This is a delightful family story set in the possible future. Dewey Mariss is in the middle of a crunch. Dewey along with his sister, immediately younger brother and pre-school twins have been left at home while his parents are stuck with an empty gas tank up north. The country is experiencing its first gas shortage and the future is looking rather grim.
A story of twins born in a bi-racial marriage. Kiera is born black like her mother; Minerva (Minni) white like her father. Through the intercession of their maternal grandmother Johnson the girls are entered in the Miss Black Pearl Princess of America Program. The girls spend ten days in the south participating in the program activities.
It is never too early to introduce young readers to the world of mythology. Many later stories and allusions are based on mythology. So I heartily endorse and recommend an “irreverent retelling of the myth of Zeus”.
A beloved friend is back to her humorous self. I first met Lois Lowry through her hilarious stories about Anastia Krupnik. These very funny stories brought laughter to many young readers. Lois then went on to win medals for such titles as THE GIVER and NUMBER THE STARS. This very versatile author is comfortable no [...]
A delightfully charming picture book from Chris Wormell, FEROCIOUS WILD BEASTS (Knopf, 2009, $16.99) arrived recently. This little story is truly what I would classify as a standard children’s book. Jack is lost in the forest. Yes, the forest his mother has warned him about numerous times. This place, she says, is where the ferocious wild beasts live, hide and pounce on people. Then they gobble them up.
Humor needs to play an important part in reading with youngsters. One graphic picturebook which should guarantee a chuckle or two, maybe even a giggle or four is TWO BAD PILGRIMS by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by John Manders (Viking, 2009, $16.99). This text, while loaded with good information about the Pilgrims and the settlement at Plymouth Rock, has a counterpoint delivered by two young scamps.
THE PLOT CHICKENS by Mary Jane and Herm Auch (Holiday House, 2009, $16.95) contains marvelous advice for those who wish to write for children. Maxine the hen borrows books from the local library to read to the girls in the coop. One day she decides she could write her own. Thus begins a clever tale illustrating 8 rules an author of children’s books should follow.