Children's Choices for 2005 (continued)
What's That Awful Smell?Heather Tekavec. Ill. Margaret Spengler. The poor pig is blamed for the awful smell that fills the barn. Nothing the animals try can eliminate it until cat shows them the source of the problem, and pig saves the day. (Team 3) Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group. 32 pp. ISBN 0-8037-2660-0 (trade). US$15.99. CAN$24.00. Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight?Carol Roth. Ill. Valeri Gorbachev. This is a whimsical poem telling how the other farm mothers try to tuck Woolly into bed, but Mrs. Cow doesn't know how, and Mrs. Cat knows what she's been missing—bedtime kissing. Nothing the animals do is just right until Mother Sheep comes to save the night. (Team 4) North-South Books. 32 pp. ISBN 0-7358-1773-1 (library). US$16.50. ISBN 0-7358-1772-3 (trade). US$15.95.
Illustration © 2004 by Valeri Gorbachev from Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight? by Carol Roth. Used by permission of the publisher, North-South Books.
Widget and the PuppyLyn Rossiter McFarland. Ill. Jim McFarland. Widget the dog has to babysit a puppy that unexpectedly shows up at his home. The puppy gets into all kinds of trouble, and Widget is held responsible. Older students can relate to this scenario. (Team 2) Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers. 32 pp. ISBN 0-374-38429-0 (trade). US$16.00. CAN$24.00. Worm Gets a JobKathy Caple. Ill. by the author. The cartoon-strip organization of the book guides young readers through the text. They enjoyed following the word bubbles to find out what job the young worm would take on. Children giggled at the results of the worm's search for employment. (Team 2) Candlewick Press. 40 pp. ISBN 0-7636-1694-X (trade). US$15.99. CAN$22.99. Pb., F. Young readersAbby's ChairsBarbara Santucci. Ill. Debrah Santini. Why don't Abby's chairs look right in her new house? She paints, reupholsters, rearranges, and even considers selling some of her favorites. Friendship, an important theme to children, is ultimately the answer to Abby's dilemma. (Team 1) Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. 32 pp. ISBN 0-8028-5205-X (trade). US$16.00. ABC All-American RiddlesMara & Ford Smith. Ill. Jennifer Johnson Haywood. The cover art grabs students' attention. The rhythmic pattern of the prose draws students into the text. Another great aspect of this book is the riddles. Children must use a combination of picture clues, word knowledge, and prior knowledge to solve the riddles. (Team 2) Peel Productions. 32 pp. ISBN 0-939217-56-2 (trade). US$13.95. Atomic Ace (He's Just My Dad)Jeff Weigel. Ill. by the author. This book tells the story of a young boy whose Dad just happens to be a superhero. His friends don't understand, but when his Dad “saves the day,” he is truly a hero. Children really like the cartoon illustrations. (Team 2) Albert Whitman and Company. 32 pp. ISBN 0-8075-3216-9 (trade). US$15.95. Pb., ISBN 0-8075-3217-7. US$6.95. The Bee-man of OrnFrank R. Stockton. Ill. P.J. Lynch. This beautifully illustrated retelling follows the Bee-man's search for his original form. The Sorcerer hopes the poor shriveled man living among bees will make something better of his life next time. Students can predict what he will become years later. (Team 4) Candlewick Press. 48 pp. ISBN 0-7636-2239-7 (trade). US$17.99. CAN$25.99.
Illustration © 2004 by P.J. Lynch from The Bee-man of Orn by Frank R. Stockton. Used with the permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press.
Bronco Charlie and the Pony ExpressMarlene Targ Brill. Ill. Craig Orback. With authentic facts, this story tells of Bronco Charlie, the youngest Pony Express rider, who braved the wilderness to bring news to the western United States. Through simple sentences and vivid illustrations, the adventurous spirit of young Charlie is brought to life. (Team 4) Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group. 48 pp. ISBN 1-57505-587-2 (library). US$23.93. Pb., ISBN 1-57505-742-5. US$7.95. CrocodilesSandra Markle. Ill. with photographs. Avoid the Nile if you don't want to become a crocodile snack. This perfect predator can see in the dark, hold his breath for an hour, and hear a dragonfly land. Full-color photographs should convince anything tasty to stay ashore. (Team 5) Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group. 40 pp. ISBN 1-57505-726-3 (library). US$25.96. Pb., ISBN 1-57505-742-5. US$7.95. Dogs: How to Choose and Care for a DogLaura S. Jeffrey. Ill. with photographs. The puppy on the front made the children want to pick up the book. The chapters use actual pictures of pets and their owners to assist with the context of choosing and caring for a dog that is right for an individual. (Team 2) Enslow Publishing. 48 pp. ISBN 0-7660-2520-9 (library). US$23.93. Duck for PresidentDoreen Cronin. Ill. Betsy Lewin. Duck brings democracy and elections to the farm in a bid to avoid work. Unfortunately, it's campaigning, not serving, that captivates Duck. He abdicates the presidency to return to the farm and write his memoirs. A red, white, and blue delight! (Team 5) Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 40 pp. ISBN 0-689-86377-2 (trade). US$15.95. CAN$23.95. Great White SharksSandra Markle. Ill. with photographs. The nonfiction aspect of this text appealed to many students, especially male students, because of the ferocious-looking shark on the cover and the many details on these predators of the deep, including their feasts on other ocean life. (Team 2)
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