With school finishing soon, summer is upon us. The summer months are a wonderful time to rest, relax, and read a fun book. Summer is also a time when families spend time outdoors--traveling to the beach, camping in the woods, visiting relatives or staying at home. This week members the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) share books that talk about summer activities. These titles could be included in a newsletter home to encourage reading till fall. 

GRADES K-1

Fineman, Kelly Ramsdell. (2012). At the boardwalk. Illus. by Monica Armino. Wilton, CT.:Tiger Tales.

Everyone enjoys a day at the beach and the fun of the boardwalk and that is exactly what this picture book debut by Kelly Fineman offers. The book starts with a jog in the morning and jumps right into all the activity that goes with arcade games, cotton candy, people in crowds and the bustle of boardwalk sights. We see all the employees busy at their jobs within the fun day in the sun. The sun-filled illustrations by Monica Armino portray the passage of the day as the sun moves from side to side through the book. Even a quick rainstorm allows for playing in the rain at the boardwalk. The simple language of rhyming verse takes readers through the fun all day. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Jenkins, Ward. (2012). New York, Baby! San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Summer is the time for expanding our horizons, and travel is one way to do this. For small children, a trip through a familiar neighborhood or to another, unfamiliar part of the city can be a great vacation. This brief but visually and textually appealing book shows one boy’s perspective on the delights of New York City, arguably the most famous city on this continent. Amid the bustle of the cosmopolitan city, it’s all about the food as he consumes a bagel, a sandwich, and ice cream while his mother strolls him about the city. As do many tourists, the two make stops at the Metropolitan Museum, City Park, Broadway, and the Empire State Building. Clearly, New York City is just fine for this baby. The pencil and digitally painted illustrations show the city at its best. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Jenkins, Ward. (2012). San Francisco, Baby! San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 

It would be difficult to argue against taking a trip to San Francisco with its well-traveled tourist spots, including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, the cable cars, Lombard Street, and Chinatown, among others. San Francisco’s cityscape is seen from a child’s point of view as an exuberant little girl wanders the city with her father, sampling the sights, sounds, and flavors of this city by the bay. The simple rhyming text is fun to read aloud, and the illustrations, created with pencil and then digitally painted, feature much food sampling amid the sightseeing. Parents might want to share this with little ones prior to their first trip away from home since it makes traveling and getting to know a new city look like so much fun. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Konagaya, Kiyomi. (2012). Beach Feet. Illus. by Masamitsu Saito. Brooklyn, N.Y.:Enchanted Lion Books.

Translated from the Japanese, Beach Feet is definitely a tactile experience through words. A young child that the reader does not know if boy or girl, experiences the hot, hot sand which the ocean water cools after plunging into the waves. The hard feel of seashells, the squishy feel of wet sand, the heat of hard sun-baked beach sand, combined with the splash of waves combine to give this book a real sensory experience. Artist Saito’s pastel illustrations enhance the feel of the words to recreate the colors of the beach world. This quiet story evokes the pleasures of being near the ocean in a “wordful” sensory approach. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Lee, Anne. (2012). When you are camping. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller. 

Have you ever woken up to rain when you are camping? Well, Hazel and Tilly don’t mind because they put on their raincoats and boots to splash in the puddles, run down the paths in the woods, stomp through the wet grass and lay down in the mud. Eventually the rain stops and the caterpillars, moths and rabbits come out for them to observe and play with. Simple ink drawings and watercolor paintings show how much these two sisters adore being outside. When it is hot they float down a river in tubes and take a bath with the fish. After dinner the family goes for a walk in the woods and watches a deer. Later everyone gathers around the campfire for popcorn and stories. At bedtime the crickets sing Tilly and Hazel to sleep reminding them how much camping is.

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Yee, Wong Herbert. (2012). Summer days and nights. New York: Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt.

This picture book is small in shape and perfect to hold, cuddle and enjoy on a summer day. The simple verse makes it easy to read, “Summer days, so warm and bright, paint my room in morning light.” A little girl stretches, yawns and wakes up with the sun shining through her open window. Thus begins her adventure filled day where she tip toes through a meadow, tries to catch a butterfly, sits beneath an oak tree, jumps into a pool and observes a bumblebee. Later, her family goes on a picnic to the park where her father gives her a piggy-back ride and they play hide and seek. At bedtime it is too hot to sleep so the father takes the little girl outside to watch a barn owl in a tree, blinking fireflies and the moonlit sky. Finally, the little girl’s eyelids droop and she is ready to dream. This title is part of a series on seasons: Tracks in the snow and Who likes rain? 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

GRADES 2-4

Monroe, Mary Alice. (2007). Turtle summer: A journal for my daughter. Illus. by Barbara J. Bergwerf. Mt. Pleasant, SC: Sylvan Dell Publishing. 

This journal chronicles loggerhead sea turtles over the course of one summer. In May a mother and daughter watch a female loggerhead crawl across the beach, dig a deep hole, and lay her eggs. The mother and daughter then mark the nest with a sign and begin observing and taking care of it all summer. As they wait they ask many questions: What are the turtles doing under the sand? Are they sleeping? Are they dreaming? Color photographs record the events with informative captions. Finally, in August the nest begins to hatch. Slowly the hatchlings rise to the surface like an elevator and scramble to the sea. The baby turtles swim off, disappearing in the waves. The book closes with more material about loggerhead turtles, activity pages and shell identification pages. There is also an invitation to children to create their own nature scrapbooks. 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Owen, Ruth. (2012). How do you know it’s summer? New York: Bearport Publishing. 

Summer vacation can be the perfect time to spend time outdoors with the family, which can combine a vacation and science lessons. This introductory book on the summer season provides plenty of interesting facts about what happens in the natural world during summer. By characterizing that time of year and describing some of the weather patterns that typically accompany summer, young readers will be able to recognize higher temperatures and thunderstorms as signs of summer. In addition to the simple, informative text and attractive photographs, some of the pages call for deeper thinking about what's being described or expand on what is seen in a photograph, both of which make the reading process more active. Colorful, interesting photographs provide up close perspectives on several common summer occurrences such as storms with lightning crackling across the sky, a family toasting marshmallows over a fire as dusk sets, and a bee searching for a flower’s nectar. As part of the back matter the book contains a short glossary with tiny photographs, an index, and science extension activities for readers. After reading this book, youngsters will know some of the simple science behind what makes it summer. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Person, Stephen. (2012). Saving animals from hurricanes. New York: Bearport Publishing. 

Many visitors to seaside settings are careful to plan their summer vacations around hurricane season, often trying to avoid August, which is typically when the severe storms are most prevalent. This easy-to-read text describes what happens to animals during hurricanes. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a turning point for how animals would be treated during catastrophic events, and the concern of individuals across the world for the pets left behind led to federal legislation requiring that animals receive consideration during future disasters. This book tells the rescue stories of some of the animals left behind when their owners had to evacuate, relying in part on stories told earlier in other books for children. The book describes the rescue efforts briefly alongside heart-rending photographs of the trusting eyes of pets and dogs swimming through water or perched on boards or car roofs waiting for someone to save them as well as joyful images of dogs and cats reunited with their human family.  Clearly, the Herculean efforts of the men and women who worked so hard to bring the dogs, cats, and other living things out from the flood waters in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast can be termed heroic. Even farm animals such as horses and chickens and aquarium residents such as dolphins and alligators needed care during the crisis, and the author provides simple details about all of these animals and their rescue. He even describes the massive animal shelter and rescue operation set up in Gonzales, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina, the largest animal shelter and animal rescue operation in U. S. history. Young readers--and their animal-loving parents--will savor this one up--and they should. After all, the animals with which we share our lives are important members of our family. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 5-7

Ashley-Hollinger, Mika. (2012). Precious Bones. New York: Delacorte.

The summer of 1949 brings lots of heartache, adventure, and mystery to ten-year-old Precious Bones, her mother, and part-Miccosukee Indian father Nolay. The trouble begins with a huge storm that fills their home with water (and snakes). Then two murders take place, and Nolay is considered a prime suspect for each of them. Bones learns lessons about miracles, family, friendship, grief, abuse, discrimination, judging others, and kindnesses that help her to develop as a compassionate, well-rounded person. Ashley-Hollinger creates a setting so rich that readers can feel the heat and humidity of the Florida swamp, experience the bites of pesky mosquitoes, and hear the sounds of the birds and animals. Likewise, readers will find many of the book’s well-developed characters occupying places in their hearts. The plot is gripping, engaging, and has enough suspense to make it a book that is hard to put down. 

- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University Provo

Jinks, Catherine. (2012). The paradise trap. New York: Egmont USA.

Marcus is not at all excited when his mother, Holly Bradshaw, decides to revisit the beach vacations from her childhood and buy a “used” (junky, dilapidated) trailer and return to Diamond Beach. He would rather be playing video games. Holly runs into her old friend Coco and her children, Newt and Edison, and so the kids get together, though somewhat begrudgingly in the beginning. As they begin to explore, they learn that this old trailer has a cellar and as they do down the steps they discover a strange but fantastic amusement park. Marcus figures out that whoever opens the door gets their dream vacation – or so they think until they can’t get out. The dream vacation turns into a “rocking nightmare”. Their adventure begins with touches of Greek mythology, a few historical facts and fast-paced action. This will be a fun summer read that is not your typical beach read!

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Pennypacker, Sara. (2012). Summer of the gypsy moths. New York: Balzer + Bray. 

The cover of Summer of the Gypsy Moths may remind readers of the Clementine series we have become used to seeing from author Sara Pennypacker, but this latest book, set in a summer on Cape Cod, is quite different and puts the book characters into a more sober setting. Told in the voice of abandoned 11-year-old Stella, whose mother’s location and life is nowhere to be found, she has come to live with her great-aunt Louise. Louise has also taken in another foster child, Angel, who is anything but what her name implies. From the onset, the two girls don’t get on well. When Louise very unexpectedly has a heart attack and dies, the girls are distraught not only that they have lost Louise, but their bad experiences with government authorities push them to tell no one and bury Louise in the garden. They convince themselves they can continue to do the housekeeping and odd jobs for the Linger Longer Cottage Colony on Cape Cod that kept great-aunt Louise employed. They especially need to fool George Nickerson, the owner of the cottages for whom Louise had been employed. The girls develop a new lifestyle for themselves so they can continue to live on Cape Cod and also learn the meaning of family, from the traditional families they observe on Cape Cod to the new family arrangement they have carved out for themselves to survive. The difficulties, the hunger, the bills, compound as the summer moves along and readers know that this life cannot continue as is. The caretakers that come into the girls’ lives to conclude the book may surprise some readers. Well developed dialogue brings Stella and Angel to life on many levels and makes the book a special summer read … for all year long. A discussion guide can be found at the publisher’s website.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Turner, Amber McRee. (2012). Sway. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books. 

Cass Nordenhauer adores her mother Toodi, and she looks forward to her return from her heroic work as a disaster relief worker. But Toodi leaves home again within hours of her homecoming, relegating ten-year-old Cass to a boring summer spent with her decidedly unheroic father in Olyn, Alabama. After she hears them fighting, Cass knows something is wrong, but she figures she can persuade her mother to come back. Nevertheless, Mr. Nordenhauer continues with his plans to renovate and stock an old RV for a road trip that just might open Cass’s eyes. Although his daughter reluctantly agrees to go on the planned road trip, her heart isn’t in this vacation. Her father is relentlessly upbeat and has several interesting adventures planned, including fishing for shoes along the highway, and a traveling road show in which he takes on the persona of M. B. McClean, complete with a costume and the use of what he calls Sway, a magical force that brings joy and inspiration to others as they wash their hands with a sliver of soap from his seemingly endless collection. Each soap fragment contains the initials of famous folks, and the strangers the family encounters seem to find the right soap for what they need. Once Cass realizes the truth about both parents, she is sorely in need of a little courage and inspiration herself. The author’s word choices and her unique but often imperfect characters make this an appealing book. Even Cass’s realization that those who rescue others often are in need of rescue themselves is poignant but realistic. Although Cass's disappointment near the end of the book is palpable, she clearly has what she needs to rescue herself. The book’s hopeful, self-empowering message is sorely needed today. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 9-12

John, Antony. (2012). Thou shalt not road trip. New York: Dial. 

To publicize the book chronicling his spiritual journey written when he was fifteen, sixteen-year-old Luke's publisher sends him on a publicity tour. His older brother, Matt, turns it into something of a vacation/road trip, renting a Hummer and taking the slow route across country along Route 66. The trip is complicated by the fact that Matt’s current girlfriend and Luke’s former crush come along. Luke complains every step of the way as Matt takes detours that lead to beautiful or interesting spots, but once he arrives at each destination, he is glad for the diversions. Realistically portrayed in his growing uncertainty, Luke flounders from one mistake to another, betraying others and disappointing himself as well. Luke is, after all, still looking for something in which to believe, a process typical of adolescents. The media frenzy that ensues once Luke is found to be less that forthright about his book as well as some of the events occurring on the trip threatens to erode all the good that has come from his experiences. A reminder that the journey is just as important as the destination at times, this title is likely to encourage readers to reflect on their own actions and beliefs. While exploring weighty issues, this book is also filled with humor and moments of bonding between siblings and friends. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

LaCour, Nina. (2012). The Disenchantments. New York: Dutton Juvenile. 

While partly a road trip book, this one is certainly a whole lot more than that. Following high school graduation, four friends embark on a week-long summer musical tour of small towns in the Pacific Northwest before heading in different directions. The three girls comprise an attractive, enthusiastic but not particularly skilled band called The Disenchantments while Colby is their roadie and driver of the VW bus borrowed from his uncle. The plan is to travel up the coast from San Francisco, drop Meg off at her dorm in her new college in Portland, and then Bev and Colby will head off to Europe for a year of travel, something they've planned for years. But Bev’s plans have changed; instead of heading to Europe, she plans to attend college at RISD, something she reveals on the trip. Colby is in love with Bev, and much of the book involves his determination to find out the reasons behind Bev's change of heart. As the band moves from venue to venue, they meet all manner of interesting characters while Colby tries to heal his wounded heart. Fans of this sort of thing will love the musical references to the Chiffons, the Supremes, Heart, and Sleater-Kinney. There are all sorts of other plotlines as well. Colby's mother is in France, learning to speak another language while her husband waits at home. His dad and uncle were in a band of their own years ago, and Colby’s road trip inspires some nostalgia for their own touring days. In a strange twist of fate, the musical travelers happen to meet a tattoo artist desperate to leave his own home and find a copy of a painting by Colby's mother in a tattoo book. In the end, all four gain self-insight and learn much more about each other than they might have had they not ventured up the coast. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

The International Reading Association celebrates the winning books selected for the 2012 Children’s Choices, Teachers’ Choices, and Young Adults’ Choices recommended reading lists. 

Each year, thousands of children, young adults, teachers, and librarians around the United States select their favorite recently published books for the “Choices” reading lists. These lists are used in classrooms, libraries, and homes to help young readers find books they will enjoy. 

The annotated reading lists of titles and authors of Choices selections for the current year are made available in April, just before the Association’s annual convention and are available for free download.

Children’s Choices

Each year 12,500 school children from different regions of the United States read newly published children’s trade books and vote for the 100 or so books that they like best. These Children’s Choices, selected from more than 500 titles donated by publishers, can be counted on as books children really enjoy reading. This list, a project of a joint committee supported by IRA and The Children’s Book Council (CBC) since 1974, is designed for use not only by teachers, librarians, administrators, and booksellers but also by parents, grandparents, caregivers, and everyone who wishes to encourage young people to read for pleasure. 

The 2012 IRA-CBC Joint Committee and review team members were Stan F. Steiner (cochair), Sherilyn J. Bennett (cochair), Pamela Farris, Michele Svihovec, Philip Tucker, and David Ward. Area team leaders were David Ward, Oregon—Area 1; Philip Tucker, Pennsylvania—Area 2; Sherilyn J. Bennett, Arkansas—Area 3; Michele Svihovec, North Dakota—Area 4; and Pamela Farris, Illinois—Area 5. 

The committee is now accepting new book submissions for the 2013 Children’s Choices program through June 21, 2012.

The 2012 Children's Choices list of book titles, authors, and publishers plus summaries, book cover images, and a printable bookmark can be downloaded from our website.

For more information on the CBC and IRA, or on how to become involved in the Children’s Choices project, visit www.reading.org/resources/booklists/childrenschoices.aspx.

Teachers’ Choices

Since 1989, teachers, reading specialists, and librarians from different regions of the United States Books have selected about 30 books for readers ages 5 to 14 for the annual Teachers’ Choices reading list. Books are selected from new publications donated by North American publishers. At least six teachers or librarians in each region read each book; some books are read by as many as 200 people in a single region.

The 2012 Teachers’ Choices Committee and review teams included Joyce Gulley (cochair), Marjie Podzielinski (cochair), Cathy Denman, Jessica Hollon McGuire, Denise Johnson, and Cathy Voelker. Team Leaders in the field test were East—Janet Shaw and Susan Thompson-White; Great Lakes—April Wulber; Plains—Pam Ryan; Rocky Mountains—Lynne Nevrivy and Rebecca Stone (trainee); Southeast—Linda Armstrong and Joan Kindig (trainee); Southwest—Jane Dewailly; and West—Belinda Louie. 

The committee is collecting new book submissions through July 20, 2012. 

Visit our website to download the full 2012 Teachers' Choices list with book titles, authors, publishers, summaries, book cover images, and a printable bookmark. 

For more information about Teachers' Choices or to volunteer on the committee, visit www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/TeachersChoices.aspx.

Young Adults’ Choices

Young Adults’ Choices began in 1987 as an annual project of the International Reading Association. Each year approximately 4,500 students in grades 7 to 12 from different regions of the United States select 30 titles from new books donated by North American publishers. 

The 2012 IRA Young Adults’ Choices Committee and review teams were Stephanie Burdic (cochair), Lisa Morris-Wilkey (cochair), Rosemarie Brock, and Aimee Rogers. Team Leaders in the field test were Area 1—Patrick Allender and Bob Helm, Oregon; Stan Steiner, Idaho (trainee); Area 2—Christine Payne, Delaware; Patricia Martin Evans, Maine (trainee); Area 3—Amy Fouse, Georgia; Area 4—Sue Debe Inhelder, Iowa; Sherryl Shannon, Nebraska (trainee); and Area 5—Kimberly Powers, Wisconsin. 

The committee is accepting new book submissions for Young Adults’ Choices through July 20, 2012. 

Download the full 2012 Young Adults' Choices list and the printable bookmark on our website. 

For more information about Young Adults’s Choices or to volunteer on the committee, visit www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/YoungAdultsChoices.aspx. 

Teachers, librarians, readers, educators, parents, authors and illustrators, and book lovers in general not only like to read books but they like to talk about books and share opinions and reactions. The world of blogging has allowed these like-minded lovers of books to do that and in an immediate fashion. As blogging has become more and more popular and accepted as a method for sharing book and publishing information, educators are now following recommended or favorite blogs. Each day seems to bring an awareness of another new blog. The KidLitosphere (www.kidlitosphere.org/bloggers) website offers a gateway website where the community of children’s/YA bloggers can come together and share the excitement of wonderful books—sometimes new books, some gathered thematically, some for special needs or areas. Bloggers have even created and organized their own awards for books, the Cybils (www.cybils.com) for one and also The Independent Book Blogger Award (www.goodreads.com/book_blogger_award/entry/573).

This week the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group presents just a few of the many wonderful blogs available to readers today.

BLOGS FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS AND/OR PICTURE BOOK LOVERS

Jen Robinson’s Book Page

http://jkrbooks.typepad.com

This popular blog is for librarians, teachers, and parents. Jen promotes a love of reading and literacy by posting every couple of days a lengthy book review and literacy news. She shares programs and studies in the field of literacy, children’s literature, and young adult literature. In the sidebars she includes the book title she is currently reading and the audio book she is listening to. In addition, old posts are available such as raising a reader, getting kids to read, and family reading partnerships. All of her book reviews are archived and available from 2006 to present. Furthermore, Jen sends out a weekly newsletter via e-mail. This blog is a must read for everyone. 

~ Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

The Picture Book Junkies 

by Deb Melmon, Roz Fulcher, Gina Perry Kathy Weller, and Alicia Padron

http://pbjunkies.blogspot.com

A group of five professional illustrators, all addicted to picture books, write this PBJ blog. They share picture books they are reading for inspiration, interviews with other illustrators, and just released book titles and reviews. In addition, they share photographs of their studios, open up their portfolios, and share some of the illustrations they are creating and the different tools they are using such as Adobe Illustrator. Each blog post is brief and to the point. Each Friday is illustration Friday where one completed picture is revealed and explained. In one post, Alicia Padron discussed two new releases—Teatime Baby and Bathtime Baby—and what she learned as she was working on the illustrations.

~Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

A Year of Reading

by Mary Lee Hahn and Franki Sibberson

http://readingyear.blogspot.com

These two teachers review children’s books, share stories from their teaching, and review professional books. Every Friday they participate in Poetry Friday and share a poem. One recent story by Franki titled “Teachers as readers (and runners)” compares learning to read to learning to run. She emphasizes that she had many friends who were cheerleaders, encouraging her to keep running, yet hiring a coach, a teacher, was critical. She reminds us that children deserve a teacher who is a reader just like she needed a coach who was a runner. She noted that many friends gave her tips on running. This is the same with children who learn so much from other readers about reading. Ultimately students need teachers who they can trust to teach them about reading because they are readers. 

~ Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

BLOGS FOR K-8

Blue Rose Girls; Children’s Book Professionals Talk about Books (and Other Things)

by Anna Alter, Libby Koponen, Grace Lin, Alvina Ling, Elaine Magliaro, Meghan McCarthy, and Linda S. Wingerter

http://bluerosegirls.blogspot.com

One of the unique elements of this children’s literature blog is the fact that it is written by several individuals. The blog describes the contributors as authors, illustrators, an editor, and a former librarian. A photograph at the top of the blog shows the writers, and the blog itself is enhanced because it derives from so many different perspectives which give it richness. The blogs written by these women typically have little to do with previous blog entries, but instead represent the writers’ ruminations about children’s books or whatever crosses their minds. Thus, for instance, Anna may share sketches for a new book on which she is working, Elaine may share original poems, Libby may ponder the promises and perils of writers’ conferences, Alvina may describe some of her book-related travels, and Grace may describe some of her school visits. As might be expected, the writing is lively and conversational, and readers of the blog often come away feeling as though they’ve eavesdropped on an interesting private conversation. There are always interesting clips to view or pictures from school visits to view. The blog was established in 2006 with 208 entries, 289 in 2011, and 75 so far this year. Information about the Red Rose Girls, three groundbreaking women’s illustrators whose paths inspired the bloggers and gave rise to the blog’s name, is provided on the blog. 

~ Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

educating alice

by Monica Edinger

http://medinger.wordpress.com

Since September 2006, Dalton School teacher Monica Edinger has maintained a lively blog whose name was inspired by the fourth grade teacher’s love for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. In her blog, she includes YouTube clips, interviews with authors and illustrators, children’s and young adult book reviews, ideas for incorporating children’s literature in the classroom, information on award-winning children’s books, and ruminations on happenings in the New York City scene. Her blog is easy to read with snappy language and a distinct voice. For teachers looking for books to share with their students but especially ways to use those books in creative ways, this is a great blog to read. 

~ Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

100 Scope Notes: Children’s Literature News and Reviews

by Travis Jonker

http://100scopenotes.com

As the title indicates, this blog by Michigan elementary school librarian Travis Jonker, includes reviews as well as up to date information in the field of children’s literature. Divided into Best New Books; Articles; Covers; News; and Reviews, this blog covers a great deal of information. A favorite spot is the Poem Spine Gallery of photographs of book spines that build to create a poem. Author interviews, videos, news articles, cover talk and of course, new book reviews are available on this informational blog. 

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (nick-named 7-Imp)

by Julie “Jules” Danielson

http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings

Founded in 2006, one of the early blogs on the scene, blogger Julie “Jules” Danielson of Smyrna, Tennesee, first wrote about children’s books of all sorts with her friend Eisha. Now blogging solo, her emphasis has shifted somewhat to focus on illustration including picture books and illustrated novels. Julie is a sign language interpreter, a children’s librarian, a columnist for Kirkus Reviews, and a mom. The title of the blog comes from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Julie especially likes to do author and illustrator interviews and this is strength of this blog. Archived blogs are easily accessed back to August 2006. Lists of other good blogs and children’s book websites are included in sidebars.

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

BLOGS FOR YOUNG ADULT (YA) EDUCATION

Cynsations; a source for conversations, publishing information, writer resources & inspiration, bookseller-librarian-teacher appreciation, children’s-YA book news & author outreach

by Cynthia Leitech Smith

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com

The subtitle of this blog says it all! Cynthia Leitech Smith of Austin, Texas, created this blog in 2004 and it has become one of the most visited blogs on the internet for children’s and YA literature. Cynthia, an author in her own right, offers a wide variety of information including book giveaways, articles, quick tidbits and “shorts,” book trailers, new releases, reviews, publishing industry news, conference announcements and notes, author events and up-to-the minute book happenings across the country. Cynthia says of Cynsations: “The blog has on ongoing commitment to new voices, books/creators from underrepresented cultures, creative risk takes, quality mid-listers, rising and well-established stars.” Viewers are invited to comment about posts.

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

The Goddess of YA Literature: Pearls from the Goddess

by Teri Lesesne

http://professornana.livejournal.com

One blog that I never miss reading is this one by bibliophile Teri Lesesne who is a professor of children’s and young adult literature at Sam Houston State University. In addition to book covers accompanying brief reviews of current children’s literature, including picture books, and YA titles, Teri comments on controversial issues such as censorship, testing, and the common core standards. She often shares pictures of her cat, Scout, and ruminations on whatever strikes her fancy, provided that it relates to books in some way. She also posts hilarious YouTube clips that express the love of reading while generously sharing her presentations—the complete book lists and the entire presentations—with blog readers. Anyone who plans to teach reading in elementary, middle, or high school needs to check out her blog as a starting place for making a list of essential books to read. The blog itself is well organized with alphabetical tags along the right hand side of the page that allow readers to click on a tag or topic and identify all the books Lesesne has read that fit the topic. Including the tags below a handy calendar makes navigating this blog quite smooth. Lesesne was one of the early bloggers, beginning this one in October 2004 with six entries for that month. Over the next few years, she has blogged just about every day, an impressive feat given the number of conferences she attends, presentations she makes, and books she reads. This one is not to be missed.

~ Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

MULTICULTURAL BLOGS

American Indians in Children’s Literature

by Debbie Reese

http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

Teachers and critical readers of literature for children and teens have come to rely on this blog written by Debbie Reese, a Nambe Pueblo Indian woman, since 2006. The blog’s purpose is to provide a place where children’s and young adult literature featuring indigenous peoples may be examined critically. The blog also explores issues concerning school curriculum, popular culture, and society. Thus, Reese and the contributors to her blog have taken careful looks at many books often used in today’s classrooms, such as Arrow to the Sun, the Little House on the Prairie series, Touching Spirit Bear, and the Twilight saga, among others. By examining these materials through indigenous eyes, readers often come to regard them differently or at least have their own perspectives on the books expanded. In addition, the blog explores relevant issues such as the removal of Mexican-American Studies classes in the Tucson Unified School District in Arizona or the inclusion of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods as an exemplary read aloud according to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. The blog site is easy to navigate and even includes links to relevant full text articles as well as archived discussions. Reese posts frequently, writing 111 entries during the blog’s first year in 2006, and posting 77 times so far this year. Although Reese does not pretend to be the voice for all First Nation peoples, this is clearly the go-to blog for anyone interested in starting to explore literature that depicts indigenous peoples. The writing is thoughtful and engaging and always adds to my own knowledge of literature. 

~ Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Book Dragon; Produced by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program

by Terry Hong

http://bookdragon.si.edu

The blogger is Terry Hong, the former Media Arts Consultant for the APAP and project director for the Smithsonian Korean American Centennial Commemoration. Though the emphasis is on books by and about Asian and Asian Pacific Americans, books from every ethnicity and culture are included. The blog started in 2009, but many posts were loaded from previous articles. An extensive list of categories is found on the right sidebar to search and explore this blog. Links to international and multicultural activities and organizations are also found in sidebar information. Reviews give a well developed sense of the book and offer links to authors and other topics.

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Children Kissed by the Sun; a blog dedicated to African American Children’s Literature

by Candid Taylor-Brandon

www.childrenkissedbythesun.blogspot.com

This is a relatively new blog on the scene begun in 2011 by Candid Taylor-Brandon from Flint, Michigan. With a deep interest in her own African American culture she has brought author interviews, book reviews and multicultural articles to readers. Blog archive information is found at the bottom of each blog page rather than in sidebars on the right. Lengthy booklists and suggestions for companion books are given with each new book reviewed.

-  Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Mitali’s Fire Escape; a safe place between cultures to chat about books

by Mitali Perkins

www.mitaliblog.com

Author Mitali Perkins has created a multicultural blog to have a place where teachers, parents and young readers can find new books especially as they pertain to intercultural understanding. Mitali offers a writing contest each year that she sponsors personally. Tips for writing, numerous book award announcements, links to other blogs and bloggers, and an easily searched archive are part of Mitali’s Fire Escape. 

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Paper Tigers: Speaking of multicultural books for young readers, world literacy, and more...

www.papertigers.org/wordpress

The Paper Tigers blog is the companion to the Paper Tigers website. The blog features “news and views about multicultural children’s and YA books, and literacy issues from around the world. Regular features include book reviews, including Books at Bedtime, participation in the Kidlitosphere’s Poetry Friday, and our monthly Eventful World calendar of children’s literature events around the world.” Archives date back to May of 2007. Nine eclectic international women are the bloggers responsible for this blog. For another multicultural blog and companion website, check out WOW and WOW Currents at http://wowlit.org/blog. 

~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

POETRY BLOG

Poetry for Children

by Sylvia Vardell

http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com

Sylvia Vardell, a professor at Texas Woman’s College and former chair of the NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award Committee, maintains a blog that is sure to dispel many of the fears beginning teachers have about using poetry in the classroom. Vardell, who has written this blog since 2006 when she posted 42 entries, includes coming attractions in children’s poetry and lists of recently published poetry books as well as short videos of the poets reading their own poetry at various conferences. She also includes snippets from her travels to international conferences, interviews with poets, and book trailers created by her students. In addition to archives of previous blog entries, readers will be able to click on her list of poet links, ranging from Arnold Adoff to Tracie Vaughn Zimmer (91 in total), given them even more poetic resources by allowing them to follow the link to each poet’s website. Her passion for poetry knows no bounds, and is clear to anyone who spends more than five minutes on this blog that this woman eats, drinks, and sleeps poetry. So far in 2012 she’s blogged 50 different times.

~ Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

NONFICTION BLOGS

I.N.K.; Interesting nonfiction for kids

http://inkrethink.blogspot.com

This nonfiction group blog is a little different. The blogger group represents a host of nonfiction authors for children. The companion website is Ink Think Tank (http://www.inkthinktank.com). With the emphasis on nonfiction in the Common Core State Standards we wanted to conclude with information to access current nonfiction. The archives go back to the first blog post of January 2008 and literally hundreds of pages and posts bring this blog through to today. An extensive index of topics can be found on the right sidebar in addition to numerous monthly articles where the authors talk about their writing craft, storytelling and narrative, research techniques, finding ideas and some unusual “tidbits” that the authors share. They also discuss how illustrations are part of the “artist’s vision of the world” and how these pictures integrate into the text. RSS feeds are available as well as daily email posts sent directly to viewers. 

Other nonfiction blogs readers will find interesting: 

• Nonfiction Matters (http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/nonfictionmatters) by Marc Aronson
• Kidlitosphere Central blog features “Nonfiction Monday Round-Ups” (www.kidlitosphere.org/nonfiction-monday)
• The Nonfiction Detectives (www.nonfictiondetectives.com)

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi has been credited with reminding us that “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and there are those who might argue that part of the purpose of education is helping to change the world into a better, fairer place. Even earlier than the nonviolent civil disobedience espoused by Gandhi, Irish philosopher Edmund Burke’s sentiments about the need for fairness and social justice can be summed up in this way: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Members of the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group explore recent publications that explore the nature of civil rights and social justice in different ways. 

GRADES K-3

Crowe, Chris. (2012). Just as good: How Larry Doby changed America’s game. Illus. by Mike Benny. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. 

This picture book adds another chapter to the complexity of this nation’s civil rights story by focusing on the importance of Larry Doby’s role in breaking baseball’s color barrier. Homer and his father are delighted when a black man joins the Cleveland Indians, and when Doby’s team makes it to the 1948 World Series, they are unable to tear themselves from the radio as they listen to game four. When Doby eventually hits a home run that allows the Indians to triumph over the Boston Red Sox, Homer’s family celebrates the change that is on its way. Newspaper coverage the next day features pitcher Steve Gromek and Doby, "a white face next to a black one" (unpaginated), and it's clear that change has already come. No longer will Homer be prohibited from Little League baseball because of his skin color. Back matter includes a bibliography and quotes from Doby and the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers about baseball’s role in integration. The acrylic illustrations allow the emotions to play across the characters' faces, whether those characters are actual players on the field or fans listening to the game at home. For the United States during that time, baseball became so much more than a game. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Evans, Shane E. (2012). We march. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

We March follows the release of Evan’s 2011 companion publication Underground. The setting is now August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. at the National Mall where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is speaking. A young family has risen at dawn to travel by bus and join the march for freedom and racial equality that ends with Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. Using spare text with just one line per page and bold illustrations that include people from all races, religions and walks of life, Evans provides young readers a glimpse of this day in history that ends with MLK’s famous quote, “Free at last!” 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Michelson, Richard. (2012). Twice as good. Illus. by Eric Velasquez. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. 

This powerful biography is about William Powell who wanted to learn how to play golf but was told that he was not welcome at golf courses. This didn’t stop Willie. He returned and learned how to be a caddy. His school principal told him that if he was going to get ahead in this world he needed to be twice as good as the white children. Willie took this advice and caddied during the summer and studied how the best players hit the ball. Willie practiced every chance he got and dreamed of becoming a professional golfer. After serving overseas Willie returned home and was told that he wasn’t allowed to play because he wasn’t a member. This didn’t stop Willie. He built his own golf course and welcomed people of all color to play golf. Finally, in 1998 he was awarded a retroactive lifetime PGA membership. For more information about William Powell and the golf course he designed, built and operated—Clearview Golf Club—visit www.clearview-gc.com.

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Mitchell, Margaree. (2012). When Grandmama Sings. Illus. by James E. Ransome. New York: Amistad.

This Coretta Scott King Honor award winning team of Mitchell and Ransome have returned with another look at the Jim Crow South of the early 1900’s. Grandmama is known all round the countryside in Pecan Flats, Miss., for her beautiful singing voice. When a music promoter approaches her to join a jazz band and go on the road with their music, Grandmama’s young granddaughter, Belle, wants to accompany her. Though her parents are reluctant, Grandmama thinks it would be an experience to be remembered and so, Belle is allowed to go. As the band journeys from town to town Belle gets a real feel for the “whites only” world the band must contend with; from hotels and restaurants that won’t serve them, to a club owner who refuses to pay them, to sitting in the upper balcony while white people enjoy prime seats below. Ransome’s beautiful watercolor paintings bring out the emotional level of this book as facial expressions reveal anger, joy, frustration, despair and in one heartfelt portrait of Grandmama singing her heart out, true passion. Readers can get a feel for these pictures at the illustrator’s website book trailer at www.jamesransome.com/new.html. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 3-5

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. (2012). Words set me free: The story of young Frederick Douglass. Illus. by James E. Ransome. New York: Simon and Schuster.

From husband and wife illustrator/author team comes this beautiful  autobiographically based book on the life of Frederick Douglass and its critically important emphasis on literacy. Told in first person, Douglass’ life unfolds from his early years as a slave when he is sold away from his mother and sent to Baltimore. His new master’s wife taught him to read from the Bible until the plantation owner discovered this and forbade the reading lessons to continue. Years later, Douglass used his knowledge of reading and writing to forge a document freeing him from his bondage. Though his first attempt at escaping to find freedom ends in failure, in 1838 he successfully escapes to New York and begins his life as a spokesperson for freedom and the abolition movement. The bold oils and acrylics of James Ransome provide the background for this heroic story. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Curtis, Christopher. (2010). The Mighty Miss Malone. New York: Random House/Wendy Lamb Books. 

Responding to readers’ pleas for a book about a girl, author Christopher Paul Curtis brings back the character of Deza Malone from 1930’s setting, Bud Not Buddy. Twelve-year-old Deza Malone and her family live in Gary, Indiana, and when the Great Depression strikes deep and her father loses his job, he makes the decision to go back to his home town of Flint, Michigan, and look for work. When Deza’s mother loses her job as a domestic worker and they are put out on the streets, they decide to journey to Flint in search of their father. In addition to their economic woes, Deza’s teeth are rotting and are painful as well as terribly smelly. Her older brother, Jimmie, though extremely musically talented has not grown in three years. When they arrive in Flint, the ramshackle Hooverville appears to be the only place they can find to live. Jimmie takes advantage of an offer to sing and leaves the little family to pursue a possible career in Detroit and the music world. As is typical of Curtis’s other characters, Deza is a strong and hopeful young girl with determination and optimism, though is so hurt when her beloved father comments that he can hardly stand to be around Deza because of the stench of her breath and teeth. In spite of the economic Depression ever present, Deza and her family survive. Listen to author Christopher Paul Curtis talk about his career and this new book, The Mighty Miss Malone at http://www.newslook.com/videos/396394-steve-bertrand-on-books-christopher-paul-curtis?autoplay=true. There is an educator guide at http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/teachers_guides/9780385734912.pdf.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Hunter-Gault, Charlayne. (2012). To the mountaintop: My journey through the civil rights movement. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Journalist, NPR foreign correspondent, Emmy and Peabody award winner, and author Charlayne Hunter-Gault writes about her life and journey within the civil rights movement. In 1961, Hunter-Gault was one of two students to forcefully integrate the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The book opens with the inauguration of President Barack Obama and then begins the chronicle of Hunter-Gault’s life and experiences beginning with her 1959 senior year in high school. Published in association with The New York Times, each chapter opens with headlines from The Times representing the political atmosphere at the time starting with the 1954 “separate but equal” response to overturning Brown vs. Board of Education. Freedom riders, lunch counters, sit-ins, violence, peaceful resistance, the author has chronologically placed herself along the path to freedom and her part in the movement. Timelines, photographs, and extensive bibliographic references are found at the end. For further background information, watch the Vimeo video conversation that has extensive back matter with Charlayne Hunter-Gault at http://vimeo.com/40110841. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 6-8

Bausum, Ann. (2012). Marching to the mountaintop: How poverty, labor rights, and civil rights set the stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s final hours. Washington: National Geographic

In the late 1960’s, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader in the civil rights movement championing nonviolent resistance as a means of protest. He was in the midst of organizing the Poor People’s Campaign when he was called to Memphis, Tennessee, because two sanitation workers had been killed, crushed to death by a garbage truck that was not working properly. As a result, African American workers went on strike for improved safety practices in addition to fair pay and opportunities for advancement. Picket lines sprouted, silent protests were formed and the garbage in Memphis started to pile high as the strike continued. City government would not budge to work with the strikers and an impasse prevailed as the garbage continued to pile higher. Over 70 archival photographs illustrate this book along with Bausum’s exhaustive research of the period that includes letters, pamphlets, newspapers and actual first person accounts through oral histories. The book design itself is bold with orange, blue and green tints to photographs and quotes and epigrams throughout. Sadly, on April 4, 1968, King is assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. Extensive bibliographic materials lists are included at the end of the book. Watch actual footage of the civil rights movement that concludes with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFKx6HJLC7U. The author website is www.annbausum.com/mountaintop.html. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Fitzmaurice, Kathryn. (2012). A diamond in the desert. New York: Viking. 

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, thirteen-year-old Californian Tetsu Kishi and his family are forced to leave behind almost all their possessions, including their dog Lefty, and move to the harsh Gila River Relocation Center in the scorching Arizona desert. Despite the dust devils, fierce heat and lack of privacy, they manage to endure the captivity. An avid baseball player, Tetsu is at first delighted when Coach Tanaka fashions a baseball field at the camp. But he refuses to play when his preoccupation with the game causes him to lose patience with his younger sister, and she wanders away from camp. Only his father's reassurance upon his return from being grilled by the FBI as a possible Japanese spy frees Tetsu from his guilt and allows him to play baseball again. Tetsu's quiet anger and resiliency fill the book’s pages, showing that Tetsu, while imperfect, clearly is a survivor. Baseball fans will relish the passages in which the Gila River team goes up against other baseball teams while canine lovers will be touched by the passages concerning Lefty which offer hope for the future. The author’s use of short chapters and passages is particularly effective in describing this important period in American history quietly, effectively, and inexorably. Sympathetic readers who want to learn more may want to visit the Japanese American Baseball History Project Website at www.nikkeiheritage.org/research/bbhist.html. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Freedman, Russell. (2012). Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The story behind an American friendship. Boston: Clarion Books.

This biography profiles two fascinating men who lived more than 150 years ago and whose lives intersected briefly but at significant turning points in the nation’s history. Although they met only three times, abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and president during the Civil War, bonded over shared interests and concerns. Prior to their initial meeting, Douglass had been sharply critical of the president for not eradicating slavery. Lincoln, on the other hand, seemed primarily concerned with preserving the union. After their first meeting, they gain respect for one another and the other’s perspective. Freedman acknowledges these philosophical differences between the two men, but does so in a respectful, thoughtful way. This biography’s chief appeal lies in how the author teases out the similarities of the two men, both of whom read some of the same books during their formative years. One of those titles, The Columbian Orator, helped both men polish their speaking and debating skills. As is always the case with works by Freedman, the book has been thoroughly researched, is filled with period photographs, and is likely to captivate young readers as well as their parents and teachers. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Levine, Kristin. (2012). The lions of Little Rock. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. 

Integration of the public schools of Little Rock, Arkansas was a laborious process. Set during 1958 and 1959, the school year after the Little Rock Nine integrated the schools, this book covers the period during which the city’s school board chose to close its high schools rather than conform to policies set forth by Brown v. Board of Education. The community was deeply divided on the issue as evidences by the formation (by women) of organizations such as Stop This Outrageous Purge (STOP) and the Committee to Retain Our Segregated Schools (CROSS). Set against this historical backdrop, this story focuses on Marlee, a twelve-year-old who rarely uses her voice in public. Her reluctance to speak symbolizes the inability of many of the city’s citizens to express their own feelings about their leaders’ actions and their desire for the schools to reopen so their children wouldn’t lose a year of education or have to move to other schools in other places. A math whiz, Marlee ends up doing his homework for JT Dalton whose thuggish brother hates blacks, while being drawn to Liz, an outspoken new girl who leaves school unexpectedly once her racial identity is revealed. The book explores a little-explored period when standing up for what was right could be more costly than remaining silent. City officials even tried to fire teachers who were suspected to have integrationist sympathies, and Marlee’s mother must find her own courage to do the right thing. The way Marlee regards people as being “like things you drink” (p. 5) is especially poignant as is the bond she and Liz form despite the danger their friendship causes to themselves and those around them. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Levinson, Cynthia. (2012). We’ve got a job: The 1963 Birmingham children’s march. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. 

Without the bravery of Birmingham youngsters in 1963, the civil rights movement might have ended with a whimper. When adults were reluctant to be arrested, the city’s children and teens were brave enough to volunteer to march through Birmingham’s streets and face arrest. Through the voices of four young protesters, ranging in age from 9 to 16, the author describes the events that led to the children taking to the streets as part of the 1963 protest. As an almost endless supply of young protesters filled the city's jails during the Children’s March, the city's law enforcement officials were unable to handle the masses of young people who kept marching through the street. Almost fifty years later, the voices of the participants are filled with hope and determination, a vivid reminder of the difference each of us may make in our world. The author conducted extensive research and interviewed many of the participants for her inspiring story. Readers will marvel at the large photographs and informative sidebars that fill this book's pages. Teachers may request a free copy of a related film and teaching kit Mighty Times: The Children’s March from Teaching Tolerance at www.tolerance.org/teaching-kits. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Scattergood, Augusta. (2012). Glory be. New York: Scholastic. 

Summers in Hanging Moss, Mississippi, are hot, and the summer of 1964 is no exception. Like most youngsters, Glory Hemphill plans to have her twelfth birthday party at the pool. Once it’s closed, Glory is determined to get it opened again. When she realizes that the closure is an attempt to keep the pool from being integrated, she fires off a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, becoming embroiled in the civil rights movement without really understanding the consequences of her actions. Although her instincts are right, they are motivated by her own wish for a place to escape the summer heat and humidity of Mississippi as well as a place for her party. There are other concerns in Glory’s life: the growing distance between Glory and her older sister, Jesslyn, who takes risks with a newcomer with a secret past; her disappointment in her best friend Frankie who seems unable to stand up to his father and older brother, both bullies and racists; and her budding friendship with the daughter of one of the Northern outsiders in town for the summer. The family maid, Emma, provides stability for Glory and her sister while their minister father goes about his own work. While the ease with which Glory and her librarian friend, Miss Bloom, challenge the status quo is somewhat unbelievable, given the narrow-mindedness of those times, the author deserves kudos for providing a narrative that reminds readers the damaging effects of prejudice and how far-reaching even the smallest actions can be. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Wright, Barbara. (2012). Crow. New York: Random House.

Based on the actual events of the 1898 Wilmington, NC, race riots, author Barbara Wright makes her debut into the children’s book arena. Eleven-year-old Moses Thomas is the grandson of a former slave, his Boo Nanny. His mother works for a rich white family but his Howard University-educated father is an alderman and also a reporter and business manager for The Daily Record, “the only Negro daily newspaper in the South.” Boo Nanny feels Moses needs to learn about life by living it while his father is arguing that education is the way to succeed in life. After a racially charged incident in town, Moses’ father responds and reacts through his journalism, while white supremacists are spurred into action that results in burning the newspaper office. The historical details provide the background for this story but the emotional and moral reactions to the events are what make this an unforgettable story. Teachers can use these historical photographs as slides with classes to show what the actual race riots looked like www.barbarawrightbooks.com/BW_Books/Crow_Photos.html. Extensive resources and lesson plan ideas are available on the author’s website at www.barbarawrightbooks.com/BW_Books/Crow_Teachers.html. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 9-12

Purcell, Kim. (2012). Trafficked. New York: Viking. 

After the violent death of her parents in Moldova, seventeen-year-old Hannah and her grandmother can barely make ends meet. When she unexpectedly receives an offer to work as a nanny in Los Angeles, she leaps at the chance to leave the country, planning to go to school and send back money to her grandmother. Before she knows it, she is trapped without proper papers, no money, and with limited skills or language. None of the promises that were made to her are coming true, and she is kept locked in the garage when she isn’t working. The only bright spot in her bleak existence comes when she catches a glimpse of the family next door as she takes out the trash late at night. The book reveals exactly how vulnerable individuals such as Hannah are, lured by false promises, and how easily their rights can be taken by those who bring them into the country illegally. Imprisoned by words and fear, they often have nowhere to turn and no way to escape what becomes slavery. Hannah’s story is told with empathy as her situation worsens with every page. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

This week we are celebrating families, especially the relationships children have with their moms and dads. In each of these titles the influence of mothers and fathers is shown differently. These books reviewed by the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) could be read aloud, book talked or displayed in our classrooms.

GRADES K-3

Allen, Kathryn Madeline. (2102). A kiss means I love you. Photos by Eric Futran. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.

In appealing and colorful photographs a son kisses his mother and a daughter tugs her mother’s arm. The simple rhyming text says, “A kiss means I love you, a wave means hello, a smile means I’m happy, a tug means let’s go!” Other photographs depict emotions or actions such as: laughing, crying, pouting, shivering, clapping and hugging. Each action is accompanied with what they mean, sharing more feelings. During a read aloud teachers could pause and let students infer or predict what a kiss means or what a wave means to them. Students could also dramatize each action or emotion. Children could be invited to write and create their own I love you books discussing how they love their parents.

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Buzzeo, Toni. (2012). One cool friend. Illus. by David Small. New York: Dial. 

While visiting the aquarium with his father, the very proper Elliot falls in love with the elegant penguins, reveling in their antics and their physical appearance. In some ways they remind him of himself. When he politely asks his National Geographic-reading father if he can have a penguin, his father assumes that he wants a stuffed one, and provides the cash for it. Once Elliot and the kidnapped penguin he names Magellan have arrived home, Elliot does his best to make things comfortable for his new friend. Claiming that he has a social studies project on Magellan the explorer, he even heads to the library to find out more about penguins. This delightful title is reminiscent of the 1938 title, Mr. Popper's Penguins, but its slyness provides its own appeal. Created with pen and ink, ink wash, watercolor, and colored pencil, the illustrations are every bit as enjoyable as the story itself. The staring stand-off between Magellan the penguin and Ms. Stanbridge, a librarian who has likely seen sights much stranger than a penguin in her library, is priceless. There are misunderstandings aplenty in this appealing title.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Kittinger, Jo. S. (2012). The house on Dirty-Third Street. Illus. by Thomas Gonzalez. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

Because it’s all they can afford, a mother and daughter prepare to move into a run-down house in a neighborhood that has seen better days. Although both are disappointed by its appearance and how much work it will take to renovate their new place, they see its possibilities and dream of how it might look once it has been cleaned up. New friends from church and the neighborhood pitch in to refurbish the house, and the dirty place becomes a home. As the two reach out to others for help, and their neighbors respond with the assistance they need, their dreams begin to come true. The pastel, colored pencil, and airbrush illustrations capture perfectly the anticipation, hope and discouragement on the face of the mother as well as her joy in finally achieving her dreams--with a lot of help from kind neighbors. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Lyons, Kelly Starling. (2012). Ellen’s broom. Illus. by Daniel Minter. New York: Putnam. 

Ellen is fully aware of the importance of the broom that hangs on her family's wall since it signifies her parents' marriage. Prior to Reconstruction, slaves were not allowed to marry, and jumping the broom was how they honored their commitment to each other. Now that the laws have changed, her mother and father want to legalize their union. Ellen brings the broom on the family’s trip to the courthouse, and decorates it with flowers. Clearly, the family honors their past as well as looking toward a hopeful future for Ellen and the other children.  An author's note provides additional information about jumping the broom and the 1866 Cohabitation List of Henry County, Virginia, which inspired the story. The family’s love for one another is evident in the illustrations which consist of richly-hued linoleum block prints that were hand printed and painted. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Patterson, Rebecca. (2012). My no, no, no day! New York: Viking. 

Today is not a very good day for Bella. It starts off with her being awakened by her little brother licking her jewelry and goes downhill from there. Breakfast is not to her taste, and her shoes annoy her. In fact, everything seems slightly off somehow, and Bella adds to the unpleasantness by misbehaving and saying no to everything. Still, her harried but ever-patient mother ends the day with a bedtime story and the promise her that tomorrow will be much better. And it is! Bella’s most unpleasant day may remind readers of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in Judith Viorst’s children's classic since most of us can relate to having a day during which very little goes according to plan. Through facial expressions and even the characters’ hair, the soft-colored illustrations show the inconvenience of a day that doesn't measure up to Bella’s expectations. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman  

Reichert, Amy. (2012). Take your mama to work today. Illus. by Alexandra Boiger. New York: Atheneum Books.

Violet is off to work with her mother. Sometimes it is a snow day or the baby-sitter is sick day but it also happens on Take Your Child to Work Day, and Violet is an office manager to contend with! Answering the phone, shredding paper that makes confetti, and helping the boss with his presentation that she comments is like show and tell, Violet enthusiastically offers her assistance to the entire office staff. Even her mother’s umbrella comes in handy to spear the doughnuts or shield her from the confetti fallout she made from the paper shredder. Boiger’s playful watercolor illustrations add to the childlike atmosphere that Violet creates during her day at the office with her mother. The illustrations reveal that the other office workers might be glad the day when the day is over and Violet can go back to school. This will be a great read aloud for those days when parents come to school.  

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant 

Saudo, Coralie. (2012). My dad is big and strong, but…: A bedtime story. Illus. by Kris Di Giacomo. New York: Enchanted Lion Books. 

Originally published in France, this picture book will captivate young children because father and son have switched roles. On the first page a big strong dad says, “I don’t want to go to bed!” The son tries reasoning with his father, explaining that it is late and he needs to be in good shape for tomorrow. The father springs to a handstand and yells, “No, no, no, I won’t go to sleep!” On the next page the father is hanging from a chandelier and the exasperated son offers to read a story. Children will chuckle when they notice the father sitting on top of the teeny tiny son as he reads aloud. Next, dad begs, “One more story pleeease, just one more!” The son has had enough and exclaims it is time for bed. Once dad is beneath the covers he requests that the lights stay on. Dad may be big and strong but he is afraid of the dark. Children will request multiple readings of this hilarious book and giggle with glee as dad tries to stall bedtime. 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Ward, Lindsay. (2012). When blue met egg. New York: Dial. 

A snowball that lands in her nest brings out the maternal side of Blue who is surprised but also somewhat delighted at the early arrival of an egg. As she tries to find Egg’s mother, she takes readers up and down on a wonderful visual tour of New York City. Over the next months, Blue becomes increasingly attached to Egg as they play in the park and visit art museums and the opera. But April’s warmer weather spells death for snow, and despite Blue’s tender care, Egg shrinks and eventually disappears. In her place, though, is a beautiful flower, reminding readers that something beautiful can arise from almost nothing with enough tender loving care.  Readers will be touched by the affection that Blue lavishes on a handful of snow. The illustrations in the book show her affection for Egg as well as the author/illustrator's fondness for the city where Blue and Egg live. Memorable in its quirkiness, this picture book is likely to appeal to adults just as much as to children.  

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

GRADES 3-6

Smith, Anne Warren. (2012). Bittersweet summer. New York: Albert Whitman.

As readers head into summer, Bittersweet Summer will appear on many summer recommended lists. Nine-year old Katie ad her five-year old brother Tyler begin their summer in Oregon with their single dad announcing they may have to move. Katie’s mother has put career before family and left to pursue her country music singing stage dreams. With her best friend gone for the summer, Katie is left with the scheming next-door neighbor Claire, whose idea is to get their former fourth grade teacher to marry her widowed father, but Katie had hopes that Ms. Morgan might be interested in her own father and they would not have to move away. With a gentle touch, a bit of humor and a lot of reality, the author has dealt with the scenario of today’s divided families in a way that many children will relate to but can also find hope for new family relationships. Teachers’ guides are available for these books at the publisher’s website.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant 

GRADES 6-8

Geithner, Carole. (2012). If only. New York: Scholastic. 

With the death of her mother from cancer before the start of her eighth grade year, everything in her life changes for thirteen-year-old Corinna Burdette. Even her best friend seems uncomfortable around her, and she finds commonalities with a classmate whose father died earlier. As her father tries to cope with tasks once handled by her mother such as grocery and clothes shopping, Corinna deals with school bullies and her fear that something bad will happen to her father as well. As her classmates grouse about their own mothers, Corinna simply wishes that she and her mother had had more time together. For solace, she even leaves voice messages on her mother's cell phone until her father cancels the phone. The book is filled with Corinna's raw emotions vacillating from anger, depression, and confusion to uncertainty and pleasure in remembering the good times the family shared. Amid the pain and loss, she somehow finds room in her heart for a crush on a classmate and reaches out to others in a school support group. Once Corinna asserts her own needs and even defends another classmate who is being called "Shamu" because of her size, she is on the right track. Although her mother is no longer with her, Corinna knows that a part of her is still around.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Gennari, Jennifer. (2012). My mixed-up, berry blue summer. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books.

Twelve-year-old June and her mother have lived happily on Lake Champlain in Vermont all of their lives. But now that her mother and her significant other, Eva, plan to wed, everything seems to change. As the women's relationship becomes more open, many of the area citizens turn on them, and they find themselves at the center of an anti-gay firestorm with signs extolling Vermonters to "Take Back Vermont" and others advocating that citizens support the rights of gay couples to marry with signs saying to "Keep It Civil." Torn between loving her mother and resenting her relationship with Eva, June is wonderfully imperfect and real. When she behaves hatefully toward Eva, she sounds exactly the way many girls in her situation might sound. As June prepares to enter a pie baking contest at the fair and ponders the possibility of love blossoming between her and best friend Luke, the author describes an idyllic setting beset by division over same-sex marriage while also including mouth-watering descriptions of fruit pie ingredients that make readers' mouths water. The thoughtful juxtaposition of sweet and sour in the book’s pages leave much upon which to ruminate.

Stone, Phoebe. (2012). The boy on cinnamon street. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. 

Seventh grader Louise Terrace gives up just about everything that matters after her mother’s suicide. In fact, she has buried so deeply all memories of the event and her mother that she barely remembers them. With little to hold onto, she succumbs to the efforts of some of her gymnastics teammates to isolate her and to make her quit the team. But when her best friend Reni convinces her that she has a secret admirer, her heart begins to warm again. The only problem is that the secret admirer is not the boy she thought it was. During her efforts to pursue her crush—she convinces herself that the crush is actually mutual—she relies on the support of her best friends, Reni and Henderson. One of the best parts of this novel is how the author clearly shows how hard it is to recover from the loss of a loved one. Sometimes, as in the case of Louise, the death of a parent makes a child lose her way for awhile. The romance itself is sweet and likely to appeal to many middle grade readers who will be gently reminded to love their mothers despite their flaws while keeping their hearts open to life’s possibilities. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 9-12

Resau, Laura. (2012). The jade notebook. New York: Delacorte Press.

Zeeta and her globe-wandering mother, Layla, have settled in Mazunte, a small but beautiful town in coastal Mexico, where her mother has started a new job managing cabanas. Though Zeeta is hoping for a quiet new life that will satisfy her mother as well as herself, several mysteries come into play. She has come to this town in hopes of learning more about her father and his background. Zeeta’s boyfriend, Wendell, works as an intern at the local Turtle Center photographing rare sea turtles. As in the previous novels, Zeeta records observations of life around her and the reader begins to meet secondary characters that add to the suspense of the mysteries surrounding her father as well as the ecomystery in this seeming tropical paradise.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

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