September 2008

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

September 2008 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), Horn Book (HB), Voices for Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.

Note: VOYA reviews rank books by Quality (Q) and Popularity (P), with 5 being the highest rating, 1 being the lowest. For your convenience, I have included this code with each VOYA review. Books receiving a 5Q or 5P are included in this edition.

Alley, Zoe B. There’s a Wolf at the Door. Illus. by R.W. Alley. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $19.95 (978-1-596-432-758)

(K-gr.3) “…Each of Wolf’s intended meals trickily turns the kitchen table on him, leaving Wolf considering vegetarianism…layered with humor…transitions between tales, visual and verbal, extend the fun…dialogue balloons with pithy commentary… oversize comic book…traditional cartoon boxes, but they often morph into shapes to suit the action…illustrations…have a buoyant appeal…snortingly funny...hand it to the transitional or reluctant reader and listen for the laughs.” (BL)

Base, Graeme. Enigma: A Magical Mystery. Abrams, $19.95 (978-0-8109-7245-2)

(K-gr.5) “…uber-puzzle of a picture book asks readers to crack codes and find hidden pictures…mystery relayed in rhyming quatrains. Young Bertie Badger arrives…home of his grandfather…Gadzooks the Great, anticipating an extraordinary magic show, but…Gadzooks’s and the other performers’ props have disappeared… elaborately detailed paintings…several codes…huge hint…readers need not alter anything to avail themselves of help…set of bonus challenges…” (PW)

Cottin, Menena. The Black Book of Colors. Tr. from Spanish by Elisa Amado. Illus. by Rosana Farìa. Groundwood, $17.95 (978-0-88899-873-6)

(K-gr.8) “…entirely black pages and a bold white text…Meant to be experienced with the fingers instead of the eyes, this extraordinary book allows sighted readers to experience colors the way blind people do: through the other senses…distinctive illustrations present black shapes embossed on a black background for readers to feel instead of see…beautifully designed…broad child appeal…belongs on the shelves of every school or public library committed to promoting disability awareness and accessibility.” (SLJ)

DiCamillo, Kate. Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken. Illus. by Harry Bliss. HarperCollins/Colter, $17.99 (978-0-06-075554-6)

(PreS-gr.3) “…series of ripping yarns about a chicken who just can’t stay down on the farm…indomitable Louise…escaping pirates…joining the circus—and she’s been envisioned as a tasty dish by just about everyone…brisk…narrative crackles…respect for Louise makes the book all the funnier…art creates a thrilling sense of place…enlarged format does justice…” (PW)

Fox, Mem. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Harcourt, $16 (978-0-15-206057-2)

(PreS) “…instant classic…babies around the world, even those who seem like polar opposites, have the same 20 digits in common…real magic at work…perfect cadences…multiculturalism feel utterly natural and chummy…readers can savor each addition both as beguiling individualist and giggly, bouncy co-conspirator.” (PW)

Frazier, Craig. Hank Finds Inspiration. Roaring Brook/Porter, $16.95 (978-1-59643-358-8)

(PreS-gr.3) “…Snadley and his snake friend Hank go to the big city in search of inspiration…high-intensity graphics…compositions combine style with kid appeal… deceptiveness of the straightforward…perfect union of art and text.” (PW)

Graham, Bob. How to Heal a Broken Wing. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-763-639-037)

(PreS-gr.1) “Quietly, effectively…simple story of a boy who finds a fallen bird and nurses it back to health…text is minimal…art…effectively utilizes the oversize format…full-page pictures, vertical and horizontal strips, and cartoon-style boxes…two-page spread full of bright, hopeful colors and an intense focus on the boy with the bird in hand…satisfying…visual…” (BL)

Himmelman, John. Katie Loves the Kittens. Holt, $14.95 (978-0-8050-8626-9)

(PreS-gr.3) “…dog—that’s Katie—who is utterly infatuated with her owner’s new kittens…her vocalizing, leaping and avid tail-wagging only scare the living daylights out of them…learns…that desperately wanting to make friends is not necessarily a good starting point…empathetic, economical text builds dramatic tension…without an excess of anthropomorphizing…pencil and ink drawing…craft and tenderness…” (PW)

Hopkinson, Deborah. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend). Illus. by John Hendrix. Random/Schwartz & Wade Books, $19.99 (978-0-375-93768-2)

(K-gr.3) “participatory tale…seven-year-old Abe and his real-life friend Austin Gollaher succumb to the ‘dare you’ lure of a roaring creek and a perilous crossing on a fallen log…In dialogic asides and exclamation, the author addresses the illustrator and brings him (or, rather, his pencil-wielding hand) onstage to collaborate and correct…also speaks to readers, inviting involvement and evoking response…illustrations have a naïve and rustic flavor…gravelly, homespun narrator’s voice…” (SLJ)(BL)

Howe, James. Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time. Illus. by Marie Louise Gay. Candlewick, $14.99 (978-0-7636-3384-4)

(K-gr.2) “…close friends Houndsley (a wise dog who happens to play the cello) and Catina (a childlike perfectionist who plays the clarinet) find their performance plans interrupted by a snowstorm…realities of a winter storm lead the friends to use their imaginations and create an ‘island’ in Houndsley’s house…soft watercolors and a pastel palette…” (SLJ)

Juster, Norton. Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie. Illus. by Chris Raschka. Scholastic/diCapua, $16.95 (978-0-439-92943-1)

(all ages) “…sequel to ..The Hello, Goodbye Window…child’s conflicting personalities…grandparents, Poppy and Nanna, accept her dueling dispositions…does acknowledge her mercurial moods…grandparents gently tease her…Both the sunny moments and the tantrums will ring true for readers of any age…devises competing motifs of light daubs and glowering smears…the two personas appear virtually side by side for maximum effect.” (PW)

Kohara, Kazuno. Ghosts in the House! Roaring Brook, $12.95 (978-1-596-434-271)

(PreS-gr.1) “…A little girl goes to live in an old house…ghost…Fortunately, the little girl is a witch with a plan…freshly caught ghosts go into the washing machine and come out to a new life as sheets and tablecloths…wonderfully distinctive art, all orange and black…A must-have for Halloween.” (BL)(HB)

Kolar, Bob. Big Kicks. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-763-633-905)

(PreS-gr.3) “Biggie Bear is something of a loner…love of jazz and his stamp collecting…local soccer team knocks at his door…looking for a new team member: a big one…Biggie demurs…gives it a go…amusing two page spread shows Biggie all over the field as he tries to kick and stop the ball…stoops to pick stamp up, and the ball bounces off his head into the goal…delightful digital artwork…so much to see…kids will continue looking this over after the first couple of reads…” (BL)

Niemann, Christoph. The Pet Dragon: A Story About Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-157777-2)

(K-gr.3) “Lin, a young Chinese girl, receives a baby dragon for a gift. The two of them play together until they accidentally break a vase…father is so angry he insists the…creature be caged…dragon escapes…Lin…finds it living with other dragons… father agrees that they can visit…story is thin, the book is clever…purpose is to introduce the Chinese language…succeeds admirably…” (SLJ) (PW)

Perkins, Lynne Rae. The Cardboard Piano. Greenwillow, $18.89 (978-0-06-154266-4)

(K-gr.3) “…two best friends and the dilemma of the imperfect gift. Debbie and Tina have a lot in common and a lot uncommon…Debbie is learning to play the piano and wants her friend to join her, so she makes Tina a cardboard keyboard…Tina isn’t compelled by the gift…dumbfounding Debbie…engages…on three levels…narrative text…conversational asides in word balloons…intricate pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations…delicate nature of friendship without patronizing…” (HB)

Reibstein, Mark. Wabi Sabi. Illus. by Ed Young. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-118-255)

(K-gr.3) “…Wabi Sabi in this story…name of a brown cat…Japanese culture, it’s a feeling that finds beauty and harmony in ‘the simple, imperfect, natural, modest, and mysterious.’…Wabi sabi hears it’s hard to explain her name, so she sets off on a journey to find the answer. Each animal she meets gives a piece of the complicated puzzle… magnificent offering that is the embodiment of Wabi Sabi… amazing collages…glorious piece of bookmaking whose subject and execution will reach a wide age range.” (BL)

Rumford, James. Chee-Lin: A Giraffe’s Journey. Houghton, $17 (978-0-618-717-200)

(gr. 1-3) “Linking the Chinese mythological creature, the ‘chee-lin’, to a 1414 Chinese portrait of a giraffe…imagines how a giraffe may have journeyed to China… birth and capture in East Africa…short stay in Bengal…finally landing in Peking…lonely Tweega…survives frightening voyages, cruel and tender caretakers…inspires awe everywhere…narrative—moving…handsome full-page paintings…evocative motifs… painterly yet lively illustrations…fine note to explain sources…” (BL)

Seder, Rufus Butler. Swing! Workman, $12.95 (978-0-7611-5127-2)

(PreS and up) “…astonishing Scanimation technology…Open the die-cut cover and see a baseball player swing at a ball, then watch as the ball zooms ever-larger to fit the acetate window showcasing all the action…illusion of motion…colored fonts and multicolored borders offset the severity of the b&w pictures…jaw-dropping, even if the novelty technology has yet to find its most imaginative application.” (PW)

Shea, Bob. Dinosaur vs. Bedtime. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-1-4231-1335-5)

(PreS) “A little red dinosaur takes on the world, from a pile of leaves…to a big slide…to a plate of spaghetti…ferocity and determination are evident in its huge mouthful of sharp white teeth and fierce, downward-slashing eyebrows…must face his biggest challenge! BEDTIME!...dinosaur’s eventual succumbing is as much fun and provides as much opportunity for audience participation as its earlier victories…” (HB)(PW)

Tankard, Jeremy. Me Hungry! Candlewick, $15.99 (978-0-7636-3360-8)

(PreS-K) “…When a young cave boy tells his parents, ‘Me hungry!’ …response… ‘Me busy!’…hunts…rabbit eludes him, a porcupine is too sharp…hungry mammoth is the perfect catch—the new friends find food together…bold, thick black lines…characters jump off the monochromatic pages. Minimal but effective text perfectly complements…energetic story comes full circle with a humorous punch line…” (SLJ)

Vail, Rachel. Jimberwillies at Night. Illus. by Yumi Heo. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-42070-9)

(PreS-gr.3) “Exuberant…Katie Honors…explains what happens when she gets an attack of night terrors, otherwise known as the ‘jibberwillies.’…mother comes to the rescue by suggesting she catch the jibberwillies in a bucket…refine strategy…team approach both calming and empowering…children…will come away with new approaches for facing their own anxieties…evocative language…bright and kicky mixed-media composition…” (PW)

Yum, Hyewon. Last Night. FSG/Foster, $15.95 (978-0-374-34358-3)

(PreS.-gr. 1) “…stunning linoleum block prints…little girl who dreams of a night in the forest with her teddy bear. Pleasure and anxiety intertwine throughout the wordless spreads…full-bleed spreads give the sense that there’s nowhere to hide…” (PW)

Juvenile Fiction

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-0585-1)

(gr. 5 and up) “…girpping novel offers a startlingly provocative view of the Revolutionary War. Isabel Finch, the narrator, and her five-year-old sister…to be freed from slavery upon the death of their mistress…unscrupulous heir easily persuades the local pastor to dispense with reading the will…property of a Loyalist couple…steals into the Patriot army camp to trade a crucial Loyalist secret in exchange for passage…packs so much detail into her evocation of wartime New York…solidly researched exploration…nuanced and evenhanded…fast-moving, emotionally involving plot.” (PW) (VOYA 5Q4P)

Colfer, Eoin. The Time Paradox. Hyperion/DBG, $17.99 (978-1-4231-0836-8)

(gr. 5 and up) “…latest installment…Artemis Fowl…With twin brothers born in his absence, Artemis’s life takes an uncharacteristic domestic turn…mother contracts a mysterious illness. Captain Holly Short…confirms that the disease is of fairy origin… only cure is made from the brain fluid from the rare silky sifaka lemur. Unfortunately, the animal is now extinct, thanks to the money-hungry deeds of a younger Artemis… must go back in time…great story filled with action, drama, and clever plot twists… Artemis must literally face himself and the catastrophic results of his actions… combination of ingenious plot and authentic characters…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Crossing to Paradise. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks, $17.99 (978-0-545-058667)

(gr. 5-9) “Gatty…irrepressible peasant girl…comes into her own…sweeping, vibrant story set in the early years of the 13^th century. Her pure singing voice…serving maid to Lady Gwyneth…lady declares her intent to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Gatty is a headstrong adolescent…impulsive behavior…lyrical and earthy…companion novel to the ‘Arthur’ books…” (SLJ)

Erdrich, Louise. The Porcupine Year. HarperCollins, $16.89 (978-0-06-029788-6)

(gr. 5-8) “…sequel to The Birchbark House…and Game of Silence…continues the story of Omakayas, an Ojibwe girl who in 1852 is now 12 winters old…have been displaced by the United States government…When Omakayas and her younger brother become separated from their family…Pinch has a run-in with a porcupine that he decides to keep as his medicine animal…resonant descriptions of their day-to-day experiences give the narrative a graceful flow…peaceful rhythms are all too quickly broken…events …will both delight and appall readers…” (SLJ)

Ferraiolo, Jack D. The Big Splash. Amulet, $15.95 (978-0-8109-7067-0)

(gr. 5-9) “The seventh-grader version of a Raymond Chandler PI, Matt Stevens coolly navigates the mean…hallways…junior high noir…Vinny Biggio commands a whole ‘organization’…to ensure their targets’ permanent and total ostracism… spectacular takedown of Nikki…Twists and curve balls keep readers guessing; extended jokes…crisp prose and surprisingly poignant moments…” (PW)

Hesse, Karen. Brooklyn Bridge. Illus. by Chris Sheban. Feiwel & Friends, $17.95 (978-0-312-37886-8)

(gr. 5-9) “Inspired by the facts surrounding the inventors of the teddy bear…1903 Brooklyn. Fourteen-year-old Joseph…Jewish immigrants from Russia…toy bears make them prosperous…Interspersed…are brief profiles of street children who make their home under the Brooklyn Bridge, haunted by a ghost…Deftly placed story lines about Joe’s extended family indirectly raise questions about different types of bridges… novel explodes with dark drama before its eerie but moving resolution.”(PW)

Higson, Charlie. Double or Die: A James Bond Adventure. Hyperion/DBG, $16.99 (978-1-4231-1098-9)

(gr. 5-9) “ …third installment is the most marvelously complex in The Young Bond series…one of the Eton professors sends a cryptic…resignation letter…requests be read by …crossword club…envision the evolution of the mind of James Bond as he… and several other boys work…to decrypt the clues and puzzles. Bond must battle dark forces…mystery turns to high action-adventure…Great historical language and period touches of 1930s London…well-paced…plenty of fear, menace and gore as well as creative thinking…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Horvath, Polly. My One Hundred Adventures. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks, $19.99 (978-0-375-95582-2)

(gr. 4-7) “…Horvath’s most luminescent, beautifully written novel yet.. Jane Fielding…idyllic life…at 12, Jane no longer wants every summer to be exactly the same …prays for adventures…gets 14, each of which gives her insights into understanding herself…eccentric, unforgettable characters and some dark humor and irony…wider kid-appeal…honest, clear voice…drives the story and engages readers…filled with pithy observations and memorable passages…” (SLJ)

Kirk, Daniel. Elf Realm: The Low Road. Abrams/Amulet, $18.95 (978-0-810-970-694)

(gr. 5-8) “…The Cord…traveled by the elves…is failing, resulting in a collapse between human and elfin worlds. Fourteen-year-old Matt, while playing on the site his father is clearing for a housing development, steps on a sharp object…small, bejeweled shoe…part of a pair that the elves hold dear and intend to get back at all costs…complex, suspense-filled plot…wide cast of memorable characters…thoroughly engaging fantasy that never lags…story is a bit more sophisticated than…accompanying action-filled illustration…” (BL)

Mackel, Kathy. Boost. Dial, $16.99 (978-0-8037-3240-7)

(gr. 6-9) “Savvy Christopher and her older sister Callie…move from Arizona to Rhode Island…Savvy…not yet in high school…accepted on the elite 18-and-under basketball team. Callie’s passion is cheerleading, but stress has caused her to gain weight…strict exercise and diet regime…one of Savvy’s basketball games is interrupted by a detective who has been alerted to a bag of steroids in her locker…highly readable blend of intense action, interfamily relationships, and intrigue…” (SLJ)

Margolis, Leslie. Boys are Dogs. Bloomsbury, $15.99 (978-1-59990-221-0)

(gr. 3-7) “…a girl uses the techniques from a dog-training manual on boys…well grounded and developed…Right before the start of the sixth grade, Annabelle…move into the house…single mother and her mother’s…boyfriend…surprise gift of a puppy…School…is a battleground…gets the details of middle-school boy behavior just right…storylines…coalesce naturally…” (PW)

Myers, Edward. Storyteller. Clarion, $16 (978-0-618-69541-6)

(gr. 5-8) “Jack, 17, is…appointed Royal Storyteller, charged with lifting the spirits of King Alphonse…Jack…falls in love with…Princes Stelinda…When the cruel prince takes the throne, Jack is forced to travel the kingdom, spinning stories that make the new king look good…messages are clear…stories within stories…Characters are colorful and memorable…will be enjoyed by those who like traditional fairly tales in which good triumphs over evil…” (SLJ)

Nicholls, Sally. Ways to Live Forever. Scholastic/Levine, $16.99 (978-0-545-06948-9)

(gr. 4-7) “…skirts easy sentiment to confront the hard questions head-on…enormous range of feeling. Sam, facing his third recurrence of leukemia at the age of 11, keeps a journal…starts out with a buddy, another terminally ill boy…sense of humor…How Sam and his family cope with Felix’s death and Sam’s own inevitable decline…humor, grace and generosity of spirit—will bring on tears…also help readers address the hard questions for themselves.” (PW)

Riordan, Rick. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones. Scholastic, $12.99 (978-0-545-06039-4)

(gr. 4-7) “…ripe conceit—wealthy matriarch scatters cryptic clues to a mysterious fortune around the globe…first installment in a projected 10-book series is tons of fun…just the right proportions of suspense, peril and puzzles…fast-paced read… Likeable orphans Amy and Dan Cahill have moxie…and frailties…compete with less honorable members of the Cahill clan…learn about their dead parents, each other and world history. The humor is spot on…The story does not end so much as drop off a cliff…collect cards, each of which contains evidence…online game…Scholastic is offering over $100,000 in prizes…Webkinz without the stuffed animals, and a rollicking good read.” (PW)

Weston, Robert Paul. Zorgamazoo. Penguin/Razorbill, $15.99 (978-1-595-141-996)

(gr. 4-7) “Told entirely in rhyming couplets that are nearly impossible not to read aloud, this lively tale follows young Katrina Katrell…fantastical journey…Along for the adventure is a zorgle named Morty…zorgles, along with the rest of earth’s most fantastical beasties, have been kidnapped…scuffle between enchantment and tedium is the very stuff of childhood…” (BL)

White, Ruth. Little Audrey. Farrar, $16 (978-0-374-34580-8)

(gr. 4-7) “In the voice of her sister Audrey at age 11…fictionalized memoir of life as a child in a Virginia coal mining camp…1948…grinding poverty…alcoholic father and a mother who suffers from periods of depression. School bullies torment Audrey…friendship with classmate Virgil…compassion of her teacher…only through tragedy that a better future emerges fro the Whites. Details of setting and time are pitch perfect…Characters are carefully drawn and nuanced…neither saccharine sentimentalism…note to readers and cover and interior photographs…make this story all the more real…” (SLJ) (BL)

Non-fiction

Brown, Don. All Stations! Distress!: April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank. Flash Point/Roaring Brook, $17.95 (978-1-59643-222-2)

(K-gr. 6) “The Titanic is everybody’s favorite disaster…looms ever larger in myth…recounts the complicated, compact last moments of the ship’s only voyage…isn’t child-centered…ends with something of the later lives of the survivors…All the glory… is in Brown’s moody watercolors done with a brush dipped in stardust and frozen mist… terrifying crescendo as the ship upends…brief bibliography…” (HB)

Bryant, Jen. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans, $17 (978-0-828-5302-8)

(gr. 3-6) “…stunning picture book biography…lyrical text…wonderfully creative mixed-media illustrations…Williams…child…appreciated nature and the ordinary experiences of life…poems…appear in the book…as part of the art…time line of his life juxtaposed with a list of world events…author’s note…illustrators note…” (SLJ)

Busby, Cylin and John Busby. The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (978-1-59990-141-1)

(gr. 9 and up) “No one with even a marginal interest in true crime writing should miss this page-turner, by turns shocking and almost unbearably sad. In 1979…gunman shot John Busby, a policeman in Cape Cod…permanently disfigured and disabled…family went into hiding…John’s chapters provide the grim facts…Cylin’s authentically childlike perspective…renders the tragic experience most searingly.” (PW)

Delano, Marfè Ferguson. Helen’s Eyes: A Photbiography of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s Teacher. National Geographic, $27.90 (978-1-4263-0210-7)

(gr. 4-7) “…few know the story of this remarkable woman outside of her role as Keller’s teacher…struggled with vision loss for most of her life…abusive father abandoned the eight-year-old and her brother…sent to the poorhouse…14…finally entered school…graduated six years later as valedictorian…period photographs… pleasing graphic style…meticulously cited quotes…facts…everyday realities and emotions…” (SLJ)

Denenberg, Barry. Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered. Illus. by Christopher Bing. Feiwel and Friends, $24.95 (978-0-312-370-138)

(gr.5-8) “…biggest book yet on Lincoln…12 by 18 inches…shelving challenges, but the headache is worth it…concept is that this is a commemorative edition of ‘The National News,’ published one year after Lincoln’s death…articles…(fictitiously)…after the assassination…ensuing manhunt…engaging, readable yet detailed account of Lincoln’s life that…morphs into a biography of the Civil War…designed to look like a nineteenth-century newspaper…has the potential for confusion if taken too literally…splendid, unusual design…” (BL)

Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Random/Schwartz & Wade, $28.99 (978-0-375-936-180)

(gr. 7-12) “…innovative scrapbook format…twining accounts of two lives…into one fascinating whole…well-chosen visuals with blocks of headlined text…full, birth-to-death view…humanizes…broader perspective on their times with cleverly juxtaposed facts, anecdotes and images…intriguing visual mix…paintings and etchings of heartrending historical events, church documents, handwritten notes, and political cartoons…timeline, suggested resources…personal introduction…” (BL)

Gardner, Olivia with Emily Bruder and Sarah Bruder. Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope. HarperCollins, $14.95 trade pb (978-0-06-154462-0)

(gr. 6-12) “When sisters Emily and Sarah Buder heard Olivia Gardner’s story—how for more than two years she suffered from bullying…starting a letter-writing campaign in their school to send messages of support to Olivia…more than 4,000 letters that poured in from around the country. Students and parents, from targets to bullies, wanted to add their voices to help Olivia feel less alone…Some letters came from parents whose children succeeded in ending their lives…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Grant, Reg. World War II: The Events and Their Impact on Real People. DK, $24.99 (978-0-7566-3830-6)

(gr. 6-12) “…Starting with the end of World War I…follows the war globally all the way through to how it is recalled today…visually stunning 50-80 percent of each page is art…five two-page spreads with block quotes from involved people…38-minute DVD accompanies the book…Russia, Burma, India…northern Africa…” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat. Ed. by Nikki Giovanni. Illus. by Kristen Balouch and others. Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky, $19.99 (978-1-402-210-488)

(gr. 3-5) “…Poetry with a beat…link hip-hop to grand opera…capsule history of African American vernacular music…51 entries, plus a CD…poets range from Langston Hughes…to Queen Latifah…some presentations are straight readings, and others evoke jazz, rap, pop, and field- or pulpit-style chanting…vibrant colors and a dancing, free-spirited look that matches the general tone of the poetry…Appended notes tell more about the contributors.” (BL)

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? Illus. by Steve Jenkins. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-966-349)

(PreS-gr.3) “…about the food chain…scientific depth and detail…The facts about how particular animals escape danger and evade predators to stay alive are just as exciting as the facts about hunting…clear, gorgeous, freestanding images…connections between animals…amazing descriptions of how various animals lay, protect, and hatch their eggs; how they use leaves…how animals dig holes…detailed notes about each creature for older children…enthralling read-aloud, especially in small groups…” (BL)

Kelly, Erica and Richard Kissel. Evolving Planet: Four Billion Years of Life on Earth. Abrams, $19.95 (978-0-810-994-867)

(gr. 5-8) “Based on an exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum…big, spacious volume packs in a wealth of information about evolution over four billion years…detailed, beautiful photographs and glorious paintings…chatty text is accessible…but there is no condescension; teens and adults will want this too…geologic time scale…many excellent sidebars make clear the progression of events…Exciting fossil sites…drama of mass extinctions…extensive glossary and bibliography…” (BL)

Macaulay, David with Richard Walker. The Way We Work: Getting To Know the Amazing Human Body. Illus. by David Macaulay. Lorraine/Houghton, $35 (978-0-618-23378-6)

(gr. 6-12) “…anatomy and physiology…basic concepts of biology and chemistry at the cellular level…various systems of the body…Humor…occasionally leavens the information, which, though often complex and technical, is clearly and succinctly presented in double-page spreads…illuminating array of illustrations…often full of visual metaphors and striking angles…substantial glossary and index…” (HB) (VOYA 5Q4P)

National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. Candlewick, $35 (978-0-7636-2067-7)

(gr. 3-8) “More than 100 authors and illustrators…wide-ranging collection of short pieces...creators of books for youth, along with…historian David McCullough… actual White House occupants…general chronological order…straightforward history… essays…personal narratives…fantasy…pairing of works and art is often inspired… entertaining introduction…fascinating information, challenging ideas…” (SLJ)(PW)

Nichols, Travis. Punk Rock Etiquette: the Ultimate How-To Guide for DIY, Punk, Indie, and Underground Bands. Roaring Brook/Macmillan, $12.95 trade pb (978-1-59643-415-8)

(gr. 7-12) “Lively, knowledgeable, witty, and wise…Call it ‘Emily Post for Death Cab Fans.’ From how to put together a band that functions rather than fights… creating appealing merchandise…heavily illustrated…covers every aspect of how to be bona fide DIY rock star…resource lists page…tie-in Web site…tone…is note-perfect—enthusiastic, experienced, practical…charm and sardonic humor…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Rabin, Staton. Mr. Lincoln’s Boys: Being the Mostly True Adventures of Abraham Lincoln’s Trouble-making Sons, Tad and Willie. Illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-06169-3)

(gr. 1-4) “Tad and Willie, the mischievous sons of President Abraham Lincoln, scampered around the White House surprising and irritating almost everyone…delighted their father…historical context…stories…extensive author’s note…Fictionalized dialogue throughout is believable…masterful illustrations. Evocative and detailed…Readers will be intrigued…” (SLJ)

Rosen, Michael J. Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids in One Family’s Farm. Darby Creek, dist. by Lerner, $18.95 (978-1-58196-067-9)

(gr. 3-7) “…one year on an Ohio farm, complete with children, animals, and enough work, adventure and fun to keep everyone busy…commentary to a minimum…records conversations and comments made…engaging book is an unsentimental, appreciative look into the world of one farm family…packed with information and plenty of interesting photographs. Children will love it.” (SLJ)

Sandler, Martin W. Lincoln Through the Lens. Walker, $20.89 (978-0-802-796-677)

(gr. 7-9) “…photography…became an invaluable source for historians to trace the life of …Lincoln…short biographical introduction…photograph…Part biography, part history of the Civil War…many interesting topics…fascinating photographs, full-page portraits…battlefield scenes…death-bed pictures of both Lincoln and Booth…perceptive words have their own elegance. Well sourced…excellent tool…” (BL)

Simon, Seymour. The Human Body. HarperCollins, $20.89 (978-0-06-055542-9)
(GR. 5-8) “…outstanding book that fosters an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the component parts of the human body…astonishing amounts of data…twelve major systems and each of the five senses…extremely accurate…little-known facts, analogies…illustrations…colored X-rays and MRI scans, microscopic images, medical illustrations…crowing glory…perfect combination of matter-of fact text and outstanding illustration…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Stone, Tanya Lee. Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder. Illus. by Boris Kulikov. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-06268-3)

(gr. 2-4) “…mobile…fast-moving tale that is in keeping with their high-energy subject. From childhood, Sandy produced an array of objects for friends and family from found materials. As an adult, when hired to draw pictures of the circus…bringing the circus to life with bits of wire, cork, buttons, yarns and string…filled five suitcases… utterly involved in his work…two differing styles of illustration…full robust color…In contrast, gray-shaded drawings with bold black lines sometimes crowd…seemingly portraying the working ‘stuff of Calder’s bursting imagination…” (SLJ)

Wagner, Hank, et.cal. Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman. St. Martin’s, $29.95.

(gr. 7-12) “…tremendous gift to Neil Gaiman fans…inspiration and background information for Gaiman’s many works…factual tidbits about the man himself…extensive research and interviews…compendium of data about one of fantasy’s finest writers… most comprehensive resource about Neil Gaiman to date…broad in scope…fascinating minutiae…entertaining quotes…well written, well organized and fun to peruse…will appeal to Gaiman fans of all ages…” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Walker, Richard. Dr. Frankenstein’s Human Body Book: The Monstrous Truth About How Your Body Works. DK, $24.99 (978-0-7566-4091-0)

(gr. 5 and up) “…from conception to execution…this anatomy book is as engrossing as any science fiction. Dr. Frankenstein…invites readers to join him as he creates a human being…atoms and the skeletal system, tissues and organs…visually rich spreads…pun-happy…remarkable design. Gothic fonts and engraved illustrations… blend with state-of-the art images from MEG scans…and other advanced technology… only flaw:…reproductive system receives such timid mention as to be almost nonsensical…” (PW)

YA Fiction

GN Barry, Lynda. What It Is. Drawn & Quarterly, $24.95 (978-1-897299-35-7)

(gr. 9 and up) “…Each page is a feast for the eyes with beautiful full-page collages of photographs, watercolors, ink drawings, and text…gorgeous volume…explores…writing in a combination of ways…acts as a workbook that successfully encourages teens to explore their own creativity through writing…autobiographical glimpses of Barry’s journey from childhood to adulthood…stunning book will appeal to those teens who are interested in delving into their creativity through words and art…” (SLJ)

Chima, Cinda Williams. The Dragon Heir. Hyperion/DBG, $17.99 (978-1-4231-1070-5)

(gr. 6-12) “…The thrilling Heir Trilogy concludes with this beautifully directed tale of color and character, smells and spells…backstory…complex…Characters are developed in depth rather than breadth…Some characters surprise…destined to draw in readers.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic, $17.99 (978-0-439-023-481)

(gr. 9-12) “…new series…Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food…poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future…cast into he nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain…weather…and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts…Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension…three-dimensional characters…superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.” (BL)(SLJ) (HB) (VOYA 5Q4P)

Coy, John. Box Out. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-870-320)

(gr. 7-9) “…perceptive, triumphant tale…high-school hoops player searching for, and finding, his own road. Liam is dazzled at first by his unexpected elevation to the varsity team…coach is leading prayer sessions before each practice and game…sees Darius, who is a star player but the team’s only African American, maneuvered into quitting…eye-opening lesson in what team spirit is really all about…decent, average… kid…struggles with the urge to conform…plenty of breathlessly compelling game action…” (BL)

De la Peña, Matt. Mexican WhiteBoy. Delacorte, $18.99 (978-0-385-90329-5)

(gr. 6-12) “…Danny Lopez spends the summer with his Mexican father’s relatives…half-white and does not speak a word of Spanish…comes into conflict with African American Uno during a baseball mishap…both boy’s worlds develop…Danny and Uno…finally come together…Everyone in the book faces mountains of obstacles, and in a fantastic move by the author that is not cloying or obvious, they also have the temerity to overcome them…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Ford, Thomas Michael. Suicide Notes. Harper/Teen, $16.99 (978-0-06-073755-9)

(gr. 9 and up) “…Regaining consciousness after an aborted suicide attempt, the 15-year-old narrator thinks his parents have ‘overreacted’ by placing him in a 45-day program in the ‘nuthouse’…Readers might need patience as Jeff…goes through a period of denial…begins to form relationships…teens’ interactions slowly dislodge clues about what triggered Jeff’s suicide attempt…Jeff’s recovery depends on realizing and accepting that he’s gay…goes beyond gay issues…broader questions of identity…” (PW)

George, Madeleine. Looks. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-061-679)

(gr. 7-10) “Meghan Ball is fat…Aimee Zorn is blade thin. Anorexic…Meghan can will herself to invisibility…Aimee can barely control her fury…self-satisfied Cara… dumped Meghan as she grew bigger and more recently stole Aimee’s poetry and passed it off as her own…unlikely, uneasy alliance is formed…familiar territory…knows how to write anguish…strong, almost dangerous quality here…” (BL)

Goldman, Steven. Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film About The Grapes of Wrath. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (978-1-59990-271-5)

(gr. 9-12) “When his best friend, David, matter-of-factly tells heterosexual Mitchell that he is gay …David…and Mitchell invite girls to the junior prom…Things get increasingly complicated…nothing turns out as expected…fitting touches of rough language…on-target characters… compelling picture of high school life. How Mitchell and David work out their discomfort about being male best friends after one of them…reveals he is gay is realistically portrayed…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Goodman, Allegra. The Other Side of the Island. Razorbill, $16.99 (978-1-59514-195-8)

(gr. 7 and up) “…dystopian eco-fantasy…malevolent Corporation lulls North America’s few remaining inhabitants into complacency with memory-altering substances, misinformation, fake skies and a leader named Earth Mother…Honor’s parents who actively rebel, and Honor who embraces Earth Mother’s laws, at least at first…plot line depends on coincidence and inconsistencies, but dramatic pacing and otherwise shrewd psychological insight help camouflage…” (PW)

Hartnett, Sonya. The Ghost’s Child. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-3964-8)

(gr. 9 and up) “…When 75-year-old…Maddy comes home to find a mysterious boy awaiting her…tells him about her youth and about falling in love…tale that revels in profound questions…tireless pursuit of answers as they unfold through her relationship with Feather, a youth who captures her heart so totally she is forever changed…magical realism…redemptive story of a search for love…exquisite prose…” (PW)

James, Brian. Zombie Blondes. Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, $16.95 (978-0-312-37298-9)

(gr. 7-12) “…amusing novel…New girl Hannah has recently moved to Maplecrest…pro at adapting to new schools…new friend and fellow outcast, Lukas, despises the cheerleaders, indicating darkly they are not what they seem. Hannah thinks he is just paranoid…is thrilled that she has achieved ultimate popularity status… enjoyable, light thriller spoofs both cheerleader and zombie stereotypes…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Link, Kelly. Pretty Monsters: Stories. Illus. by Shaun Tan. Viking, $19.99 (978-0-670-01090-5)

(gr. 7 and up) “…collection of nine short stories…first entry, ‘The Wrong Grave,’ immediately demonstrates her rare talents: a deadpan narration…subjects that range from absurd to mundane…irony…magical…quirky, fairytale style…mingles the grotesque and the ethereal to make magic on the page.” (PW)(BL)

Ness, Patrick. The Knife of Never Letting Go. Candlewick, $18.99 (978-0-763-639-310)

(gr. 8-12) “Chased by a madman preacher …Todd Hewitt flees his settlement on a planet where war with the natives has killed all the women and infected the men with a germ that broadcasts their thoughts aloud for all to hear…rendered with startling effectiveness on the page…Todd discovers…he lives in a much different world than he thought he did…can be hard to swallow, but the pure inventiveness and excitement of the telling more than make up for it…pidgin English with crack dramatic and coming timing…troubling, unforgettable opener to the Chaos Walking trilogy…cliffhanger ending is as effective as a shot to the gut.” (BL)

Noyes, Deborah. The Ghosts of Kerfol. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-763-630-003)

(gr. 8-11) “…brilliant collection of creepy ghost stories…based on Edith Wharton’s 1916 story, “Kerfol.”…first entry…close to Wharton’s original plot about a young woman on trial for the mysterious murder of her jealous husband…different perspective…four following, interconnected stories are set between 1802 and 2006…” (BL)

Schusterman, Neal. Antsy Does Time. Dutton, $16.99 (978-0-525-478-256)

(gr. 6-9) “…wisecracking teenage Brooklynite introduced in The Schwa Was Here…emotional roller coaster…screwball sequel. When his classmate…announces that he is going to die in six months from a rare disease, Antsy…formal contract that signs over a month of his own life…terrific supporting cast…wry observations…will keep tween readers hooked from start to finish.” (BL)(SLJ) (VOYA 5Q4P)

Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. S&S/Simon Pulse, $16.99 (978-1-4169-6059-1)

(gr. 11 and up) “…unrelieved terror…chilling…15-year-old girl who has spent the last five years being abused by a kidnapper named Ray…orders Alice to find a new girl, then train her to Ray’s tastes…prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating…exerts an inescapable grip on readers…” (PW)

Sina, A.B. Prince of Persia: The Graphic Novel. Illus. by LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland. Roaring Brook/First Second, paper, $16.95 (978-1-596-432-079)

(gr. 9-12) “After enjoying various forms as a video game character…prince leaps from the screen to the page in this magnificent and complex graphic novel. Prince…has been everything from …street urchin to a battle hardened fugitive…two parallel stories… ninth-century city of Marv…other takes place 400 years later…princess discovers a young man in the ruins of the old palace…can be maddeningly complex…distinct color palettes and visual clues…layers instead of linearity…drama, adventure…even better with repeat readings.” (BL)

Smith, Andrew. Ghost Medicine. Feiwel and Friends, $17.95 (978-0-312-37557-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “…Troy, 16, and two childhood friends spend the summer following Troy’s mother’s death wrangling wild horses…drinking homemade wine…brushes with danger…commemorate with tattoos and rituals…Troy…grapples with is mother’s death through philosophical ruminations…summer climaxes with jarring violence…” (PW)

Somper, Justin. Vampirates: Blood Captain. Little, Brown, $15.99 (978-0-316-02085-5)

(gr. 9-12) “…thrilling pirate and vampire adventure…third installment of a series…Grace…dangerous mission to a vampire sanctuary…begins to study healing…peaceful existence is jeopardized by the appearance of the evil vampire, Sidorio. Connor and the crew…mission to avenge the death of his brother…haunting characters…well rounded and believable…attention to detail…pace that never lets up…exciting escapades…surprise ending…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Tomlinson, Heather. Aurelie: A Faerie Tale. Holt, $16.95 (978-0-805-082-760)

(gr. 7-10) “…intriguing fantasy…vaguely northern European land…humans coexist with supernatural beings…childhood friend Loic, a shape-shifting river drac, humans Netta, Aurelie, and Garin are gifted with the ability to see the Fae…devoted friends grow apart…Graceful prose…Shakespearean tangle of love stories…coming-of-age stories…characters…well developed…suspense…Readers will be left hoping for a sequel…” (BL)

Audio

Sunrise Over Fallujah. Written by Walter Dean Myers. Read by JD Jackson. Recorded Books, $77.75 CD (978-1-4361-0684-9)

(gr. 8 and up) “…Iraq War from the perspective of a young Civil Affairs soldier, Robin Perry…realities of war soon hit home…Robin…begins to wonder who his enemies really are in the war…enhanced by…superb reading…conveys the emotional depth of the character…an excellent book and an even better audiobook.” (SLJ)

Video

Admission Zen: The Stress Free Path to Getting into College. DVD. 68 min. College Pathways, $24.95.

(gr. 10 and up) “…goes a long way in assisting students, parents, counselors and teachers…breaks the admission process into six fundamental steps and explains how to customize the process for individualized applicants. Featuring animate characters demonstrating typical scenarios, college students describing their own successful college application process…step-by-step guidance…excellent, information-packed film for high school and public libraries.” (SLJ)

African American Lives 2. DVD. Approx. 4 hours. Kunhardt Productions, Inwell Films, and Thirteen/WNET. Dist. by PBS Home Video, $24.99 (0-7936-9416-7)

(gr. 11 and up) “Henry Louis Gates, Jr…hosts this four-part program… multidimensional perspective of the African-American experience throughout the history of the United States and back to Africa…in-depth genealogical investigations… determining the racial makeup of 12 influential African Americans by mapping their DNA…Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Don Cheadle, Chris Rock…touching portrayal…personalize a tumultuous cultural history…progressively staged…important acquisition for libraries serving advanced high school, college, and adult audiences.” (SLJ)

Diary of a Fly. DVD 10 min. with teacher’s guide. Weston Woods, $59.95 (0-545-09212-8). CD with hardcover book, $29.95 (978-0-545-09454-2). Cassette, $12.95 (978-0-545-09447-4)

(PreS-gr. 3) “Fly Girl keeps a diary documenting her exploits at Flight School, at home with her 327 siblings, and with friends Worm and Spider…numerous fly facts…Lively narration…doo-wop music add to the fun…interview with Harry Bliss…explains how he illustrated the story…” (SLJ)

Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners. DVD. 12 min. with teacher’s guide. Weston Woods, $59.95 (0-545-09213-2). CD with hardcover, $29.95 (9787-0-545-09455-9).

(PreS-gr.3) “Mr. Rabbit is not sure that he knows how to act around his new neighbors the otters…Laurie Keller’s picture book…realizes that there will be no problem with the otters as long as they treat each other with respect and consideration…lively romp…catchy banjo tune…fun puns…can be viewed with or without read-along subtitles…engaging and entertaining…” (SLJ)

Frontline: Bush’s War. DVD 4:30 hours (closed captioned). WGBH Education Foundation, Dist. by PBS Home Video, $29.99 (0-7936-9443-4)

(gr. 9 and up) “…incredibly insightful documentary was painstakingly researched and includes hundreds of interviews with a wide array of individuals from both within and outside the government…will chill, sadden, frustrate and anger most viewers… begins with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks…details the development of behind-the-scene strategies…sobering and timely report…” (SLJ)

John Adams. 3 DVDs. 9:20 hours. HBO, $38.99.

(gr. 8 and up) “Based on historian David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book…astonishing miniseries dramatizes the life of John Adams…meticulously detailed…personal and the political life…nicely paced retrospective…attention to detail is astonishing…outstanding principal actors bring an incredible degree of believability to their roles…” (SLJ)

Books in Spanish

Gutièrrez, Carmen and Ana Cristina Lòpez Viñuela. Mi primer diccionario (My First Dictionary). Illus. by Zcolate. Spain: Everest, dist. by Lectorum Pub, $19.99 (978-84-241-6843-8)

(gr. 1 and up) “…attractive…simple instructions…part of speech…simple, comprehensive definition is followed by a sentence that contextualizes the word…illustrations, pictures, charts, maps, or photographs…diagrams…large type and clear design…” (CR)

James, Bethan. Mi primera Biblia (The Toddler Bible). tr. by Grupo Nivel Uno, Inc. illus. by Yorgos Sgouros. US.: Grupo Nelson, Inc, BB. $12.99(978-1-60255-160-2) (PreS-gr.2) “…delightfully illustrated collection of Bible stories covers 16 well-known tales… Exceptional, bright acrylic illustrations depict a lighthearted and welcoming setting… warm and lively illustrations will help to draw the youngest of readers into the stories. The Spanish translation is clear and straightforward, and the durable board book construction will make this a long-lasting treasure for the youngest of readers…” (CR)

Lechermeier, Philippe and Rebecca Dautremer. Princesas olvidadas o desconocidas… (Forgotten or Unknown Princesses…) tr by P. Rozarena. Spain/U.S.: Edelvives, dist. by B&T, $15.95 (978-84-263-6701-3)
(gr. 3-6)–“…Princess Deletrea de Eritrea… isn’t very fond of attending balls. She can’t wait for them to be over so she can climb the stairs to her library and …Read! …Princess Caprichosa… snob who nibbles at her food and asks the impossible…Princess Amnesia. …forgets her appointments…Princess Zulu Zazu loves to have fun… Just when you thought you knew everything about princesses…superbly illustrated …marvelously imaginative … The book is also available in a larger trim size (ISBN: 9788426359094) for $38.95.” (CR)

Nakagawa, Chihiro. Còmo cuidar un àngel. (How to Care for an Angel)trans. by Jaime Barrera Parra. Mexico/U.S.: Fondo de Cultura Económica, dist. by Lectorum, pap. $7.50 (978-968-16-8602-4).
(gr. 3-5)“…Sachi and her imaginary friend…After learning that her mom won’t allow her to have a pet, ingenious little Sachi finds a tiny angel in the fields near her home. Her angel feeds only on stories, so Sachi begins to share all of her deepest thoughts with her new friend… Then, when a new student arrives, it is up to Sachi’s angel to make sure the two become the very best of friends. Simple, detailed, cartoon like black-and-white illustrations give this title a contemporary appearance…” (CR)