I do not believe there is a child anywhere who does not have a soft spot in his/her heart for a lost animal. That animal could be literally anything from a horse down to a wee white mouse.
So, when FINDING DANNY by Linzi Glass (Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins, May 2010, $16.99) arrived I sat down and started to read it immediately. For the next two hours I sat transfixed. I joined character Bree as her life became upside down after her beloved dog, Danny, disappeared one day.
Seasonal books appear from the various publishers. Many are repeats of the Nativity story each with some original twist or new character. And, yes, they are important to share with young readers to illustrate the true meaning of this holiday.
A new book goes way beyond the familiar and takes youngsters back to grandparents’ farm. THE TRUE GIFT: A CHRISTMAS STORY by Patricia MacLachlan , illustrated by Brian Floca (Atheneum, 2009, $12.99) opens with Liam and Lily arriving at their grandparents for an annual holiday visit. Liam has brought his red sock with grey trim full of money to buy presents for everyone. Both children enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the small town where their grandparents live.
No matter where one goes today there is talk about going green. Kids as well as adult are bombarded with frightening images of what is in store for our world if we do not immediately take action. Many naysayers are also working hard to distract attention from this problem telling people there is no problem. Educating the very young seems to me one way to get the world’s attention on this problem. EARTH FEELING THE HEAT by Brenda Z Guiberson, illustrated by Chao Wallace, (Henry Holt and Company, 2010, $16.99) does draw young readers attention to the problem the planet is facing.
Another oversized picturebook arriving this week was JANUARY’S SPARROW by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books Penguin Young Readers Group 2009, $22.99.) This remarkable 96 page treasure needs all the pages to relate a monumental tribute to the Crosswhite family.
Books come in all sizes and lengths! And the book for all the little wiggly nerds is here. I absolutely guarantee they will be totally enchanted, enthralled, amused and educated by Bill Bryson’s A REALLY SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING (Delacorte Press, 2009, $19.99). This oversized 169 paged volume immediately piques the interest of a young reader by opening, “This is a book about how IT happened– in particular, how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something.”
A non-fiction book for all ages is the Update of the 1962 book, LIFE STORY by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton Mifflin, 1962, copyright renewed 1990, 2009. $22.00). For almost a half century this book has been informing and amazing readers of all ages, Ms Burton in a very direct almost simplistic style explains the history of planet earth.
Patricia Reilly Giff, dear friend and author of so many significant books, especially the series that brought Chapter Books (THE POLK STREET KIDS ) into the lives of so many very young readers. Her newest book, WILD GIRL by Patricia Reilly Giff ( Wendy Lamb Books, Random House, 2009, $15.99) takes the reader into the world of horse racing. The main character, Lidie, lives in Brazil where she spends her time riding horses and dreaming about the day when she’ll be able to join her father and brother in America. Lidie’s mother has died and now she is twelve, she figures she’s ready to join her family on Long Island in New York.
Teaching the Civil War in history class can be a tedious job going from skirmish to skirmish until the class dies of sheer exhaustion. No more need this happen. Do the Civil War by reading a chapter a day from BLACK ANGELS by Linda Beatrice Brown (Putnam, 2009, $16.99). To quote Nicki Giovanni ,” BLACK ANGELS has found a way to bring home the sadness and the hope of the Civil War.”
An author and friend who has contributed many wonderful reading experiences for young readers is Cynthia DeFelice. Her major work is the book, WEASEL, a story destined to become a classic for middle school readers and others. Cynthia has a variety of titles to her credit, and each of them is original and surefire winner with young readers.
In her latest book, SIGNAL (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, $16.99) we meet Owen McGuire , a lonely new-in-town boy , and his dog, Josie. Owen is looking forward to a nothing summer when Campion enters his life. She tells Owen her parents left her behind accidentally. Their spaceship will return for her and bring her back to their planet known as HOME. Campion enlists Owen to help her make a signal fire to direct her family’s rescue. Will Owen assist her?
This story combines many diverse elements like biography, poetry and magical realism as it slowly unfolds the life of an extremely uncommon boy. This curious child walks to the beat of a different drummer most assuredly. Paramount in his life however, is the menacing almost presence of his father. This wall of obstinacy counteracts all the creative aspects of this child’s life. The child acts and reacts as an almost terror stricken human. There are times and places though when his creative spirit takes control and our young child thrives and matures.