Picture Book Monday - Gem

Many of us like to imagine what it would be like to be a wild animal. How easy life would be if we didn't have to worry about homework, sports practices in the snow, and other similarly unpleasant things. The truth is that being a wild animal is no picnic in the park. Meet Gem, a toad who faces many dangers as he moves from place to place.

Gem

Holly Hobbie

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Little Brown, 2012, 978-0-316-20334-0

   Gram is experiencing a particularly cold winter, and while the snow piles up around her house, and the north wind howls, she starts to think of spring. She remembers the day when her granddaughter Hope found a toad, “a small wonder,” in the garden. Gram decides to create a book about the journey made by  the toad, who was called Gem.

   On a warm spring day Gem pushed his way out of the ground and he set off to explore. He crossed the wide expanse of a road and he almost got flattened by a passing car, which was a terrifying experience.

   Up a dirt road he hopped until he came to a pond, where he set about singing his spring song. His melody attracted the attention of a pretty little toad lady, and it wasn’t long before Gem was surrounded by many little toad children. One would think that this would be more than enough of an adventure for a toad, by Gem’s journey was not yet over.

   In this truly beautiful picture book, two letters serve as a frame for a wordless illustrated tale. We share in a toad’s adventures as he copes with cars, birds of prey, and other dangers. It is thrilling to see the world from the toad’s point of view, and we come to appreciate was a gem he is.

   At the back of the book Holly Hobbie provides readers with some facts about toads.

Poetry Friday - A review of Out of this world

Many children are fascinated by space, eagerly devouring books about stars, planets, and space exploration. In today's poetry title, space fans will find wonderful poems that take them off our home planet and out into the unknown. The poems are accompanied by sections of interesting and informative text.

Out of this world: Poems and Facts about Space

Amy E. Sklansky

Illustrated by Stacey Schuett

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Random House, 2012, 978-0-375-86459-9

For many people, space is an exciting and intriguing place, a place full of mysteries and unknowns. Though we have explored much of our own planet, we humans have not ventured far out into space yet. Getting there is part of the problem, and we have had to invent very specialized vehicles to get us off Earth’s surface and out into space, where there is no up and no down, and no gravity. Distances are so enormous, that we still haven’t figured out how to traverse them in a timely manner.

   In this delightful title the author pairs her clever poems with sections of factual text to give readers a unique reading experience. She explores what zero gravity might feel like, and what the Earth looks like from space, a colored “marble” hanging in the blackness. We find out what three famous astronauts took with them when they were “Packing for the moon,” and we are challenged to think about what we would take with us if we were going to make that journey. Would you take lucky charms with you like Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins did?

   Later in the book, we find out about satellites, which make life easier for us by “making phone calls / loud and clear” and by helping us “surf the Web / with ease.” If you want to know about meteors, comets, stars, the sun, the moon, and the planets then you are in luck because all of these things and more are explored in this title.

   Throughout this clever book, the poems and factual sections of text are paired with wonderful illustrations that capture the beauty and wonder of space.

   

Fiction Wednesday - A review of Amelia’s Are-We-There-Yet Longest ever Car Trip

I began reading the Amelia journals created by Marissa Moss many years ago. I love the format that the author uses, and I also love the way in which she addresses issues that are important to young people. Today's fiction title is another Amelia story, and it is perfect for summer because it is about a road trip that Amelia takes with her mother and big sister.

Amelia’sAre-We-There-Yet Longest ever Car Trip

Marissa Moss

Fiction

For ages 8 to 12

Simon and Schuster, 2006, 978-1469-0906-4

   Amelia, her mother, and her big sister Chloe are driving from their home in Oregon to the Grand Canyon, stopping along the way to see a ghost town, Death Valley, Manzanar, Mono Lake, and Yosemite. Though Amelia is looking forward to seeing these places, perhaps most of all she is looking forward to visiting her friend Nadia, who lives in California. Amelia will be staying with her for a few days on the way home.

   The first few days of the trip are a trial. Being in close quarters with Chloe is a challenging under the best of circumstances. Being in close quarters with her when she is being car sick is almost unbearable. Amelia cannot help wishing that Chloe was somewhere else, anywhere else in fact.

   Despite Chloe and her annoying habits there are a few bright moments during the journey to the Grand Canyon. When they stop for dinner at a diner, Amelia not only gets to eat some fantastic food, but she and Chloe have fun listening to real records that are being played on the old fashioned juke box. Staying at motels is fun too, but all the driving is driving Amelia “crazy.” Can the Grand Canyon be worth all this boredom?

   Amelia soon discovers that the Grand Canyon is definitely worth visiting. She is amazed at how huge and how beautiful the place is, and she makes friends with a nice boy from Japan who is visiting America. She buys gifts for her friends and sends them postcards.

   One thing that Amelia cannot help worrying about is whether Nadia will still be the Nadia that Amelia was best friends with a year ago. What if Nadia has changed, and what if they don’t have anything in common anymore?

   In this splendid Amelia journal, Marissa Moss gives her readers a perfect picture of Amelia’s summer vacation road trip. We get to experience the high and the low moments. We share in Amelia’s enthusiasm for the things she sees, and the anxiety she feels about her upcoming reunion with her former best friend.

   Written in the chatty vernacular of a ten-year-old, the journal is handwritten, and it is packed with Amelia’s drawings and doodles, many of which are amusing.

  

Picture Book Monday - A review of Gator

Being alone and in a situation where you are not touched by the warmth of other people's happiness can be dreadful. Your life feels very empty, and seems to lack meaning. In today's picture book you are going to meet a carousel alligator who, when his carousel falls out of favor, goes off looking for new friends and the sound of children's laughter. He is, without a doubt, one of my heroes.

Gator

Randy Cecil

Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Candlewick Press, 2007, 978-0-7636-2952-6

   Gator is a carousel animal, and there is nothing that he likes more than hearing the laughter of the children who are riding the carousel. For years, children line up to have a turn on the carousel, and Gator and his friend Duck are always busy. Then, over time, fewer and fewer children come to the carousel for rides. Finally, one day, the carousel lights are turned off, the music stops playing, and Gator is forgotten.

   For a while Gator sleeps, but then he wakes up and he decides that he should leave the park and go out into the world. Gator walks through a scary dark forest, he sees some real ducks and finds out that they can fly. Then he comes to a place where people are laughing and clearly enjoying themselves. Gator dares to hope that he has found “some sort of amusement park,” and he goes to investigate. Perhaps this place can be his new home.

   When we first meet Gator, he does not give us the impression that he is all that special. Then he dares to leave the only home he has ever known to find a new life for himself. This is a truly brave thing to do, and children will see that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Gator head out into the unknown to look for a new future for himself, and he does something wonderful in the process.

   This a tale that has a charming main character, beautiful illustrations, and a story that will resonate with readers of all kinds. 

Poetry Friday - A review of Some kind of love

In summertime, many families get together to reconnect and catch up. My family members have always been spread all over the world, so this was never something we did. This coming winter my cousin is getting married in California, and many of my family members will be travelling long distances to celebrate this event with her. It will be the first time many of us will be meeting the new babies, and I am really looking forward to it.

Today's poetry book is about an annual family reunion that a family share. Though the gathering is not fancy, it is an event that is special for everyone.

Some kind of love: A family reunion in poems

Traci Dant

Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Marshall Cavendish, 978-0-7614-5559-2

Every summer, in “purple lilac time,” the members of Grandma’s family leave their homes and drive to Missouri for a family reunion. Without fail, no matter what is happening in their lives, the aunts, uncles, and cousins come to spend some precious time together, and when the members of the family arrive there is “an avalanche of hello / hugs and kisses.”

   No one stays at a motel. Instead, everyone is given a place to sleep at one of the aunt’s houses. No one minds having to share a bed. No one minds having to sleep on a sofa or on the floor. All that matters is that they are all together.

   The family members go fishing, and the happiness that they are share is so great that even when Joley eats the dough that is supposed to be used for bait, he doesn’t get scolded. The love that the family members have for each other seems to have a magical quality because somehow Aunt Lois’s little house is able to accommodate one hundred family members who come together for a fish fry that evening.

   This same magic makes the family stories so funny that even Daddy, who works so hard all the time, laughs as if he hasn’t a care in the world. It makes cousins, even the ones you don’t know each other well, great friends.

   In this heart-warming and unique picture book, Traci Dant uses a series of poems to tell the story of an annual family reunion, an event that brings people together for shared good times. Throughout the book we are reminded that “some kind of love” must be present that is making this reunion full of love, goodwill, friendship, and good spirits. Readers will find themselves wishing that they could join the members of this family who are able to create something so precious even though their homes are small and their means are modest.

   

Fiction Wednesday - A review of The Magic Finger

I grew up reading the Roald Dahl books, and I still enjoy reading Danny the Champion of the World, The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. How wonderful it is when the bad guys are defeated and get their just desserts. In today's fiction title, the bad guys get the shock of a lifetime, and they learn a memorable lesson.

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl

Fiction

For ages 7 to 9

Penguin, 2009, 978-0142413852

  I’d like to introduce you to an eight-year-old girl who has a rather unusual gift, if you can call it that. When she gets annoyed at someone, she points her finger at the person and then strange things happen. For example, after the girl’s teacher, Mrs. Winter, tells her that she is a “stupid little girl,” the girl points her finger at Mrs. Winter who then sprouts a cat’s whiskers and tail.

   Apparently the Magic Finger is something she has always had, and she has no idea why or how it works. All she does know is that when she gets “cross,” her finger tingles, “a sort of flash” comes out of her, and the person she points at, the person she is cross with, experiences something unpleasant.

  One day the girl sees her neighbors coming home from a hunting expedition carrying a dead deer. The girl thinks that hunting is a horrible sport and she has tried again and again to persuade Mr. Gregg and his two sons to give it up. Being dedicated hunters, the Greggs ignore the girl’s words. When she sees that poor deer, the girl really loses her temper and she puts the Magic Finger on Mr. Gregg and his sons, and on Mrs. Gregg who didn’t even go hunting.

   At first the little girl has no idea what her Magic Finger has done to her neighbors, but later on she finds out that they have an experience that truly changes their attitude towards hunting. It is an experience that is, at times, quite terrifying.

   Children who enjoy stories about magical happenings are going to love this delightful tale. It is hard not to feel cheered when one sees how things work out for the Greggs after they experience the wrath of the Magic Finger.

   As always, Roald Dahl has crafted a clever and often funny story that perfectly suits a child’s definition of justice. 

The Olympic Games and a BOOK GIVEAWAY

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to the beginning of the summer Olympics. I especially like the track and field events. Over the years, I have reviewed several books about the Olympic Games. Some of them tell the story of the games, while others tell the stories of some of the athletes who participated in them. Recently I reviewed a book called G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet. The wonderful people at Sleeping Bear Press have given me FIVE copies of this book to give away. My review of the book is below. To participate in this giveaway send me an email at editor@lookingglassreview.com telling me which Olympic event is your favorite. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet

Brag Herzog

Illustrated by Doug Bowles

Nonfiction Picture Book

For ages 6 to 11

Sleeping Bear Press, 2011, 978-1-58536-462-6

   Long ago in ancient Greece, wars between the city-states were a common occurrence. The only time peace could be guaranteed was every four years, when the citizens of the city-states would lay down their arms for a month and come together to compete as athletes. The games were hosted in the town of Olympia, and the men who won the races and other events were given an olive wreath to wear.

   The modern Olympic Games came into being because Baron Pierre de Coubertin felt that the “a modern version of the Olympic Games would foster peace between nations.” Because of his efforts, there has been a summer Olympic Games every four years since 1896 except in 1916, 1940, and 1944, which were, ironically, all years when the world was being torn apart by war.

   In this fascinating fact-packed alphabet book, Brag Herzog tells us about the Olympic Games from A to Z. Beginning with Ancient Greece on the A page, he goes on to tells us about Baron Pierre de Coubertin on the B page. On the “C is for all the countries page,” we learn that in 2008 two hundred countries sent athletes to the Summer Olympics. Next is D for decathlete. On this page, we learn that for two days decathletes who up to the daunting task compete in ten events. These events include shot put, long jump, high jump, and running.

   For each of the topics explored in this book, the author gives us a poem that introduces the subject. He supplements this with a more in-depth section of text. Young children will enjoy the hearing the poems and looking at the art, while older readers will be interested in reading the longer text sections. This format makes this book suitable for readers of all ages, from age 6 and up.

   This is one of the titles in a series of alphabet books published by Sleeping Bear Press. 

Picture Book Monday - A review of Eight Days Gone

On this day in 1969, a rocket called Apollo 11 blasted off into space taking three men to the moon. It was an incredible journey, one that was watched by millions of people all over the world. Today's picture book tells the story of this journey in beautifully spare rhyming verse that is accompanied by wonderful illustrations.

Eight days gone

Linda McReynolds

Illustrated by Ryan O’Rouke

Nonfiction Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Charlesbridge, 2012, 978-1-58089-365-7

   It was a hot day in July in 1969 when hundreds of people gathered to watch Apollo 11 blast off into space. Out in space, the three astronauts on board watched the “Shrinking planet” that was their home getting smaller and smaller as they headed for the moon.

   As they got closer to their destination, the three men began to prepare. They donned their “bulky suits,” and the other special clothing that they were going to need, and then they disconnected the lunar module from the command module. While Michael Collins and many people on Earth watched, first Neil Armstrong and then Edwin Aldrin stepped onto the moon leaving their boot prints “on / ashen ground.”

   In this special picture book, Linda McReynolds uses rhyming verse to tell the story of the first moon landing, which took place on July 20, 1969. She captures how the astronauts felt as they looked at Earth from the moon, and readers will see how important this event was not only for Americans, but for all people.

   An author’s note at the back of the book provides readers with further information about the moon landing, and Ryan O’Rouke’s artwork provides a perfect backdrop for the author’s compelling and atmospheric rhyming verse.

Poetry Friday - A review of Water Sings Blue

It is summer at last, and for many of us, this means trips to the seaside. In today's poetry book you can take just such a journey without leaving home. In fact you can do so from the comfort of your favorite reading spot. Throughout the book beautiful illustrations are paired with wonderful poems to give us a salty, wave-filled reading experience.

Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems

Kate Coombs

Illustrated by Meilo So

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Chronicle Books, 2012, 978-0-8118-7284-3

   When you go down to the sea, you are presented with a whole new world, a world where there is an open sky, where the seagulls fill the air with their cries, and where boats can take you away from the land. As you sail out to where “the water sings blue and the sky does too” you leave behind the pier, “its pilings huddled and dull.”

   Here the waves have many voices, depending on the weather and the wind. Some days the waves “swell and sigh” while on others they “wake and roar.”

   Beneath the surface, little fish swim, hoping against hope that they are not seen by a hungry shark. Jelly fish drift, their tentacles like a “kimono trialing.”

  In the deep “where the sea feels like a grave,” oarfish and gulper eels lurk in the dark. Perhaps a blue whale will dive down to these places, where shipwrecks sit on the bottom “far from home / under gallons of seas.”

   This extraordinary book takes us from the land, out to sea, beneath the waves, and then back to the tide line. We meet some of the creatures who make the sea their home, and come to appreciate how this watery world is a place full of mystery and contradictions.

   With gorgeous watercolor illustrations on every page, and beautifully atmospheric poems, this is a book readers of all ages will enjoy exploring. 

Fiction Wednesday - A review of Squirrel's World

Telling stories that are amusing and interesting, and that are also suitable for beginner readers is not easy. I am always keen to find easy chapter books that actually tell a story, and that have characters that have substance. Today's book is just such a title. Children just beginning to read books with short chapters will be charmed by Squirrel and his friends.

Squirrel’s World

Lisa Moser

Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

Fiction

For ages 6 to 8

Candlewick Press, 2007, 978-0-7636-2929-8

   Squirrel is perpetually busy and on the go, and he thinks that it is his duty to help all his friends be busy too. When he finds that Mouse is collecting food to store, Squirrel decides to help. He buries Mouse under a mountain of corn cobs, and he shakes so many apples down from the tree that it is “raining apples.” Poor Mouse has more food now than he could ever eat.

   Down by the pond, Squirrel finds Rabbit. Rabbit very much wants to retrieve one of the lily pads, but he does not like getting wet. Busy and enthusiastic Squirrel decides to help Rabbit. He uses a stick to “wack wack wack that leaf” in an attempt to free it. All he manages to do is to soak Rabbit. Squirrel then decides that they should float a log into the pond and “reach reach reach” for the leaf. Though Squirrel is doing all that he can to be helpful, poor Rabbit ends up getting soaked all over again.

   Squirrel is, without a doubt, a very hyper and rather exhausting fellow to be around, but his intentions are good, and he clearly has a kind heart. Young readers will find it hard not to like this well meaning animal, and they will laugh when they see what he gets up to, and how he drives his friends to distraction.

   This wonderful early reader chapter book is perfect for young children who are eager to start reading ‘real’ books on their own.