Woof-Woof

Title:               Woof-Woof
Category:       Concept
Grade:            Birth - 2
Author:          Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator:      SAMi
Publisher:       Chronicle
Date:               2006

Summary:     

A sturdy, board-and-foam, die cut book, Woof-Woof is made up of a series of pictures showing various common animals.  The name of the animal and the sound for which the animal is known make up the text of this imaginative little book. 

Review:

This book is perfect for babies in their first year; it's sturdy cutout design is easy and interesting to a baby's grasp and can readily withstand chewing and other infant abuse.  The illustrations are bold and simple in high-contrast black and white with splashes of red, best suited to attract young babies' eyes, and the text focuses on basic animal sounds that this age group will love to imitate and practice.

That's Not My Puppy

Title:               That’s Not My Puppy
Category:       Realistic
Grade:            Birth - 2
Author:          Fiona Watt
Illustrator:      Rachel Wells
Publisher:       Usborne
Date:               2009

Summary:     

In That's Not My Puppy, a young narrator examines several comical dogs in an attempt to find his (or her) own puppy.  The narrator decides each dog is not his because of a specific characteristic that is unlike his dog. 

Review:

Reminiscent of Pat the Bunny in its tactile variety, Not My Puppy far outshines its older brother with simple, bold illustrations and strong lines along with durable board pages and tightly secured "touch-me's" that can withstand infant abuse.  This book is a wonderful one for babies in their first year due to its colorful, high-contrast illustrations and simple, repetitive vocabulary.  The "touch-me's" featured on each page spread offer baby a wonderful variety for tactile exploration, and are sure to make this book a favorite.

Where Is Baby's Belly Button?

Title:               Where is Baby’s Belly Button?
Category:       Concept
Grade:            Birth - 2
Author:          Karen Katz
Illustrator:      Karen Katz
Publisher:       Little Simon
Date:               2000

Summary:     
This sturdy, colorful book features a series of questions about baby's basic body parts with lift-the-flap "peek-a-boo" answers that encourage interaction.  For caregivers seeking to engage their infants, this little book can easily provide a springboard for plenty of tickles, "peek-a-boos," and basic body part identification. 

Review:

The illustrations are simple and colorful, featuring drawings of playful infant faces, and the heavy text is set in strong contrast to plain, brightly colored backgrounds.  Though the interactive flaps are made only of strong paper, the book is durable enough to stand up to reasonable infant handling and will make a playful addition to any baby's library.

In My Patch

Title:               In My Patch
Category:       Animal
Grade:            Birth - 2
Author:          Sara Gillingham
Illustrator:      Lorena Siminovich
Publisher:       Chronicle
Date:               2010

Summary:     

One of a series of toy books, In My Patch follows a young mouse's daily adventures through a fall pumpkin patch.  Although he does many fun things, we discover his family is the best part of his day. 

Review:

Colorful, bold collage illustrations and simple text make this little book a great introduction to "story" with a sweet message, and contain enough contrast to keep from being overly "busy."  The sturdy die cuts are easy for infant fingers to grasp and a well-attached mouse finger puppet can tolerate an infant's pull and give him or her another tactile dimension to explore.

Moo, Baa, La La La

Title:               Moo, Baa, La La La
Category:       Concept
Grade:            Birth - 2
Author:          Sandra Boynton
Illustrator:      Sandra Boynton
Publisher:       Little Simon
Date:               1982

Summary:     

A baby-friendly board book, this zany little romp through animal sounds is a great addition to any infant story time.  With just a little bit of silliness, Boynton takes babies through most of the major domestic animal sounds, and a few extras, encouraging mimicry. 

Review:

Simply illustrated in clearly-defined pictures set against high-contrast colored backgrounds, these hilarious animals will not only attract baby's attention, but amuse caregivers as well.

Magyk

Title:               Magyk
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            4-8
Author:          Angie Sage
Illustrator:      Mark Zug
Publisher:       Katherine Tegen Books
Date:               2005
Pages:              552

Summary:     

Septimus Heap was the seventh son of a seventh son, and should have been the most Magykal of all the Heap children.  Unfortunately, he died at birth, and in his place came the young foundling, Jenna.  Ten years later, Magyk has been outlawed, the queen and her trusted advisor Alther have been murdered, and the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia has been deposed by an evil necromancer after the throne.  When spies reveal that young Jenna is actually the lost princess, Silas and his family flee into the marshes.  There with Aunt Zelda, a white witch, they struggle to prepare enough magic to protect their family, rescue their captive eldest son, and get the necromancer’s hunters and assassins off their case.  Along the way, they capture a boy soldier from the young army, Boy 412, who knows nothing of his past, but wields the power of Magyk with startling strength. 

Review:

Fantasies, though vastly different in detail, are often predictably tiresome in their basic structure, a reason I have avoided reading this book for a long time.  While certain parts of it were predictable, Magyk was anything but tiresome, told in colorful, reader-friendly prose that would lend itself readily to being read aloud.  Combining humor and magic with a great tale, Sage places herself readily among the ranks of writers like Rick Riordan and Jean Ferris, and a broad range of readers will enjoy this fast-paced, vivid and charming adventure.

The People of Sparks

Title:               The People of Sparks
Category:       Science Fiction
Grade:            4-8
Author:          Jeanne DuPrau
Publisher:       Random House
Date:               2004
Pages:             338

Summary:     

Lina, Doon and the people of Ember have survived their escape from the dying city.  Now in the world above, they must make a way for themselves with almost no skills or knowledge about their new environment.  After stumbling on the small village of Sparks, they are reluctantly taken in by its occupants, but vast differences in culture and mounting worries about food shortages cause hostility to grow quickly – a hostility that is fueled covertly by some unknown agent of one of the towns.  Lina and Doon have their own set of differences, and Lina fears they are growing apart.  Stealing away with one of the traders, Lina sets out for the city of her imaginings, hoping to find an answer for them all, while Doon, left behind, tries to uncover the person pushing both the communities toward war.

Review:

As well-written as the first, Sparks nevertheless takes a very different tone, focusing on how people groups collide and escalate their conflicts to violence.  DuPrau continues to demonstrate her strong and readable storytelling skills, keeping readers in touch with their favorite characters from Ember and introducing us to several new ones – some likeable, some not. 

Nobody's Princess

Title:               Nobody’s Princess
Category:       Historical
Grade:            6-10
Author:          Esther Friesner
Publisher:       Random House
Date:               2007
Pages:             305

Summary:     

Even as a child, Helen of Troy is beautiful.  However, she is also headstrong and determined not to be left behind by her brothers in this lovely tale by Friesner.  When her sister Clytemnestra is forced into a marriage with the heir of Mykenae, Helen and her brothers insist on traveling with her.  Unfortunately, extricating themselves and returning to Sparta are far more difficult and Helen and her brothers must use both their athletic prowess and their political skills to escape, first to Calydon, then to Delphi where they encounter the famous Pythia.  When Helen’s brothers are offered the chance to sail after the Golden Fleece instead, Helen is left to her own devices to return safely home… or not.

Review:

Friesner makes an interesting choice to write this book as historical fiction instead of fantasy steeped in mythology.  Though Helen and her family worship the gods and refer to them often, the events in the story are written as though they could actually have taken place within the culture of the time.  The story is complex, and while interesting, not always action-packed, making it a slower read and best suited for somewhat older readers.  Helen, however, is just as independent and fearless as any modern reader could wish, and teens will enjoy her spunk and courage.  For readers who enjoy Greek mythology, or to ignite the spark of interest in it, this would be an excellent read.  

The Thirteenth Princess

Title:               The Thirteenth Princess
Category:       Fantasy, Fairy Tale
Grade:            4-7
Author:          Diane Zahler
Publisher:       Harper
Date:               2010
Pages:             243

Summary:     
After siring twelve daughters instead of a son, a thirteenth daughter would be a disappointment to any king.  Zita is banished at birth to the servants’ wing and all but disowned.  Her older sisters steal time with her when they can and communicate with her secretly until Zita’s twelfth birthday when they begin to fall mysteriously ill.  Zita, a friendly witch named Babette, and the stable boy Breckin search for answers as the sisters fail, and follow them into a magical realm in which the sisters are forced to dance all night every night.  With the help of Breckin’s older brother, Milek, the group attempts to free the princesses from the spell and uncover the startling source of the evil curse.

Review:

Thirteenth Princess is, of course, a variation of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” tale, and a decently-told one.  Probably not a recommendation for readers who do not truly enjoy fairy-tale retellings, this one has nicely fleshed characters, a believable twist, and a somewhat fresh take on the princess-turned-servant angle.  While it is a good read, it does not really contain the originality or vibrancy to make it a truly great one.

Dirty Little Secrets

Title:               Dirty Little Secrets
Category:       Realistic
Grade:            7-12
Author:          C.J. Omololu
Publisher:       Walker & Company
Date:               2010
Pages:             210

Summary:     

Lucy has a secret, and she lives in fear that her high school friends will discover her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and that Lucy lives surrounded by trash and junk.  When her mother dies under a pile of her own garbage, Lucy hesitates to call the paramedics for fear that the police and the media will discover the condition of their home and that both her social life and her mother’s memory will be destroyed in the ensuing circus.  Desperately, Lucy attempts to clean up the years of filth, learning much about her mother and herself along the way.

Review:

A fascinating read about a little-known disorder, Dirty Little Secrets earns nothing from this reviewer except praise.  Omolulu has carefully and sensitively researched the lives of compulsive hoarders and their children and written a powerful and thought-provoking book that also happens to be a good story.  As Lucy struggles to dig through the garbage, Omololu takes her through the full gamut of emotion from fear to anger to regret and sorrow.  She also brings out several less-considered consequences of hoarding on children, and ends the book with a twist that was both unexpected and satisfactory.  Lucy is an extremely “real” young lady that will garner sympathy from her readers.  A highly recommended read.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann

Title:               Alchemy and Meggy Swann
Category:       Historical
Grade:            5-10
Author:          Karen Cushman
Publisher:       Clarion
Date:               2010
Pages:             157

Summary:     
Crippled Meggy Swann has been sent without fanfare to live with her reclusive scientist father after the death of her grandmother.  Her father, intent on discovering how to make gold, is disappointed both in Meggy’s disability and her gender, and quickly brushes her aside.  Meggy, who has always avoided contact with strangers, must learn to go among them in order to survive.  With the help of kind neighbors and her father’s friendly ex-servant, Roger, Meggy slowly begins to make a life for herself in London, but when she uncovers the unscrupulous truth of her father’s work, she and the local printer hatch a daring plot to expose her father’s business associates before they can destroy him.

Review:
Though Cushman has brought many charming and well-thought out characters to young readers, Meggy Swann was a bit of a disappointment.  The book is well-written and the plot relatively engaging, but the protagonist is extremely difficult to like.  She is negative, temperamental, and extremely rude to the people to try to help her.  While some of this is understandable, finding enough about her to redeem her in a reader’s eyes can be challenging, and though I enjoyed some of the later twists and turns of the book, I was not really disposed to celebrate Meggy’s eventual successes and friendships.  A fair book, but not Cushman’s best.

City of Ships

Title:               City of Ships
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            6-10
Author:          Mary Hoffman
Publisher:       Bloomsbury
Place:              New York
Date:               2010
Pages:             348

Summary:     

Hoffman returns to her alternative world of Talia in this fifth installment of the Stravaganza series.  Isabel is the new unhappy teen, chosen to bear the talisman and travel nightly between her world and the city of Classe, a city paralleling ancient Ravenna.  Desperate to outshine her twin brother at something, Isabel stumbles into a new plot by the di Chimici family to elist the aid of the savage Gate people and attack both Classe and the port city of Bellezza.  As preparing for the coming battle fills her nights, Isabel begins spending her days with the former Stravaganti, all still students at her school.  When the father of stravagation, William Dethridge, discovers a way to allow a Stravaganti’s talisman to take him or her to any city and not just one, the Stravaganti begin to return to Talia with Isabel to aid in the fight against the di Chimici.  In the end, however, it is Isabel who must call upon both her new-learned skills and the bravery she did not know she had to turn the tide of battle and rescue her brother, who has unwittingly followed her into Talia.

Review:

The Stravaganza series has long been a favorite, and this book does not disappoint.  Though a danger in open-ended series is frequently the author’s eventual lack of a truly good story to tell, Hoffman continues to skirt this pitfall as of now.  Fans of the series will enjoy meeting the new Stravagante and will especially like revisiting their favorite protagonists and cities of the past as Isabel travels to the settings of all the prior stories.  However, new readers should still be able to follow the story with a minimum of difficulty.  City of Ships contains the same fast-paced action and robust adventure we have come to expect from this series.  However, after five books, this series would strongly benefit from a wrap-up installment and a clear ending.  Though Ships was still a very nice story, it is beginning to show the signs of a series losing its direction.  The removal of the restriction on traveling to one city, the return of all the Stravaganti, and truthfully, the lack of a truly critical role for Isabel in the final conflict render this novel weaker than its initial counterparts, although still enjoyable.  While I would recommend this story to fans of the series, it would benefit as a whole from being closed definitively (and triumphantly, we hope) in a final book.

Twice Upon a Marigold

Title:               Twice Upon a Marigold
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            3-7
Author:          Jean Ferris
Publisher:       Harcourt
Place:              Orlando
Date:               2008
Pages:             297

Summary:     
Life in Beaurivage has been peaceful and pleasant for both the peasants and the royal family since Christian and Marigold were happily wedded and the evil queen Olympia fell into the river and disappeared.  Far downstream, life in Granolah has also been quite pleasant as the villagers welcome the sweet, if amnesia-ridden, woman Angelica, whom the mayor fished out of the river a year ago.  Unfortunately for everyone, Angelica’s memories return, and she is, of course, none other but the evil queen herself, and more than ready to reassume the throne and remove anyone who gets in the way.  With her (former) best friend, Lazy Susan, in tow and the enigmatic Mr. Lucasa, Olympia returns to Beaurivage and sets the castle in an uproar.  As she plots to do away with her benevolent, but distracted husband, Swithbert, Christian and Marigold begin to discover that happily ever after does not always mean perfect wedded bliss.  Amidst their quarrels, Olympia has most of the royal family imprisoned and scheduled to be executed.  Marigold and Christian must find a way to overcome their differences, outwit the guards, and overthrow the queen before she hangs them all. 

Review:

In spite of a grim-sounding summary, this story like its predecessor, is a rollicking little romp, full of twists and turns and surprises that even younger children may enjoy. Ferris writes with a clear and merry tone and stock-style characters that are easily distinguished as good or evil, yet loveable (or hate-able) nonetheless.  While fans of the first book will enjoy the further adventures of their favorite heroes and villains, newcomers should not have any trouble following this tale.  Older children will enjoy the swift paced action and humor in Ferris’s writing.  Highly awarded, this book makes a fine companion to its prequel and is a fun, lighthearted read.

Into the Woods

Title:               Into the Woods
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            4-7
Author:          Lyn Gardner
Publisher:       David Fickling Books
Place:              New York
Date:               2006
Pages:             428

Summary:     

Though sharing a title, this book should not be confused with the well-known Sondheim musical or derivatives.  Gardner’s Into the Woods is a completely different story, yet interestingly, it is also fairy-tale based.  Young Storm Eden has little to do with herself besides chafing under the iron-fisted rule of her older sister, Aurora, until her mother gives birth to a baby sister and dies in the process.  Before she passes, Zella gives Storm an odd little pipe and warns her to keep it safe and to be wary of its power.  In the busyness of helping to raise her new sister, Anything (and learning to create fireworks), Storm almost forgets about the pipe.  One day strangers come to Eden’s End, an odd boy with one blue eye and one green, who seems to be both friend and foe, and the evil Dr. DeWilde, who will stop at nothing to have the pipe.  Threatened by Dr. DeWilde’s pack of wolves, Storm, Any, and Aurora flee and take refuge with Bee Bumble, a kindly old lady who cares for orphans in a house made of sweets.  Too late, the children discover she is not what she seems either, and Storm and Aurora must go on the hunt for the kidnapped Any, avoiding Dr. DeWilde and Bee Bumble along the way.  When Aurora too becomes ensnared, Storm makes a terrible and selfish choice that may cost her not one, but both of her sisters and perhaps even her own life.

Review:

As with many fairy-tale based books, Into the Woods sounds quite grim, but is actually a delightful and merry jaunt through some of the world’s most beloved stories.  Gardner references almost every major fairy tale and fantasy story known in this century, yet still manages to create a hilariously original and captivating tale.  Gardner’s writing is straightforward and easy to read, not unlike Jean Ferris or Lemony Snicket, and the characters, while larger-than-life, are well-realized and easy to warm to, particularly our young heroine, Storm.  Family is a powerful theme throughout the story.  While the story itself would be a wonderful read-aloud, the length of the novel may deter some younger readers who would otherwise enjoy it.  Children will enjoy the quick pace and the humor, along with Mini Greys supplements and illustrations, often integral to the action of the story.

Princess of Glass

Title:               Princess of Glass
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            6-10
Author:          Jessica Day George
Publisher:       Bloomsbury
Place:              New York
Date:               2010
Pages:             257

Summary:     

Princess Poppy has had her fill of dancing since she was freed from the curse that forced her and her sisters to dance every night.  Avoiding it can be difficult however, since her kingly father has sent her to a neighboring kingdom as part of an “exchange program” designed to encourage the young royalty to find their future mates.  Handsome Prince Christian may not be able to change her mind, but he certainly is a fine companion.  Unfortunately for Poppy, an enigmatic and completely hapless servant, Eleanora, seems to have her sights set on the prince as well.  When Eleanora begins arriving at a series of balls and fetes dressed in magnificent gowns and jewels that outshine Poppy, her friends and the queen herself, Poppy is certain another curse is at work.  However, forcing Eleanora to tell the truth behind her mysterious benefactor may not be easy, especially since Christian seems to be falling for the servant girl, and Poppy will need both determination and wit to solve the puzzle before time runs out.

Review:

George did some nice things in this novel, and it was entertaining; however, several glaring flaws must be accounted.  First, the book is a sequel, which was not clear from the cover or the blurbs.  Much of the story refers repeatedly to events that happened in the prior story, leaving the new reader with several gaps difficult to infer completely.  I would strongly recommend reading the first book, Princess of the Midnight Ball, before attempting this one, as the confusion may deter weaker readers.  The story is a variation of “Cinderella,” which readers should recognize quickly.  The ending, however, was extremely sparse, and poorly told.  While several mysteries were cleared up with semi-satisfying explanations, the explanations themselves suffer from information given in the first book that does not transfer completely to the second.  The ending itself was almost too easy, and I certainly questioned the villain’s lack of fortitude in the final battle.  The prince was able to see through her spells and solve the final puzzle with barely a break in stride – a disappointment when she seemed far more powerful through the earlier parts of the story.  That aside, preteen or young teen girls may enjoy the story simply for the fairy tale elements or the romance.  A mildly entertaining read that may be recommended to some specific audiences, but not necessarily a favorite.

The City of Ember

Title:               The City of Ember
Category:      Science Fiction
Grade:            4-8
Author:          Jeanne DuPrau
Publisher:       Random House
Place:              New York
Date:               2003
Pages:             270

Summary:     

Assignment Day has come to the City of Ember, a forgotten world buried deep within the earth.  Lina and Doon, both twelve, have definite ideas of the jobs they want, but Lina is assigned to labor in the pipes, keeping the water supply running far below the city itself.  Doon is given the job of messenger, running errands through the city streets.  Doon, however, is desperate to get Lina’s job because the generator that powers Ember lies below.  Supplies, placed in the city by the Builders centuries before, are finally beginning to run out, and the city lights are becoming more and more unstable.  Unless someone can discover a solution, soon the city will no longer be habitable, and the people will die or be forced to attempt to journey through the endless dark surrounding the city.  Then Lina finds a strange and ancient document that seems to hold the key, but it will take all their skill to unravel the mystery.  Even then, there is no guarantee that anyone will believe them or that anyone can make it out of Ember and live.

Review:

Another dystopian novel, DuPrau nevertheless authors her debut with style and charm, successfully creating a believable world lost in the Earth’s crust.  Lina and Doon are well characterized, although they are young enough to put off some older readers perhaps – I had difficulty believing they accomplished this story at the tender age of twelve.  This story reminded me of Myst, done about a decade before, particularly with the journals and documents readers can attempt to solve right along with the protagonists in the story; it would translate readily into a video adventure game.  DuPrau’s writing is easily read, and preteens will appreciate the independence the children of Ember gained at a very young age.  An entertaining read that ends with a cliffhanger, spurring fans to the library for the next installment.

The Lost Hero

Title:               The Lost Hero
Category:       Fantasy
Grade:            4-8
Author:          Rick Riordan
Publisher:       Disney / Hyperion Books
Place:              New York
Date:               2010
Pages:             553

Summary:     

Fans of the original Percy Jackson series will be delighted to return to Camp Half-Blood in this opening to Riordan’s new series.  Our young hero, Jason, is not nearly so delighted, however, when he awakens on the bus with no memory.  Soon, he and his friends, Piper and Leo, also demigods, are located and escorted to Camp Half-Blood, only to discover that the camp’s hero, Percy Jackson, is missing in action.  Meanwhile, Jason is having visitations from the goddess Hera, who has been imprisoned by the giants and a far more powerful enemy than the Titans were.  Jas on and his crew set out to rescue her before the winter solstice, but only Piper is aware that the giants have stolen her father.  As they near their destination, Piper must decide whether to lead them astray, betray her newfound friends and save her father, or risk his life by telling the truth.  Leo is just along for the ride – literally, as he attempts to tame and repair a rogue metal dragon on the loose.  Together the three of them must stop the giants’ plan and save Hera before their anonymous enemy can rise to power and destroy Olympus…and perhaps learn the mystery of Percy Jackson’s disappearance in the process.

Review:

Riordan does not fail to please in this action- and legend packed addition to the Percy Jackson chronicles.  Fans of the prior series will enjoy the humor and offbeat storytelling Riordan employs, and warm quickly to his new trio of demigods, who are as fully characterized as the originals.  While older readers may find places in the tale that seem resolved too simply, I would remind readers that these stories originated as bedtime tales for Riordan’s boys, and are written in a style easily translated to keeping young audiences spellbound with an oral retelling.  Slightly similar to Harry Potter in style, these books maintain the action, add the humor and avoid some of the darker and more macabre elements of their wizardly counterparts, making them suitable for upper elementary as well as youth audiences.  As always, Riordan continues to thoroughly research and add both famous and lesser-known stories from the Greek and now the Roman canon, a fabulous interest-gainer into the world of classic mythology. A thoroughly delightful story, and fans, including myself, will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.