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Children's Bookwatch

Volume 16, Number 7 July 2006 Home | CBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Biography Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Poetry Shelf Art Shelf
Bilingual Shelf Cookbook Shelf Folklore/Fairytale Shelf
Nature Shelf DVD Shelf Sports Shelf
Music Shelf Picturebook Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

When Marion Copied
Brook Berg
Upstart Books
PO Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
1932146571 $16.95 www.amazon.com

Written by Brook Berg with illustrations by Nathan Alberg for young students in grades 1 through 4, When Marion Copied: Learning About Plagiarism is the thoughtful and entertaining picturebook story of Marion's copying a paper from the internet, and the lesson which Mr. Owen has to teach the class about plagiarism. Following Marion's class through an elaborate but easy-to-follow explanation of the proper way to cite writings and summarize correctly, When Marion Copied offers young readers an unique introduction to what may happen if they copy school work (or any other work) from any sources, most especially including the internet. A critically important addition to all elementary school library collections, When Marion Copied is very highly recommended for all teachers and parents of children as highly informative, thoughtful, and non-threatening, helpful and effective guide through the problems associated with plagiarism.

Kids Need To Be Safe
Julie Nelson
Free Spirit Publishing
217 - 5th Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
1575421925 $9.95 www.freespirit.com

Kids Need To Be Safe by Julie Nelson is nicely illustrated with pictures by Mary Gallagher and offers children insightful, informative and quite helpful guidance through the hardships and difficulties of childhood when in the care of other different parents, guardians, and foster parents. Providing young readers ages 4 to 10 with an age appropriate understanding of what happens with parents who cannot maintain a healthy relationship together, or do not have place to live for their children, or for other reasons lose custody of the child, Kids Need To Be Safe favorably explains the basics of foster care. An important addition to school, community library, and family counseling center library collections, Kids Need To Be Safe is very highly recommended for all parents, foster parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers offering children informed and informative guidance through the process of foster care.

Sammy Spider's Shabbat Fun Book
Sylvia A. Rouss
Kar-Ben Publishing
241 First Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
1580131476 $4.95 www.karben.com

Sammy Spider's Shabbat Fun Book by Sylvia A. Rouss with creative illustrations from Katherine Janus Kahn is a fun and innovative introduction to the Jewish practice of Shabbat. Engaging its young children in a variety of games, quizzes, stories, pictures to color, and other activities, Sammy Spider's Shabbat Fun Book follows Sammy through an interesting collection of Shabbat-related activities, including an exclusive cut-out card game. Sammy Spider's Shabbat Fun Book is very highly recommended as a fun learning tool about this Jewish celebration event.

Shelley The Hyperactive Turtle
Deborah M. Moss
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethseda, MD 20817
1890627755 $14.95 woodbinehouse.com

The newly published second edition of Shelley The Hyperactive Turtle by Deborah M. Moss is very nicely illustrated by Carol Schwartz and is the creative tale of Shelley the Turtle and his problem with AD/HD. Introducing the colorful tale of Shelley's hyperactive, energetic behavior, Shelley The Hyperactive Turtle is an entertaining picturebook approach that has an underlying theme of explaining to young readers just what AD/HD is and the serious effects that unrecognized or untreated it can have on some people's lives, but with the proper help, the condition AD/HD can be helped and an active, positive life can be led. An important addition to school, community, and family counseling collections, Shelley The Hyperactive Turtle is very highly recommend for all parents, teachers, physicians, and counselors searching for a sensitive and effective introduction to AD/HD based hyperactivity which would be suitable and appropriate for children ages 5 to 8 .

Celebrate!
Jan Reynolds
Lee & Low Books
95 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
1584302534 $16.95 bebopbooks.com

Celebrate!: Connections Among Cultures by Jan Reynolds is a superbly illustrated descriptive survey of diverse cultures around the world, and the similarities many of them share. Carrying young readers ages 5 to 9 through an outstanding collection of photographs combined with a "kid friendly" text, Celebrate! offers an intriguing look into the celebrations of such different people and cultures as those of the Australian Outback, Bali, the Amazon basin of South America, the tropical islands of Indonesia in South Asia, and so many more. An important contribution to school and community library "Other Lands, Other People" reference collections for children, Celebrate! is very strongly recommended for anthropological compendium of facts for elementary school level social studies and world culture curriculum supplemental reading lists.

Strange But True Stories
Janice Greene
Saddleback Educational Publishing
Three Watson, Irvine, CA 92618-2767
5 book series $6.95 each sdlback.com

The Strange But True Stories series of five paperback books by Janice Greene, features stories ranging from UFOs to the occult, monsters, myths and legends. Book One (1599050102) includes The Presidential Ghost, Mystery Spots On Earth, and UFO Or Weather Balloon?; Book Two (1599050110) features Bob Lazar, The UFO Guy, The Mothman Mystery, and Mischievous Spirits; Book Three (1599050129) focuses on The Jersey Devil, Phantom Ships, and Living Dinosaurs?; Book Four (1599050137) reveals What Lurks Beneath The Waves?, Winchester Mystery House, and Skulls Of Doom; and Book Five (1599050145) has King Tut's Curse, Amazing Athletic Feats, and Monster Or Myth?. The Strange But True Stories series captivates its young readers with concise and in-depth research offering wealth of fun facts. As an exceptional anthology of the peculiarities found throughout the world, and entertaining, high interest subjects for readers of any age, The Strange But True Stories series is very strongly recommended for school and community library collections.

What About Me?
Eileen Kennedy-Moore
Parenting Press
11065 5th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98125
1884734863 $14.95 parentingpress.com

Enhanced with delightful illustrations by Mits Katayama, What About Me?: Twelve Ways To Get Your Parent's Attention (Without Hitting Your Sister) by clinical psychologist Eileen Kennedy-More is an encouraging collection of creative, fun, and nice ways to approach parents for attention, requests, or complaints. Giving such ideas as helping out, sharing, singing, and so much more, What About Me? provides its young readers with a fun and rhythmic presentation of good and rewardable behavior for a more intimate and loving relationship with parents. An ideal addition to child counselor, family, school, and community library collections, What About Me? is very highly recommended for all little readers -- and their parents hoping to instill responsibility in their children character and conduct.


The Biography Shelf

Under The Bodhi Tree
Dharma Realm Buddhist Association
3106 Crescent Avenue, Unit 7, Marina, CA 93933
0881393193 $17.95 www.drba.org

Under The Bodhi Tree from the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association is an informative and entertaining biography drawing from a collection of stories surrounding the life of Siddhartha, a young prince of India who would become known and revered around the world and down the generations as the Buddha. These are the stories which reveal the memorable life which he led as young readers follow the young Buddha from his sheltered childhood through many short story chapters, each of which depicting another fascinating tale of Siddhartha's transition into becoming the Buddha. With a "kid friendly" text enhanced with vivid illustrations. Under The Bodhi Tree is very highly recommended reading for all young people, but most particularly those engaged in the study or practice of the Buddhist religion.

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
Judy Alter
State House Press
PO Box 637, Abilene, TX 79697
193333701X $17.95 tamu.edu/upress

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson: First Woman Governor Of Texas by Judy Alter is the amazing biography of Miriam Ferguson and her remarkable journey to the governorship of the great state Texas. Following her intriguing life and many able pursuits, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson tells of her considered agreement to run for governor and restore her husband's name and familial honor after his impeachment during his second term as Texas' governor, and her own two term progress from 1925 to 1927 and from 1933 to 1935. A highly valued addition to school library "American History & Biography" collections, and "Texas History" reading lists, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is very strongly recommended as an informative and inspiring introduction to the life and times of the Ferguson family for all young readers intrigued by Miriam Ferguson's encouraging and accomplished life.

Tamora Pierce
Donna Dailey
Chelsea House
132 West 31st St., 17th Fl, NY, NY 10001
0791087956 $30.00 chelseahouse.com

New from the "Who Wrote That?" series from Chelsea House publishers, Tamora Pierce by Donna Dailey is an introduction to the literary accomplishments and works of Tamora Pierce. Guiding young readers through her twenty-three young-adult and fantasy novels, as well as her short stories, articles and radio plays, Tamora Pierce offers children with an informed and informative grasp of the author's perspectives, stories, and general outlook when it comes to writing. Included are an Index, a Chronology, a bibliography for further reading, thematically related websites, full-color photographs, and "Did You Know" boxed features that provide interesting anecdotes and less well-known facts about Pierce's life and times. Tamora Pierce is a very highly recommended addition to the library reference collections of school students in grades 6 to 12 for its exceptional grasp of this popular author's life and works. Also very highly recommended from the "Who Wrote That?" series are the earlier volumes dedicated to Anthony Horowitz, Ann M. Martin, Barbara Park, and Maurice Sendak.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Heart Disease
Alvin Silverstein, et al.
Twenty-First Century Books
241 1st Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
0761334203 $27.93 lernerbooks.com

Heart Disease by the team of Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn is an informed and informative guide for your readers to the condition of heart disease, including what are its causes and treatments as illustrated by the true story of 16 year old Jessica Melore's heart attack. Organized into accessible chapters that include: Everybody's Disease, How The Heart Works, What Is Heart Disease?, Who's At Risk?, Detecting Heart Problems, Mending Broken Hearts, Heart-Healthy Living, Future Outlook. Heart Disease is enhanced for young readers with the additional inclusion of a Glossary, an Index, a list of resources. An ideal addition to school and community library "Health & Medicine" reference collections, Heart Disease is very strongly recommended for all young readers seeking a greater understanding of heart-disease -- its causes, treatment, and the best ways to keep the heart strong and healthy.

I'm Walking, I'm Running, I'm Jumping, I'm Hopping…
Richard Harris
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1 Columbus Center, Suite 800, 283 Constitution Drive, Virginia Beach, CA 23462-6782
0970450419 $16.95 www.hrpub.com

I'm Walking, I'm Running, I'm Jumping, I'm Hopping… by Richard Harris features a text designed for young readers ages 8 to 12 combined with colorfully lively illustrations by Craig Harris and offers a delightful "kid friendly" guide the importance and practice of eating right. Incorporated within this original and entertaining picturebook story format is a wealth of informative and usable information for children. I'm Walking, I'm Running, I'm Jumping, I'm Hopping… reveals just why children should avail themselves of a healthy diet as a youngster with a growing, active body. An ideal addition to any school or community library collection, I'm Walking, I'm Running, I'm Jumping, I'm Hopping… is strongly recommended as an encouraging and welcome aide to keeping kids fit and healthy in this age of increasing childhood obesity and fast food availability.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Water Beds
Gail Langer Karwoski
Sylvan Dell Publishing
976 Houston Northcutt Boulevard, Suite 3, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.sylvandellpublishing.com
0976494310 $15.95 1-877-958-2600

With illustrations from Connie McLennan, Water Beds: Sleeping In The Ocean by Gail Langer Karwoski is an intriguing picturebook collection of ten marine mammals and their unique sleeping habits. Included are the sleeping habits of the bottlenose dolphin, harbor seals, elephant seals, northern fur seals, walruses, humpback whales, beluga whales, manatees, sea otters, and walruses. Water Beds carries young readers through a charmingly presented survey of the diversity of sleeping methods with a thoroughly "kid friendly" text enhanced with beautiful illustrations throughout. Concluding with "For Creative Minds" (a summary of marine mammal adaptations for an ocean environment) and "Make Your Own Marine Mammal Using Adaptations" (a hands on creative exercise applying what's been learned about marine mammals), Water Beds is a very highly recommended addition for school and community library "Pets & Wildlife" collections for children ages 4 to 8, and an ideal selection for parents as an entertaining and educational bedtime picturebook.


The Poetry Shelf

Thunderboom!
Charlotte Pomerantz
Front Street Books/Boyds Mills Press
862 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806
1932425403 $17.95 frontstreetbooks.com

Nicely enhanced with illustrations from Rob Shepperson for the enjoyment of children ages 3 to 8, Thunderboom!: Poems For Everyone by Charlotte Pomerantz is a superb collection of clever poems which will engage and entertain its young poetry lovers from first page to last. The Kangaroo: A kangaroo doesn't keep in her pocket/Bracelets or brooches or rings or a locket.//She doesn't keep pencils and lollipop sticks. Or bubblegum wrappers or magical tricks.//She doesn't keep cookies or cornsticks to munch/Or crispy salt crackers or celery to crunch.//She doesn't keep postcards or bent paper clips/Or yo-yos or tickets from trolleybus trips.//She doesn't keep thimbles or licorice drops/Or Cracker Jacks, whistles, or peppermint pops.//She keeps in her pocket--can you guess who?//A baby kangaroo.


The Art Shelf

Look! Look! Look!
Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Marshall Cavendish Corporation
99 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591
0761452826 $16.95 marshallcavendish.us

Written and illustrated by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace with the assistance of Linda K. Friedlaender, Look! Look! Look!, is the creative and original tale of three mice (Kiki, Alexander and Kat), and their fun exploration into the world of fine art. Following the three mice as they create their own version of a postcard featuring the elegant and detailed portrait painting of Lady Clopton, Look! Look! Look! captivates its young readers with a fun and inventive collection of art appreciation ideas and concepts throughout. Indeed, children are encouraged at one point to make their own work of art using the principles the mice have been discovering and conveying in their own efforts to observe all the details a work of art. An unusual and strongly commended addition to family, school, and community picturebook collections for children ages 5 to 8, Look! Look! Look! is enthusiastically recommended for artistic young readers as a picturebook tale of interest, information, and ideas.


The Bilingual Shelf

Lover Boy/Juanito el Carinoso
Lee Merrill Byrd
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
0938317385 $15.95 cincopuntos.com

Lover Boy/Juanito el Carinoso: A Bilingual Counting Book by Lee Merrill Byrd features charming illustrations by Francisco Delgado and provides young children ages 6 and up with a fun and creative approach to counting in both Spanish and English. Lover Boy/Juanito el Carinoso is picturebook tale of one young boy named Johnny who was very affectionate and expressed it through giving kisses, earning him the nickname of "Lover Boy". Following Lover Boy through his journey of counting and kissing, Lover Boy/Juanito el Carinoso will thoroughly entertain children while they learn to count in two languages. A welcome addition to family, school, and community library bilingual book collections for children, Lover Boy/Juanito el Carinoso is very highly recommended as a fun and entertaining guide to counting in English and Spanish.

Yesterday We Had A Hurricane/Ayer Tuvimos Un Huracan
Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier
Bumble Bee Publishing
PO Box 1757, Chesapeake, VA 23327
www.yesterdaywehadahurricane.com
0975434292 $17.95 1-757-410-9409

Ably written and illustrated with simple but effective images by Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier, Yesterday We Had A Hurricane/Ayer Tuvimos Un Huracan, is an informative bilingual (English/Spanish) picturebook introduction for children ages 3 to 8 about the phenomena of hurricanes. Offering a basic and "kid friendly" presentation of how hurricanes are made and the damage a hurricane can do, Yesterday We Had A Hurricane/Ayer Tuvimos Un Huracan provides a unique and effective picturebook approach to understanding the dangers of a hurricane and ways to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane without electricity, as well as several other innovative ideas for coping with hurricane damages. Now that hurricanes are the stuff of newspaper headlines and television news shows, Yesterday We Had A Hurricane/Ayer Tuvimos Un Huracan is strongly recommended for all children, teachers, and parents seeking an easy-to-follow and expertly presented picturebook approach to the "cause and effect' of a hurricane. A subject that is on the minds and in the nightmares of so many children because of Hurricane Katrina.

Vegetable Dreams/Huerto Sonado
Dawn Jeffers
Raven Tree Press
200 South Washington, Suite 306, Green Bay, WI 54301
097419929X $16.95 raventreepress.com

Featuring a bilingual text in both the English and the Spanish, Vegetable Dreams/Huerto Sonado by Dawn Jeffers features museum quality illustrations by Claude Schneider and is the story of a Erin, a young woman and her pursuit of a personal dream to grow and maintain a garden. Captivating young readers with an engaging and entertaining story line, Vegetable Dreams/Huerto Sonado follows Erin as she meets Mr. Martinez and their friendship which slowly progresses as the two of them care for her increasingly attractive and productive garden. A confidently recommended addition to school and community library bi-lingual picturebook collections, Vegetable Dreams/Huerto Sonado is an impressively written and illustrated tale of a multi-generational friendship, created and strengthened through the care and love for a simple vegetable garden.


The Cookbook Shelf

Cooking Up A Storm
Sam Stern
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
076362988X $16.99 candlewick.com

Cooking Up A Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook by Sam Stern (and inspired by great British chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, and Nigella Lawson) is an expansive and "teen-friendly" guide through a fun, nutritious, delicious, and easy-to-prepare collection of recipes that kids can make in their family kitchen. Ably presenting a culinary wealth of recipes for active meals and the step-by-step methods for their preparation (including an ingredients list for each featured dish), Cooking Up A Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook offers its young readers recipes ranging from My Friend Joe's Thai Green Curry; Meringue Shells with Raspberries and Cream; and Tomato, Avocado and Mozzarella Salad; to Our Fave Cheesecake; Chocolate Crispy Crunchies; and French Onion Soup with Cheese Croutons. A welcome addition to any family cookbook shelf, Cooking Up A Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook is very highly recommended for all teens eager to discover their hidden culinary talents or who must begin to assume meal preparation duties for themselves and/or their families.


The Folklore/Fairytale Shelf

Rabbit Plants The Forest
Deborah L. Duvall
University of New Mexico Press
MSC11 6290, 1 University of NM, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
0826336914 $18.95 www.unm.edu

Deftly authored for young readers by Deborah L. Duvall and graced with paintings by Murv Jacob, Rabbit Plants The Forest is the folktale tale story from Native American and Cherokee cultures of Ji-Stu (Rabbit) and the invitation from Sa-lo-li the Squirrel to help plant the forest with the seeds of new trees. Illustriously carrying young readers through this story drawn from Cherokee traditional lore, Rabbit Plants The Forest follows Ji-Stu and Sa-lo-li in their adventurous quest to plant hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans and acorns (which her family have planted since the world began) to keep the forest a thick and beautiful place. Rabbit Plants The Forest is very highly recommended as the creative and vivid telling of two growing spirits as they pursue life and happiness, as well as a better world for all throughout their forest home.

The Frog Princess
Eric A. Kimmel
Holiday House, Inc.
425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017
0823416186 $16.95 holidayhouse.com

Expertly retold by Eric A. Kimmel and beautifully illustrated by Rosanne Litzger, The Frog Princess: A Tlingit Legend From Alaska is the evocative Alaskan folktale of a young maiden princess of a Tlingit village whose heart is pursued by many different suitors, but none of them are regarded with any romantic interest by her. The Frog Princess carries young readers through the impressively pictured story of the young maiden's interest in the Frog People and her heart-warming struggle to discover where her true home is, as well as dealing with the greatest life-changing decision she's ever faced. An ideal addition to school and community "Myth, Fairytale & Folklore" picturebook collections, The Frog Princess is very highly recommended for all parents and young readers for its creative story telling and superb illustrations.


The Nature Shelf

The Nature Treasury
Lizann Flatt
Maple Tree Press
c/o Publishers Group West
1700 - 4th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1897066422 $16.95 mapletreepress.com

Featuring the superb illustrations from Allan Cormack and Deborah Drew-Brook, The Nature Treasury: A First Look At The Natural World by Lizann Flatt is a simply outstanding collection of information on many of animals and plants that are a part of the natural world. Offering an introduction to a multitude of animals and plants ranging from the lemming, the river otter, and the blue crab, to the ground squirrel, the mountain ash tree, and the pronghorn antelope, The Nature Treasury offers an introductory education to the wildlife and wildlife habitats. Featuring a glossary that will help parents and teachers answer questions that children may have as they read this outstanding book, The Nature Treasury is very strongly recommended for all children's library reference and nature exploration collections, and is specifically appropriate for elementary school children as a "first reader" with respect to nature's world from the Amazon rain forest to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.


The DVD Shelf

The Money Mammals
Snigglezoo Entertainment
c/o 411 Video
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.themoneymammals.com
MM-01 (DVD) $19.99 1-831-656-0553

The Money Mammals: Saving Money Is Fun from Snigglezoo Entertainment is a brilliantly presented collection of informative ideas for informing young children about money and effectively guiding them into the good habits of saving their money. Using lively and colorful puppets, The Money Mammals informs while it entertains, including a featured song list that includes We're The Money Mammals (Theme Song), One Coin (for the Coconut Card), Red Straw Hat (for Clara's Birthday), I'm Frugal, Make a Choice, Saving Money Really Rules, Reasons To Save, and Let's Make The Right Choice. The Money Mammals is very highly recommended as a 30 minute, full color DVD for all parents hoping to instill the practice of handling money responsible and master the art of saving money for future needs on a sound and regular basis.


The Sports Shelf

Norwood House Press
PO Box 316598, Chicago, IL 60631
$25.27 (each) norwoodhousepress.com

The "Team Spirit" series by Mark Stewart is an exciting and thoroughly "kid friendly' collection of historical, biographical, and pictorial introductions to several of the greatest baseball, football, and basketball teams in American history. Featuring the remarkable athletic accomplishments, achievements, records and historical landmarks of professional sports, the "Team Spirit" series includes baseball's The Atlanta Braves (159953007), The Chicago Cubs (1599530015), The Chicago White Sox (1599530060), and The New York Yankees (1599530031); football's The Dallas Cowboys (159953004X), The Indianapolis Colts (1599530058), The New England Patriots (1599530066), and The Philadelphia Eagles (1599530074); basketball's The Detroit Pistons (1599530-082), The Miami Heat (1599530090), The Phoenix Suns (159530104), and the San Antonio Spurs. Providing young sports enthusiasts in grades 3 to 6 with the history of the team, the present day team lineup, the home stadium, history of the uniform, key players, team legends, a team timeline, fun facts, team influences and coaches, quotes, major records and awards, TOC, glossary, index, and places to for each team, the twelve volume "Team Spirit" series is very strongly recommended for school and community library collections.


The Music Shelf

Tall And Small
Rebecca Frezza
Big Truck Music
c/o Waldmania!
130 Maywood Drive, San Francisco, CA 94127
CD $15.00 www.bigtruckmusic.com

Available online at amazon.com, cdbaby.com, barnesandnoble.com, as well as local speciality toy and bookstores, Tall And Small is award-winning independent children's recording artist Rebecca Frezza's third studio CD and is specifically intended to entertain preschool aged children with fourteen brand new songs performed by Rebecca and enhanced by precision backup singers and instrumentalists. Flawlessly recorded, these energetic, entertaining, and thoroughly "kid friendly" tunes include: Happy; Sweet Harmony; I'm A Kid; Can't Let Go Blues; Take A Ride; Show Me!; Tell Me A Story; It Wasn't Me; It Goes...; Daydreamin'; Won't Let The Room Keep Fallin'; Colors; Turning And Turning; and the title piece, Tall And Small. Also very highly recommended for family, daycare, preschool, and community library CD music collections are Rebecca's two earlier collections: Music In My Heart and Road Trip.

Eat Every Bean And Pea On Your Plate
Daddy A Go Go
Privately Produced
c/o Beth Blenz-Clucas
5505 SW Illinois St., Portland, OR 97221
#3669 $12.00 www.daddyagogo.com

Eat Every Bean And Pea On Your Plate from the creative works of Daddy A Go Go (aka John Boydston). Providing a fun selection of music from rock and roll, punk, alternative, and classic rock for a superb interest for children ages 5 and older, Eat Every Bean And Pea On Your Plate offers young listeners exciting songs including: It's a Kids' World (3:43); For Those About to Walk, We Salute You (3:58); Cryin' in the Dugout (3:42); Irritation Man (3:00); Blitzkrieg Bop (Kids' Beat Bop) (1:57); Hang Up and Drive (3:41); To Sir with Love (instrumental) (2:26); Pink Floyd Saves Hugh Manatee (4:10); Dads Who Rock (3:06); Listen to the Flower People (2:22); I Never Twang For My Father (instrumental) (2:08); The Guy Who Couldn't Make a Rhyme (6:26); and the title track Eat Every Bean and Pea on Your Plate (2:44). This outstanding CD is to be given high praise and strong recommended to parents of young children for its creative and unique musical styling and diversity.

Quiet Time
Raffi
Rounder Records
One Camp Street, Cambridge, MA 02140
#1166181282 $11.99 www.rounder.com

Quiet Time is a collection of lullabies and soothing melodies from Raffi's extensive children's music collection. Providing an outstanding tracklist of beloved children's songs, Quiet Time includes: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Listen To The Horses; Like Me and You; Nursery Rhyme Medley; Mary Wore Her Red Dress; Fais Do Do; Spring Flowers; Slow Day; Sun Flower; Thanks a Lot; Row Row Row; Haru Ga Kita; Douglas Mountain; Rock-a-bye Baby; and Blessed Be. Quiet Time gently carries its young listeners to a soft and soothing sleep and is very highly recommended for all parents and children for its lovable, relaxing, and encouraging music.

Kimbo Educational
PO Box 477, Long Branch, NJ 07740
$14.95 each www. kimboed.com

Rockin' Reading Readiness (KIM- 9179CD) from Pam Schiller, Beth DeVolder and Ronno, and starring Ronno is a spectacular collection of inspiring and encouraging songs with energetic and rhythmic lyrics featuring an outstanding tracklist of Here With Y-O-U!; Tongue Twister Twist; Ch Ch Ch Chocolate Chip Cookies; The Alphabet Rock; Rhyming Word Shuffle; Good Together; The Rockin' And Rollin' Wheels On The Bus; Five Huge Dinosaurs; Old MacDonald Made A Soup, A-E-I-O-U; When You Get The Giggles; With Our Friends; The Zanzibar Zoo; Booker Bookworm (I Love To Read); , and Five Huge Dinosaurs. Leaping Literacy (KIM-9178CD) by Pam Schiller and featuring Don Monopou of The Learning Station is an expansive and highly informative collection of literacy-acute songs and rhymes to help children learn and retain oral linguistics, letter knowledge, segmentation, print related spatial relationships, listening, and phonological awareness, providing a tracklist of Lizzie Leaping Lizard; Ribbons In The Air; Shake Your Reader Ribbons; The Name Game; The Rhyme Family; Say And Rhyme; Chm. Chimmy Chimpanzee; Animal Cookies; Twirl Those Ribbons; Listening Story; ZZZZ! ZZZZ! Snort! Snort!; Tongue Twister Tap; What's The Weather; Nursery Rhyme Tap; Alphabet March And Match; and The Sounds Of Nature. Fitness Fun For Kids (KIM-9180CD) by Georgiana Stewart and Special Permissions is a fun and active collection of physically-involved songs intended for exercise through rhyming and coordination patterns with a creative tracklist, half with lyrics and half pure instrumentals: Disco Fun; Easy Walk; Slow Stomp; Knock Knee Bump; Hands Up Boogie; Heel Twist Hustle; Fancy Pants; Fun In The Sun; I've Got A Feeling; Do It; The Shuttle; and One Sweet Kiss. All three of these Kimbo Educational CDs are enthusiastically recommended for family, daycare center, school and community library collections.


The Picturebook Shelf

Roundup At The Palace
Kathleen Cook Waldron
Red Deer Press
Mackimmie Library Tower, Room 812, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4
www.reddeerpress.com
0889953198 $17.95 1-800-663-5714

Enhanced with illustrations by Alan and Lea Daniel, Roundup At The Palace by Kathleen Cook Waldron is the fun and creative and colorful picturebook story of Zack and Buster the Bull in their mutual pursuit of the winning at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. A blizzard brings Buster storming out of the trailer into the Brown Palace Hotel where a confrontation with the young Alice leads Zack to making an heroic rescue. Roundup At The Palace is very highly recommended for all young readers, particularly those with an interest in the farm and bulls and adventure!

Prince Silencio
Anne Herbauts
Enchanted Lion Books
45 Main St., #519, Brooklyn, NY 11201
1592700551 $14.95 1-718-694-8305

Ably translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick, Prince Silencio is charmingly written and brilliantly illustrated by Anne Herbauts, an acclaimed children's author and illustrator with at least seventeen books to her credit, and who divides her time between Belgium and France. Carrying young readers through the an intriguing plot in which the prince's father, intolerant of noise, orders him to keep the people quiet. What follows is the young prince's discovery of his love for noise and his attempt to join the loud celebration of the people when the king has died. Distinctively illustrated throughout and a welcome addition to school and community picturebook collections for children preschool through kindergarten, Prince Silencio is very highly recommended as a purely enchanting and thoroughly entertaining tale of passion, exile, acceptance, and enjoyment.

Chain Letter
Lucille Lang Day
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkely, CA 94709
1597140112 $14.95 heydaybooks.com

Chain Letter, written by Lucille Lang Day and illustrated by Doug Dworkin is the fun story of a chain letter and its impact on the people and animals who receive its instructions. Following the letter through its arrival in hands of so many recipients, Chain Letter carries its young readers through the good and bad things that fulfilling or disregarding a chain letter might bring in an entertaining and creative story that includes elephants, snake escapes, the Statute of Liberty and her generous donations, the abominable snow man, and so much more. An original and popular addition to any school or community library picturebook collection, Chain Letter is very highly recommended -- especially for all young readers who might one day encounter one of these seemingly endless chain letters.

Seeing Stars
Dandi Daley Mackall
Little Simon
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
1416903615 $9.99 simonsayskids.com

With superbly drawn illustrations by Claudine Gevry, Seeing Stars by Dandi Daley Mackall is a picturebook introduction to a remarkable collection of constellations and star figures ranging from Orion the Hunter, to Draco the dragon, to Cassiopeia the Queen, to so many more, all tied together with a charming set of verses commenting on each featured star pattern. Providing a fun understanding of what can be seen when children look up at a clear night sky, Seeing Stars will captivate and entertain young readers with the deftly blending of informative illustrations and rhythmic texts. An ideal introduction to basic astronomy for preschool children and kindergarten students, Seeing Stars is very highly recommended, especially for parents and teachers searching for an informative and easy-to-read compendium of the endlessly enticing stars and constellations to share with children.

Bored Bill
Liz Pichon
Tiger Tales
202 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
1589250532 $15.95 www.amazon.com

Imaginatively authored and charmingly illustrated by Liz Pichon, Bored Bill is the picturebook story Bill who can't find anything to interest him. Creatively carrying readers through an imaginative tale in which Bill's owner is never bored and always on the go, including one windy day with Bill finding himself carried into the air and off into space where, when he finally lands on a planet, he finds aliens who are bored as well! Bored Bill is ideal and entertaining reading for young children as a fun and clever story of self-discovery.

Katherine Stinson Otero High Flyer
Neila Skinner Petrick
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster St., Grenta, LA 70053
158980368X $15.95 amazon.com

Katherine Stinson Otero High Flyer by Neila Skinner Petrick (with exceptional pastel artwork illustrations by Daggi Wallace) is an entertaining picturebook biography of the life and adventures of Katherine Stinson Otero who was the fourth American woman to be certified as an airplane pilot in the earliest days of aviation. Guiding young readers through the inspiring accomplishments of this remarkable young woman, Katherine Stinson Otero High Flyer is very highly recommended reading for all young readers, as well as an excellent picturebook resource for librarians, teachers, and parents wishing to provide young girls with inspiring role models.

Crossing Bok Chitto
Tim Tingle
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
0938317776 $17.95 cincopuntos.com

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale Of Friendship And Freedom, by Tim Tingle and featuring illustrations by Jeanne Rorex Bridges is the inspiring tale of Martha Tom, a young Choctaw girl. Following Martha Tom through her pursuit of blackberries in the deep forest, Crossing Bok Chitto will captivate young readers with vivid and colorful pictures as the young Native American girl stumbles upon a forbidden slave church and befriends one of its members. A welcome addition to school and community library picturebook collections, Crossing Bok Chitto is very highly recommended for all young readers as a celebration of diversity, acceptance, and unity in a remarkable production of expert authorship and invaluable illustrations.

Totem Tale
Deb Vanasse
Paws IV/Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104
1570614393 $10.95 sasquatchbooks.com

Totem Tale: A Tall Story From Alaska by Deb Vanasse combines a lively and original story with skillfully drawn illustrations by Erik Brooks to create the fun tale of a Native American totem pole which comes to life in the beauty of a moon-lit night. Children will follow the adventures of a beaver, an eagle, a bear, a wolf, a raven and a frog through a remarkable journey on one very special night. An engaging picturebook account of cooperation, faithfulness, and helping out a friend in need, Totem Tale is very highly recommended for all young readers, as well as parents and librarians searching for something entertaining and worthwhile for children ages 5 through 8 to read and enjoy.

Pirate Pete's Giant Adventure
Kim Kennedy
Amulet Books/Harry A. Abrams
115 W 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
0810959658 $15.95 www.hnabooks.com

Pirate Pete's Giant Adventure by Kim Kennedy and featuring the illustrations of Doug Kennedy is a remarkable tale of a pirate named Pete and his ultimate journey to take hold of the Sea-Fairy Saffire in exchange for his very own ship. Encountering a multitude of treacherous enemies, including a quite frightful giant, Pirate Pete's Giant Adventure carries young readers through an engaging picturebook story of wit and intrigue as Pete's expert cunning and creative approach to piracy brings to his prize despite a rather gullible giant. An all-around fun story for young readers, Pirate Pete's Giant Adventure is very highly recommended for school and community library picturebook collections.

Your Special Gift
Maz Lucado
Crossway
1300 Crescent St, Wheaton, IL 60187
1581346980 $15.99 www.crossway.com

The sequel to You Are Special, Max Lucado's Your Special Gift features illustrations by David Wenzel and is a thoroughly entertaining tale of the "little people" of Wemmicksville and their awakening one morning to find they have each and everyone been the recipient of a perfect gift chosen just for the individual villager. Following Punchinello the builder, Hans the baker, Lucia the painter, Eli the woodcarver, and an extraordinary cast of fun characters as Your Special Gift as the Lucia, Hans, and Punchinello strive use their separate gifts to help a family in need. As they do so they discover their meaning in life and the most helpful way to contribute to others. A simply wonderful addition to any family, school, or community picturebook collection, Your Special Gift is very highly recommended to all young readers for its creative and unique message showcased with appropriately entertaining cartoon-style illustrations.

Don't Eat The Babysitter!
Nick Ward
David Fickling Books/Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
0385750625 $9.95 randomhouse.com

Cleverly authored and colorfully illustrated by Nick Ward, Don't Eat The Babysitter! is the original and entertaining picturebook story of young Sammy and Sophie Shark, and the visit of their favorite baby-sitter as their parents leave for the night. Captivating its young readers through a creative telling of the young shark's uncontrollable problem of biting and eating, Don't Eat The Babysitter! follows Sammy through the a night of courage and fun as the young shark must learn to control himself before his parents return home. A welcome and popular addition to school and community library picturebook collections, Don't Eat The Babysitter! is very highly recommended for young readers for its lively and entertaining story with an underlying theme of active learning and maturing self-control.

Written Anything Good Lately?
Susan Allen & Jane Lindaman
Millbrook Press
241 1st Ave. N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
0761324267 $15.95 lernerbooks.com

Co-authored by Susan Allen and Jane Lindaman, Written Anything Good Lately? is enhanced with detailed illustrations by Vicky Enright and is an entertaining picturebook introduction and guide through the wonderfully varied art of writing. Deftly carrying its young readers through a creative alphabet of every imaginable writing idea, Written Anything Good Lately? provides an encouraging and informative knowledge of what writing really means. Especially to appeal to kids, Written Anything Good Lately? is a very highly recommended addition to school and community libraries as being of particular interest for aspiring young writers, as well as their teachers, and parents searching for an inspirational presentation to the many faceted art of writing for their young charges.

Lucy Goose Goes To Texas
Holly Bea
Starseed Press/H.J. Kramer
PO Box 1082, Triburon, CA 94920
New World Library, dist.
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1932073159 $15.95 newworldlibrary.com

A clever and original story by Holly Bea, Lucy Goose Goes To Texas is deftly enhanced with the delightfully charming illustrations of Joe Boddy. This is an entertaining picturebook tale of one Canadian goose's quest to fly south to Texas in the fall migration, and reaching it before all of her family and friends arrive. Young readers ages 4 to 7 will thoroughly enjoy the adventures of this determined goose and the critters she encounters along the way as Lucy also discovers the importance of teamwork and friendship. A popular addition to family, school, and community library picture book collection, Lucy Goose Goes To Texas is very highly recommended as a positive and fun read that carries the additional bonus of an underlying theme of values building.

The Adventures Of Pelican Pete
Frances Keiser
Sagaponack Books
7324 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080
www.sagaponackbooks.com
096688454X $17.00 1-904-471-5376

With museum art gallery quality illustration artwork from Hugh Keiser, The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: Annie The River Otter by Frances Keiser is the picturebook tale of a pelican named Pete and his newfound friend, Annie the Otter. Following Pete's discovery and befriending of Annie, The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: Annie The River Otter will simply captivate children ages 4 to 8 with its wonderful art work and an important underlying story theme of what friendship really means. With a sturdy binding suitable for school and community libraries and a text written at a fourth grade comprehension and vocabulary level, The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: Annie The River Otter is commended to children as an encouraging and entertaining. Also very strongly recommended from the outstanding "Adventures Of Pelican Pete" series by Hugh and Frances Keiser are The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: First Discoveries (0966884523, $15.00), The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: A Bird Is Born (0966884507, $15.00), and The Adventures Of Pelican Pete: Preening For Flight (0966884515, $15.00).

Tapicero Tap Tap
Warabe Aska
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887767605 $16.95 tundrabooks.com

Superbly illustrated and authored by Warabe Aska, Tapicero Tap Tap is the colorful tale told by grandfather Tapicero Tap Tap to his grandchildren about his long ago youth in a small Spanish village by the sea. Tapicero Tap Tap simply captivates young readers as Tapicero tells of a time when his childhood was spent talking to the seamen of travels and far away lands, and how it was a war which made him stay to build furniture in their small town. Original, colorful, entertaining, and thoroughly "kid friendly", Tapicero Tap Tap is very highly recommended for all parents and young readers as an intimate and descriptive picturebook story showcasing an old man's memories of an interesting life.

The Outback
Annaliese Porter
Magabala Books/ISBS, dist.
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
1875641866 $20.95 www.magabala.com

The Outback by the eleven--year-old author Annaliese Porter is enhanced with illustrations from Bronwyn Bancroft. The result is a beautiful and beautifully crafted picturebook tale set in the Australian Outback region and features a collection of diverse animals and strange critters. Captivating young readers with a text of lyrical poetry combined with vivid imagery, The Outback country of Australia is showcased in a manner that is ideal for children ages 5 through 8. The Outback is to be given very high praise and recommended for its outstanding authorship and memorable art providing American kids with an entertaining introduction to a landscape on the other side of the world.

Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin
Michelle Lord
Lee & Low Books
95 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
1584302488 $16.95 www.leeandlow.com

Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin combines Michelle Lord's engaging text with impressive illustrations by Felicia Hoshino to tell the remarkable story of a young woman who in the year 1906 was a member of the dance troupe from the Royal Palace in Cambodia when they all made a trip to the beautiful city of Paris. Carrying young readers through Little Sap's encounter with the famous French artist, Augustine Rodin, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin follows the painter and sculptor's interest with the classic beauty of Cambodian dance in general, and the dancing girl Little Sap in particular. A beautifully presented picturebook story, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin will delight young readers and prove a popular addition to school and/or community library picturebook collections.

Piper's Great Adventures
Mark Lowry
Howard Publishing Company
3117 N. 7th St., West Monroe, LA 71291
www.howardpublishing.com
1582294747 $11.99 www.amazon.com

Piper's Great Adventures combines under one cover four adventurous stories featuring Piper the mouse by the team of Mark Lowry and Martha Bolton. The lyrical and rhyming text of the stories are visually enhanced with the lively illustrations of Kristen Myers. Piper's Great Adventures are original and entertaining stories with the underlying themes of Sleep and rest as one of God's blessings, the importance of telling the truth and taking responsibility, the value of sharing what we have with others, and the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. Included for the delight of children ages 4 to 8 with the addition of a CD featuring Mark Lowry's skilled narration of the stories. A terrific "family values" picturebook, Piper's Great Adventures is fun and wholesome entertainment for young children from beginning to end.

Thank You Aunt Tallulah!
Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Rising Moon
PO Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86002-1389
0873588916 $15.95 risingmoonbooks.com

Thank You Aunt Tallulah!, a "kid friendly" story by Carmela LaVigna Coyle combined with colorful cartoon-style illustrations from Bruce MacPherson, is the fun tale of the young Bettina in her first summer camp experience at Camp Oogie-Waa-Waa. Bettina corresponds through letters with her witty aunt Tallulah who lives in Antarctica. Captivating young readers ages 4 to 8 with Bettina and her aunt's exchange of packages ranging from clothing to film and pictures, Thank You Aunt Tallulah! tells two parallel tales, one of aunt Tallulah and her husband Reginald in their exploration of the South Pole, and the other of Bettina's interesting life at summer camp. A unique addition to school and community library picturebook collections, Thank You Aunt Tallulah! is very highly recommended as thoroughly entertaining and humorously original.

Sing Praise
Rhonda Gowler Greene
Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459
0806651202 $16.99 augsburgbooks.com

Rhonda Gowler Greene's thoroughly "kid friendly" text combines perfectly with the joyous illustrations of Janet Broxon in Sing Praise, a creative and informative picturebook exploring the world which God has provided us. Carrying young readers through a triumphant collection of the wonderful creations of the Lord, Sing Praise offers an entertaining perspective into the love, unity, beauty, and flourishing truths of God's creations. Sing Praise is very highly recommended for all young readers and their parents searching for an inspirational story about this remarkable world for which we have God thank.

Truman's Loose Tooth
Kristine Wurm
Spirited Publishing
PO Box 1796, Appleton, WI 54912-1796
www.spiritedpublishing.com
097685130X $16.95 crashbangboom.com

Cleverly authored by Kristine Wurm with creative illustrations from Michael Chestworth, Truman's Loose Tooth, is the entertaining picturebook tale of one little boy's life-changing experience when losing his first tooth. Capturing every aspect from concern, excitement, pride, uncertainty, and triumph, Truman's Loose Tooth carries its young readers through the enthralling story of a child's innermost thoughts arising from experiences that are common to every young reader. A welcome and popular addition to family, school, and community library picturebook collections, Truman's Loose Tooth is enthusiastically recommended as a heart-warming, "kid friendly" story with which children will readily identify.

Good parents are concerned about their children eating a healthy and well balanced diet for the good of their growing young bodies. So should they be equally concerned about their children having a healthy and well balanced reading list of books for the good of their growing young minds.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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