Super Quick Reviews

I literally have 10 minutes before I need to leave the library and these two books are due today (with holds on them). So-very fast reviews!




GRACELING. Yes! I read it! Fabulous read! Very romantic. Some sexuality in the story, but it's very brief and not titillating. Great fantasy story.




SCAT. Another Florida story by Carl Hiaasen. As you can expect, the environmental issues of Florida play a big part in the story. Lots of humor and mystery intertwined. Good boy story!

Have a good weekend!

Babies Don't Eat Pizza

Becoming a big brother or sister is a very big deal in a child's life. There are any number of "new baby" picture books and "where do babies come from?" nonfiction books. That's all well and good, but try to think of a book that discusses infant development on a child friendly level. I'll give you a few seconds.

(Humming the "Jeopardy" theme).

Same thing happened to me. I couldn't think of one!

Well, thanks to Dianne Danzig, Babies Don't Eat Pizza fills in that gap nicely. You won't find anything on human reproduction here. Instead, the book begins (very) briefly with the growth of the baby inside mommy's womb and the baby's birth. The baby's physical aspects (including the umbilical cord, the cone-shaped head, and the furry/silky hair that some babies have right after birth). We also learn exactly what these babies do....not much in the beginning, of course, other than sleep and eat. We also learn that babies communicate through crying and that they wiggle and squirm a lot (which is why it's important to have a grownup help hold the baby). Babies can be messy, and babies might pull your hair. Even if you tell the baby not to do that, he/she won't understand what you are saying, though. We also learn that babies enjoy music and looking at funny faces.

After all that talk about babies, it's time to talk about the new big brother or sister, and what a big job that is! Things do change when a new baby arrives. Kids and grownups might feel tired or left out. "Sometimes you might be excited to be the big sister or big brother. Sometimes you might want to act little or be a baby again. Sometimes you might want your parents to send your baby far, far away (but you know they won't). And sometimes, when your baby smiles at you-and wants to be with you and nobody else-then those times, you just might be glad that you have a baby brother or baby sister."

Awww. This is a very sweet (but not saccharine-there's plenty of humor) and respectful book. Kudos to Danzig for noting that some mommies have an operation to get the baby out, and that some babies need to stay in an incubator if they are small or sick. The book empowers children in interaction with their new brother or sister (games and activities are suggested, like singing and playing peek-a-boo). If you know of a soon-to-be big brother or big sister, get him/her this book.

Haiku

Wyoming coal mines
Friendship across racial lines
Riots and courage



Cooking for your doll
Roast rocks and seesaw salad
Imagination



Girl wrongly accused
Boarding school for Indians
A tale of sisters

The Traitor

Mud Pies and Other Recipes

Sweetgrass Basket

Long Time No Post

Lots going on....little time to post (I'm in the process of updating and creating bibliographies for the summer).

I am nearly finished with Graceling. I know....late to the party! However, I avoid books with a lot of violence, and I had the impression that this did. It does not (so far, but I have about 150 pages to go). It's not the sort of thing that I would have picked up were it not for word of mouth, but I'm really engrossed in it. Will discuss more when I am done.

(Happy Mardi Gras! We are enjoying King Cake in the Warrenton staff room.)

A Recipe for a Bunch of Good Reads

Add 1 historical fiction novel about an upper-class Mexican (Californio) girl living in the midst of the Mexican-American War



Throw in 1 additional historical fiction novel about an Ute girl kidnapped by Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors (based on a true story!)



Sprinkle in a George Washington picture book that is suitable for a classroom read aloud

Stir in a nonfiction picture book about the Gold Rush



And add a dash of teenage love poetry.



Yields multiple servings!

Books Read:

Daughter of Madrugada
Genre: historical fiction
Notes: Covers an underrepresented area in American history; readers will enjoy learning about the ranch lifestyle (complete with tutors and servants) of this upper-class Californio family, and how the family members deal with the loss of the war in different ways

Bear Dancer
Genre: historical fiction
Notes: Represents another little-known fact in American history (slavery of Native Americans by other Native Americans)

George Washington: A Picture Biography
Genre: biography
Notes: A good biography selection for beginning readers or for a teacher looking for a read aloud biography

Gold Fever! Tales From the California Gold Rush
Genre: nonfiction, American history
Notes: Cartoon illustrations appeal to young readers; majority of text is from first-hand accounts of the gold rush

Crush: Love Poems
Genre: poetry
Notes: Teens can easily relate to the poems; some contemporary references may date the book in a few years; sexuality is discussed but not explicit

Weekend Update

A very quick review...if you are in the Warrenton area and are reading this today, stop by the library to make a Valentine craft!



Afghan Dreams

Afghan Dreams is a illuminating, hopeful, and occasionally heartbreaking look at Afghani children. The children speak of their experiences, their hopes for the future, and their fears. The excellent photography draws the reader closer to the children's stories. This would be an excellent addition to a current events unit.

Sigh....More Short Reviews

From reading other blogs, I know it's common to go into a slump from time to time. Well, I'm in one. Until this passes, I'll just post short reviews of my reading and pass along anything interesting that I find. I have some ideas that will keep me posting on a regular basis, but they won't be lengthy book reviews.

So, in passing, this is what I've read recently:




Nonfiction books that can be read aloud in one setting are not easy to find. They are out there, but not easy to find. That’s why I was happy to find Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu. Written and lavishly illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Ted Lewin (Peppe the Lamplighter), Lost City tells the tale of Hiram Bingham, who discovered the lost city of Machu Picchu. If you are doing a unit on South America, you'll want to take a look at this book.



Four Perfect Pebbles is the harrowing story of a family's survival of the Holocaust. After efforts to immigrate abroad failed, the Blumenthal family found themselves at the hands of the Nazis. Lila Perl writes of their nightmare starkly and quietly, which makes this one of the most devastating and affecting Holocaust memoirs written for young readers that you may ever read. Although this is one of the slimmest Holocaust memoirs, its effect on the reader is long-lasting.



Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart is an endearing and unique story of two sisters challenged by the shock of their father's prison term (for forged checks). Written in prose, this is a charmingly illustrated look at a subject rarely covered for young readers. Although the subject matter is serious, the greater story is that of the family's coping with and surviving the unexpected. Many children will be able to relate to the love and exasperation the two sisters feel for each other.



For Little House fans that can't get enough of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Laura's Album is not to be missed. Crammed with photographs of the Ingalls and the Wilders, Laura's Album is a lovingly written tribute to the author. Although certain details are not fully explained (i.e. the mention of Laura's infant brother's death, but no explanation of how he died), and written before the extent of Rose Wilder Lane's influence on the Little House books was fully known, Laura's Album is a terrific biography of a familiar friend to many young readers.

Happy reading!

Quick Reviews

Soon, I will have more time for longer reviews!

If you are looking for a unique historical fiction, try Jane Yolen's Children of the Wolf. Based upon the true story of two young feral girls in early twentieth century India, Children of the Wolf is a fascinating and thought-provoking novel that can inspire discussions about culture clashes and basic human needs.



Think you've suffered through a few cold days? That's nothing compared to what Pam Flowers experienced with her solo dog sled adventure in 1992. Flowers became the first female and first American to successfully recreate a 1923-24 expedition across the entire North American Arctic coast. Her story is an inspiring and exciting one, complete with a nearly deadly encounter with a polar bear and her cub and the temporary disappearance of her lead dog. Flowers writes about her dogs with great love and concern, and it's obvious that their needs were paramount during the journey. Sidebars give great tidbits about camping during a blizzard and the positions and personalities of the dogs, among other things. If you love dog stories and/or true adventure stories, you don't want to miss Alone Across the Arctic.

If you've read books by Laurence Yep, you know that he often writes about the struggles of Chinese-Americans caught between the China of their elders and the America of their birth. Although this is not an uncommon thread running throughout the work of Chinese-American authors (or many authors of other ethnicities), Yep's childhood and family heritage (growing up in a predominately African-American neighborhood and attending Catholic school) gives him a unique perspective. A lack of Chinese made him out of place in visits to Chinatown, while his ethnic features and name made him "apart" from the largely non-Chinese world in which he lived. Self-discovery of one's ethnicity/culture is certainly not unique to adult nonfiction, but making it the focus of your memoir for children/young adults is unique. The Lost Garden is an enlightening look at a young boy growing up in a time in which ethnicity or difference was something to overcome, and not celebrate.

The Not-So-Random Shelf: YA Fiction

Gilda Joyce, Private Investigator is a moving and often hilarious story featuring a smart and irresistible character. Gilda Joyce has been working on her psychic skills ever since her father died. Wanting to escape a dull summer, she finagles an invitation to spend some time with her distant relative. Upon her arrival, she meets Juliet, her previously unknown daughter of her distant relative. Juliet is sophisticated and urban, everything that Gilda is not. When she discovers the mysterious death of Juliet’s Aunt Meredith, she coaxes the reluctant Juliet into further investigating. Alternating between laugh out humor and gentle pathos, Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator is a wonderful treat for middle school readers. Jennifer Allison has created believable and endearing characters in both Gilda and Juliet. A real winner.

The Not-So-Random Shelf: Fiction

Louisa May Alcott and I have had a topsy turvy acquaintance ever since I first read Little Women n the seventh grade. While I never fully loved the book as much as other women have (if I'm in an "old-fashioned" mood, I'll read L.M. Montgomery or Noel Streatfeild), I've always enjoyed infrequent rereads of the book. Attempts to read other Alcott novels have not been as successful. While I enjoy old-fashioned reads just as much as anyone else (in small doses), Alcott’s other fiction has really made my skin crawl. Would that be the same with Little Men? I put the book to my test.

Unfortunately, no. While some parts were interesting, I never really warmed to any characters. Some children employed baby talk, which just drove
me crazy. Overly sentimental. On the other hand, the young girls were encouraged to play with the boys and be active, which made it more passable.

Anyone care to tell me what I'm missing? I know Alcott has tons of fans.