bookpagedev

Children's & YA

Dear Santa Claus

Review by bookpagedev

Anyone who loves The Jolly Postman books will be charmed by Alan Durant’s Dear Santa Claus. A girl named Holly with a letter-writing history (Dear Tooth Fairy) now corresponds with the big man himself, receiving little letters that readers can pull out of envelopes. The correspondence is great fun, and Vanessa Cabban’s illustrations sizzle with Christmas spirit on both the pages of the book and each sheet of Santa’s stationery. Accompanying Santa’s letters are a small Advent calendar, a paper ornament and a reindeer guide, complete with jokes. Santa keeps asking Holly what she wants, but she’s afraid to voice her desire until the last minute. In the spirit of The Polar Express, Holly finally asks for and receives a midnight sleigh ride with Santa. Who could ask for more?

Anyone who loves The Jolly Postman books will be charmed by Alan Durant's Dear Santa Claus. A girl named Holly with a letter-writing history (Dear Tooth Fairy) now corresponds with the big man himself, receiving little letters that readers can pull out of envelopes. The…
Children's & YAPicture Book

The journeys of an African king

Review by bookpagedev

The subject of the beautifully written and illustrated Mansa Musa is a few years in the life of Kankan Musa, one of the greatest kings, or mansas, of 14th century Mali the African kingdom that used to be "four months’ travel long and four months’ wide," and that, according to legend, sent explorers to the New World years before Columbus. At first glance, the story of Mansa Musa is a typical journey-of-the-hero tale, complete with wanderings in a strange land (in this case the Sahara desert), the search for a lost father and a Virgil/Obi-Wan Kenobi-type mentor in the form of a mysterious nomad named Tariq. But Burns overlays this archetypal story with his knowledge of time and place, including differences in architecture, clothing, religion and language. Burns’ words are brought wonderfully to life by Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon’s richly colored illustrations, whose shallow perspectives and dreamy skies recall the paintings of Fra Angelico. The paragraphs of the text are separated by strips of patterns that resemble motifs found in Akan kente cloth, and the smooth pages have the look of parchment.

Many of the book’s characters, including Tariq, are presented as tall, poker-backed and intimidatingly dignified. For desert-dwelling people, that dignity is more than a social embellishment it’s necessary for life, as Tariq indicates when he chides Kankan, the future mansa: "I bought your freedom with gold . . . I offered you a camel but you chose to walk like a slave. Already, you think like a slave . . . You claim to be a man, but have not yet mastered the beast within you." Burns’ writing is as graceful as the book’s illustrations, easy for school-age children to understand without being torturous for grown-ups. The reader eagerly follows Kankan Musa throughout his travels till he finally returns to his homeland, veiled and unrecognized at first, to find his younger brother king of Mali. What happens next is interesting, unexpected and definitely gratifying.

The subject of the beautifully written and illustrated Mansa Musa is a few years in the life of Kankan Musa, one of the greatest kings, or mansas, of 14th century Mali the African kingdom that used to be "four months' travel long and four…

Children's & YA

Lessons in friendship

Review by bookpagedev

“Can a friend be somebody that nobody else likes but you?” This is the question 11-year-old Pearl Jordan asks herself in Some Friend, a poignant new novel by Marie Bradby. For Pearl, choosing between two friends is a complicated moral struggle. Lenore offers the fast track to popularity, parties and fashionable outfits, as well as practice in the dark arts of secrets, manipulation and random acts of meanness. Artemesia, on the other hand, is uncool and dresses in clothes from Goodwill. But she is nice, friendly and an incredible artist. Pearl discovers that Artemesia’s parents are migrant workers, and Lenore calls her “that raggedy-headed ashy-legged B.O.-smelling thang.” Lenore is cruel, but who can deny that a friendship with her has its perks? “To have someone to do things with,” Pearl says. “Someone who knows what to do, how to dress, how to style hair, who knows what’s cool.” This quiet, introspective story, set in 1963 outside of Washington, D.C., gathers pace as Pearl’s time of reckoning approaches. After an ugly scene of taunting and violence, Pearl must take a stand. Does she have the courage to defend Artemesia against Lenore and her friends? When Pearl goes to Artemesia’s house, a shack that has been turned into an apartment, Artemesia’s family is gone. They have returned to the picking circuit. “Then it hits me,” Pearl thinks. “It is one thing to make a mistake. It’s another to never get a chance to say you are sorry.” Pearl’s neighbor, Mrs. Mumby, becomes her mentor, a spiritual guide of sorts. Mrs. Mumby’s kindness, Pearl’s strict but loving parents, and the larger events of the tumultuous decade, including the march on Washington, help Pearl see her place in the world. She learns to stand up, fight back and recognize what a true friend is. Artemesia may be gone, but her influence has helped a new Pearl to form. Dean Schneider teaches middle school English in Nashville.

"Can a friend be somebody that nobody else likes but you?" This is the question 11-year-old Pearl Jordan asks herself in Some Friend, a poignant new novel by Marie Bradby. For Pearl, choosing between two friends is a complicated moral struggle. Lenore offers the fast…
Children's & YA

Dear Santa

Review by bookpagedev

Bill Harley’s Dear Santa is subtitled The Letters of James B. Dobbins, and consists of heartfelt letters from young James. His missives start with a list of many wants, including new hockey skates, a canoe, a tree fort and, very importantly, No clothes! The next day he sends another letter, adding that he would love a hockey rink in his backyard, and explaining that he hasn’t done anything horrible to Jessica, THE MOST ANNOYING FOUR-YEAR-OLD SISTER ON THE PLANET. Entertainment Weekly has called singer-songwriter Bill Harley the Mark Twain of contemporary kids’ music, and as the mother of three avid fans, I heartily agree. Harley always manages to be hilarious and slip in meaning at the same time a tricky feat, and one he manages deftly in Dear Santa. Young James gets wrapped up in his Christmas desires, but in the end, he realizes that the true gift is in the giving. R.W. Alley’s lively illustrations add to the impish fun.

Bill Harley's Dear Santa is subtitled The Letters of James B. Dobbins, and consists of heartfelt letters from young James. His missives start with a list of many wants, including new hockey skates, a canoe, a tree fort and, very importantly, No clothes! The next…
Children's & YAPicture Book

Dreams come true

Review by bookpagedev

Many little girls dream of becoming ballerinas. They picture themselves in tutus pirouetting across the stage, pointing their toes in ballet slippers and gracefully leaping through the air. This, too, was the girlhood dream of dancer Anna Pavlova, whose memoir Pages of My Life provides the text for I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina. For Pavlova, the images of her childhood were not simply a passing fancy; they guided her throughout her career. Pavlova not only became a dancer; she developed into one of the most important prima ballerinas in the world and, until her death in 1931, performed on more than 4,000 stages.

In this charmingly poignant story, Pavlova shares with us the series of events that ignited her passion to become a dancer. The child of a poor but loving mother, Pavlova rarely had the chance to appreciate the finer elements of culture. One day, however, her mother saved up enough money to take her to see the ballet Sleeping Beauty. Pavlova was awestruck by the orchestra and mesmerized by the beautiful dancers. When, afterward, her mother asked if she wanted to dance like the performers they’d seen, Anna replied that one day she would dance upon the stage of that very theater. Thus began her dream of becoming a ballerina, a difficult goal that because of her weak feet and scrawny body would take many years and true dedication to achieve. In her use of fluid language and vivid descriptions of that first performance, we see that Pavlova not only adored her occupation, she lived and breathed it. Beautiful paintings by French Impressionist Edgar Degas underscore his love for the ballet as well. Through his classic depictions of ballerinas at work, it is easy to understand why both he and Pavlova were so inspired.

I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina emphasizes the importance of childhood aspirations. No one’s dreams should be taken lightly. You never know when the poor little girl who longs to don a tutu and toe shoes will become a prima ballerina.

Heidi Henneman is a freelance writer in New York City.

Many little girls dream of becoming ballerinas. They picture themselves in tutus pirouetting across the stage, pointing their toes in ballet slippers and gracefully leaping through the air. This, too, was the girlhood dream of dancer Anna Pavlova, whose memoir Pages of My Life…

Children's & YA

Sounds like Christmas

Review by bookpagedev

Check out Where Did They Hide My Presents? Silly Dilly Christmas Songs featuring illustrations by the wacky, whimsical and wonderful David Catrow. Alan Katz has taken liberties with the holiday tunes you know, adding his own hilarious twists. If the season begins to get you down, sit down and start smiling with Catrow’s illustration of a girl about to go onstage for her ballet recital, looking like a wide-eyed Cindy Lou right out of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then hum a few bars of Katz’s The Sugarplum Fairy, based on the tune of The Little Drummer Boy : Dance, they told me I’m the Sugarplum A Nutcracker fairy And I feel so dumb I hope I don’t fall down And land on my bum . . . If the Christmas rush still feels overwhelming, try singing At the Malls instead of Deck the Halls : At the malls No parking spaces Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Can’t we go home? Happy holidays and don’t forget what Christmas is really all about! Alice Cary has been spotted in several New England malls humming her own versions of Christmas carols.

Check out Where Did They Hide My Presents? Silly Dilly Christmas Songs featuring illustrations by the wacky, whimsical and wonderful David Catrow. Alan Katz has taken liberties with the holiday tunes you know, adding his own hilarious twists. If the season begins to get you…
Children's & YA

Sounds like Christmas

Review by bookpagedev

While many know the music, not all know the story behind the stirring tune of Good King Wenceslas, which is based on the words penned by 19th-century Anglican priest John M. Neale and illustrated here by Tim Ladwig. Using slightly adapted lyrics, Ladwig presents the story of the Czech patron saint who lived in the 10th century and ruled the land fairly, gave aid to the poor, and sought to spread Christianity throughout Bohemia. Ladwig’s dramatic illustrations show the King and a young servant traipsing through the snow to deliver food and fuel to a peasant and his family. This book is a splendid way to bring a beloved carol to life. Alice Cary has been spotted in several New England malls humming her own versions of Christmas carols.

While many know the music, not all know the story behind the stirring tune of Good King Wenceslas, which is based on the words penned by 19th-century Anglican priest John M. Neale and illustrated here by Tim Ladwig. Using slightly adapted lyrics, Ladwig presents the…

Girls getting ahead

Review by bookpagedev

Today’s modern woman has come a long way she no longer has to sound or act like a man to get ahead in the workplace but females still occupy only eight percent of the top-level jobs in major companies, according to Fortune magazine. Unconscious behaviors are keeping women from breaking the glass ceiling, says Lois Frankel, a corporate coach for hundreds of women and men. Her new book, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office (Warner, $19.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0446531324), is a must-have for all women with CEO aspirations. Frankel shows women how to "quit bein’ a girl" by exposing 101 mistakes that sabotage their careers. She breaks down the behaviors into seven categories, including How You Sound, How You Look and How You Play the Game. Some of the mistakes are not revolutionary (speaking softly, needing to be liked, having the wrong hairstyle, etc.) but each one is illustrated with real-world examples and coaching tips that have worked for Frankel’s clients. Women are urged to start with a quick self-assessment test, then focus on the two areas that need the most improvement. Frankel is direct and honest yet supportive as she zeroes in on the unconscious girl behaviors that keep women from reaching the top.

Girls just starting out on their quest for success should pick up Wildly Sophisticated (Perigee, $15.95, 272 pages, ISBN 0399529470), by Nicole Williams. The hip author who created the "Drinks After Work" networking phenomenon recommends that gals pinpoint their passion, choose a great boss and learn to deal with relationships of all kinds (she even covers how to date at work). The funny "Career Confessions" from real women are a special treat in a book best enjoyed while wearing Manolos and sipping a Cosmo.

Being your own boss

Entrepreneurs Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio have written the insightful book they wished they could have read when starting their own PR agency in 2000. The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business will hold your hand through every stage of starting a successful business.

The authors address the unique challenges that women face (finding female role models, balancing family and work, being a boss without being a bitch), and the "scary stuff" like insurance, incorporation and technology. Fortunately these savvy business owners don’t advise doing it all on your own, and their tips on hiring a lawyer, accountant and bookkeeper are essential.

The authors’ enthusiasm is infectious and they give a list of chick flicks (Baby Boom, Sliding Doors) and CDs (Aretha Franklin, Madonna) to provide more inspiration. The Q&andAs with other female entrepreneurs offer another been-there-learn-from-me perspective.

For more seasoned advice, turn to four business pros who founded Eight Wings Enterprises LLC, an angel investment company. After watching ambitious women suffer start-up pitfalls time and again, they decided to put their knowledge on paper. The result is The Old Girls’ Network (Basic, $24.95, 224 pages, ISBN 073820806X), a wise book that shows women how to create an elevator pitch and warns against the five things never to say to an investor. The real gold mine is the appendix "tool kit" which is full of detailed templates, quizzes and references.

Good Business

Eschewing rambling preliminaries, Roger Lowenstein jumps right into the spellbinding story of the bubble that burst in Origins of the Crash (The Penguin Press, $24.95, 259 pages, ISBN 1594200033). The author of Buffett and When Genius Failed vividly explains the rise and fall of the 1990s stock market in plain, easy to understand language (finally, someone explains why stock options are evil!). But Lowenstein delivers more than just a history recitation. He delves into the culture that helped shape these events to explain how the myriad attempts at corporate governance failed so spectacularly. Looking ahead, Lowenstein predicts more bubbles and crashes, saying that "Wall Street may be incapable of reform." This fascinating analysis may reveal more about the future than Wall Street would like to admit.

Today's modern woman has come a long way she no longer has to sound or act like a man to get ahead in the workplace but females still occupy only eight percent of the top-level jobs in major companies, according to Fortune magazine. Unconscious…

Children's & YA

Scenes from a holy night

Review by bookpagedev

A good choice for older picture book readers is A Doll for Navidades, in which author Esmeralda Santiago portrays a memory from her childhood in Puerto Rico. The setting is lush, filled with hummingbirds, hibiscus and gardenias a great place to visit on a cold winter’s night. Santiago’s writing is rich and evocative, bringing to life the details of the tropics. The story shows many of her family’s customs, supplemented with a glossary at the end that explains the Spanish words and traditions. You can nearly smell the sweet kitchen aromas, for instance, when Santiago writes: Mami made arroz con dulce, which tasted sweet and coconutty and had sticks of cinnamon that we sucked on for a long time. Spoiler alert: this is one Christmas story that does not have a happy ending! Seven-year-old Esmeralda has never had a doll, and that’s all she wants, one like her cousin Jenny’s. In fact, that’s what both she and her younger sister, Delsa, hope to get from the Three Magi this region’s equivalent to Santa Claus. Sadly for Esmeralda, it is Delsa who ends up with the coveted doll, while Esmerelda gets a board game for a big girl. Delsa kindly asks her sister to be godmother or madrina, to the doll, and Esmerelda makes peace with her disappointment. A Doll for Navidades offers many discussion points for readers, including Spanish customs, the spirit of giving and receiving, and, finally, disappointment.

Alice Cary has been spotted in several New England malls humming her own versions of Christmas carols.

A good choice for older picture book readers is A Doll for Navidades, in which author Esmeralda Santiago portrays a memory from her childhood in Puerto Rico. The setting is lush, filled with hummingbirds, hibiscus and gardenias a great place to visit on a cold…

Girls getting ahead

Review by bookpagedev

Today’s modern woman has come a long way she no longer has to sound or act like a man to get ahead in the workplace but females still occupy only eight percent of the top-level jobs in major companies, according to Fortune magazine. Unconscious behaviors are keeping women from breaking the glass ceiling, says Lois Frankel, a corporate coach for hundreds of women and men. Her new book, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office (Warner, $19.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0446531324), is a must-have for all women with CEO aspirations. Frankel shows women how to “quit bein’ a girl” by exposing 101 mistakes that sabotage their careers. She breaks down the behaviors into seven categories, including How You Sound, How You Look and How You Play the Game. Some of the mistakes are not revolutionary (speaking softly, needing to be liked, having the wrong hairstyle, etc.) but each one is illustrated with real-world examples and coaching tips that have worked for Frankel’s clients. Women are urged to start with a quick self-assessment test, then focus on the two areas that need the most improvement. Frankel is direct and honest yet supportive as she zeroes in on the unconscious girl behaviors that keep women from reaching the top.

Girls just starting out on their quest for success should pick up Wildly Sophisticated, by Nicole Williams. The hip author who created the “Drinks After Work” networking phenomenon recommends that gals pinpoint their passion, choose a great boss and learn to deal with relationships of all kinds (she even covers how to date at work). The funny “Career Confessions” from real women are a special treat in a book best enjoyed while wearing Manolos and sipping a Cosmo.

Being your own boss Entrepreneurs Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio have written the insightful book they wished they could have read when starting their own PR agency in 2000. The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business (HarperResource, $21.95, 256 pages, ISBN 0060521570) will hold your hand through every stage of starting a successful business.

The authors address the unique challenges that women face (finding female role models, balancing family and work, being a boss without being a bitch), and the “scary stuff” like insurance, incorporation and technology. Fortunately these savvy business owners don’t advise doing it all on your own, and their tips on hiring a lawyer, accountant and bookkeeper are essential.

The authors’ enthusiasm is infectious and they give a list of chick flicks (Baby Boom, Sliding Doors) and CDs (Aretha Franklin, Madonna) to provide more inspiration. The Q&andAs with other female entrepreneurs offer another been-there-learn-from-me perspective.

For more seasoned advice, turn to four business pros who founded Eight Wings Enterprises LLC, an angel investment company. After watching ambitious women suffer start-up pitfalls time and again, they decided to put their knowledge on paper. The result is The Old Girls’ Network (Basic, $24.95, 224 pages, ISBN 073820806X), a wise book that shows women how to create an elevator pitch and warns against the five things never to say to an investor. The real gold mine is the appendix “tool kit” which is full of detailed templates, quizzes and references.

Good Business Eschewing rambling preliminaries, Roger Lowenstein jumps right into the spellbinding story of the bubble that burst in Origins of the Crash (The Penguin Press, $24.95, 259 pages, ISBN 1594200033). The author of Buffett and When Genius Failed vividly explains the rise and fall of the 1990s stock market in plain, easy to understand language (finally, someone explains why stock options are evil!). But Lowenstein delivers more than just a history recitation. He delves into the culture that helped shape these events to explain how the myriad attempts at corporate governance failed so spectacularly. Looking ahead, Lowenstein predicts more bubbles and crashes, saying that “Wall Street may be incapable of reform.” This fascinating analysis may reveal more about the future than Wall Street would like to admit.

Today's modern woman has come a long way she no longer has to sound or act like a man to get ahead in the workplace but females still occupy only eight percent of the top-level jobs in major companies, according to Fortune magazine. Unconscious behaviors…
Children's & YA

Scenes from a holy night

Review by bookpagedev

A lovely pastel glow also fills each page of There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve from noted author Pam Mu–oz Ryan, illustrated by Dennis Nolan. Framed by spare, hymn-like text, three children set out on a snowy walk, admiring the peace of the woods. Nolan’s watercolors seamlessly switch from the soft blue snow-covered woods to the turquoise and sand tones of Bethlehem, while the text sets the scene: instead of a storm, a night serene. Readers watch Mary and Joseph arrive at the inn and go to the stable, as the shepherds and Wise Men approach from afar. Not only are Nolan’s landscapes stunning, so are his people. In the final spread, a young but devoted Mary tends to her newborn so fresh, pink and alive that you can practically reach out and cradle him.

Alice Cary has been spotted in several New England malls humming her own versions of Christmas carols.

A lovely pastel glow also fills each page of There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve from noted author Pam Mu–oz Ryan, illustrated by Dennis Nolan. Framed by spare, hymn-like text, three children set out on a snowy walk, admiring the peace of the woods.…
Children's & YA

American range repopulated

Review by bookpagedev

"Give me a home where the buffalo roam." Children and adults alike have all sung the tried-and-true tune. The mere thought of the American range brings to mind visions of waving wheat, graceful antelope and bison noshing on grass. But, as Neil Waldman explains in his newest book, They Came from the Bronx, our American ideal was almost destroyed when the bison neared extinction in the late 1800s.

Waldman was inspired to write about the plight of our native beasts after hearing the term "the Mother Herd" in a conversation. The phrase triggered Waldman’s memory of a visit to the Bronx Zoo with his grandfather, during which he heard visitors using the phrase. After much research, Waldman discovered that "the Mother Herd" referred to the original group of American bison bred by the American Bison Society and reintroduced to the American West in the early 1900s. They Came from the Bronx describes the ways in which the American bison, commonly referred to as buffalo, were systematically eradicated from the American range. Waldman shows us the devastating effects of these events through the eyes of a Comanche woman as she explains to her young grandson her tribe’s reliance on the buffalo for food, shelter and supplies.

But Waldman’s book is not meant to be a tongue-lashing about the thoughtless exploits of the encroaching white man. Instead, he focuses on the repopulation of the same buffalo to the American West. Waldman describes the extraordinary journey of five bison part of "the Mother Herd" who traveled via wagon and train through the heart of New York City, the plains of the Midwest and finally to a range in Oklahoma. They were met there by a group of Comanche children who had never seen a real buffalo. A truly insightful and thought-provoking tale, They Came from the Bronx is a much-needed history lesson for children and adults of all ages. It reminds us how close we came to losing not only one of our country’s native inhabitants but also an American ideal.

Gabrielle Lewis is a freelance writer in New York City.

"Give me a home where the buffalo roam." Children and adults alike have all sung the tried-and-true tune. The mere thought of the American range brings to mind visions of waving wheat, graceful antelope and bison noshing on grass. But, as Neil Waldman explains…

Nonfiction

Ye olde curiosity shoppe

Review by bookpagedev

(Editor’s note: Each month we see lots of books. Some of the curious arrivals are featured here.)

Let’s face it: the footnote has fallen on hard times. Most writers find footnotes difficult; publishers find them costly; and readers (at least most of us) find them distracting. As Noel Coward is reported to have said, "Having to read a footnote resembles having to go downstairs to answer the door while in the midst of making love."1

It’s surprising, and somewhat refreshing, to discover that despite all their flaws, footnotes actually have admirers. Ready to serve as president of the Footnote Fan Club is Chuck Zerby, who has written not just a defense of the footnote, but a paean to its beauty and utility in The Devil’s Details: A History of the Footnote. Bubbling with enthusiasm for this typographical nuisance, Zerby calls the footnote "an indispensable tool of the scholar and a source of endlessly varied delight for the layperson." Rather than seeing footnotes as a distraction, the author suggests we view them as a boon to readers with short attention spans, as "a chance to rest," particularly if we’re reading about Kant’s categorical imperative or some other mind-boggling subject.

The author, a poet, newspaper columnist and former dean of campus at Goddard College, offers an exhaustive history of his subject, which includes such luminaries as Edward Gibbon, who devoted one-quarter of the space in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire to footnotes. Zerby gladly follows his example, squeezing footnotes onto virtually every page of his book, including the cover. These annotations are, in fact, the best part of the book hilarious, illuminating, opinionated and wide-ranging. Zerby’s own footnotes appear to prove his point that "A text is something only a scholar can love; a footnote, however, is like a blind date, threatening and exciting, dreary occasionally but often entertaining. And a footnote does not require or expect a long-term commitment."

1. Anthony Grafton, The Footnote: A Curious History (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1999), p. 70.

(Editor's note: Each month we see lots of books. Some of the curious arrivals are featured here.)

Let's face it: the footnote has fallen on hard times. Most writers find footnotes difficult; publishers find them costly; and readers (at least most…

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