bookpagedev

by Jennifer Robinson

In Angela McAllister’s Take a Kiss to School, we are introduced to our young character, Digby, following his first day of school. Though all has proceeded well, Digby awakes the next morning struck with worry that he will not remember how to act or what to do in all the new situations he will encounter. With the reassurance that only a parent can provide, Digby’s mother eases his fears by leaving him with a pocket full of kisses. Digby makes use of the kisses throughout the day, whenever uncertainty arises. Before long, he meets Otterly, another anxious classmate, and in sharing kindness discovers his own bravery and ability to cope with the newness that school brings. In this charming tale, illustrated with Sue Hellard’s gentle watercolors, readers are reminded that no matter what changes life introduces, love endures.

Jennifer Robinson is a teacher in Baltimore.

In Angela McAllister's Take a Kiss to School, we are introduced to our young character, Digby, following his first day of school. Though all has proceeded well, Digby awakes the next morning struck with worry that he will not remember how to act or what…

Children's & YA

Children's & YA

Teddy bear home alone

Review by bookpagedev

by Deborah Hopkinson

The new school year can stir up lots of worries for kids. There are the usual ones: “Will my teacher like me?” or “Will I have friends?” And then there are more important concerns, such as: “What exactly goes on in my room when I’m at school?” or, “Just what sorts of trouble might my stuffed animals and dolls be getting into while I’m here enjoying myself at recess?” Curious kids might find the answer to these questions in a delightful new picture book entitled, What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Day? Written by Swiss children’s author and music specialist Bruno Hachler and brightly illustrated by German artist Birte Muller, this is the tale of one little girl determined to find out just what her favorite teddy bear gets up to while she’s off at school during the day: “My teddy bear seems really sweet, / but maybe I’ve been fooled. /I wonder what he does all day when I am off at school.” Curiosity gets the best of our heroine, so one day she stays home to spy on him. (Kids: Be forewarned. This excuse for skipping school won’t work at home!) The little girl peers through the keyhole, climbs a nearby tree and looks through binoculars, and even tempts the teddy bear with his favorite television show, but she can’t seem to catch him doing anything but sitting around without moving a muscle. Until, that is, she tries one last trick: “I have just one more plan to try. / I don’t think I can miss. / I’ll open up the honey jar – / I know he can’t resist.” With its contagious rhyme and bright pictures, this is a humorous story just right before bed or naptime, cuddling up together with, of course, a favorite teddy bear. Young children will be sure to giggle and chime in when they hear the refrain: “And now I’m gonna catch you!”

The new school year can stir up lots of worries for kids. There are the usual ones: "Will my teacher like me?" or "Will I have friends?" And then there are more important concerns, such as: "What exactly goes on in my room when I'm…

Children's & YA

Children's & YA

Role play

Review by bookpagedev

by Jennifer Robinson

Italian author and illustrator Eva Montanari brings us a fresh angle on the first day of school in A Very Full Morning. Little Tooth is a rabbit whose head is full of thoughts as she awaits her visit to a very special place. She faces the predicament of many a school child as she lies in bed unable to sleep the night before school begins. Morning does arrive, however, and having donned a worthy dress and consumed her breakfast, Little Tooth sets off for school. The journey is full of an overwhelming number of doors, books, bags and unfamiliar faces, and with each subsequent illustration the viewer feels the gnawing apprehension that engulfs the rabbit’s heart. Montanari’s acrylics with colored pencil present a unique perspective, with the character’s elongated ears and school hallways that twist and turn in surreal movement. Tension builds until a surprise announcement made when Little Tooth enters the classroom sets everyone at ease.

Jennifer Robinson is a teacher in Baltimore.

Children's & YA

Children's & YA

Tommy’s big adventure

Review by bookpagedev

by Jennifer Robinson

Tommy’s big adventure A Place Called Kindergarten, written by Jessica Harper, certainly fits the bill. The animals on the farm are in a state because their daily visitor, Tommy, has failed to appear. His usual offerings of apples, biscuits and corn are sorely missed. But more importantly, the absence of his cheery song and friendly talk leave them feeling blue. Fortunately, the knowledgeable dog informs them that Tommy has gone in a big yellow bus to a place called Kindergarten. What ensues is a battery of questions, much like those an anxious child might pose. What is Kindergarten anyway and do you ever come back? The animals’ onomatopoetic asides will amuse young readers. G. Brian Karas superbly portrays the rural setting using pencil and watercolor washes, flooding each page with warm, comforting light. Tommy’s eventual return captures all the thrill of new adventure and the wonderment of learning. Harper and Karas, who also paired on I Like Where I Am, ably offer a tale that will reassure both parents and children.

Jennifer Robinson is a teacher in Baltimore.

Tommy's big adventure A Place Called Kindergarten, written by Jessica Harper, certainly fits the bill. The animals on the farm are in a state because their daily visitor, Tommy, has failed to appear. His usual offerings of apples, biscuits and corn are sorely missed. But…

Children's & YA, Middle Grade

Children's & YA Middle Grade

Candy’s magical journey continues

Review by bookpagedev

by Colleen Cahill

Several recent fantasy novels are even now being touted as classics in children’s and young adult fiction. The Harry Potter books come first to mind, followed by Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. With the release of Clive Barker’s second volume in the Abarat quartet, there is another contender for the title of children’s classic. In Days of Magic, Nights of War, Barker continues the adventures of Candy Quackenbush with a style that is full of wonder, both dark and light.

Candy and her friend Malingo are still traveling through the 25 islands that make up Abarat, exploring the different isles while trying to avoid the minions of Christopher Carrion, the Lord of Midnight. Carrion seeks Candy because he senses she is more than just a young girl who accidentally came from Hereafter into Abarat. Candy begins to wonder herself, especially after she displays an ability with magic unusual for a girl from Chickentown, Minnesota. As more disasters follow her, Candy becomes concerned for those around her, fearing that she is a magnet for ill luck. Meanwhile, in Candy’s hometown, ghosts warn of an impending disaster. Through it all, the schemes of Carrion and his twisted grandmother, Mater Motley, leave no doubt that Abarat is facing dark days. Readers of the first volume will not be disappointed by the second entry in the series. This is a work of many colors and shadows, with strong characters and intriguing shifts. While this series might be written for younger readers, it is a treasure for adults, too. Take another trip to the islands of hours and enjoy the magic of Abarat.

Colleen Cahill is Recommending Officer of Science Fiction and Fantasy at the Library of Congress.

Several recent fantasy novels are even now being touted as classics in children's and young adult fiction. The Harry Potter books come first to mind, followed by Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. With the release of Clive Barker's second volume in the Abarat quartet,…

Children's & YA

Children's & YA

They’re off to find the palace

Review by bookpagedev

They’re off to find the palace You can take Miles Wednesday out of the circus, but you can’t take the circus out of Miles Wednesday. That’s the premise behind Jon Berkeley’s fanciful new novel for middle grade readers, The Palace of Laughter, the first entry in a planned series titled The Wednesday Tales. Miles lives in an oversized barrel with his only family, a stuffed bear named Tangerine. His life is focused on worrying about his next meal until the Circus Oscuro comes to town. A visiting Bengal tiger claims he can smell the circus on Miles, but Miles knows that’s impossible. He was orphaned as a baby and confined to the Pinchbucket House, the town orphanage, before running away (four times).

Miles is determined to see the circus for himself and sneaks in. There he meets Little, a girl who is over 400 years old, and the Null, a beast feared by everyone, including the ringmaster, the Great Cortado.

After Miles helps Little escape, he discovers that there is a dark secret behind the Circus Oscuro, and with help from Little and the Tiger he is on his way to the Palace of Laughter where nobody comes out the same way they went in. As Miles hurries to save the town from the devastating effects of the Palace, he learns that perhaps he is part circus, after all.

Berkeley’s full cast of characters is delightful and well drawn, and the rich illustrations by Brandon Dorman further illuminate Miles’ world. Readers will keep turning the pages as Berkeley weaves his tale with a distinct, humorous voice and suspenseful plot. The Palace of Laughter is a tale of friendship and family, and the lengths to which one little boy will go to retain both. Tracy Marchini works at a literary agency in Manhattan.

They're off to find the palace You can take Miles Wednesday out of the circus, but you can't take the circus out of Miles Wednesday. That's the premise behind Jon Berkeley's fanciful new novel for middle grade readers, The Palace of Laughter, the first entry…

Children's & YA

Children's & YA

A forgotten figure in history

Review by bookpagedev

by Deborah Hopkinson

It’s a presidential election year. Newspapers are crammed with the latest political stories. Walk into any corner store, and you’re likely to hear folks talking heatedly about the candidates. No, the year isn’t 2004, it’s 1872. And the candidate whose name is on everyone’s lips is Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president. Almost forgotten today, Woodhull was a household name in her own time. In this attractive and readable new biography by Kathleen Krull, with lavish, full-color illustrations by Jane Dyer, Woodhull’s fascinating life comes alive. Born to a large and troubled Ohio family in 1838, Woodhull escaped home through an early marriage, which proved disastrous. Along with her two children, Woodhull and her sister, Tennessee, made their way to New York City where she associated with the likes of Cornelius Vanderbilt, made money on the stock market and even became a stockbroker. Woodhull became involved with the women’s rights movement and despite the fact that it was illegal for women to vote, declared herself a candidate for president. As a candidate for the Equal Rights Party in the election of 1872, she was part of a diverse group of reformers, suffragists and others who were referred to by newspapers as “wild men and women.” Woodhull never expected to win, of course. “To be perfectly frank,” she once told reporters, “I hardly expected to be elected.” At the same time, she realized the value of challenging the boundaries of her time. “If my political campaign for the Presidency is not successful, it will be educational.” In a concluding author’s note, Krull explains that Woodhull was ruthlessly attacked for her bold actions and ruined financially. But, always resilient, she and her sister made a fresh start in England, where they married wealthy men and lived happily until old age.

As Woodhull herself once proclaimed, “The truth is I am too many years ahead of this age.” She died in 1927 at the age of 89, less than a decade after American women finally won the right to vote. Deborah Hopkinson’s new books for young readers include Apples to Oregon and Dear America: Hear My Sorrow.

It's a presidential election year. Newspapers are crammed with the latest political stories. Walk into any corner store, and you're likely to hear folks talking heatedly about the candidates. No, the year isn't 2004, it's 1872. And the candidate whose name is on everyone's lips…

Private help for public schools

Review by bookpagedev

by Angela Leeper

Can a unique American strength, private-sector entrepreneurship, aid a troubled institution, the public schools? asks Steven F. Wilson, founder and former CEO of Advantage Schools and Senior Fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. In Learning on the Job: When Business Takes on Public Schools, Wilson analyzes the first decade of leadership by for-profit education management companies (EMOs) that have taken over failing public schools.

Following a brief introduction to charter school legislation, which paved the way for privately managed schools, Wilson considers how the seven largest of these varied from traditional schools and each other in terms of implementing school design (e.g., class structure, use of time, and curriculum), finding great leadership and creating effective school cultures. He finds strengths in each EMO, such as strong foundation skills in primary grades and an emphasis on professional development.

In this balanced look at what Wilson calls a controversial experiment in American education, the author also recognizes the myriad problems, many unforeseen, which have plagued EMOs. Political opposition from teachers unions and school boards, resistance to change and securing school space continue to rank at the top. The two biggest challenges to EMOs, however, are improving academic performance and turning a profit (remember, they are businesses). While the author believes that the first wave of education management companies has been a hard, unpredictable ride, the next wave can learn from these experiences and be successful to both its shareholders and the communities they serve. Readers who share Wilson’s desire for public school reform will come away with a wealth of knowledge on this possible solution to saving our schools.

Memoir

Memoir

The Bookseller of Kabul

Review by bookpagedev

by Julie Hale

Seierstad, a 31-year-old Norwegian journalist, offers a one-of-a-kind look at Afghani culture in this compelling account of the three months she spent with a Kabul bookseller named Sultan Khan. Seierstad lived with Khan and his large family two wives, various children, his mother, brothers and sisters in the spring of 2002, just as the Taliban was being ousted from power. Donning a burqa and becoming acquainted with the family’s Islamic lifestyle, Seierstad gives readers an inside view of the country the soul-crushing tyranny of a government that forces Khan to hoard and hide books; the dismal economy and 12-hour work days; the arranged marriages that are a cultural mainstay, regardless of regime. Seierstad’s narrative is a courageous report of her time in Afghanistan at a critical moment in history, a book that skillfully reflects the difficulties and dangers of being a Westerner and a woman in a country that devalues both. A reading group guide is included in the book.

Family & Relationships, Parenting

Parenting Family & Relationships

Going to extremes

Review by bookpagedev

by Angela Leeper

Getting good grades, playing sports and participating in school clubs are all part of the high school experience. But what happens when a teenager’s need to be at the top of the class becomes a perfectionist workaholism? Author Alexandra Robbins reports on the disturbing rise of overachiever culture in The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids.

Robbins’ compelling investigative journalism traces a year in the lives of several overachieving teens at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, a public high school often touted as one of the best in the nation. These are teens who skip lunch to squeeze in one more Advanced Placement class, who continue to play competitive sports while seriously injured, and whose extreme stress leads to unnaturally thinning hair, panic attacks and eating disorders. Increasingly, the author shows, these teens are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Robbins also explores the repercussions of an overachiever culture, from a spike in suicide rates among teens, chronic sleep deprivation, and abuse of Adderall and Ritalin by non-ADD teens to rampant cheating, loss of childhood, and academic competition starting as early as preschool. She finds irony in today’s hypertesting education systems that compromise the quality of education and in helicopter parents, so named for hovering over their children, who leave students so sheltered that they lack social skills and initiative.

The author concludes this eye-opener with suggestions for high schools, colleges, counselors, parents and students alike on ways to break the addictive, abusive cycle of extreme perfectionism. Angela Leeper is an educational consultant and freelance writer in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Getting good grades, playing sports and participating in school clubs are all part of the high school experience. But what happens when a teenager's need to be at the top of the class becomes a perfectionist workaholism? Author Alexandra Robbins reports on the disturbing rise…

Memoir

Memoir

Living to Tell the Tale

Review by bookpagedev

by Julie Hale

Tracing his personal history through the 1950s, Marquez applies the same skill and lyricism he demonstrates in his fiction to the genre of autobiography. The first in a series of three volumes chronicling his remarkable career, Living to Tell the Tale is a fluid, fascinating account of the Nobel Laureate’s upbringing in Colombia and his development as a writer. Unconfined by the bounds of a strict chronology, Marquez offers a meandering account of his childhood and adolescence in a vivid narrative that’s filled with anecdotes about his unconventional family, as well as insights into his personal relationships, his work as a journalist and novelist, and the love he feels for his homeland. The book is also a record of a country in a constant state of upheaval, as Marquez provides a survey of contemporary Colombian politics. A reading group guide is available in print and online at www.readinggroupcenter.com.

Education, Nonfiction

Nonfiction Education

Simply surviving

Review by bookpagedev

by Angela Leeper

For many teens, the transition to high school may seem like a matter of survival. With a title that captures their worries, Where Should I Sit at Lunch?: The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years provides insight and answers to commonly asked questions, including those dealing with parents, friendship, dating and sex. With information on puberty and body image, test-taking, jobs, time management and preparing for life away from home, authors Harriet S. Mosatche and Karen Unger also answer questions teens may not have thought of or may be too inhibited to ask on their own.

While the topics covered may be hard-hitting, the authors maintain a light, conversational tone, using occasional humor ( Dozing in class doesn’t count as the nine hours of sleep you need ), quotes from teens who’ve been there, done that, tips from experts, and plenty of charts, checklists and quizzes. Their down-to-earth advice prepares teens to make wise decisions not only during high school, but throughout young adulthood.

Angela Leeper is an educational consultant and freelance writer in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Lifestyles, Self-Help

Self-Help Lifestyles

Ready for takeoff

Review by bookpagedev

by Deanna Larson

White-knuckle flyers and their struggles while suspended in those big aluminum tubes in the sky inspired Chicken Soup for the Soul Presents The Fearless FlightKit. Compiled by pilots Ron Nielsen and Tim Piering, the kit contains a pocket-sized guide to bring onboard that explains every sound and sensation during takeoff and landing. The Real Life Fearful Flyer Stories booklet details the sagas of ordinary people who are also licking their panic habits. Finally, the kit’s 30-minute “Flight Harmonizer” CD grounds fearful thoughts before and during flight with a mesmerizing blend of voices, sounds and music. Some intonations soothe (“Your seatbelt is firmly attached. You are safe.”); others lead flyers into New Age territory (“It’s about taking off in all areas of your life”). Obsessing about crashes and other terrifying possibilities will be almost impossible while this gentle symphony swirls through your ears.

But the most persuasive aspect of the kit is the confession of Fearless FlightKit creator Nielsen, who flies commercial aircraft and also has a degree in counseling. “I really believe in the power of self-disclosing,” says Nielsen, who was nearly grounded by his own fear of flying during his Air Force training. “My expertise comes from my own fears in life.”

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bookpagedev

Something in my pocket

Teddy bear home alone

Role play

Tommy’s big adventure

Candy’s magical journey continues

They’re off to find the palace

A forgotten figure in history

Private help for public schools

The Bookseller of Kabul

Going to extremes

Living to Tell the Tale

Simply surviving

Ready for takeoff

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