From there, both the tale and the baby seem to grow bigger by the minute.  “Folks came to look from all around.  Seemed every hour he gained a pound.”  Needless to say, as Johnny Kaw grew bigger and bigger, it was just a matter of time before he outgrew everything and his ma and pa decided that they would need to move and find a farm big enough to feed their son.  They left their town and traveled west and Johnny Kaw was only too happy to carry the wagon, its horses, his parents and their belonging across the Missouri river to the new land they would call home.  The house was quickly built and when Johnny’s father found that the land too full of stones to till, Johnny stepped in and pulled up all the stones and threw them west and in the process, formed the Rocky Mountain range. 
The tall tale continues and readers learn that Johnny spit seeds to create the massive wheat fields and even fought with  a cyclone to protect his parents’ farm.  Life was good for Johnny , but eventually, his parents grew old and one day, his mother grew very old and died. Johnny was sad for the first time in his big life.  He remembered how much his mother had loved to watch the sunset and knew that her spirit would always love sunsets, so he set upon the task of  clearing any trees that might block her view.  As the tale goes, Johnny cleared away every tree and left Kansas bare then went through Nebraska and into the Dakotas before turning back to clear Oklahoma and Texas.  And, while readers might know that the story of Johnny Kaw just another tall take, even today, travelers will find the prairies of those states with expansive fields of wheat and open skies for beautiful sunsets.
While Devin Scillian shares the legend of Johnny Kaw,  Brad Sneed has created colorful, expressive water color illustrations that extend this tall tale in a playful animated way for young readers.
Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale,  written by Devin Scillian  and illustrated byBrad Sneed, is appropriate for ages 6-10.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Scillian, Devin.  Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale.  Illustrated by Brad Sneed. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2013.

Discussion Questions for Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale

From there, both the tale and the baby seem to grow bigger by the minute.  “Folks came to look from all around.  Seemed every hour he gained a pound.”  Needless to say, as Johnny Kaw grew bigger and bigger, it was just a matter of time before he outgrew everything and his ma and pa decided that they would need to move and find a farm big enough to feed their son.  They left their town and traveled west and Johnny Kaw was only too happy to carry the wagon, its horses, his parents and their belonging across the Missouri river to the new land they would call home.  The house was quickly built and when Johnny’s father found that the land too full of stones to till, Johnny stepped in and pulled up all the stones and threw them west and in the process, formed the Rocky Mountain range. 
The tall tale continues and readers learn that Johnny spit seeds to create the massive wheat fields and even fought with  a cyclone to protect his parents’ farm.  Life was good for Johnny , but eventually, his parents grew old and one day, his mother grew very old and died. Johnny was sad for the first time in his big life.  He remembered how much his mother had loved to watch the sunset and knew that her spirit would always love sunsets, so he set upon the task of  clearing any trees that might block her view.  As the tale goes, Johnny cleared away every tree and left Kansas bare then went through Nebraska and into the Dakotas before turning back to clear Oklahoma and Texas.  And, while readers might know that the story of Johnny Kaw just another tall take, even today, travelers will find the prairies of those states with expansive fields of wheat and open skies for beautiful sunsets.
While Devin Scillian shares the legend of Johnny Kaw,  Brad Sneed has created colorful, expressive water color illustrations that extend this tall tale in a playful animated way for young readers.
Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale,  written by Devin Scillian  and illustrated byBrad Sneed, is appropriate for ages 6-10.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Scillian, Devin.  Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale.  Illustrated by Brad Sneed. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2013.

Discussion Questions for Johnny Kaw: A Tall Tale

Kumar looks forward to spending the evening with some of the boys from his class as he walks through the city to Andal’s large and opulent house. He is greeted by a servant and let in only to be abruptly turned out by Andal’s grandmother.” I am very sorry but you cannot stay. Andal was wrong to invite you. I do not mean to be unkind, but we cannot have a boy of no caste in our home. ”

Kumar returns home discouraged. He tells his grandfather that the future is hopeless.  Nothing has changed. His grandfather responds that the laws have changed and the new generation does not think like the old generation and he and Andal are part of that new generation. He reminds Kumar that the lamps of Dawali are lit “ to drive away the darkness of ignorance.”

Amanda Hall’s illustrations are exquisite. The double page picture of Kumar walking through a festive city all covered with lights, bedecked in ribbons and crowned with sparkling fireworks is a celebration in pink and green. Andal’s grandmother is shown wearing a white sari. As she floats down the staircase to shush Kumar out the front door she looks very much like a ghost from the past---which she is.

Whelan’s sensitive description of how Kumar’s grandfather was treated as an untouchable before the reforms is powerful. She also includes a helpful list of Indian words used in the story that expands the reader’s cultural awareness. This signature characteristic is found in all of the wonderful picture books written by this fine author for the Tales of the World Series.

IN ANDAL’S HOUSE written by National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Amanda Hall will bring new insights to readers age 6-10. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2013). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOK SHELF.

Discussion Questions for In Andal's House

This nicely rhymed text, including some very well placed internal rhymes, portrays the noisy, happy and energetic nature of the shy child when alone and the need to seek the sidelines when people start to gather. The heroine playacts, jumps and even cheers for herself as she scores an imaginary basket when alone but she hands the ball off to another to score during an actual game. Throughout this and other sequences in the book the facial expressions are first full of self -confidence and then they collapse in self-doubt.

The story is also about the friendship between our heroine and her friend Loretta. Loretta is also shy but together they conquer their shyness and go off to the zoo. Artist David Johnson skillfully pictures them physically as opposites---one has dark curly hair and wears tennis shoes with the laces all a tangle and a bright orange checkered dress while the other has straight blond hair and wears socks with flip flops and a soft pastel top and pants. But together they enjoy many things in common including the love of reading and not being shy.

The vibrant pictures and exuberant text skip hand in hand through this attractive picture book. WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by David A. Johnson is a perfect tale of encouragement for the shy child ages 5-9 (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2013). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for When No One Is Watching

During the next trip to the market, Nasreddine suggests that they both ride the donkey, but once again, a group of villagers criticize him and his father—this time because it  is seen as being cruel to the donkey.  As in the past, Nasreddine is humiliated and returns home without going to the market with his father.   When the next week arrives and Nasreddine suggests that they both walk, they are once again criticized—this time as being stupid.
With each experience, Mustafa lets his son attempt to deal with his embarrassment.  However, when Nasreddine suggests that they carry the donkey, his father asks him where his common sense has gone.  When Nasreddine tries to explain that he has listened to each criticism, his father calmly tells him that people may always find something negative to say and that Nasreddine must decide whether what is said is wise or simply hurtful. 
Odile Weulersse shares an insightful tale about  balancing wisdom and misplaced concerns, while Rebecca Dautremer creates beautiful, expressive illustrations that extend the narrative in a playfully animated way for young readers.
Nasreddine,  written by Odile Weulersse and illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer is appropriate for ages 4-9.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Weulersse, Odile. Nasreddine.  Illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2013.

Discussion Questions for Nasreddine

The book ‘s delightful pages are packed with Tan’s “strokes, squiggles hooks and loops.” He shares his experience with putting pencil to paper without a preconceived idea. He says it’s a way of postponing meaning until “ interesting and profound ideas can emerge of their own accord.”

A boy with palette and brush leads a parade of figures including a deep sea diver with a sleepy cat, an owl with a lollipop and a creature made out of an old water spigot across the cover of the book and invites the reader to come along.

His story “The Lost Thing” from his book Lost and Found was made into a film and won an Academy Award in 2011 for best short film animated. Some dummy pages for this film are included in the notebook. His iconic graphic book The Arrival explored Tan’s interest in the environments in which people live and how they either belong or are alienated from that place. Some storyboards for The Arrival are also present in the notebook. Original images of the water buffalo and the pearl diver from Tales from Outer Suburbia are there, too.

A list of all of the images are found at the back of the book and include the title of each image, the major work from which it came and the techniques used to create it ---- pencil, ballpoint, pastel crayon, collage and digital applications being Tan’s signature ones.

The Bird King: an artist’s notebook by Shaun Tan is perfect for young readers 10 years of age and up who are or have been mesmerized by Tan’s exceptional books (Arthur E. Levine Books/ Scholastic, 2012). This is Sue Ann Martin for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for Bird King

She moves along the branches of a tree and smells the air in search of  her next  meal.  A bird lands on a nearby branch unaware of the python who strikes, but misses as the bird flies away.
Still in search of food, the python slithers into the bushes to wait and when a rat passes by, it is quickly captured and the author tells us that it might be weeks before she needs to eat again.
Pythons are said to be good mothers and may lay in her next with up to 100 eggs to keep them warm.  Once they hatch, however, she leaves the nest not to return again—letting the new pythons to survive on their own.  Within days, these new pythons will be out in search of food—smelling, resting, and watching.
Christopher Cheng provides his readers with an uncomplicated view of this massive snake—a snake that is now found in the Everglades of Florida. Mark Jackson has used a mixed media approach to create illustrations that are beautifully detailed.  Both have provided young readers with an introduction that is both informational and appropriate for ages 4-9.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Cheng, Christopher.  Python. Illustrated by Mark Jackson.  Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Python

Jill and her team of specialists attend to Jasper’s needs both physically and emotionally. He is given food and water and a cage where he can stand upright for the first time since his fifteen years in captivity. After his most serious physical problems are stabilized and he begins to trust humans, he joins other moon bears, so named because of the yellow moon crescent that is on their chest, in the bear den with its grassy outside enclosures.

 Jasper is encouraged to regain his sense of curiosity and his ability to find food such as tomatoes and carrots hidden for him in logs and to eat peaches out of a pail, climb rocks to strengthen his muscles, swing on branches, roll balls, sleep peacefully in a hammock and play with other bears. He does this and more. “With each new bear who arrives in the sanctuary Jasper becomes a friend, letting them know they are in a place where healing will begin.”

 Frankehuyzen’s soft, gentle pictures are beautiful. The artist spent time at the rescue center to understand the work of the staff and come to know these exquisite bears including Jasper. One of his most powerful pictures graces the cover of the book where Jasper’s marvelous eyes, full of wisdom and forgiveness, look out directly at the reader. The illustrations are superb and make the reader want to hug this book and its story.

JASPER’S STORY: SAVING MOON BEARS by Jill Robinson and Marc Bekoff and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen is a special book about courage and compassion for children 6-9 years of age (Sleeping Bear Press, 2013). This is Sue Ann Martin for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for JASPER’S STORY: SAVING MOON BEARS

These islands are inhabited by species found nowhere else in the world. Herein is the foundation of Chin’s inspired illustrations of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions and giant tortoises, lava cactus, tree fern, lava lizards and large beaked finch, to name just a few.

The surprise in this picture book is found in the Epilogue where the HMS Beagle is seen bringing young Charles Darwin to study the animals, plants and geology of these unusual islands in 1835. Darwin observed  cormorants that could no longer fly due to the fact that they had no predators on the island and over time did not have the need to fly to escape danger. This and other such examples led Darwin to his theory of natural selection.

Jason Chin’s magnificent double page watercolor toward the end of the book is one of the most uplifting, beautiful and graceful illustrations to have ever been painted for children’s literature. It is teeming with life. On the shoreline marine iguanas lounge, cormorants leisurely eat seaweed and sea lions pay homage to the warmth of the sun as the HMS Beagle sails away.

ISLAND: A Story of the Galapagos written and illustrated by Jason Chin includes maps and an endemic species gallery. It is ideal for children 8-12 years of age (a Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, 2012). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDEN’S BOOKSHELF.


Discussion Questions for Island

When she asks what they are, he tells her that they are his diary and that while most people use diaries to write down their special memories, these little boxes contain memories that couldn’t be written down since he didn’t know how to read and write when he was a young boy.  When she opened the first one, it contained an olive pit and her great-grandfather told her that when he holds it in his hand, he can remember his childhood in Italy and how when there was not enough food, his mother would give him an olive pit to suck on and that it seemed to help.  Another matchbox contained a picture of this father who went to America to work when he was just a baby and how he sent this picture so they wouldn’t’ forget him.  Another matchbox contained a piece of macaroni which reminded great-grandfather of the year there was no rain, no wheat, and no macaroni and that his father sent tickets for them all to sail to America.  Other matchboxes contained a bottle cap, a hairpin, a St. Christopher Medal, and nineteen sunflower seeds—one for each day they were at sea. 

Great-grandfather continued to keep his memories in the matchboxes to remember where they worked as a family—canning fish, sorting peaches, shelling peas, and then peeling shrimp and opening oysters.  He kept pieces of newspapers so he would remember the places they went and the days they were there.  He talked about how people were sometimes mean and that he lost the tooth when a boy hit him with a stone.  One of his favorite matchboxes contained a ticket to his first baseball game and another contained letters that reminded him of his job as typesetter and became a printer.  Each box contained a memory and a story and with each story shared, the young girl learned about her great-grandfather’s life and the importance of keeping those memories.
This story is one that will remind us all of those special family stories and the traditions that many of us embrace. The lovely narrative is set against the stunning backdrop of artwork created by Bagram Ibatoulline  and will cause you to linger over each illustration done in acryl-gouache.
The Matchbox Diary, written by Paul Fleischman and Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline is a beautiful reminder of the importance of storyand is appropriate for ages 4 to 8.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Fleischman, Paul.  The Matchbox Diary. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.  Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2013.

Discussion Questions for The Matchbox Diary

Moore first designed a unique library room especially for children at Pratt. This led to her appointment to the New York Public Library as a Children’s librarian and included management of the children’s library rooms in all 36 branches. She took the books that had been held captive in locked cabinets and placed them on accessible shelves and made sure the classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer were available.

When a new library was constructed on Fifth Avenue she designed a beautiful room for all the children of New York. She purchased child-sized furniture, painted the walls in light colors, ordered books written in many languages, organized displays of butterflies and shells and brought in storytellers and authors including Dr. Seuss!

Jan Pinborough also includes in this book the pledge Anne Carroll Moore wrote and asked all children to take when checking out a book: “When I write my name in this book I promise to take good care of the book I use at home and in the library, and to obey the rules of the library.” Most thought this would not work but “Miss Moore thought otherwise.”

Debbi Atwell’s acrylic illustrations cast a sunny shine over New York City in the first half of the 19th Century and are full of interesting details including the storefronts, civic buildings, street vendors, horse and buggies, the automobile and the clothes that were the fashion of the day.

MISS MOORE THOUGHT OTHERWISE by Jan Pinborough and illustrated by Debbi Atwell is an interesting presentation of the Anne Carroll Moore story and is appropriate for children 4-8 years of age (Houghton Mifflin) 2013. This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for MISS MOORE THOUGHT OTHERWISE

Once the war ended, Noah began to writeNoah wanted to be a scholar who studied Greek and Latin and while it was hard for his father to understand, he did decide to send Noah to school and by the age of fifteen, Noah entered Yale, one of the most prestigious and most expensive schools in the country.  Noah’s father took out a loan on his farm to help his son attend Yale and when Noah graduated in 1778, he owed his father a lot of money.  The Revolutionary war was well underway and when he decided that he would teach school to pay back his debt, he soon realized that the only books available were those from England—a real problem for him since he wanted to teach his students about America, not England.  

American school books and he began with a spelling book.    When he finished the first American school book, it was an immediate success and sold for the high price of 14 cents.   Noah Webster had written a popular book, but he had not made enough money to repay his father for his education, so Noah wrote more school books; he wrote a grammar book and a reading book; he went around the country lecturing about his books and his ideas.  Eventually, he wrote six more books, started a magazine and a newspaper and then, he got a big idea; he decided to write a dictionary and started writing down every word—describing what each word meant and how it was spelled. Noah Webster started writing his dictionary in 1807 and seventeen years later,  he was still working on it.  He realized that he needed access to great libraries, so in 1824, he took his work and his son and sailed to Europe.  The following year, in 1825, Noah Webster wrote the last word and its meaning—ZYGOMATIC , “related to the cheekbone.”   His dictionary was 2000 pages long and when it was finally published in 1828, Noah Webster was 70 years old.  Now, 185 years later, Webster’s dictionary remains the second most popular book ever printed in English.

Noah Webster and His Words, written by Jeri Chase Ferris and Illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch is a fascinating story of the man and his work and it is appropriate for ages 5-9.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Ferris, Jeri Chase. Noah Webster and His Words . Illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch.  New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Noah Webster and his Words

This exciting volume, retold and written by Gillian Cross, chronicles the travels of King Odysseus as he and his men greet the rosy-fingered Dawn and navigate the wine-dark sea to the land of the lotus eaters, the cave of the terrifying man-eating Cyclops, the Land of the Dead and the narrow passageway between the six- headed monster, Scylla, and the dark and deep whirlpool, Charybdis. Cross never lets the reader forget that Odysseus is also battling a raging sea and the unrelenting fury of the dark earth shaker, Poseidon.

This volume is absolutely eye-popping due to the wonderfully artistic imagination of Neil Packer. His illustrations are powerful, haunting, beautiful, ugly and unforgettable. The picture of Circe with her flaming red hair and the men she turned into pigs and the illustration of Odysseus lashed to the mast of his ship while his men, with wax in their ears, silently row pass the calling Sirens are very effective. Unforgettable, too, are the graphic interpretations of the giant in all his disgusting dimensions. Quoting from the book as Odysseus and his men first see his face, “ It was broad and ugly with a jutting nose and a thick, heavy jaw. In the center of his forehead was a single hideous eye. His only one. They were trapped in the cave of a Cyclops.”

Wily Odysseus is at his best when tricking the Cyclops in order to get he and his men passed the giant and through the opening of the cave by riding out hanging from the underbelly of the giant’s sheep.

The Odyssey retold and written by Gillian Cross and illustrated by Neil Packer is an effective and visually exciting introduction to Homer’s classical poem for readers age 8-12 (Candlewick, 2012).

Discussion Questions for THE ODYSSEY

After his studies, Diego Rivera was encouraged to return to Mexico and asked to create murals around the city that depicted the history and customs of his country.  In the creation of his murals, Diego combined the various techniques and styles that he had learned in his studies in Spain and France and then merged them with the  ancient Mexican art forms he so loved.

The walls of murals told of the struggles of the Mexican peoples to break free from Spain and the fighting that occurred.  Diego also painted scenes of traditional dances and celebrations.  Diego Rivera was born in 1886 and lived to be an old man.  During his life, he created many artworks that still teach us about the past and the importance of caring for one another.   One can find his murals in such places as Mexico City,  San Francisco, California, and even Detroit, Michigan.

Author and illustrator, Duncan Tonatiuh, has created a narrative that honors the work of Diego Rivera by illustrating the text with bold and colorful images that are reminiscent of the techniques and style of the masterartist.  This book is one that will be appreciated by all but is particularly appropriate for ages 5-9.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s bookshelf.

Tonatiuh, Duncan.  Diego Rivera: His World and Ours.  New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2011.

Discussion Questions for DIEGO RIVERA

The little fish knows it was wrong to steal the hat but rationalizes his bad behavior by saying, ”But I am going to keep it. It was too small for him anyway. It fits me just right.”   As he swims to what he thinks will be a safe hiding place he continues to say aloud to himself and the reader  that if the big fish does guess that he is the one who took his hat he won’t ever be able to find him.

This tale is told in the first person voice of the bad little fish while the pictures show the big fish, unknown to the little fish, following closely behind in pursuit of what belongs to him. First the little fish and then the big fish swim into the dark waters covered with plants where the little fish decides to hide. After a few illustrations of the plant-covered waters, the reader sees the big fish swimming out with his small blue bowler atop his head.

The illustrations are full of humor. The little blue bowler is comically too small for the big fish.  The look in the big fishes’ eye when he senses his hat is gone is delightful. And a sea crab eagerly tells on the little fish and points the big fish in the direction of his missing hat.

THIS IS NOT MY HAT, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, is a delightful cautionary tale for children ages 4-8 (Candlewick Press, 2012).  

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for THIS IS NOT MY HAT

The words to this song are beautifully- illustrated in this book by ten famous artists including Yuri Morales, Jon Muth and Diane Goode. LeUyen Pham’s illustration for the words “with brotherhood” is an eye-catching picture of fifty children dressed in either red and white or blue and white. The children in red and white are the stripes and the children in blue and white with stars on their shirts are the stars-----this lively tableau forms a spectacular American flag!  The final illustration in the book is by John Hendrix. He includes colorful comets, exciting action and neon stars to accompany the words “from sea to shining sea!”

The structure of each page includes a relevant presidential quote from ten U.S. Presidents and a picture of a national landmark or symbol. All landmarks and symbols such as the Liberty Bell, the Bald Eagle, Mount Rushmore and the Washington Monument, to name a few, are identified at the back of the book as well as are the four stanzas of the song. There is a spectacular poster on the reverse side of the book jacket that includes portraits of all 44 U.S. Presidents courtesy of the White House Historical Association.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL: Together We Stand by Katherine Lee Bates and illustrated by multiple artists is perfect for children ages 5-9 (Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2013).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

She remember how her mother told her that when she was a little girl, her own mother, Mildred, wore the beads until she passed them down with the story of how she was given the necklace from her mother, Cordelia, before she left home to live with her aunt. And so the story goes; Cordelia received the necklace from her mother, Sallie, who received it from her mother Francis.  With each generation comes a story of the young woman and her mother—the places they lived and the things that made their lives special—all connected by a strand of crystal beads.

As the story ends, Sharon tells of how she received the necklace on the day she turned sixteen and with that gift came the stories of Evon, Mildred, Cordelia, Sallie, and Frances.  Her mother reminded her that the beautiful beads were worn by her grandmother and all of the grandmothers before her. Sharon ends her story by stating that she will give the necklace to her own daughter, Georgia—thus, continuing the tradition.

This story is one that will remind us all of those special family stories and the traditions that many of us embrace. The lovely narrative is set against the stunning backdrop of artwork created by Bagram Ibatoulline  and will cause you to linger over each illustration done in acryl-gouache.

The Granddaughter Necklace, written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline is a beautiful reminder of the importance of storyand is appropriate for ages 4 to 8.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis.  The Granddaughter Necklace. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.  New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013.

Discussion Questions for The Granddaughter Necklace

She pulled together her glassy sands, lifting them, grain by grain---free of air, to form deserts; free of water, to form beaches. She pushed together gigantic plates of rock until her mountains rose high, so far from her scalding heart that snow settled on their peaks.”

Christine Balit’s gorgeous illustrations are intensely rich in color, kinetically-charged in line and shape and refreshingly detailed in picture and decoration Memorable are the illustrations of Zeus; Artemis ready for the hunt; Ares, God of War, crouching across the page; Helios, the Sun God, in command of his chariot of fire; star- drenched Heracles with a slain lion’s head draped atop his head and the gray-eyed Athena springing from her father’s head “whole and solid and heavy armed.”

The author has provided the reader with a cast of characters at the back of the book that includes each figure’s name, title, symbol, parentage, and birthplace. Also, the reader will find a Bibliography, an Index and   information about the role each figure played in Greek life inserted throughout these twenty-five narratives.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters written by author and linguist Donna Napoli and illustrated by the talented Christine Balit is 192 pages of classical excitement and is perfect for ages 9 and up (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2011).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Treasury of Greek Mythology

Juliana’s mother is a nurse who cares for the older people in their apartment building, so when she leaves to check on her patients, Juliana is left alone and is captured by the sounds of the typewriter clicking away upstairs.  The sounds carry her away to dreams of floating on a river warmed by the sun’s rays.  She imagines mountains, and islands, and beautiful dolphins playing around her.  And when her mother returns to check on her, Juliana tells her of the beautiful dream.  Her mother is pleased and tells her that she is getting better and brings Juliana paper and coloring pencils to capture the beauty of her dreams on paper.  Juliana draws many pictures and when she feels well enough to get out of bed, she hurries upstairs and slides them under the poet’s door.

The next day, Juliana finds a piece of paper slid under her door  with a picture of a lady wearing a hat with lots of papers in her hand and an arrow pointing to a set of stairs.  It is an invitation to visit the famous poet.

When her mother approves, Juliana races up the stairs to meet the famous poet with the typewriter.  They spend the afternoon together talking about and creating poems that capture the beautiful images that Juliana sees.  The poet explains to her that you have to believe that your words can change the world and that each reader will travel his or her own special journey when reading your words and that to be able to create a journey for others is the magic and power of those words.

After Juliana returned to school, she never saw the poet again and one day, the sounds of typewriter upstairs ceased when the poet moved away.  Juliana continued to write her own poems and when she was older, she read the books of the famous poet and actually found herself within the lines of a poem described as “the little poet downstairs.  And, as readers will learn, she would one day write a book of her own and dedicate it to “the Poet Upstairs.”

The Poet Upstairs is a delightful way to introduce young readers to the importance of words and the power of writing.  The illustrations by Oscar Ortiz are rich with texture and color that enhances and extends the visual experience for all readers.  While this book is intended for readers ages 5-9, it will be appreciated by all who value the importance of story.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Cofer, Judith Ortiz.  The Poet Upstairs. Illustrated by Oscar Ortiz. Houston, Texas: Pinata Books, 2012.

Discussion Questions for The Poet Upstairs

As luck would have it, the sleigh touched down on a snowy mountain peak and skidded down the slope, across a field, crashing into the side of a barn.  Fortunately, Santa was not hurt, but  he found himself covered with snow and face to face with a sleepy sheep who peeked out of the barn to find out about all the  noise and rucus.  As the sleepy sheep stepped out of the barn, he was followed by another sheep, a horse, two cows, a goat, a pig, and an old dog.  With the reindeer gone, Santa turned to his new barnyard friends and asked for their help to get the toys delivered to all the good little boys and girls.  They quickly agreed and when they had lined up two by two, Santa  wiggled his nose and snapped his fingers and magically, up they all went flying across the sky with barking and mooing, baaing and neighing, and even a few oinks.  Working hard, they delivered each and every present to the children of the world before returning to their barnyard.   Santa’s reindeer were waiting when he returned and with thanks and hugs to them all he bid them all good night and headed back to the North Pole shouting to one and all, “Ho Ho Ho!  Merry Christmas!

Author and illustrator, Michael Garland provides his readers with a glimpse into a magical sleigh adventure.  The narrative is simple and playful and illustrations are bold colorful expressions of Santa Claus  and his very special team of helpers. Oh What a Christmas  will be appreciated by children of all ages.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Garland, Michael.  Oh What a Christmas! New York: Scholastic Press, 2011.

Discussion Questions for Oh What a Christmas!

One day the little girl notices Confederate soldiers on horseback riding through the farm. As she goes about her chores in the barn she feels a presence and looks around and sees an eye peering out from between the corn stalks. Frightened, she runs back to the house. She stands transfixed on the porch and thinks. She decides not to say anything to anyone.

That night she nervously visits the barn again. This time with a biscuit wrapped in at table napkin and offers it to the hide a way. Again she sees only one eye peering forth. The next few nights she repeats this kindness. The following day two armed horsemen come to inquire about a runaway slave. They show her father a wanted poster. She watches from a hole in the cellar door. She does not say anything to anyone.

That evening she again visits the barn this time to alert the runaway of the danger but he is gone. What she finds is a doll fashioned from a corn husk waiting for her in thanks for her courage and kindness.

Henry Cole says in the back of the book, “I wanted to tell---show---the courage of everyday people who were brave in quiet ways.”

UNSPOKEN: A Story from the Underground Railroadby Henry Cole does just that with telling facial expressions and silence. It will touch the heart of children ages 7-10 (Scholastic Press, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for UNSPOKEN: A Story from the Underground Railroad

Brother Gregory decides to give young Smudge time to perfect his talents as a scribe,  clean up his carelessness and master his skills. He shows Smudge his own book of mistakes from his early days as an artist. Thus begins a story of how one mentor encourages and guides his student toward the development of patience, practice and perfection.

This story, gently told by Whelan in forty-eight pages, is also about the hard work and great joy involved in the creative process.  She reveals in Smudge an endearing quality that many creative individuals  have who see things in new ways. Quoting from the text,” I love the way each letter has its own little story to tell. The H with the two little rooms just alike. The ups and downs of the M and W. The X, like crossed swords.”

Stephen Costanza’s illustrations are attractive and rich in color. Decorative borders encase the pictures in festive holly. The expressions of disbelief on the faces of the Brothers whenever they see Smudge make another mistake are good-natured and funny. 

Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story written by  Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Stephen Costanza is appropriate for ages 9-11 (Sleeping Bear Press 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story

Below deck, a breakfast of hot oatmeal is made by the young daughter and her mother and they carry up so they can all eat together in the pilothouse.  After breakfast, she passes the time listening to the stories handed down  to her father from other captains who had sailed with him.  Since tugboats travel at a very slow speed, time is spent polishing the brass and looking at the many charts that detail the rocks, the lighthouses, the docks, and even the cables and pipes that cross under the river.

The captain and his family travel up river most of the day until they reach Stony Point, where they will pick up their tow. The young daughter is surprised by the size of the big black barge and equally surprised by the enormous tree that lies on top of a tractor trailer placed on the barge.  Slowly, her father drifts the tug up next to the barge and within minutes, the towline is affixed and they begin their trip back down the river with their special cargo in tow.  Since nightfall is soon upon them, they dock and spend the rest of the night below deck in the crew’s quarters.  Once again,  before the sun rises, their journey begins and by mid morning, they are amazed  to see helicopters above, police boats along side, and crowds of people in tour boats eager to welcome them and their special cargo back to New York City. Before the day is done, the special tree for Rockefeller Center will be set up in midtown where all will be able to appreciate its festive beauty and tree lighting tradition.

Authors George Matteson and Adele Ursone provide readers with a glimpse into a very special event shared by their family.  The narrative is supplemented by bits of nautical information about tugboats, while the stunning illustrations complement the text.  The Christmas Tugboat  is appropriate for all ages.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Matteson, George and Adele Ursone. The Christmas Tugboat. Illustrated by James Ransom.  Boston: Clarion Books, 2012.

Discussion Questions for The Christmas Tugboat

SLEEP LIKE A TIGER is a charming story about gentle parenting around the issues of going to bed and going to sleep. This “no pressure” approach to bedtime, written by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, is gorgeously illustrated and beautifully spoken.

When a little girl arrives home after dark, her parents suggest that it is time to go to bed. She says she is not sleepy. They tell her she does not have to go to sleep but she does have to get into her pajamas. She does this but again says she is not sleepy.

They again tell her she does not have to go to sleep but she must wash her face and brush her teeth. The little girl complies and climbs in between the sheets.

Then she asks them if everything in the world sleeps and they say indeed everything does sleep and they talk about sleeping animals. The little girl interjects that she has seen the tiger sleep when he is not hunting and that is why he is strong. They agree that sleep is good for that and kiss her goodnight. Quoting from the book:

“I’m still not sleepy,” she told them.
“We know,” they agreed.
“You can stay up all night long.”

After they leave she mimics the animals and wriggles in under the covers, folds her arms across her chest, curls up, cuddles down and falls asleep.

Pamela Zagarenski’s illustrations, fashioned in mixed media on wood   with a brush of computerized magic, are enchanting. Echoing the days of times past the pictures are decorated with whimsical fairytale patterns and details. A surreal moon hangs heavy in the dark sky. The book, The Little Prince, is seen in the bedroom and under the arm of her mother as an intended goodnight book. The end papers are intriguing with a tiger wearing a crown leading a procession of odd boxcars and the first line from William Blake’s poem ‘The Tiger” stamped on the luminous moon.

SLEEP LIKE A TIGER written by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski is told with a whisper of nighttime and is just perfect for a bedtime read for ages 3-7 (Houghton-Mifflin, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Sleep Like a Tiger

Hearing that their homes would be taken from them, Lion took “the bull by its horns” and planned a meeting time for all the animals to meet to discuss the frightening news while the guard took a “catnap.”  Fortunately, Maesto Stu joins the discussion and together they come up with a idea that might just change the minds of  the city council members decision to sell the zoo.

The story ends with a wonderful turn of events and a reminder that anything can happen when we face our challenges and work together.

Denise Brennan-Nelson creates a playful narrative that provides readers with an interesting and fun collection of common sayings, clichés, and idioms.  From “knee-high to a grasshopper,” to “rubbing elbows with fat cats,” to being “dog-tired” and having “butterflies in their stomachs,” the author gives her readers humorous images that create a delightful storyline for young readers, while the illustrations provide delightful details that are bold and complement the fanciful tale. 

Maestro Stu Saves the Zoo, written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and illustrated by Tim Bowers, is appropriate for ages 6-10.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Brennan-Nelson, Denise.  Maestro Stu Saves the Zoo.   Illustrated by Tim Bowers Juan, Ana. The Pet Shop Revolution.  Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Maestro Stu Saves the Zoo

John Bendall-Brunello’s pictures are full of fun, too, as they insist this big, clumsy animal fit into tiny chairs, little stools, a small boy’s bed and a child’s slide in the backyard. Moose works hard to keep all four hooves inside the bathtub and to get comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep while maneuvering his orange body around his marvelously–large antlers. Proportions are all askew making each illustration a real source of visual humor for the young child. The eight double page pictures offer amusing perspectives from the point of view of the moose as well as delightful facial expressions.

MOOSE ON THE LOOSE begs to be read aloud. It was selected as the 2012 Michigan Reads Book. Michigan Reads is sponsored in part by The Library of Michigan and promotes reading, literacy and storytelling all over the state. Kathy-jo Wargin, author of the acclaimed The Legend of Sleeping Bear and The Edmund Fitzgerald: Song of the Bell takes on pure fantasy here.

MOOSE ON THE LOOSE, written by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello is perfect for children ages 3-6 (Sleeping Bear Press, 2009).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Moose on the Loose

As Seth and Sara later join the family for dinner, they are once again surprised—this time by the unusual cuisine of “New Zealand land vipers”, “lampfish fins with bees’ knees and guppy filets” and other such delicacies that seemed to move on their plates.  When Mrs. Graves becomes upset because Seth and Sara are not eating, they do their best to calm her down by extending their mother’s invitation to come to the “Union City Ladies Garden Club Tea.”

Needless to say, the cuisine of the Graves’ family is not the only odd and unusual thing about them.  Readers will delight in the scandal that occurs at the Ladies Tea and the absurdities that follow when a Hollywood home decorating star arrives to judge the best decorated house in the village. Crazy and creepy are good descriptors and while things do work out in the end, the journey itself is full of humor and good lessons about human nature.

Polacco uses pencils and markers to create the bold illustrations used in The Graves Family which produce wonderful visual depictions of this loveable but unusual family.

Patricia Polacco calls Union City, Michigan home and has written and illustrated over four dozen books for young people.  While this book is intended for readers ages 4 to 8, it will delight all who appreciate Polacco’s haunting sense of humor.

This is Pamela Gates for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Patricia Polacco.  The Graves Family. Philomel Books: New York, 2003.

Discussion Questions for The Graves Family

JANGLES: A Big Fish Story written and illustrated by David Shannon is a whopper of a tale about “the one that got away”. Author-illustrator Shannon tells this fishy yarn as a story in a story in a story. The young boy hears all about it from his father as he reminisces about his encounter with the legendary fish named Jangles when he was a boy fishing all alone in the middle of the lake.

“ Just when I saw the lure on the end of the line, a gigantic shadow came up out of the deep darkness and swallowed it up! My rod bent nearly in half. I was hanging on to it like it was my first dollar when Jangles suddenly swam under the boat and pulled me over the side and into the cold, black lake. “

Jangles pulls him down into a deep cave where the boy can breathe and begins to tell him fascinating stories about the beginning of the earth when giant fish, wise redwood trees and silly animals ruled. Shannon’s accompanying illustration is full of fun with a tumbling turtle, a peacock with its head in the sand and a blue squirrel with antlers. The colors, in David Shannon’s signature palette, are deep, dark and gem-like.

The double page illustration of the young boy out in the middle of the lake after dark all alone is quietly beautiful and gives the story just enough tension to set up the encounter with this giant talking fish. Shannon’s design and style are at home in the book and integrate perfectly with the story.
The story goes on to tell how the boy captures the giant fish and why he then lets it go free. The surprise at the end of the book is all tied up with the number of times Jangles had been nearly caught and the many “shiny metal lures and rusty old fishing hooks” that lined his ancient jaw and clinked and clanked as he moved in the water.

JANGLES: A Big Fish Story written and illustrated by David Shannon is a tall tale about a tall tale but more importantly about friendship and doing what is right. It is appropriate for children 4-8 years of age (Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for JANGLES: A Big Fish Story

NightSong,  written by Ari Berk and illustrated Loren Long is an enchanting tale about a young bat who is about to leave the comforts of his cave-home for his first night flight. Filled with delightful imagery that will charm any reader, Ari Berk creates a narrative that will teach young readers the importance of sense and self.

Readers meet Chiro, the young bat, as his mother is preparing him for his first night flight.  Like any other juvenile, Chiro is initially afraid of this new challenge.  He fears that he won’t be able to see because of the darkness and that he might not find his way back home. 

His mother, however, does her best to calm his fears by coaxing him to use his “good sense” and to listen to the night song.

When Chiro questions what that means, she tells him, “ Sense is the song you hear out into the world and the song the world sings back to you.  Sing, and the world will answer.  That is how you will see.” Then, without anymore hesitation, she sends him off into the night.

Initially, Chiro is frightened as he leaves the cave; he tries to peer through the darkness and cannot see anything but shadows around him.  His mother’s words though, come through to him saying, “use your good sense.”  Then, as he begins to sing out to the world, it answers to him and soon, the unknown shadows begin to clear and he can see the flocks of geese, the trees, the river, and the pond where he will feast upon the insects of the night.

Once Chiro has filled himself with the tasty morsels of insects, he decides to venture out and away from the familiar setting and when he does, the songs of the night carry him farther from hishome.  Then, as dawn begins to break, Chiro listens carefully and follows the songs of home until he is safely back to his cave and the warmth of his mother’s wings.

Young readers will be captivated by the narrative that is skillfully woven into a credible, albeit, unusual tale of a bat who discovers his own “good sense.”  Loren Long’s illustrations of acrylic and graphite extend the text in a delightful way to guide readers through the darkness of night into the clarity of the storyline that is   found through good sense and sight.

Ari Berk is Professor of English at Central Michigan University and is the author of several books—all of which will challenge and delight readers with their glimpse into the worlds of giants, goblins, fairies, Vikings, elves, and now bats.  Dr. Berk received the 2008 Parent’s Choice Award and the 2009 Notable Book Award for his work on The Secret History of Giants and Nightsong  is appropriate for all young readers.  

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Berk, Ari. Nightsong. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Discussion Questions for NightSong

ELECTRIC BEN: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, written and illustrated by Robert Byrd, is a masterpiece in storytelling in both word and picture. Based on Byrd’s solid research and his great admiration for Franklin, the artist-author is able to present an astounding amount of information about this most unusual Founding Father.

The gorgeous illustrations, rendered in ink-line, watercolor and colored ink, delight the imagination and the eye. They transport the reader to Boston in 1706 where Franklin was born and grew up to the print shop where he was first apprenticed to his brother to his own print shop where he turned out the popular and humorous Poor Richard’s Almanac to the wonderful depictions of his kite and lightning rod experiments, his volunteer fire brigades, his brilliant statesmanship and his presence at the forming of all three documents----the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Peace with England and The Constitution. In fact he was the only founding father who signed all three.

The cover of the book captures what Franklin’s energy and insatiable curiosity were all about------discovery, solving problems and community action. It shows Franklin’s hair electrically-energized while he is “coaxing sparks from the sky” and into a Leyden jar like a wizard at the wheel of scientific discovery. The red, yellow and blue colors are swirling, moving and shaping the world to come.

The author-illustrator also includes an engaging Author’s Notes, Bibliography and Timeline at the back of the book.  Quotations and wise sayings by Franklin add another colorful dimension to the text such as

“A penny saved is a penny earned” , “ People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages”, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”, and “An ounce of prevention is worth a  pound of cure.”

ELECTRIC BEN: The Amazing life of Benjamin Franklin, illustrated and written by Robert Byrd, is a perfect book for 8-12 year olds who are interested in science, American history and invention. (Dial Books/ Penguin Group, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for ELECTRIC BEN

Monet Paints a Day , is a delightful look at the artist, Claude Monet and the time he spent in France painting scenes of a seaside village.   Written by Julie Danneberg and illustrated by Caitlin Heimerl, this story captures beautifully the creative and imaginative side of this impressionistic master.

Readers are introduced to the creative world of Claude Monet  as he begins a vacation (or “holiday” as the Europeans say), in Etretat, France in November of 1885.  Monet spends his days outside painting the beautiful landscapes of the cliffs and beaches nearby. 

Often children help him carry his supplies and half finished paintings out to the site where he will work until there is little light left in the day.  Monet is generous with the children, often tossing them coins for their help, but as soon as they finish their work for him, they are gone, not wanting to disturb the famous painter or incur his quick anger, should the weather be bad or the light poor.

On one such day, Monet stands before a massive stone arch known as Manneporte and becomes deeply involved with his creation—painting at a feverish pace to capture the images before the light changes.  On this day, Monet notices the waves at his feet, but ignores them since he assumes that the tide is going out—not coming in.  Monet is so absorbed in his painting that he does not recognize the danger until a giant wave towers over him, crashes down upon him and sweeps him and his painting into the sea.  As he struggles against the power of the sea, it suddenly spits him out and he lands face down in the sand—his palette still in his hand, his beard covered in paint.  As he struggles to catch his breath, he notices that all is gone—his easel, his stool, and his painting.  The sea that has been a creative focus has now consumed his work.  As he trudges back to his hotel he knows that he will return to this place to capture the beauty and the danger that will become “Waves at the Manneporte, 1885.”

Author Jule Danneberg provides her readers with a glimpse into the master impressionist that was Calude Monet.  The simple narrative is supplemented by excerpts from the journal Monet kept during his time at Etretat, France in 1885.  The narrative combination provides insight to the man and the time, while the exquisite watercolor  illustrations done by Caitlin Meimerl complement the text and the impressionist style of Monet. 

Monet Paints a Day , written by Julie Danneberg and illustrated by Caitlin Heimerl, is appropriate for grades 1-4,  but will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Danneber, Julie. Monet Paints a Day.  Illustrated by Caitlin Heimerl.   Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Monet Paints a Day

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE, written by William Joyce and illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm, is a charming fantasy story in celebration of the beauty and joy of books.  
The story begins with a young man who looks incredibly like Buster Keaton and who loves books. He is trying to write a book of his own when a terrible storm comes through his town. Everything is turned upside down including houses, trees, telephone poles and lives. The pages of his book are scattered across the terrain.

While sadly walking away from the ravages of the storm, Morris lifts his eyes and sees a lady with a bunch of books on strings floating above him. Trusting that Morris needs the encouragement of a story to start life over again, she sends him a book about Humpty Dumpty----another character who has experienced a life-changing event.

The book leads him to a library where he finds a magical place where books fly! Quoting from the text: “ Morris slowly walked inside and discovered the most mysterious and inviting room he had ever seen. It was filled with the fluttering of countless pages, and Morris could hear the faint chatter of a thousand different stories, as if each book was whispering an invitation to adventure.”

From that moment on, Morris is hooked on the wonder of books----he dedicates his life to caring for them by fixing their broken bindings, repairing torn pages and sharing them with the community. By day he is lost in reading and by night he writes his own story. This goes on for days, months and years until his story is finished and an elderly Morris leaves to make way for a new book patron.

The visual multimedia details, colors, facial expressions and design of the flying books themselves are enchanting. In one picture Morris hangs from the letter J just as Buster Keaton hung from the hands of a clock. There is even a subtle visual nod to Mother Goose.

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR.MORRIS LESSMORE, written by William Joyce and illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm is a visual and imaginary delight for children ages 5-10 ( Atheneum , 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

THE FURTHER TALE OF PETER RABBIT, written in a most genuine voice by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson and illustrated by Eleanor Taylor, is a work of quality in story, illustration, layout,  and book design. With the blessing of Beatrix Potter’s publisher Emma Thompson gives Peter Rabbit a fine new adventure---one that starts in the same place as the original book, namely, in Mr. McGregor’s garden.

This time Peter finds a picnic basket there. He crawls in, eats all the sandwiches and goodies and falls asleep. He wakes to a jostling of a cart and realizes he and the picnic basket are on the road. Mischievous Peter must run for his life when the cart stops and Mrs. McGregor finds her picnic food all eaten and by whom!

Peter gets away and meets a rather large Scottish rabbit decked out in a kilt by the name of Finlay McBurney. The McBurney household takes Peter in while preparing for the next day’s games where Finlay must defend his title for the longest radish throw. At the competition Peter is bored and wanders off and finds a giant radish of his own. He eats the inside clean until it is hollow.  When he is asked to throw this giant radish over to Finlay, Peter breaks Finlay’s record as this radish now weighs practically nothing. Rabbits put Peter on their shoulders in celebration. Quoting from the text:

 When they put him down, Finlay came up with the Cup. “Aye, ye’ve won fair and square, laddie!” he said. “The Cup is yours!”

Then Peter tells him what had happened and that he did not win fair and square. Finlay has a good laugh and is able to retain his title.

The adorable illustrations are full of Potter-like details---- flowers, mice, birds, berries and bunnies. All ends well when Peter goes back home and tells Benjamin Bunny the story of his adventure.

THE FURTHER TALE OF PETER RABBIT written by Emma Thompson and illustrated by Eleanor Taylor, includes a CD by Thompson. It is perfect for young children and all the Beatrix Potter lovers among us (Penguin Group/ Frederick Warne, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for THE FURTHER TALE OF PETER RABBIT

Excuse me, I’m trying to read, written by Mary Jo Amani and illustrated by Lehla Eldridge  is a charming tale of the frustrations faced when a young  girl tries to read in a jungle.  Readers are introduced to the young reader who is constantly distracted by the safari animals of Africa. She tells us how “trying to read with an elephant is surprising” especially when she is sprayed with water and how reading with an African ibis can be painful when he puts his sharp claws in her hair. From scary snakes who try to squeeze her, to laughing zebras, to stinky dung beetles, to crocodiles with big sharp teeth, each animal brings forth the same refrain from her, “Excuse me, I’m trying to read!”

Impalas, rhinos, monkeys, and lions all present challenges to the young protagonist, and readers will be surprised by the turn of events at the end of the story when the animals themselves want a little quiet so they can read.

While the author, Mary Jo Amani uses playful language full of descriptive detail to describe the disturbances that the animals cause to interrupt reading, Lehla Eldridge provides colorful illustrations to extend the actions.  Together, they create a humorous, yet informative introduction for young readers.

Excuse me, I’m trying to read, written by Mary Jo Amani and illustrated by Lehla Eldridge, won the National Association of Elementary School Principals Children’s Picture Book award and is appropriate for ages 3-6.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Amani, Mary Jo.  Excuse me, I’m trying to read! Illustrated by Lehla Eldridge.  Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Excuse me, I’m trying to read

ROCKET WRITES A STORY is a perfect companion piece to follow Tad Hills’ very popular HOW ROCKET LEARNED TO READ. This time the little dog that loves to read and his teacher, little yellow bird, take on the creative process of story making.

First, little bird sends Rocket out to collect words. Rocket brings his words back to the classroom and writes them down. The word tree soon fills up with words such as dog, nest, flower, tree, ant, fly, grass, boat and cloud. The word-tree also includes words that are smaller but words little yellow bird said would “come in handy” such as over, to, up, down, in, or, under and after.

When she asks Rocket what can be done with these words he starts to think. In fact, he thinks all afternoon until he comes up with the possibility of writing a story. He is very excited but writing a story is not as easy as it sounds. All he has is a blank page. As all good teachers do, little bird suggests that Rocket write a story about something he has seen, or something that has happened to him or something he enjoys or something that inspires him.

It doesn’t take him too long to find inspiration------ it comes in the smell of pine needles and feathers. He finds a pine tree with a nest and tries to start a dialogue with whatever is in the nest but to no avail. Then one day he sees a new word written on the grass in front of this tree---it says OWL. Rocket loves this new word and after a few more bouts with writer’s block he writes a fine story about owl and her wonderful smelling pine tree.

Tad Hills’ story draws a parallel to the difficulty and the joy young children experience when trying to write their first story. The pictures, rendered in oil paint and colored pencils, are genuine, endearing and loveable.

ROCKET WRITES A STORY, written and illustrated by Tad Hills is a charming animal fantasy that 4-7 year olds will enjoy (Schwartz and Wade/imprint of Random House, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for ROCKET WRITES A STORY

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT, written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Rebecca Bond, follows the familiar pattern of the English nursery song and accumulative tale This Is The House That Jack Built.  This rhyme, however, is a more complicated tale about George Washington’s efforts to build a house for future presidents of the United States. Quoting from the text:

“This is the story of the President’s House that George built.

This is the lot, that grand, scenic spot, for the President’s House that George built.

This is the design, that would stand for all time, that was drawn for the lot, that grand, scenic spot, for the President’s House that George built.”

Although the rhyme holds the summary of the story, a corresponding prose gives the backstory. For instance, the site was located in Maryland by George Washington himself and overlooked the Potomac River. George offered a contest for the best design. The winner was an Irish immigrant by the name of James Hoban. George also helped clear the land and oversaw the laying of the foundation.

The double-page illustrations, done in watercolor, beautifully document the challenges of this eight- year project. When there was no way to get the bricks up the steep incline, kilns were brought in and the bricks were made right on the site. When there wasn’t enough stone to cover the outside, the design was changed from a three story house to a two story house. And when the budget was tight the roof was covered with slate instead of expensive lead. The Notes at the back of the book, state that this slate roof leaked and had to be replaced in 1804.

There is also a fascinating author’s list of the ways in which various President’s changed the design: Theodore Roosevelt added an outdoor tennis court in 1902, Calvin Coolidge built a solarium on the roof in 1927, Harry S. Truman added a bowling ally in 1948 and Bill Clinton added a jogging track on the grounds in 1993, to name a few.

There are many notes, sources and resources mentioned where young readers can go to learn more about the White House that “ now contains 132 rooms, 412 doors, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases and 3 elevators.”

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT, written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Rebecca Bond, is a well documented and very educational book for 5-9 year olds (Charlesbridge, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF

Discussion Questions for THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT

Junonia, written by Kevin Henkes is a simple, but beautifully detailed story about Alice Rice, a young girl who returns to a Florida beach cottage with her parents every year to celebrate her birthday. Readers are introduced to Alice and her family as they cross the bridge to Sanibel Island—the place they have come every February to escape the cold winter of Wisconsin.  While her parents draw her attention to the beauty of the water and the spotting of a pelican, a heron, an Ibis, and a seagull, readers are able to visualize that beauty through the eyes of Alice.

This will be a special birthday for Alice and she looks forward to turning  ten years old surrounded by the many friends who have always been on the island with her to celebrate her special day. 

The Wishmeiers and their grandchildren, Helen Blair, old Mr. Barden, and her mother’s friend Kate are the friends that Alice considers part of big Florida extended family. 

As soon as they arrive at Scallop Cottage, before they unpack, Alice and her parents run to the shoreline to take in the beauty of the beach and the ocean.  It is what they always do; it is part of the traditions they have established and Alice embraces the traditions of this place; to her, everything must stay the same.  This year, however, there will be very little that stays the same—from those who cannot be at the island this year, to the new visitors who seem to change everything for Alice.  Those changes become difficult for Alice to deal with and threaten to diminish the special qualities that she has come to love about her visits to the island.  Readers are able to experience the frustrations and disappointments faced by Alice through the detailed imagery and candid dialog that is expressed throughout.  Readers will also appreciate the details the author provides about various types of sea shells through Alice’s pursuit to find the rare Junonia.

This story is one that will remind us all of the special times of our childhood and will challenge young readers to engage with Alice and her expectations of herself and others.

Junonia, written Kevin Henkes is wonderful chapter book for young readers and is appropriate for ages nine and up.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Henkes, Kevin.  Junonia.  New York: Greenwillow Books, 2011.

Discussion Questions for Junonia

MARTIN de PORRES: the Rose in the Desert written by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by David Diaz, is a gentle story about a gentle soul whose mother was an African slave and father was a Spanish nobleman.

Born into poverty in 1579, Martin lived his first eight years with his mother and sister in the disease-infested barrios of Lima, Peru. Eight years later, his father, Don Juan de Porres came and claimed his children, took them back to Ecuador and gave them his name. In a few years, Martin was apprenticed out to a barber back in Lima to learn the medical skills of the day including how to set broken bones, pull teeth and dress wounds. News of the boy’s spiritual nature soon spread across the land.

When he was 15 years old he asked for and was granted employment as a lay helper at the Dominican monastery. He washed clothes, swept floors and was put in charge of the infirmary. His healing powers and his spiritual devotion led to his acceptance as a Dominican brother at the age of 24.

Gary D, Schmidt’s writing illuminates and clarifies the many stories from the oral tradition of Martin’s deeds. Quoting from the text:
“Some said that Martin could appear in two places at the same time. Others saw angels with lighted candles guiding him through the halls. Along the River Rimac, the lemon and orange trees he planted gave harvest all year long.”

Illustrations by David Diaz are as soft and spiritually resonant as the story. Warm blue and green backgrounds allow for the blossoming of the sweet details of Martin’s service and charity.  Lush drawings of flowers, birds, puppies, and people can be seen throughout this beautifully produced book.

MARTIN de PORRES: the Rose in the Desert written by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by David Daiz is ideal for the child 6-9 years of age who wants to know more about this boy who was made a patron saint of universal brotherhood in 1962 (Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for MARTIN de PORRES: the Rose in the Desert

There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived, written and illustrated by Matt Tavares is an engaging and informative biographical tribute to one of baseball’s heroes—Ted Williams.  Tavares presents his readers with a look into the life of the legendary Red Sox player who dedicated himself to becoming one of the greatest hitters of all times.

Tavares begins by introducing his readers to Ted Williams, a young boy who lived in San Diego, California and spent every free moment at the North Park playground practicing swing after swing of his baseball bat.  In fact, Williams was so obsessed with practicing, that he would swing just about everything—baseball bats, sticks, or even rolled up newspapers.  Throughout his practices, he imagined…”two on, two out, last of the ninth, down three to one, two balls, two strikes, and here’s the pitch… HOME RUN!”

Tavaras tells us that Williams was a skinny kid and that he hated the taunting from other kids so much that he exercised constantly by doing push-ups on his fingertips and ate huge amounts of food in an attempt to gain weight.  In 1935,  when Ted Williams was just a junior in high school, he had a batting average of .583 and led his team to a league championship.  Big league scouts from across the country traveled to San Diego to watch him play and the New York Yankees even offered him a contract to play for them.  Ted, however, was still in high school and was only 17 years old at the time--too young to sign a contract--and his mother did not let him be that far away from home.  Instead, she allowed him to play for a minor league team in the area—the San Diego Padres—which he did for two years.  Then, at the age of 19, Ted Williams joined the Boston Red Sox and within four years, he was an all-star and in 1941, he finished the season with the batting average of  .406—a record that still stands.

Ted Williams was not only a baseball hero though; he was also an American hero—serving as a fighter pilot in both WWII and later in Korea, where he was forced to crash land his F9F Panther fighter jet.  Each time Williams left for war, he knew that he might not return, but he did and each time he returned, he went right back to his commitment to be the best hitter he could be for the Boston Red Sox.  When Ted Williams returned from Korea, after flying 39 combat missions and surviving the crash landing, he was 35 years old.  At 35, most ball players were finishing up their major league careers, but not Ted Williams.  He played seven more seasons, won two more batting titles, and in 1957, at the age of 39, had one of his finest seasons and was named Major League Baseball player of the Decade for the 1950s.  The following quotation sums up the essence of Ted Williams’ commitment to the game.

“On September 28, 1960, at Fenway Park in Boston, Ted Williams walks to the plate for the final time.  He waits for over two minutes for the crowds to stop cheering.  They do not stop.  Finally, he steps into the batter’s box.  He stands upright, knees slightly bent, feet twenty-seven inches apart, front foot twelve inches off the plate, back foot dug into the dirt, same as always.  The pitcher winds up, Ted Williams sees the ball.  He swings.  HOME RUN! …There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.”

Matt Tavara’s admiration of Ted Williams is detailed through his narrative, but brought alive through his illustrations done in watercolor, gouache, and pencil and portray the images and energy of baseball life of Ted Williams in dramatic form.

There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived, written and illustrated by Matt Tavares ends with an author’s note and complete stats for his baseball career. This book is appropriate for ages 5 and up.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Tavaras, Matt. There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived.  Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2012.

Discussion Questions for There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived

PLUTO VISITS EARTH! is written by Steve Metzger and illustrated by Jared Lee and chronicles the day Pluto hears he is no longer considered to be a planet!

Pluto does not take the news of his demotion well. And decides to go to Earth and confront the astronomers who down graded him.  But first he tries to get one of the other planets to go with him. Neptune can’t go because he has thirteen moons to manage. Saturn is too busy admiring those beautiful rings. And Jupiter is very bossy because Jupiter is the biggest.

In the face of all of these excuses little Pluto starts out alone and arrives at the Mount Baldy Observatory. The astronomers there tell him he is too small to be a planet and furthermore he needs to be much larger than his moons. Quoting from the text:

‘”I don’t care!” Pluto said. “I like being one of the nine planets in the solar system. Now nobody will know who I am.”

Then the small voice of a child speaks up and assures Pluto that  “small or big” he is the best. Pluto’s self esteem is restored and he happily returns to his spot in the eight-planet- and- one- dwarf planet line up feeling very special, indeed.

Jared Lee’s illustrations are special, too. They capture the playfulness of the tiny dwarf planet and the rolling, bouncing, floating fun that is found in his very busy Milky Way-----the final double page spread pictures  all sorts of goings on such as space rockets driven by two cats, a mouse in a hot air balloon and a flying alligator!

Steve Metzger’s humor is peppered throughout the book from the antics of the other self-absorbed planets to the newspaper headlines such as “Pluto suffers identity crisis” and ”Small is the NEW BIG!” The author also gives a summary at the back of the book of when and how Pluto was discovered in 1930.

PLUTO VISITS EARTH written by Steve Metzger and illustrated by Jared Lee is ideal for 4-7 year olds (Orchard Books/ Scholastic, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Pluto Visits Earth

This is the Game, written by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander and illustrated by Owen Smith is a wonderful lyrical tribute one of America’s favorite pastimes: baseball.  Shore and Alexander create an expressive review of the history and nuances of baseball through a poetic narrative that carries the reader along playfully. 

From the first melodic refrain of, “This is the alley where school children meet for a stick and ball game in a cobblestone street” Shore and Alexander capture us.  Their knowledge of the game is articulated by the fine points emphasized through the poetic imagery created in their descriptions of the time, place, and the action it evokes through the subtle refrains.

“This is the bat, a bottlenecked club the batter keeps perfectly sanded and rubbed.”

“This is the pitcher they call “Dizzy Dean.  Hold the bat steady—his fastball is mean!” 

“This is ‘the Babe,’ ‘the Sultan of Swat,’ clearing the fence after calling the shot."

“This is the season and this in the inning—a Major league change, a  historic beginning when young Jackie Robinson wears Dodger blue and helps to make one single league out of two.”

With the lyrical rhythms, Shore and Alexander give their readers historical tidbits that  provide important insight into the summer time fascination with baseball.

The illustrations created by Owen Smith express the images and energy of  baseball and its participants in a dramatic form.

This is the Game, written by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander and illustrated by Owen Smith will delight readers of all ages and is appropriate for ages 9 and up. 

Shore, Diane Z. and Jessica Alexander.  This is the Game.  Illustrated by Owen Smith.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.

Discussion Questions for This is the Game

A GOLD STAR FOR ZOG, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is a delightful animal fantasy tale about a school for young dragons specializing in the art and craft of dragon-hood. Six little dragons including Zog train together to learn how to fly, roar, breathe fire and capture princesses!

Zog is an overachiever who has his eye on winning a gold star. He tries harder than any other classmates but somehow ends up flying into trees, hurting his throat by roaring too much and catching one of his wings on fire with his own flame! Princess Pearl, who just happens to be wondering through the forest with her doctor-in- training bag, comes to Zog’s rescue.

She bandages his bumps, aides his sore throat with peppermint drops and wraps his scorched wing. She even helps him capture a princess---namely, her!

Donaldson tells the tale in her award-winning and lively rhyming style that  makes this an ideal book to read aloud to young children. Quoting from the text just as Zog takes off for his first flight and meets the wandering princess:

Zog went off to practice, flying fast and free. He soared and swooped and lopped the loop…then crashed into a tree. Just then a little girl came by, “Oh please don’t cry, “ she said. “Perhaps you’d like a sticky Band –Aid for your head?

After this encounter Zog takes to the sky again, waves goodbye and  “zigzags through the blue “unaware that the princess in disguise would visit him several more times to offer him first aid.
 Axel Scheffler’s colorful pictures of the young dragons are playful, charming and totally endearing. They are shown dutifully trying to roar as they have been taught. Their little eyes are closed and mouths wide open as they concentrate on their task.  The dragons’ eagerness to capture princesses is delightfully illustrated as they run off excitedly in all directions with princess scarecrows in hand.

A GOLD STAR FOR ZOG, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is a perfect rhyming romp for children 3-7 years of age (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. First American edition, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for A GOLD STAR FOR ZOG

A Beach Tail, written by Karen Lynn Williams and Illustrated by Floyd Cooper is a simple, but beautiful ly detailed story of a father and son who spend a summer day at the beach. Readers are introduced to Gregory and his father as Gregory draws a picture of a lion in the sand at the beach. When his father suggests that the lion needs a tail, Gregory picks up a stick to draw a tail on his “Sandy Lion” and is cautioned by his father not to go in the water and not to leave “Sandy.” Gregory promises that he won’t do either and with a “swish- swoosh,” he begins to draw a lion’s tail with his stick.

Concentrating, Gregory draws a tail that gets longer and longer—one that makes a loop around a blob of jellyfish and then continues up and over an old sand castle and zigzags around a horseshoe crab and continues on down the beach. As the lion’s tail grows longer, and longer, Gregory even adds his own nic-name--“Greg”-- in the sand.

Gregory finally looks up when he hears a giant wave crash on the rocks and suddenly realizes that he can no longer see his father. He has kept his promise and has not gone in the water or left “Sandy the Lion,” but his father is nowhere to be seen. Wondering what to do next, he begins to follow the tail he has drawn in the sand back down the beach—retracing his steps—past his nic-name, zigzagging around the horseshoe crab, up and over the old sand castle, around the jellyfish blob and back to his drawing of Sandy. Looking up, he sees his dad, their umbrella, and his very own dolphin towel.

This story is one that will remind each of us of the warm summer days of childhood, and the simple narrative imagery against the stunning backdrop of Floyd Cooper’s artwork will cause you to linger over each drawing. The illustrations are remarkable creations done in pastels and provide a sense of expressive detail to young Gregory.

A Beach Tale, written by Karen Lynn Williams and Illustrated by Floyd Cooper is wonderful read-aloud and is appropriate for ages 4-7.

Williams, Karen Lynn. A Beach Tail. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Honesdale, PA: Boyd Mills Press, 2010.

Discussion Questions for A Beach Tail

BARNUM’S BONES: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World, written by Tracey Fern and illustrated by Boris Kulikov, is a snappy biography picture book about the man who first discovered a Tyrannosaurus Rex!

As a small boy living on a Kansas farm, he started to collect fossils and developed a passion for finding them. When it became time to attend university he had already decided to become a paleontologist. Barnum was such a good student that his professor sent him on geological expeditions to South Dakota and Wyoming in 1894. Again he performed so well that he came to the attention of professor Henry Osborn of Columbia University and was sent back to Wyoming in 1897 to bring back fossils for The Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Although Brown found many fossils he wanted, above all else, to find a new species.  On a tip from a friend in 1902 Barnum Brown took off for the badlands around Hell Creek, Montana where he found a dinosaur pelvis, backbones, an arm bone and a thighbone the likes of which he had never seen before! He tried to make sense of the bones while excavating further. In 1905 he was certain they could be from a Tyrannosaurus Rex but he needed more. In 1908 he returned to Montana and hit pay dirt! Quoting from the book:
 
“Slowly Barnum uncovered enough bones to identify his find. It was the treasure he had dreamed of-------a perfect, four foot long T. rex skull, studded with serrated six-inch-long teeth. In fact, the whole skeleton was nearly perfect…”

Boris Kulikov’s illustrations fully realize the essence of Barnum’s drive and passion as well as his eccentric ways. Throughout the book, Barnum’s real life, self -imposed dress code can be seen. While walking over rock formations and on his hands and knees chipping and digging Barnum is dressed in suit, tie, bowler hat and beaver coat! The pictures are full of fun.

BARNUM’S BONES: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern and illustrated by Boris Kulikov is ideal for children ages 6-10  (Margaret Ferguson Books/ Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for BARNUM’S BONES

The Little Bully, written by Beth Bracken and illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell,  is a playfully detailed story of Billy, who is “cool kid” who was really nice to everyone and Fred who was always mean—especially to Billy.

Readers are introduced to young Fred who constantly points and makes fun of everything about Billy.  Fred calls Billy a slob, makes fun of his spelling, and even the pictures he draws. No matter how hard Billy tried to stand up for himself, Fred only laughed at him, making Billy feel terrible.  Because of Fred’s negative comments, Billy began to feel bad about himself—that he wasn’t smart, that he wasn’t funny,  and that nobody liked him.

Billy began to feel so bad that he didn’t want to go to school anymore.  His parents, however, insisted that Billy go to school and he did; however, Fred kept teasing him.  He even made fun of Billy’s favorite shirt by telling him it was a “baby shirt!”  Since Billy had a baby sister, he knew that his shirt with a truck on it was not a “baby” shirt.  Then, just as Billy was about to say something back, he looked closely at Fred.  The shirt he was wearing had a bear on it; he had paint on his pants, and his shoes were untied. But, what Billy noticed most was that Fred had no other friends.  He realized too that it would be easy to make fun of Fred—his clothing and his lack of friends.

At that point, Billy decides to stand up to Fred, without being rude him.  When Fred answers with yet another insult, Billy tells him that if he doesn’t stop being mean, that he won’t play with him and Fred realizes that without Billy, he has no other friends. 

The Little Bully is a playful, but poignant way for young readers to think about their behavior, taking responsibility for their actions, and the importance of friendship Beth Bracken provides a delightful tale about an important message against bullying, while Jennifer Bell creates expressive illustrations that extend the narrative for young readers.

The Little Bully , written by Beth Bracken and illustrated by Jennifer Bell, is a wonderful read aloud and is appropriate for ages 2-5.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf

LAUNDRY DAY, written and illustrated by Maurie J. Manning, is a lively snapshot of a day in a New York neighborhood in the early 1900’s and is a book about community. The street is full of busy people from all over the world such as Italy, Ireland, Poland, Jamaica, China and the Ukraine. They are all engaged in shopping, driving wagons, selling fish, loading boxes, buying potatoes, tending children and washing laundry.

The youngest worker, a little boy who shines shoes, happens to look up from the street and sees a sky filled with clotheslines stretching between the apartment buildings -----socks, sheets, pants, skirts, shirts, and red long johns are flapping in the wind. The boy also sees a beautiful piece of red cloth floating down from one of the balconies to the street and straight into his arms. Since no one seems to be interested in him or a shoe shine he decides to climb up the side of the buildings from balcony to balcony in search of the cloth’s owner and return it.

As he climbs, he visits a Chinese lady folding clothes, a Ukrainian mother with a howling baby, an Italian organ grinder, three little sisters from Poland, a Rabbi and his wife and a seamstress from Jamaica, among others. With each visit he learns a culture specific word, does something nice and receives something nice in return. In fact, the seamstress to whom the cloth belongs makes him a red scarf from part of the material and still has enough left to wrap around her head.

The charming pictures are done in digital pencil, watercolor and pastels. The double page spread depicting the busy street is colorful and richly –detailed. The author/illustrator has visually captured a wonderful sense of movement throughout the book as the boy, carrying the red cloth, shimmies up poles, swings from one balcony to another, dangles over railings and tiptoes across clotheslines while making friends. He has spirit and so does this lovely story.

LAUNDRY DAY written and illustrated by Maurie J. Manning is a book full of kindness and multicultural perspectives and is appropriate for children ages 4-8 (Clarion Books, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for LAUNDRY DAY

HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES, written by the U.S. Pulitzer Prize winning poet Ted Kooser  and illustrated by Canada’s Governor General’s Award winning artist Jon Klassen, is a gentle story about the comforting presence of nature.

As the story begins, we see a small isolated house where a father and his two children live. There are no trees, no bushes and no flowers around the house. Their father is obsessed with keeping the lawn cut and totally free of any leaves, seeds and saplings.

 The children prefer the neighboring property where maple, elm, ash, hackberry and cottonwood trees thrive. They play in the leaves, cool themselves in the shade, hide under the low limbs and listen to birdsong. From that vantage point the children watch their father endlessly cut the grass with a red lawn mower.

Their father’s determination to keep the lawn in what he thinks is a  “ perfect” state and the children’s puzzled acceptance of his practice produces a generational gap and weaves a delicate thread of sadness through the story. The book is a creative collaboration of great beauty by Kooser and Klassen.

When the children grow up and leave home, their father puts the house up for sale and he, too, moves. No one buys the house. Over the years seeds fly over the lawn and trees sprout and grow tall around the house. As the house begins to lose its shingles and its frame starts to come apart, the roots of the trees move under the broken house and gently lift it off the ground. The tree limbs cradle the house in their protective arms. Quoting from the text, ”…and maybe you will drive past it today or tomorrow, as it floats there above the ground like a tree house, a house in the trees, a house held together by the strength of trees…”

HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES written by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Jon Klassen is a reflective and timeless story appropriate for children 5-8 years of age (Candlewick Press, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES

OKAY FOR NOW, written by Newbery Honor Award winner Gary D. Schmidt, is a funny, difficult and ultimately elegant story of betrayal and healing. Douglas Swieteck is an affable teenager who tells his story with a genuine combination of opinion, fact and stats. Through the pages of this novel, set in 1968, the reader is witness to Doug’s dysfunctional family, the caring mentors he eventually attracts in his new home of Marysville, New York and his realization that art can and does allow a person to more fully understand, engage in and love life.

From the first chapter, the reader and young Doug are imprinted by the emotional circumstances of certain birds captured in the pictures found in Audubon’s masterpiece, Bird’s of America.

Schmidt is to be applauded for this structural design. Quoting from Schmidt’s sensitive text as Doug first sees the library’s huge picture of The Arctic Tern:

“His eye was round and bright and afraid, and his beak was open a little bit, probably because he was trying to suck in some air before he crashed into the water. The sky around him was dark, like the air was too heavy to fly in.

This bird was falling and there wasn’t a single thing in the world that cared at all.”
Each chapter is laid out with this compelling bird motif. Employing art as an empathetic mirror adds depth and understanding to Doug’s growth as he survives the bullying tactics of his brother, a deeply disturbed father, the unwelcome jeers of the peer group and suspicious glances of some town folk.

His growth and survival are aided by the wonderful supporters he finds in the community including an insightful English teacher, a wise chemistry teacher and, of course, his main mentor, The Marysville Free Library’s Mr. Powell who gently teaches Doug how to draw by teaching him how to look and how to see.

OKAY FOR NOW, written by Gary D. Schmidt, is a beautifully told story about one boy’s triumph over a pack of difficulties and the healing power of art. It will speak clearly to readers 10-14 years of age (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for OKAY FOR NOW

Isabella’s Garden, is an insightful, yet playful look into the seasonal cycle of gardens and gardening.    Written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Rebecca Cool, this story captures the importance and interconnectedness of the environment around us.

Readers are introduced Isabella and her garden through the lyrical rhythms that echo the nursery rhyme of “The House that Jack Built.”  Beginning with, “This is the soil, all dark and deep, in Isabella’s garden,” the author then continues with, “These are the seeds that sleep in the soil, all dark and deep, in Isabella’s garden.”

The lyrical refrains take readers through the planting, the rain that waters the seeds, the clouds that produce the rain, to the sun that warms the earth and the flowers that grow.  Throughout each step, the process grows to include the birds, the nest, the baby chicks, and the children that play in the tree that houses the nest, that is home to the baby birds.

With a creative skill that is playfully repetitive, Millard not only moves young readers through the growing process and its impact on the wildlife, she also gently moves readers through the seasonal cycle from spring, to summer, to autumn, and winter.

Throughout each set of lyrical phrases, illustrator, Rebecca Cool creates a layer of artistic interpretations to expand the simple melodic storyline. The combination of text and art is both engaging and entertaining and the result is a story that will teach young readers the delightful importance of nature and its connections to the seasonal cycle of life. 

Isabella’s Garden, was written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Rebecca Cool is a charming lyrical narrative and is appropriate for ages 4 to 8.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Millard, Glenda. Isabella’s Garden.  Illustrated by Rebecca Cool.  Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009.

Discussion Questions for Isabella’s Garden

THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD: Boston 1919 is a well written
book by Deborah Kops for readers 9-12 years of age. The flood
 took place on January 15, 1919 in Boston’s North End. The Boston
 Post headlines declared, “HUGE MOLASSES TANK EXPLODES IN
 NORTH END; 11 DEAD, 50 HURT. Great Wave of 2,300,000 Gallons of
 Molasses, 50 Feet High, Sweeps Everything Before It…”

With ninety-eight pages of clear and captivating storytelling, wonderful historic photographs, a list of characters and five sidebars, Kops unfolds the events of this most bizarre accident. The engaging list of twenty-four characters at the beginning of the book cleverly identifies some of those affected by the flood as well as the lawyers, businessmen and experts who testified at the hearing.

Some of these people appear as they go about their day on the morning of January 15,1919------Mrs. O’Brien was hanging out clothes, the firemen in the firehouse were playing cards, Maria Di Stasio was in the train yard with her brother Antonio and was licking molasses from the seams of the old tank, Inspector John Dillon was shifting train cars in the yard, workman Samuel Blair was eating his lunch and John Flynn had just gotten a shave at the Barber shop. Then, at 12:40 pm the molasses tank blew apart releasing its heavy contents that was said to equal the weight of 13,000 automobiles!

Young readers will appreciate the author’s sidebars that give depth and richness to the place and the times including the history of Boston’s North End and the connection between molasses and the rum trade. The old photographs are fascinating, telling and terrific.

Author Kops skillfully takes the reader through the rescue, the clean up and especially the hearing that tried to determine how the tragedy happened and who was to blame. The testimony will prove fascinating to fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD, Boston 1919 written by Deborah Kops is an exciting historical account for serious readers 9-12 years of age (Charlesbridge, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for the CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD

A Black Hole is not a Hole, written by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano and illustrated by Michael Carroll, is an fascinating look at the elements of space—specifically, “black holes.”  DeCristofano takes her readers into the world of outer space by exploring some of the following questions:

1. “Is a black hole a hole?
2. Where do black holes come from?
3. How did we discover them?
4. What makes a black hole so powerful?
5. Where is the nearest black hole?
6. Can I visit it?

And finally, if a black hole is not a hole, what is it?”

Michael Carroll’s illustrations are full of interesting detail that expands the text and helps readers to visualize the concepts of the black hole that otherwise might seem overly complex for young readers.  Early in the book, we see artistic renderings of space that invite exploration—which is clearly the intent of the author and illustrator. The pictures, full of energy, depict  our universe and the elements within it, such as planets, stars, constellations,  gravity, and some basics  of understanding this complex science of outer space.

DeCristofano divides the information into accessible chapters, breaking down the concepts into small bites of information packed into a powerful way to examine “black holes.”  From the “pulling power of the black hole, to “black hole beginnings,” to “turning the universe up-side-down,” the author and illustrator take readers through this introduction to the world of black holes—their discovery, their purpose, and what they mean to us as scientists.
 
The Author's Notes give the young reader a fuller understanding of how she read, researched, and discussed the elements of black holes in space and credits her scientist friends and teachers with the guidance she needed to write this book. The author invites the young reader to further explore elements of the universe and space by providing a number of websites to visit.

A Black Hole is not a Hole, written by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano and illustrated by Michael Carroll, is appropriate for 9-12 year olds.

This is Pamela Gates for THE CHILDREN'S BOOKSHELF.

DeCristofano , Carolyn Cinami.   A Black Hole is not a Hole.  Illustrated by Michael Carroll.  Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2012.

POEM RUNS: Baseball Poems and Paintings written and illustrated by Douglas Florian is a word-delightful way for children ages 5-9 to get up and ready for games of stick and ball.

The fifteen poems inside the book with a sixteenth on the back cover are full of jest and word play and highlight the essence of the game. Florian’s first two poems honor such starting activities as warming up and throwing out the first ball. Then he draws a vivid snapshot in both word and picture of each position with poems about the pitcher, the catcher, the shortstop and more.

Three other poems, namely,  “A Baseball” and ”Our Slugger” and  “Umpire” are finely crafted and also full of ballpark action.  “Umpire” is a delightful image of a personality with a “by the rules” attitude.
Children will enjoy the structure and staccato rhythm of the poem “A Baseball” made up of mostly verbs and the word “it” as well as the surprise ending of the poem, “Our Slugger.”

Quoting from the book:

“Our slugger is strong.
Our slugger is mean,
With arms very long,
And eyesight quite keen.
Our slugger can zing
Each pitch you may hurl.
And one other thing:
Our slugger’s a girl.”

The illustrations, done with gouache, watercolors and colored pencils on primed paper bags, combined with the poetry score a perfect double header for Florian and the children who love his books.   A lean and tall pitcher, wearing a bright orange uniform, elegantly wraps his l-o-n-g stretch from the front cover all away around to the back cover! The bigger than life umpire signals a “thumbs down” as he calls a strike.  Children will also love the humorous details such as the third baseman’s bulky, bulging arm muscle and the player who smashes a poetic line drive deep to right using a bat in the shape of a huge number 2 pencil.

POEM RUNS: Baseball Poems and Paintings written and illustrated by former Little Leaguer Douglas Florian is a visual and auditory romp for children ages 5-9.

(Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions on POEM RUNS

Magritte’s Marvelous Hat, is a delightful look at the artist, Rene’ Magritte.   Written and illustrated by D.B. Johnson,  this story captures the imaginative and playful side of the Belgium artist who is considered one of the greatest surrealists of the 20th century. 

Soon Magritte is painting day and night and although his hat bounces along the ceiling and encourages Magritte to play, Magritte ignores it and even dismisses his hat by telling it to behave itself and just sit on his head.  In a flash, the hat flies out the window and away from Magritte and when it does, Magritte’s ability to paint and create is lost as well.

As one might expect, Magritte goes in search for his magical hat, but to no avail. It isn’t until Magritte challenges the hat to a game to find him, that life returns to its sense of normal for Magritte and his hat.
This is a charming introduction to Rene’ Magritte and the genre of surrealism.  The illustrations are full of creative images that use things seen in everyday life in odd and unusual ways—the real and the surreal of Magritte’s work.  Readers will find themselves pouring over the details of the illustrations time and again to discover the wit and nuances of this tale.

Magritte’s Marvelous Hat, written and illustrated by D.B. Johnson, is playful introduction the work of Rene’ Magritte and is appropriate for ages 4-8.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Johnson, D.B. Magritte’s Marvelous Hat.  Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012.

Discussion Questions on Magritte’s Marvelous Hat

Sue Stauffacher’s picture book biography, TILLIE THE TERRIBLE SWEDE: How One Woman, A Sewing Needle, and A Bicycle Changed History, is the delightful story of the first female world champion cyclist, Tillie Anderson. In the 1890’s she dared to compete in serious races rather than ride around the park upon the seat of a high wheel making figure eights with the other women as custom dictated.

 With the appearance of the diamond-framed safety bike in 1890, Tillie, an immigrant from Sweden who settled in Chicago, started to train for endurance racing by doing pushups, cycling and weight lifting. This unheard of activity coincided with the active struggle for women’s rights in the United States.

A seamstress by trade Tillie also had the courage to ditch her skirts and petticoats and fashion a sleek, body hugging racing suit that would help her go fast. Quoting from the spritely text, ”Tillie used her noodle and her needle to make something entirely different from what was sold in the ladies’ shops where she worked. When Tillie took off her coat for her next ride…Her mother was horrified! Her neighbors were scandalized! Tillie’s friends were mortified. (In fact some stopped talking to her.) But Tillie was satisfied.”

Sarah McMenemy’s illustrations are equally charming and complement the text well.  Her use of black ink, gouache paints and collage techniques give both a delicate and streamlined feel to the colorful and energetic pictures. Wheels are everywhere.

The closing end paper maps Tillie’s historic races from 1896-1901. An author’s note tells more about Tillie’s life, the bicycle craze and the rise of women athletes.

TILLIE THE TERRIBLE SWEDE: How One Woman, A Sewing Needle, and A Bicycle Changed History, written by Sue Stauffacher and illustrated by Sarah McMenemy is appropriate for children 6-10 years of age (Knopf, 2011).  

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions on TILLIE THE TERRIBLE SWEDE

TITANIC: Disaster at Sea is written by Philip Wilkinson and includes a mesmerizing visual narrative of old photographs, artist drawings, computer enhanced pictures, a gateway fold out, a poster, timelines and facsimiles. It is a direct, dramatic and compelling description of this disaster that took place 100 years ago.

Within the sixty-four pages the text and the illustrations blend so successfully that the book invites and will get reader engagement. First, there is a look at the Belfast shipyard of Harland and Wolff where the Titanic was built for The White Star Line. The spectacular four page gateway fold out of a cross section of the Titanic gives a sweeping glance at the layout of the multiple decks, the grand ballroom, first class state rooms, dinning rooms, cafes, gymnasium, swimming pool, Turkish baths, squash courts, second class cabins, the galleys, the boiler rooms and third class steerage areas.

Another interesting section depicts the loading of the Titanic with 75,000 pounds of meat, 40,000 eggs, 7,000 heads of lettuce, 10,000 pounds of sugar along with five grand pianos and a crate of china bound for Tiffany’s.

Throughout the book, author Wilkinson has deftly placed many biographical inserts regarding select passengers such as John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, lifeboat hero Harold Lowe, conductor of the dance band on the Titanic, Wally Hartley, all of these men went down with the ship, and the youngest survivor, nine-week old Millvina Dean among others.

 The book offers a valuable timeline beginning with the collision with the iceberg at 11:40 pm on April 14, 1912 to the filling of an inadequate number of lifeboats and the inevitable sinking of the Titanic with nearly 1,500 passengers and crew still aboard. The rescue of the 710 survivors, the inquiry into the tragedy, the finding of the shipwreck and the salvaging of some of its contents are also fascinating.

Zoe Gets Ready, written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia is a simple and playfully detailed story of a little girl, Zoe, who gets the opportunity to decide what she should wear for the day since it is Saturday.  Readers quickly learn that on school days, and soccer days, and rainy days, someone else always chooses what Zoe will wear, so getting to decide what to wear is a great occasion, but it soon proves to be quite a challenge as well.

Readers watch as Zoe begins to empty her closet by pulling out outfit after outfit.  Will it be a “pocket day” so she can collect lots of things, or will it be a twirling day where she might need a full skirt so it can fly out all around her? 

Of course, it could be a cartwheeling day or an exploring day, or a day to blend—in so no one might see her or then again, maybe a stand –out day where she indeed would want to be seen; each, though, would need a different outfit, of course.  What to do, what to do….

Throughout Zoe’s search for the right outfit, readers can hear her mother’s frustration in the background urging Zoe to hurry and make up her mind so they can go outside and enjoy the day.  Just when it seems that she will be unable to decide on what to wear,  Zoe suddenly announces that she is ready and readers will be delighted by what they see.

Zoe Gets Ready, written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia,  is appropriate for ages 4 to 8 and will remind us of those special days of childhood that were filled with playfulness and humor.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Murguia, Bethanie Deeney.  Zoe Gets Ready.  New York: Scholastic, 2012.

Discussion Questions for Zoe Gets Ready

BROTHERS AT BAT: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team is written by Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Steven Salerno. This Spring-perfect picture book for 5-10 year olds, is  a true story about an incredible baseball-loving family from Long Branch, New Jersey named Acerra.  The Acerras had sixteen children----twelve boys and four girls.  All twelve brothers were active baseball players along with their father, the coach. In 1938, the oldest nine brothers all played on their own semi- professional, hometown team.

The book is full of events showing an amazing commitment to family and a deep love for the national pastime. We see the brothers running, catching, pitching, hitting and fielding with zest and determination.

One had a terrific knuckleball, another was known for his pose and yet another could hit the ball out of the park. In 1946, after World War II in which six of the brothers served, the Acerras joined the Long Branch City Twilight Baseball League and went on to win the championship four times.

Steven Salerno’s kinetic illustrations hit a home run by capturing the times and the place with drawings true in both the style and details of the period.  The 1938 portrait gallery of the twelve Acerra brothers including Anthony, Joe, Paul, Alfred, Charlie, Jimmy, Bobby, Billy, Freddie, Eddie, Bubbie and Louie is very charming------Salerno shows them as individuals while at the same time depicting how much alike the brothers looked. In 1997 when the Baseball Hall of Fame honored the family , seven of the brothers were still alive.

Audrey Vernick says in her notes at the back of the book, “According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, from the 1860’s until the 1940’s, there were twenty-nine baseball teams made up entirely of brothers. The Acerras played longer than any other.”

BROTHERS AT BAT: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team written by Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Steven Salerno is a triple play of fact, fun and team spirit for children 5-10 years of age (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for BROTHERS AT BAT

Little Man, written by Dionne Warwick and David Freeman Wooley and illustrated by Fred Willingham, is a charming little story that captures the importance of following one’s dream.

Readers are introduced to Little Man, a young boy who lived in a neighborhood where everyone has something they do well—“their thing.”  While Mrs. Cruz’s thing was to take care of poodles and Mr. Johnson’s thing was to work on his old car, Little Man’s thing was drums.  Little Man learned, that the more he played the drums, the better he knew them and understood them—the “BOOM” o f the bass drum, the “ rat-a-tat-a-tat” of the snare and the “ping or crash” of the cymbals.  Little Man loved to play his drums, but he was also a young boy who wanted the beautiful red bike that in the window of Mrs, Wynn’s neighborhood store.

The only problem was that bikes cost money and Little Man had very little, so he decided to do odd jobs to earn some money to buy the beautiful red bike.  He babysat; he walked dogs; he carried groceries; and he washed cars, but it still wasn’t not enough to buy the red bike.   When he was not working odd jobs, Little Man played his drums, and although he was not very good, he practiced every day.  One day, Little Man had a long talk with his father who told him that drums were his “passion” and that dreams were made of following one’s passion and through following that passion, Little Man would find his purpose—the thing that he would do with his life.  From that point, Little Man thought of his three “Ps” to guide him as he practiced—passion, purpose, and perfection—and every day, his drumming got better and better.  His friends stopped teasing him and instead, they began to dance to the wonderful beats he created.  His drumming became so good that some friends asked him to play for the  neighborhood block party and although he was nervous, he played, and he played well. 

In fact, he was so good that when he finished, Mr. Johnson took off his hat and passed it through the  crowd who filled it with money—so much money that not only did Little Man have enough to buy the beautiful read bike, but he even had enough to pay  music lessons—all because he followed his passion. 
This story is one that will teach the importance of finding and following one’s dream and what a difference that commitment can make to those around us. Fred Willingham created the illustrations for this story and they provide a sense of expressive detail to the life and neighborhood of the author,  David Freeman Wooley—Little Man.

Little Man, written by Dionne Warwick and David Freeman Wooley and illustrated by Fred Willingham is a wonderful story with its own audio and musical CD and  is appropriate for ages 4 to 8.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for Little Man

EMILY AND CARLO, written by Marty Rhodes Figley and illustrated by Catherine Stock, is a snapshot of the life and times of Emily Dickinson and her big, lovable dog Carlo.  The two were inseparable companions for sixteen years. Emily’s father gave the wooly black dog to her when she was 18 years old.

The book shows Emily and Carlo taking long walks, visiting friends, exploring nearby ponds and enjoying the beautiful outdoors together. The text also suggests that Emily thought Carlo listened to her poems. She referred to Dog as “the noblest work of Art” and to Carlo as her “shaggy
ally.”

Author Marty Rhodes Figley sprinkled the text with selected lines from Emily’s correspondence.  In a letter written to Wentworth Higgins, documented at the back of the book, Emily answers her friend: “You ask of my companions, Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog as large as myself, that my father bought me.”  Also quoted are lines from Emily’s poems such as  “I started Early- Took my Dog-”, a delightful poem about an imaginary trip to the sea, which might persuade youngsters to find and read the entire poem.

The author’s notes and sources are full of interesting tidbits such as Emily named Carlo after a dog in Charlotte Bronte’s novel JANE EYRE and the fact that only ten of her poems were published during her lifetime, although she wrote nearly 1800!

Catherine Stock’s watercolors are soft, sweet and superbly painted in sugary hues. The title page artfully shows Emily and Carlo dancing in the snow as fresh flakes fall around them.  The humorous illustration depicting their visit to a pond shows Emily from her backside as she wades into the water and bends down to get a closer look while Carlo sheepishly eyes a frog that is just out of reach.

EMILY AND CARLO written by Marty Rhodes Figley and illustrated by Catherine Stock is full of fact, fiction and fun and is appropriate for children ages 5-8 (Charlesbridge, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for EMILY AND CARLO

A Path of Stars is a lovely story written and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien.   The narrative is told through the eyes of the granddaughter, Dara, who shares the story of her Grandmother, Lok Yeay, who immigrated from Cambodia to the United States.

The narrative is framed by the phrases, “last winter, before the phone call came….later in the spring, before the phone call came……this summer, before the phone call came.”  Readers will obviously suspect that the phone call holds significance to the story—which it does.

From its beginning, this narrative is a story about family and the importance of family.  Readers learn that Dara’s grandmother, Lok Yeay, has fond memories of her life in Cambodia before the war.  She tells Dara of living in a house by the river where they grew lemongrass and were surrounded by trees full of coconuts, mangos, and oranges and how the air smelled of flowers.  She told Dara about the evenings spent with her brother under the stars and how they played hide and seek with their cousins and friends.  Those were such happy memories.

The story continues though and Lok Teay tells Dara of the time when the soldiers came and how four years later she and her brother, Lok Ta, ran from the war because so many family members had died.  Lok Teay told of how her husband had died and that she took her baby, Dara’s mother, with them and how they lived in a camp until Lok Teay and Dara’s mother could immigrate to the United States.  By that time, the war had ended and Lok Ta decided to return to their village to find any family members who had survived the war.  Lok Teay longed to return to her village to see her brother once again and she dreamed of the time she would be able to take Dara with her to meet her family who still lived in the village by the river.

When the phone call does come, it brings news of the death of Lok Ta’s and the despair that Lok Teay experiences as a result.  Dara is the one person who is able to reach through her grandmother’s sadness, and when she does, she makes a promise she will take Lok Teay back to Cambodia to find the village by the river and the family who still lives there.

Anne Sibley O’Brien  carries the readers through various events and experiences of Lok Teay’s stories and their importance as a touchstone to the past.  She uses oils and oil crayon on paper to create the illustrations used in A Path of Stars and they depict beautiful visual representations of Lok Teay’s  memories and the family members whose lives  and experiences that are celebrated as a result.
While this book is intended for readers grades 2-5, it will be enjoyed by all who appreciate continued commitment to the sharing of life stories.

This is Pamela Gates for The Children’s Bookshelf.

O’Brien, Anne Sibley.  A Path of Stars. Charlesbridge: Watertown, Maine, 2012.

Discussion Questions for A Path of Stars

HERE COME THE GIRL SCOUTS! , written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is an account of the creation and growth of The Girl Scouts of America under the vision and guiding hand of Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low.

Daisy first encountered The Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides while in England. She was fascinated by their mission and became determined to start a scouting program for girls back in The United States.  On March 12, 1912 she gathered together 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia, her birthplace, and gave them ten laws for every girl scout to follow: be “honorable, loyal, useful, a friend to all, courteous, pure, kind to animals, obedient, cheerful and thrifty.”

But many thought girls should be quiet and delicate and did not like Daisy’s plans. Quoting from the book:
Of course, SOME people didn’t approve of Daisy’s new adventure.
“Here come the Girl Scouts”, they grumbled. “Unthinkable!” “Preposterous!”
But nothing would stop Daisy.

Thus, the girl scouting tradition was launched and, as the lively pictures and text acclaim, girls began learning about nature, canoeing, earning badges, camping, planting trees and serving their communities. Illustrator Hadley Hooper uses an “outdoor” palette of green, brown, blue and gold colors that serves the story well. Especially attractive is the picture of girl scouts singing around a campfire while creatures of the forests, white eyes beaming, enjoy the music from between the trees.

Author Shana Corey stresses in her author’s notes that the Girl Scouts have always been about empowerment and diversity.  Daisy even started troops in “orphanages, churches and synagogues.”  There is a page devoted to this diversity with pictures of famous Girl Scouts including poet Rita Dove, journalist Lisa Ling, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, basketball player Rebecca Lobo and musician Natalie Merchant.

The author’s notes also contain other nifty pieces of information such as the popular cookie sale began in 1930 and there’s a Troop Capitol Hill for alums who are in Congress.

HERE COME THE GIRL SCOUTS! , written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is in celebration of the 100th birthday of The Girl Scouts of America and is appropriate for children ages 5-9 (Scholastic, 2012). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for HERE COME THE GIRL SCOUTS!

THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM, written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, is an attractive historical look at the unlikely friendship that developed between two opposites-----John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. John Adams was a short, stout, plainly- dressed farmer and lawyer who was brought up in a rustic environment and who liked to argue boisterously and give speeches. Thomas Jefferson was a tall, thin, elegantly- dressed architect and lawyer who was from a privileged class and who was too shy to speak openly but could argue loudly with his pen.

TOM didn't skip school.  He skipped recess ---to study Greek grammar. He loved dancing, playing the violin, and reading all the books in his father's library."

The crisp red, white and blue illustrations digitally enhanced in an attractive cartoon style and the well researched and lively text produce a spirited telling of the friendship that brought a new nation into being.

 The Author's Notes give the young reader a fuller understanding of how these two friends fell out of touch with one another over the serious issues of slavery and states' rights and how they once again started to correspond later in life. The author invites the young reader into the world of research with documented quotations. The book also contains a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence with short John and tall Tom looking proudly on.

THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM, written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, is appropriate for 7-10 year olds  (Scholastic, 2012).

This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN'S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM

Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln is a powerful story written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco.   The narrative is experienced through the eyes of Derek and Michael as they travel back in time in a visit to Harpers Ferry immediately following the Battle of Antietam.
Readers are introduced to Derek and Michael as they travel by train with their Grandmother on a visit Washington, D.C.  The boys are excited about their trip but are surprised when their grandmother sets down the rules that there will be no use of iPods, cell phones, or video games during this adventure. 

After the first day of traveling, Derek, Michael, and their grandmother arrive at Harper’s Ferry where they are introduced to Mr. Portofoy, the curator of the Civil War Museum.  As they wander through the museum, the boys are fascinated with the uniforms, but are somewhat bored by the black and white photographs taken by Mathew Brady—even though one of them was of President Lincoln.

Seeing their fascination, Mr. Portofoy allows the boys to try on some Civil War uniforms that belonged to union soldiers and asks if they want to play a game that is better than any video game.  Excitedly, the boys say yes and are given the opportunity to walk through a secret door and go back in time.  Once through the door, they meet Mathew Brady and begin an adventure that will change how they think about war and history forever.

Polacco’s descriptions of the time travel adventure that Derek and Michael take—the challenges and heartache that they see and experience throughout may have a profound impact on young people. Patricia Polacco carries the readers through various events and experiences—clearly depicting shock and pain of war and how the reality of that is so much more powerful than any video game or historical narrative.

Polacco uses pencils and markers to create the illustrations used in Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln .  They depict powerful visual representations of war and of the young men who were injured and died as a result of the Battle of Atiemen. Polacco also provides an epilogue for this story that provides additional historical details about the battle and its role in the outcome of the Civil War.

Patricia Polacco calls Union City, Michigan home and has written and illustrated over 60 books for young people.  While this book is intended for readers, grades 2-5, it provides important historical insight to all who appreciate Patricia Polacco’s continued commitment to young people and their knowledge of the past.

This is Pamela Gates for The Children’s Bookshelf.

Patricia Polacco.  Just in time, Abraham Lincoln. Putnam Books: New York, 2011.

Discussion Questions for Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln

THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE, written and illustrated by Eric Carle, is a beautiful and simple picture book with a single and shining message-----artists and children may color anything any color they want! “ There is no wrong color really,” said Carle in a recent NPR interview.
 
Eric Carle’s creative message speaks clearly to young children in eye-popping colors including a deep blue horse, a red crocodile with blue eyes, a lemon yellow cow, a playful pink rabbit, a stately green lion, a bright orange elephant, a shocking purple fox, an onyx black polar bear and a donkey all dolled up in polka dots! The animals delight the eye not only because of their unexpected color but also because Carle has given them each a two-page spread on which to greet the young reader close –up.

Of the nine animals featured five of them are shown amidst a gallop, a walk, a run or a crawl and four of them stand still and stare. The gaze of the yellow cow is lovingly blank. The laser-like stare of the purple fox is full of suspicion. The green lion strikes a masterful profile as he relaxes regally looking over his kingdom. And the donkey looks down at the ground as he quietly bears the weight of all those dots.

German Expressionist painter Franz Marc, as is explained in the back of the book, was Eric Carle’s inspiration for this subject.  In fact, a picture of Franz Marc’s exquisite 1911 painting entitled Blue Horse I is also featured at the back of the book. Carle was born in the United States to German immigrant parents but was raised in Germany during the war. He credits his German art teacher for secretly introducing him to the paintings of Franz Marc and other Expressionists as their art was not allowed to be viewed at that time.

THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE (Philomel/Penguin Young Reader’s Group, 2011), done in Eric Carle’s signature collage style, is another visual triumph for the artist whose THE VERY HUNGRY CATEPILLER recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary. THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE is ideal for children ages 3-6. This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse

These Hands, written by Margaret H. Mason and illustrated by Floyd Cooper, is a simple but powerful story that serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by African Americans during the Civil Rights period.

But those were also times when people came together to sign petitions, to carry signs and to raise their voices in protest in order to change the way things were done.  Out of these protests and many others, the Civil rights Act of 1964 became law and now over forty years later, young readers can learn of this struggle through the story of Joseph and his grandfather.

Joe Barnett, a leader of one of the baker’s labor unions shared his story with Margaret Mason and she has retold it in a way that will touch the hearts of young and old alike.  Its power is the simplicity of the text and the beautiful imagery created by illustrator Floyd Cooper.

These Hands, written by Margaret H. Mason and illustrated by Floyd Cooper is appropriate for
all ages.  This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Mason, Margaret H.  These Hands.  Ilustrated by Floyd Cooper. New York: Houghton Mifflin 2011.

Discussion Questions for These Hands.

JUST BEHAVE, PABLO PICASSO! , written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes , is an energetic introduction in both word and picture to the creative spirit of one of the 20th Century’s most vivid and effective artists.  The book masterly communicates Picasso’s ever determined and forward movement toward discovery.

Armed with a paintbrush and palette young Picasso takes on the art establishment with courage and abandonment as he looks at the world through a fresh lens. Hawkes’ visual interpretation of this “bigger than life” artist is bigger than life. The illustrations are full of color, flair and fun as Picasso, in his twenties, brashly moves from one artistic period to another. We first see him on the cover of this beautifully designed book boldly standing tall above Paris as he is about to take the  city and the art world by storm.  Then we see him on rooftops and flying toward new ideas ----the Blue Period, the Rose Period, the African mask influence and on to Cubism.

 The double spread illustration of Picasso standing tall in the face of shouts from art dealers, art critics, art lovers and his family to stop making ugly art is very powerful. Quoting from the text:
” Why are you doing this?” shouts another chorus of friends and family, for they know he is at work on something even more outlandish. “It doesn’t make sense!”
Picasso expands himself to one hundred feet and shouts, “The chief
enemy of creativity is good sense!”

Picasso goes on to produce paintings in the style known as Cubism. The Author’s Notes give the reader a brief biography of the painter’s life from his birth in 1881 to his death in 1973. It also rightly names Picasso’s friend and painter Georges Braque as the co creator of Cubism. However, this book is all about Picasso------- the artist who “ did it his way” and moved the art world and all of us to new ways of thinking and seeing.

JUST BEHAVE, PABLO PICASSO! , written by Jonah Winter and illustrated boldly by Kevin Hawkes, is an effective invitation for 5-9 year olds to explore Picasso’s creative legacy (Arthur E, Levine, Scholastic, 2012). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!

The Pet Shop Revolution,  written and illustrated by Ana Juan  is the story of Mr. Walnut—a grumpy old man who owned the biggest pet shop in the city.  Everyone knew that Mr. Walnut always scowled and that his pet shop was dark and cold and full of all kinds of animals who were kept in small cages.  The animals had big sad eyes and often neighbors would complain of the bad smell and the unhappy cries of the animals, but no one was brave enough to stand up to Mr. Walnut.

Rich customers from far away would come and buy the animals, but the only other visitor to the store was Bobo, a young boy who brought in ice for the penguins.  No one knew, however, that Mr. Walnut had a big secret; he wore a wig to cover his otherwise bald head and he was embarrassed for anyone to see him without his treasured wig.  He took great care to keep it combed and even set it upon a monkey’s head while he slept.

One day, though, a young girl in the neighborhood woke up to find her pet rabbit missing from its cage and she immediately knew that Mr. Walnut had taken it into his store.  She was devastated but was determined to get her pet back.  With the help of Bobo, she snuck into the pet store and hid until Mr. Walnut had fallen fast asleep.  Once she heard him snoring, she opened all of the animal cages and led them out of the pet shop and across the bridge away from Mr. Walnut.   The noise awoke Mr. Walnut and he rushed to the window but realized that the monkey had left with his wig and therefore he would not leave his shop.  Without his wig, he was forever caught within the walls of his shop—much like he had done to the animals.  While Mr. Walnut howled in rage, the neighbors came out to celebrate the release of all of the animals and everyone partied—everyone except Mr. Walnut.  After a day or so Mina, Bobo, and the animals began to feel sorry for Mr. Walnut and decided to bring food to his door.  Inside, though, Mr. Walnut grew sadder and sadder as he watched the animals enjoying their freedom in the city.  He longed for the company of the animals and then one day, he got an idea on how to get his pet shop back.  He began cutting and sewing and sketching and when the neighbors and animals peeked through his windows, they saw piles of stuffed animals made in the image of those he had once kept caged.  The cold dark pet shop had become a bright and colorful toy shop! The story ends with a reminder that anything can happen when we face our fears, are kind to others,  and dare to dream.

Ana Juan creates a playful but poignant narrative that provides readers with an interesting insight into some important lessons in life—to treat one another with respect, to stand up for one another,  and to create new beginnings. 

The illustrations were done in colored pencils and acrylics and provide readers with delightful details that are bold and complement the fanciful tale. 

The Pet Shop Revolution, written and illustrated by Ana Juan, is appropriate for ages 4-8.
This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.

Discussion Questions for The Pet Shop Revolution

WONDERSTRUCK is Brian Selznick's second graphic novel---the first being THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. Again, his fine storytelling in word and picture is sure to engage the most reluctant and most avid reader alike.

WONDERSTRUCK is a beautiful weaving together of two stories that happen 50 years apart. Ben's story takes place in 1977 after his mother dies in a car accident and he goes looking for a father he has never known. Rose's story takes place in 1927 when she runs away from home to find the beautiful actress Lillian Mayhew. These stories move forward in their own time, Ben from Gunflint Lake, Minnesota to New York and Rose from Hoboken, New Jersey to New York. They are both looking for a place to belong. The two stories culminate brilliantly at The Museum of Natural History where all is eventually revealed.

Both young Ben whose story is told only in words, and Rose, fifty years older than Ben, whose story is told only in pictures are deaf.  In the Acknowledgements Selznick says he has long wanted to write about Deaf culture and attributes many of Ben's observations to his own brother who grew up deaf in one ear just like Ben.

The two stories of loss, courage and the need "to belong" unfold grippingly amongst images of wolves on the run, museums, collections, panoramas, cabinets of wonder, signing, blackouts and thunderstorms. The description of Ben waking up in the hospital after being hit by lightning and the drawings of Rose running through thunderstorms connect the two stories emotionally from the very beginning with a powerful motif.

 The pictures of Rose scanning newspapers for articles about the silent film star Lillian Mayhew and of her tenderly keeping a scrapbook of Mayhew memorabilia are haunting. Selznick's detailed renderings of the inside of "a cabinet of wonder" at The Museum of Natural History as it appeared in 1927 with its collections of masks, fossils, artifacts, bones and preserved animal species enrich the eye and the imagination.

WONDERSTRUCK, written in text and pictures by Brian Selznick, is  a triumph of story making and is appropriate for ages 9-14 ( Scholastic, 2011). This is Sue Ann Martin for THE CHILDREN'S BOOKSHELF.

Discussion Questions for Wonderstruck

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, written by Anna Harwell Celenza and  illustrated by Don Tate, is an amazing tribute to the work of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and their recreation of Tchaikovsky’s original Nutcracker Suite.  As we know, Tchaikovsky’s original creation is full of the beautiful, almost wistful melodies that immediately bring to mind the “Sugar Plum Fairies”  to many of us and the ballet for which it is so well known.  Duke Ellington’s version, however, is a jazz experience that extends the work far beyond the traditional holiday season for which the Nutcracker Suite is now often placed.

This story begins in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 where readers learn that all of the major stars of the time were performing—Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and of course, Duke Ellington.  Duke Ellington was a pianist, composer, and big-band leader whose dance tunes were all the rage at the time and record producers were eager to get him to sign with them.  One record agent, however, was willing to let Duke Ellington and his band try something that was considered “outside of the box” and that lead to the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn  jazz version of  the Nutcracker Suite.  The musical composition took the two men just three months to create and the musical personalities and expertise of the individual band members are highlighted throughout the work.

The text of this picture book explains the varied adaptations that underscore the musical traditions that include those of the Harlem jazz, West Indian rhythms, and many others that have provided the breadth and depth to this musical extravaganza. 

Author, Anna Harwell Celena is a musicologist and professor of music at Georgetown University where she focuses on music for both adults and children, while illustrator, Don Tate, illustrates books for children.  Their commitment to bring Duke Ellington’s musical contributions to young people is captured within this well-written and beautifully illustrated picture book complete with a CD of  Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite.

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, written by Anna Harwell Celenza and illustrated by Don Tate is appropriate for all ages and is a wonderful way to introduce both Duke Ellington and jazz to young people.

This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf.
Celenza, Anna Harwell.  Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite.  Illustrated by Don Tate. Watertown, MA:  Charlesbridge, 2011.

Discussion Questions for Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite