CJRLC's Book Evaluation Committee's "Book Notes"

From the February 6, 2004 meeting
Edited by Sandy Michlich

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Friday, April 2, 2004, at the Neptune Public Library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meetings Schedule: Meeting dates for 2004 are June 4 and August 6. Please mark your calendars now!

Reviewer News:

• Congratulations to Sue Brozena, Georgia Thatcher and Anne Bloete on their upcoming retirements!!!
   

• Maggie Hanley is now at the new Greenville Elementary School in Howell
   

• Karen Enggren’s email has changed to Kenggren@manchestertwp.org
   

Has Anyone Seen These Books?

A couple of packages of review books were sent via CD&L and have not yet arrived at their destinations:

• Nicole Midura is looking for The Tiger’s Apprentice by Lawrence Yep and Firewing by Kenneth Oppel.
   

• Faith Yim is looking for Tree of Life by Peter Sis, Orphan Train by Verla Kay, Come to the Ocean’s Edge by Laurence Pringle, Ruler of the Courtyard by Rukhsa Khan and Medieval Castle by Joanna Cole.

If you have any information, please contact Nicole at nmidura@mers.k12.nj.us and Faith at fyim@mcl.org. Thanks for looking!!

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge
Jenkins, Martin
Candlewick Press, 2003
K-Gr.3, Fry 3

This nonfiction book provides a simple introduction to the dynamics of elephant herds. Karen Stuppi feels this will appeal to young children.

Bertil and the Bathroom Elephants
Lindahl, Inger
R & S Books, 2003
PS-Gr.1, Fry 4

Bertil, who is 3, enjoys the bathroom, especially splashing in the tub. When his mother’s socks get wet from the floor, Bertil assures her that it is the elephants under the tub which are causing the trouble. Maggie Hanley calls this a reassuring book.

The Elephant’s Pillow
Roome, Diana Reynolds
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003
PS-Gr.2, Fry 5

This folktale set in old Peking has a boy who has everything learning to care for the imperial elephant who at last can sleep thanks to the boy’s loving care. An enjoyable story according to Denise Geier.

A Sweet Year: A Taste of the Jewish Holidays
Podwal, Mark H.
Doubleday, 2003
K–Gr. 3, Fry 5

With beautiful, poetic text and symbolic paintings, the author takes us on a journey through a sweet year of Jewish holidays. Recommended by Frances Myers O’Brien.

When the Chickens Went on Strike: A Rosh Hashanah Tale
Aleichem, Sholom
Trueman, Matthew (illus.)
Dutton, 2003
Gr.1–3, Fry 4

A Jewish boy living in Russia learns a lesson from the village chickens at the time of Rosh Hashanah. Maggie Hanley recommends this story with a nice lesson about behavior.

John Adams
Feinberg, Barbara Silberdick
Children’s Press, 2003
Gr.4 & up, Fry 6

Part of the Encyclopedia of the Presidents series, this is a standard biography about America’s second President with attractive illustrations that will be useful for reports, according to Mimi MacMullen.

The White House: An Illustrated History
Grace, Catherine O’Neill
Scholastic, 2003
Gr.3 & up, Fry 5

Beautifully illustrated and informative, this book includes every tidbit about the house, its history and most of all its families. This is a treasure of a book for all libraries raves Mimi MacMullen who gave this an outstanding.

Vote for Me: All About Civics
Hall, Kirsten
Luedecke, Bev (illus.)
Children’s Press, 2003
PS-Gr.1, Fry 2

A class election for president is being held at school and the teacher explains the process to the students. Maggie Hanley says this makes a good start for the younger set and would be useful in this year of elections.

George Washington
January, Brendan
Children’s Press, 2003
Gr.4-7, Fry 6

Another in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series, this biography is recommended by Denise Geier.

Princess, Princess
Dale, Penny
Candlewick Press, 2003
PS-Gr.1, Fry 2

This retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story would make a nice read-aloud as there is a nice life lesson about anger spoiling things, according to Maggie Hanley.

Princesses Are Not Quitters
Lum, Kate
Hellard, Sue (illus.)
Bloomsbury Children’s Press, 2002
PS-Gr.3, Fry 2

Jennifer Salt says that delightful illustrations match a charming story about three bored princesses who make up a game: becoming servant girls for a day.

Put Your Eyes Up Here and Other School Poems
Kalli, Dakos
Karas, G. Brian (illus.)
Simon & Schuster, 2003
Gr.2-5, Fry n/a

These poems about Ms. Roy, an unconventional teacher, are humorous. Carolyn Heuser feels that elementary school students will relate to them.

Crazy Hair Day
Saltzberg, Barney
Candlewick Press, 2003
K-Gr.3, Fry 3

Stanley is excited about Crazy Hair Day at school until he discovers that he has gotten the date wrong. Nancy Cornell calls this a solid purchase.

The Revealers
Wilhelm, Doug
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003
Gr.5-8, Fry 6

This is a story about three middle school students that find friendship when they discover they are all dealing with the same problem, the school bullies. Alice Burnett calls this a great story and a welcome addition to collections.

Sweet Briar Goes to School
Wilson, Karma
Pham, LeUyen (illus.)
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2003
PS-Gr.1, Fry 4

This cute story about a skunk’s first days at school could be a great starting place for a discussion about bullying and tolerance. Denise Geier recommends this excellent choice.

Names for Snow
Beach, Judi K.
Krupinski, Loretta (illus.)
Hyperion, 2003
YA, Fry n/a

The vocabulary and metaphors used to answer the question “What is snow?” is above the intended audience. A quiet, poetic picture book of interest to certain YA’s and adults, but beyond young children according to Jennifer Salt.

Wasteland
Block, Francesca Lia
Joanna Cotler Books, 2003
YA

A brother and sister must deal with terrible consequences when their love for each other stretches past acceptable boundaries. Josephine Mahoney says this is not suitable for school libraries.

The Alphazeds
Glaser, Shirley
Glaser, Milton (illus.)
Hyperion, 2003
K-Gr.2, Fry 4

An empty room begins to fill up with various letters of the alphabet each boldly announcing its personality in a font that begins with that letter. Jean MacMillan feels that as clever as the book is, it is over children’s heads and geared more towards students of design.

Tigers and Their Cubs
Hall, Margaret
Capstone, 2004
PS-Gr.2, Fry 2

Part of the Animal Offspring series, this book is disappointingly inappropriate for young children according to Joanne Grandits.

A Guide to Popular U. S. Landmarks
Wilson, Richard Guy (editor)
Franklin Watts, 2003
Gr.3 & up, Fry 5

This book lists sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places state by state. Mimi MacMullen feels that the amount of information given is uneven and arbitrary, plus does not give contact information. Not a useful purchase.

The Daring Nellie Bly: America’s Star Reporter
Christensen, Bonnie
Knopf, 2003
Gr.2-5, Fry 4

This biography tells how the subject overcame the obstacles of a childhood with an abusive stepfather and the overwhelming prejudice during the 1800’s toward women in the workplace. Mimi MacMullen says this is a great read-aloud for Women’s History Month and an outstanding purchase.

Beegu
Deacon, Alexis
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003
PS-Gr.3, Fry 3

Beegu, a winsome baby alien, crash lands her space ship and sets off hoping to find her mother. Another outstanding purchase, according to Frances Myers O’Brien.

Creation
McDermott, Gerald
Dutton, 2003
Gr.3 & up, Fry n/a

An extraordinary retelling of the creation myth pulling elements from Genesis, Babylonia, France and Spain. Cheryl Otten calls the illustrations phenomenal.

I’m Mighty
McMullan, Kate
McMullan, Jim (illus.)
Joanna Cotler Books, 2003
K-Gr.3, Fry 4

A tugboat describes his typical day in the harbor, bringing in ships much larger than he is. The text and bold illustrations combine to form an action-packed story according to Karen Stuppi.

Acceleration
McNamee, Graham
Wendy Lamb Books, 2003
Gr.9 & up, Fry 8

17 year-old Duncan learns about the life of a would-be serial killer after he begins investigating a shocking journal that turns up in the Toronto subway lost and found where he works. Cecelia Ruegsegger says this novel reads like a fast-paced nail biter of a movie.