FEBRUARY 26, 2009
The Cobble Street Cousins by Cythia Rylant
This is a very sweet series featuring three 9 year old cousins. They are Lily and Rosie (who are sisters) and Tess. All of the girls are living with their Aunt Lucy, while their parents are away on a year-long ballet tour. In the first book, “ In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen,” the girls start a cookie business. The Cobble Street Cookie Company proves to be quite successful. Among their customers are Michael (who is smitten with Aunt Lucy), and Mrs. White who is celebrating her 90th birthday. The girls become fast friends with both of them. In the second book, “A Little Shopping,” the girls go to a specialty craft shop. From this shop, they buy supplies to construct a special dollhouse for Aunt Lucy. It is to be a replica of Aunt Lucy’s flower shop. More adventures of the cousins can be found in the three remaining books of the series, Special Gifts, Some Good News, and Summer Party. These are gentle stories that will appeal to girls in grades 2-4.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2009
Our Farm by Michael J. Rosen
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on a farm? “Our Farm” is like a reality show in a book, following a farm family over the course of a year. The Bennetts have five children—four boys and one girl—and live on a working Ohio farm. Full of vivid photos, with the children’s dialogue for text, the book is broken into 2 page spreads on different topics like: “Chicks Move to the Coop”, “The Bull, a Cow Named Darryl, and a Few Other Cows,” “Manure,” and “Growing Things.” Each seasonal section opens with statistics, such as the fact that an individual cow produces 65 pounds of manure daily. Much of the book is devoted to the farm’s work: raising calves for sale and growing and baling hay. But there are plenty of fun times for these farm kids, too. They build forts in the hayloft and swim in the farm’s new pond. They explore the woods, hunt, fish, and play on school sports teams. “Our Farm” captures the essence of farm life, including the joys, difficulties, and sorrows.
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FEBRUARY 9, 2009
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
Because both boys are terminally ill, Sam and his friend Felix are schooled at home. When their tutor challenges them to write about themselves, only Sam tackles the task -- composing during the next few months what amounts to a book composed of lists, anecdotes, illustrations, questions and remembrances. Interspersed among all of them is a narrative wherein Sam describes his family life with his dad who is in total denial of his son's threatened death, his mum who is the primary caregiver (her concern sometime is rebuffed by him, but more often welcomed) and finally his little sister Ella who is torn between jealousy of the percs Sam receives and the sadness which overcomes her at times. Using his journal entries as he seeks answers to questions universally asked as a person contemplates death and also gradually working away at his "things to do before I go" list, the reader accompanies Sam through his final days. A realistic, serious read, but one with clever touches of humor -- this is a sensitive, thought provoking novel for those ages 9 - 12.
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FEBRUARY 8, 2009
Art From Her Heart Folk Artist Clementine Hunter by Kathy Whitehead
A simple but thought provoking biography of the first self-taught African- American woman who captured the attention of national media is at the heart of this book. This is particularly significant during the time when segregation laws kept Clementine from attending her own gallery shows. This book takes a brief walk through the life of Clementine Hunter. Her art work takes you through a brief look at the life of a manual laborer on a Louisiana plantation. Her lack of refined experiences and education did not stop Clementine from pursuing a natural giftedness in painting. She simply painted her experiences. Her inspiration to us could be that one does not wait until everything is perfect to pursue one's dreams. This book is suitable for readers in first through third grades.
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FEBRUARY 5, 2009
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
I know know the strange names Of the herbs and the flowers, And deadly betrayals, And sacred sorrows. - Jose Marti
This free verse novel just won a 2009 Newbery Honor Award. I found the story of the three wars between 1868 and 1898 in Cuba fascinating. Ruled by Spain, the rebels on the island of Cuba continually fought to free slaves and become an independent nation. This complex history is cleverly and simply told by Rosa, a nurse, who helps all people who are sick or injured, friend and enemy, by using the native plants. Rosa's story is interspersed with poems from the point of view of her husband Jose, who guards the hospitals and huts and caves where they hide, and a young girl who has survived the reconcentration camp set up by the Spanish to prevent the peasants from growing and providing food for the rebels. Rosa is stalked her entire life by "Lieutenant Death", a Spanish slavehunter whose only goal has become to kill the "witch", even though she healed his injuries when he was young. This is easy-to-read and would interest older students who enjoy historical or political stories. It was a sad realization for me to learn that the US fought the Spanish American War to gain control of Cuba from Spain following the third war in Cuba. A time line is included in the back of the book.
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FEBRUARY 2, 2009
Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Alvin Ho is afraid of everything. He particularly has a problem with girls, school, teachers and bridges. Alvin is from Concord, Massachusetts which is a place known for its brave patriots. It is a challenge for Alvin to spell the state in which he lives. Alvin is from a long line of warrior farmers who did not have a "scaredy" bone in their body. His ancient grandpas and grandmas in China fought off leopards and tigers in their gardens. Alvin fights off his litter sister, Anibelly, and mosquitoes at Walden Pond. Alvin talks just fine at home and on the school bus. However, at school Alvin does not want to say anything. It is just too scary.
Alvin does love superheros and he really likes Wonder Woman. He sees himself as a superhero and calls himself "Firecracker Man"! Alvin is trying to learn to be a gentleman. There are many rules to learn to become a gentleman. Alvin is a work in progress. Learn more about this funny little character as you read his adventures. This book has been compared to being a younger version of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This book is most suitable for readers in the second and third grades.
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