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

by Judith Hayn

Woodson, J.  (2012).  Beneath a meth moon: An elegy.  New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.

Laurel Daneau at 15 has survived a hurricane by fleeing Pass Christian, Mississippi, with her Daddy and baby brother, Jesse, Jr.  However, her beloved mother and grandmother who stayed behind did not. The grieving trio winds up in Galilee, Iowa, where Laurel finds a best friend, a spot on the cheerleading squad, and a boyfriend who is the basketball team captain. T-Boom introduces her to meth, and Laurel begins to drown in the drug just like her mother and M’Lady did in the storm. Meth is the moon, and it takes the user higher and higher before plunging her into the abyss. Laurel runs away from home and lives in an unheated room in an abandoned hardware store where she begs on the street for the moon is her only goal. She meets Moses Sampson, a young street artist, who commemorates dead meth users in murals commissioned by the survivors. His mother was a methhead, so he knows the drill. This is must read for teens but also for those of us who work with and care about them. Woodson’s lyricism and use of interlocking flashbacks in this first person narrative does not sugarcoat the addiction, its effects, or the aftermath.

Dr. Judith A. Hayn is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 

This article is part of a series from the Special Interest Group Network on Adolescent Literature (SIGNAL). 

Bruel, N. (2011). A Bad Kitty Christmas. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city, not a creature was stirring…except for Bad Kitty” (unpaginated). Using his trademark ABC style and rhyming text, Nick Bruel shows the inimitable Bad Kitty at her worst--ambushing the angel, bumping the books, crushing the Christmas cards and dumping the drums. After ruining Christmas and making a mess, Bad Kitty learns that the presents she destroyed actually were for her. She then goes through a completely new alphabet, listing all of the gifts she would like replaced: “A toad, an urchin, a vole, and a whale. A xerus and yak fried with zebra tail!” (unpaginated).  When Bad Kitty’s long-suffering family expresses their disappointment over her selfishness and greed, she decides to run away. But life in the snowy outdoors is challenging for a house cat—especially when even the mice chase her. Luckily, an old woman rescues Bad Kitty and takes her home where she reminds the misbehaving feline that Christmas is not about presents or food, but instead about family. Using the alphabet as a guide, she shares black and white photographs of her own family members. Through this reminiscing, Bad Kitty begins to miss her own family and decides to return home. She makes it back just in time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This humorous book could spark a discussion about what the true meaning of Christmas is for your family. Children could also create their own ABC books modeled after Bad Kitty.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Cole, B. (2011). The money we’ll save. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Set in a tiny apartment flat in New York City during the nineteenth century, this story follows a family hoping to save money for Christmas. After a trip to the market, Pa brings home a young turkey poult to fatten up for Christmas dinner. He assures Ma that raising a turkey is no trouble because the turkey can live in a box by the stove and be fed table scraps, thus saving them money. The family soon learns that taking care of a turkey is no easy task. The tom turkey, named Alfred, is dissatisfied with table scraps and begins to steal the children’s food. He also learns to fly and begins to leave messes around the apartment. Pa makes a wooden pen and Alfred is moved to the fire escape. Pa keeps reminding everyone, “Remember the money we’re saving!” Next, the neighbors complain that they can’t sleep and are tired of the great bird doing his business on the sidewalk. Pa solves the problem by transferring the turkey to a bedroom and moving the beds to the kitchen or parlor. Young readers will howl when they read about the noises and smells Alfred makes. Once Christmas Eve arrives, Pa catches Alfred to take him to the butcher. But the children exclaim, “We can’t eat Alfred! It would be like eating a friend!” (unpaginated). The family comes up with a solution, remembering all of the money they have saved.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Cushman, D. (2011). Christmas Eve good night. New York: Henry Holt.
In this simple picture book a little girl gazes into a circular snow globe portraying Santa’s workshop. She proceeds to ask each critter and toy at the North Pole how they say good night to their momma and papa on Christmas Eve. The snowman with a long carrot nose and coal eyes says, “Brr! Brr!” (unpaginated). Amid the glaciers and snow, curled up snuggly on the ice, the bear says, “Grrr! Grrr!” (unpaginated). The rhythmic story continues with a mouse, toy soldier, gingerbread man, elf, dove, reindeer and robot, all sharing how they say goodnight in one or two words. The speech bubble responses invite young children to read along. In the final watercolor and ink illustration children will discover that the little girl is really an elf and that the assorted animals and toys are located in her bedroom. This discovery will prompt a rereading of the story to point out the different animals and toys.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Hoffman, Mary. (2011). Grace at Christmas. Illus. by Cornelius Van Wright & Yin-Hwa Hu. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Grace book, author Mary Hoffman has written a Christmas story about sharing and selflessness. When Grace finds out that her Ma and Nana have invited strangers to their home for the Christmas holiday and Grace will have to give up her bed, she is NOT happy. She now dreads the holiday she used to enjoy so much. When Nana’s friends arrive and one is a young girl Grace’s age, they eventually discover something they have in common and become friends. The story ends with an exciting visit from a dancing character in one of the earlier Grace books. For a quick look at the history and development of the Grace books, visit Mary Hoffman’s website at http://www.maryhoffman.co.uk/grace.htm
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Spinelli, E. (2011). The perfect Christmas. Illus. by J. Adinolfi. New York: Henry Holt.
In this silly picture book two families follow two different Christmas celebration styles. One family has an artificial tree, “completely out of shape with several branches missing and one held on with tape” (unpaginated). In comparison, Abigail Archer’s family “is perfect as can be. They drive into the countryside to chop down their Christmas tree” (unpaginated). Throughout the book, these two families compare their decorating styles, Christmas treats, Christmas Eve traditions and gift giving. The funniest page is when the families assess their Christmas activities. Compare family one--“Abigail plays the cello to entertain their guests—some classic Christmas pieces. She even takes requests” (unpaginated) with family two--“My father juggles grapefruit while I play the kazoo. Then Aunt Clarissa sings off-key. That’s entertainment too!” (unpaginated). When, all of a sudden, it begins to snow, the two families meet outside, and what they have in common is clear: “Our families are all together, laughing and dancing through the snow” (unpaginated). Even though these families have different Christmas traditions, it’s the spirit of the holiday and being together that counts. After reading aloud this picture book children could discuss or write about their own unique family holiday traditions.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Harris, John. (2011). Jingle Bells: How the holiday classic came to be. Illus. by Adam Gustavson. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.
The music director at the Unitarian Church in Savannah, Georgia, in the 1850’s, John Lord Pierpont was not used to the South’s humidity and high temperatures. Originally from wintery Boston, MA, John is expected to write a new holiday song for the Thanksgiving concert while the area is experiencing a heat wave. During this pre-Civil War era, the Unitarian church is known for its support of the abolitionist movement, and when a brick is thrown threw a church window, glass has been sprinkled everywhere. When Mrs. FitzHugh arrives with the former slave girl she has taken in, the idea for a song is born Looking for a lively and positive way to bring the congregation together with feelings of unity, the children’s choir performs the new song, “One Horse Open Sleigh,” complete with jingling bells and feathers thrown to look like snow. The author notes at the end describe his visit to Savannah where he learned the historical facts on which he based his story.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Wood, Douglas. (2011). Franklin and Winston: A Christmas that changed the world. Illus. by Barry Moser.  Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
The Christmas of 1941 is an important one, not only for Great Britain and the United States but also for the world. The United States has just entered WWII after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Great Britain has been under constant air attack by the Nazi regime. Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Washington, D.C. in order to cement the relationship between the two countries. This picture book biography describes a crucial meeting of the two world leaders, Churchill and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, during that particular December. The author provides nuggets about the childhoods of both men as well as describing their personalities and life challenges. Young readers will enjoy reading about the playful nature, shared bonds, and determination of the two men. So comfortable did the two become that Roosevelt even barged in on Churchill while he was taking a bath. The author focuses on the human side to these very different individuals rather than describing their policy meetings. An afterword describes some of the policies that resulted from those formal and informal meetings and dinners at the White House with FDR’s wife Eleanor in attendance. An author’s note relates the impact Churchill and Roosevelt had on his own family, many of whom fought in WWII. This title is especially appealing since it describes vividly the personalities of two politicians who found common ground among their differences. The sumptuous watercolor illustrations complement the sparkling text beautifully.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Rosen, Michael J. (2011). Chanukah lights. Pop-up illus. by Robert Sabuda. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
A talented author and illustrator join their unique skills to take readers of all ages on a visual journey to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Best read with adult and child together, this elegantly beautiful pop-up book travels through each night of Hanukkah from continent to continent. As the history literally unfolds on each page, various architectural structures around the world are depicted as the history of this holiday is explained. Young readers will enjoy searching for the candles in each picture, ending with a contemporary setting of a city skyline with gold triangles representing the final days of Hanukkah. This is a holiday treat that will encourage families to examine it time and time again with each visit bringing something new to the viewer’s eye. Interested readers may want to visit Michael Rosen’s website at http://www.fidosopher.com/ for a video to watch each page of pop-ups come alive. Robert Sabuda’s website at http://robertsabuda.com offers templates and directions for students and teachers to create pop-ups of their own.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Warren, Andrea. (2011). Charles Dickens and the street children of London. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
There are many who might argue that author Charles Dickens singlehandedly revived Christmas celebrations, which had gone out of fashion by the time he wrote A Christmas Carol (1843), his classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man whose heart has hardened so much that he has nary a kind word or thought for anyone. Why waste time or money celebrating Christmas? Over the course of a busy night, Scrooge is visited by spirits who show him his past and his possible future. Today, even this particular character’s name is associated with someone who is miserly, while his change of heart is testimony that each one of us has the ability to change, if we choose to do so. The largesse often associated with holidays should remind us that not everyone is fortunate enough to have abundance, and this biography provides ready evidence on that fact. In sixteen chapters filled with lively text and more than 50 photographs and illustrations readers will explore the life and times of this popular author who used his books to bring about social reforms and change attitudes toward the poor in Victorian England. In addition to A Christmas Carol, the author describes Dickens’s other books as well as his affinity for the poor children who worked in the factories and in London’s streets, vivid reminders of his own days as a factory worker as the result of his father’s careless spending. Readers may enjoy learning even more about the author whose books are so often still read in schools today by checking out these websites: Charles Dickens Gad’s Hill Place at http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/ and David Perdue’s Charles Dickens Page at http://charlesdickenspage.com/christmas.html.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Word Play! Children's Book Reviews

Book Reviews: The Rest of the Story

Animals! Book Review Series

International Reading Association (IRA) Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG)

Today’s teachers often look carefully for books that excite their students about reading and writing, and help them see that it can be fun to play with words, whether that word play comes in the form of tongue twisters, puns, homophones or even an invented form of poetry. Cracking the alphabetic code provides entrée into a word-filled world, and through the use of mentor texts such as the ones listed below, young readers may learn to relish playing with words almost as much as playing with their computer games. The following reviews of recent books filled with word play were written by members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

GRADES 1-4

Cleary, Brian P. (2011). Six sheep sip thick shakes: And other tricky tongue twisters. Minneapolis, MN: Milbrook Press/Lerner.

Clearly a lover of words, Cleary serves up a heaping helping of 23 tongue twisters that are sure to have readers gasping for breath and forced to rely on outside help in untangling their tongues. This book is filled with unexpectedly strenuous exercises for the tongue as Cleary cleverly plays with language in his usual delightful way. Although the artwork is interesting as well, one of the most appealing elements of this picture book is the author’s suggestions about how to write your own tongue twisters. The information about how tongue twisters are created and why certain words, phrases or letters put together in certain patterns are hard to pronounce is enlightening. This book has great appeal for young readers and will provide more than a few minutes of fun for young and old, possibly prompting the recollection of some old favorite tongue twisters. It is likely that this book will inspire a few more tongues to get tangled as readers try to wrap their mouths around phrases that are almost impossible to pronounce together. Naysayers should try to pronounce the book’s title quickly, and see for themselves just how haltingly the simple phrases fall from the tongue. The vibrant illustrations will amuse readers, sometimes providing clues about how to pronounce the tongue twisters efficiently, but not always.

Barbara A. Ward
Washington State University Pullman

Raczka, Bob. (2011). Fall mixed up. Illus. by Chad Cameron. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books/Lerner.

As autumn comes to an end, this picture book might provide an amusing way to say farewell to the season while encouraging readers to be attentive to detail. But the fall described in the text is somewhat surreal as leaves float into the sky rather than sifting gently from the trees, and youngsters chomp into delicious caramel-covered pumpkins instead of apples. Ouch! The author cleverly mixes the expected with the unexpected so that bears clamor onto tree limbs to gather nuts for the winter instead of hibernating. Under the ground, geese nestle in hibernation, ostensibly taking the place of those large, furry mammals. Readers will enjoy spotting what is not right in the pictures and the mixed-up verses. Readers will laugh with glee at the illustration of a scarecrow keeping watch over rows of candy corn and wince at the description and picture of children frolicking in “heaping piles of sticks” (unpaginated) rather than fall foliage.

Barbara A. Ward
Washington State University Pullman

Banks, Kate. (2011). Max’s castle. Illus. by Boris Kulikov. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

As they grow older, all children neglect and/or forget about some of the toys that once were their favorites. In this picture book Max looks under his bed and finds a box of ABC blocks, a dinosaur skeleton and other toys that he hasn’t played with in a long time. He then decides to make a castle using these toys, spelling out words such as WALLS, HALLS and ROOM. Soon Max’s brothers are playing with him and creating an imaginary adventure in which each boy has his own room in the castle with some of the forgotten toys. When Max constructs a MOAT around the castle, his brothers exclaim that they need a BOAT. Later, one of the brothers says, “This castle needs a king,” and Max replies, “I’m the KING.” Each word is revealed through the ABC blocks used in the illustrations. Together, the brothers create an exciting journey with pirates, knights, a dungeon and a dragon. Primary teachers could read aloud this picture book and then provide a box of blocks for children to spell out their own stories.

Deanna Day
Washington State University Vancouver

Lichtenheld, Tom, & Fields-Meyer, Ezra. (2011). E-mergency! Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.

Filled with pun after pun, this deliciously delightful book has enough clever word play and visuals to brighten a bleak winter morning. Readers will laugh and want to share some of the lines with others. The 26 letters of the alphabet live together in one house, where they have different responsibilities. When the always reckless E is injured while rushing down the stairs, the other letters must take his place. As they fill in, coming together in several unexpected letter combinations, there are several confusing and amusing results, and words just aren’t what they used to be without E. Who knew that E was so essential to communication? Since O is called upon to fill E's place, many confusing words are created, and everyone except the narrator stops using the letter E. The authors capture the personality of many of the letters quite well: Z is always sleepy; X always marks the spot; Q and U always appear together. Back matter includes a list that indicates how often each letter is used in the English language, something students will enjoy knowing. One of my favorite lines involves E's failure to cry even while hurt. Says O, "Sometimes she's a silent E" (unpaginated). The ink, pastels, and colored pencil illustrations add to the fun and the letters' personalities. The entire book is exceedingly clever and particularly punny. The hidden puns on each page are sure to appeal, and even the book jacket shows E declaring that this is “an E-book!”

Barbara A. Ward
Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 5-6

Katz, Alan. (2011). Poems I wrote when no one was looking. Illus. by Edward Koren. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Alan Katz’s newest book is just plain fun … for all ages! Following the success of his first book of poetry, Oops! (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, 2008), this new collection offers one hundred original poems that deal with subjects from pizza to pasta to popcorn, from computers to homework to inventions. For example, the poem “How Inventive!”  consisting of opening lines goes like this:

“My name is Albert Feinstein
I’m here with Thomas Pedison.
We’ll meet with Jonas Salkenbaum,
Who’s working on some medicine” (p. 54).

As children enjoy these poems and add them to the Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky shelves of humorous poetry, this collection begs to be to read aloud or used with group reading, choral reading and performance poetry. Ed Koren’s cross-hatched drawings are the perfect complement to add surprise and delight to the meanings of each poem. The poems are almost contagious because it is just about impossible to stop reading them in order to enjoy the wordplay each poem and sketch presents. Other themes found throughout the book include families, sports, and food. A likely favorite is this pithy poem, “In My Opinion,” written by an opinionated person. It begins,

“Baby sister’s hair: shampooable
Mom’s library book: renewable
Dad’s morning coffee: brewable
Little sister’s vitamin: chewable
Me finishing my homework: undoable” (p. 5).

The first line and title indexes make this a very user and teacher-friendly collection. In addition to the author’s website found at http://www.alankatzbooks.com, Katz has developed a website called “Help the Poemless” (www.helpthepoemless.org). Bringing poetry into the lives of children and adults, this website offers a mailing list, several videos, and future poetry activities. As the holidays approach, young readers might also enjoy his 2005 collection entitled Where Did They Hide My Presents? Silly Dilly Christmas Songs (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster).

Poem aficionados will enjoy watching the author video available at his publisher’s website:
http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Poems-I-Wrote-When-No-One-Was-Looking/Alan-Katz/9781416935186

Karen Hildebrand
Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Perl, Erica S. (2011). Chicken butt’s back! Illus. by Henry Cole. New York: Abrams.

From the author and illustrator of Chicken Butt! (Abrams, 2009) comes the hilarious sequel Chicken Butt’s Back! In this clever two-voice story, a mother and son visit a grocery store. Each character’s voice appears in a different font type and color, inviting children to read along while laughing at the puns, and then reading them again—and again. Children will learn about homophones and homonyms through this jokester son and his animal friends. When Mom says, “I’ll make this crystal clear: No more ‘Chicken Butt!’ my dear,” the son exclaims, “Your deer?” The illustrations then depict a large deer hiding behind a display of maple syrup. The verbal word game is on with “dear” being exchanged for “deer,” “but” for “butt,”  “bear” for “bare” and “under where” for “underwear.” Henry Cole’s comic illustrations make this wordplay tale even more fun. The “poop or fart” escapades may not be for every teacher, yet most children will be rolling on the floor and requesting more. What’s more: This book is guaranteed to be read numerous times, and the puns will be told and retold, maybe even prompting an original one to be punned—er, penned—in your classroom.

Deanna Day
Washington State University Vancouver

Raczka, Bob. (2011). Lemonade: And other poems squeezed from a single word. Illus. by Nancy Doniger. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

The author takes the letters from one word and rearranges them to create poems in this cleverly imagined take on word play. Thus, from ladybug, for example, you might get

“a
buggy
buddy
a
glad
gal” (p. 20).

The 22 poems are interesting to read and are likely to prompt some young poets to try their hands at this sort of poetry. The topics range from commonplace topics for poetic inspiration such as flowers and spring to less common topics such as television and constellation. Because the placement of letters and spacing is so important for this unique form of poetry, the poems must be seen to be appreciated fully.  One of my favorites is squeezed from the word “spaghetti” and describes someone with a hearty appetite for heaping helpings of the sticky noodles.

Barbara A. Ward
Washington State University Pullman

Book Reviews: The Rest of the Story

Animals! Book Review Series

Young Adult Book Review: The Name of the Star

International Reading Association (IRA) Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG)

IRA Special Interest Group Network on Adolescent Literature (SIGNAL)

by Judith A. Hayn

Johnson, M. (2011). The name of the star.  New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Maureen Johnson’s latest novel for teens features Rory Deveaux, who has arrived from her Louisiana bayou home as a new student in a London boarding school.  Auspiciously, a modern day Jack the Ripper has just begun a rampage which mimics the actions of the 1888 killer who was never caught.  Rory swears she saw Jack, but no one else can confirm it.  Her roommate Jazza and her crush Jerome, a Ripper conspiracy theorist, offer support but are confused.  Then she meets three young adults who offer an explanation.  They are now Shades, ghosts who work secretly for the government.  They inform Rory that a near-death choking experience has given her the sight.  She can indeed see ghosts, and Jack the Ripper is one!  Jack is coming after Rory to stop her from identifying him, and the stakes are high.  This paranormal romp is filled with adolescent angst and hormones, but nothing stops the growing terror until the final showdown in a boarding school bathroom.  Rory is forthright and funny, and readers will follow her adventures with empathy.  The city of London emerges as more than the setting, developing as a character that gives realism to the plot.

Dr. Judith A. Hayn is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 

This article is part of a series from the Special Interest Group Network on Adolescent Literature (SIGNAL). 

Young Adult Book Review: Bronxwood

Young Adult Book Review: The Dry Grass of August

ReadWriteThink