Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell - ADVISABLE

 

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell, 176 pgs Atheneum

Language~G, Mature Content~G; Violence~PG

EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

Life is complicated . . . especially when your country is at war and your family is Army. The Vietnam War was a time of confusion and conflict for the United States and families all over the country. This novel brings readers into the heart of one career-army family and shows the effects of the war on their relationships. Jaime Dexter adores her older brother T.J. always has . . . always will. When he enlists and is sent to Vietnam, her dad nick-named, The Colonel isn’t happy with his son’s decision. Jaime always thought that her dad would thrill at another family member joining the armed forces. She eagerly awaits a letter from T.J. and when it comes it is just a roll of film. Jaime decides to learn how to develop the film herself. The pictures are not what she expects and she begins to learn that war is not all the glory it is made out to be.

Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

Savvy by Ingrid Law - ADVISABLE

Savvy by Ingrid Law, 342 pages. Dial

Content~G

EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

The Beaumont’s have a secret. . . . Savvy . . . . No one knows why, but when a Beaumont turns 13, they are gifted with a magical ability they call savvy. 12yo Mibbs has watched as one by one her older siblings leave school after their thirteenth birthday to learn how to get their savvy under control. Two days before her special day her Poppa is in a terrible car accident and the family is told he might not make it. On the morning of her birthday Mibbs realizes that her savvy just may be able to save her father.

In a story reminiscent of Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, Law weaves together a story of love, family bonds, determination, and friendship that is sure to become a classic.

Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

Who Lives Here? Wetland Animals by Deborah Hodge and Pat Stephens - OPTIONAL

Who Lives Here? Wetland Animals, by Deborah Hodge, illustrated by Pat Stephens. Kids Can Press, 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK

EL - OPTIONAL

An informational picture book that will be a fine introduction to wetland animals for early elementary students. Each double-page spread includes general text about one of the animals, with a large picture, then adds additional information and smaller pictures featuring some attribute of the animal or its behavior. Realistic detailed illustrations combine with between five and ten facts about each of the nine different animals to create a clear and accessible presentation. All of the information was reviewed for accuracy by the Zoology Department at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

I Know an Old Teacher by Anne Bowen and Stephen Gammell - ADVISABLE

I Know an Old Teacher by Anne Bowen, illustrated by Stephen Gammell. CarolRhoda Books, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

EL - ADVISABLE

A new take on the well-known cumulative rhyme in which it is a teacher who swallows the classroom pets. Miss Bindley swallows a flea, a spider, a fish, and even a snake but will she “Swallow a child? “ The old teacher smiled. . . “I would never do that!” Gammel’s signature watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, and crayon illustrations are colorful and humorous with wildly disgusting touches that children will enjoy. It might be fun to read this aloud to your class then they are misbehaving. . .

Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret, by Freddi Williams Evans and Erin Bennett Banks - OPTIONAL

 

Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret, by Freddi Williams Evans, illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks. CarolRhoda Books, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

EL - OPTIONAL

Enslaved Africans in 19th century U.S. were not allowed to gather together for fear that they might plan uprisings. So they stole away to hidden spots (hush harbors) under the stars to sing and pray together in their own way, risking their lives in pursuit of religious freedom. This is the story of young Simmy, whose job it was to watch for danger while the others prayed and sang. It’s an important story and an author’s note includes historical information on these meetings and the establishment of African American churches.

This is not a book that children would choose on their own. Banks is a celebrated illustrator of multicultural themes but I found the African figures to look distorted and unappealing. The religious theme may be most appropriate for home and church libraries.


Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

Piper Reed: Navy Brat, by Kimberly Willis Holt - ESSENTIAL

 

Piper Reed: Navy Brat, by Kimberly Willis Holt, 160 pages.  Henry Holt and Co.

Content~G

EL - ESSENTIAL 

Army brat/Navy brat this is what you are called when your mom or dad is in the armed forces. Most of these families have to move from base to base, depending on where their parent is assigned. Piper has “moved more times than she can count on one hand” and she is only 9yo. This time her family is moving to Pepsi-Cola(Pensacola) Florida. Moving can be exciting, but it also means saying good-bye to friends, schools, and neighbors. For Piper it means saying good-bye to the Gypsy Club. The Gypsy club was a special club for Piper and her closest friends. Will there be anyone to start up a new Gypsy club with in Pensacola?

Piper is a spunky girl who has lots of adventures as she learns to make new friends and adjust to new places. For kids who love Junie B. Jones.

Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

The Nutcracker by Stephanie Spinner and Peter Malone - OPTIONAL

The Nutcracker by Stephanie Spinner, illustrated by Peter Malone. Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. PICTURE BOOK with a Fully Orchestrated CD

EL - OPTIONAL

Another picture book version of the traditional holiday ballet is enhanced by the addition of a 78-minute CD of Tchaikovsky’s music performed by the Utah Symphony Orchestra. The text is a straightforward retelling of the ballet’s plot. In this version the young girl is named Marie and her Christmas Eve adventure ends as she and the prince fly away from the Land of Sweets in a sled drawn by reindeer.

The watercolor illustrations of the 19th century setting present the tale as a story rather than as a ballet. The illustrations are hazy and dreamlike and somewhat frightening. Some of the faces are very stern and the seven headed mouse king is truly nightmarish.

Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

Looking at Wild Cats by Deborah Hodge and Nancy Gray Ogle - OPTIONAL

 

Looking at Wild Cats by Deborah Hodge, illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle. NON-FICTION. Kids Can Press, 2008

EL - OPTIONAL

An informational easy reader that is a very basic introduction to wild cats for children learning to read. Brief information on cougars, lynx, bobcats, lions, tigers, leopards and cheetahs are included. Part of the Kids Can Read series, this title is Level 1 (Kids Can start to Read). Included are illustrations of cat tracks, a look and find page and wild cat riddles. The text is very simple with large type and plenty of white space. The illustrations are serviceable.

Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch by Anne Isaacs and Dan Santat - ADVISABLE

The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch, by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Dan Santat. Atheneum, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

EL - ADVISABLE

Estrella Rivera runs so fast that she burns the air around her, leaving behind a glowing trail of flame. During the California Gold Rush, Estrella must rescue her three pets from the ghosts of Luckless Gulch. Her dog, Comet, is a Rubberado puppy who can bounce so high he fairly flies and eats rocks. Her two other pets are a Sidehill Wowser who looks like a short furry horse whose downhill legs are twice as long as its uphill legs, and a Kickle Snifter who is small as a lamb but strong as an elephant. Estrella scares the ghosts underground where the tunnels they dig cause the California mountains to rise up and the Whitewood trees to rise so close to the sun that they get sunburned and are now the Redwoods. In fact you can still feel earthquakes in California wherever those ghosts are digging.

Anne Isaacs, author of Swamp Angel, has created another fanciful tall tale about another great heroine. The charming illustrations include hilarious details that children will love to discover. Perfect for units on tall tales, this story would also be a great way to introduce the history of the California gold rush.

Reviewer: Janell Pearce-Mattheus, Youth Services Librarian, Whitmore Library.

City Lullaby by Marilyn Singer - PICTURE BOOK

 

City Lullaby by Marilyn Singer. Clarion, 2007. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

This rhyming book presents typical city sounds counting down from 10. Sirens howl, air brakes hiss, cell phones ring, dogs bark and manhole covers rattle, but nothing disturbs baby who is sleeping soundly to the tune of this city lullaby. Children will enjoy the colorful illustrations and the repetitive patterns in this book. Opposite each page featuring illustrations of the source of a city noise, is an illustration of baby's face with eyes shut. Children will be surprised when in the end, it's the chirp of a tiny bird that wakes baby up.

Reviewer: Debby Herget, Elementary Library-Teacher.

Cat Jumped In! by Tess Weaver - ADVISABLE

Cat Jumped In! by Tess Weaver. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion, 2007

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

Jumping into the house through an open window, Cat begins a series of jumps that get him into trouble. Into the garbage can, into the closet, into the bedroom and into the art studio Cat goes, leaving each spot in complete disarray. Someone continually orders cat "Out!" The paint splotches cat leaves in his final leap win him a jump into someone's arms.

This story relies on its illustrations for meaning. The pictures are well done and truly reveal the nature of a typical, curious cat. Children will enjoy this book, especially those who have a cat at home.

Reviewer: Debby Herget, Elementary Library-Teacher.

Big and Bad by Etienne Delessert - OPTIONAL

Big and Bad. by Etienne Delessert. PICTURE BOOK.Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 

EL - OPTIONAL

A wolf named Big and Bad has been gobbling up animals right and left so those who remain decide to combine their efforts to rid themselves of this troublesome varmint. With the help of the three little pigs, they send the wolf blazing through the night sky.

This unusual take on the "The Three Little Pigs," is beautifully illustrated and could easily be used as a springboard for a discussion on the power of working together to defeat a common foe.

Reviewer: Debby Herget, Elementary Library-Teacher.