The final page is an instruction list for growing your own flowers from seed. Wellington also wrote and illustrated Apple Farmer Annie and Firefighter Frank. 2005, Dutton Children's Books, $14.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47368-8
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