Dolphins in the Navy by Meish Goldish

Dolphins in the Navy 
By Meish Goldish

(America’s animal soldiers)

Bearport Publishing. 2012

ISBN: 9781617724510

(Grades 1-6)

Reviewer obtained a copy of this book from the publisher.

America's Animal Soldiers is a new series for 2012 by Bearport Publishing. The aim of the series is to highlight the animals that help the military. There are four titles in the series that include dolphins and sea lions that hunt for deadly sea mines, to dogs that are trained to sniff out bombs. 

I reviewed Dolphins in the Navy by Meish Goldish, which looks at the Marine Mammal Program that trains dolphins to locate sea mines. The reason dolphins are highly prized, along with sea lions, “is their ability of finding things in the water” using echolocation. Dolphins also help the Navy locate possible terrorists who are swimming in the water. We are told that the dolphins in the Navy receive excellent care to insure they are healthy and happy. 

Each page includes a color photograph that corresponds to the text.  Additional facts are written on dog tags that are interspersed throughout the chapters. The 24 pages are aimed at students in grades 1-6. A useful addition to military sections.

Note: Briefly mentioned are the negative feelings by some towards the Marine Mammal Program. However, the book clearly  states that the Navy never places the mammals in risky situations. According to the author “dolphins that work for the Marine Mammal Program are in less danger from their work than those that live in the wild – which may be killed and eaten by sharks or fed unsafe food by people.” Goldish further claims that, “So far, no animal in the Marine Mammal Program has ever been injured or killed on the job.” 

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda
by Alicia Potter
illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012
ISBN: 9780375844485
(Gr. K-5)

The reviewer obtained a copy of the book from her school library.

Some nonfiction books can be a hard sell to kids. I create display and booktalk lots of nonfiction books each week to get kids interested. Put a dolphin, a penguin or a panda on the cover of the nonfiction book, and the book sells itself. Kids love animal stories, and for some reason certain animals (like pandas) create a frenzy in the library.

So I knew Alicia Potter's new nonfiction picture book would be a popular read with my patrons; it has a panda on the cover and in the title. However, Mrs. Harkness and the Panda is much more than an animal story. It's really the story of one woman's determination and courage, and it's a perfect book to read during Women's History Month.

In 1934, William Harkness set off on an expedition to China to capture a panda and bring it back to the United States. William's wife, Ruth, stayed at home in New York City where she designed dresses. It was not socially acceptable for a woman to go off exploring in the 1930s. When Ruth got word that her husband had passed away in China, she decided to finish what he had started. She would travel to China and bring back a panda, and that is exactly what she did.

Melissa Sweet's watercolor and mixed media illustrations are amazing and work perfectly with Potter's text. Sweet created a collage using a world map, postcards, and watercolor illustrations of a steam ship to illustrate Mrs. Harkness' voyage to China. Bright red and pink paint on a background of Chinese characters depict the expedition's journey on the Yangtze River. On one page, Mrs. Harkness hears a sound in the trees. Upon turning the page, the black and white face of a baby panda peers out of a tree. There are only three words on the page, "A baby panda!" Kids will be captivated. I found myself flipping back so that I could experience the "wow" of the page turn again.

The panda, Su Lin, was brought to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, and Mrs. Harkness had become a female explorer. I have to admit, I had an uneasy feeling at the end of the story. Why are we celebrating the capture of a wild animal? It seemed wrong to me, and then I read the author's note. Potter points out that in 1934 most people had never seen a panda. By bringing the panda to the United States, scientists could study the animal and people could learn more about the species and how to protect it. "Harkness introduced the world to a tubby, bamboo-chomping ambassador."

Death of a Dreamer : the assassination of John Lennon by Alison M. Behnke

Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon

Alison Marie Behnke

Twenty-First Century Books. 2012

ISBN: 9780822590361

(Grades 8 and up)

Reviewer received a copy of this book from the publisher

This December 8 will mark the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon. Those who were alive on that terrible day might remember that with the announcement of Lennon’s death the world suddenly became a very confusing place. How was it possible that the man who was so outspoken about giving peace a chance could have been killed in such a violent way? My first thought was a selfish one: there would never, ever be a Beatles reunion.

In Death of a Dreamer, Alison Marie Behnke does a fine job of giving readers some insight into the man who killed one of our musical heroes. The book begins with a brief backstory into John’s childhood, his rise to fame with The Beatles, his decision to become a home dad, and his return to recording. John is portrayed as a complex person with his own demons and how he would eventually find some stability and happiness with his marriage to Yoko and the birth of their son Sean. However, all his plans of returning to the music world abruptly ended on that fateful day.

The second half of the book is about Mark David Chapman. We are told that even from a young age Chapman had a troubled “dark side”.  As a young boy, Chapman took comfort in an imaginary world populated with Little People. “They lived inside the walls of his home, with jobs and shops and schools of their own.”  Whenever feelings of anger or inadequacy surfaced, Chapman would vent his anger on the Little People. “I had a button on the arm of the couch in the den. When I pushed it, it would blow up the houses where the Little People lived. Sometimes I would kill hundred and thousands of them. Then, after I calmed down later, I would apologize. They always forgave me.” Clearly, the man had serious problems that were never discovered until too late.

The book includes many interesting black & white photos, quotes from people or articles from that time. Sidebars in red offer additional information are throughout the book. In one sidebar, Behnke tells that there are some conspiracy theories surrounding who really was responsible for Lennon’s assassination. I had not heard any of them.  Also in this book is a Timeline, Who’s Who, Source Notes, Selected Bibliography, For Further Information, and index.

Growing up, John Lennon was my favorite Beatle. I felt, as so many people did, that the violent way he died was contrary to what he stood for: World Peace. His motto “all you need is Love” was the message of his generation.  To die for no reason but from a deranged fan seemed wrong. Behnke does a good job of explaining Chapman’s motives for killing Lennon without sensationalizing.  

Friend Me! 600 years of social networking in America by Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Friend Me! 600 years of Social Networking in America
By Francesca Davis DiPiazza
Twenty-First Century Books. 2012
ISBN: 9780761358695
(Grades 9 and up)
Publisher sent reviewer a copy of this book.

In Friend Me! 600 years of Social Networking in America Francesca Davis DiPiazza states, “Social networks are groups of people connected by common interests and needs. Kinship, friendship, and sexual partnership are some of the ties that bind social networks. Likes and dislikes weave people into networks too – from sport leagues to political protest groups to vampire fan clubs.” Americans have been connecting with each other in many different ways, for many different reasons throughout history. DiPiazza’s tour of how groups used social networking for a wide variety of needs makes for an interesting thesis.

The book is divided into eight chapters and looks at how certain inventions -- the printing press, U.S. mail service, the telegraph, and the Internet -- changed the way we connect. Chapter One, ‘A String of Beads’ tells of the origin of wampum, and how it helped the warring Iroquois nation to grow stronger. Social networking both strengthened and divided the Puritan community, as we read in Chapter Two, ‘The Knitted City : Puritan New England’.  Chapter Three, ‘Coffee and Conversation: a Notion of Freedom’ discusses how printing during the 1600’s helped band American settlers and allow them the freedom of speech that would eventually lead to the revolution that separated the colonists from Great Britain rule.

As the population grew in numbers, social networking united the slaves as we read in Chapter Four, ‘People Skills: Creating Community in Slavery. Chapter Five, ‘A Very Social Time: Networking in a New Nation, songs and ballads, and letters all helped to unite people during the 1800’s, a time in U.S. history of tremendous growth as settles moved farther west.

The Telegraph changed the speed in which information was passed, we learn in Chapter Six, ‘Wired! Love, Death, and the Telegraph’. Chapter Seven, ‘A Smaller World Connecting the Dots’, the telegraph, the railroad, and the U.S. mail drastically changed the focus of social networking in the 1900’s. Chapter Eight, ‘Hardwired From Earth to the Stars’ shows how the Internet has expanded up our opportunities to make connections.

The book is only 112 pages, yet it covers a lot of information. It includes source notes, selected bibliography, further reading and websites, and an index. I did enjoy reading it and found it gave me a different perspective on American history.  I never really thought about how the mail order catalogs in 1905 were like Amazon in that they both threatened the small, independent, local retailer.

This book would work best in a social studies class for high school or college.

Dwyane Wade by Michael Sandler

Dwyane Wade
by Michael Sandler
Basketball Heroes: Making a Difference series
Bearport Publishing, 2012
Library Binding
ISBN: 9781617724411
(Gr. 2-5)

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

We're into the month of March, and everywhere I look there are signs of March Madness. Kids and adults are talking about their NCAA picks for the college basketball championship. I think I've heard the word "bracket" a dozen times this weekend. That means that readers will be looking for basketball books in the library. I find it tricky to select sports biographies of current athletes for the library. Players come and go, and within a few years the biographies become dated and sit on the shelves. When teachers assign biography projects, they typically require students to read about people who have had an impact on the world. This requirement eliminates a lot of the modern-day sports biographies that are a merely compilation of statistics with some photos from games.

I was intriqued when I saw a new series listed in the Bearport Publishing catalog this year. The series, Basketball Heroes: Making a Difference, features four players Kevin Durant, Amar'e Stoudemire, Derrick Rose, and Dwyane Wade. I read the biography of Dwyane Wade, and it struck me as the perfect balance between athletic accomplishments and humanitarian efforts. The book will be extremely appealing to the middle grade reluctant readers in your library. It's twenty-four pages in length, and contains lots of photographs of Wade both in action on the court and working with children in need.

Readers will learn about Wade's difficult childhood growing up in a broken home in tough neighborhoods of Chicago. Wade later went on to became a college basketball success and an NBA sensation playing for the Miami Heat. Even though the book contains highlights from games and basketball stats, the focus is really on the work Wade has done off the court. As an NBA player, Wade has used his wealth and status to start a basketball camp for kids in Chicago, and he founded the Wade's World Foundation to help kids in difficult situations. When it appeared the public library in Robbins, Illinois would close due to budget cuts in 2009, Wade donated money to help keep the library open. The following year he appeared on posters for Library Card Sign-Up Month. What librarian can resist that story?

The book is organized well and utilizes text features such as captions, bold print, and a glossary. The focus on Wade's charitable work may make this a book teachers will accept for biographies projects. It's certainly a book that sports fans will be eager to read.

Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns

Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard
by Loree Griffin Burns
photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz
Henry Holt and Company, 2012
ISBN: 9780805090628
(Grades 3-6)

The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her school library.

Loree Griffin Burns, author of The Hive Detectives and Tracking Trash, returns with a new nonfiction book that will inspire kids to become observers of the world around them. Burns defines citizen science as "the study of our world by the people who live in it." Citizen Scientists focuses on four different types of animals that can be found in our backyards: butterflies, frogs, birds, and ladybugs.

The book provides readers with details about how to locate the animals and how to document their observations. The second person narrative and rich use of language puts readers in the shoes of naturalists. In the following excerpt, Burns perfectly captures how intensely you must listen when trying to count frogs at night.

"Dishes clank as someone inside loads the dishwasher, and you can just make out the muffled sound of the radio. You let those noises drift into the background, force your ears to search for other sounds. There aren't many: the drone of traffic on a far-off highway, the neighbor's front door opening and then slamming shut. Silence. But somewhere in that unusual quiet you suddenly hear a short pip of a noise. Again. Now two, in quick succession. Spring peepers! You look at your watch and start the timer."

Each chapter includes lists of equipment needed to observe and count the animals and information about organizations that coordinate counts around the country. Close-up photos of adults and children taking part in bird counts, butterfly tagging, frog identification, and ladybug projects compliment the information. Kids will love trying to answer the "Quick Quiz" at the end of each chapter.

This book is the complete package. It has great kid appeal; it will educate and inspire readers. I was really impressed by the back matter.  Each animal featured in the book has its own page of resources in addition to a bibliography, lengthy glossary and extensive index.

Whether reading Citizen Scientists with a class or independently, the book is sure to strike a chord with young readers. Burns provides web site links to bird counts, butterfly watches, ladybug projects and frog watches for readers who wish to become citizen scientists at home.

In The Bag: Margaret Knight Wraps It Up by Monica Kulling

In The Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up

By Monica Kulling; Illustrated by David Parkins

Tundra Books. 2011

ISBN: 9781770492394

The publisher sent a copy of this book for review.

(Grades 1-4)

Around third grade children come into my library asking for books about inventions. Crayons, tires, chocolate, cotton balls, you name it, they ask for it. Now there is another book about inventors to add to this popular collection. In The Bag by Monica Kulling’s is an entry in Tundra’s Great Idea Series. This lively picture book biography follows Margaret Knight, the woman who designed the machine that made square bottom paper bags. 

Margaret Knight was born in 1838. A time when women were not considered to be equal in intelligence and abilities as men. Nicknamed Mattie, Margaret loved to make things out of wood. “She made the best kites and sleds in town!” In 1850,after her father died, the family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire where children could find work in the mills. At age twelve Mattie, along with her two older brothers worked in a cotton mill. It was after a young woman was injured by a broken thread that Mattie invented a stop-motion device that prevented the shuttle from coming off its track. Too young to register for a patent, “Mattie took pride in knowing that millworkers were safer.”

The year 1868 found Margaret, now thirty years old, working in a paper bag factory, where paper bags were folded by hand. One day Margaret wondered if she could design a machine that would make a paper bag with a flat bottom. “That night, Margaret began designing a machine that would cut, fold, and paste a flat-bottom bag.” Her persistence paid off. After two years Margaret had a prototype that worked perfectly. Unfortunately, upon registering it for a patent, it was discovered that someone else, a Charles Annan had already registered the same design. Not to be detoured, armed with her notebook and diary, the feisty and confident Margaret won her case. In 1870 she filed for her first patent. 

Complimenting the text are David Parkins illustrations done in pen and ink with watercolor on paper. His sepia tones and careful attention to period details will engage readers. 

An author’s note and a short bibliography (sources of inspiration) is included. 

Pair this with Emily Arnold McCully’s Marvelous Mattie: how Margaret E. Knight became an inventor. (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2006)

Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

Seeing Symmetry
by Loreen Leedy
Holiday House, 2012
ISBN: 9780823423606
(Gr. 2-5)

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

Not many math picture books are published each year, so I was excited to see Loreen Leedy's new book about symmetry. Leedy is known for writing excellent nonfiction picture books such as Mapping Penny's World, Measuring Penny, and Follow the Money.

Seeing Symmetry introduces young readers to the concept of symmetry through colorful illustrations of animals, letters, buildings, and other familiar objects. The illustrations were created using Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Captions and labels effectively point out the symmetry in each illustration. Leedy begins with the basic definition of symmetry and progresses to more complex concepts such as vertical symmetry, horizontal symmetry, and rotational symmetry. Children will enjoy trying to answer the questions posed throughout the book. On one page showing various words in different color fonts, readers are asked: "How many of these words have a horizontal line of symmetry?"

According to the notes on the copyright page, the book "meets the Common Core State Standards for fourth-grade mathematics in geometry: identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry." A glossary in the back of the book defines the math terms used in the book. An author's note points out several animals in nature that are not symmetrical (conch, narwhal, flounder, etc...). Leedy also provides readers with symmetry activities to try at home using paper and paint.

Teachers will find Leedy's latest book invaluable in introducing and reinforcing the concept of symmetry while children will have a blast exploring the book and looking for symmetry in the world around them.

                                           Seeing Symmetry Book Trailer

The Pregnancy Project: a memoir by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer

The Pregnancy Project: a memoir

Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer

Simon & Schuster. 2012

ISBN:  9781442446229

Reviewer obtained a copy from publisher.

(Grades 8 and up)

There have been numerous books, both fiction and nonfiction, written about teens trying to overcome their family patterns. It is nice to read a success story for a change. The story of Gaby Rodriguez and why she pretended to be pregnant for a high school project is the subject of this inspiring memoir. Rodriguez has attracted a lot of media attention, something she never expected. Now in college, Gaby stopped the cycle of teen pregnancy that was prevalent in her family because of her intellect and determination. Her memoir, written with the help of professional writer Jenna Glatzer, has even sparked a Lifetime network movie.

Gaby was in seventh grade when her mother explained how young she had been when she became pregnant.  “I always knew my mother had been young when she had her first child, but I never did the math, never realized that she was in middle school. And when she first told me she had Nievitas at fifteen, I assumed she meant she got pregnant when she was fifteen. Then she corrected me and said she got pregnant when she was fourteen, and for some reason that pushed it over the edge for me.” Her mother would go on to have seven children during her turbulent sixteen-year marriage. Five years after her divorce, at age thirty-five, after becoming a grandmother when her first child, Nievitas at age twenty gave birth to a daughter, Gaby’s mother became a mother again…with Gaby.

Gaby intertwines background information about her family with her reasons for choosing this particular project idea. The purpose of the senior project was “a chance for students to work on a skill that would be valuable in their careers, to help them prepare for life after graduation.” Gaby wanted her project to have a real impact on her fellow students. She wanted “to find an opportunity for growth, both for me and for the people around me. The statistics told me that my classmates’ families were a lot like mine – full of broken homes, teen pregnancy, poverty, and a lack of education.” Gaby wanted to come up with an idea that would reflect her community, while making a big impression. Gaby was fortunate to have so many people that supported her: her mother, teachers, siblings, and, especially, her boyfriend.

How would faking a pregnancy do that? You must read The Pregnancy Project to find out. The writing rambles a bit, but the essence of Gaby’s story, her hard work and the ingenious way she changed her life is inspiring. This book would be useful as a class project.  It will appeal to girls and boys.

For more information about Gaby, her movie, and to read the LIfetime interview with Gaby, click here.  

The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race

The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race
by Nancy Roe Pimm
Millbrook Press, 2011
ISBN: 9780761366775
(Gr. 5-8) 

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

Many sports fans look forward to the Super Bowl each February, however there's another major sporting event this month: The Daytona 500. If you're in search of a nonfiction book to satisfy the race fans in your library, you'll want to check out The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race.

The book provides an overview of the history of stock car racing, and it all began in Daytona Beach, Florida.  In the early 1900s cars raced on beaches in Daytona and Ormond.When Bill France entered the scene in 1937, the sport changed forever. France formed the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) and went on to build the 2.5 mile track at Daytona International Speedway. Nancy Roe Pimm describes the first Daytona 500 in 1957 which ended in a close finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp. Beauchamp was declared the winner, but officials reversed their decision 61 hours after the race concluded after reviewing newsreel footage.

Lee Petty was declared the winner. He was awarded the trophy and a purse of $19,050. Embarrassed by the turn of events, France decided there was no way he would be put in such a difficult position again. "This is the first time so close a finish has ever occurred in auto racing," he said. "We won't be caught off guard again. We'll install a photo finish camera on the line."

The chronological format and clear writing make this an accessible book for middle grade readers. Kids will enjoy looking at the black and white photos of races from the turn of the century as well as the colorful photos from recent years. The book will appeal to NASCAR fans while introducing new vocabulary and racing rules and regulations to those unfamiliar with the sport. Facts boxes and photos capture the excitement and history of the race. Backmatter includes a glossary of racing terms, source notes and books for further reading. The Daytona 500 would make a solid purchase for a middle grade sports collection.

Get Real by Mara Rockliff

Get Real: What Kind of World are You Buying?

by Mara Rockliff

Running Press. 2010

ISBN: 9780762437450

(Grades 6 and up)

Reviewer checked this book out of the local library.

Can we really change the world with our wallets is the question Rockliff asks readers to ponder in her 2010 book, Get Real. Every day we make decisions on what to buy. From sneakers, t-shirts, fast food, to coffee. In a straight-forward tone, Rockliff leaves no holds barred as she explains how we are manipulated by giant corporations who care more about their financial returns than about the people who make their products, as well as the negative impact buying without a conscience is having on our world.

Chapter 3, “And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: What They Never Tell You At the Mall”. “So there you are, inside the store, staring at racks and racks of clothes.” You want to buy a pair of jeans. Right away you have too many choices. “Do you want low-rise or high rise? Classic fit, boot-cut, wide leg, or relaxed? The deep blue kind that scream “brand new”? Or the pre-faded kind that look like you’ve been wearing them for years?” But then try asking for jeans sewn by a worker earning a decent wage. Where does it say the factory who made the denim jeans did not dump their toxic wastes into a river or stream? “See if the sales clerk can point out the sign that says how many toxic chemicals were sprayed on the “natural cotton” that will soon be nestled close against your skin.” After this set up, we learn just who made those jeans and the child slaves who work in horrific conditions and earn a meager wage to help support their family. What should you be asking when you buy those jeans? “Were these clothes made in a sweat shop?” To find out which companies are responsible, she lists several [.org] sites.

Ever wonder what is really in that fast food you think is so yummy? Chapter 4, “Peek Between the Buns” is about all the chemicals placed in your food to make it taste better and the factory farms where your food is raised. Chapter 7, “Buys in the ‘Hood: Bust out of that big box” Rockliff brings up an argument that we’ve heard before, “Just how organic is that bunch of grapes if it has traveled 15,000 miles and using one gallon of fuel for every second?” When you chose to buying your food from big box stores, you have no idea where it comes from. Part of the problem is that box stores do business on a giant scale. They don’t buy for just one store, they buy for hundreds of stores. Consequently, they need to find a supplier that can ship them tons of foods, year round, and cheap. We are so used to having whatever we want, whenever we want that we don’t consider that maybe eating fresh green beans in the middle of winter is an unnecessary luxury we can do without. To really know where you food is coming from, buy from a farmer’s market or purchase a share in CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture)

The book’s design will be appealing to teens. It is active with bright colors and includes pictures to emphasize the point the author is making. It is printed on 100% recycled paper and certified by the ICTI (International Council or Toys Industry that mandates toys and related products are produced in a safe and humane environment). 

Rockliff demands consumers to be more socially responsible.  We all need to stop buying willy-nilly, and, instead, ask ourselves these questions: “Who made it”, “What’s in it?”, “What’s it doing to the earth, other people, and me?” It might not mean having a closet full of the latest fashions or owning the latest cell phone or cool laptop, yet, by making those hard choices readers will be taking huge steps in helping others and, by buying less, saving our world from becoming one big trash dump.

The book has an index, and an extensive list of resources, including books, articles, and web site.

Use this book to explain to students what the High Cost of Materialism is having on our planet and ourselves. Visit The Center for a New American Dream to watch the 5 minute video A Plentitude Economy.  Here is an interview on Green Teen with the author.

There Goes Ted Williams- Nonfiction Picture Book Giveaway

There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter That Ever Lived
by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press
On shelves February 14, 2012
ISBN: 9780763627898
(Gr. K-5)

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

We have partnered with Kid Lit Frenzy to encourage readers to read more nonfiction picture books this year.

As a child growing up in a small New England town, I was raised to love the Red Sox. I have fond memories of watching players like Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski take the field at Fenway Park in the late 1970s. Ted Williams had been retired for many years by that time, but he still remained in the hearts and minds of baseball fans. I've been eagerly anticipating the release of Matt Tavares' latest picture book about Ted Williams. Part of my excitement comes from my own passion for baseball, but I also know this book will be extremely popular with the readers in my library.

Matt Tavares traces the rise of hitting sensation Ted Willams from a skinny boy growing up in the 1920s to one of baseball's greatest batters of all time. As a lanky teenager, Ted Williams was drafted by the New York Yankees, but he turned down the contract to play minor league baseball near his home in southern California. Eventually Williams went on to play for the Boston Red Sox. Williams had great success in the major leagues and closed the 1941 season with a .406 batting average.

This picture book biography with wide margins and short lines reads like free verse poetry. Tavares provides readers with highlights from Williams' career while capturing the excitement and emotion of the game.


He circles the bases,
not running
but leaping, bouncing
almost floating,
jumping up and down
and clapping his hands
and laughing
all the way to home plate. 

There Goes Ted Williams is more than just a sports story. During Williams' career, he left baseball to serve as a pilot in World War II and the Korean War. During the Korean War, Williams made a tough decision to eject from his malfunctioning plane even though he could break both legs and end his baseball career. Williams walked away from the crash and returned to baseball several months later.

In the tradition of Mudball and Henry Aaron's Dream, Tavares' illustrations are detailed and full of life- the creases in the uniform, the shadow formed by the brim of the hat, the stitches on the baseball. The watercolor, gouache and pencil illustrations eloquently capture Williams' stance and facial expressions. In one intense scene, Williams is pictured in the foreground running away from a burning fighter jet. This is sure to capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers.

A list of Williams' stats by year and a bibliography are located in the back of the book. In an author's note, Tavares reveals that Williams was not perfect. He had a bad temper, he swore, and he had a tumultuous relationship with the media. Despite these flaws, the author set out to tell the story of a man who was one of the greatest hitters of all time and also served his country well. "The story of Ted Williams is the story of an American hero." Young baseball fans will scoop up this book; it would also make an inspiring story for an adult to share with a child. Pair this book with The Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941 by Phil Bildner.

 There Goes Ted Williams- Giveaway

Candlewick Press is giving away a copy of There Goes Ted Williams. 

Fill out the entry form below for your chance to win.

                   Giveaway Rules

• Complete the entry form below.
• Only one entry per person will be accepted.
• You must be 13 years or older to enter.
• Entries will be accepted from 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 until 12:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012.
• The winner will be contacted by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.

13 Planets: the latest view of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar

13 Planets: the latest view of the Solar System

David A. Aguilar

National Geographic. 2011

ISBN: 9781426307706

(Grades 3-8)

Did you know that Jupiter is so large that all the planets, including  the dwarf planets, could fit inside it? That Saturn has 62 confirmed moons? That dwarf planets Makemake and Ceres have no moons? These facts and more can be found in David Aguilar 13 Planets. Aguilar, Director of Science Information at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, takes readers on a brief journey of our Solar System.  In easily understood language, Aguilar explains how astronomers are discovering new things everyday, making them “wonder just how big the universe is.” 13 Planets tells the latest scientific information about terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), dwarf planets,(Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris), the gas planets, (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), and the possible future of The Sun, and solar systems beyond The Milky Way.

Starting with the Sun, in order of their distance from it, [Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Haumer/Kuiper Belt, Makemake, Eris] Aguilar reacquaints readers with current information about our Solar System. Accompanying each entry is the mythology, astrology or other related facts. For example, about Earth, we are told, “Gaea, the Earth goddess of the ancient Greeks, was known as the mother of Earth. Born out of chaos, she in turn gave birth to the sky, the seas, and the land. The Romans called her Terra.”

Children will find the unusually shaped planet, Haumer, located in the Kuiper Belt, interesting. Shaped like a chicken egg, it is dubbed, “a cosmic football” “because it tumbles end over end like a football kicked for a field goal.” They will also like its analogy that if cut in half, the solid rock planet would resemble an M&M. “The outside candy coating is the ice and the chocolate found inside is the rock.”

The book closes with some heavy thoughts about the death of the sun and whether there is life on other planets. “The End of our Solar System” explains what will happen to our sun in a billion years. In 12 billion years the sun will puff into a red planetary nebula before fading away.  Aguilar hints that beyond our solar system astronomers have discovered more than a thousand planets.  He claims that soon Earthlike planets will be revealed and that within the next twenty years we may know if life exists on these “super-Earths.”

On par with books published by National Geographic, the illustrations are exquisite and well captioned.  The artwork is done by the author, but other credits include NASA and National Geographic Society.

This book will appeal to children (Grades 3 – 8) who can never get enough information about space.  

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN: 9780803735118
Grades K-5

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the Moving Windmills Project.

You've heard the saying, "One person can make a difference." It sounds cliche, but it's true. If you need evidence, look no further than the picture book biography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer collaborated to tell the amazing story of how William brought electricity and irrigation to his drought-stricken village in Malawi.

William's family grew maize and tobacco in central Malawi; they relied on these crops for food and income. When a drought hit the country, the family had to cut back to one meal per day. There was no money to pay fees for William to attend school. William, a curious and inventive young man, spent his free time at the local library reading books about science. When William came across a photo of a windmill and learned that it could be used create electricity and pump water, he saw a solution to his family's problems. Using a tractor fan, pipe, bolts and other parts he found in a junk yard, William built a windmill that generated enough electricity to run a light bulb. He knew this was just the beginning; his goal was to use windmills to pump water up from the ground to irrigate the fields.What a great example for kids about the power of books and reading.

The authors use dialogue and incorporate words from the Chichewa language to create an engaging story that will inspire young readers.

"Wachitabwina!" a man yelled. "Well done."
As the doubters clapped and cheered, 
William knew he had just begun. 
Light could not fill empty bellies, 
but another windmill could soak the ground, 
creating food where once there was none. 
Magesti a mphero- electric wind- can feed my country, William thought.

Oil paint and cut-paper collage illustrations work perfectly with the text to convey William's story. Rich, earth tones are used to illustrate the land and sky. One illustration shows a deep purple sky in the background while William's family sits around a lantern sharing a meal. On a two-page spread, layers of yellow and orange paper illustrate a sun shining down upon dry, barren land made of textured paper. Later in the story, blue paper with swirled designs are placed around a windmill to illustrate the wind while people pick maize in lush green fields.

An author's note in the back of the book provides more details for readers eager to learn more about William (now a student at Dartmouth) and how he constructed the windmill. I'm looking forward to sharing this powerful story with the readers in my library. Pair this book with Planting the Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth or Energy Island by Allan Drummond.

For more information about William and the Moving Windmills Project: http://movingwindmills.org/
                        

 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is part of the We Give Books program: http://www.wegivebooks.org/

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg by Louise Borden

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery During World War II
by Louise Borden
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
ISBN: 9780618507559
Grades 6 and up

The reviewer received an advanced reader's copy of the book from the publisher.

I've been a fan of Louise Borden since I read The Journey That Saved Curious George which chronicles the real-life escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey (authors of Curious George) from Nazis during World War II. Borden is also known for the historical fiction picture book, The Great Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands.

In her latest book, Borden introduces readers to Raoul Wallenberg, a real life hero who saved thousands of Jews in Hungary during World War II. Wallenberg was born into a wealthy family in Sweden in 1912. He proved to be an excellent student and used his family's wealth and status to travel the world. After earning an architecture degree in the United States, Wallenberg returned to his homeland of Sweden. Wallenberg was a strong communicator and spoke several languages, and he was sent to Budapest as a diplomat in 1944. He was charged with the responsibility of protecting Jews living in Hungary.

Wallenberg set up an office and hired hundreds of employees to print "schutz passes" or protection passports that placed Jews under the protection of the Swedish government. Wallenberg also invented the collective passport which allowed more than one person to share a passport. Wallenberg's work didn't stop with passports; he purchased and rented apartment buildings that served as safe houses for Jews in Budapest. Unfortunately, Wallenberg was detained in a Soviet prison in 1945; he was never seen again.

The format of the book works well for the subject. The text's poetic form is effective with concise writing, short lines and wide margins. Numerous photographs and primary documents (passports, letters and drawing by Wallenberg) bring the story to life and will engage readers and show how one person can make a difference in the world.

Borden traveled to Sweden and Switzerland to interview Wallenberg's sister and brother. This background work helps Borden paint a portrait of a strong and resourceful young man who had saved thousands of lives. An extensive bibliography along with recent photographs of Wallenberg's family can be found in the back of the book. History buffs and students studying the Holocaust shouldn't miss this powerful story.

Other reviews of His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg:
A Year of Reading
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-name-is-raoul-wallenberg-by-louise.html

Born and Bred in the Great Depression By Jonah Winter

Born and Bred in the Great Depression

By Jonah Winter; Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root

Schwarts & Wade Books. 2011

ISBN: 9780375861970

(Grades K and up)

I checked this book out of the public library.

The Great Depression is not a topic children frequently ask about, yet I believe this will change after reading Winter 's loving tribute to his father who grew up in East Texas during the Great Depression.

“In that tiny white frame house/there were ten of you – /eight kids/ and your parents – in four small rooms./You slept at the foot of one bed/because there were only two beds/ and you were the youngest." 

The narrative reads like a conversation the author is having with his father. "You got your water from a well/because there was no indoor plumbing./There were no toilets,/so you had to use an outhouse./I know, because you've told me, Dad./This was the world you grew up in."

The marriage of text and illustrations makes this tender book endearing. Using drawing pencils, ink, and watercolor on watercolor paper, Root captures this busy family as they go about their lives. Most of the double-page spreads show Winter’s father doing his chores, smushed at the foot of the bed with his 7 siblings, or riding with his father to pick up a block of ice in their "old Model T." Readers can see that everyone went without most of the basic comforts we take for granted because they were too expensive or unavailable. Yet, not having enough money for shoes did not impede on Winter's father's ability to have fun. Root shows us the young boy enjoying his freedom by walking on the railroad tracks. Never sentimental or gloomy, we learn that people needed to be tough and resourceful. They read by kerosene lantern because they couldn’t afford electricity. Granny Winter had to work hard to keep everyone fed. “The way you describe her, Granny Winter/did everything – cooking, cleaning,/gardening, milking." 

The family photos of Winter's grandparents and father on the end pages adds authenticity. There is no author's note.

For children of today the Great Depression, 1929-1939, happened a very long time ago. They probably have no living relative who experienced those hardships. Fortunately, we can hand them this touching, nonfiction picture book that will gently introduce the subject without being overwhelming.

Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage by Sophie Webb

Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage
by Sophie Webb
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN: 9780618597291
Grades 4-8

The reviewed received a copy of the book from the publisher.
 
Biologist and seabird expert, Sophie Webb, shares an up-close look at the work of field scientists in Far from Shore. Based on her own experiences aboard the NOAA vessel, McArthur II, Webb provides readers with a first-hand account as the crew collects data on dolphins, whales, and seabirds in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Each entry in the book provides the longitude and latitude of the ship which can be cross-checked with the map in the front of the book. The purpose of the voyage is to record data about dolphins to see if the changes in fishing regulations have had an impact on the marine mammal population.

Webb brings to life the work of scientists by adding her own personal reflections and details about life on the ship. The small details that the author includes make this book a gem. Webb describes what meals are like and how duct tape is used to secure items during the voyage. Throughout out the book, it's evident that Webb has great respect for nature.

"The Milky Way looks like a long, hazy cloud. When I look through my binoculars it becomes millions of specks of twinkling light. The breeze is warm and soft- truly a beautiful night."

Webb not only writes the text, but she illustrates each picture, map and graph. The illustrations are fitting for the science journal format. Brilliant watercolor and gouache paints are used to illustrate creatures great and small, from plankton to whales.  Detailed captions provide readers with additional facts about marine life. One impressive illustration is a full-page depicting a tuna net in the gorgeous blue waters of the ocean while a helicopter circles overhead. A two-page spread shows dolphins, mahi-mahi, sea turtles and other marine life swimming in a field of sea grass each illustration is labeled with the name of the species. An extensive glossary of scientific terms is located at the end of the book.

Middle grade readers and young naturalists will be attracted to this beautiful book. It would also work well as a read aloud in an upper elementary or middle school science class. It definitely deserves a place in a science collection and would make an excellent companion to the Scientist in the Field books.

North: the amazing story of Arctic migration by Nick Dowson.

North: The amazing story of Arctic migration

by Nick Dowson; Illustrated by Patrick Benson

Candlewick Press. 2011

ISBN: 9780763652715
Grades 3-6

A copy of the book was checked out from the public library.

Nick Dowson introduces migration to the Arctic, "this huge place that sits at the top of our world" in this visually stunning book. We learn that the winter months are long and cold and we see a landscape in hues of blues and grays were everything is snow and ice. Yet this hostile environment changes when summer burst forth teaming with life. 

"It's summer in the Arctic. All day and night, the sun spreads light, warming soil and water. Tundra flowers glow rainbow-bright, the calm air hums with summer bees, and mosquitoes rise like smoke from shining pools. NEW LIFE IS EVERYWHERE…"

Using watercolor, pen, and pencil, Patrick Benson's exquisite illustrations bring the sparse text to life. The book is 30 cm., the same size as most picture books, but it feels larger because the double-page spreads take up all the space, making you feel as if you are right there in the Arctic witnessing this incredible act of nature. Especially, the transformation from winter (gray tint) to summer (teaming with greens, blue sky, and colors for flowers) and back to winter again. Many of the pages are wordless as we witness the different creatures making their journey. 

Students will be intrigued by the facts. The gray whale leaves Mexico to travel five thousand miles, over eight weeks, passing Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Anchorage.  While the bar-tailed godwits make their way from New Zealand.

Dowson includes a glossary, index, along with some important scientific facts about the Arctic: the size (5.4 million square miles), temperature during winter (-40 degrees F) and how global warming is affecting the ice cap and threatening some native Arctic species with extinction. (Polar Bears)

This book that belongs in all libraries.

A Nation's Hope Giveaway

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis
by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
ISBN: 97808023731677
Gr. 3-6

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.


Have you heard about the challenge we've organized along with Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy? We're challenging people to read more nonfiction picture books this year. If you would like to take part in the challenge, visit the Kid Lit Frenzy blog and add your name to the list.

In honor of the 2012 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, we have a review of a picture book biography from 2011. We will also give away one copy of the book to one of our readers. (See the giveaway details below.)


Matt de la Pena eloquently tells the story of how a young Joe Louis, who was teased for stuttering, became a world class boxer and faced off with Max Schmeling, a boxer who represented Hitler's Germany. The book focuses on the 1938 match between Louis and Schmeling and how the event brought blacks and whites together during a time of segregation in the U.S.

"It was now more than just blacks who needed a hero. It was all of America, and color was set aside."

Using dark oil paints on wood, Nelson's illustrations convey the tension and emotion of the famous fight. Nelson masterfully uses shadows throughout the book: a silhouette of Louis jabbing at a punching bag, a man with a pipe listening to the radio, the shadow of Max Schmeling's body on the floor of the boxing ring after he is knocked down.

I have read this book several times, and I notice something new each time I pick it up. It's amazing how the words and illustrations work so well together. I read the story to a class of third graders, and they were captivated. It's a beautiful book to read aloud; it's poetic at times. The students had a powerful discussion about segregation, World War II and Hitler, however I had to provide quite a bit of background information. An author's note, timeline or list of additional sources would be helpful for young readers who lack knowledge about Jim Crow and World War II.

The ALA Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday, January 23rd. I wouldn't be surprised to see A Nation's Hope bring home some awards.

We will give away one copy of A Nation's Hope as part of the 2012 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Giveaway Rules

• Complete the entry form below.
• Only one entry per person will be accepted.
• You must be 13 years or older to enter.
• Entries will be accepted from 12:00 am on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 until 11:59 pm on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.
• The winner will be contacted by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.

Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey

Here Come the Girl Scouts! 

By Shana Corey; Illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Scholastic Press. 2012

ISBN: 9780545342780

This reviewer’s copy was sent to her by the publisher. Thank you.

(All ages)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. In Here Comes the Girl Scouts, Corey describes the indelible spirit of Juliette Low, founder of The Girl Scouts and how she would forever changed the lives of girls. Corey’s words convey the jaunty spirit of Low, nicknamed Daisy, that is perfectly matched by Hadley Hooper’s illustrations. (The pictures were created with traditional paint, ink and printmaking techniques, then scanned and assembled in Photoshop)

The book opens with: “Daisy was a girl with gumption." We see that gumption as Daisy stands next to a tree with a tree house, holding a fishing rod. The boards leading up onto the tree house platform have these words, “Gump-shun (n) courage, spunk, initiative, wit”  There are also these words just to the left of Daisy’s head:  “To make yourself strong and healthy, it is necessary to begin with your insides.” The book explains how Daisy said "bosh!" to the expectation that women should be "dainty and delicate." And as she grew into a woman, “Daisy had adventure after adventure. When she wanted a new gate for her house, she took lessons from a blacksmith and forged it herself.”

After a trip to England where she discovered the existence of the Boy Scouts, Daisy was determined to create a similar club exclusively for girls. Her first meeting of the Girl Scouts was held on March 12, 1912. From its inception, Low believed that all girls should have the same opportunities as boys, both in education and physical activity. Girls went hiking, swimming, took long walks,  learned how to tie knots, stop runaway horses, and enjoy the clean, fresh air.

In conclusion, we see two girls standing looking at portraits of women who were Girls Scouts and grew up to make a difference. Among the faces are Natalie Merchant, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton, and Lucille Ball. “Girl Scouts have been making a difference ever since – just like Daisy.”

Children will love this picture book biography for its re-enforcement that girls can grow up to be anything.  The overall design is very attractive. Hadley places quotes from the first Girl Scout Handbook, written by W. J. Hoxie liberally throughout the book. The quotes add so much depth to Low’s story.

An author’s note and source notes round out this wonderful picture book biography.