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    Get Active: Books About Sports, Athletes

    by Karen Hildebrand
     | Jul 27, 2015

    Staying active can be healthy as well as entertaining. Sports can provide both exercise and entertainment in many cases. The following books are about competition, rivalries, physical abilities or the lack of ability, friendship and sportsmanship. Enjoy these new titles that range from swimming to roller derby to the latest sports statistics.

    Ages 4–8

    Clothesline CluesClothesline Clues to Sports People Play. Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. 2015. Charlesbridge.

    Through rhymed verse and clues hanging from clothespins, various sports are described for young readers to guess. Sports equipment, uniforms, clothing, and balls are just a few examples of the items dangling from the clothesline.

    Henry Holton Takes the Ice. Sandra Bradley. 2015. Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Group.

    Henry is from a “hockey mad” family, but Henry is just not interested in hockey though he loves ice skating. When he discovers his real passion is ice dancing, his grandmother, who was once a figure skater, offers support.

    Mustache Baby Meets His Match. Bridget Heos. 2015. Clarion /HMH Group.

    Mustache Baby Billy has a play date with Baby Javier. As the two seem to compete in every activity they choose to do like teddy-bear rassling, hobbyhorse riding, magic, and many other supposed-to-be-fun things, play time turns into a competition and Mustache Baby finds himself on the losing side. He discovers one thing he can be first in, however, and friendship triumphs over rivalry.

    Ages 9­–11

    BaseballogyBaseballogy: Supercool Facts You Never Knew. Kevin Sylvester. Annick.

    Baseball trivia fans will enjoy the vast miscellany of information from bats, balls, and gloves to player information, salaries, tickets, and concessions. Though many baseball tidbits are not covered, the cartoon-like illustrations will give young baseball enthusiasts hours of entertainment while adding to their background knowledge of the U.S. national pastime.

    Game Time, Mallory! Laurie  Friedman. 2015. Darby Creek.

    Part of the Mallory series from Darby Creek publishers, this first-person narration is told from Mallory’s experience being part of her fourth-grade basketball team. Hesitating and making mistakes when she first gets into play, her anxiety starts to take over. Through good advice from her coach and friends and family, she starts to improve. Of course, there are those players who love to harass and make fun but eventually Mallory proves her worth on the team.

    Growing Up Pedro. Matt Tavares. 2015. Candlewick.

    Though the title refers to Pedro Martínez, this story is really about Pedro and his older brother Ramón, as they work hard to become Major League baseball players, leaving their home in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic. The L.A. Dodgers draft Ramón first, and a few years later Pedro gets his chance. The book continues to discuss their rise to fame even when having to face each other on the pitcher’s mound from opposing teams. Today, the brothers have returned to their homeland and built a new life helping schools and neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic. The watercolor and gouache illustrations create expressive warmth to represent the family bond between these successful brothers.

    Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball. Howard Bryant. 2015. Philomel/Penguin Group.

    From ESPN and the world of sports writing and information, author Howard Bryant has collected baseball information that will give every baseball fan the thrill of having all this noted baseball history in one volume. More than just trivia, but actual background information on baseball legends and history, this chronology provides facts on statistics to comebacks to drug-related issues and so much more. Illustrated with photographs and highlights from many seasons, this volume will be enjoyed by sports fans as it precedes the fall publication of the football edition.

    A Whole New Ballgame. Phil Bildner. 2015. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

    Former classroom teacher, author Phil Bildner has written a story about fifth graders and their differences and the labels and stereotypes that often inhabit their world. Rip and his best friend Red, who readers will recognize quickly is on the autism spectrum, are starting school with Mr. Acevedo, a new teacher who is different from any teacher they have had before, with his tattoos and body piercings. Mr. Acevedo loves basketball, as do Rip and Red. When the fifth-grade team gets going, lots of team dynamics are at play. Though Red isn’t much good at the overall game, he is dead-on at the free-throw line. Place Avery, the girl in the wheelchair, on the court, and a whole new set of teamwork issues confronts the team. Enjoy more about this author and his books at his website and blog.

    Ages 12–14

    Lost in the SunLost in the Sun. Lisa Graff. 2015. Philomel/Penguin Group.

    Trent Zimmerman is wracked with guilt from the freak accident last year when he knocked a hockey puck into the chest of Jared Richards, killing him. Jared had an undiagnosed heart ailment, and the impact from the hockey puck proved fatal. Now Trent must live with Jared’s death, and in his child’s mind he is a horrible person, certain that everyone hates him, including his friends, family, and teachers. His divorced parents don’t make life any easier. He lashes out at everyone, his grades are falling, he gets in fights, and he won’t go out for any sport that had once been the highlight of his life. Things start to change when he meets Fallon Little, a girl with a scar whose vitality for life gives Trent a new way of looking at life.

    Roller Girl. Victoria Jamieson. 2015. Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin.

    Written by a real derby girl herself, Victoria Jamieson has created a graphic novel about girls, roller derby, and middle school. When 12-year-old Astrid discovers she loves roller derby and signs up for summer derby camp , her best friend Nicole parts ways with her when she decides to go to dance camp. Astrid proceeds with her plan to become a great derby queen but quickly discovers she might not be as talented as she hoped to be. The hip checks and elbow digs come flying faster than she imagined. She starts to doubt her talent and her entry into middle school in the fall as well as friendships that are shifting in new directions.

    The Sixth Man. John Feinstein. 2015. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

    This is book two in the Triple Threat series from popular sports author John Feinstein. Basketball season is here, and there is a new kid at school who is going out for the team. Triple threat Alex Myers watches as this new kid, Max Bellotti, brings a whole new level of talent to the basketball team. The upperclassmen players aren’t happy about letting a freshman steal the show while they sit on the bench. When word gets out that Max is gay, the controversy begins. Knowing Max can lead the Lions to a championship, the community response to Max’s sexuality becomes not only an issue for the school board but also an acceptance within the team.

    Yard War. Taylor Kitchings. 2015. Wendy Lamb/Penguin Random House.

    Set in Jackson, MS, in 1964 just after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, this story is more about the segregated South than about sports, though a football game provides the backdrop for the story. Twelve-year-old Trip lives with his family and his beloved maid, Willie Jane, who is like his second mother. When Trip invites Dee, Willie Jane’s son, to join a game of football at their house, the neighborhood bigotry comes out in a blast of racist remarks and actions. The language is true to the time period of the 1960s and will make readers cringe at this historic look at segregation and prejudice.

    Ages 15+

    BiggieBiggie. Derek E. Sullivan. 2015. Albert Whitman.

    Henry “Biggie” Abbott is a high school junior in Finch, IA. Biggie has earned his nickname because he weighs over 300 pounds. Finding ways to stay below the radar of ridicule, especially as he lives in the shadow of his professional baseball player father, Biggie creates an online presence to avoid his loneliness in real time. When the fake passes that excuse him from gym class are discovered, he is forced to participate in wiffle ball—where he pitches a perfect game. Now he considers a metamorphosis for himself and develops a goal to earn a spot on the school’s baseball team, pitch a perfect game, and win the heart of the girl he loves.

    Hit Count. Chris Lynch. 2015. Algonquin.

    Arlo has set goals for his football career from an early age. Through hard and incessant training, he becomes an outstanding football player by his sophomore year. Earning the nickname Starlo, he continues through high school hard hitting, receiving and taking tackles and blows to maintain the football stardom that he so desires. Divided into four sections representing his four years in high school, this book reveals changes in Arlo that readers, as well as his coaches, parents, and girlfriend, will start to see. Taking all those blows to his head is starting to take a toll, and Arlo’s cognitive and emotional abilities are being questioned, suggesting that he is heading down a path to self-destruction.

    A Matter of Heart. Amy Fellner Dominy. 2015. Delacorte/Random House.

    Sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman is a champion swimmer for her high school swim team and is hopeful for qualifying for the Olympics Trials in the 100-freestyle event. However, Abby has a fainting spell after one of her meets, and after a visit to her doctor, finds out that she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that has been known to kill top-performing high school athletes. Abby’s whole life, including her best friend Jen and her boyfriend Connor, has been centered on the swimming pool. The author delves into the reactions of all the people in Abby’s life as they respond to this life-altering medical condition. Abby’s decision is her own as she digs to find out who she is without a championship swimming career. Beyond just a sports book, this is a look at self-awareness and projecting toward a future.

    Karen Hildebrand is a retired library media specialist and library director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, OH. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She also chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society. The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

     
    Staying active can be healthy as well as entertaining. Sports can provide both exercise and entertainment in many cases. The following books are about competition, rivalries, physical abilities or the lack of ability, friendship and...Read More
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    ILA Author Spotlight Reviews

    by Mary Napoli
     | Jul 06, 2015

    One of the highlights of the International Literacy Association Conference is the opportunity to hear authors of children’s and young adult literature discuss their creative process. In this week’s book column, members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group highlight a few of the books written by authors/illustrators who will be at the ILA Conference.

    Ages 4–8

    Bad Kitty–10th Anniversary Edition. Nick Bruel. 2015. Neal Porter/Roaring Brook.

    bad kittyCan you believe that Bad Kitty is 56 years old (in cat years)? Nick Bruel’s humorous and mischievous cat celebrates its 10th year in publication. The repackaged edition includes a full-size poster of Kitty. Readers will enjoy all of Bad Kitty’s antics in the Bad Kitty series.

    Nick Bruel will be speaking at the Book and Author Luncheon Monday, July 20. Tickets are required for this event.

    Bulldozer’s Big Day. Candace Fleming. 2015. Ill. Eric Rohmann. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

    bulldozer's big dayBulldozer is very excited to celebrate his birthday with his friends, but they seem preoccupied with their construction site duties of scooping and digging. To Bulldozer’s surprise, his friends, through a chorus of celebratory sounds, planned a special celebration just for him. This warmhearted story, with its playful onomatopoeia and charming illustrations, make it perfect for young readers.

    Candace Fleming will be at the sold-out Author Meetup Sunday, July 18 and present as part of the panel “Authors Whose Nonfiction Books and Biographies Transform Readers: Informing, Engaging and Inspiring” Monday, July 20.

    Stormy Night. Salina Yoon. 2015. Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

    stormy nightReaders who are familiar with Yoon’s Found will be pleased to find another story about Bear. The cover shows Bear’s scared disposition while grasping tightly to his favorite stuffed toy, Floppy, as they peer out the window. Readers soon learn that the storm is making it very difficult for Bear and Floppy to sleep. As the thunder booms, Mama and Papa Bear use different ways to keep Bear calm as the refrain, “Bear felt better” offers reassurance to young readers. Yoon’s descriptive text coupled with bright and bold digitized illustrations are a perfect match to share on those stormy nights.

    Salina Yoon will be presenting as part of the panel “Authors Whose Books Transform and Engage Readers: Connecting Readers With Characters and Book Series” Sunday, July 19.

    Ages 9–11

    Billy’s Booger: A Memoir. William Joyce. 2015. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

    billy's boogerReaders will applaud William Joyce’s creative storytelling in his latest picture book (part memoir). Joyce recalls his fourth-grade elementary school experience, where his principal described him as “his most challenging student.” Flashback to Billy’s childhood, a time with black-and-white TV and limited stations, he recalls how doodes on his homework were not appreciated. Until, one day, the school librarian announced a schoolwide book contest. Billy could not contain his excitement, and he borrowed books on many subjects. The book-making contest fueled Billy’s creative juices, and he wrote “Billy’s Booger: The memoir of a little green nose buddy.” Even though he did not win the prize, he learned that his book was the most popular with the students at his school. The rest is history! William Joyce has shared his creative spirit, talent, and humor with countless readers over the years. His latest book includes stellar illustrations, with nods to his past works (Dinosaur Bob and The Mischievians). Readers will find a miniature reproduction of Billy’s ‘booger’ story, complete with inventiveness, comic elements, and humor.

    William Joyce will be speaking at the Primary Literature Luncheon: It All Starts With Books, Darn It Saturday, July 18. Tickets are required for this event.

    Octopuses! Laurence Pringle. 2015. Ill. Meryl Henderson. Boyds Mills.

    octopusesIn the latest installment of the Strange and Wonderful series, Pringle offers readers engaging information about the octopus. With direct and interesting writing, Pringle shares facts about these shape-changing masters of camouflage. Information about its habitat, survival techniques, and lifespan grace the pages. Readers will learn new vocabulary and terms, such as octopodes (not octopi) when referring to more than one octopus. Each page includes Henderson’s detailed watercolor illustrations. There is a glossary, index, suggestions for further reading, and online sources to stimulate further inquiry.

    Laurence Pringle will be speaking at the Putting Books to Work (Early Childhood/Primary) session and at an Author Panel Saturday, July 18.

    Women Who Broke The Rules: Judy Blume. Kathleen Krull. 2015. Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

    women who broke the rulesIn Kathleen Krull’s Women Who Broke the Rules series, she shares her art of blending story with facts about famous women, including Judy Blume, Sonia Sotomayor, and Dolley Madison. In the page-turning biography about Judy Blume, readers will learn a great deal about her early life, her foray into writing, and her commitment to portraying honest and realistic characters. Judy Blume remains an inspiration to many writers. Her commitment to intellectual freedom advocacy efforts is also highlighted in this well-written biography.

    Kathleen Krull will be at the sold-out Author Meetup Sunday, July 18 and presenting as part of the panel entitled “Authors Whose Nonfiction Books and Biographies Transform Readers: Informing, Engaging and Inspiring” Monday, July 20.

    Ages 12–14

    The Friendship Riddle. Megan Frazer Blakemore. 2015. Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

    the friendship riddleIn a small town in Maine, Ruth is trying to adjust to middle school. Her childhood best friend, Charlotte, is now part of the popular crowd. Ruth’s parents (Mom and Mum) and Charlotte’s dads were friends, so they spent a lot of time together as kids. But as they grow apart, Ruth finds it awkward to socialize with Charlotte. Ruth finds solace reading books in the library, noting, “Books can be such faithful friends.” Things start to change when she finds a mysterious riddle inside a library book and begins to search for additional clues. As Ruth collects clues, she realizes that she needs the help of others, including Charlotte. Blakemore masterfully creates distinct characters with interesting personalities. The novel presents middle school dynamics in an honest way while inserting clues to bring a cast of characters together. Readers who like friendship stories will certainly enjoy this middle-grade novel.

    Megan Frazer Blakemore will be participating as part of the Putting Books to Work (Middle Grades) session and “Revision Revealed: Transforming Student Writers Through Author Partnerships” Sunday, July 19.

    From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess. Meg Cabot. 2015. Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan.

    from the notebooks of a middle school princessFor 12-year-old Oliva Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison, things are completely average until she discovers that she is the half-sister of Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia. Olivia had been living with her aunt and uncle since her mom died in a jet-skiing accident. Olivia, an aspiring wildlife artist, wasn’t allowed to have a cell phone, use the computer, or have pets. Olivia’s world changes after Princess Mia appears at her private school just in time to save her from an unwarranted confrontation with her nemesis, Annabelle. Olivia meets her father and her grandmother, who wastes no time sharing proper etiquette and fashion advice. Olivia’s road to royalty has an unfortunate snag but, in the end, she lands in Genovia with her furry dog. Olivia gets to live with her father and her best friend gets to spend the summer in Genovia. Plus, they both get to be bridesmaids in Princess Mia’s wedding. Text message exchanges between Olivia and her friend and black-and-white cartoons bring Olivia’s adventures to light.

    Meg Cabot will be speaking at the Young Adult Literature Luncheon–Find Your Inner Princess on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are required for this event.

    Stella by Starlight. Sharon Draper. 2015. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

    stella by starlightbDraper’s poignant historical fiction novel tells the story of Stella Mills and her family during the Depression era (1930s) in segregated North Carolina. Stella and her younger brother Jojo witness the Ku Klux Klan burn a cross in the middle of the night, an act that signals trouble and concern for the community. They find strength as they face the injustices all around them. Stella’s teacher asks her class to record their thoughts in a journal. Stella initially struggles to write, but after some encouragement, she slowly finds courage and self-confidence to share her stories. Inspired from her grandmother’s journal, Draper’s middle-grade novel weaves cultural and historic details that will appeal to readers. It’s also available as an audiobook.

    Sharon Draper will be presenting at the Putting Books to Work (Middle Grades) session on Sunday, July 19 as part of the Special Interest Group Network on Adolescent Literature panel entitled “Game Changers: Using Sports and the Power of Adolescent Literature to Transform the World” Monday, July 20.

    Mary Napoli is an associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg where she teaches literacy courses.

    Members of the Children's Literature Special Interest Group's Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) committee will welcome author Sonia Manzano and share the 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society selections for grades K–12 on Sunday, July 19.

     
    One of the highlights of the International Literacy Association Conference is the opportunity to hear authors of children’s and young adult literature discuss their creative process. In this week’s book column, members of the Children’s...Read More
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    A Baker’s Dozen: Picture Books for Any Level

    By Lesley Colabucci and Mary Napoli
     | Jun 29, 2015

    Picture books provide unique visual formats to support the literacy development of young and older readers, regardless of genre. In this column, we feature a Baker’s Dozen of recently published picture books that will engage and motivate students without breaking them into age groups. These books can be used at any reading level. The design elements of the selections coupled with creative storylines will delight all readers.

    Ask Me. Bernard Waber. 2015. Ill. Suzy Lee. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    The simple and honest dialogue between a father and his daughter speaks volumes in this posthumous story by Bernard Waber. The endearing story begins with the young girl and her father taking a stroll through their neighborhood as she shares all of her “likes.” Suzy Lee’s illustrations add depth to the story’s message and accentuate the natural beauty of the outdoors. The contrasting hues and masterful use of lines add a visual dimension to the characters and setting. Each page celebrates the tender bond between parent and child with soft and colorful illustrations.

    —MN

    By Mouse and Frog. Deborah Fredman. 2015. Viking.

    An organized Mouse is ready to write her “brand-new” story when she is interrupted by her excited friend, Frog. As Mouse explains her idea for her project, Frog continues to add his creative ideas and inserts characters into what was supposed to be a serene story. Mouse slowly loses her patience and yells “Stop...the story is a mess!” With unique metafictive elements, the Frog turns to his cast of imaginary characters and explains that the story is “Mouse’s” and begins to erase them from the page. Sad and defeated, Frog allows Mouse to begin her story. When Mouse recognizes that there is room in her quiet story for Frog’s vivid imagination, she suggests that they collaborate. Deborah Freedman’s artistic blend of humor and visual ingenuity make this a wonderful book to read aloud.

    —MN

    Float. Daniel Miyares. 2015. Simon & Schuster.

    In this wordless picture book, a young boy learns how to make a paper boat. With great excitement, he takes it outside to play and pretends to sail the boat around his neighborhood. During a downpour, the boat floats in a puddle. Before long, the boat is out of reach as it floats through the sewer drain. At the bottom of the lake, he finds the remains of his boat unraveled into a piece of wet paper. Despondent and wet from the rain, he heads home and is quickly comforted by his dad. After a warm cup of hot chocolate, his dad shows him how to make a paper airplane. The young boy heads outside and watches his creation soar through the sky. The illustrations, perspective, angles, and lines add a rich visual dimension to this heartwarming story. The endpapers provide directions on how to make a paper boat and airplane. Bonus: When you remove the cover jacket, readers will find the image of the boat afloat in calm waters.

    —MN

    The Fly. Petr Horáček. 2015. Candlewick.

    The cursive writing on the cover of this book sets the tone for the seriousness of the fly’s perspective as conveyed in this story. As he explains, he’s a housefly “but people don’t like me being in houses.” Readers travel with the fly throughout his day as he is attacked by fly swatters, cow tails, and natural predators. Several pages feature die-cut fly swatters which, when combined with other clever elements of perspective and tone, make this book highly interactive and entertaining.

    —LC

    Hippos Are Huge. Jonathan London. 2015. Ill. Matthew Trueman. Candlewick.

    From the up-close view of the inside of the hippo’s mouth on the cover to the images of their backsides with swatting tails and balls of dung, perspective plays a big role in this engaging piece of nonfiction for younger readers. In addition to the eye-catching illustrations, the book is full of surprising comparisons (“A hippo has the biggest mouth of any animal except for a whale”), high-interest facts, and fun details. The typography varies on each page, with onomatopoeias such as “glide” and “roar” in bold print and smaller font for some of the more informative text. The back includes an index and a brief “about hippopotamuses” section.

    —LC

    I Don’t Like Koala. Sean Ferrell. 2015. Ill. Charles Santoso. Atheneum.

    Who wouldn’t want to receive an adorable stuffed toy Koala as a gift? Well, not Adam, especially when the Koala has a creepy, crazed, piercing yellow eye. Adam tries to explain to his parents that he doesn’t like Koala, but they do not listen. So, Adam devises multiple plans to get rid of Koala. Readers will giggle at all of the different hiding places for Koala from under the sofa, behind a plant, in a saucepan, and in his mother’s purse to name a few. To no avail, Koala reappears on his bedside pillow and in a fit of rage, Adam throws Koala through the air again declaring, “I don’t like Koala.” The textured pencil illustrations, with muted colors, accentuate the varied expressions. The occasional comic book ‘panels’ and use of white space coupled with a humorous storyline will appeal to readers.

    —MN

    Inside This Book (Are Three Books). Barney Saltzberg. 2015. Abrams.

    This clever and creative book celebrates the power of sharing stories and making books. Each book, created by three siblings (Seymour, Fiona, and Wilbur) supports their unique writing voice. The books vary in dimension, with three distinctive sizes (large, medium, and tiny). Seymour fills his book with observations, feelings, creative stories, and a comic strip. Fiona adds to her book by celebrating her love for poetry. Their little brother, Wilbur, is an emergent learner and, therefore, he draws pictures of their family and shares his love of dinosaurs. As part of the creative process, the three emerging authors decide to bind their unique books “inside” one book to share with others. The charming illustrations and design features may even inspire readers to explore bookmaking.

    —MN

    The Night World. Mordicai Gerstein. 2015. Little, Brown.

    Sylvie, the cat, takes the red-headed protagonist in this book out to explore the dark of night. Sylvie starts meow-ing, then starts “me-out”ing. Her green eyes glow against the gray and black grain of the pictures as she leads the boy through the house and out into the front yard. Double-paged spreads of the house and yard capture the magic of the night as the boy questions why everything seems different. The white text is carefully placed to ensure readability until transitions to black when day breaks. An author’s note explains the night during his own childhood that inspired the story.

    —LC

    Outstanding in the Rain. Frank Viva. 2015. Little, Brown.

    A young boy and his mother spend his birthday at Coney Island. The story unfolds in a series of rhyming oronyms, similar sounding phrases with different meanings, and die-cut illustrations. The cutouts reveal part of the phrase on one spread and the remaining part is unveiled on the next page. For example, the phrase “ice cream” transforms to “I scream.” Each page reveals superb artistic design, with die cuts, hand-drawn text type, and a corresponding color palette offering shades of red, yellow, brown, and teal. The book certainly measures up to its subtitle—“A Whole Story With Holes”—and will certainly invite readers to experiment with wordplay.           
    —MN

    Please, Mr. Panda. Steve Antony. 2015. Scholastic.

    Holding a box of eight doughnuts against a gray background, it is hard to tell if the panda on the front of this book is friendly or grumpy. The plot involves the panda offering doughnuts to a variety of other black-and-white creatures, including a penguin and a skunk, but then refuses to share, saying, “I have changed my mind.” In the end, a lemur gets the box because he said “please.” Without a touch of didacticism, this book reminds readers of the importance of manners. The playful use of perspective and endpapers makes this a delightful read.

    —LC

    Sidewalk Flowers. JonArno Lawson. 2015. Ill. Sydney Smith. Groundwood.

    In this wordless picture book, readers meet a young girl and her father as they walk through the busy city streets toward their home. Through varied frames, the visual brilliance of tone, hue, and details abound on every page. Readers focus on the little girl’s vantage point as she spots two yellow-hued dandelions at the edge of the sidewalk. The flowers offer a brilliant ray of light and hope against the hurried city landscape. Her natural curiosity about her surrounding adds emotional significance. As she continues her walk, she gives away the flowers: she carefully places one flower into a dog’s collar and even leaves one in a sleeping man’s shoe. Perhaps one of the most poignant frames involves the father, immersed in his thoughts, walking right past a dead bird. The young girl lets go of her father’s hand, allowing her enough time to place a bouquet of flowers atop of the bird. The appearance of colors grows as the girl and her father near their home. Each frame signals the universality of warmth that individuals feel as they reunite with their loved ones. The young girl places flowers in her mother’s hair and even gives some to her siblings. The visual details coupled with an insightful story make this a must read. Learn the origin of the story here.

    —MN

    Spots in a Box. Helen Ward. 2015. Templar/Candlewick.

    Through the use of whimsical text and detailed watercolor illustrations, Helen Ward’s picture book will intrigue readers. A guinea fowl did not have many spots, so he sends a note to “Please send spots,” which results in the arrival of a large package. Unfortunately, the spots were either too large, too tiny, or had “no spots at all” (as aptly illustrated with die-cut holes on the page). There were other spots that lit up and some were sparkly (with glitter accents on the page). There were even “connect the dot” spots and “spots of all sorts.” Finally, the persistent fowl discovers multicolored spots that match his personality. A perfect book for young readers.

    —MN

    Templeton Gets His Wish. Greg Pizzoli. 2015. Disney Hyperion.

    Greg Pizzoli’s latest picture book features Templeton, an orange cat who wants his independence. He is annoyed at his parents and with his younger siblings. After reading an advertisement for a magic diamond that grants wishes, Templeton decides to “wish” his family away. His expression of sneakiness and sadness is set off by black background when he steals his brother’s piggy bank to get the money needed to buy the diamond. When he gets his delivery, he makes his wish, and his family disappears. Templeton is momentarily happy with his freedom until he does not like the feeling of being alone and wishes for their return. The bold color graphics of blue, bright green, orange, and black coupled with Pizzoli’s gift for adding unique character expressions will delight young readers. Bonus: Remove the cover jacket to reveal the image of the “box” that adds a creative visual dimension to this picture book.

    —MN

    Water Is Water. Miranda Paul. 2015. Ill. Jason Chin. Roaring Brook.

    The perfect blend of storybook and informational text, Water Is Water introduces young readers to the water cycle by following the seasonal adventures of two young children. A mixed-race family is featured, and a broader diverse community surround the two as they explore water, steam, ice, snow, and more. The soft-toned watercolor illustrations capture the beauty of all the phases of nature while the rhyming text pays homage to both the process and beauty of change. Ample back matter provides answers to further questions, additional facts, vocabulary, and source notes.

    —LC

    Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses in children’s/adolescent literature. Mary Napoli is an associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg, where she teaches literacy courses.

    The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

    Picture books provide unique visual formats to support the literacy development of young and older readers, regardless of genre. In this column, we feature a Baker’s Dozen of recently published picture books that will engage and motivate ...Read More
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    Book Reviews: Reading on the Run

    by Karen Hildebrand
     | Jun 22, 2015

    Whether listening for pleasure or at a classroom listening center, learning a language or sharing a road trip audiobook, the pleasure of listening to a book is readily available. From wonderful sound effects to full-cast audio and the vast repertoire of voices that master audio book performers like Jim Dale have to offer, reading with our ears has become a popular way to read new books. Fortunately, school and public libraries are making audiobooks easy to acquire, and the state library consortiums allow for audio downloads without ever leaving home.

    One exciting offer this summer is SYNC, an online program sponsored by audiobook publishers and AudioFile magazine to introduce the listening experience to your young adult audience.  SYNC offers two free complete audiobook downloads each week for 14 weeks, beginning May 7, for listeners ages 13+. Each week, SYNC offers a contemporary young adult audiobook paired thematically with a classic audiobook title.  SYNC is dedicated to introducing the listening experience to the young adult audience and demonstrating that required reading can be completed by listening. The MP3 titles can be downloaded for free and listened to at any time.

    To keep abreast of the best children’s and YA audio books, make note of these websites for award-winning audiobooks: the Odyssey Award , the Audie Awards, and Notable Children’s Recordings.

     

    Ages 4–8

    The Adventures of Beekle :The Unimaginary Friend. Dan Santat. 2015. Hachette Audio. Richmond Hoxie, narrator.

    This beautiful story of friendship begins on an island far away. When our young friend continues to be overlooked as a companion, he embarks on a journey that leads him to a beautiful friendship. Hoxie’s narration adds the right inflection for hope, sorrow, and a joyous conclusion with the friends’ voices together announce The End. Download the Beekle party kit.


    Last Stop on Market Street. Matt de la Peña. 2015. Recorded Books. Lizan Mitchell, narrator.

    Young CJ and his Nana take the bus home from church every Sunday. CJ sees other people come and go in their cars and questions why he and Nana have to ride the rickety old bus every week. Narrator Lizan Mitchell does a wonderful job portraying both CJ and Nana, especially as Nana explains all the right reasons about the wonders of the bus “that breathes fire!”

     

    Nana in the City. Lauren Castillo. 2015. Recorded Books. Christopher Gebauer, narrator. 

    When a young boy visits his Nana in the city, he becomes afraid of all the hustle and activity and noise. That same night Nana knits him a super red cape to ward off his fears. The next day when they have their city adventure, the young boy feels brave and confident in his cape and is able to enjoy the wonders of the city. The narration provides all the excitement of urban life but also reflects the fears of the little one as well. Two tracks are available, one adding the page-turn signals.

    Ages 9–11

    The Island of Dr. Libris. Chris Grabenstein. 2015. Listening Library. Kirby Heyborne, narrator.

    Young Billy arrives on the island with only a large library to use for his entertainment while he shares a rented cabin with his mother for the summer. When Billy starts to read aloud, the fun and adventure begin. Narrator Kirby Heyborne has lots of fun with all the characters on the island as his voice brings to life all the characters from Hercules to Tom Sawyer and more.

     

    Nest. Esther Ehrlich. 2015. Listening Library. Jenna Lamia, narrator.

    Set in the early 1970s on Cape Cod, Chirp and her family are dealing with her mother’s recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Narrator Jenna Lamia has perfected some of the regional dialect in family and neighbors. Her voice reflects the various feelings of Chirp and her family, from exhaustion to holding back tears. Chirp’s summer goal to spot a red-throated loon provides another layer of story surrounding this family’s plan to deal with a life-altering illness.

     

    Pluto, a Wonder Story. R.J. Palacio. 2015. Brilliance Audio. Scott Merriman, narrator.

    The author’s first book, Wonder, was an instant hit among students and teachers. Followed by The Julian Chapter, Auggie’s story continued. Now in the format of a short story, readers learn about Auggie’s earliest friendship with Christopher. Narrator Scott Merriman has a gentle approach to this friendship and is able to evoke the emotional level of the boys’ friendship and their eventual drifting apart. Wonder fans will welcome this addition to Auggie’s friendship circle.

     

    The Worst Class Trip Ever. Dave Barry. 2015. Brilliance Audio. Todd Haberkorn, narrator.

    Told through the voice of eighth grader Wyatt Palmer on his flight to Washington, DC, on a school trip, he and his buddy, Matt, are convinced there are terrorists on their plane. With all the wonderful sights and monuments in the background of this story, narrator Todd Haberkorn has fun with all the students and teachers on this fun-filled trip to the United States capital.

    Ages 12–14

    The Darkest Part of the Forest. Holly Black. 2015. Hachette Audio. Lauren Fortgang, narrator.

    In a voice that depicts both the whimsical fantasy of fair folk and the serious tones of the modern-day world, narrator Lauren Fortgang brings the lives of humans and Fae together in a mysterious, fast-paced adventure. Hazel must defend her town, her brother, and her friendships as she tries to help the horned-boy fairy prince who had been asleep in a glass coffin for years until the day it was shattered.

     

    Stella By Starlight. Sharon M. Draper. 2015. Simon & Schuster Audio. Heather Alicia Simms, narrator.

    Set in 1930s North Carolina, Stella and her brother peer through the bushes under starlight to discover the hooded Ku Klux Klan burning a cross in the midst of their gathering. Stella races back to share the news to her community. Simms not only captures the many voices of the people in the African American neighborhood, but also adds her beautiful voice to the hymns and spirituals that wind through the text.

     

    Ages 15+

    Bone Gap. Laura Ruby. 2015. Blackstone Audio. Dan Bittner, narrator.

    Combining myth with reality, this is the story of the Midwestern town of Bone Gap, two brothers, and the kidnapped girlfriend of the older brother, Sean. Younger brother Flinn feels responsible to find her, as he is the only witness to her abduction. Roza is a Polish immigrant who has been abused, and narrator Dan Bittner does an excellent job using Polish-accented English to bring her difficult circumstances yet strong personality to life as she tries to find a way back from the netherworld and escape her evil kidnapper.

     

    Shadow Scale. Rachel Hartman. 2015. Listening Library. Mandy Williams, W. Morgan, narrators. (Sequel to Seraphina, 2012).

    This highly anticipated sequel brings Seraphina into the world of a war with dragons. Half-dragon Seraphina takes on the responsibility as she attempts to find a way to avert this impending confrontation. With a light English accent, narrator Mandy Williams represents Seraphina beautifully in addition to giving life to all the characters and place names from the imaginary world of Goredd.

     

    Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights. Ann Bausum. 2015. Listening Library. Tim Federle, narrator.

    Author Ann Bausum has researched the history of the gay rights movement to show the discriminatory treatment and abuse that led to the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn. “Tim Federle's narration wrings all the emotion from this gripping history. With vocal intensity that is by turns fearful, angry, or touching, Federle takes listeners on this affecting journey through a shameful part of our national story that, while improved, still leaves much to be desired,” according to judges of the AudioFile Earphones Award this year.

    Karen Hildebrand is retired library media specialist and library director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, Ohio. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She also chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society. The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

     
    Whether listening for pleasure or at a classroom listening center, learning a language or sharing a road trip audiobook, the pleasure of listening to a book is readily available. From wonderful sound effects to full-cast audio and the vast...Read More
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    Hazy, Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer, Part II

    by Sandip LeeAnne Wilson
     | Jun 15, 2015

    Summer is big. The excitement of vacations, travel, catching up on reading, and, of course, the classroom is never far from mind. This year has been so fruitful in literature that we had to break our summertime books into two parts. Check out last week’s first installment for even more titles.

    Ages 4–8

    See You Next Year. Andrew Larsen. 2015. Ill. Todd Stewart. Owlkids.

    In this story depicting one family and their summer vacation, readers meet a girl whose family takes a beach vacation. “Every year we stay at the same place./I call it our cottage./But it’s not really a cottage./It’s a motel.” They come on Saturday and spend a week, they have done that since she was little. She likes the changelessness of the family summer tradition, and she tells readers about their days and meeting a new friend, who taught her how to swim. On a foggy day they write postcards, but on most days everyone goes to the beach with “beach stuff and their towels and their coolers” and their colorful umbrellas. The illustrations, in tones of yellow and red, with fresh, intense blues, are digitally created, resembling silk screen prints. Their clean, tactile quality has the appearance of chalk pastel, gouache, and pen and ink. Most striking are the azure blues of the sky during the day juxtaposed to the deep blue of summer nights. The red umbrellas at the beach, arrayed across two pages, show the energy of the morning. The postcard writing is part of an unexpected ending depicted in a final illustration that provides more detail of the girl’s vacation.

    Uh-Oh! Shutta Crum. 2015. Ill. Patrice Barton. Knopf/Random House Children’s Books.

    In this almost-wordless picture book, the delighted antics and play of two children out for the day at the beach with their female caretakers are depicted in multiple illustrations in double-page spreads. The only word that appears on some of the pages when play takes an unexpected turn is “Uh-Oh.” The little girl’s sunglasses fall off her face into the puddle of water they are digging, followed by a misguided decision to shove the little boy’s milk bottle into the sand mound. The children show resourcefulness in solving the problems of the uh-oh moment. The bottle becomes a nose for the face and the glasses become the eyes. The two children change their play area away from the sand by the water to the swings where more unexpected things happen and where they discover a crab in their bucket: “Uh-Oh.” The story of their imaginative play is depicted in bright summery colors, with a preponderance of blue, rendered in graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor. The enchanting, charming expressions of the children will evoke much laughter in re-readings as readers find additional details in the antics.

    Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt Kate Messner.  2015. Ill. Christopher Silas Neal. Chronical Books.

    In this tall picturebook readers see what is above the ground level and beneath, in the soil, through the year, from planting, to the heat of summer, the long season of harvest, and the increasing cold of winter, when life continues underground.  Messner begins the narrative in spring and writes, “Up in the garden, it’s time to plant. I trail a furrow with my finger and sprinkle seeds in a careful row” (unpaged).  Nana, the narrator’s companion works along side her in the raised beds that will be the home of vegetables and flowers.  Messner writes, “Down in the dirt, a tomato hornworm rests, waiting for wings—and the leaves where she’ll lay her eggs.”  In each succeeding double-page illustration is the seasonal juxtaposition of up in the garden and down in the dirt, showing how life is vigorous and changing above ground and below the surface.  Life is also vigorous on the ground with the number of animals who feed on insects and other animals, including the garter snake who feasts on grasshoppers, the skunk and robin who eat a number of different animals including grubs and slugs, and the long-legged spider, who does not build a nest.  In this nonfiction book Messner shares information related to growing plants and the unsung heroes that are part of the garden and that ensure its health. Messner provides information about happens to plants above ground and the life underground. Of the twenty-three double page illustrations done in  multi media and soft muted tones, only three of them have different illustrations on each page, making this book one to come back to again and again for all its detail.  The back matter includes sources for further reading and discussion of each of the animals that are featured in the story.  Messner does make the case that any garden is a community garden. 

     

    Ages 9–11

    Gone Crazy in Alabama. Rita Williams-Garcia. 2015. Amistad/HarperCollins.

    Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern leave Brooklyn, their father, and “Mrs.” to spend the summer with their grandmother and great-grandmother, Ma Charles. They are enchanted by the life on the family’s farm with fresh eggs and milk and the garden but perhaps less charmed by the expectations for good manners their grandmother has for them. They visit their Aunt Trotter across the stream from Ma Charles’s house and learn the history of the family from both of them, each sister adding to the chronicle the other has reported. Delphine concludes that two sisters who live so close together who have not seen each other since they were children is crazy and the craziness of the history and of the local customs continues to reveal itself to the girls. The girls learn of the relationships between the Creek and Choctaw Tribes and their ancestors and learn they are related to the white sheriff, who is a Ku Klux Klan member. Garcia has included a family genealogy in the back matter readers will need to refer to as they hear details of U.S. history through the sisters. The year is 1969, and the girls witness the rising tensions prevalent in southern towns as they find that their lessons of liberation and empowerment from their mother and Mrs. don’t count. Their grandmother wants to protect the girls and promote values of respectable families, but no one is protected from a tornado that changes most everything.

    Ice Cream Summer. Peter Sís. 2015. Scholastic.

    The book’s sunny, breezy tone is established through a letter a boy writes to his grandfather explaining how busy he is. “But don’t worry, I am not forgetting about school. I read every day.” In bright pastel illustrations, Sís depicts the boy explaining all the rigorous activities he is doing, in serif text at the bottom of each page, while the true meaning of the letter’s words is conveyed in the illustrations. His letter says he is “conquering big words like tornado and explosion” as he gazes at a vast ice cream selection including Cherry Tornado and Mango Explosion. “I practice my math facts” as he counts scoops of ice cream and figures word problems: “If ice cream costs 50 cents a scoop and I have $2.00 in my pocket, how many scoops can I get?” Readers will certainly pore over the illustration of his study of ancient China. Sís explains in the illustration, “2,000 years ago: First ice cream.” The flowchart that spreads across the two pages shows how the Chinese made ice cream that included not only milk, snow, and fruit, but rice. Sís includes information in his “discovery of great inventors” in U.S. history: In 1920, Harry Burt invented ice cream on sticks. In the front matter, Sís explains his thinking and the research for the book and provides the sources he has used to find ice cream information, yet the charm of the book with its pastel-toned illustrations invites re-readings.

    The Island of Dr. Libris. Chris Grabenstein. 2015. Random House.

    Billy’s parents have rented a log cabin for the summer from Dr. Xiang (X) Libris—a place where his mother can write her dissertation and his father can leave them while he goes back to the city. Billy is without television, Xbox, or iPhone while he helps one of his next-door neighbors, Alyssa. His mother suggests he find the key to a remarkable bookcase as an activity, but that mystery unlocks others in this fast-paced, action-packed story. When he finally opens the bookcase and reads Robin Hood and his Merry Men and the Greek myths of Hercules and Poseidon, he hears them talk to one another. Certain he needs a distraction, Billy sets out to the island in sight of his log cabin. There he discovers Robin and Maid Marian in one place and Hercules fighting in another. They challenge one another, and Billy steps in to forge a strange alliance. Billy must figure out what Dr. Libris is up to, fend off the local bullies, organize the growing number of characters appearing on the island, and help his family. In the process, he befriends Walter, Alyssa’s brother, who becomes an ally in solving multiple mysteries for which the two boys enlist other literary characters including Pollyanna and Tom Sawyer. The novel, rich in literary references, includes a long section in the back matter listing all the books and authors who figure in the story, yet the book also includes cultural references such as the artwork of M.C. Escher. A combination of realistic fiction, fantasy, and folklore, this adventure story is an adventure in reading.

    Ages 12–14

    Revolution. Deborah Wiles. 2014. Scholastic.

    The summer of 1964 in the life of Sunny and her family in Greenwood, Missouri, is a layered story of many characters. Sunny’s problems with her stepbrother, Gillette, and her stepmother are compounded by more family members moving into her father’s house. Wiles chronicles what members of the white supremacists called “the invasion of the agitators,” when people from all over the United States came to Mississippi to undertake community projects, including voter registration and education. The racist views of white segregationists for whom Federal Civil Rights legislation was wrong and unconstitutional are at first polite, but become hateful and inflammatory. According to they, the local customs had to be preserved yet, in both the African American and parts of the white community, freedom, empowerment, and integration became more than a rallying cry. The places of Sunny’s favorite activities—the municipal pool, the local movie theater, restaurants for family dinners—all become places of conflict. The novel’s montage of archival photographs and multiple narratives provide context for the escalating tensions that climax in violence. The secrets Sunny holds in her heart perhaps start with her sense of alienation from her stepmother, but certainly her trespass into the pool one night with Gillette, where they meet an African American, weighs heavily. Seeing him later at the movie theater, she calls him High Top, a reference to his Converse All-Star sneakers. Raymond Bullis, freedom fighter, is also known to her stepbrother, who plays ball with the African American players on their ball field—more secrets. While the world explodes in gunfire and violence around her, Sunny comes to understand both herself and her relationship with her family. Wiles explains that she was born in Alabama and spent summers in Mississippi and the “Note about Freedom Summer” provides additional context for the novel.

    Sandip LeeAnne Wilson serves as associate professor of Literacy Education and English at Husson University, Bangor, ME. She serves on the Board of the New England Reading Association and the Notable Books for a Global Society Committee of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group. The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

     
    Summer is big. The excitement of vacations, travel, catching up on reading, and, of course, the classroom is never far from mind. This year has been so fruitful in literature that we had to break our summertime books into two parts. Check out...Read More
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