The Indianhead Federated Library System presents
Starred Reviews
New and Notable Books for Young People
June 2007 * Eau Claire, WI
The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.
Picture Books
Juvenile Fiction
Nonfiction
Teen Fiction
Spanish Books
Picture Books
Coffelt, Nancy. Fred Stays with Me! Illus. by Tricia Tusa. Little, Brown, $16.99 (0-316-88269-0)
(K-gr.3) “...meshes text and illustrations seamlessly. A young girl moves back and forth between her divorced parents’ homes, along with her canine companion, Fred...Fred’s constant affection and consistent bad behavior...perky ears and perpetually wagging tail...”(SLJ)
Cole, Henry. On Meadowview Street. Greenwillow, $16.99 (0-06-056481-4)
(K-gr.2) “When Caroline and her family move to a ticky-tacky suburban development...spies a beautiful, solitary flower on her own lawn...cordons off the bloom, creating a ‘small wildflower preserve’...thoughtful additions...allow nature to take root and thrive...crucial message...importance of ‘green corridors’...will speak strongly... without stridency...understated watercolors match the tale’s gentle tone...growth of the garden prompts new connections with neighborhood children...” (BL, PW)
Imai, Ayano. Chester. Penguin/Minedition, $16.99 (0-698-40062-3)
(PreS-gr.1) “Chester, a black-and-white dog...loves his family, but they seem to have forgotten about him...leaves...When he’s scooped up by a wealthy woman, Chester finds himself in the lap of luxury...But after his owner dresses him in baby clothes, Chester takes off...cold and lonely...hears the voices of his family...delicate watercolors ...combines an almost surrealistic style...with a centered plotline that keeps its focus throughout...” (BL)
Jeffers, Oliver. The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Philomel, $16.99 (978-0-399-24749-1)
(PreS-gr.3) “Henry loves books...literally devours them. And the more he eats, the smarter he gets...too many too fast...contents get all mixed up...simple cartoon illustrations twinkle with humor and feeling...pictures set the stage for the quirky story...snappy text works well for reading aloud...exploring the subtle details hidden in the illustrations...” (SLJ)
Judge, Lita. One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-1-4231-0008-9)
(K-gr. 4) “A mother and daughter’s homegrown relief effort...aided numerous German families after World War II...lyrical prose tells the true and poignant story... find shoes, clothing and foodstuffs for hundreds of Germans devastated by the war... appeals for assistance often include tracings of feet...child’s perspective on the tragedies and hope of the era...especially accessible to young audiences...Photographs ...in endpaper collages...powerful testament to one family’s ability to affect the lives of hundreds.” (PW)
Kay, Verla. Rough, Tough Charley. Illus. by Adam Gustavson. Ten Speed/Tricycle, $15.95 (978-1-58246-184-7)
(PreS-gr. 3) “...Charley Parkhurst (1812-1879): a scrappy orphan...one of the bravest, fastest, saltiest and most respected stagecoach drivers in Gold Country... perfectly embodied the rugged individualism of the West...the doctor who certified his death discovered, Charley had successfully disguised the fact that he was actually a woman...terse four-line stanzas that evoke the no-nonsense speech of the frontier...strict meter keeps Charley’s inner thoughts at a distance...holds onto her secret until the book’s end...excellent timeline true and compelling story of secret identity...” (PW)
Lewis, Rose. Every Year on Your Birthday. Illus. by Jane Dyer. Little, Brown, $16.99 90-316-52552-9)
(PreS-K) “...cover...invites the reader inside...mother’s voice... ‘Every year on your birthday, I think about the day you were born. I wasn’t there, but I was thinking about you...’...recalls their special celebrations...Delicately expressive watercolors capture the girl’s excitement and happiness. Beautifully designed...loving portrait of a single mother and an adopted child...will be welcomed by families of all kinds adopting an Asian child.” (BL)
Piven, Hanoch. My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks: And Other Funny Family Portraits. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks, $18.99 (978-0-375-94052-1)
(gr. 2-4) “Filled with plays on words...delightful offering... gauche and watercolor illustrations are embellished with glued-on objects like a light bulb for a nose...pictures support the text and add to the subtext...invitation to readers to create images of their families...” (SLJ)
Rogers, Gregory. Midsummer Knight. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk, $16.95 (978-1-59643-183-6)
(K-gr.4) “...wordless companion book [to The Bear, the Baron and the Bard]...Bear...lands at the edge of a wood and stumbles into a magical forest inspired by...A Midsummer Night’s Dream...rescued...by a small fairy boy...in the midst of a palace intrigue...must work together to free the imprisoned fairy king and queen...Other characters from the previous book reappear in new roles...ample detail of the setting and the character’s emotions...” (SLJ)
Spinelli, Eileen. Heat Wave. Illus. by Betsy Lewin. Harcourt, $16 (978-0-115-216779-0)
(K-gr.3) “Before stores, businesses, and homes had air conditioners...get creative during a heat wave...try a variety of ways to cool down and finally all camp out on the riverbank dreaming of a break in the weather...simple and straightforward, the sun-drenched illustrations provide a spirited and evocative look back in time.” (SLJ)
Yarrow, Peter and Lenny Lipton. Puff the Magic Dragon. Illus. by Eric Puybaret. Sterling, $16.95 (978-1-4027-4782-3)
(PreS-gr.2) “...handsome volume...charming interpretation of the 1960s folk song...soothing palette...graceful...paintings...intermittently misty and sunny...magical place indeed...whimsical flourishes...song’s potentially sad denouement takes an uplifting turn...Puff spies a girl approaching...a new friend...CD presenting a new recording of the song (and two others) sung by Yarrow and his daughter Bethany...impressive performance all around.” (PW)
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Blume, Lesley M.M. The Rising Star of Rusty Nail. Knopf, $15.99 (978-037-5835-247)
(gr. 4-6) “Not much happens in Rusty Nail, Minnesota...1953...10-year-old Franny Hansen and her raucous best friend, Sandy, manage to have fun...harassing prissy Nancy, the richest girl in town...serious about...piano playing...Olga Malenkov ...would make a perfect teacher. Too bad, Olga wants nothing to do with Franny... narrative style that’s slightly over the top...characters...are as nuanced as they are humorous...” (BL)
Drake, Salamanda. Dragonsdale. Illus. by Gilly Marklew. Scholastic/Chicken House, $16.99 (0-439-87173-5)
(gr. 3-5) “...first in a hardcover series...Set in a land where dragons and their... riders train to compete in equestrian-style tournaments...will delight...story centers on Caroline, who lives and works among dragons but is forbidden to ride...intense emotions of flight and competition are well realized...details of hoof and stable have been cleverly adapted to the fantasy context...appealing pencil drawings...will soar right off the shelves and send readers wheeling around for more.” (BL)
Flake, Sharon G. The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street. Illus. by Colin Bootman. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, $15.99 (978-1-4231-0032-4)
(gr. 3-7) “A bright and brassy fifth grader named Queen narrates...resonant novel...outspoken girl’s superior attitude often alienates her peers...Leroy, a new boy at school who rides a rusted bike without a seat, announces that he is a prince from Senegal...Queen decides to expose Leroy as a fibber...brings her in contact with Cornelius, a wise, elderly former stage actor...Queen gradually comes to acknowledge and reveal her true self...Multi-dimensional characters and frequently affecting dialogue...” (PW)
Gardner, Lyn. Into the Woods. Illus. by Mini Grey. Random/David Fickling Bks, $19.99 (978-0-385-75116-2)
(gr. 5-9) “...gothic, wildly adventurous romp through the dream country of fairy tales...Eden girls...setting that vaguely resembles rural Victorian England...Elements of The Pied Piper of Hamlin, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, The Snow Queen...breathless plot...escalating series of dangerous situations, hairbreadth escapes, bitter defeats...black-and-white illustrations...advance the action...strong, descriptive style...should have wide appeal as a family read-aloud or absorbing read-alone.” (SLJ)
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Ancona, George. Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art! Lee and Low, $18.95 (978-1-58430-268-1)
(gr. 2-6) “Full-color photos and lively text introduce a sport that ‘combines dance, music, and acrobatics with fighting techniques’...basics...history...developed primarily by African slaves...wide range of ages and ethnicities...pronunciations and definitions for Portuguese words...” (SLJ)
Arnold, Caroline and Madeleine Comora. Taj Mahal. Illus. by Rahul Bhushan. Lerner/Carolrhoda, $17.95 (978-0-7613-2609-0)
(gr. K and up) “...exquisitely illustrated story...history and lore...abundant detail and poetic license...legendary love story behind the Taj Mahal...extraordinary paintings echo the floral motifs and symmetry of the famous mausoleum...Facts about the royal family and the Taj Mahal...bibliography...it’s the artwork throughout that is sure to amaze.” (PW)
Face to Face Series. National Geographic, $25.90.
Murawski, Darlyne A. Face to Face with Caterpillars. (978-1-4263-0052-3)
Sartore, Joel. Face to Face with Grizzlies. (978-1-4263-0051-6)
(gr. 3-6) “...remarkable color photos and intriguing observations. Engaging stories about the photographers’ field experiences...factual information about the animals...closing “Facts at a Glance” section and advice on how to go about self-directed research. Attractive, well-written and fascinating.” (SLJ)
Magaziner, Henry Jonas. Our Liberty Bell. Illus. by John O’Brien. Holiday, $15.95 (0-8234-1892-8)
(gr. 2-4) “...attractive book brings the history of the Liberty Bell alive for young readers...original bell...made a dull sound and immediately cracked. Recast twice at an American foundry...rang to announce one important event after another...important national symbol...overall sense of unity through history. Written with clarity and verve, this uses the central image of the bell to tie together the events it heralded...imaginative and sometimes witty ink drawings...” (BL)
McCarthy, Meghan. Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas. Knopf, $18.99 (0-375-92940-1)
(gr. 1-3) “...picture-book biography...Charles Atlas, the original 98-pound weakling...moved generations to embrace fitness...smoothly paced, concise text...boyhood arrival on Ellis Island...abuse he suffered as a skinny kid...finding inspiration in classical statues...developed his Dynamic Tension fitness program...acrylic paintings nicely reinforce the meaning...cartoonish style...echoes Atlas’ larger-than-life, superhero persona...lengthy author’s note acknowledges the challenges she encountered as she separated fact from fiction...” (BL)
Mehus-Roe, Kristin. Dogs for Kids!: Everything You Need to Know About Dogs. Bowtie, (pap) $14.95 (978-1-931993-83-8)
(gr. 3-7) “...entertaining as well as immensely informative...lively, conversational tone...history of dogs...vacationing with a pet...provides practical and upbeat explanations ...Some chapters should be required reading for both parents and children before an animal is brought into their lives...Without ever being preachy...emphasizes the importance of being a responsible pet owner...excellent black-and-white photos...clever illustrations...” (SLJ)
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GN Carey, Mike. Re-Gifters. Illus. by Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel. DC Comics/Minx, paper, $9.99 (978-140-120-3719)
(gr. 7-9) “Well-developed characters, plot, and setting...standout for both dedicated comics readers and those less eager to explore...Korean American teenager Dixie and her best friend, Avril, practice hapkido, a martial art...loses her focus when she develops a crush on another teen...Plot twists...artwork is bouncy and pops with expressive faces, postures, and martial arts moves...action, romance and introspection...” (BL)
Koertge, Ron. Strays. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-2705-8)
(gr. 9 and up) “After his parents die in a car crash, 10th grade Ted is placed in foster care...foster brothers...feels light years away from his previous life...new foster brothers like him...mentors him on being more outgoing and approachable...ability to communicate with animals...Readers will root for Ted...deft touches of humor and an element of the supernatural...stirring account of a boy’s rise above difficult circumstances.” (PW)
Levitin, Sonia. Strange Relations. Knopf, $15.99 (978-037-5837517)
(gr. 8-11) “After her mother receives a work assignment in Paris, 15-year-old Marne...spend the summer in Hawaii with relatives...escape the unspoken grief... following her younger sister’s disappearance years earlier...Aunt Chaya...Yitz, a Hasidic rabbi...chaotic household filled with children...cultural difference startling...Gradually... realizes that she loves the feeling of Shabbat...debates and cultural details sometimes feel like documentary...Marne’s active, earnest search for who she is...will touch readers of all backgrounds.” (BL)
Reeve, Philip. A Darkling Plain. Harper/Eos, $18.99 (978-0-06-089055-1)
(gr. 7 and up) “...massive, ambitious Hungry City Chronicles series roars to a fine conclusion...War is raging...Lady Naga has brought about peace negotiations...Taken as a whole, the Hungry City Chronicles is a remarkable body of work, one that stands beside The Lord of the Rings and His Dark Materials in terms of re-readability and scope. Complex, intelligent and rewarding...” (PW)
St. James, James. Freak Show. Dutton, $18.99 (978-0-525-477990)
(gr. 9 and up) “Teenage drag queen Billy Bloom explodes onto the conservative scene at Eisenhower Academy, where he finds love and a band of blond sadists...bold, bawdy narration...cohesive but also immensely entertaining...Beneath the sequins...Billy nurses an ardent desire for acceptance. Teens will quickly identify with his worries... romance fresh and fun...enjoy exploring complicated issues of empowerment, bigotry, self-esteem and fear...gracious candor and humor...” (SLJ)
Yancey, Rick. Alfred Kropp: The Seal of Solomon. Bloomsbury, $16.95 (978-1-59990-045-2)
(gr. 8-10) “The Seal of Solomon has been stolen from the Office of Interdimensional Paradoxes and Extraordinary Phenomenon...Alfred is an ordinary 15-year-old boy...blood that can heal...last son of Sir Lancelot...mistakes are the kind that can end the world as we know it...great book for boys, as well as reluctant readers...rip-roaring story...” (SLJ)
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Carreras de Sosa, Lydia. Las cosas perdidas (Lost Things). Illus. by Javier Zabala. Spain: Edelvives, dist. by Urano, $11.95 (978-84-263-6198-1)
(gr. 3-5) “Daniel is Tani’s godfather and his father’s best friend...When Tani witnesses Daniel stealing...from his family...unsure of what to do...discovers Daniel is a kleptomaniac...wrestles with whether or not to tell his father...likable characters...clear and easy-to-follow text...recommended for all libraries.” (CR)
Chaundler, Rachel. Mariluz avestruz. (Ostrich). Illus. by Bernardo Carvalho. Spain: OQO Editora, $21.95 (978-84-96788-11-4)
(PreS-gr.1) “...serene savannah...curious young Mariluz abounds about, showing off her tail feathers. At night she sticks her head in the sand...When her head gets stuck, no one hears her cries...animals line up, teeth-to-tail, to help Mariluz out of the jam... brilliant illustrations...Highly recommended...”(CR)
Smith, Jeff. Bone. Lejos de Boneville (Bone: Out From Boneville). Trans. by Enrique S. Abulì. Spain: Astiberri Edicioneds, dist. by Public Square Books, $24.95 (978-1-59497297-3)
(gr. 5 and up) “...first of nine volumes...three cousins—Fone, Phoney, and Smiley Bone are banished from their Boneville home...truly appropriate for everyone from younger children to adults...excellent translation...” (CR)
Zabalbeascoa, Anatxu. Valentina en Paris (Valentina in Paris). Illus. by Patricia Geis. Spain: Tusquets Editores, dist. by Urano, $14. 95 (978-84-8310-386-9)
(gr. 1-3) “Valentina is a born traveler...Arriving with her parents in Paris...gets hung up at the Mona Lisa... the mystery...loses track of her parents... lovely introduction to the city...character who may well take her place alongside... Madeline and...Eloise...” (CR)
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