Locomotion

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, is a verse novel and tells the story of Lonnie, a young boy whose parents were killed in a fire. Written from Lonnie's perspective, it is a journal of his grief process written in poems -- all kinds of poems. With his teacher's encouragement, Lonnie writes out his feelings about the death of his parents, missing his young sister and living in a foster home. Over sixty poems in many different styles, chronicle the life of a young boy who has to face some stark realities and grow up quickly, but shows strength in the process.

This novel in verse can serve two purposes: teaching children how to deal with grief and also teaching them that poetry can take many forms. Through Lonnie's experiences with writing different types of poetry, children will learn more than they could ever learn by having to analyze a poem line by line in the classroom. Lonnie teaches by example and they can relate to him.

I think this book was an ingenious way for the poet to teach children more about her craft. The examples of the different types of poetry, from free verse, to haiku and others, make this a great "hook" to get kids interested in writing poetry. I found myself wanting to experiment with writing some poems of my own.

The story of Lonnie was sometimes painful to read. Even so, it warmed my heart that this story was able to show his courage and how he was able to find hope in unexpected places.

This book was chosen for the Coretta Scott King Honor. I would recommend it for the 5th grade and up.

Keywords associated with this book: death, fires, tragedy, foster care, orphans, adoption, school, poetry, African-Americans.

It's Raining Laughter

It's Raining Laughter, by Nikki Grimes, is a collection of poems about children in all kinds of happy situations. Illustrated with photographs by Myles C. Pinkney, it shows children in everyday settings where they are having fun: at the playground, running, reading books at the library, or spending time with friends. It also shows children learning to be happy about the way they look, even if they are too skinny or wear glasses.

While the book only shows pictures of African American children, all children will identify with the poems and pictures. The joy on the children's faces clearly illustrates the title and theme of this book of verse.

These poems made me smile, which is what I think Nikki Grimes had in mind when she wrote them. The delightful pictures and joyful verses reminded me of my childhood. Laughter is a gift and this award winning poet offered it up in a beautiful package.

I would recommend this book for children ages 3-8 years old. Adults will enjoy it as well!

Keywords associated with this book: laughter, smiles, fun, children. growing up, poetry, African-Americans.

Dog Days: Rhymes Around the Year

Dog Days: Rhymes Around the Year by Jack Prelutsky takes children through every month of the year as seen through the eyes of a yellow dog. Every month has a four line rhyming verse which tells what Dog likes to do during that month. The verses are written from the point of view of the dog and bright colorful illustrations by Dyanna Wolcott give young children a visual picture of the verse.

This book of verse provides a good way to teach about the months of the year and the pictures will definitely catch the eyes of children. In my opinion, some of the verses seemed a little too sing-songy and trite, but the illustrations more than made up for it. An adult reading this book of verse to a child might want to spend some more time talking about the pictures, which show the yellow dog in a variety of humorous situations. The best poem was written for the month of December and shows the dog cuddled up with his mistress.

While this certainly isn't the best example of this award winning poet's work, it is a book that young children can enjoy, even if it's only for the illustrations. It is best suited for ages 3-7.

Keywords associated with this book: dogs, calendar, months, year, poetry, rhymes.

A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists and their Paths to the Caldecott Medal

A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists and their Paths to the Caldecott Medal by Marcus S. Leonard is a non-fiction book that explores the lives of several well known Caldecott winners: Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner. An introduction provides valulable information about the history and importance of the Caldecott Medal. Each chapter is illustrated with photos of the authors, book covers of their award winning books and some of the original sketches that finally found their way into their final books. It shows a clear picture of how much work is involved – frequently years – in completing a picture book worthy of the Caldecott Medal. It’s interesting to note that while inspired by a British illustrator, the Caldecott awards are only given to Americans.

I enjoyed reading about the early lives of some of my favorite authors. The first chapter on Robert McCloskey brought back childhood memories of other books he wrote such as Homer Price and Centerburg Tales: More Adventures of Homer Price. It dawned on me what an amazing versatile artist he is. I loved looking at the progress of Marcia Brown’s Cinderella illustrations. How I loved that book as a child (and still do!). I was fascinated with the story of Maurice Sendak’s unique books. My children adored his In the Night Kitchen, which won a Caldecott Honor in 1971.

This book is a great way to teach the history of the Caldecott Medal and to learn about the lives of some of their favorite authors. While best suited for upper elementary through junior high level, it will be interesting and useful for adults as well.

Keywords associated with this book: Caldecott Award, Caldecott Medal, Caldecott Honor, Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Christ Van Allsburg, David Wiesner, children’s book illustrators, children’s book awards, children’s books.

An Egg is Quiet

An Egg is Quiet, by award winning author Dianna Aston, introduces children to the many different varieties of eggs. The ink and watercolor illustrations by Sylvia Long, along with the hand-lettered text teach children facts about how eggs: what they look like, where animals lay their eggs, how their markings help them fit in with their surroundings, about their textures. It also illustrates various stages in the development of chicken, salmon and grasshopper eggs. The last page of the book shows how bird eggs make a noisy transformation into cheeping birds.

This non-fiction book is very eye-pleasing. The hand lettering was unique for this genre and gave it a fiction storybook "feel". While it has too much information for a regular group story time, it could certainly work for a one-on-one story time. Parents of younger children, could omit some of the text and just talk about the pictures. I really liked the two page spread at the end of the book that showed illustrations of birds, butterflies and bugs that hatch from eggs. I would use this book as part of a science unit on biology or birds.

I would recommend it most for children ages PreK-3, but could also be used for older children.

Keywords associated with this book: eggs, birds, nests, fossils, embryology, biology.

I Love Tools!

I Love Tools by Philemon Sturges (illustrated by Shari Halpern) is an easy to read picture book about a family using tools to build a birdhouse. The clear colorful pictures and simple text introduce tools and their specific functions. The rhyming text moves the story along as it teaches how the tools are used to start and finish a project from beginning to end. Without coming right out and talking about tool safety, the pictures emphasize the need for parents to be around while the tools are being used.This book is part of a series of books by Sturges and Halpern on things that children love.

What a delightful book for teaching young children not only about tools, but about cooperation and working together to complete a project. I have used other books in this series for toddler and preschool story times and found that they work very well. It could be combined with simple science projects about tools or birds. Also, it could be the basis for a family project to build a birdhouse for our feathered friends. What a great discussion starter for tool safety. While the family in the story may be a bit stereotypical for today’s world (both parents, a son and a daughter) it does emphasize the important theme, that adults need to surpervise the use of tools.

I would recommend this book for children ages 2-5.

Keywords associated with this book: tools, birdhouses, birds, wood, rulers, sandpaper hammers, saws, wood glue, chisel, square, drills, nails, paintbrushes, stencils, screwdrivers, cooperation.

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, by Kate DiCamillo is the story of a small mouse named Despereaux who is the runt of his family. His name almost seems too fancy until you realize that it means sadness or despair. It only sounds fancy because his mother has a penchant for French sounding names.

It's obvious that Despereaux is different from the rest of the mice he knows. He clearly thinks outside the box and doesn't follow standard mouse protocol. He prefers sounds to smells and likes music and books more than food. His siblings try to teach him how to be a proper mouse, but he fails miserably. Instead of being afraid of humans, he falls in love with one of them -- Princess Pea.

Because he can't fit in to the mouse community he is sent to the dungeon where he is expected to die at the hands (or paws) of the rats. Despereaux goes through many trials and tribulations and survives his ordeal. His love for Princess Pea wins out in the end and he actually saves her life and wins a place of honor in the palace.

I loved this book! It's such a delightful story that teaches children lessons about perseverance and not being afraid to be different. It also teaches about the strength that love provides. I couldn't put this down until it was finished.

The Tale of Despereaux has won the Newbery Medal and the audio version has won the ALSC Notable Recording Award. I recommend this for the 7-12 age bracket.

Keywords associated with this book: mice, rats, princess, king, queen, dungeons, castles, love, honor.

Flotsam

The term "flotsam" is defined as debris or wreckage that floats on the water after a shipwreck. In his wordless picture book Flotsam, David Wiesner tells the story of a young boy at the seashore and how the "debris" he finds creates a fascinating and fanciful world.

At first the boy is content with examining a hermit crab under a microscope. Then, a wave rolls over the beach and he discovers an old underwater camera. After developing the film he finds amazing pictures: sea creatures sitting on living room furniture as if it was their own, a town made up of sea shells, small green space men, one of whom is riding a fish like a horse at a rodeo. Then he finds a series of pictures of children holding pictures. The boy realizes these are children around the world and in different times who have taken their own pictures and returned the camera to the sea for other children to find.

The water color illustrations are exquisite and seem to lend believability to make believe. Since children often think make believe is real, this book will allow their imaginations to soar. This is a perfect book to share with children on a vacation to the seashore, or anywhere.

This book is a Caldecott winner and I would recommend it for children ages 5-10, but adults will also enjoy the delightful illustrations.

Keywords associated with this book: seashore, vacation, camera, photography, hermit crabs, fish.

Don't Know Much About Dinosaurs

"Did dinosaurs like to sunbathe?" "Which dinosaurs were the best musicians?" Which dinosaurs wore collars but not neckties?" These are just a few of the questions that are answered in the non-fiction title Don't Know Much About Dinosaurs by Kenneth C. Davis. From the sound of the questions you might think this is a joke book. Not so.

The author takes an already interesting to kids subject and makes it even more fun for them to learn facts about dinosaurs, fossils and other paleontology topics.
Humorous colorful illustrations throughout the book make the dinosaurs take on rather human qualities while at the same time teaching lessons about how these creatures lived, what they looked like, and what they ate. This book is part of the well-known Don't Know Much About series.

I wish that these books had been around when I was growing up. I think I would have enjoyed science lessons so much more. Science teachers could use this as a supplement to their regular curriculum and as part of a unit study. After reading the fun and interesting book, I'm anxious to examine the other books in the series.

This title wins a definite thumbs up. I would recommend it for children ages 6-12.

Keywords associated with the book: dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, fossils, paleontology.

Fever, 1793

Those who like historical fiction will enjoy Fever,1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Set in the 1700's during the time of George Washington, it spins a story based around the epidemic of yellow fever that was running rampant in Philadelphia. This novel is written from the point of view of Mattie, a teenage girl who has to grow up quickly. As the fever spreads and touches her own neighborhood and family, she has to escape from the city. In her struggle to survive, she is transformed from a typical teen arguing with her mother to a young woman who faces tragedy and comes out stronger.

The historical element of this story makes it an interesting read. The appendix at the end of the book outlines some of the real events on which the book is based. As a history lover I appreciated the author's use of facts to create such a great book for children and young adults. I highly recommend it.

This book describes some events that might not be appropriate for very young readers. Discussions of death and disease may be too intense for readers under the age of 11-12.

Fever,1793 has been listed on American Library Associations Best Books for Young Adults and the Junior Library Guild.

Keywords associated with this book: yellow fever, epidemics, Philadelphia, early American history, adolescence, mother-daughter relationships, death, dying.