As teachers we want our students to use writing to get to know themselves and our world and to discover why we write. By sharing children’s and young adult literature in different genres from fiction to memoir to poetry, our students will be able to think about how texts can help their own writing. Through literature our students can find topics, genres, styles, forms and craft techniques. Books can be shared in their entirety or teachers may choose to share one passage or poem to spark writing or show a writer’s techniques. In this column from the Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association (CL/R SIG), we discuss recent picture books and novels that can be used as writing mentors for K-12 classrooms. 

Grades K-3

Neftali, the curious boy who would grow up to become the Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, loved the natural world that surrounded him in his Chilean home. He also fell in love with words, in part through the influence of a teacher. This picture book biography traces the early influences on the poet and then follows his growth as a writer, drawing inspiration from everything around him, but also using his words to call for justice and to bring attention to unsafe working conditions. The author creates particularly effective phrases to describe Neruda’s writing topics; for instance, the poet “wrote about stones tumbling down the mountaintops and stones in the hands of the stonecutters” (unpaginaged) and “dolphins playing in the surf and rusty anchors washed ashore" (unpaginated). This is a wonderful writing mentor text because of the savory word choice employed to trace Neruda’s journey as a writer but also because of his keen observational skills, discovering treasures in the forest as well as along the bustling streets of Santiago. The colorful illustrations are filled with soft greens, blues, and bits of reds, swirling Spanish and English words all around the page.  Through illustrations and text, readers are reminded of the influence of words and ideas on the budding poet, and his own use of words to change the world.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

This picture book begins with, “All is peaceful on the banks of the river. Everyone is relaxing in the morning sun, until…” (unpaginated). The illustration portrays a smiling crocodile hiding in swamp water. On the next page the crocodile is walking through grass and the text says, “Uh-oh, here comes trouble!” (unpaginated). The crocodile makes the frogs jump and they tell him, “Go away, Solomon. You’re nothing but a pest” (unpaginated). Solomon isn’t dismayed and continues to wreck havoc with the dragonflies, the storks and the hippos. Each time the animals remark with the same repeating line, “Go away, Solomon. You’re nothing but a…” Teachers could point out this repeating line and show how it changes with each animal. Rayner also uses ellipses effectively, causing the reader to pause as they turn the pages. Students could discuss why authors use ellipses in their writing. Young children could then be invited to try repeating lines or ellipses in their own book making adventures.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Schimel, Lawrence. (2011). Let’s go see Papa! Illus. by Alba Marina Rivera. Translated by Elisa Amado. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press.
While her father works in the United States, a young girl counts the days that pass with him gone—one year, eight months and twenty-two days—and records all the events he has missed in a notebook that she mails to him, a way to insure that the family’s important moments are not forgotten. She eagerly awaits his weekly phone calls on Sunday, but this time Papa shares news that leaves her without words to write in her notebook. Now that he has saved enough money for the family to be reunited, she is eager to see him and yet anxious about leaving behind the familiar and navigating a new place.  The typical doubts assail her as she wonders how she will fit in when she moves to a new home, leaving behind her dog and grandmother. As the plane rises into the air, she begins her first letter to her grandmother, a fresh page in another notebook intended to keep the family bonds tied even across a great distance. For her, writing offers a way to express her feelings while also sharing parts of her life with loved ones. The story blends humor and pathos as she tries to find a way to take as much of her present life with her when she leaves. The illustrations are particularly effective in showing the emotions in the eyes and faces of the story's characters, both human and canine.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Fans of The Quiet Book (2010) are likely to find this companion title equally delightful as the author celebrates things that are loud.  Clearly, each of us has different levels of tolerance for loud sounds. Young readers will have no problems in identifying the good and the bad kinds of loud as the animals featured in the book experience loudness at various volumes. Consequently, they may jump in surprise as they recall the always unexpected cruelness of the loud alarm clock that greets them in the morning. They may smile at the sheepishness of someone slurping up the last sips of a favorite drink and making a rude sound. Few of us would fail to recognize the particularly annoying "candy wrapper loud" caused when someone tries surreptitiously to open a package of candy in an otherwise quiet cinema, resulting in disapproving glares from the audience members directed at the offensive noisemaker. Together with its predecessor, this title would be useful as a writing mentor text focusing on all the different levels and kinds of sounds or as a mentor text for simple description since the simple ones contained in this book are so evocative. It also might prompt readers to be more observant of ordinary sounds heard around them. The pencil and digitally colored illustrations featuring stuffed animals are wonderful too. The perspective is unique with some illustrations showing fuzzy bears, fluffy bunnies, and well-groomed hedgehogs looking upward in amazement or a wide-eyed bunny, trying to fall asleep amid a cricket's clamor. Merely reading each page aloud to youngsters will prompt creative responses for an effective writing lesson. The message about the volume of sounds that surround us may be subtle, but it's clearly found on the book's pages.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 4-8

A fictional character as interesting as Huckleberry Finn must surely have plenty to say about his creator, and in this amusing picture book biography, the straw hat-wearing rapscallion offers his version of the life and times of his creator, author Mark Twain whose books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are considered American classics. Describing a carefree childhood filled with adventures and the unexpected death of his father when he was eleven, Huck also relates the allure the Mississippi River had for Twain—the author’s pen name—back when he was known as Samuel Clemens and worked on a steamboat.  A brief sojourn as a Civil War soldier and a fruitless search for silver in Nevada led him to his destiny as a news reporter, and he became skilled at reporting the news as well as sometimes making it up. There is much to like about this title including the narrator's voice and authentic vocabulary as well as the clever use of fonts throughout the book and the endpapers featuring important elements in Twain's life. A Warning to the Reader informs readers that the author has used unusual spellings, improper grammar, idioms, and word choices. Soft pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations show Twain (and Huck) enjoying life, traveling along the Mississippi River, and creating his stories, many of them drawn from Twain’s own experiences. Huck Finn is ever-present as Twain lives out his larger-than-life existence.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

In the author’s note Sallie Wolf describes how her seventh grade teacher set up bird feeders outside the classroom and taught students how to keep detailed records of the birds that fed there. This experience led Wolf to a life-time of bird-watching.  Her journal shows the power of observing, thinking, evaluating, recording and creating through poems, sketches and water color illustrations. Through each season she identifies the birds that she notices and uses these lists to write poems. One example is, “Seagulls hang out at the mall. / They laugh. They squawk. They strut. / They’re not shy. / They travel in packs, / fighting over French fries / and scraps of burgers-- / just like the kids from middle school (p. 19). Teachers could provide nature journals for their students to record observations of wildlife around their school. Children could imitate Wolf by jotting down their observations, sharing their feelings or wonderings, sketching or drawing the animals or natural habitat, and eventually creating poems.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Grades 9-12

Completely written in verse this novel shares the story of a Mexican American family who immigrates to Texas. Lupita, the oldest of eight children, takes over the role of mother when Mami is diagnosed with cancer. She writes her secrets, including poems and stories, in a composition book to help her make sense of the changes that are occurring in her family and the struggles of growing up. She escapes to her favorite writing place: “The mesquite is my confidant. / I lean back against its sturdy trunk /and read aloud every word / imprinted en mi corazón. / The mesquite listens quietly— / as if the poems budding in my heart, / then blossoming in my notebook, / are Scripture—and never tells a soul / the things I write” (p. 123). Middle school and high school students will be encouraged as they read about a character who is a writer. They will be reminded that writing can sooth and heal the ups and downs of friendships, family and school.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

New, Jennifer. (2011). Dan Eldon: Safari as a way of life. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 

As the result of an unusual upbringing with independent-minded parents, Dan Eldon spent most of his formative years in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was drawn to the land and its people. When traditional British schooling dampened his creative spirit, Dan transferred to the International School of Kenya where he thrived as the result of its diverse student population and many field trips. These experiences as well as his travels to 47 different countries during his short life and his friendship with many Kenyans nurtured his creative spirit, and he maintained fascinating multi-layered journals filled with notes, essays, photographs, and whatever realia he could find to paste in their pages. This book describes the young photojournalist’s incredible life before being killed in 1993 at the age of 22 in Mogadishu. The author details Dan's adventures, supplementing them with actual pages from his journals. Readers learn about someone who took action to solve some of the world's problems. For instance, after creating a student organization to raise money to aid refugees, Dan and his college friends traveled to Malawi themselves in order to make sure the $20,000 they had raised was used wisely. While his travels and personality loom large in this book, equally impressive is how his spirit lives on almost two decades after his death through the efforts of family, friends, and others who have been inspired to make a difference. This beautiful volume hints at a life well-lived, brief though it was, and readers will be fascinated at Dan’s sophisticated thinking and ability to lead others to places they’d never have traveled otherwise. For Dan, the journey was far more important than the destination.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

This series of K-12 book reviews from the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) concludes with this list of fabulous texts that follow the theme “Wheels of Change.” 

Grades K-3 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Grades 4-7

Although Pacy is excited to visit Taiwan for her grandmother’s sixtieth birthday for a month during summer vacation, she is also nervous because she will be in an unfamiliar place. After all, she doesn’t speak the language, and her parents have signed their three daughters up for cultural enrichment classes.  Even in her art class, Pacy feels inadequate and is unable to understand her teacher. She forms an immediate dislike for another classmate, Audrey Chiang, because she is not very friendly, and the two girls are competing for a prize to be given during the final week of the class. As is the case for many of Pacy’s first impressions, it turns out that there are reasons for Audrey’s behavior. Over the course of her stay, Pacy’s eyes are opened to a world and culture that are new to her. While she relishes some experiences, there are others she won’t want to repeat. Even the public bathrooms and train travel are different than what she’s accustomed to.  She even eats many different foods that she had never eaten in the U. S. such as frog eggs, stinky tofu, quail, and chicken feet.  Although she struggles to survive in a different culture and language, the delicious dumplings she consumes as often as possible always comfort her stomach and ease her homesickness for her American friends.  When Pacy and her family return home, she takes along a little bit of Taiwan in her lap and in her heart, and for the first time she understands her own parents’ experiences of feeling caught between two cultures. This book provides insight into others experiencing the same conflicting emotions and cultural dissonance but does so in a gentle way.  This delightful continuation of the adventures of characters first introduced in The Year of the Dog (2005) and The Year of the Rat (2008) sparkles with humor, insight, and familial love. There are all sorts of treats hidden within the book’s pages, and the descriptions of Taiwanese cuisine will leave readers’ mouths watering. Fans of the author will surely hope that she draws on her own personal experiences for even more stories such as these. 

Osborne, Linda Barrett. (2012). Miles to go for freedom: Segregation & civil rights in the Jim Crow years. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. 
This companion book to the author's earlier Traveling the Freedom Road (2009) relies on moving first-hand accounts and powerful photographs to provide perspective on the years preceding the modern civil rights era and the protests of the 1950s and 1960s. Examining events that occurred in the South and in the North, the author begins in 1890 when the state of Mississippi crafted an amendment to the state constitution requiring voters to pay a poll tax or pass a literacy test in order to vote. She concludes the book with a discussion of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruling declaring unconstitutional racial segregation in public schools. In between, she covers Plessy v. Ferguson upon which the concept of "separate but equal" facilities would be based, segregated military units during WWI, the Great Migration to the North, race riots, protests, and acts of courage, both small and large. The text is appealing and inviting to readers, particularly since there are so many personal vignettes being shared. These are the stories of brave men and women looking for a way to change a system that had become entrenched in the nation's daily practices. A helpful timeline, notes, and a note on sources provide additional resources for interested readers. Two points are particularly worth considering: (1) Segregation was not solely a Southern practice. Osborne makes it clear that as African Americans moved to the North, there was strong resistance to their trying to buy houses in certain neighborhoods or perform certain jobs. (2) The Library of Congress possesses incredible resources for anyone wishing to study segregation and the civil rights movement. Relying on these voices from the past, the author draws readers into the book, relating the events with a sense of urgency. This title is essential reading for young students of American history. Interested readers can learn even more at the Library of Congress website at http://www.loc.gov/topics/americanhistory.php or the National Visionary Leadership Project at http://www.visionaryproject.org where they can find an oral history archive. 
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Smith, Jennifer E. (2012). The statistical probability of love at first sight. New York: Poppy/Little, Brown and Company. 
When seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan misses her flight to London by the narrowest of margins, she is stuck in the airport waiting for the next plane. But all is not lost since she passes the time chatting with a handsomely charming British college student. He helps her with her luggage, and they while away the hours getting to know each other. They sit together on the plane, and as sometimes occurs, against all odds, their attraction grows as they share their histories with one another while the plane flies across the Atlantic. Hadley had become estranged from her father after her parents’ marriage broke up. Now, she’s flying off to be an attendant in his wedding to his another woman. Oliver merely hints at his own reasons for flying home. The two kiss briefly, get separated in the crowded airport, leaving Hadley to find her way to the wedding. After the ceremony, she goes in search of Oliver with the only clues she has about his whereabouts. Hadley becomes open to the possibility of the love that may lie in her future even while she realizes that the love between her father and his bride will never supplant his love for his daughter. As Hadley and Oliver face beginnings and endings, their chance meeting just might be the change both of them need. 
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Farish, Terry. (2012). The good braider. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish. 
Fifteen-year-old Viola, her brother Francis, and her mother flee their Juba, Sudan, home because the family can no longer live safely there. Not only are they expected to become Muslims as the result of a civil war, but Viola is repeatedly raped by a soldier. Because Viola has an uncle in the United States, the family is eventually able to arrange transportation to Cairo, Egypt, where they wait for two years before being allowed to travel to Portland, Maine. The journey to freedom is difficult and has high costs, but becoming accustomed to a new way of life with a new language and different cultural expectations is just as challenging in its own way. When Viola's mother burns her hand severely after she spends time with a boy, it is clear that the clash between traditional and modern ways has resulted in pain on both sides. Viola's voice is clear and determined, showing her increasing strength and independence sometimes at odds with the traditional values of her Sudanese culture. This novel in verse is filled with beautiful descriptions of the journey Viola's family takes and their determination to fashion a hopeful future by pulling together pieces of the past and the present. The author raises difficult questions about the meaning of home and belonging and makes palpable Viola's fears about revealing her past as well as her determination to master English and leave behind her ESL class. As was the case with Inside Out & Back Again, this book shows just how present the past may be. 
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

The International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) continues its celebration of life in motion in the second installment of the “Wheels of Change” series of reviews of books for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Grades K-3

Watkins, Angela F. (2011). My Uncle Martin’s words for America. New York: Abrams. Illus. by Eric Velasquez.

The niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. provides an insider’s perspective with her version of how he used words to change the world. Watkins provides perspective on how far-reaching those changes have been by beginning with accomplishments that many of us are likely to take for granted such as the election of an African American president and the appointment of a Supreme Court justice as well as African-American film makers and television hosts. How much progress toward social justice and civil rights and just how far the nation has actually have come since the days of Jim Crow laws and segregation are made clearer because of the examples. The text highlights the words that mattered to King and those that comprised his message, including love, nonviolence, justice, freedom, brotherhood, and equality, while describing the protesting, marching, speaking, and writing that would make a change in practices and laws, effectively insuring that civil rights would be protected by law. The illustrations are appealing and eye-catching, showing the human side to this famous figure. Back matter includes notes from the author and illustrator as well as a timeline showing how these important words and the protests they inspired resulted in changes in the nation’s law. A glossary and additional references add to the appeal of this picture book which would fit well with a text set using Doreen Rappaport's Martin's Big Words or Watkins’s earlier title about the human side of her uncle, My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart (2010).
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 4-7

Katz, Susan. (2012). The president’s stuck in the bathtub: Poems about the presidents. Illus. by Robert Neubecker. New York: Clarion Books.

For historical perspective on the changes that have swept this country since its founding fathers first wrote the Declaration of Independence, readers may want to turn to this poetry anthology dedicated to the nation’s Presidents. Savvy teachers will quickly regard this collection as having many possibilities for integrating social studies and language arts. The 43 poems are short, informative, and often humorous. There is a poem for every man who has assumed the nation’s highest office, insuring political parity since every President gets his just desserts with a send-off or two. The poems are accompanied by some little-known fact or quirk with which kids will love regaling others, such as Abe Lincoln's proclivity for storing notes in his stovepipe hat, Ulysses S. Grant's distaste for hunting or, in the title poem, William H. Taft's need for a much larger bathtub than the White House provided. These footnotes often make connections from one President to another as well. The India ink and digital color illustrations are vivid and depict the human side of the Presidents as effectively as the poetry. Back matter includes brief notes and a quotation from each President. A quick refresher course for adults who may have slept through their American history class, this volume might kindle an interest in history young readers especially during this election year.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Touga, Shelley. (2012). Little Rock Girl 1957: How a photograph changed the fight for integration. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books.

Using the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Will Counts on the cover, this book brings the school integration movement to readers of all ages although the author started this book with the intention of bringing the civil rights era to middle grade readers. On September 4, 1947, nine African American students took the first steps into their Little Rock, Arkansas high school as part of court-ordered school integration. They were met by an angry mob intent on stopping them from entering the building and the Arkansas National Guard whose job it was to insure that they could do so. The author has used interviews and photographs to capture that first day of school for these brave teens and the days following to show how America crept forward to create equality in the nation’s public schools. These stalwart students came to be known as The Little Rock Nine—Elizabeth Eckford is shown on the book’s cover trying to enter the school alone—and changed the color of the faces inside the public schools of those days.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Grades 8-12

Edwardson, Debby Dahl. (2011). My Name is Not Easy. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish.

One of the finalists for the National Book Award this year, My Name Is Not Easy tells the story of native Alaskan brothers as they are sent to the Sacred Heart Catholic boarding school from 1960 to 1965. Although this story is a novel, Edwardson bases her story on actual experiences from the Inupiaq culture as they sent their children to be educated. Readers will sense the dramatic contrast and similarities in cultures as boys and girls from Eskimo, Indian, and white families are displaced from their homes and must share their new living arrangements at the boarding school, which is sometimes abusive. Set in the era of burgeoning civil rights in the lower forty-eight states, the author’s story provides insight into the rights of indigenous people in Alaska. Feelings of loneliness, displacement, confusion, isolation and occasionally a bit of fun are shared by these young people. Hear the author read from her book during the National Book Award ceremony: http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2011_ypl_edwardson.html
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Whitaker, Alecia. (2012). The queen of Kentucky. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Like so many freshmen, Ricki Jo Winstead, 14, decides to take advantage of the fresh start high school offers. She changes her name to the more worldly Ericka, buys a new wardrobe, and studies fashion magazines to achieve a new look. Additionally, she attaches herself to four attractive, popular freshmen girls, and tries out for the cheerleading squad. Before she knows it, she’s crushing on the aptly named Wolf, the flirtatious basketball star in her Spanish class. He teases her a lot, but sometime the teasing contains barbs that hurt her feelings. Even though her parents are supportive and Luke, her next door neighbor and best friend, insists that she doesn’t need to change, Ericka gives in to her own insecurities and trades off her self-identity for a place among her new friends. Social pressure causes her to behave in ways Ricki Jo never would have, and Ericka comes dangerously close to losing the good parts of herself. Although this book offers important lessons, it also contains many hilarious scenes including one night spent drinking that ends in a cow pattie. Clearly, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. At least in the case of Ericka, readers will say, “Thank goodness.” Whether she goes by Ricki Jo or Ericka, this is one delightful heroine who will touch readers’ hearts and remind them to be true to themselves.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University

The first month of the year is often a time for reflecting on previous years and resolving to make changes in ourselves and the world around us. Sometimes those changes start with one small act and then another, rippling outward into larger changes that eventually spawn movements and effect social change such as what happened with the civil rights movement. Sometimes the wheels of change come in the form of innovations in different areas such as transportation. Men and women use wheels to move or take to the air, and crossing an entire continent is something that may be accomplished within a day. Because they move and aren’t static, young readers are often intrigued by books that feature cars, trucks, anything with wheels that move. Books that literally feature cars and bicycles or wheels in some form or fashion are a lot more ubiquitous than you might think. For this week’s installment of book reviews, members of the International Reading Associaton's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group have amassed a fleet of books literally about wheels. In the next two installments of the book review column, we’ll review books that describe how quickly the wheels of change may turn in history or in the lives of fictional characters, often prompting them to change their minds or their actions.

Grades K-3

LaReau, Kara. (2011). Otto the boy who loved cars. Illus. by Scott Magoon. New York: Roaring Brook.

There once was a boy named Otto who simply couldn’t get enough of vehicles that move on wheels. He played car games, read car stories and even ate a car cereal, appropriately named Wheelies. He lived and breathed cars. One morning Otto awoke and found he was a car. At breakfast, he tried to say, “Pass the Wheelies,” but instead out came, “Honk-honk, HONK!” (unpaginated). Because a car is too large to fit on a school bus, Otto had to drive himself to school. Terrible traffic en route forced him to arrive quite late, and he spent the morning idling in the time out corner, waiting for recess. On the playground Otto couldn’t play with the other children because, of course, cars can’t play. He couldn’t even eat what his mother made for dinner because cars can’t eat the food mothers prepare. Otto began to realize that he couldn’t do any of the things he normally did—play, draw or read. Maybe it was time for the auto-loving boy to switch gears. Most children will laugh at this fantasy adventure and consider branching out from their own obsessions with stuffed animals, dolls, Legos or video games.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Medina, Meg. (2011). Tia Isa wants a car. Illus. by Claudio Munoz. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Living in the city without family members or access to the beach is hard. Tia Isa knows that it is important to save money to bring the rest of their family to the United States, but still, she longs for a used car, and she knows exactly what kind of wheeled vehicle she wants. She dreams of one that is as green as the ocean she longs to see, the ocean that reminds her of her island home and the family members she misses. While her brother scoffs at the idea of Tia Isa ever being able to amass enough money to reach her goal, her niece is inspired by the project and takes on chores for the neighbors so that they can save money faster. Once they have enough money, Tia Isa finds a used car—green, of course--that is big enough to take the whole family wherever they want to go. Before they head off to the beach, they tape a photograph of the family on the car’s dashboard. In a positive, endearing fashion this story reminds readers that some things are worth the wait and that dreams aren't as ridiculous as others might say. The pencil, watercolor, and ink illustrations are drawn in soft hues, creating a sentimental artistic quality to a story that reminds readers of the freedom a car of one's own affords and the necessity of setting goals.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Ransome, James E. (2011). New red bike! New York: Holiday House.

After opening the cover of this picture book, readers will be captivated by the first end page with a shiny new bike with a red bow attached to the handlebars. In the next pages Tom, the owner of the new red bike, practices riding his brand-new red bike with his helmet on. He rides up and down the street. He rides around in circles. He zooms down hills, around curves and then returns home. He is so excited about his new present that he travels to his friend Sam’s house. When he turns his back to knock on the house, his new bike disappears. Tom looks everywhere. He looks around the house and under it. He looks up, down, behind and all around. All of a sudden he hears WHIZZZ. Guess who is riding Tom’s shiny new bike? They end up taking turns, sharing the new red bike. The last end page continues the story as Tom and Sam ride off together. Clearly, while two wheels can make better friends than none, four wheels and two bikes with two boys present plenty of possibilities. This straight-forward book could easily inspire children to write their own new present stories and remind them to share what they have with their friends.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Rinker, Sherri Duskey. (2011). Goodnight, goodnight, construction site. Illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Who knows what it is, but there’s something about big trucks and construction sites that fascinates youngsters. This picture book written in rhyming text describing the work that occurs at a construction site will intrigue them and require multiple readings. Construction sites are busy places, filled with plenty of action and noise, but eventually even machines need to cease their labor. As the day winds down, the trucks complete their final tasks. The crane truck raises and places one last beam. The cement mixer pours out one last load. The story follows the big trucks typically found on a construction site, including the ever-fascinating dump trucks, bulldozers, and excavators, as they shut down for the day, satisfied with a job well-done. After all that labor, the machines certainly deserve a rest. The large wax oil pastel illustrations create a peaceful setting as night approaches that contrasts vividly with the motion-filled illustrations of the trucks in motion throughout the day. The cover with the excavator gently cradling the moon is particularly effective in personifying the monstrous machines. Young readers won’t be the only ones who enjoy reading this book about vehicles with very big wheels.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Stein, Peter. (2011). Cars galore. Illus. by Bob Staake. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

“Black car, green car, nice car, mean car. Near car, far car. Whoa! Bizarre car!” (unpaginated). The rollicking verse in this colorful picture book will delight anyone who loves moving vehicles. There are fast cars, slow cars, big cars and small cars. And, of course, there are tall cars, short cars and fun-filled fort cars. All of the automobiles are traveling on dark black asphalt roads that crisscross the book’s pages, inviting young children to trace and follow the vehicles with their fingers. One double page spread resembles rush hour traffic with “Cars and cars and yet still MORE cars! (unpaginated). Another page notes rusty, dusty, hunk-of-junk cars that sometime stink and smell. One humorous illustration displays, “Jazz car, soul car, rock’n’roll car. Blues car, song car. Sing-along car!” (unpaginated). In conclusion, a car with a family including a young child takes off on a, “Fun drive, sun drive, gotta-run drive! Dream drive, cool drive…Someday you’ll drive!” (unpaginated). Young readers will enjoy this vivid, vicarious road trip.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Sweet, Melissa. (2011). Balloons over Broadway.

Up, up, high in the sky go those enormous, colorful balloons during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York. Young readers will be intrigued to learn that the balloons haven’t always been a part of the parade. In fact, these floating, "upside down marionettes" (unpaginated) first appeared in 1928, the innovation of a brilliant puppeteer, Tony Sarg, who came up with the idea to have balloons replace the zoo animals who once rode in cages on wagons in the city streets, often frightening the children along the parade route. The goauche, collage, and mixed media illustrations are filled with a vibrancy that attests to life’s joys and extraordinary detail, providing readers with the perfect bird's eye view of the parade. Some illustrations make it seem as though residents of the city’s high rises can nod at the balloons as they float right outside their windows. At some points, it's hard to decide whether the balloons have a mind of their own and are in charge of their handlers or if their handlers are actually controlling them. Additional information about the book’s artwork and the man responsible for this popular parade innovation can be found in the back matter.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Viva, Frank. (2011). Along a long road. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Using Adobe Illustrator, the author/illustrator of this picture book has created a continuous thirty-five-foot-long piece of art that comprises the book’s pages as well as drawing by hand the display type for its text. A cyclist travels upon an orange path laid out against a black background, along a very long road, that moves across the countryside. At first, the road is fairly straight, moving through stands of trees, but then it winds up and down, around a town, and through a tunnel. The bicyclist pedals unwaveringly along his route, moving slowly and quickly, by turns, passing through urban and rural settings, at one point, even crossing a bridge. Of course, he encounters a bump or two along the way, but after a brief rest, he climbs back on and pedals off. The illustrations show some of the sites he passes along the trip (amusement parks, clothing on a clothesline flapping in the breeze, passersby waving him on his way), but for this rider, the pleasure of the ride seems to be what matters. Young readers will surely love following the strip that marks his journey. Once they reach the book’s final pages, they’ll want to start their journey all over again, just as the rider does.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 4-5

Atinuke. (2011). The no 1 car spotter: Best in the village—maybe in the world! Illus. by Warwick Johnson Cadwell. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller.

Oluwalase Babatunde Benson—better known as No. 1—lives close to a busy road where many cars drive past his village in an unnamed country “on the continent of Africa” (p. 7). His hobby is spotting cars. As a baby he stayed with his grandfather under an iroko tree watching the road. Grandfather taught him the ABC’s, 123’s and how to spot cars such as the Peugeot, Passat and Porsche. Somehow, No. 1 can even spot cars before he sees them. From the sound of their engine, running sweet or backfiring, he knows them. In this brief novel with only four chapters, young readers will learn how wheels improve village life and make a difference in the lives of No. 1’s family. For example, an abandoned Toyota Corolla, with four good tires, is converted into a cart to help his family transport baskets of yams, oranges, mangos, plantains and dried fish to sell at the Saturday market. Two wheelbarrows help No. 1’s Papa begin a new business of carrying people’s goods from one place to another. And, lastly, No. 1 notices when tourist buses travel on the main road. He tells Mama Coca-Cola, who then begins frying akara, a blend of beans, onions and chili peppers, to sell to the hungry passengers when they stop. Simple ink drawings illustrate the different turns and moves in No. 1’s unique and car-filled life.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Grades 6-8

Blackwood, Gary L. (2010). Around the world in 100 days. New York: Dutton.

The ambitious son of adventurer Phileas Fogg, Harry, is all too aware of his father’s feats of daring, and he accepts a bet that he can drive The Flash, his steam-powered motorcar, around the world in only 100 days. In the tradition of the Jules Verne classic, this 1891 high-speed adventure will have readers throttling their engine as the car races across several continents and bodies of water to the finish line in London. When the book begins, Harry has been arrested for reckless driving. To his father’s dismay, he enjoys driving almost as much as he enjoys tinkering with car engines with his talented mechanic friend Johnny. With his father’s financial backing, Harry sets off on his journey, knowing that this is one bet he must win since losing means he must bow to his father’s dictates and take up a more suitable profession for a gentleman. Racing off with Johnny and two other companions, both of whom may not be trustworthy—Charles Hardiman who comes along to make sure he follows all the bet’s conditions, and Elizabeth, a reporter—Harry must race against time but also against possible sabotage from within. Around the world they go, frightening many pedestrians who have never seen a car before. Harry and crew have all sorts of adventures and humorous moments along the way, but they are ever mindful of the goal of reaching London in time to win the bet.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Macy, Sue. Wheels of change: How women rode the bicycle to freedom (with a few flat tires along the way. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

This is an incredibly informative book that makes history—er, herstory, in this case—a treat to read while pointing out that even the seemingly smallest of innovations in transportation can make a huge difference in lives. Macy shows how the invention and subsequent popularity of the bicycle led to more freedom for men and women. Suddenly, women in particular gained the mobility they had lacked and were able to move from place to place on their own. That increased mobility resulted in a need for more freedom, often in the form of less restrictive clothing so that riding a bicycle was not hampered by clothing that became caught in its wheels. Macy reports these historical developments with great glee, writing as though the events she is describing from the 1880s and 1890s happened yesterday. She even includes detours, details about record-setting women cyclists, and some of the comments made by those who opposed the bicycle because of its tendency to encourage girls along sinful pathways. The book contains photographs as well as trading cards, advertisements, magazine covers, song lyrics, and newspaper clippings about bicycles. Back matter includes a graphic in the shape of a wheel showing the history of cycling and women's history. Obviously, many women rode their bikes to freedom, and this book shows how that happened. Readers may enjoy watching a two-minute clip about how bicycles helped women wheel their way to increased independence at the author’s website at http://suemacy.com/.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

As if bibliophiles need any reasons beyond the sheer pleasure of reading, the long, cold months of a harsh winter offer good excuses for curling up with a good book and experiencing that iciness and winter’s bluster vicariously. In this column, members of the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group take a look at books in which the winter season plays an important role.

Grades K-3

Brennan-Nelson, Denise. (2011). Willow and the snow day dance. Illus. by Cyd Moore.
Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

Willow and her family have moved into a new neighborhood in this second installment of the Willow series. Across the street lives snarly Mr. Larch who does not appear to want to make friends or neighbors. Undaunted, Willow plants a beautiful garden, shares the harvest with neighbors, and when winter arrives, starts a charity drive for mittens and hats for the needy. However, Willow is disappointed that there has been no snow so far, something she has been eagerly awaiting so that she will have a good sledding day. As Willow continues to wait for snowflakes, a strange “message” arrives with instructions for a snow day dance. Willow shares the instructions for the dance with her family and neighbors; they include strange directions such as wearing your pajamas backwards and romping on the bed! Since even Mr. Larch is wearing a smile, did he have something to do with the snow that appears the next day? Teachers will love the warmth and generosity of the lively community-spirited Willow. Willow has a website and a FaceBook page, and they can be accessed at http://willowlovesart.com/willow/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Willow-and-the-Snow-Day-Dance/174948975877042.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Casanova, Kate. (2011). Utterly otterly night. Illus. by Ard Hoyt. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Beneath a blanket of snow, the otters are restless in their burrow, and they set out on an expedition above ground. Although it’s a cold winter night, Little Otter and his family frolic in the snow and icy water. But amid all their fun, they must still be cautious and watch for signs of danger from other animals.  When Little Otter spots five wolves, he tries to warn the family, and then lead the hungry predators away from the other unsuspecting otters. Using a combination of luck and the skills he honed through play, he zigs and zags across the snow, managing to escape from the wolves. The story contains several wonderful phrases that capture all the icy action such as "utterly, otterly way," "whooshily, shooshily way," "chompity, whompity, stomp," and "quakingly, shakingly way," (all unpaginated). The pen and ink illustrations are especially effective in highlighting the swift but playful movements of the otters and the other wildlife foraging in the snow.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Helquist, Brett. (2011). Bedtime for Bear. New York: Harper.

Although stories of bears getting ready for their long winter’s nap abound, this one is a welcome addition to that collection, deservedly having received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly. In this story, Helquist has created a visually active romp for Bear, giving him one last playtime before he hibernates for the winter. His rascally raccoon friends pester sleepy Bear until he finally comes outside for a very fun afternoon complete with snowballs, sleds and winter fun. Exhausted from all the activity by the end of the day, his friends retreat to their own beds to sleep, finally allowing Bear to begin his winter slumber. The illustrations are vibrant, and the story panels direct the story from text to speech bubbles. Young children will enjoy Bear’s repeated phrase: “It’s bedtime for bears.” Let children enjoy a coloring page from the book:
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensImages/Printable/bedtimeforbeardl.pdf
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Messner, Kate. (2011). Over and under the snow. Illus. by Christopher Silas Neal. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

On a winter’s day spent skiing through the woods, a father uses the opportunity to teach his offspring about what lies beneath the snowy mantle that covers the ground. Although the blanket of snow hushes much of the world, she notices a quickly moving squirrel, the patterns of a deer’s tracks, and the patience of a fox listening for clues as to where his next meal might be hiding beneath the snow. Underneath that quiet coverlet, there are all sorts of living things, including shrews, voles, bullfrogs, a black bear, and even a queen bee, using the snow as protection from the cold or waiting out the winter beneath it. The author’s choice of words to describe the animals and their snowy setting is inspired, and may make some folks long to leave their warm houses for a wintry expedition. The final page with the youngster curled up in bed after an active day shows that humans and animals have more in common since she looks as though she’s nestled beneath a covering of her own. The mixed media illustrations are impressively detailed, showing the secret worlds that lie beneath the snow. Back matter includes an author's note that provides more information on the animals in the book and their habitat as well as suggested additional reading. This picture book reveals vividly what can be learned by slowing down, being mindful, and looking beyond oneself. Although many animals seem to disappear during the winter, many of them lead active lives under the snow, as this book clearly reminds readers. 
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Soltis, Sue. (2011). Nothing like a puffin. Illus. by Bob Kolar. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

This bold colorful picture book begins with a hook that draws readers right in: “Look, a puffin! What a marvelous creature, one of a kind and amazing. Indeed, there is nothing like a puffin” (unpaginated). A little girl then compares the puffin to various inanimate objects such as a ladder, a house and a newspaper. These objects are “nothing like a puffin” (unpaginated). But upon further consideration, the girl then realizes that a newspaper actually is like a puffin because both of them are black and white. The story continues as the girl compares blue jeans, goldfish, shovels, snakes and helicopters with the puffin—revealing that they are “nothing like a puffin” (unpaginated). Through the simple text, readers will continue to learn even more about this cold weather bird, including what puffins look like and what they are able to do. In conclusion, the girl compares a puffin with a penguin and finds some similarities and some differences. This wintery tale could be used to teach comparison and how important it is to wait before making assumptions. After all, something that seems on the surface to be nothing whatsoever like a puffin just might have more in common with the creature than it seems upon first glance.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Van Dusen, Chris. (2010). Learning to ski with Mr. Magee. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.

One winter morning Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee wake to fresh snow and a beautiful sky. They decide, “It’s time to give skiing a try!” (unpaginated). They travel to a little hill where they can practice, and later they plan to head for the mountain. Both dog and master think skiing will be easy as they teeter-totter downhill. Completely written in rhyme, this adventure quickly moves from wintery fun to icy conditions. The comic-like, gouache illustrations depict a curious moose in search of succulent sticks. Although the moose notices Mr. Magee barreling down the hill, it stands frozen in fear. As a novice skier, Mr. Magee doesn’t know how to steer so he slides under the moose, flips in the air and is tossed across a snowy ravine. How will Mr. Magee and Dee find their way out of this icy predicament? In the end, Mr. Magee realizes, “I might need a [skiing] lesson or two” (unpaginated). Children will love this playful book celebrating the wonders of winter and the other two titles in the series: Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (2000) and A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee (2003), both featuring warmer parts of the year.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Wilson, Karma. (2011). Mama, why? Illus. by Simon Mendez. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Since they are naturally curious, most young children ask multiple questions throughout the day. In this picture book Polar Cub has many queries for his mama as he gets ready for bed. He wonders why the moon sails high in the arctic sky, why the moon dreams and why the moon tells stories from the stars. Each time Polar Cub asks, “Mama, why?” (unpaginated), Mama answers in a lyrical way, “Moon is friends with the stars that glow, and the stars tell Moon the tales they know” (unpaginated). The mixed media illustrations show a snowy landscape with Mama Bear and Polar Cub snuggled together. Readers will eventually learn that “stars don’t sleep like you or me. Instead they travel the galaxy. They sometimes sprinkle dust as they go—and stardust, my dear, is what we call snow” (unpaginated). This wonderful lullaby will remind parents and teachers that the questions of little ones are important and valuable, and that we must take time to listen and help them find answers to what they want to know, even when the questions are repetitive or hard to answer.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Grades 4-5

McDonough, Yona Zeldis. (2011). The cats in the doll shop. Illus. by Heather Maione. New York: Viking.

Eleven-year-old Anna Breittelmann would love to be an author someday. Certainly, she is clever, creative, and has a big heart. The observant girl follows the misadventures of a pregnant cat she names Ginger Cat and her kitten Plucky and worries about their ability to survive in New York’s chilly winter which is quickly approaching. When she and her two sisters learn that Tania, their Russian cousin, will live with the family while her mother works in Europe during WWI, Anna decides to create a doll just for Tania in order for her to feel at home. Since her father runs a doll shop to repair and make dolls, the materials she needs are readily available. When Tania arrives after her trying ocean voyage, she is understandably introverted and hoards her food. She can barely speak English, and two of the cousins ignore her. Anna, however, recognizes that her cousin has artistic talent and loves animals, and concern for Ginger Cat helps thaw her frozen heart. The descriptions of Tania's painful attempts at communicating while Sophie, the oldest sister, expects her to master English immediately are vivid and heart-rending as is the story surrounding the outdoor cats, Ginger Cat and Plucky. Readers will be horrified at the carelessness and cruelty with which Anna's neighbor treats the felines who are desperately trying to get through a harsh winter. This is a beautifully told story about a girl concerned about others as well as a gentle reminder to share what we have with others, especially during the coldest months of the year. The story and illustrations may be sentimental and evoke another time period, but the sentiments that prompt Anna’s generosity should never go out of style.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Ursu, Anne. (2011). Breadcrumbs. Illus. by Erin McGuire. New York: Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins.

The timelessness of the themes of loyalty and friendship explored in this book make it a treasure. The skill with which the story unfolds and the lovely language used in telling the story will prompt willing rereads. Best friends Hazel and Jack encounter peer pressure from classmates who consider it unlikely for a boy and a girl to be friends instead of going out or going together once they reach a certain age. To Hazel’s dismay, Jack seems to be growing distant, possibly bowing to peer pressure. Still, she loves her friend, and when he goes missing, she sets off into the woods to find him. It seems that Jack has followed the Snow Queen who has frozen his heart and left him almost beyond saving. As Hazel risks everything to rescue her friend, she encounters all sorts of creatures often found in fairy tales, including a woodcutter, the three fate sisters, a flower garden whose blossoms were once girls, a little match girl, a magical object, and roving packs of wolves. If the story is engaging--and it is--the language used throughout the story is evocative and powerful, lending an almost mesmerizing quality to the tale. The author makes readers experience vicariously the exquisite coldness that Hazel endures on her journey as well as the icy indifference that has permeated the heart of the Snow Queen and numbed Jack’s as well. When Jack finally returns home, it's clear that things at home will still be difficult. While his mother remains profoundly depressed, at least one boy has found his way out of the wintery woods, thanks to a loyal and determined friend.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 6-8

Duble,  Kathleen Benner. (2011). Phantoms in the snow. New York: Scholastic.

Noah Garrett’s parents have just died of smallpox in 1944 Texas, leaving him an orphan. Noah is sent to live with his closest living relative, an uncle in Colorado that he has never met. When Noah arrives at Camp Hale, he learns that his uncle is in the military in an elite fighting ski patrol unit readying for combat in Europe. Raised a pacifist, Noah finds this to be an especially difficult transition. However, as World War II rages, Noah learns about the necessity for this unique army unit and eventually becomes part of the team of “snow phantoms” who comprise the Tenth Military Mountain Division that are preparing for combat. The author interviewed survivor phantoms for this story, which is based on historical events. Readers may enjoy visiting the author’s website and link to an exciting book trailer at  http://www.kathleenduble.com/
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Lourie, Peter. (2012). The polar bear scientists. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Another worthy entry in the informative Scientists in the Field series which examines the work of scientists in various locales, the focus in this case happens to be an area that has received quite a lot of attention recently--the plight of polar bears in the Arctic. Once the mother bears emerge from their dens with their cubs in the spring, the United States Geological Survey Team emerges from its home base to locate polar bears by helicopter. After tranquilizing, capturing, and then releasing them once samples have been taken, the scientists use the data they collect as a way to count a population that is hard to count and assess the condition of the bears. Concerned about the effects of global warming and climate change on the bears, the scientists use radio collars to track the movement of the bears. As is the norm in this engaging series, the book's pages are filled with photos of the enormous polar bears and the scientists at work as well as chockfull of details about their painstaking attention to the data they collect. Even a costly lost radio collar can't be left behind, and the scientists must make every effort to find out whether the collar has been removed by a polar bear or if the bear itself has died. The author includes interviews with scientists who remind readers that there is still time to save the polar bear's habitat--if we act quickly and reduce our carbon footprints.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Grades 9-12

Hirsch, Jeff. (2011). The eleventh plague. New York: Scholastic.

Twenty years have passed since civilization as we know it ended. Prompted by escalating conflicts between the United State and China, the Collapse occurred when a deadly strain of influenza kills much of the population. Cities fell, and the infrastructure that maintained the government has fallen apart as the survivors focus on simply finding food. Stephen Quinn, 15, was born after the Collapse, and the only life he has ever known is that of a salvager, searching for anything to trade for food. When Stephen’s father falls into a coma after an encounter with slavers, he stumbles upon Settler’s Landing, a community that is so self-sustaining they even have a school. Since winter is already chilling his bones, Stephen stays in the area while his father heals in order to read books, his secret passion, and to be with Jenny, a local girl who refuses to settle for the status quo. But even this place is not a sanctuary, and a prank causes more problems than Stephen could ever have imagined. Especially frightening is the realization that when citizens of the town are banished with few supplies, they will have little chance to survive the harsh winter that lies outside its borders.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman