The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

OK, I really put off this particular entry until last because I don't enjoy reading Dr. Seuss books. I know that they are "timeless", and I know that Dr. Seuss did amazing things with 250 basic vocabulary words, but The Cat in the Hat makes me feel uncomfortable when I read it. I have never enjoyed watching people make a mess (even in cartoons), and reading about mess-makers gives me the creeps. I've also always felt uncomfortable about the final question in the book..."What would YOU do if your mother asked YOU?" When I read this story to my children, I always follow up with "You know, you should always tell mommy the truth, even if you think I won't like it....". Even though we have many other books on our shelves, my children do still choose The Cat in the Hat as our bedtime story. It has not lost its appeal toward children, no matter how their parents might cringe. It also is appealing in its rhyming scheme, since rhyming and ending sounds are such a vital part of reading success in children. In general, The Cat in the Hat plays an important role in children's literature.

A more contemporary book that contains a little of the anarchy displayed in The Cat in the Hat is Savvy, by Ingrid Law. The lead character is dealing with some emotional turmoil and family difficulties, so she hops on a bus with a stranger without asking her parents or babysitter. She relies on strangers for help, and even spends the night with a strange man and woman in a hotel room. Talk about anarchy! For some reason, this type of anarchy was less troubling to me than the mess and secrecy in The Cat in the Hat. Very strange.

Although The Lorax has been a controversial book since its publication in 1971, I prefer reading that story over The Cat in the Hat. The Lorax is didactic in its clear effort to teach children about the importance of carefully considering the impact of our existence and actions on the environment. It shows a character at the end of his life who is full of regrets, who cannot undo the damage he has done; he can only educate those who will live after him. It definitely sends a message, but is a little bit of a "downer" for a children's book. It may not be a good bedtime story, but it definitely has its place in the libraries of our schools.

I think that many stories today are didactic in nature, but the message they usually attempt to teach is not necessarily controversial. Many authors choose lessons such as honesty, integrity, and kindness as lessons for their books. Others choose to teach children empathy for those in troubling situations, but typically when it is politically correct to do so. With so many children's authors in print today, there are many didactic materials available; they just might not make the best-seller list.

Seuss, D. (1957). The Cat in the Hat. New York: Random House.
Seuss, D. (1971). The Lorax. New York: Random House.

Book vs. Movie: Ella Enchanted

I truly loved reading the book Ella Enchanted, and have heard from several young readers that they also love the book. A local librarian told me that the book is very rarely left on the shelf. Even though it was published in 1997, it has the timeless appeal of a fairy tale without being simplistic in its content or writing. Levine did a fabulous job in writing the story, an opinion I share with the committee that distributes Newbery Honor awards. Not only is the lead character intelligent and kind, she reveals her own inner strength as she is challenged through a variety of trials and must save herself from her own misfortune. Of course, I also love that it has a "happily-ever-after" type of ending. My favorite! I would definitely recommend that this book be part of a school library collection.

Although the movie is enjoyable, it is only very loosely based on the movie. In both the movie and the book, Ella is "gifted" with obedience from a fairy, but the gift turns out to be more of a curse. She must obey everyone who gives her an order. Aside from a few major characters, that premise is really the only thing shared by the movie and book (except for a "happily-ever-after" ending!). The path that Ella takes to become free of the curse and the relationships she has with the other characters are very different in the movie than in the book. I enjoyed watching the movie, but it definitely strayed from the storyline provided by Levine.

In summary, I enjoyed both the movie and the book, but definitely give the book a higher rating than the movie.

Levine, G. C. (1997). Ella enchanted. New York: HarperCollins.

O'Haver, T. (Director). Ella enchanted [Motion picture]. United States: Miramax.

Jumanji: Book vs. Movie

I like Jumanji, both in book and movie form. But I must say that I prefer the book version to the movie version. The book seems to be intended for children as an audience, while the movie attempts to insert some scary scenes and grown-up issues to appeal to the adult audience. (What does it say about me that I prefer the children's version? Who knows.)

In the book by Chris Van Allsburg, a brother and sister are bored and alone one afternoon when they find the Jumanji game board. They begin playing the game at home, only to discover that the jungle adventure in the game comes to life in their house. Although there are plenty of scary things that happen (lion attack, python in the living room, sleeping sickness, etc.), the images in the book actually help keep the action from seeming too intense. The statements are somewhat "matter-of-fact", and the illustrations actually seem calm. For example, on one page the sister is sitting calmly under an umbrella as a monsoon pours down around her. Children will enjoy the action and suspense of the story, but will not feel overwhelmed or frightened by the content. They will likely enjoy the twist at the end of the story, when the children of the visiting parents are seen running home with the game they found under a tree. Teachers could use this twist to encourage children to make predictions about future events based upon what they've read. The book is definitely worth sharing with children!

The movie version of Jumanji that was released in 1995 is much more intense than the book. Some scenes made me jump and cover my eyes (yes, I'm a wimp), while others made me want to cry. I am a fan of Robin Williams, and enjoyed his portrayal of a man who had been trapped in the game as a young boy. In the movie, hundreds of years pass as groups of children find and hide again the dangerous game. As the movie unfolds, a boy and girl are playing Jumanji together. The girl stops playing, and the boy is left in the game for more than 20 years. He escapes from the game as a new pair of players begin a game, and he helps them to finish their game. Stressful family issues are discussed in the move, but it does have a happy ending. I would not feel comfortable showing this movie to young children. It might be interesting to have high school students watch the movie and do a comparison with the book, but I would not want my younger children watching this movie.

In summary, I would definitely recommend the book be added to children's library collections, but I would save the movie for family movie night with older children.

Cort, R. W., Field, T., Franco, L. J., Kroopf, S., & Teitler, W. (Producers), & Johnston, J. (Director). (1995). Jumanji [Motion picture]. United States: TriStar Pictures.

Van Allsburg, C. (1981). Jumanji. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket by Sonia Leviton (Jerry Pinkney, Illus.)

This is a very enjoyable book that teaches a message, as many good books do. The story is about a young man who has had his heart broken, and intends to keep his heart in a bucket in order to keep it safe. He meets a beautiful young maiden who steals his heart, and he must solve a riddle in order to get it back. In his quest to solve the riddle, he of course realizes all the friendship and love that he has missed by not risking his heart, and learns to love again.

The illustrations add a great deal to the story. Pinkney has amazing artistic talents, and provides such detail in his drawings that it seems he must have spent a great deal of time planning out his pictures. However, he says "I don't see things until I draw them. When I put a line down, the only thing I know is how it should feel, and I know when it doesn't feel right. I work with a pencil in one hand and an eraser in the other, not knowing what I have until I put it down" (Houghton Mifflin, n.d.). Wow! He has worked extensively with many different authors, and has many awards to his credit.

Other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney include:

The Patchwork Quilt (written by Valerie Flournoy)
The Tales of Uncle Remus (written by Julius Lester)
Mirandy and Brother Wind (written by Patricia McKissack)
The Talking Eggs (written by Robert D. San Souci)
Half a Moon and One Whole Star (written by Crescent Dragonwagon)
Pretend You're a Cat (written by Jean Marzollo)
Tonweya and the Eagles and Other Lakota Tales (written by Rosebud Yellow Robe)
Back Home (written by Gloria Jean Pinkney)
I Want to Be (written by Thylias Moss)
The Sunday Outing (written by Gloria Jean Pinkney)
Sam and the Tigers (written by Julius Lester)
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman (written by Alan Schroeder)
The Hired Hand (written by Robert D. San Souci)
Drylongso (written by Virginia Hamilton)
Black Cowboy, Wild Horses (written by Julius Lester)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (written by Rudyard Kipling)
Aesop's Fables
The Ugly Duckling (written by Hans Christian Andersen)
Song of the Trees (written by Mildred Taylor)
Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion: A Swahili Tale (written by Verna Aardema)
David's Songs: His Psalms and Their Story (written by Colin Eisler)
In for Winter, Out for Spring (written by Arnold Adoff)
A Starlit Somersault Downhill (written by Nancy Wilard)
John Henry (written by Julius Lester)
Tanya's Reunion (written by Valerie Flourney)
The Little Match Girl (written by Hans Christian Anderson)
Goin' Someplace Special (written by Patricia McKissack)
Noah's Ark (written by Jerry Pinkney)
The Old African (written by Julius Lester)
The Little Red Hen (written by Jerry Pinkney)
The All-I-Ever-Want Christmas Doll (written by Patricia McKissack)
Little Red Riding Hood (written by Jerry Pinkney)
Moon Over Star (written by Dianna Huts Aston)
Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna (written by Nancy Carlstrom)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (written by Zora Neale Hurston)

Houghton Mifflin. (n.d.). Meet the illustrator: Jerry Pinkney. Retrieved August 9, 2009 from http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/jpinkney.html.

Levitin, S. (1991). The man who kept his heart in a bucket (J. Pinkney, Illus.). New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester (Jerry Pinkney, Illus.)

Sam and the Tigers is the retelling of a famous yet somewhat controversial story, Little Black Sambo. In an author's note, Lester explains that he and Pinkney both loved the story, but realized that the original tale was illustrated in a racist manner and unfortunately depicted a negative image of blacks. They wanted to remake the story in a way that retained the fun, but left the historical baggage of racism and stereotypes behind. I believe that they accomplished this goal; anyone who reads the story will not be focusing on the color of the lead character's skin, but rather his charming personality and wit.

My favorite lines in the story happen just after Sam has picked out his own clothes for the first time. He chooses pieces that are extremely colorful; he would stand out in any crowd! His mom says, "You better be careful. You might put Mr. Sun out of business." Sam replies, "If I knew how to sit in the sky without a chair, I would." Who, as a parent, has not had a child to leave the house in an outfit that definitely shows "personality"? I sometimes want to pin a note on my daughter that says "I picked out my own clothes". I can definitely empathize with the parents in this story!

The text and illustrations work together beautifully to create a charming tale that would be appropriate in any school library. I recommend the book, and plan to share it with my own children.

More books by Julius Lester are:

The Folksinger's Guide to the 12-String Guitar as Played by Leadbelly, co-author with Pete Seeger, 1965

Look Out, Whitey! Black Power's Gon' Get Your Mama, 1968 My own note: Interesting that he is concerned with removing racism from other stories, but this seems to be a particularly racist title. Maybe his views have changed over time?

To Be a Slave, 1968 (Newbery Honor Book)
Search for the New Land, 1969
Revolutionary Notes, 1969
Black Folktales, 1969
The Seventh Son: The Though and Writings of W.E.B. DuBois, 1971
Two Love Stories, 1972 (Coreta Scott King Honor Book)
Long Journey Home, 1972
The Knee-High Man and Other Tales, 1972
Who I Am, 1974
All Is Well, 1976
This Strange New Feeling, 1982
Do Lord Remember Me, 1984
The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1987
Lovesong: Becoming a Jew, 1988

More Tales of Uncle Remus: Further Adventures of Brer Rabbit, His Friends, Enemies, and Others (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1988

How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have and Other Tales, 1989

Further Tales of Uncle Remus: The Misadventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Wolf, the Doodang, and Other Creatures (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1990

The Last Tales of Uncle Remus (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1994
The Man Who Knew Too Much, 1994
And All Our Wounds Forgiven, 1994
John Henry (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1994
Othello: A Novel, 1995
From Slaveship to Freedom Road, Paintings by Rod Brown, 1998
Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 1998
Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales, with a
What a Truly Cool World, 1999
When the Beginning Began, 1999
Albidaro and the Mischievous Dream (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 2000
Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel, 2000
The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World, 2001
When Dad Killed Mom, 2001
Ackamarackus: Julius Lester's Sumptuously Silly Fantastically Funny Fables, 2001
Why Heaven Is Far Away, 2002
Shining, 2003
The Autobiography of God, 2004
Let's Talk About Race, 2005
On Writing for Children and Other People, 2005
Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue, 2005
The Old African (J. Pinkney, Illus.), 2005
Time's Memory, 2006
Cupid: A Novel, 2007

Lester, J. (1996). Sam and the tigers (J. Pinkney, Illus.). New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Lester, J. (n.d.). My books. Retrieved August 9, 2009 from http://members.authorsguild.net/juliuslester/works.htm.

The Tiger's Apprentice by Laurence Yep

In The Tiger's Apprentice, Yep brings to life many animals associated with the Chinese calendar and folklore. He weaves together a combination of stories and ideas from Chinese history along with culture from modern America to create a story that represents each of the two worlds. Yep has won two Newbery Honor Awards for his work as a children's author.

In the story, Tom is a young boy growing up with his grandmother in a community that believes she is strange, and often ridicules her in front of Tom. Tom never quite seems to fit in with the other children, often getting into fights to defend his grandmother. One day, Tom's life changes when he encounters a magical visitor: a tiger who can appear as a man. From that day forward, Tom's life becomes full of tales that have come to life, teeming with magic and magical events.

One of the things that I like about this book is that one of the heroes, Tom, is not always a willing hero. Yep allows the readers to see his doubts about himself, his family, and his culture, his desire that things in his life not change. Young readers would certainly identify with these feelings, even though they take place in a magical setting. I also appreciate that the characters make tough decisions because they are the right things to do, not because they want to do them. Any reader could learn from these teachings.

One other interesting note about this book: This is the first book that I have read where dragons are said to live in the sea. He is the first author that I have heard suggest such a thing.

Laurence Yep has written extensively, with many books receiving awards. Some of the series that he has written include (as compiled by Wands):

• Golden Mountain Chronicles (8 books)
• Dragons of the Sea (4 books)
• Chinatown (3 books)
• Tiger's Apprentice (3 books)

Novels that he has written include:

• Sweetwater
• Sea Demons
• Kind Hearts and Gentle Monsters
• The Mark Twain Murders
• Liar, Liar
• The Tom Sawyer Fires
• Monster Makers, Inc.
• The Curse of the Squirrel
• The Star Fisher
• The Ghost Fox
• Thief of Hearts
• Hiroshima
• Later, Gator
• Ribbons
• The Imp That Ate My Homework
• The Cook's Family
• The Amah
• The Magic Paintbrush
• The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner (My Name Is America)
• Dream Soul
• Angelfish
• Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of the South, Southern China, A.D. 531
• Skunk Scout
• When the Circus Came to Town
• Spring Pearl: The Last Flower
• The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
• Bravo, Mia! Girl of the Year
• The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island

His collections include:

• The Rainbow People
• Tongues of Jade
• Tree of Dreams: Ten Tales from the Garden of Night
• Cockroach Cooties

His picture books include:

• The Butterfly Boy
• The Man Who Tricked a Ghost
• The Shell Woman and the King: A Chinese Folktale
• The Boy Who Swallowed Snakes
• The Junior Thunder Lord
• The City of Dragons
• Tiger Woman
• The Khan's Daughter: A Mongolian Folktale
• The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale
• Auntie Tiger

He has contributed to other anthologies, series, and nonfiction works as well. Quite a busy author!

Wands, D. C. (2009). Fantastic fiction: Laurence Yep. Retrieved August 9, 2009 from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/y/laurence-yep/.

Yep, L. (2003). The tiger's apprentice. San Francisco: HarperCollins.

Caldecott vs. Newbery

I really learned a lot by researching this topic! I had always seen the Caldecott and Newbery stickers on the outside of the library books, but I didn't know what they meant. Now, I know a little more about the awards and what they signify.

The Newbery Award was proposed by F. G. Melcher at an ALA meeting in 1921. The intention was to give an award to the most distinguished children's book author of the year. In 1937, Melcher again suggested at an ALA meeting that a special award be created specifically for authors of picture books. This suggestion was approved, and the award was called the Caldecott Medal.

Both awards were first created to encourage new authors to develop children's literature, since there was a shortage of quality materials available at the time. Both awards reward excellence in quality, eminence and distinction, and individual distinction. They are both limited to citizens of the U.S., and are selected by a committee. "Runners-up" for each award are given the designation of "Honor" books.

Newbery Awards are given to authors of books that could be read by children, but do not have to be solely for children. The criteria for selection of the award-winning Newbery books are:

1. Interpretation of theme or concept
2. Presentation (accuracy, clarity, organization)
3. Development of plot
4. Delineation of characters
5. Delineation of setting
6. Appropriateness of style
7. Excellence of presentation for a child audience
8. Other things (i.e. pictures) only if they distract from the text

Caldecott Awards are given to authors of books that are intended for children and are considered picture books. The criteria for selection of the award-winning Caldecott books are:

1. Excellence of execution in artistic technique employed
2. Excellence in pictorial interpretation of the story, theme, or concept
3. Style of illustration
4. Delineation of plot, theme, characters, mood, or information through pictures

Source of information:

Association for Library Service to Children. (2008). The Newbery and Caldecott Awards, 2008 edition: A guide to the medal and honor books. Chicago: American Library Association.

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans

In an introduction to the book, David McLimans shares that his goal was to create images of endangered animals that correspond to the letters that begin their names. He achieved this goal beautifully; each page contains a black and white drawing of an animal, in the shape of its letter. He also lists in red information about each animal: class, habitat, range, threats, and status. There is additional information about each animal listed at the end of the book.

This book would be an excellent addition for a school library. It would be a great source for independent reading time, and it could also be used to create a discussion in science class, as a basis for art projects, or as a prompt for a letter in English class. There are many possibilities! I highly recommend this book.

McLimans, D. (2006). Gone wild: An endangered animal alphabet. New York: Walker & Company.

Caldecott Award Book

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed is a story that celebrates the unique opinions that even young children have about themselves and the things they should do. During the story, it's (obviously) time for Ella Sarah to get dressed. She has an outfit in mind that she would like to wear. Each family member then tries to encourage Ella Sarah to wear one that he/she thinks is more appropriate; the mom suggests a dress, the dad suggests a basketball t-shirt, etc. But Ella Sarah thinks her outfit is the perfect one. Each reader will be able to identify with Ella Sarah and her need to express her own personality.

The pictures are vibrant and simple. Ella Sarah is the focus, and her "colorful" outfit is displayed in beautiful illustrations. This book would be a great addition to any library serving young elementary school children.

Chodos-Irvine, M. (2003). Ella Sarah gets dressed. San Diego: Harcourt.

Caldecott Honor Book

Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida

I enjoyed reading the book Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida. I wasn't sure what to expect, since the book is about a Japanese American family surviving during World War II. But I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, and the family described by the story dealt with their problems and reacted much the same as any other loving family would react during a terrible time of trial.

The story is told through the voice of Yuki, a young Japanese American girl who has just been released with her parents from the concentration camp in Utah. The story describes her journey from the camp to her birthplace, California, with several stops and struggles along the way. Some Americans consider her to be the enemy, even though she has never even seen Japan. Her brother volunteered to fight in the army, and returns injured after the war is over. The readers empathize with her struggles and applaud when her thoughts change from always waiting for her "real life" to begin, to instead living and enjoying the life she has now.

I believe that young readers will empathize with the lead character in this story. She is portrayed as being very kind and honorable, but not without faults. Her struggle to find acceptance, belonging and security will appeal to any young reader. Readers will also learn a great deal about American history, and will be reminded of the cruel actions that take place sometimes in our own neighborhoods.

Other books by Yoshiko Uchida include:

Journey to Topaz (2004) -- with Donald Carrick
A Jar of Dreams (1993)
Picture Bride (1999)
The Bracelet (1996)
The Invisible Thread: An Autobiography (1995)
Journey Home (1992) -- with Charles Robinson
The Terrible Leak: Creative Short Story Series (1989)
The Best Bad Thing (1993)
Sea of Gold (1991)
The Magic Listening Cap: More Folktales from Japan (1987)
The Dancing Kettle (1986)
Samurai of Gold Hill (2005) -- with Ati Forberg
The Rooster Who Understood Japanese (1976) -- with Charles Robinson
The Wise Old Woman (1994) -- with Martin Springett
In Between Miya (1967)
Rokubei and the Thousand Rice Bowls (1962)
The Birthday Visitor (1975) -- with Charoles Robinson
The Magic Purse (1993) -- with Keiko Narahashi
Mik and the Prowler (1993) -- with William Hutchinson
Sumi & the Goat & the Tokyo Express (1969) -- with Kazue Mizumura
Takao & Grandfather's Sword (1993) -- with William Hutchinson
Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family (1984)

Book vs. Movie Comparison: The Tale of Despereaux

First, I need to confess one of my faults. I am the person who reads the end of the book first, just to make sure it ends happily. I can handle a few bumps along the road, but the story MUST end mostly happily, with good feelings at the end, else I'm not interested in reading it. Now you can probably understand why The Tale of Despereaux was not my favorite story. The movie ranks slightly higher in my estimation, but only slightly.

The novel by Kate DiCamillo tells of a very small mouse named Despereaux who is not at all like the other mice. As a matter of fact, he is able to read, and is inspired by a fairy tale to be brave, noble, and honest. He falls in love with the princess of the castle, and eventually saves her from doom. There are a few sad antagonists: Roscuro, the dungeon rat who secretly loves the light, and Miggory Sow, a slave/servant girl who has been abused and neglected her entire life.

One of the things that I truly did not like in this book is the way the author basically halts the story to address the audience. She begins with phrases such as "Reader, you did not forget that..." and "Again, reader, we must...". I believe that she uses this technique so often that it is distracting from the story. She also attempts to point out in the story that as long as hope is alive, all is not lost. However, the general overall tone of the story is one of sadness.

The director of the movie worked to put a happier spin on the story. In the book, Roscuro the rat slinks from the dungeon when he wants to see light; in the end, he is not truly part of either the light or the dark, but somewhere in between. In the movie, Roscuro comes from a friendly ship on the ocean, and returns there at the end. In the book, Despereaux's parents are mostly indifferent to him; his father is more worried about what others think, and his mother is worried about her appearance. In the movie, they genuinely seem to care about Despereaux, but are limited in their abilities to love by their perspectives as mice. So it seems that the director recognized the book's potential to be a "downer", and made adjustments to keep it lighter and more entertaining.

I know that this book has received great reviews from School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist. It does have many good qualities: an emphasis on forgiveness, appreciation of courage, and a demonstration of rising above low expectations. I would have it in my library to share with others. Personally, however, it is not one that I would read over and over.

DiCamillo, K. (2003). The tale of Despereaux. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

First the Egg is a beautiful picture book that young readers will likely love to read. The story begins "First the egg...then the chicken". It goes through a series of other events, like "First the tadpole...then the frog", until it finishes with the phrase "first the chicken...then the egg" (a reversal of the beginning statement). Very clever! The story also addresses creativity: first the paint, then a picture; first the word, then a story. It shares with the children how things may begin as one thing, but end up being something greater then they started out.

Not only do the words convey a beautiful message, but the pictures also add their own beauty and contribute to the unique nature of the book. The illustrations cover the entire page, and appear to be paintings on canvas. On each page, there is a cutout that illustrates the "first idea" (for example the egg), but as you turn the page the cutout illustrates the "then the.." concept (such as the body of the chicken). These features certainly make the book very enjoyable.

I really like this book, and believe it would be a good resource for a preschool or kindergarten classroom.

Seeger, L. V. (2007). First the egg. New Milford, CT: Roaring Brook Press.

Caldecott Honor Book

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

The House in the Night is a picture book illustrated mostly with black & white drawings. The story is about a family coming home at night, where there is a light shining in the window. The child of the family gets ready for bed, then picks up a storybook. The child is "carried" all around the city on the wings of a bird from the story book, then gets tucked into bed. It's a very sweet story, and one that young children will probably enjoy over and over again.

To me, the best part of the book is the illustrations. Each page is in black & white, but has golden yellow on the "brightest" parts of the pages. For example, in the bedroom scene, the sun in the storybook, teddy bear, dog's collar, and lamp are all golden yellow. Maybe I'm reading too much into the pictures, but it seems that some of the brightest parts of the child's life are represented by the brightest parts of the pictures. The illustrator (Beth Krommes) has illustrated several award-winning books.

The story is written in the fashion of "This is the house that Jack built...". The author notes that she was inspired by a nursery rhyme by Iona and Peter Opie that begins..."This is the key of the kingdom: / In that kingdom is a city, / In that city is a town, / In that town there is a street...". She has written many books and has won several awards for her works.

I do like this book, but I'm not sure that it is a great deal better than several other books for children that I have seen. Sometimes the award winning books are not ones that I would personally choose to read again and again. This story could be used to illustrate the idea that books can take you anywhere you want to go; they free you from the confines of your own house in the night.

Swanson, S. M. (2008). The house in the night. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal

Savvy by Ingrid Law

I must give credit to my daughter, Emma, who once again brought home a fabulous and enjoyable book. Savvy by Ingrid Law is a story appropriate for intermediate through junior high age students (or for adults like me!), that tells about the coming of age and personal growth of a young girl named Mississippi Beaumont. The Beaumont family is a little different than other families. Each family member develops a special talent when they turn 13; they can control electricity, move earth, read minds, etc. Mibs ends up on a Bible salesman's bus riding across the state with her brothers and two friends, and of course adventures and excitement ensue.

I really like that by the end of this book, the colorful main character has spent a great deal of time considering her own strengths, and has decided to listen to for her own voice as she makes her choices in life. This message is of particular relevance to the preteen and teenage readers, who are so worried about what other people are thinking. Mibs also realizes that even people who don't get magical powers have something special inside that makes them unique from the rest of the world; it's all about learning to control that "specialness".

Savvy is a great story, and one that I would recommend for any elementary or middle school library.

Law, I. (2008). Savvy. New York: Penguin Group.

Newbery Honor Award Winner

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

I must confess that before I read all of The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, I had already formed some opinions about the story. My eight-year-old daughter had checked out the book from her school library this year. When she asked the question, "Mom, what's a scrotum?", I immediately said "Woah, hold on. Let me see what kind of book you're reading there, sweetie." I skimmed the first couple of pages and saw the words scrotum, rum, blood, die, and drinking. I suggested that she return the book and read it when she is older. Needless to say, I wasn't really expecting great things from this book.

I am glad to report that my initial opinion was wrong. The story tells of a young girl named Lucky whose mother has just died and whose father doesn't want her. She lives in a tiny town (population 43) in what she describes as a "canned meat trailer". Her clever attitude and tender heart make her an ideal lead character for the story. She alternates between incredible kindness and a little bit of naughtiness, expressing her very realistic emotions, fears and hopes in unique and descriptive ways. Her relationships with others in the small town allow many stories of sadness to work together to form a new story of hope and courage.

After reading the entire story, I will allow my daughter to read this book. I will be prepared to answer my daughter's inevitable questions, discuss heavy issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, and reassure her about her own security; classroom teachers should be prepared for the same. Many children will relate to the issues discussed in the book, and may take courage from Lucky's admitted fears, hopes, and anxieties.

I would recommend that mature readers enjoy this book, possibly grades four through eight (the book jacket recommends ages 9-11).

Patron, S. (2006). The higher power of Lucky. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Newbery Medal

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

I picked up The Invention of Hugo Cabret as I was browsing for award-winning books at my local library. The book requires a two-handed approach; I looked at it doubtfully, as I compared its size to much smaller books that also met the "award-winning" requirement. My eight-year-old daughter spotted me and exclaimed, "Mom! You HAVE to read that book. Don't worry...it doesn't take as long as you would think." With that encouragement, I dropped the book into my bag and continued my treasure hunt.

I am so thankful that I took the opportunity to read this story! The book consists of 525 wonderful pages, including 284 pages of illustrations. It is a story that is part novel and part graphic novel. The hand-drawn illustrations do not depict what is happening in the text, but rather continue the tale without the need for words. It is a fantastic story; there is just enough sadness to make you appreciate the happy ending.

The main character of the tale is Hugo Cabret. He has been orphaned twice, once by his father and mother, and again by his uncle. He finds himself living in a train station, where he maintains all the clocks in the station so that no one notices that his uncle is no longer there. He is obsessed with repairing a mechanical man, a device that reminds him of time spent with his father. His quest for replacement parts leads him to meet a toymaker whose own past twists and turns to connect with Hugo's present. His story concludes on a happy note, but not as he might have envisioned.

This story will appeal to readers from many different backgrounds. A more mature reader will readily be able to interpret the illustrations and understand the issues for discussion, such as the death of Hugo's parents. A great deal of historical information is provided, including cinematic history. This could be used in grades 4-7 (and possibly others, depending upon the class). It could be read as a read-aloud for the entire class.

I truly recommend reading this book. Despite its intimidating appearance, the minutes fly by as you read this delightful story.

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal and a National Book Award Finalist

Missy Violet & Me by Barbara Hathaway

Missy Violet & Me is a story told from the perspective of an 11-year-old African American girl, Viney, growing up in rural America during a time when her older neighbors still remember being slaves on plantations. One summer, she begins to work for the local midwife to pay the debt her parents owe to the midwife. She learns about herbs and treatments of all kinds, and learns about "catching babies." More importantly, perhaps, she learns that kindness, courage, and determination can improve not only her own life, but also the lives of those around her.

I appreciate that this book provides insight for children into a world that is likely very different from their own, yet encourages positive characteristics in children that are universally desired. Readers may relate to some of the characters and their perspectives. Some may relate to the family that struggles to produce enough "book rent" money for the children to attend school. Others may relate to the main character's strong desire to feel needed, accepted, and capable, as well as her discovery of her own self-worth.

There are a few issues that indicate a more mature audience should read this book (5th through 9th grade, perhaps). Since most of the book is about delivering babies, there are instances when the birthing process is described, although very tactfully, without great detail. Teen pregnancy, a mother's death during delivery, and a shooting incident are all described in the story. Furthermore, the dialect can be difficult to understand and would require a more experienced reader's skills.

Overall, I like this book and would recommend it to others. It could be used as supplemental material to a history lesson, or as a basis for class discussion or writing. Although the story is fairly simple, the characters are endearing. This book is Barbara Hathaway's first novel; I would be interested to read her future books.

Hathaway, B. (2004). Missy Violet and me. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Winner of a Coretta Scott King Award (John Steptoe New Talent)

I love this assignment.

I love that I am being forced to sit and read books. I can honestly tell my husband "Sorry, honey, can't cook dinner... I' m doing homework" while holding a book in my hand. Lovely!

I'm setting up my own blog for the first time. How exciting!!