The Princess and the Pig

The Princess and the Pig

The Princess and the Pig
by: Jonathan Emmett
Illustrated by: Poly Bernatene
Walker Childrens
Ages: 4 & up
2011 

The summary: A baby princess and piglet are switched by accident. Pigmella, the pig, becomes Priscilla, the princess, and vice versa.

It’s a little confusing, I know. Stick with me.

The adults in this book are pretty gullible. Instead of assuming that the pig and baby were switched, they assume that fairies turned the baby into a pig and the pig into a baby, because, obviously, that happens all the time in books.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, wait, yes I will. The farmer and his wife find out the truth, and being honest folk, they take Pigmella (who is really the princess) back to the castle. However, the king and queen don’t believe them and still think the pig is the true princess. So, the real princess stays Pigmella while the pig remains Princess Priscilla.

I love this.

I love that the girl doesn’t end up being the princess in the happily ever after. She still has a happy ending, but instead of ending up a princess, she’s a normal girl who marries a normal guy and they live a normal life.

The artwork is really fun to look at, and the layout is different, but easy to follow. The text is witty, with plenty of references to old fairy tales that you either get or you don’t. If your child is too young to understand, it won’t effect their understanding of the story; however, it gives you an opportunity to tell those fairy tales for the first time.

Rating: 7

 

 

Filed under: Fairy Tale, Picture Book

Picket Line

Picket Line

Picket Line
by: Breena Wiederhoeft
Ages: 12 & up
2011

I mentioned this book over here a while back, hence the homemade picture.

The summary:  Beatrice just moved to California from the mid-west, and she is lonely and directionless, that is until she meets Rex, a mild-mannered, guy with short little arms. Rex gives Beatrice a job at his landscaping company and makes her feel like one of the family. Soon, she makes friends and settles into a comfortable routine; however, all of this changes when Beatrice and the rest of Rex’s crew find themselves caught between corporate progress and environmental ideals. Everyone must choose a side, but which one is right?

The good: Picket Line is a graphic novel about protesting. You might not believe it, but this was published before the occupy movement caught on. Graphic novels are an interesting specimen because the story is told using both picture and text. In order for this to work successfully there has to be the right amount of text, and the pictures have to, in a sense, stand on their own. Breena accomplishes this beautifully. Her style is both simple and detailed; all of the people are simply drawn, but the landscape is breathtakingly detailed. This balance actually makes the story easier (and more delightful) to read. The simplicity helps to keep the pace of the story moving, while the more intricate pictures make you pause and think. Brilliant.

While this book was not initially meant for a younger crowd, I think it is a terrific first graphic novel. Particularly if you want to talk to your kids about protesting. This is a story that both you and your teenager could enjoy and then talk about afterward.

Rating: 7 (Couldn’t put it down)

Filed under: Graphic Novel

Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt
by: Jack Gantos
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Ages: 10 & up
2011

The summary: Jack is grounded. For the summer. But just when Jack thinks his summer will be a boring monotony of digging a bomb shelter and cleaning up his perpetual bloody nose, he is enlisted by one of Norvelt’s oldest residents to help write obituaries. Faster than you would expect, the elderly start to die, and some people start wondering if maybe they were murdered. Oh, and there are also some hell’s angels that wreak havoc, the threat of nuclear war (hence the bomb shelter), and an unknown someone buying up all of Norvelt. What started out as a potentially boring summer is shaping up into something quite different entirely.

The good: I listened to this book, and it was hilarious. Jack Gantos is the author and reader for the audiobook, and his dry, sardonic tone highlighted the humor of the story. The novel takes place during the ’60′s when people where terrified of the Russians and nuclear war, and the setting is Norvelt, PA, which was actually founded by Eleanor Roosevelt to help people get back on their feet during the depression. The story is part autobiographical, part history, and part fiction. I loved, loved, loved it, and I’m not usually a fan of historical type fiction. What can I say? Put history into an obituary and apparently I’m hooked.

Rating: 8 (fantastic)

This video is a fun description of the book:

Filed under: Family, Middle Grade, Mystery

Drawing From Memory

Drawing From Memory

Drawing From Memory
by: Allen Say
Scholastic Press
Ages: 10 & up
2011 

Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of this book sitting beside me (I forgot to re-check it out from the library), so I’ll be doing this review from memory (bah ha ha).

This is an auto-biographical remembering by Allen Say, focused on his childhood and young adult years. The pages are interspersed with photographs, sketches of the past, and engaging text that describes Say’s journey to becoming a renowned illustrator and author (in 1993 he won the Caldecott medal for Grandfather’s Journey).

I loved reading about Allen Say’s childhood in Japan. I have a soft spot for Japan, so I love any chance to catch a glimpse of daily life in that country. The balance between graphic and text is perfect, and I felt engaged and entertained from the beginning to end. The artwork is on par with his previous work, which means it is fantastic. The book ends when Say moves to America, and I wished there was more. I’m pretty sure that is a good clue that the book captured my interest and attention.

This is a great biography for boys and girls who are really interested in drawing and want to read about someone who started drawing as a kid and was extremely successful as an adult. The length of the book is only 72 pages so it is a manageable non fiction recommendation to all those ten-year-olds in your life.

Rating: 8 (fantastic)

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for day 10 of Bookmas!

Filed under: Mock Caldecott

12 Days of Bookmas

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Book-mas!

In honor of the 12 days before Christmas, I am going to post lightning fast reviews/suggestions for all those book lovers in your life. The reviews will be lightning fast because, let’s face it, I don’t have a ton of time to write in depth reviews, and you probably don’t have time to read in-depth reviews. I’ll still be doing my mock Caldecott reviews on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, but on the other days I’ll post a little something extra.

Woo hoo!

Here’s the first recommendation:

Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out & Back again
by Thanha Lai
Harper Collins
Ages: 8 & up
2011 

First of all, this is the National Book Award winner for young people’s fiction. Second of all, wow.

I hesitated to read this book because I am not drawn to novels written in verse, mainly because I don’t feel like I know how to read them correctly. How does the rhythm go?? But Forrest coached me on it, and once I got into the groove of the story I was completely captivated.

The story is about a little girl named Ha (there should be an accent over the ‘a’ but I do not have that kind of power in WordPress), who immigrates from Saigon to America during the Vietnam War with her mother and three older brothers. The transition is a painful one, especially as the family continues to wonder if their missing in action father/husband is alive or not.

I loved being inside the head and heart of someone who is just learning English and desperate to fit in, all while missing the familiarity of home. This novel is breathtaking and eye-opening.

Buy it for the age group suggested (8 & up), or buy it for yourself. You won’t be sorry.

By the way, the highlighted book info by the picture takes  you to the Amazon link for easy purchase; however, if you are going to buy it, won’t you consider buying it from your local independent book store?  Thanks!

Filed under: Coming of age, Middle Grade

Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the creatures

*oof, I’m behind with these. I blame it on school being out, and all I want to do is knit, watch Gilmore Girls, and read the mountain of books I have checked out from the library.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures
re-imagined by: Katherine Paterson
illustrated by: Pamela Dalton
Handprint Books: an imprint of Chronicle Books
Ages: 4-8
2011

The good: I am skipping the summary on this one (gasp).  Saint Francis of Assisi wrote a beautiful prayer (the Canticle of Creatures) that praises the God of creation by urging creation to praise God. Here is a sample:

“Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars: in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.”

Beautiful, right?

Okay, here is Katherine Paterson’s re-imagined version:

“We praise you for Sister Moon and all our Sister Stars, who clothe the night with their beauty and, like you, watch over us while we sleep.”

Still beautiful! Paterson’s re-write simplifies an old prayer without sacrificing any of the beauty or depth of meaning. Each page has a soothing lyricism that inspires a spirit of awe and praise, and, I think, would also be a perfect bed time read, if you get my drift.

Now, onto the art, in a word: Amazing. The art of papercutting blows my mind. The intricacies of the small animals and details of nature had me staring at the pages for a long time. The consistent black background made the papercutting pop on every page. At the end of the book there is a brief note from both Paterson and Dalton, and the latter writes about how she perfected her technique of cutting a picture out of one piece of paper. Wow. Keep that in mind if you are ever able to look at this beautiful book. It will blow your mind too.

“For this life and the life to come, we sing our praise to you, O Lord, the Father and Mother of all creation. Give us, we pray, the grace to honor you this day and forever more.”

Rating: 9

Up next: Drawing from Memory by Allen Say

Filed under: Mock Caldecott

Blackout

Blackout
by: John Rocco
Disney Hyperion Books
Ages: 4-8
2011

Summary: It is a hot, summer night in New York City, and everyone is busy, busy, busy! There is TV to watch, phone calls to make, and emails to write! Then, all the lights go out. Finally, everyone can see the stars in the sky, can play in the streets and eat ice cream, and, most importantly, can spend time together without distraction.

The good: The text of this book is simple, which is good because the real focus should be on the pictures. Not only could they tell the story independent from the text, but they are also kid-friendly. What do I mean by kid-friendly? From all those years babysitting, I have learned what pictures catch a kid’s attention and which ones are ho-hum. Disney usually knows what they are doing, and this book is no different. Another noticeable feature is that so much of this book is dark, but with patches of light from candles, flashlights, and stars. This creates a  unique palette that communicates the unexpected excitement of staying up late, playing in the streets, and hanging out with the whole neighborhood.  Do you have any blackout memories from your past? I have several memories of the power going out when I was little. I remember it was always hot and miserable, but I loved lighting candles and playing in the dark. All the busy tasks that everyone was unable to tear away from lose significance and time just slows down. Anyway, this is a fun read and a good reminder to step away from busy tasks every once in a while to spend some time with people you like.

The rating: 7

Up next: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the creatures by Katherine Paterson. Chronicle Books, 2011.

Filed under: Mock Caldecott

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

Balloons Over Broadway

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
by: Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Ages: 4 and up
2011

Summary: From an early age, Tony Sarge was able to bring movement to inanimate objects, and he loved doing it. When Tony grew up he made marionette puppets in London and got really famous. Then he moved to the big apple – New York City – where he went to work for “the biggest store on earth.” First, Tony made a “puppet parade” for Macy’s holiday windows. Then, he helped create the first ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with costumes and horse-drawn floats. There were even animals from the Central Park Zoo in the parade! The parade was such a big success that Macy’s decided to replicate it every year; however, some of the kids were afraid of the animals, so Tony thought about how he could incorporate his puppets instead. Tony spent a lot of time researching and experimenting how to make his puppets soar above the crowds. Eventually, Tony came up with the idea to use helium-filled balloons, cut into the shapes of characters, and controlled from the ground. Now, every Thanksgiving millions of people watch Tony Sarge’s legacy float through the air.

The good: This book is so colorful and FUN! The art work incorporates watercolor and collage, and is not only easy on the eyes, but an absolute delight to look at. I love that this is essentially a non fiction book because it tells a story about a real person but does so in such a way that a 4-year-old would still be engaged. Another wonderful aspect about this book is the easy transition to discussion or action. I love it when books easily lend themselves to crafty activities, and this one does a stellar job of just that. How fun to read this story and then make puppets! The puppets could be of the marionette variety or the paper bag variety. Regardless, after reading and looking at Tony Sarge’s creativity, I think that most kids (and adults) will feel inspired to create something of their own.

Rating: 8 (fantastic)

*I apologize for not sticking to my proposed schedule of a review on Tues/Thurs. My excuse: I had class this weekend. But now class is over, and I feel reborn.

Up next: Blackout by John Rocco (12/6)

Filed under: Mock Caldecott

A Ball for Daisy

A Ball for Daisy

A Ball for Daisy
by: Chris Raschka
Schwartz & Wade Books
Ages: 3 and up
2011

The summary: Daisy is a dog with a ball, and life could not be better. There are games of chase, cuddle times on the couch, and walks in the park; however, tragedy strikes when Daisy’s ball bursts (literally). Daisy is pretty depressed, until she receives a present from an unexpected friend.

The good: This is a delightful story. Daisy is the quintessential dog who loves to play, play, play. Chris Raschka (author/illustrator of the 2006 Caldecott winner, “Hello, Goodbye Window”) tells a story of a dog who loves a ball, and does so entirely through pictures…aka: no words. Sometimes these types of books make me nervous because they can be difficult to ‘read’ aloud to kids; however, Raschka’s watercolor illustrations are playful, fun, and make telling the story a piece of cake. In fact, this is a story that can be told collaboratively. Let the kids tell you what Daisy is doing in a picture and how Daisy feels in another. The flow of the story does get a little confusing when the format of the illustrations switch from page to page. For example, sometimes there is a picture for each page and sometimes the picture goes across both pages. I had to re-read a few pages the first time because I got a little confused on the order of the pictures, but this is a small issue, and you should not be deterred from checking this book out from your local library. This is a story worth reading and telling.

Rating: 7 (Couldn’t put it down)

Up next: ”Balloons Over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade” by Melissa Sweet.

Filed under: Mock Caldecott

Mock Caldecott

When January rolls around, I will be attending the Mock Caldecott, which is hosted by the Oregon Library Association. The Caldecott is awarded every year to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children. You can read more about it here. At the Mock Caldecott, a group of us (usually librarians and teachers) discuss 10 titles that everyone has already read, and then we choose a winner. Let me tell you, this is fun stuff for the literature obsessed. In preparation for the discussion, I am going to review each of them here!

Fingers crossed this actually happens.

I am planning on reviewing two titles a week, starting next week.

Here is the list:

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. Schwartz and Wade, 2011.

Balloons Over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet. Houghton Mifflin, 2011.

Blackout by John Rocco. Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the creatures by Katherine Paterson. Chronicle Books, 2011.

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say. Scholastic, 2011.

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith. Roaring Brook, 2011.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. Candlewick, 2011.

One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011.

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011.

Where’s Walrus? by Stephen Savage. Scholastic Press, 2011.

Next week:
A Ball for Daisy (11/29)
Balloons Over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade (12/1)

Filed under: Mock Caldecott