Sports Illustrated Kids: SIKIDS.com

Huey, John. (Editor-in-Chief) April 2008. Sports Illustrated Kids. Time Inc. New York, NY. SIKIDS.com

This magazine is a perfect addition to a young sports fan’s reading repertoire. Each issue comes with a color poster pull out, sports trading cards, sports pro interviews, and pictures. Many sports are included in each magazine. In the April 2008 issue sports that are covered include horse racing, hockey, gymnastics, baseball, basketball, and rock climbing. Boys and girls sports are both represented making this a magazine that any young sports fan will enjoy. All ads that are included are appropriate for young readers. The website SIKIDS.com is interactive and a fun addition to the magazine subscription. Many poll results, funny photo captions, and magazine comments that are submitted online are published in the magazine. The funny photo caption section is funny even for those who are not sports fans. A still picture of a sports figure in action is placed online and readers write creative captions. I found the comments to be extremely entertaining. I also enjoyed the section “What’s the Call” where the reader reads about a situation and decides what the official’s decision should be. Later in the magazine the answers are revealed so readers can check their officiating skills. This subscription is a “must have” in any children’s library.

THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Jenkins, Steve. 1999. The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York. ISBN 0395942187

This book gives fact about Mount Everest, statistics about the climbers that have set records, shows the gear needed to make a climb like Everest, and explains the thrills and dangers of climbing the tallest mountain on Earth. This non fiction book is fascinating for anyone who has ever thought about what it would be like to climb to the top of a mountain, especially Mount Everest. The pictures in this book are essential and are made of paper collage. Many of the pictures are diagrams of the mountain to help readers understand the distance that the text is referring to.

HIDING FROM THE NAZIS

Adler, David A. 1997. Hiding from the Nazis. Holiday House. New York, NY. ISBN 082312881

This biography tells the story of the Baer family and their quest to hide from the Nazi’s. Lore’s grandfather is taken away and was never seen again. I like that this story tells of the heartache this family encounters without going into gruesome details that are too mature for a young audience. When the Baer family becomes too afraid to all hid together they send Lore off to live with another family. When her parents are finally freed from the concentration camp Lore hides from them because it has been so long since she has seen them. After a few days Lore warms up to her parents and goes to live with them but it takes her many years to learn to trust them again. The end of the story explains how the war ended and the Jewish people were free from hiding. This is a great book to help elementary age students identify with this part of history. The illustrations show the Jewish and Nazi symbols which will be good for young readers to see and gain better understanding of that time. Signs in the background are also written in German. The author’s note tells the details of the families depicted in this book and where they are now.

FRIDA

Winter, Jonah. 2002. Frida. Arthur A. Levine. New York, NY. ISBN 0590203207

This biography tells the story of Frida and how painting saved her life. Frida loves to paint and when her leg is hurt from polio she begins to paint on photos. Later she is in a terrible bus accident and she will only be able to walk with a cane and is told her body will hurt. Frida paints even more to keep from being sad. The author’s note included in the book is much more descriptive about the details of the story making this book a great resource for young readers and older readers. The illustrations are done in the Mexican folk-art style. The pictures help accentuate the mood of the story. For example on the page that shows Frida’s bus accident there are imaginary creatures running form the bus with sad and fearful faces. This biography is an easy read and is filled with interesting facts about a great artist, Frida.

Babymouse Queen of the World

Holm, Jennifer L. 2005. Babymouse: Queen of the World. Random House. New York, NY. ISBN 0375932291

This imaginative graphic novel has a few different stories embedded in Babymouse’s fantasies. Readers will recognize the Cinderella and Frankenstein stories. The illustrations are done with thick black lines and white and pink coloring. The thick black lines make the illustrations jump off the page and stand out from the text. The graphic novel format makes this an easy read for younger students as the pictures tell most of the story. In this story Babymouse learns that the old cliché, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, is all too true. She wants to go to Felicia’s party and finally gets invited by allowing Felicia to take her homework as her own. When Babymouse gets there she is bored and finally leaves to go and hang out with her friend, Wilson.

The Books of Ember

DuPrau, Jeanne. 2004. The City of Ember. Random House. New York, NY. ISBN 0375822747
This first book in the series tells of a city that does not have any natural light. The city is always in darkness except for the generated light. Slowly, the city is running out of food and the generator is seeing causing power outages. Lina soon discovers pieces of a document filled with clues to get out of their city. She partners with a boy named Doon to try to solve the mystery and save their community. DuPrau created an excellent plot; however, the book is a slow starter as she tries to get the details laid out. If a reader will persevere through the first few chapters they will be greatly rewarded with a story that is so compelling it is hard to put down. I am having to push the patrons at my library to not give up and so far I haven’t had a child that stopped after reading just the first book of the series.

DuPrau, Jeanne. 2004. The People of Sparks. Random House. New York, NY. ISBN 0375928243
The People of Sparks is the continuation of The City of Ember. The people of Ember have received the message from Lina and Doon and have escaped their doomed community. As they begin a new life they run into a whole new set of troubles in Sparks where they are not welcomed guests for long. Lina sets to saving her people again as she discovers the truth of what war can do to a world. This book has some heavy themes that are handled with delicacy and grace and without too many gory details. Readers in the second book will not be disappointed as the adventure continues and captivates them again.

DuPrau, Jeanne. 2006. The Prophet of Yonwood. Random House. New York, NY. ISBN 0375975268
The Prophet of Yonwood is the prequel to The City of Ember; however, it really could be a stand alone title. The only connection to The City of Ember is in the last section of the book, “What happened afterward”. In this book a young girl, Nickie, goes with her aunt to help clean out and sell her great-grandfather’s estate. While visiting Nickie decides she wants to live in Yonwood but soon learns that the “grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence”. A vision by Althea Tower has caused the townspeople to become paranoid and “righteous” leading to a whole series of misunderstandings. By the end of the book even dogs have been banned because “they take some of the love we are supposed to give to God”. After a long trip to look for her dog, Nickie learns that Althea has been misunderstood and slowly the town is set right again. The plot on this story is intriguing and will keep readers engaged. I felt at the end of the book that it would have been a better stand alone book.. I was disappointed that The City of Ember was tied so loosely to it. I had hoped to see the creation of Ember and the events that led up to it.

The Giver Series

Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. ISBN 0395645662
The Giver is the story of a community that wants sameness among the people. Occupations, spouses, and even children are assigned to the people. When Jonas is selected to be “The Giver” or the memory for the people he begins to doubt that the decision for sameness is what is best. He learns of many injustices in the community just to keep everyone the same. He is certain that it would be a good thing if people were allowed to have choices. In a conversation that Jonas has with The Giver about a baby he says, “what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness?” The Giver responds, “He might make wrong choices.” Then Jonas responds “Oh I see what you mean it doesn’t matter for a new child’s toy. But later it does matter, doesn’t it? We don’t dare let people make choices of their own.” This is the turning point for Jonas in his thinking and from then on he begins to have doubts about this “perfect” community. This book is captivating and though provoking. The end of the story is filled with hope as the reader is allowed to finish the story on their own.

Lowry, Lois. 2005. Gathering Blue. Bantam Books. New York, NY. ISBN 0553494783
The second book in The Giver Series, Gathering Blue, is not a continuation of the first book. It is about a new community and a new group of people with secrets and a desire for physical perfection. This book begins with a great hook as we find Kira sitting in “the field” with her recently deceased mother. This story has several twists in the plot and readers begin collecting clues to solve some mysteries in Kira’s life. The plot is easily followed and has a continual drive. Readers will fall in love with Kira and her desire for the simple life as well as her love for weaving. Along with Kira; the characters Thomas, Christopher, and “little tykes” Joe and Matt are well developed and so lovable. Lowry has created another compelling and thought provoking community in a story that will entertain readers from beginning to end.

Lowry, Lois. 2004. Messenger. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. ISBN 0618404414
The final book in The Giver Series, The Messenger, is a continuation of the second book. In this book the story centers around Matty and “Seer” (Christopher). In this book Matty is still living with Seer and their village wants to stop new people from coming in. Matty is sent through the forest back to Kira to bring her to her father before it is too late. This is the book where readers will understand the gift that Kira has in her weaving as well as the gift that Matty has. This final book is filled with suspense, wonder, amazement, and love as Lowry brings this series to a close. The vivid descriptions of the forest, Kira, and their journey are amazing and will allow readers to connect to the story. This series of books is a must for all elementary, middle, and high school collections. It is a great series for teaching kids to think and to stand up for what they believe in.

The Earth Dragon Awakes

Yep, Laurence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, New York. ISBN 0060275251

This book has fictional characters but is based on actual events from the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Laurence Yep created two families of different cultures to easily represent different cultures and areas of San Francisco. The story is written like a journal revealing the events of each day at each character’s house. At the end of the book there are some actual photographs that help the reader to understand how San Francisco looked after this tragic event. I liked that the author included footnotes to explain a few things in the book. I was amazed at the number of people that fled the city and then I read the footnote that this was the largest number of people that had to leave a city due to a natural disaster until Hurricane Katrina. This fact that was included in a footnote helps readers put this disaster into perspective with a natural disaster that we just witnessed in our own lives. This book is a great addition to any children’s library as it puts a historical event in a story form that kids can understand and relate to.

Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2007. Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam. Antheneum. New York, New York. ISBN 1416906371

Cracker, a beloved dog of a young boy named Willie, must be given away due to a recent move to an apartment with pet restrictions. Willie and his family agree to donate this German Shepherd to a military canine unit where he will help sniff out booby traps in the Vietnam war. Cynthia Kadohata effectively reveals the love between the boy and his dog leaving readers heart broken when Cracker is taken off by the military. Cracker is resistant to the change initially but soon begins to take to his handler, Rick.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

O’Dell, Scott. [1987] 1960. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Bantam, Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. New York, New York. ISBN 0440439884

This is the story of a young girl, Karana, who lived all alone on The Island of the Blue Dolphins for many years. It is based upon the real life story of a 12 year old girl who was left on an island for eighteen years. She was left alone when her tribe jumped aboard ships and migrated away. Karana was on the ship until she noticed her brother was still on the island and no one would go back to get him. She knew she couldn’t leave her brother all alone so she jumped off and headed back. Soon after they were left all alone Karana’s brother was attacked and killed by the wild dogs. Karana waits for the day that another ship will come and rescue her but in the meantime she makes friends with wild animals, avoids her enemies when they come ashore to hunt otter, and sets up her own house with all of the things she needs to survive. This is an amazing story of courage, perseverance, and love.

Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1999. Bud, Not Buddy. Scholastic. New York, New York. ISBN 0439227534

Bud, an orphan, sets out to find his father with clues his mother left when she passed away. This book takes place during the depression and in a time period when it was very difficult to be a successful black man. Bud tries to walk two hundred and seventy miles to get to where he thinks his dad might be but he is stopped by a man named “Lefty” who gives him a ride to where he needs to be. The person Bud thinks is his father, Herman E Calloway, later turns out to be his grandfather. This story has several events that take place to show the racial tension such as when Lefty picks Bud up off the side of the road and explains how dangerous it is for a black boy to be walking the streets in the middle of the night, and the fact that Mr. Calloway has land that he owns that is under a white man’s name because black people can’t own property. This story is intriguing and causes readers to continue reading in hopes of seeing Bud succeed. This story has won some prestigious awards including the Coretta Scott King Award and the John Newberry Medal. The author states that the story is fiction but is based upon some real people and events of this time period.

Gooney Bird Greene

Lowry, Lois. 2002. Gooney Bird Greene. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York. ISBN 0618238484

A new student, Gooney Bird Greene, with her own unique style joins a new second grade class after a recent move. Gooney Bird is a captivating storyteller that soon mesmerizes her entire class with her “absolutely true” stories. Lois Lowry created a great visual of the classroom by describing the actions of every student in the classroom and giving them each a personality. Readers will enjoy the school setting, storytelling format, and Gooney’s uniqueness. Gooney Bird’s story titles will cause readers to try to predict what will happen in the story since it has to be absolutely true. This easy chapter book will capture the attention of young readers.

Attaboy Sam!

Lowry, Lois. 1992. ATTABOY, SAM!. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. ISBN 0395615887

This story is heartwarming as Sam, a preschooler, desires to make a present for his mother’s birthday while helping his sister, Anastasia, with her poem for their mom. Sam’s homemade perfume is a disaster and so are all of the other homemade presents his family worked on. In the end, Sam saves the day with a kitten he snuck into the house and is able to give his mom for her birthday. The black and white illustrations by Diane de Groat are a great accent as the homemade perfume is created. With each drawing the reader is able to visualize and understand the odd concoction Sam is brewing. The plot is humorous but I wonder how much a chapter book reader will enjoy a book about a preschooler’s escapades.

So B. It

Weeks, Sarah. 2004. So B. It. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, New York. ISBN 032943067X

Heidi, born to a mentally disabled woman, knows nothing of her family, father, or even her birthday. She was taken in by a woman, Bernadette, who lived connected to their apartment. Heidi finds a few clues of her mother’s past and is insistent to leave and go to New York to check out a place that her mother had a picture of. Heidi’s natural luck allows her to get bus tickets to New York and back and Bernadette allows her to go after several arguments. The trip is not what Heidi bargained for but she is desperate to know more about her life. This is a heartwarming story about a girl’s love for her mother and a deep desire to understand her and the life she had before. This book is engaging with a plot that is continually driving the reader to turn to the next page. Sarah Weeks has created lifelike characters that will draw readers in emotionally as they connect to Heidi’s life experiences and questions.

Penderwicks

Birdsall, Jeanne. 2005. The Penderwicks: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy. Knopf Distributed by Random House. New York, New York. ISBN 0375831436

This book will be a favorite of older elementary and younger middle school girls. The plot of this story is a Penderwick family vacation at the large estate of the Tifton family. The story is filled with mishaps, secrets, and humor as the four girls interact with the Tifton’s and the workers in the Arundel estate. What makes this story so appealing is the real life situations the Penderwick sisters find themselves in (examples include: falling in love with a boy, standing up for yourself to an adult, losing a pet and a sibling, helping a friend in need) and the characterization that Birdsall creates. Each girl has a specific personality trait that makes them different from their sisters. These character traits are carried out throughout the entire story making the story flow together so readers can easily follow the plot. By the end of the book readers will be cheering for Jeffrey and begging Birdsall for a sequel so they can see what happens next.

Neighborhood Mother Goose

Crews, Nina. 2004. The Neighborhood Mother Goose. Greenwillow Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0060515732

This book of traditional Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes is full of rhymes that readers will recognize as well as some that are less known. The collection will allow readers to identify with rhymes (such as Hey, Diddle Diddle and Little Miss Muffett) as well as being exposed to new ones (such as Bow, Wow, Wow and Once I Saw A Little Bird). I love the photography in this book. The photographs accentuate the poems and put them into a different perspective than the traditional illustrations. Even though these are traditional rhymes that many have in anthologies on the shelves of their library this is still a valuable purchase because of the photography and change of setting.

Fold Me a Poem

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2005. Fold Me A Poem. Harcourt Books. Orlando, FL. ISBN 0152025014

The dust jacket of this book reveals how George got her ideas for this book. After watching a boy make animals out of paper she was struck by the similarities of poetry and origami. ; “how a few rods, carefully chose, can bring a scene to life, and how a few small folds, artfully made, can bring a sheet of paper to life.” This collection of poems deals specifically with origami and the folds that need to be made as well as the creatures that can be made from origami paper. The illustrations capture the details of the printed origami paper as well as the intricate folds made by the origami artist. This is a beautiful book that will capture the attention of poetry lovers as well as origami enthusiasts.

Scien-trickery

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2004. Scien-Trickery. Harcourt Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0152166815

Lewis creates a fun set of science riddles in this book. The readers listen to or read the poem and have to guess what science term is being described. The illustrations are great clues to help readers if they can’t figure out the term by listening and are fun to look at because they are colorful and eye-catching. Most of the poems rhyme which creates a great read aloud. At the back of the book is a “Notes” page where more information about the terms is included. This would be a great way to start a new science unit and have students make a list of the facts they learned from that poem. Then as the unit progresses students could add to their list. This would also be a great review of science terms before TAKS since the terms mentioned in the poems are learned throughout the elementary years.

The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury

Prelutsky, Jack. 1999. The 20th Century Children’s Poetry Treasury. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York, New York. ISBN 0679993142

The 20th Century Poetry Treasury is a collection of 211 poems written by 137 poets. An introduction written by Jack Prelutsky explains that he had not experienced children’s poetry before he began writing and his editor told him not to until he was sure he had a good grasp on his style. Since then, he has acquired over 4,000 volumes. He states that he feels that “Children’s literature in general has blossomed in our time (20th century), and poetry in particular has entered a ‘golden age’.” This collection features such outstanding poets and would be a great addition to any library, classroom, or home. There are all types of poems on all different subjects that children can relate to. The pictures are detailed and yet simplistic revealing the joys of childhood.

Dona Flor

Mora, Pat. 2005. Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About A Giant Woman With A Great Big Heart. Random House. New York, NY. ISBN 0375823379

This tall tale is about a giant girl who uses her uniqueness to help the people in her town. Dona Flor makes tortillas, helps kids to school, reads books aloud to all who will come to listen, and rids the city of a “roar” that has become a nuisance. Pat Mora seamlessly blends the English text in Dona Flor with a splash of Spanish phrases. This blending style lends itself to a great lesson on using context clues to determine the meaning of words since she always gives enough clues to help the reader figure out what each Spanish phrase means. The illustrations in this book are very distinct. Each illustration looks as though the pixels on a graphic have been magnified and blended together. The distinctiveness of the illustrations are eye-catching and include many different designs and textures.

Noah's Ark

Pinkney, Jerry. 2002. Noah’s Ark. Seastar Books. New York, NY. ISBN 1587172011

The religious story of Noah’s Ark is beautifully painted with watercolors and detailed with pencil and pen lines. The illustrations are detailed and authentic. The Bible verses are quoted from the beginning endpapers to the very last set of end papers so that the story keeps its distinctive language and authentic representation. The continual pattern of the story as the boat continues to be built is echoed through the pictures which become increasingly busy and full of life. This traditional tale is a wonderful read aloud that will visually appeal to readers of all ages.

The Little Red Hen

Pinkney, Jerry. 2006. The Little Red Hen. The Penguin Group. New York, NY. ISBN 0803729359

This version of the beloved tale of The Little Red Hen is more descriptive than most versions. Pinkney has colored text for each character in the story that reflects the color of the animal. Each time the hen asks for help she complements an animal by telling them what they do well and how they could help. An example of this is when she is talking to the rat and the hen says, “Surely you will…You can use your tail to chop it easily.” Each time the hen’s requests are rejected until the bread is made. Then characters want to help eat the bread and the hen rejects them. I love the use of color in this book. Pinkney doesn’t just use one color for each animal instead he uses varying shade of the same color. The hen is all different shades of read, the goat is all shades of black, and the other animals are colored likewise. This use of color adds depth to the pictures and makes the animals look realistic.

Mightier Than The Sword

Yolen, Jane. 2003. Mightier than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys. Harcourt. Orlando, Fla. ISBN 0152163913

This diverse collection of folktales from around that world are put together primarily for boys. It is well arranged with a table of contents, “notes on the stories”, and a bibliography. The illustrations are all done in black and white but are used to accentuate events in the story. I think these stories would best be shared aloud with boys. Most boys would have trouble with the different names and vocabulary because they do have words that are true to each culture. These stories would be best told in a storytelling rather than in a “read aloud” session.

THE PROG FRINCE: A MIXED UP TALE

Lamm, C. Drew. 1999. THE PROG FRINCE: A MIXED UP TALE. Orchard Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0531301354

This story is a mixed up fairy tale of the original FROG PRINCE. At the beginning we meet a girl named Jane who becomes disgruntled when a frog steals her muffin money. She follows the frog and is told a story by him. In this zany tale a prince and a girl, Jaylee, fall in love but the father won’t allow them to marry because she is not a princess. The king tries to give his son a potion that will make him fall out of love and instead he turns into a frog. As the story progresses Jane begins to rally like the frog and when he disappears suddenly he misses him. Then to the readers surprise Jane turns into Jaylee and the frog turns back into the prince and they, of course, live happily ever after. There are references to other fairy tale as well, like when the old woman asks Jane if she as ever heard of THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF. The pictures remind me of the classic fairy tale illustrations which is so appropriate for this story. Lamm uses alliteration to play on the word muffins using items from the prince’s palace such as “millions of murals, mirrors, marionettes, etc. This is a creative fractured fairy tale that children of all ages will enjoy.

THE OTHER SIDE

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2001. THE OTHER SIDE. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. New York, New York. ISBN 0399231161

A fence represents both the physical and psychological barriers that separate the black and white people in this book. Woodson uses the voice and action of young girls to reveal how silly racial tensions are and how forgiving of differences children can be. THE OTHER SIDE is beautifully illustrated with bright watercolors and lifelike pictures. I love that both families seem to have the same economic background and the only visible difference is their skin color. This is a great read aloud to help children understand what racial tensions use to look like and to reveal to them how similar the two girls really were.

THE SEVEN CHINESE SISTERS

Tucker, Kathy. 2003. THE SEVEN CHINESE SISTERS. Albert Whitman and Company. Morton Grove, Illinois. ISBN 0807573094

THE SEVEN CHINESE SISTERS is about seven Chinese sisters who each have their own talent. In the beginning, the reader does not know what the baby’s talents are but through the course of events her talent is also revealed. The illustrations, by Grace Lin, are bright and colorful and include many patterns. The pictures reveal accurate depictions of Chinese clothing, housing, and beliefs about dragons. The dragon in the book resembles the pictures of the Chinese dragon people see when looking at Chinese New Year information. Throughout the story we see each sister use her talents to help the family rescue the baby. The plot, problem, solution, and characters are all interwoven beautifully to create a seamless story that will captivate readers.

THE LIMA BEAN MONSTER

Yaccarino, Dan. 2001. THE LIMA BEAN MONSTER. Walker and Company. New York, New York. ISBN 0802787770


From the crafty bowl of lima beans made into a monster face on the title page to the turnip sprout at the end of the book the illustrations are humorous and a story all on their own. This is a story so many readers will be able to relate to as they too have tried creative ways to get rid of unwanted food. Yaccarino uses great word play with phrases like, “Me want some HUMAN beans!” and “Don’t eat me! I-I’m too small! Wouldn’t you like to eat someone bigger?” (A line stole straight from The Three Billy Goats Gruff.) This story has an exciting plot, a great sense of humor, and fantastic illustrations. This is a great read aloud for kids of all ages.

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET

Bibliography
Selznick, Brian. 2007. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. Scholastic Press. New York, NY. ISBN 0439813786

Plot Summary
A boy named Hugo Cabret is orphaned at a young age and must live in the walls of a train station helping his uncle take care of the clocks as his apprentice. When his uncle leaves also Hugo is stuck stealing trying to feed himself. Hugo finds the automaton his father died trying to fix. Hugo is determined to fix the machine and through a series of events finds out much more about the invention and its creator.

Critical Analysis
This book, the Caldecott winner for this year and Bluebonnet nominee for 2008, is breathtaking. The pictures drawn with simple black lines are exquisitely detailed. Selznick weaves cinematology, narration, concise characterization, and breathtaking illustrations to weave this one of a kind story together. Selznick uses foreshadowing on page 176 when Hugo is reminded of the story his dad told him about the movie in which “he had seen a rocket fly right onto the eye of the man in the moon”. Foreshadowing is also used when we see the heart shaped key is around Isabelle’s neck Hugo asks her about it on page 222 but nothing else is mentioned about it until Hugo takes it off of her to try it on the machine. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET is a superb fiction novel that I think many children are going to enjoy from start to finish.

Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal
“Each character possesses secrets and something of great value to the other. With deft foreshadowing, sensitively wrought characters, and heart-pounding suspense, the author engineers the elements of his complex plot:”From Publishers Weekly
“Here is a true masterpiece—an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching.”

Connections
*This book could be used to teach foreshadowing.
*This book can be used to discuss trying the invention of movies and how it changed the world.
*The illustrations could be used to talk about the Caldecott award.
Bowser, Elieen. THE TRANSFORMATION OF CINEMA 1907-1915. ISBN 0684184141
Marcus, Leonard S. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTIST AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. ISBN 0802786588

Green Eggs and Ham

Bibliography
Seuss, Dr. 1988. GREEN EGGS AND HAM. Random House, Inc. New York, NY. ISBN 0394900162

Plot Summary
Sam, one of Dr. Seuss’ imaginary creatures, offers green eggs and ham to a stubborn, grumpy character. The character insists that he does not like green eggs and ham. Sam is determined to get the creature to try this new food and so he offers it ina variety of places. In the end, the character finally decides to try it and does like the unusual dish after all.

Critical Analysis
This story told in simple sentences and rhyming prose is an easy read. Readers are attracted to the sing song dialogue that reads “You may like them. You will see. You may like them in a tree!” Children can easily identify with the plot as many of them are afraid to try something new. I am grateful that in the end the character does try the dish and likes it showing readers that trying new things is a good idea. I love that the characters are imaginary and so is the setting with trees that are yellow and grass that is red. The color choices make the pictures pop out of book and also add to the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss. This is one of the Dr. Seuss books that I really like for beginning readers because it uses real words and not the made up words that we see in many of Dr. Seuss’ books.

Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal “Limited vocabulary but unlimited exuberance of illustration.”

Connections
*This book could be used to highlight and discuss rhyming words.
*This book can be used to discuss trying new things since we really might like it.
*Use the recipe for green eggs and ham to connect with the text.
Brennan, Georgeann. GREEN EGGS AND HAM COOKBOOK. ISBN 0679884408

Library Lion

Bibliography
Knudson, Michelle. 2006. LIBRARY LION. Candlewick Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. ISBN 0763622621

Plot Summary
A librarian is startled when a well mannered lion enters the library. The head librarian states that he can stay as long as he doesn’t break any rules. The lion begins to help out at the library and becomes a regular patron. One day the lion needs to go get help for a librarian and roars to get someone’s attention. Knowing that he broke the rules the lion disappears for a while. Finally, after the librarian explains that sometimes you have a good reason to break the rules the lion returns and welcomed with a giant embrace from the head librarian and many of the children.

Critical Analysis
This story is a heart warming tale of a lion that learns to obey the rules of the library and also learns that sometimes rules have to be broken in an emergency. The characterization of the large giant is incredible this ferocious beast is portrayed as “helpful”, a step stool, and “a comfy backrest for the children”. The illustrations are detailed and colored with inviting cool colors. I love the artist’s portrayal of the library as an inviting comforting place. The artwork combined with the story, told mostly in third person, is an easy read that children of all ages will enjoy and engage in. I think many young readers will fancy the idea of going to a library in which everyone, including a cuddly lion, could be accepted and enjoy storytime.

Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal “Hawkes's deft acrylic-and-pencil pictures have appeal for generations of library lovers. They are rich with expression, movement, and detail. The lordly, lovable lion is a masterful mix–regal beast and furry friend–and the many human characters are drawn with animation and emotion. This winsome pairing of text and illustration is a natural for storytime and a first purchase for every collection.”
From Booklist
“This story's appealing premise is clear in the first sentence: "One day, a lion came to the library." There's the expected uproar as the lion pads through the stacks, but librarian Miss Merriweather only asks: "Is he breaking any rules?" The lion is not, and so he is allowed to stay.”

Connections
*This book could be used to help teach about the importance of obeying rules and when it might be necessary to break rules.
*This book is great to start a discussion of library behavior expectations.
*Compare and contrast this book with I TOOK MY FROG TO THE LIBRARY.
Fraser, Mary Ann. I.Q GOES TO THE LIBRARY. ISBN 0802788777
Craig, Paula; Thompson, Carol. MR. WIGGLE’S BOOK. ISBN 1577686160
Kimmel, Eric A. I TOOK MY FROG TO THE LIBRARY. ISBN 014050916X