APRIL 29, 2009
Blue Jasmine by Kashmira Sheth
12-year-old Seema moves with her family from India to Iowa City, leaving behind her best friend and cousin Raju and her extended family. Nervous about fitting in and unable to speak English very well, she attends school and finds that nothing is the same as it was in India. Although she makes friends, she is hounded by a bully, a new girl at school, every single day. She longs for Raju and another classmate who she treated badly in school the previous year. When her grandmother Dadima becomes very ill, the family briefly returns to India where Seema must face her angry cousin who cannot accept the changes in her, and learn the truth about the classmate she never treated very well. This is a quiet story that will appeal in particular to girls ages 10-13. Cultural differences are explored as well as bullying. This author won the Paul Zindel first Novel Award.
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APRIL 29, 2009
All About Sleep: From A to Zzzz by Elaine Scott
Did you know that bats sleep for 20 hours a day? That dolphins “sleep” with one eye closed and one eye open, and swim? That birds can fly while asleep? That people have driven cars, walked on construction equipment, and even committed murder while asleep? All of these fascinating facts are found in this book. It goes on to talk about the chemistry in the brain, and how humans respond to light and dark. It also talks about what happens when we sleep. There is a lot more to sleep than just lying on your pillow.
Sleeping is an important part of our overall health, and if we don’t get enough of it, some people can become delirious and imagine such things as aliens abducting them. This is part of an overactive imagination, and an overly tired brain. While we sleep, our brains are still working, and in some of the different stages of sleep, we tend to move around a lot. In the deeper stages of sleep, this is when our dreams occur. Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers their dreams. Scientists have discovered that some people have even conducted experiments while in this stage of deep sleep!! Scientists are still trying to find out all the things that sleep means. This is a fun, informative book that is easy to read. The illustrations add a lot of humor to the information. Recommended for students in grades 5-8.
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APRIL 24, 2009
The Smallest Girl Ever;The Boy Who Could Fly by Sally Gardner ( Magical Kids series)
Here are two stories about two ordinary children who are capable of extraordinary things.
In the first story, The Smallest Girl Ever, we have Ruby Genie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Genie, who are well-respected magicians. Ruby becomes an orphan after her parents die in a magic accident. Ruby is sent to a magical boarding school. The headmistress is disappointed that Ruby is unable to perform magic. Ruby shrinks, she is so embarrassed. The evil magician Alfonso, pretends he is Ruby’s uncle. He is mad that Ruby can’t do magic, puts her in a purse, and throws her out the window. Aunt Hat catches it. Aunt Hat is kind to Ruby, and Ruby is able to do some magic. Everything works out, and Ruby regains her normal size, thanks to the caring Aunt Hat.
On the flip side, we have the story of Thomas Top, who is sick in bed on his birthday. The Fat Fairy comes to grant him his wish. Thomas wishes he could fly. The wish is granted, and Thomas feels free! Unfortunately, this makes life at school and home more complicated. Thomas befriends Mr. Vinny, a flying friend. With Mr. Vinny’s help, Thomas shows his parents the magic of flying and how much fun there is to behold in the world. This makes Thomas and his parents become closer. Thomas’s rescheduled birthday party is a big hit.
These are two very sweet stories about two special children who overcome obstacles through magic. They both discover that some of the most powerful magic comes from believing in yourself and from the love of others. Recommended for grades 2-5.
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APRIL 21, 2009
Where in the World by Simon French
Using an effective variety of viewpoints, this gently narrated story highlights the growing-up years of German-born Ari Huber, transplanted to Australia by his single mother as she seeks a new life following the death of her husband. In the course of several years, we witness Ari's struggles to fit in as the "new boy" at school and his desire to hide his skillful violin playing and love of music, even though they recall his life with his beloved grandfather, Opa, as well as his barely remembered father. He worries that others may think him "weird." When his mother remarries, Ari is presented with further changes. His stepfather is perceptive and understanding and Ari willingly works as a busboy in the musical cafe that Jamie and his mother remodel and operate. But soon the death of his treasured grandfather presents him with yet another obstacle to overcome. How can he continue to care about violin music which was once such an important focus of his relationship with Opa? Realistically authored characterizations and thought-provoking life events make this a worthy choice for readers 9 - 13.
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APRIL 15, 2009
The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
This is the third book by this author that involves art. Calder, Tommy, and Petra, now in 7th grade, visit an art exhibit of mobiles by Calder's namesake, Alexander Calder, in their home town of Chicago. The exhibit includes "the Calder Game" that encourages visitors to create their own mobile of objects, symbols, or ideas using five parts. When his father goes to England to attend a conference, Calder joins him and is surprised to find a Calder sculpture displayed in the square next to his bed and breakfast. While he enjoys the sculpture, the villagers do not, because it doesn't fit with the history and tradition of Woodstock. Suddenly, both the Calder sculpture and Calder the boy disappear. Tommy and Petra are called to England because of their love of puzzles and playing with ideas and words. Can the Calder Game help them solve the mysteries and bring Calder home? This is a unique book that will get readers thinking about art in a new way. I plan to use it with my Tween book club this summer so we can play the Calder Game too! Suitable for grades 4-8 and those that enjoy mysteries or thinking about new ideas.
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APRIL 1, 2009
The White Elephant by Sid Fleischman
Run-Run is an orphan boy who struggles to make a living as an animal trainer (a manout as it was called) in old Siam. He loves an old elephant who works very hard for him. This elephant is named Walking Mountain. Walking Mountain is devoted to Run-Run. Walking Mountain accidentally sprays Prince Noi the Idle. Prince Noi places a curse on Run-Run by giving him a gift of a "white elephant." White elephants are sacred and are to be cared for and not work. Run-Run and the white elephant, Sahib, develop a special relationship. Sahib learns to work by being hidden in a coat of mud. Eventually, Run-Run is freed from the curse with the help of none other, Sahib. This story includes nice pencil illustrations for each chapter that help the reader visualize the place and time of the story as well as the characters. The book teaches us about our usage of the phrase "white elephant" gifts. This book is most suitable for readers in grades 3-5.
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APRIL 1, 2009
Planting the Trees of Kenya The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola
Beautifully illustrated and formatted in picture book style, this book is a true story about a woman's effort to help her homeland. Wangari Maathai grew up in a green area of Kenya where trees filled the landscape, fish filled the streams and people tended beautiful gardens. After returning to Kenya from completing college in America, Wangari returned to her homeland to find nothing she remembered. The trees were gone. The fish were no longer because streams were dried up. Her people were even malnourished from lack of food. Wangari looked at the situation and thought of a solution. Why not plant trees? They used the seeds from a few remaining trees and often had to dig their own wells for water. With much hard work, the land again regained its beauty and nourished its people. In 2004 Wangari was the first woman from Africa to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She began the Green Belt Movement in 1977. This book is most suitable for readers in grades 2-5. It could be a family read with younger children along with some good discussion.
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