Copyright 2007 Wendy E. Betts.
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Vol. 15, No. 3; November 2007
Reprints
Growing Vegetable Soup written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert.
Harcourt Brace, 1987 (0-15-232575-1); 1990 (0-15-232580-8) $6.00 pb
Although I've always enjoyed this book and it's companion, Planting a Rainbow, I don't think I ever fully appreciated it in its small board book edition. Now as a lap-size board book, it is bolder, brighter and more beautiful than ever.
This story offers basic information on gardening with a lovely touch
of imagination. The unseen narrator describes the whole process of how
he and his dad "grow vegetable soup," starting with their
tools, going on to planting the seeds and sprouts, and ending with
picking
or digging up the vegetables and cooking them. The simple, direct
text
is accompanied by labelled illustrations of everything that's used,
from
the soil to the soup bowl. Ehlert's signature collage illustrations
make each item colorful and distinctive, and give the little seedlings
and growing plants their full measure of charm. If you've only seen
the small board book edition, do yourself a favor and check out this
edition, or the original picture book. (2-6)
New Books
Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose illustrated by Leo and Diane
Dillon. Harcourt, 2007 (978-0-15-205676-6) $17.00
A string of anthropomorphic numbers merrily beboppin' across the end
pages sets the tone for this deliciously nonsensical Mother Goose
collection. All of the rhymes include numbers, from the well-known
"Baa baa black sheep" to more obscure verses like "1-ery, 2-ery,
tickery, 10," but it's not really a counting book--in fact, young
children who truly want to count may find some of the longer numbers a
bit frustrating. (Four and twenty very thin hairs in a wig, for
example.) Mostly this book is about imaginative images and movement:
the strange, often masked characters cavort across the pages almost as
if in a whimsical parade. A clock strikes its own bell, fish strut in
boots, potatoes dance in fezzes, the four-and-twenty blackbirds willingly
trot into the pie. Except for a few bright splashes, the color scheme
is largely muted, as if to keep all the attention on the odd
inhabitants of this friendly world. The effect is very engaging, for
both young and adult readers. * (2 & up)
The Baker's Dozen written and illustrated by Dan Andreasen.
Henry Holt, 2007 (978-0-8050-7809-1) $16.95
I was drawn to the cover of this book, an apple-cheeked-and-chinned
baker exuberantly juggling cupcakes. He just looks so darn happy
about it. And happiness continues to be the theme throughout, as the
baker takes "great care to make one cream eclair," "in the oven bakes
two German chocolate cakes," and "in tins the perfect size bakes three
cherry pies," all the while loving his job with all his heart. No,
the rhyming text is not particularly scintillating, but it's adequate.
There are a few cute visual touches here, like the baker's smiling
chef-hatted clock, which beams and occasionally licks its lips, but
the main point of the pictures is the baker's joy as he creates and
dallies with his sweet treats, from the one eclair to the twelve small
cupcakes he juggles. Thirteen is the number of customers he greets,
and a chart at the end of the book shows the progression of the
numbers, from the one eclair, to thirteen eager little boys.
Fun for anyone who knows how to truly appreciate food. (2-6)
The Twelve Days of Christmas: a Pinata for the Pinon Tree by
Philemon Sturges. Illustrated by Ashley Wolff. Little, Brown, 2007
(978-0-316-82323-4) $16.99
The author and illustrator of She'll Be
Comin' Round the Mountain teamed up to offer another sunny
Southwestern spin on a popular song. This time the animal town of
Reederville (pop. 43) is preparing for Christmas, and "mis amigos"
brings such goodies as eleven
Two stories happen simultaneously: a bear prepares Bozochitos (the
New Mexico state cookie), while watching the townsfolk decorate a
village Christmas
tree; a large starred pinata goes on top. At the end of the song, as
the gaily dressed townsfolk lower and strike the pinata, the bear
displays a tray of finished Bozcohitos, shaped liked the elements of
the story. (A recipe is also included.) Throughout, we see numerous
details of New Mexico culture, both around the tree and in the bear's
home: a lovingly decorated altar is in honor of
Sturges, who passed away in 2005.
The changed, still very singable lyrics make this book fun for readers
who know the original song, and the wealth of detail in the
illustrations has a lot to offer for teachers or librarians covering a
Southwestern theme. (Especially if cookie baking is involved.)
However, the animal-people illustrations may limit its appeal with
older children. The book has also been criticized for inappropriately
using Kachina figures, which are sacred to several Native American
tribes. (3-6)
A text that evokes Dr. Seuss on speed and steroids and frantically
busy illustrations collide joyfully for this offbeat book. Professor
Ludwig von Glink wakes up one fine spring morning convinced "that a
particular arrangement of pulleys, pendulums, sprockets, and gears
suspended/by a network of wires would produce movement that never
ended." It doesn't quite work out that way, but his failed
perpetual-motion machine is so entertaining that the professor decides
to expand on it, with "ramps, slides, buttons, lenses, switches,
notches and nodes, nubins and niches," to the delight of his family
and the folks who "came from far and near/to wonder and marvel and
listen and point and gasp and laugh and cheer." When the extravagent
gizmo that was once the von Glink's home comes to the attention of the
City Buildings and Permits Inspector, it seems doomed, but the
Director of the City Contemporary Art Museum saves the day, demanding
the house be "declared a landmark, a treasure, a historic site--
anything to save it from the dynamite." And so, "after a close shave,
the Professor's Gizmo was saved. Although any practical purpose it may
have served remained opaque: It was a case of art for art's sake."
It's hard to give a true sense of the textual style of Gizmo
without quoting the entire thing, because it's such a mad mix of
constantly varying rhythms and rhyme schemes, with some rhymes coming
fast, others taking what seems like forever to complete themselves;
paradoxically, it flows wonderfully and is surprisingly easy to read
aloud. The erratic movements of the text are complimented by
bustling, jagged-edged line drawings that fill each page with active
people, big machines, and the fascinating gizmo, with its springs and
sprockets and endless moving parts. Boldly proclaiming the value of
whimsy, creative experimentation and things that exist "simply to
amuse," Gizmo easily justifies its own existence. (4 & up)
Now (or Again) in Paperback
This companion to What Do Authors Do? is another fun and
friendly look behind the scenes of the creation of a book. As two
illustrators get to work on separate versions of "Jack and the
Beanstalk," their pets, Scooter the dog and Leonard the cat, chat with
each other and comment on the process, from the initial plan of what
scenes to illustrate to the design of the cover. The helpful pets
also demonstrate perspective, style, and--oops!--getting stuck in "the
gutter." Christelow's informal watercolors and lively characters make
both the business side and the creative side of illustrating
understandable and entertaining. Readers may be surprised by how much
thought and effort have to go into "just" drawing pictures, but will
also inspired by seeing that "real" artists make rough sketches,
traces, and mistakes. (5-8)
Jeremy is a sixth-grader with a few problems: he's short for his age,
so not only do girls think he's adorable and chase him, but he can't
do much about the inevitable teasing that ensues. He's also a
talented artist whose art teacher hates him. But these problems seem
insignificant next to the difficulties that occur when he stumbles
upon a curious shop and buys an even curiouser ball--which turns to
be a dragon's egg. A still-fertile dragon's egg.
As Jeremy struggles to keep his newly hatched Dragon, Tiamat, fed and
secret, his life gets pretty complicated. But it's worth it to have a
pet who can share your thoughts and take you flying. It especially
seems worth it when he learns he's not going to be able to keep Tiamat
forever.
Beneath the trappings of lighthearted fantasy, this is a moving story
about love for a pet, and the tools we use to cope with loss. (8-12)
First off, let me say this book has a terrific cover. In the
publicity for its reissue, Engdahl has emphasized that it's a romance,
presumably not wanting people to expect something similar to her
serious YA science fiction novels, and the Manga-looking drawing of a
girl in stylish space gear, rather dejectedly holding a bouquet of
roses, couldn't say "science-fiction chick-lit" any better.
Journey Between Worlds is the story of Melinda, who having
graduated high school expects to marry her boyfriend, settle down in
her home town, and never budge again. Her plans take a detour when
her father gives her a ticket to Mars as a graduation present--and
when her boyfriend's obnoxious reaction to the idea convinces her to
use it. Melinda doesn't expect much from the primitive, colonial
world of Mars; she can't even understand why anyone would live there
by choice. Even when she begins to have feelings for Alex, a
returning "Martian" she meets aboard ship, she can't imagine giving up
life on Earth to be with him... can she?
Originally published in 1970, this is the last of Engdahl's six YA
novels to be recently reprinted, and it remains her slightest
work. In an afterward, she mentions making small changes for the 2006
edition, mainly to update views about women, marriage and careers.
Nonetheless, the first-person narrative retains a squeaky-clean 1960's
feel, like Beany Malone or Up a Road Slowly in space.
But there's also an older tradition being followed here, that of books
like Christy or Mrs. Mike, about a young woman leaving
behind the comforts of "civilization" to become a pioneer. The heart
of Journey Between Worlds is the belief that exploration is
necessary to the human spirit, as well as to mankind's ultimate
survival. Engdahl wrote about this same theme in her other YA books,
in ways I personally find more compelling... but there's nothing wrong
with also delivering the idea with a bouquet or roses. (12 & up)
The process of finding out what we truly love is one of the most
important parts of discovering who we truly are--but sometimes finding
out what we don't love is just as important. This thoughtful novel
offers a sincere, accessible look at what it means to be an artist and
what it means to be yourself.
They never use the word "prodigy" in her house, but the fact is that
Clara (named for pianist Clara Schumann) has been studying piano since
she first climbed on the piano bench at the age of three, and started
playing Mozart's "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star theme." Now, at
seventeen, she is just weeks away from the final of the Nicklaus
competition; winning will mean a scholarship to Juilliard, a debut
concert, and almost certainly a career as a concert pianist. But even
amid her preoccupation with the competition, Clara doesn't want to
give up everything else in her life, sneaking out against her parents'
orders to play a tiny part in a school production of "The Nutcracker."
Then a slip during dance rehearsal makes Clara fall on her wrist, an
injury that will stop her playing piano until just two weeks before
the final.
With a big space in her schedule where lessons and three hours of
practice a day used to be, Clara suddenly has time for new things:
movies, her first football game--and Marshall, an attractive fellow
competitor whose struggle to afford piano study has him living in his
practice cubicle. As she sees the passion that drives Marshall to
play, against all obstacles, Clara begins to wonder if something is
lacking in herself. And for the first time, a terrifying, almost
blasphemous thought drifts into her head: "Was this what ordinary
life would be like? If she didn't play?"
Concentrating on the important relationships in Clara's life, with her
demanding mother, her resentful little brother, the admiring Marshall
and her loving but enigmatic piano teacher Tashi, Gilbert skillfully
weaves many small threads into a solid thematic whole, showing how
Clara begins to understand the important decision she has to make.
Although the air of the story is often a touch ornate and romantic,
with a mystic Russian folktale as an underlying motif, it is grounded
in reality; the bittersweet ending is strong and satisfying, leaving
us sure not only that Clara made the right decision, but that she made
it for the right reasons. (12 & up)
For this book, Hahn left her usual suspense genre to explore the old
west, and proved that she's as much at home with card-sharks and horse
thieves as she is with sinister strangers. Our heroine is
twelve-year-old Eliza Yates, a spirited girl with a sassy tongue, who
narrates the story of how she become Elijah Bates, the boy confederate
of the notorious Gentleman Outlaw. Neither of them, however, was
exactly what they seemed.
Eliza's adventure begins when she and her beloved dog Caeser run away
from her harsh relatives, to find the father who went west when she
was five. Disguised as a boy, she saves the life of Calvin
Featherbone, a refined young man who claims to be an experienced
outlaw. His friend Miss Nellie draws a different picture of him,
however: "Some folks think they know it all, but talking like you
swallowed a dictionary don't mean a thing if you aint got common
sense." And Eli soon discovers the truth of her words, as
Calvin--who's as stubborn as he is conceited--gets her into one
dangerous get-rich scheme after another.
There's nothing especially original about this plot, but it certainly
doesn't seem stale. With a relish in her story that is highly
infectious, Hahn spins a lively, funny tale, with lovable characters,
a strong sense of place and an enjoyable dash of romance. (9-13)
Diana and her brother Georgie live near the spooky Old Willis Place,
bound by a set of rigid "rules" to always stay hidden and alone. With
no one to talk to but each other, the two amuse themselves by spying
on and teasing the estate caretakers that constantly come and go. But
when a new caretaker arrives with a daughter about Diana's age, the
urge to make a friend becomes irresistible. Will breaking the rules
lead to a horrible punishment--or might it be the means to their
rescue? Equal parts scary and sad, this is a compelling ghost story
with an unexpectedly tender message of redemption.
Witches of all types are the subject of this batch of stories,
including a Creole plantation slave with a deadly interest in reading
lifelines, a boy witch who simply can't follow directions and a very
modern witch who sells curses from her own web site. The mood also
varies, from bluntly humorous to chillingly creepy and genuinely
haunting. Imaginative and fun, this is a solidly entertaining
collection. (10 & up)
Back to the Notes from the Windowsill
Home Page.
Gizmo by Barry Varela. Illustrated by Ed Briant. Roaring
Brook, 2007 (978-1-59643-115-7)$16.95
What Do Illustrators Do? written and illustrated by Eileen
Christelow. Clarion, 1999 (0-395-90230-4) $15.00; 2007
(978-0-618-87423-1) $6.95 pb
Jeremey Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville. Harcourt,
1991; Magic Carpet, 2007 *978-0-15-206252-1) $5.95 pb
Journey Between Worlds by Sylvia Louise Engdahl. 1970;
Putnam, 2006 (0-399-24532-4) $17.99; Puffin, 2007
(978-0142-408-28-5) $7.99 pb
Broken Chords by Barbara Snow Gilbert. Front Street, 1998
(1-886910-23-5) $15.95; 2007 (978-1-59078-534-8) $9.95 pb
The Gentleman Outlaw and Me by Mary Downing Hahn. (Originally
titled The Gentleman Outlaw and Me--Eli.)
Clarion, 1996 (0-395-73083-X) $14.95;
Clarion, 2007 (978-0-618-83000-8) $5.95 pb
The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn. Clarion, 2004
(0-618-43018-0) $15; 2007 (978-0-618-89741-4) $5.95 pb
Curses, Inc. and Other Stories by Vivian Vande Velde. Harcourt
Brace, 1997 (0-15-201452-7) $16.00; Magic Carpet, 2007
(978-0-15-206107-4) $6.95 pb