2008 Children’s Book Review

AMERICANA

978-0-670-06284-3 Building Manhattan by Laura Vila 16.99

Geograhy, History, Immigration all wrapped up in this easy language great book. I love it. Could be used as a model for teaching many genres.

978-0-399-24250-2 Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen 16.99

In two voices, the author has written a compelling book of a girl from Russia who emigrates to America while we watch the dream of artist Frederic Bartholdi unfold as he builds the monument to honor freedom.

978-0-7636-2530-6 Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport 17.99

A picture book written with side bars of all the artists, mentors and families who have honored this great momument.

978-1-4169-1629-1 A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner 16.99

During the 1960’s, the bubbly fountain in town is not what two children think it is, fruit flavored water. They find out the fountain in reality is for a law they are not familiar with.

978-0-547-01436-4 The Silent Witness by Robin Freidman 6.99

Just released in paperback, one of those special true reads of the Civil War.

978-0-374-30365-5 Anne Hutchinson’s Way (2007) by Jeannine Atkins 17.00

I don’t know how I missed this book but here it is, better late than never. It’s not just another settler book, but a riveting account of a strong mother, who although persecuted for her preaching and helping others leads her family in life and in her death.

978-1-58536-348-3 The Lucky Star by Judy Young 17.95

A Depression era story written with compassion and components for teachers to use in the classroom.

978-0-525-47945-1 Americana Adventure by Michael Garland 15.99

Following clues, Tommy travels across America . On this adventure he observes famous quotes, hidden objects, symbols of America and much more.

978-0-399-24520-6 United Tweets of America by Hudson Talbott 17.99

Fifty state birds, their stories and interesting trivia of the history, geography and wildlife of each state, could be in science category also.

THE WORLD

978-0-670-06334-5 Follow the Line Around the World by Laura Ljungkvist 16.99

Readers will be taken on a world tour from sea to village to city with one continuous line, filled with facts and fun line drawings.

978-0-547-01547-7 Mosque by David Macaulay 9.95

Now in paper, the visual detail is wonderful with the information of the mosque’s role in Islam.

978-0-7636-2400-2 Red Butterfly by Deborah Noyes 16.99

How a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China . A 2007 edition but so timely and beautiful.

BIOGRAPHIES

978-0-525-47948-2 Women Daredevils by Julie Cummins 17.99

The subtitle is Thrills, Chills and Frills, which certainly covers women from all walks of life showing us the courage and fortitude of these daredevils.

978-0-399-24174-1 Stand Tall Abe Lincoln by Judith St. George 16.99

I love the Matt Faulkner’s illustrations in this new picture book biography of Abe Lincoln.

Science

978-0-618-56325-8 The Mysterious Universe by Ellen Jackson 18.00

With beautiful pictures, the supernovae, dark energy and black holes explode throughout the book.

978-1-59514-207-8 The Curious Boy’s Book of Exploration by Sam Martin 15.00

100 Challenges, puzzles and experiments for any young scientist.

978-0-525-47716-7 The Brook Book by Jim Arnosky 15.99

Exploring stones, bugs, animals, etc: from the smallest stream as it develops into a river and beyond.

978-1-58536-254-7 W is for Waves by Marie and Roland Smith 17.95

Alphabetically written with science and an overview of oceans biology, great as a reference for all ages.

MATH

978-0-670-06262-1 Bones and the Math Test Mystery by David Adler 13.99

In this easy to read mystery, Jeffrey Bones loses his math paper.

978-0-7636-2468-2 Full House by Dayle Ann Dodds 16.99

In rhyme, this engaging book teaches fractions.

GREAT READ ALOUDS

978-0-670-06309-3 Peter’s Spit a Seed at Sue by Jackie French Koller 15.99

Teachers and Librarians will love this funny, side-splitting read. Four bored kids hear the watermelon vendor and the fun begins throughout the town. Great language.

978-0-525-42027-9 How Mama Brought the Spring by Fran Mansuhkin 16.99

A great tale for the winter, when children see the value of stories and recipes from past generations.

978-1-58536-355-1 Titanicat by Marty Crisp 17.95

This is not just another Titanic or cat book. It is a winner with all the components of a great read. Just a touch of history with more of a story than I have read in a long time. I love it.

978-0-7636-3021-8 The Grasshopper’s Song by Nikki Giovanni 16.99

An Aesop’s Fable of the grasshopper and the ant set up with a cast of characters for a play.

978-0-374-32000-3 Tin Lizzie by Allan Drummond 16.95

Grandpa celebrates with his grandchildren the 100th year of Henry Ford’s Tin Lizzie by taking them on a road trip.

978-0-525-47915-4 Chickens Fly the Coop by Leslie Helakoski 15.99

Great language, the chicken crowd look for the farmhouse, but instead find everything else in a funny repetitive tale.

978-0-7636-3386-8 McFig & McFly by Henrik Drescher 17.99

Two Scottish neighbors try to outdo each other and end up never happy.

FRACTURED TALES

978-0-399-24771-2 The Fisherman and His Wife by Rachel Isadora 16.99

Told with an African landscape, this collage style

978-0-39924615-9 Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox 16.99

A fractured fairy tale (Sleeping Beauty) is fun to read with its audience responses.

978-0-525-47443-2 Thea’s Tree by Alison Jackson 16.99

Written in letter form, Thea has a mysterious tree which has a fractured fairy tale theme. It is a great who dunnit.

SCHOOL STORIES

978-1-4169-1814-1 The Lost and Found Tooth by Louise Borden 16.99

Lucy waits for a tooth to finally get loose and come out. Her second grade class has an event that gets recorded on the calendar: knowing the date, telling time, and sharing a story of a lost tooth. A great model story for teachers.

978-0-399-24277 Booming Bella by Carol Ann Williams 16.99

Bella shouts everything and her classmates try to tell her to whisper, being too loud is usually a bad thing but during a field trip when Bella gets on the wrong bus it is just right.

978-0-399-24179-6 Keisha Ann Can by Daniel Kirk 15.99

Large rhyming words, start the school year’s tasks for Keisha Ann.

978-1-58536-342-1 Willow by Denise Brennan Nelson 16.95

Art teachers will love this. Full of expression and creativity and the magic of being who you are.

978-0-8037-3055-7 The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli 16.99

Every teacher who is teaching writing should read this story to their class. It is another Spinelli favorite of mine.

978-0-7636-3595-4 Stanley and the Class Pet by Barney Saltzberg 16.99

It is finally Stanley ’s turn to take home the class pet Figgy the bird. He opens the door of the cage and the bird flies the coop. It is a great lesson in responsibility and disaster.

STORIES FOR THE VERY YOUNG

978-0-7636-3920-4 Beware of the Frog by William Bee 15.99

Mrs. Collywobbles lives on the edge of a big, dark, scary wood. The tri story ends with a twist and a turn.

978-0-7636-3800-9 Martha in the Middle by Jan Fearnley 16.66

With beautiful illustrations, Martha runs away as she is tired of being in the middle. She meets frog in the garden and he explains the middle is the very best part of many things.

978-0-399-24734-7 Sally and the Purple Socks by Lisze Bechtold 15.99

Every child I know loves and will continue to wear their favorite pair of socks. Full of humor and fun the kids will relate to this story.

978-0-7636-3797-2 Tweedle Dee Dee by Charlotte Voake 16.99

I can see this book used as a play. The music is in the back end pages, but could sing The Wheels on the Bus with the words.

978-0-7636-3803-0 Look Out Suzy Goose by Peter Horacek 14.99

Suzy Goose is looking for peace and quiet so she goes off to the woods but she is not alone!!!

978-0-399-25079-8 I Love you Mouse by John Graham 15.99

A bedtime or anytime verse which tells the baby animals and where they live.

CHAPTER BOOKS

978-0-7636-3667-8 My Dad’s a Birdman by David Almond 15.99 (2-3 gr)

In the style of Roald Dahl, a funny story of dad and his daughter that try to fly and live as birds.

978-0-8037-3275-9 The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan 16.99 (9-12)

Set in Argentina in the 1970’s, families disappear never to be released from prisons for protesting the government.

978-0-8037-3188-2 March toward the Thunder by Joseph Bruchac 16.99 (9-12)

One of the untold stories of an Abenaki Indian who joined to fight in the Civil War and ends up with the Irish Brigade.

978-0-525-47916-1 Caught between the Pages by Marlene Carvell 16.99(9-12)

P.J. just thinks he is a loser until he finds himself in a opportunity to do the right thing. I liked this book and kids will relate to the language which is ok for all readers.