After her sister's marriage, Penelope goes with her governess to Ireland where she will receive extra tuition in magic. There she meets Lady Keating and her charismatic son Niall. Her association with the Keating family unknowingly lands Penelope in the midst of a plot to harm Queen Victoria. Will she discover the truth before it's too late?
What I thought: Doyle did not disappoint with this follow-up to Bewitching Season. Penelope's story was just as engrossing. I liked that we got to see a little more of the inner workings of Niall's mind than we did of Loch's in the first book. The chemistry between Penelope and Niall is thrilling.
(New York: Henry Holt, 2009.)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Cuckoo’s Haiku & Other Birding Poems by Michael J. Rosen
Taking us through the four seasons, these haiku introduce us to each season’s birds.
What I thought: Lovely! The haiku is one of my favorite poetic forms and I am pleased to see so well used here. The poems are a delight to read. The illustrations are pleasing and so realistic. I liked Rosen’s notes about the birds and his poems at the end of the book. My favorite poems are “Cardinal” and “Mockingbird”
And here for your reading pleasure is my own birding haiku:
Under the spruce tree
Winter birds feed on needles,
Waiting for spring to arrive
Story Time Idea: Pair with Birds by Kevin Henkes.
(Illus. Stan Fellows. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2009)
What I thought: Lovely! The haiku is one of my favorite poetic forms and I am pleased to see so well used here. The poems are a delight to read. The illustrations are pleasing and so realistic. I liked Rosen’s notes about the birds and his poems at the end of the book. My favorite poems are “Cardinal” and “Mockingbird”
And here for your reading pleasure is my own birding haiku:
Under the spruce tree
Winter birds feed on needles,
Waiting for spring to arrive
Story Time Idea: Pair with Birds by Kevin Henkes.
(Illus. Stan Fellows. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2009)
Friday, May 7, 2010
A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell
In this delightful menagerie of poems, we meet a variety of forest animals. We learn their habits and get acquainted with their thoughts.
What I thought: Such a fun collection! The poems have just the right touch of humor to them. Kids will be sure to like them. The illustrations are great—realistic but playful. My favorite poems are:
“Biography of a Beaver”
“Moonlit Raccoon”
“Nobody’s Pet (A Word to the Wise from a Red Fox)”
“Chipmunks, INC”
(Illus. Joan Rankin. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009)
What I thought: Such a fun collection! The poems have just the right touch of humor to them. Kids will be sure to like them. The illustrations are great—realistic but playful. My favorite poems are:
“Biography of a Beaver”
“Moonlit Raccoon”
“Nobody’s Pet (A Word to the Wise from a Red Fox)”
“Chipmunks, INC”
(Illus. Joan Rankin. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Reading Ramona Take 3
Book 3: Ramona the Brave
First published in 1975, illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
190 pages, 9 chapters (New York: Avon Camelot)
First grade doesn't quite agree with Ramona. Her teacher doesn't like her. First grade work isn't as interesting as kindergarten work. Changes take place in the Quimby household as well. They build an addition on to the house--a bedroom for Ramona. To pay for it, Mrs. Quimby goes to work part-time. Ramona must make her own bed, bake cookies if she wants them, and deal with Howie's grandmother if she gets sick. Can brave Ramona can all these changes?
I'm beginning to notice the great words Beverly Cleary uses in her books. Here's a sampling from Ramona the Brave: chagrin, heroine, exasperating, astound, liberated, smithereens, and glorious. What fun it will be for young readers to puzzle out the meanings!
I liked how Ramona's creativity and imagination came out in this book: giving her owl glasses, making her own coloring book, and making a (bunny) slipper when she bravely forfeited her shoe to a dog. I was pleased to find that Ramona attends Sunday school and prays regularly. The prayers of a child are so sweet. These things only underscore the wholesomeness of Beverly Cleary's books.
My favorite quotes:
"She was bored, not napping. She had learned to think about schoolwork, and at the same time think about other things in a private corner of her mind" (79).
"Ramona could make an amazing number of things with paper, crayons, staples, and Scotch tape. Bee's wings to wear on her wrists, a crown to wear on her head, a paper catcher's mask to cover her face" (143-44).
Activities from Ramona the Brave:
Chalk Butterflies
Paper Bag Owls
Make Your Own Coloring Book
Play Brick Factory (Here in TN we have some red rocks we call "chalk rocks" that would make good substitute bricks.)
Up next, Book 4: Ramona and Her Father.
First published in 1975, illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
190 pages, 9 chapters (New York: Avon Camelot)
First grade doesn't quite agree with Ramona. Her teacher doesn't like her. First grade work isn't as interesting as kindergarten work. Changes take place in the Quimby household as well. They build an addition on to the house--a bedroom for Ramona. To pay for it, Mrs. Quimby goes to work part-time. Ramona must make her own bed, bake cookies if she wants them, and deal with Howie's grandmother if she gets sick. Can brave Ramona can all these changes?
I'm beginning to notice the great words Beverly Cleary uses in her books. Here's a sampling from Ramona the Brave: chagrin, heroine, exasperating, astound, liberated, smithereens, and glorious. What fun it will be for young readers to puzzle out the meanings!
I liked how Ramona's creativity and imagination came out in this book: giving her owl glasses, making her own coloring book, and making a (bunny) slipper when she bravely forfeited her shoe to a dog. I was pleased to find that Ramona attends Sunday school and prays regularly. The prayers of a child are so sweet. These things only underscore the wholesomeness of Beverly Cleary's books.
My favorite quotes:
"She was bored, not napping. She had learned to think about schoolwork, and at the same time think about other things in a private corner of her mind" (79).
"Ramona could make an amazing number of things with paper, crayons, staples, and Scotch tape. Bee's wings to wear on her wrists, a crown to wear on her head, a paper catcher's mask to cover her face" (143-44).
Activities from Ramona the Brave:
Chalk Butterflies
Paper Bag Owls
Make Your Own Coloring Book
Play Brick Factory (Here in TN we have some red rocks we call "chalk rocks" that would make good substitute bricks.)
Up next, Book 4: Ramona and Her Father.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Odd Owls & Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense by Arnold Lobel
Here are two recently discovered vignettes from Arnold Lobel of Frog & Toad fame. One about owls, one about pigs. They are delightful in their playfulness.
What I thought: Loved it! The situations in which Lobel presents the owls and pigs will tickle children’s fancy. This book was a pleasure to read. The illustrations are charming and the color just right.
Story Time Idea: Pair with an owl book (Good-Night, Owl! By Pat Hutchins) and a pig book great story time.
(Color by Adrianne Lobel, New York: Harper, 2009)
What I thought: Loved it! The situations in which Lobel presents the owls and pigs will tickle children’s fancy. This book was a pleasure to read. The illustrations are charming and the color just right.
Story Time Idea: Pair with an owl book (Good-Night, Owl! By Pat Hutchins) and a pig book great story time.
(Color by Adrianne Lobel, New York: Harper, 2009)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
My Top Ten YA Books
Adele of Persnickety Snark has a Top 100 YA Titles Poll going. She was inspired by Elizabeth Bird's Top 100 Children 's Book Poll. I didn't weigh in on the Children's Poll, but I decided to let my voice be heard for the YA poll. I don't think I'm the most discerning person to ask, but I put together a list anyway. I like what Adele said about all the lists: "Lists are very dependant on what you've read, genres you prefer, execution vs memory and any matter of things. It is subjective. It is also extremely difficult." Without further ado, here is my Top Ten List.
10. Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (2009)
Fairy tale retellings are on of my favorite YA sub-genres. It was very hard to pick my favorite retelling. I ended up choosing Ice because of its modern setting. Others I considered were Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (Look for the sequel Princess of Glass on May 25! ) and The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli.
9. Spell Hunter by R. J. Anderson (2009)
This book was by far my favorite book of 2009. I loved everything about it. I can't wait for the sequel.
8. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (2008)
Awards: Printz Honor 2009, BBYA 2009
This book is one of those great modern realistic titles. It reminded me of John Green's Looking for Alaska and the film Dead Poets' Society.
7. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (2009)
Awards: William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist 2010
This was a beautiful book. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the size. The Twilight books have soured me on long books unless they are fantastic like Inkheart or Beautiful Creatures. I liked that the story was unique. So many of the paranormal teen novels are hit or miss on a unique plot, originality, and creativity.
6. Backwater by Joan Bauer (2005)
Joan Bauer is one of my favorite YA authors. I knew I had to pick one of her books for my Top 10 list. I considered Hope was Here. It's a great book and even won some awards, but I ultimately chose Backwater. This is my favorite Bauer title to date (and I've read them all!). I think the theme is one with which numerous teen can identify. The book is about identity and many teens struggle with that.
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
Awards: Printz Honor 2007, BBYA 2007
This book was hauntingly beautiful. I've always enjoyed stories about WWII because my grandmother remembered the era. This is something she lived through. And you can't beat death as a narrator.
4. The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause (1990)
Yeah, the Twilight Saga got teens reading again, but the vampire book was around much longer. A full 15 years before the publication of Twilight, Annette Curtis Klause gave us The Silver Kiss. It's my favorite vamp book. While I initially enjoyed the Twilight books, I don't really care for them. If you want a good vampire book, read Klause's.
3. Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt (1966)
Awards: Newbery Medal 1967
I discovered this book in my eighth grade classroom. I remember being drawn to Julie and her story. She was a writer. I like to think that I'm a writer/poet. I discovered Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetry through this book. Little Women and Anne of Green Gables are often touted as the books for girls, but I think Up a Road Slowly is just as important. I need to re-read this one.
2. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (1997)
Awards: Newbery Medal 1998, Notable Children's Book 1998, Scott O'Dell Award 1998
The verse novel (or novel-in-verse or novem) is a growing phenomenon in YA books. This book was my first taste of the form. I read this book in my graduate Children's Literature class. We had to keep book notes--write down the passages that really stood out to us and add an explanation of why. It was a struggle for me not to just copy the book in its entirety. I had read Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, but it didn't strike me as anything more than a prose novel with the sentences separated into lines. Out of the Dust was poetry and it told a story--revolutionary!
1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (1999)
Awards: Printz Honor 2000
Laurie Halse Anderson is a masterful writer. As a reader, I am drawn into the world and characters she creates. Speak was the first novel I read by her. It remains my favorite. Melinda has such a distinctive voice. Her story is one that deserves to be heard.
So here's my list. I know it doesn't reveal any great truths about YA literature, but I had fun deciding on my Top 10. I can't wait to see the results of the poll.
10. Ice by Sarah Beth Durst (2009)
Fairy tale retellings are on of my favorite YA sub-genres. It was very hard to pick my favorite retelling. I ended up choosing Ice because of its modern setting. Others I considered were Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (Look for the sequel Princess of Glass on May 25! ) and The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli.
9. Spell Hunter by R. J. Anderson (2009)
This book was by far my favorite book of 2009. I loved everything about it. I can't wait for the sequel.
8. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (2008)
Awards: Printz Honor 2009, BBYA 2009
This book is one of those great modern realistic titles. It reminded me of John Green's Looking for Alaska and the film Dead Poets' Society.
7. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (2009)
Awards: William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist 2010
This was a beautiful book. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the size. The Twilight books have soured me on long books unless they are fantastic like Inkheart or Beautiful Creatures. I liked that the story was unique. So many of the paranormal teen novels are hit or miss on a unique plot, originality, and creativity.
6. Backwater by Joan Bauer (2005)
Joan Bauer is one of my favorite YA authors. I knew I had to pick one of her books for my Top 10 list. I considered Hope was Here. It's a great book and even won some awards, but I ultimately chose Backwater. This is my favorite Bauer title to date (and I've read them all!). I think the theme is one with which numerous teen can identify. The book is about identity and many teens struggle with that.
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
Awards: Printz Honor 2007, BBYA 2007
This book was hauntingly beautiful. I've always enjoyed stories about WWII because my grandmother remembered the era. This is something she lived through. And you can't beat death as a narrator.
4. The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause (1990)
Yeah, the Twilight Saga got teens reading again, but the vampire book was around much longer. A full 15 years before the publication of Twilight, Annette Curtis Klause gave us The Silver Kiss. It's my favorite vamp book. While I initially enjoyed the Twilight books, I don't really care for them. If you want a good vampire book, read Klause's.
3. Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt (1966)
Awards: Newbery Medal 1967
I discovered this book in my eighth grade classroom. I remember being drawn to Julie and her story. She was a writer. I like to think that I'm a writer/poet. I discovered Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetry through this book. Little Women and Anne of Green Gables are often touted as the books for girls, but I think Up a Road Slowly is just as important. I need to re-read this one.
2. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (1997)
Awards: Newbery Medal 1998, Notable Children's Book 1998, Scott O'Dell Award 1998
The verse novel (or novel-in-verse or novem) is a growing phenomenon in YA books. This book was my first taste of the form. I read this book in my graduate Children's Literature class. We had to keep book notes--write down the passages that really stood out to us and add an explanation of why. It was a struggle for me not to just copy the book in its entirety. I had read Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, but it didn't strike me as anything more than a prose novel with the sentences separated into lines. Out of the Dust was poetry and it told a story--revolutionary!
1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (1999)
Awards: Printz Honor 2000
Laurie Halse Anderson is a masterful writer. As a reader, I am drawn into the world and characters she creates. Speak was the first novel I read by her. It remains my favorite. Melinda has such a distinctive voice. Her story is one that deserves to be heard.
So here's my list. I know it doesn't reveal any great truths about YA literature, but I had fun deciding on my Top 10. I can't wait to see the results of the poll.
Monday, May 3, 2010
What’s the Weather Inside? By Karma Wilson
[Summary from Jacket Description]
"Here are more than 120 hysterical, philosophical, rhetorical, and commonsensical poems and pictures that explore the perfectly not-so-perfect world of picky kids, Miss Muffet's revenge, magic homework wands, yellow snow, and Sunday's sundaes!
New York Times bestselling author Karma Wilson and renowned New Yorker cartoonist Barry Blitt have created a brilliantly entertaining poetry collection sure to be a source of pleasure and inspiration to kids everywhere."
What I thought: A great collection. I couldn’t stop reading. I have several favorites. I especially liked the meta-poems. I can relate to “Forgotten Poems” because it often happens to me. Kids will be highly entertained with this collection. The illustrations were great—they almost told their own story. My favorite poems are:
“What’s the Weather inside?”
“Onomatopoeia”
“Golden Eggs”
“Word Play”
“Forgotten Poems”
“Haunted House”
“Hippo-what-a-mess!”
(Illus. Barry Blitt. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009)
"Here are more than 120 hysterical, philosophical, rhetorical, and commonsensical poems and pictures that explore the perfectly not-so-perfect world of picky kids, Miss Muffet's revenge, magic homework wands, yellow snow, and Sunday's sundaes!
New York Times bestselling author Karma Wilson and renowned New Yorker cartoonist Barry Blitt have created a brilliantly entertaining poetry collection sure to be a source of pleasure and inspiration to kids everywhere."
What I thought: A great collection. I couldn’t stop reading. I have several favorites. I especially liked the meta-poems. I can relate to “Forgotten Poems” because it often happens to me. Kids will be highly entertained with this collection. The illustrations were great—they almost told their own story. My favorite poems are:
“What’s the Weather inside?”
“Onomatopoeia”
“Golden Eggs”
“Word Play”
“Forgotten Poems”
“Haunted House”
“Hippo-what-a-mess!”
(Illus. Barry Blitt. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009)
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