The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and twelve

When I was a child, I never really like the story of the three little pigs. Though other children seemed to find it captivating, I did not. I was very grateful therefore when I my daughter did not show any great interest in the story. I was spared having to read about the three little pigs and their misadventures over and over again. 

In the last few years I have encountered some very clever versions of the famous tale, versions that I actually enjoy because they are different. Today's picture book is just such a title. 

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot

Margaret McNamara

Illustrated by Mark Fearing

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2011, 978-0-375-86689-0

  Far away, on the planet Mercury, three little aliens live with their mother. One day Bork, Gork, and Nklxwcyz’s mother tells her three children that they need to “find a planet of your own,” and soon the three aliens are zooming off into space.

   Before they left home Bork, Gork, and Nklxwcyz’s mother cautioned them to “watch out for the Big Bad Robot” and to “Always stick together,” but when they get to Mars, Bork sees a space rover travelling across the surface of the planet and she decides to make it her home. She leaves her sibling and sets up house inside the rover.

   When Gork and Nklxwcyz get to Jupiter, Gork starts riding on a satellite that is circling the giant planet. Though Nklxwcyz warns his brother that living on “a ring that goes around in circles” is a bad idea, Gork pays no attention to him and he goes whizzing off astride the satellite.

   Sensible Nklxwcyz builds himself a solid house on distant Neptune, where he hopes he will be safe from the Big Bad Robot. He never imagines that in the not too distant future he is going to have to face his greatest enemy.

   In this delightful version of the story of the three little pigs, the author and illustrator take us on an exciting journey across our solar system with three amusing alien characters who learn, the hard way, that it is generally a good idea to do what your mother tells you.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and eleven

Humans like to think that they and they alone corner the market when it comes to being able to form friendships and having the need for friends. I do not believe this is true at all. I have seen my dogs get upset when one of their number is missing, and one of my cats walking around the house crying and trying to find her friend - who is at the vet's office. Friendships develop between species too. Just look a the story about Owen and Mzee. Who would have thought that a baby hippo and an elderly giant Aldebaran tortoise could be friends, but they were.

Today's book is about a beast who finds that he is lonely and who tries to find other beasts to be his friends.

The Lonely Beast

Chris Judge

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Andresen Press USA, 2011, 978-0-7613-8097-9

   There are Beasts all over the world, but since there is only one in every country, they don’t know each other. These gentle rare creatures love to tend their gardens, drink tea, read good books, walk in the snow, stand in the rain, bake cakes, and eat cakes. They live in remote places like high mountains and deep woods.

   There was one of these Beasts who one day realized that he was lonely and he decided “that he would go and find some other Beasts.” He travelled a long way and endured many hardships until he came to a city. There were no Beasts there, but there were a lot of people. At first, the people were frightened of the Beast, but soon they grew to like him, and he lived in the big city park.

   The Beast had plenty to do, and many human visitors, but he still felt lonely. He tried to contact other Beasts using the media, and soon everyone was talking about him. The problem was that none of the other Beasts were getting in touch.

   This wonderful picture book is charming and inspirational. Readers will be moved when they see what the Beast does to try to find other Beasts like himself. They will grow fond of the gentle creature who loves to read good books and eat cake, and they will find themselves hoping that this Beast gets his wish.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and ten

When I was growing up, there were very few biographies written for young readers. The few that I was able to get my hands on were, for the most part, rather dry and dull. I certainly don't recall ever reading a historical fiction biography. Thankfully the children's book world has changed a great deal since then, and now many authors are creating excellent nonfiction biographies and  historical fiction biographies that are both interesting and informative.

For today's picture book I have Monica Kulling's newest book in which she tells the story of a woman inventor.

In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps up

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by David Parkins

Historical Fiction Picture Book

For ages 7 to 9

Tundra Books, 2011, 978-1-77049-239-4

   It is 1850, and Margaret Knight is buying nails so that she can build a sled for her brothers. Typically, girls living in 1850 don’t go around building things with wood and nails, but Margaret doesn’t care. She likes to build things and so she does.

   Since the death of her father, Mattie has been cared for by her big brothers who work at the mill, and by the time Mattie is twelve she too goes to work there, alongside many other children.

   The mill room is kept humid so that the threads won’t break, but sometimes they do break and the flying shuttles often injure people. Mattie comes up with a device that will prevent the shuttles from breaking free, and it is such a success that soon it is being used in all the mills. Being a child, Mattie is not able to apply for a patent for her invention.

   By the time she is thirty, Mattie she is working in a paper-bag factory and dreaming up new inventions in the evenings. One day Mattie starts to wonder why there isn’t machine that can make a flat-bottomed paper bag. Surely there must be a way to make such a machine, and she sets about designing one. It takes her two long years, but eventually Mattie succeeds, and she creates a machine that can make a flat-bottomed bag. Now it is time to get a patent for her invention.

   In this fascinating picture book biography, Monica Kulling tells the story of Margaret Knight, a woman who loved to invent machines, and who defied the conventions of her times to do what she loved. Young readers will be delighted to see how Margaret triumphs over those who are eager to discredit her. This is the third book written by Monica Kulling for Tundra’s Great Ideas series.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and nine

In most books and movies, ghosts are scary, spooky, and even dangerous. They are things to be feared, and their haunts should be avoided at all costs. There are a few stories and movies though that present ghosts in a different light. These ghosts are capable of being friendly, and often they are in need of help of some sort. In today's picture book, you will meet a ghost whose home is taken over, and who does his best to scare off the 'invaders' using ghostly methods that have stood the test of time. Until now.

The hungry ghost of Rue Orleans

Mary Quattlebaum

Illustrated by Patricia Castelao

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Random House, 2011, 978-0-375-86207-6

   Fred lives in an old house on Rue Orleans tending his cactus and eating air when he gets hungry. The house is in bad shape and everything inside is covered with a layer of dust, which makes it the perfect hangout for a ghost like Fred.

   Then one day Fred’s quiet is disturbed when Pierre and his daughter Marie come into the house. They are going to turn Fred’s house into a restaurant, and Fred is not at all happy about it. Despite Fred’s protestations, the house is painted, repaired, and cleaned. It is furnished and soon diners are eating Pierre’s delicious gumbo, crawfish, and red beans and rice.

   Fred has had enough, and since no one is listening to him, he decides that more drastic measures are needed. Fred moans and he makes the food jump in their dishes. Surely such a spooky performance will scare off the restaurant guests for good, and then Fred will get his house back. Alas for Fred, the guests at the restaurant love his spooky doings. They add a little something special to the enjoyment of their meals.

   Readers who have a fondness for ghostly tales are sure to enjoy this special title in which Mary Quattlebaum brings together delicious food and a ghost to give us a delightful and memorable story.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

The November and December 2011 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them.

In November and December, people start thinking about and getting ready for the holidays.  For this issue, I chose titles that would make excellent gifts, and therefore almost all the new books in this issue are stand-alone titles, or they are the first book in a new series. The one exception is  Goliath, which is the final book in a trilogy. I included it here because I think the complete trilogy would make a fantastic gift for young readers, and also for adult readers who have an interest in steampunk.

For this issue I have chosen to focus on books about Pirates. I know that many people think that pirate books are exclusively suited to boy readers, but this is no longer the case. It used to be that most of the main characters in books about pirates were men or boys. In many of the books I have reviewed for this feature, there are girls or women who are bold and brave pirates alongside their male brethren, or there are clever girls and women who find ways to outwit their piratical enemies. The books in this feature will suit readers of all ages because there are board books, novelty books, picture books, beginner readers, and novels.

In November and December autumn shifts into winter. During these months, we get serious about bundling up in warm clothes, toasting ourselves in front of warm fires and wood stoves, and finding ways to spend really wet or cold days. I actually really enjoy this time of year as I enjoy sitting under a warm blanket reading a book. What could be better?

For this month’s Editor’s Choice title, I selected In Search of Mockingbird  by Loretta Ellsworth. When I read this book, I could not put it down, and a week after I read it, I read it again. It is a truly extraordinary account of one person's journey of self discovery.

Don’t forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for reviews about Claude Monet, Roald Amundsen, the mystery of the Mary Celeste, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

There are several bookish events taking place in November that I would like to tell you about. They are:

• November 1 is National Author's Day (USA) 

• November 8th is National Young Readers Day (USA) - National Young Readers Day is a day that was created by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1989 as a way to celebrate literacy in schools. 

• November 20th is Universal Children's Day

Some of the titles I reviewed several years ago are now out of print. Though you cannot buy these books in every bookshop, many of them are still available for purchase on websites like Amazon.com.

I hope you enjoy this new issue, best wishes for the holiday season, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Poetry Friday - A review of Pirates

Like many other people, I loved pretending to be a pirate when I was a kid. My best friend and I made treasure maps, we wore eye patches, and he regularly got seasick during the storms that we encountered as we were sailing across the world's oceans. For us, the piratical life was full of adventure and glamour.

I now know more about what pirates were really like. Much as I would like to see pirates through Jack Sparrow tinted glasses, I know that pirates were, for the most part, a savage lot. They were thieves who did whatever was required to get their prize.

The poems in today's book of poetry are unique because they do not glamorize pirates. Instead they tell the real story of what it was like to live outside the law, sailing in a stolen ship, and trying to stay alive.

Pirates

David L. Harrison

Illustrated by Dan Burr

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 9 to 12

Boyds Mills Press, 2008, 978-1-59078-455-6

   Many of like to imagine that pirates were dashing fellows who charmed ladies, and robbed the rich without harming anyone. We like to think that they were basically “heroes” who were worthy of admiration and respect.

   The truth is a lot less glamorous. In actual fact, pirates were a dangerous lot who cared only about themselves, and who would happily rob anyone they encountered so that they could line their own pockets. They very violent and often died violently. They were men (and women) who lived outside of the law.

   In this collection of poems, David L. Harrison gives us a very realistic picture of what pirates were really like. He begins by describing a “Pirates Nest,” a place where men neither gave nor expected “mercy.” This was the place where the down and out and criminals gathered, and where pirates would go to sign on a crew.

   Not surprisingly, pirates looking for new crewmembers were not picky. In fact, they were quite happy to take on people who had “snatched a purse or two,” or a person who was “rotten through and through.” Once the new crewmembers were found, they had to listen to and sign on to the “Ship’s Rules.” They were told that they would be flogged for stealing, and shot for mutinying.

   Once they are at sea, the pirate crew would have to contend with days of boredom when all they could do was to “sit another day” for “another day without pay.” They would have to eat food that most people would consider inedible, and then, when a prize was sighted, risk their lives for whatever the prize might be carrying in its hold.

   In this fascinating and beautifully written collection of poetry, David L. Harrison gives his readers a very true to life picture of pirate life. Readers will get a sense of what it was really like to be a pirate, and they will come to appreciate that the life of a pirate was not an easy one.

   At the back of the book the author provides us with further information about real pirates, debunking myths, and helping us to better understand pirates and their ways.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and eight

I was very lucky that I was never forced to read any books about etiquette. Instead my grandmother made me walk around with a book on my head (so that I would "walk like a lady and not like an elephant"), and she drilled me so that I would learn which fork went with which course. She also taught me to open doors for my elders, and to "be nice to people until they do something that makes it clear that they are not worthy of your respect." At the time these lessons drove me crazy, but I am not grateful for them.

The children in today's picture book do not have a loving grandmother to teach them the dos and dont's of correct behavior. They have a famous book of etiquette forced on then, and they are not amused. 

Thanks a LOT, Emily Post

Jennifer LaRue Huget

Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 8

Random House, 2009, 978-0-375-83853-8

   The family has just gone to Books & Sons, and Mother has purchased a book about etiquette that was written by Emily Post. “Everything was just dandy” until the moment when Mother starts to read the book. Now Emily Post’s etiquette suggestions are severely affecting her children’s quality of life. They cannot slump in their chairs, shout, or talk with food in their mouths. Everything that the children like to do is being ruined by Emily Post’s wretched rules.

   To make matters worse, Mother is always talking about the characters who appear in Emily Post’s book. It is as if Mrs. Wordly, Mrs. Toplofty, and Mrs. Wellborn are in their home, constantly correcting the children’s behavior.

   There finally comes a time when the children have had enough. Somehow they have to convince their mother that Emily Post’s book is not a good thing to read. Somehow they have to use Emily Post’s lessons to get rid of her once and for all.

   In this delightfully funny picture book, young readers will see how Emily Post’s famous book of etiquette affected people. In truth, her book did change the way people behaved. It showed them that having good manners is not just about knowing which fork to use when. It is also about showing others respect and treating them with kindness.

   This is the perfect book for all those children who think that manners are a waste of time. As they read, children will be delighted to see how the characters in the story deal with their problem.

   At the back of the book there is further information about Emily Post and her famous book.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and seven

When I was around eight years old I managed to convince my mother that I absolutely HAD to have my ears pierced. If I didn't I would be a social pariah, and I would never be able to hold my head high in school again. She fell for it, and I got my wish. Ha Ha!

In today's picture book you will meet a little girl who wants to have pierced ears more than anything else in the world, and her parents steadfastly refuse to let her have her wish. 

Earrings!

Judith Viorst

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4424-1281-1

   All over the world, there are girls who want something more than anything else. They beg their parents to let them have their ears pierced. More than anything in the world they want “Beautiful earrings for pierced ears.”

   I would like you to meet a little girl who is completely crazy about earrings. As far as she is concerned, she needs to have earrings, and she cannot understand why her parents have an objection to her having her ears pierced. Women and girls of all kinds wear earrings, so why can’t she? To make it worse, she is the only girl in her class, in the solar system, whose parents won’t let her pierce her ears.

   Desperate to have her dearest wish fulfilled, the little girl asks for earrings for her birthday and Christmas. She talks about how they will “make me feel good.” She pesters and pesters her parents promising that she will stop pestering them as soon as they decide that she is old enough to have earrings.

   Most of us have something that we really really want. This picture book takes a look at one little girl’s passion, a passion shared by girls of all ages all over the world. Told in her own voice, the narrative perfectly captures the little girl’s personality, and the desperation she feels because her wish is not being granted. Young readers and grownups alike will find it hard not to smile as they read this book together, because the main character is so wonderfully persistent.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and six

I once knew a little boy called George who was...well...he was horrid. George was spoiled rotten, and when he didn't get what he wanted, he threw a tantrum. The only time I ever saw George moderate his behavior was when he met another child who was just as horrid as he was. Faced with naughty little boy just like himself, George didn't know what to do. 

Today's picture books is about two naughty children who face a similar dilemma. How can you really enjoy being bad if you have competition?

The Taming of Lola: A Shrew Story

Ellen Weiss

Illustrated by Jerry Smath

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Abrams, 2010, 978-0-8109-4066-6

   Lola is a shrew who lives with her large family in a cunning little home under a large tree. Though Lola is a very small shrew, she has an enormous temper. She is so bad-tempered in fact that her siblings stay away from her, and after a while everyone starts giving in to her demands because it is the easiest thing to do.

   One day Lola’s cousin Lester comes to visit and Lester is so rude and so obnoxious that even Lola is shocked. She gets so annoyed that she tells Lester off, and soon the two young shrews are screeching at each other. They fight about which beds they are going to sleep in, about who is the bigger “foo-face,” and numerous other things. In fact they fight so much that they miss meals and they don’t have any fun.

   In this funny picture book we meet two very badly behaved shrew children who learn an important lesson about learning to get along with others. Young readers will enjoy seeing how the two difficult shrews come to an agreement that seems to survive the test of time.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred and five

There are many people out there who spend a large part of the lives trying to be perfect. They get it into their heads that perfection is attainable and that mistakes are not to be tolerated. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that perfection is overrated. Not to mention the fact that trying to get it usually makes one miserable. 

In today's picture book you will meet a little girl who never makes mistakes. Ever. 

The Girl who never made mistakes

Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

Illustrated by Mark Pett

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 8

Sourcebooks, 2011, 978-1-4022-5544-1

   Beatrice Bottomwell never makes mistakes. Really. She has never goofed in any way, and everything she has ever done has always been perfect. Naturally Beatrice is rather famous. People are eager to see “the Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes.”

   One day Beatrice almost makes a mistake while she is cooking with her two friends at school. She slips on a piece of rhubarb while she is carrying four eggs.  Most people would have dropped the eggs, but Beatrice manages to catch all four of them before they can fall and break.

   For the rest of the day Beatrice worries that she might make a mistake during her juggling performance at the school talent show. Her father tells her not to worry, and reminds her that “you don’t mistakes.” Unfortunately in this instance Beatrice’s father is wrong because Beatrice does make a mistake during her performance. And it is a doozy.

   The is a perfect book for all those perfectionists (of all ages) out there who are convinced that mistakes are not to be tolerated. Readers will come to see that Beatrice’s mistake-free life is actually not that much fun, and that mistakes have a place in our lives, even the unpleasant ones.