August 2008
Travels With Books
By Mary Quattlebaum
See the world with these traveling companions.
babies/toddlers
If Animals Kissed Good Night
by Ann Whitford Paul
illustrated by David Walker
Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 2008, $16.95
Travel the animal kingdom before bedtime with this whimsical poem. Being tucked in at night, a little girl imagines critter parents embracing their little ones, from the slow-kissing sloths to the lip-smacking monkeys to the “mud-happy” hippos. The cheery pictures of sweet-faced animals (even Mama Python looks cuddly) and soothing rhythm will ease the transition to Dreamland for even the liveliest young night owls.
ages 3 – 6
Come and Play: Children of Our World Having Fun
edited by Ayana Lowe
photographs by Magnum Photos Agency
Bloomsbury, 2008, $16.95
During 2006-07, students at Hunter College Elementary School in New York City wrote poetic responses to photographs of kids from around the world. These 27 “riffs’ delightfully capture the spirit of the photos, from the splash-silly exuberance of youngsters at a North Korean beach to the contemplative Alaskan grandfather and preschooler playing with string. The poems and photos (taken over the last 50 years by luminaries, such as the French Henri Cartier-Bresson, the Italian Ferdinando Scianna and the British Ian Berry) work off one another so well that reading a poem calls for a careful look at the photo, which then enhances a second reading. All this, in turn, may inspire young readers to create their own poems and photos. The book’s back matter includes such visual treasures as a location map for each image and group photos of young poets and adult photographers – all looking impish no matter their age.
Let’s Go!
by Lizann Flatt
illustrated by Scot Ritchie
Maple Tree Press, 2007, $16.95
Perfect for curious early readers, this history of North American transportation moves from an Ice Age trek to a Native American canoe ride to a long haul over new trails in a covered wagon. Then come trains, automobiles, airplanes, jets “chalk[ing] the sky with their shattering roars” and even rockets. Each double-page spread features brief text and bright illustrations. The text itself is informative, playful and far from plodding. Here’s the description of that pioneer staple, the horse: “Horses pulled carts, pulled carriages, coaches, and wagons that waded for weeks through flat, grassy seas.” Back matter includes additional intriguing facts about “safety bicycles,” “horseless carriages” and “splashdown” space shuttles.
Shoofly, an Audio Magazine for Children
edited and produced by Arlene Furman and Jack Nestor
CD $12; MP3 download $8
These songs, stories and poems will enliven any road trip, be it cross country or just down the street. Established in 1993, this award-winning literary effort for kids comes out five times a year (check HYPERLINK "http://www.shooflyaudio.com/"www.shooflyaudio.com for subscription information). The summer issue (volume 5, number 3) brims with 62 minutes of fun, from the musical “Fishball” to the folkloric “Crow Brings the Sun” to the suspenseful “The Boondocks.” The different moods, sound effects, instruments and voices create an intriguing mix that stands up well to repeat listening. The audio’s high quality and creative interpretations will also appeal to adults tired of the usual preschool sing-song stuff. If music soothes the savage breast, according to a 17th -century poem, then Shoofly will calm even the crankiest car-seated tot.
Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep
by Susan Lendroth
illustrated by Raul Allen
Tricycle Press, 2008, $15.99
In a verse story part lullaby, part prayer, a 19th-century New England girl beseeches the ocean to be gentle with her seafaring father. The book chronicles the many seasons of the man’s absence and the growth of the narrator’s brother from cradle-bound babe to chattery toddler. Especially poignant are the girl’s private reflections – her whispered message to a seashell, her imaginings of the Chinese shops where her father finds jade, teak, willow ware and silks. The delicate pencil-and-watercolor art reveals details of the life and landscape of old Cape Cod and beautifully captures the family’s joy at the father’s return. Though set in the past, this book will speak to contemporary children who suffer the absence of a parent due to work, divorce or war.
ages 7 – 11
Science on the Loose
by Helaine Becker
illustrated by Claudia Davila
Maple Tree Press, 2008, $10.95 pbk.
Kids can explore the universe or their own noses through this compendium of science activities. Playful titles – “Naval Gazing,” “Into the Black Hole,” “Silly States of Matter” – introduce double-page spreads chock-full of colorful cartoons, fun facts and easy-to-do experiments. The book’s emphasis on readily available materials and step-by-step instructions empower youngsters to try these activities on their own. There’s no need for hovering parents, no concerns about dangerous substances. Just leave this book lying around and see what happens when your children pick it up. They may soon be releasing the neutron stars in their ordinary pencils or making ghosts appear through an optical illusion.
The Mix-It-Up Cookbook
by American Girl staff
illustrated by Tracy McGuinness
American Girl/Pleasant Company, 2003, $14.95
Looking for culinary adventure? Cut your kids loose in the kitchen with this cookbook. Great for boys and girls, these easy-to-follow recipes feature kid-friendly fare, such as pizza, spaghetti marinara, pancakes, salads and cookies. An introduction to kitchen safety, cooking terms and utensils segues nicely into 10 sections on favorite simple-to-prepare foods, including eggs, quick breads and noodles. Young chefs eager to try something new will welcome the frequent mix-in tips and suggestions for varying a basic recipe. Space for notes and recipe ratings, bright stylized illustrations and full-color photos offer delectable eye candy.
ages 12 and up
Princess Ben
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Houghton Mifflin, 2008, $16
When her royal parents go missing, Princess Benevolence casts a suspicious eye on a neighboring kingdom. Surely the king and his insufferable son, Florian, are behind the couple’s disappearance. The strong-willed princess, nicknamed “Ben,” sets out to punish them. But nothing is as it seems in this witty fairy tale. Ben’s magic mirror proves uncooperative, the enemy king adores gardening and Florian keeps interrupting her dreams in a most confusing way. After the requisite ball, the princess fumes over Florian’s rudeness until confronted with yet another fairy tale trope – a ferocious dragon. Only in vanquishing the beast does Ben discover the truth. Does this lead to “happily ever after”? As Ben herself puts it, “the girl … dreaming her troubles will end ere she departs the altar is well advised to seek at once a rational woman to set her straight.” A truly unexpected princess, forthright Ben fits this humorous, action-packed tale as the glass slipper once fit Cinderella’s dainty foot.
Mary Quattlebaum is a mother and the author, most recently, of Sparks Fly High (colonial American folktale) and Jackson Jones and the Curse of the Outlaw Rose (middle-grade novel). You can contact her at www.maryquattlebaum.com, which has information on her 15 award-winning children’s books and presentations at schools and conferences.