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Vol. 10, No. 5; November 21, 2002
Take Note: books of special interest to children's book enthusiasts
Dorp Dead by Julia Cunningham. 1965; Knopf, 2002
(0-375-82255-0) $14.95
Unique when it first appeared, this poetic, heavily symbolic and
genre-defying story no longer has the power to shock it once had, but
is still chilling and effective. Eleven-year-old Gilly, all alone
since the death of his grandmother, gladly leaves the poverty, noise
and confusion of an orphanage for a life of strict routine with the
village ladder maker. But he soon discovers he has traded a large
part of himself for comfort and security--and that taking any steps
out of rigid pattern outlined for him will have a terrifying price.
Reprinted for the first time in almost ten years, this edition
includes an afterward by Betsy Hearne, Professor of Children's
Literature at the University of Illinois, which discusses the symbolic
meanings of the story and its importance in the history of children's
literature.
Reprints: News
The American Revolution by Bruce Bliven, Jr. Random House,
1958; 2002 (0-394-84696-6) $5.99 pb
Reprint of the 1958 edition.
Detectives in Togas; Mystery of the Roman Ransom;
Castaways in Lilliput; Trouble at Timpetill by Henry
Winterfeld. Harcourt, 2002 (0-15-216292-5; 0-15-216313-1;
0-15-216298-4; 0-15-216306-9) $17.00; (0-15-216280-1; 0-15-216313-1;
0-15-216286-0; 0-15-216274-7) $5.95 pb
Lively and imaginative stories, originally published in the fifties
and sixties. Reprinted in hardcover and paperback.
Dido and Pa by Joan Aiken. 1986; Houghton Mifflin, 2002
(0-618-19623-4) $5.95 pb
The fifth (or sixth, depending on how you count it) in Aiken's
alternate history series, with cover art by Edward Gorey.
Emily by Michael Bedard. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney.
Doubleday, 1992; Dell Dragonfly, 2002 (0-440-41740-6) $6.99 pb
Hector Protector and As I Went Over the Water illustrated by
Maurice Sendak. 1965; 2001 (0-06-028642-3) $14.95
Two short but thoroughly illustrated nursery rhymes.
Henry and Beezus by Beverly Cleary. Illustrated by Louis
Darling. 1952; HarperTrophy, 2002 (0-380-70914-7) $5.99 pb
The Hobbit written and illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkein. Houghton
Mifflin, 2002 (0-618-26030-7) $10.00 trade pb
This trade paperback includes several illustrations not generally
found in the paperback editions and a colored cover illustration by
Tolkein. The text is based on the Collins Modern Classics edition
published in 1998, which includes a number of text corrections;
unfortunately, the specific changes aren't noted in this volume. The
first chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring is included at the
end.
Paddington at Large; Paddington Helps Out; Paddington
on Top by Michael Bond. Illustrated by Peggy Fortnum.
Paddington Takes to TV by Michael Bond. Illustrated by Ivor
Wood. Houghton Mifflin, 2002 (0-618-19678-1; 0-618-19679-X;
0-618-25072-7; 0-618-25071-9) $4.95 ea. pb
Paperbacks of the recent hardcover editions, with cover art by Diane
DeGroat.
The Pioneers Go West by George R. Stewart. Random House, 1954;
2002 (0-394-89180-5) $5.99 pb
Revised edition of To California By Covered Wagon., originally
published in 1954.
Lucky Chuck by Beverly Cleary. Illustrated by J. Winslow
Higginbottom. 1984; HarperCollins, 2002 (0-688-02736-9) $15.99;
HarperTrophy, 2002 (0-06-008239-9) $5.99 pb
This information-filled story about a boy riding a motorcycle for the
first time includes detailed drawings of the motorcycle's different
parts and descriptions of every starting move. A certain amount of
preachiness about reckless driving ("People in passing cars slow down
to stare at Chuck, who is embarrassed and ashamed.") is leavened
somewhat by flashes of dry humor. The original illustrations have
been colorized for this edition.
New Books: Reviews
Animal Fair illustrated by Anthony Browne. Candlewick, 2002
(0-7636-1831-4) $14.99
The cover describes this book as "a spectacular pop-up" but "creepy"
and "baffling" are words that come more readily to my mind. Based on
a nonsense rhyme, the ridiculous words about an animal fair actually
seem to make more sense than the surreal pictures which attempt to
illustrate them. There are some wonderful images though, including a
haunted house decorated with skulls whose blank eyes sneakily change
color, and a fabulous merry-go-round which changes, with the pull of a
tab, from an ordinary carousel with people riding on wooden horses, to
a macabre vision of animals riding on (wooden?) people. Probably a
treat for the right reader.
New Books: News
Lady Knight ("Protector of the Small" #4) by Tamora Pierce.
Random House, 2002 (0-375-81465-5) $16.95
Final book in the series.
Now (or Again) in Paperback
Crooked by Laura and Tom McNeal. Knopf, 1999; Laurel-Leaf,
2002 (0-440-22946-4) $5.50 pb
Ninth graders Clara and Amos find their growing interest in each other
painfully complicated by misunderstandings, peer pressure, family
tragedies and the increasingly sinister attentions of school bullies
Charles and Eddie Tripp. This unusually leisurely suspense story
takes its time, building strong characterizations and powerfully
charged situations along with a strong sense of menace.
Spyhole Secrets by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Delacorte, 2001;
Dell Yearling, 2002 (0-440-41708-2) $4.99 pb
Growing a Reader: Children's Books for Children
Alphabet Under Construction written and illustrated by Denise
Fleming. Henry Holt, 2002 (0-805-06848-1) $16.95
In this follow up to Lunch, Mouse is busy at work,
constructing, beautifying and approving the entire alphabet. Handily
he buttons the B together, folds the F into its proper shape and award
a blue ribbon after judging the J. Although the idea isn't especially
novel, this alphabet is both fun and gorgeous: vibrant, dynamic
colors and textures are a joy to look at, and the movements of the
dauntless and vigorous Mouse keeps the tone animated and intimate. A
small poster showing each page is included with the book.
Cat is Sleepy written and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1996 (0-374-31223-0) $4.95 board book
Poor Cat... he's so sleepy he can barely keep his eyes open. But
every place he tries to sleep has some serious issues: the sink is
cold and slippery, the brick fence is covered with other cats, and the
cooking pot is just not comfortable. (Perhaps even a little
frightening?) Thank goodness he finally finds a cozy place: a little
girl's lap. Expressive, sharply-outlined illustrations of weary,
droopy-eyed Cat, who can barely pad along by the last scene, make this
simply worded story sparkle with fun; I especially love the picture of
Cat looking with weary resignation at the fence that's covered, every
inch, with sleeping cats. (10 months-3)
Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi. Illustrated by
Marieka Heinlen, Free Spirit, 2002 (1-57542-112-7) $7.95 board book
This simplified version of the picture book of the same name is less
didactic than the title suggests, calmly demonstrating some of the
many constructive things that can be done with hands, like drawing,
helping, hugging and waving good-bye. The accompanying illustrations
of children are somewhat bland, but make an appealing use of colors
and textures.
Maisy's First Clock written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins.
Candlewick, 2001 (0-7636-1788-1) $12.99 board book
This large board book has an extra feature: as Maisy the mouse goes
about her day--dressing in the morning, shopping for food, playing at
the park--readers can move a built in clock to see how the time is
passing. It's an surprisingly good toy clock, too: colored gears
click with each movement, and the second hand moves in proper synch
with the hour hand. The large size is perfect for Maisy, who is as
boldly outlined and colorfully fun as ever, though this book focuses
more on everyday objects than the more action-oriented board books for
babies. (3-6)
Mama Cat Has Three Kittens written and illustrated by Denise Fleming.
Henry Holt, 1998 (0-8050-5745-5) $15.95; 2002 (0-8050-7162-8) $6.95
An unusual illustration technique involving rag fiber and stencils
brings a cat family gorgeously to life in this striking picture book.
The short, repetitive text is about Mama Cat and her kittens: as Mama
Cat does various catlike things--sharpening her claws, chasing
leaves--two of her children follow suit, but the third, Boris, just
naps. Only when Mama Cat and the others want to nap does Boris get
excited and active. Brilliant splashes of color combine to create
four distinctive cats against a near-fantastic background of flowers
and bugs; it's far removed from realism, but the just-right
expressions and movements of the cats leave nothing to be desired.
(2-4)
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