Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Samantha really wants to try out her new roller skates in Samantha On a Roll by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Christine Davenier (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011), but her mother can’t help her right now. Samantha can’t wait to play, and as she skates outside, she finds herself in the midst of a series of ridiculous adventures
Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina and illustrated by Claude Munoz (Candlewick, 2011) is one I enjoyed but I never expected my 4-year-old son to love it as much as he did. It quickly became a favorite for us. As the title suggests, Tia Isa really wants her own car to be able to go
Samson’s Tale by Carla Mooney and illustrated by Kathleen Spade (Story Pie Press, 2011) is a sensitive story about a boy dealing with recovery from leukemia, as viewed from the perspective of his best friend, his dog Samson. By telling the story from the dog’s perspective, there is an appropriate distance for the reader, thus avoiding melodrama
Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown (Carolrhoda Books, 2011) tells the story of an inventive and creative girl, Annabelle, who is tired of seeing the same hairstyles at school. It takes a gusty girl to set the fashion fad and Annabelle is able to pull it off by creating a “bouffant”
Birdie’s birthday party is tomorrow but in Birdie’s Big Girl Dress by Sujean Rim (Little Brown, 2011), she discovers that her favorite party dress is too small! Thus begins a search for the perfect party dress for Birdie. When the stores prove fruitless, she finds treasure in her attic. With detailed watercolor illustrations and just
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Chronicle, 2011) is a typical “goodnight goodnight” book in format, but spectacular in illustration. The text reminded me of many other goodnight books, such as Goodnight Moon, but it has its own unique setting. Each construction truck is introduced with its daily tasks, and then
Dinosaur Dig by Penny Dale (Candlewick/Nosy Crow, 2011) combines two things my little boy loves: construction trucks and dinosaurs! In a typical counting book style, on each page, a number of dinosaurs (from one to ten) dig, shovel, dump, mix, and so forth as they build themselves a pool to relax in. The inside front cover lists
Boogie Monster by Josie Bisset illustrated by Kevin Atteberry (Compendium, 2011) celebrates dancing! The Boogie Monster, who has visited from another planet, has come to encourage the kids to try dancing like a robot, to try dancing like they’re on a bicycle, and otherwise to get their bodies moving. With fun cartoon illustrations and a catching rhyme,
A six-year-old must walk across a large field and near woods to get to her school bus stop, and in Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward and Julie Morstad (Simply Read Books, 2011), she pushes away her fears by singing as loudly as she can. Although my four-year-old son was a bit concerned that she was by
Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite by Anna Harwell Celenza and illustrated by Don Tate (Charlesbridge, 2011) tells the story of the creation of Duke Ellington’s unclassifiable jazz redefinition of the classic Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. I must admit that I absolutely love the music from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet and my husband has converted me to jazz in general, so this
Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (Little Brown, 2011) is a simply illustrated story about a man riding a bike down a long road. The illustrations are somewhat subdued graphic designs. The book uses only a few colors and a few words on each two-page spread to create a world, road, and people to
Although I’d never before heard of the collagist Romare Bearden, the fictionalized account his inspiration was not only interesting, well written, and creatively illustrated, but I’m now quite interested in the artist himself. My Hands Sing the Blues: Roman Bearden’s Childhood Journey by Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Marshall Cavendish, 2011) reveals a blues-like rhythm
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