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Children's Books

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JANUARY 29, 2011
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
This winner of the Newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children for 2011 is an intriguing piece of historical fiction.  As the story opens, it's 1936 - the country is mired deeply in an economic Depression.  Contrary to her wishes twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is sent by her father to live among old friends in a former mining town, Manifest, Kansas, while he works a railroad job in Iowa.  Determined to use her time there to uncover details about her dad's early life, she becomes immersed (along with two new friends, Ruthanne and Lettie) in trying to unravel the town's past.  This leads to involvement with a Hungarian woman (Miss Sadie), who through careful observation has become an oracle on the bygone days of the town.  A cigar box of mysterious mementos, stacks of old newspaper articles, determined sleuthing, and Miss Sadie's spoken memories lead Abilene on a complex path of intertwined chains of events linking the years of World War I to her time in the mid- 1930's.  The author uses well-drawn word pictures of multiple townspeople so effectively that the careful reader is convinced that he or she knows them all.  Including humor and surprising plot twists, this "page-turner" will delight those in grades six through ten.

Add a comment  (2 comments) posted by Mrs. Bedel

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JANUARY 26, 2011
Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord
Set on Bethsaida Island off the coast of Maine during one short summer, this novel tells the story of a family that accepts as a foster child a thirteen-year-old boy, Aaron.  He is taken in partly because otherwise the dwindling full time population of the island will no longer be sufficient to support a school.  Tess, 12, and Lily, 9, eagerly accept Aaron into their family, but they are met principally with silence and lack of interest on his part.  As the summer progresses Tess discovers that Aaron longs to see and hopefully live with the mother whose addictions caused her to be declared unfit to raise him in the first place.  Using all of her good luck charms and without the knowledge of the social worker who is responsible for Aaron while he is in foster care, Tess writes and invites his mother to visit.  No one could have foreseen the chain of events which occurred because of her desire to make things "work out" happily for everyone.  Readers in grades 5 - 8 will sympathize with Tess's good intentions.  Well-developed characters add interest to this novel.  

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JANUARY 13, 2011
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo
Winner of the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Kate DiCamillo has written another charming story.
 Bink and Gollie are two best friends who share many adventures together. Broken up into three short chapters, the girls speed on roller skates, buy brightly colored socks, and even return a pet fish to it's natural habitat. Accompanied by whimsical illustrations, the simple text will be sure to delight readers. Through all of their escapades, Bink and Gollie learn about what it means to compromise, how to appreciate the beauty of a sunset, and discover the true meaning of friendship. As Bink says to Gollie, "You are the most marvelous companion of all." Highly recommended for beginning readers in grades 1-3.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Mrs. Rose

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JANUARY 11, 2011
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman

 This 2011 Newbery Honor winner is a pure delight!  Twelve beautifully written poems that capture the nuances of the nighttime creatures, are amid the backdrop of gorgeous watercolor relief illustrations. Poems of the nocturnal animals such as snails, owls and porcupines, are also accompanied by simple facts, in addition to the illustrations. There is even a final poem about the moon and it's lament as night fades, and the day begins.
 Did you know that a snail grows a layer of it's shell every night or that a baby porcupine is called a porcupette and it sings with it's mother? These and other fascinating facts can be found in this lovely book, and a simple glossary is provided.  A good resource for poetry and animal studies, this would be most appropriate for students in grades 3-6. Highly recommended!

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Mrs. Rose

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JANUARY 10, 2011
The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bildner

Based on true events, this wonderful nonfiction book is brief but inspiring.

James Banning and copilot, Thomas Allen, had a dream to fly from “sea to shining sea.”  With only an old OXX6 Eagle Rock that needed a complete overhaul to its engine, these gentlemen created a plan to get the support and financial assistance it would take to fix this plane and fly it from Los Angles, California to New York City.

Banning and Allen became known as the “Flying Hoboes” because a part of their plan was to fly to a destination and if anyone gave them fuel, food, lodging or any help, that person could sign the wing of their plane.  Along the way, they encountered some difficult weather, long hours, the Great Depression and worst of all, prejudice.  You see Banning and Allen were African American pilots.  None of these obstacles stopped the men from their mission.  They completed the goal of flying from coast to coast.  After any difficult situation, Thomas Allen would always say “hallelujah” and James Banning would reply “hallelujah right back at you.”

 After a hero’s welcome in Harlem, the pilots were asked what you would call this adventure.  Both pilots raised hands and said “The Hallelujah Flight.”

This book is most suitable for readers in grades 1-3.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Mrs. G

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JANUARY 5, 2011
Mokie and Bik Go to Sea by Wendy Orr

Mokie and Bik are twin brother and sister who live with their mother, father and nanny, Ruby, aboard a ship called the Bullfrog.  Their dog, Waggles, and a few other critters are often interesting characters in this delightful story.  Bik is always wanting to discover a pirate.   Mokie prefers to discover a treasure.  The twins are ready to take Bullfrog out to sea.  Father says Bullfrog needs to be “shipshape” before they venture out to sea.  Life aboard the Bullfrog with Mokie and Bik is always an adventure in which they seem to be underfoot of their parents and nanny.  Beautiful illustrations make the story visual in the readers mind.  The charm of the book, however, is in the language and play on words used by the author.  Reading or listening to this book will tickle your ears with the poetic fashion of the wording.  This book is most suitable for readers in grades 1-3.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by Mrs. G

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JANUARY 4, 2011
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
11-year-old Delphine and her 2 sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are sent from Brooklyn to Oakland, California to meet the mother who abandoned them years earlier. Cecil didn't ask for them to visit and is not the welcoming, loving mother the girls hope to meet. She also isn't likely to take them to Disneyland, the beach or to meet any Hollywood stars, as they envision. Cecil doesn't cook for the girls and doesn't want them in her house during the day while she writes poetry in her kitchen. Instead, she sends them for free breakfast at a community center, where they also stay for the summer camp program. This story takes place in 1968 when the Black Panthers are trying to get civil rights for black people. The camp is run by Black Panthers and  teaches them about "black power". Gradually Delphine learns that the Black Panthers, and her mother Cecil for that matter, are not exactly as Big Ma back home describes them. Suitable for readers in grades 4-8 who are interested in civil rights movements or desiring African American characters. This book has been getting a lot of buzz recently in regards to the Newbery Award. It is full of more mature themes including love, acceptance, and revolution. and is a slow-moving story. The characterization is very good, but I kept wondering how much the theme might appeal to children. Time will tell.

Add a comment  (1 comment) posted by Mrs. Sommer

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