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Snowflake Bentley

Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Mary Azarian

Houghton Mifflin Company

1998

Ages 5-8

Biography

32 pages

If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

The inspiring true story of photographer and self-made scientist Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley proves that anyone can achieve their dream. Born of humble means on a Vermont farm in 1865, Bentley was fascinated with weather and devoted his life to studying snow crystals. With the aid of his parents, who sacrificed their life’s savings so he could buy the proper equipment, Bentley created photographs that provided the world with invaluable insight into snow crystals.

Illustrated with warm, hand-colored woodcuts that create an appropriately old-fashioned feel. The simple main text of this 1999 Caldecott Medal winner flows well with the charming illustrations. Sidebars on each page add additional details that maintain interest for older readers and allow the main text to remain focused on the story.

Very inspirational and a joy to read. My only complaint is the dearth of actual photographs by Bentley. The entire book builds interest in the photographs, but only three tiny copies of the actual photographs are shown on the last page.

The Adventures of Sparrowboy

Brian Pinkney

Brian Pinkney

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

1997

Ages 4-8

Fiction

40 pages

Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

An ordinary paperboy named Henry has a very extraordinary day. It all begins when he wishes for the help of the comic superhero "Falconman." After an encounter with a mysterious sparrow his wish comes true, but with a twist. He finds himself in the center of the action.

Scratchboard illustrations add an interesting textural element. This 1997 Boston Globe Horn Book Award winner uses a colorful comic-book style to engage the reader’s interest. The text compliments the pictures well, although the pictures could tell the story by themselves.

This book really captured my attention, so much that I was disappointed when it ended. However, I felt that the book ended with the perfect open-ended conclusion.

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

Alan Schroeder

Jerry Pinkney

Dial Books for Young Readers

1996

Ages 5-9

Historical fiction

40 pages

Maintaining belief in your dream helps you cope, even in the worst situations.

Eight-year-old "Minty," a fictionalized version of a young Harriet Tubman, suffers greatly while working as a slave on a Maryland plantation. Her rebellious nature adds an extra degree of conflict, and she has several traumatic experiences. With the guidance of her father, she starts planning to escape.

Scenes of Minty with her family are very tenderly rendered in this 1997 Coretta Scott King Award winner. Illustrator Jerry Pinkney effectively combines pencils, colored pencils and watercolors to add an appropriately subdued, somewhat dreary cast even to bright, sunny scenes. The strong text describes the horrors of scenes too disturbing to show in the illustrations.

Personal Responses: The story really tugged at my heartstrings. It is a very moving story, well told, but still very sad. The Author’s Note at the end helped the story the end on a happier note.

Snapshots from the Wedding

Gary Soto

Stephanie Garcia

G.P. Putnam’s Sons

1997

Ages 5-8

Fiction

32 pages

The joy of a family wedding.

Flower girl Maya tells the story of her cousin’s Latino wedding with vivid detail. She shares her often silly, but always observant tale of the event from a child’s point of view. From the groom’s broken arm to crying babies, she leaves little to the imagination.

Stephanie Garcia, illustrator of this 1998 Pura BelprJ Award winner, uses a unique but effective approach by using photographs of three-dimensional picture boxes to convey the story. The boxes contain realistic clay figures and a collage of items from the wedding. The text and pictures are integrally tied, and the text often cleverly prompts the reader to look at something in the illustration.

This is such a fun book that it needs to be read several times to properly enjoy it. The writer is definitely in tune with a child’s point of view.

When Jessie Came Across the Sea

Amy Hest

P.J. Lynch

Candlewick Press

1997

Grades 2-4

Historical Fiction

40 pages

Not even the sea can separate the love of family members.

Even though it breaks her heart to be separated from her beloved grandmother, Jessie leaves her small town when she is offered a trip to America. She vividly describes the wonder of living in the new world and finding a new love. She works hard and uses her sewing skills to save toward purchasing a ticket for her grandmother.

P.J. Lynch, the illustrator of this 1998 Kate Greenaway award winner, uses lush paintings to portray a realistic setting of the story. The illustrations complement the story, but they are so beautiful that they almost overwhelm the story.

I enjoyed this beautiful story and its beautiful illustrations. Though at times heartbreaking, the story of Jessie and her trip across the sea to America is very inspirational.

The Whirlys and the West Wind

Christine Ross

Christine Ross

Houghton Mifflin Company

1993

Ages 4-8

Fiction

25 pages

Working together helps deal with a difficult situation.

Imagine the chaos of three rambunctious young children running a household by themselves. That is exactly what happens after Mr. And Mrs. Whirly are swept away by the west wind. Their children devise an outlandish plan to care for themselves until their parents return.

Christine Ross, winner of the Russell Clark Award for Illustrations in 1993, uses soft pastel colors to illustrate this light-hearted book. No detail is left out, including the mess that ensues when three young children are left on their own.

Even though humorous and a delight to read, I was a little troubled by the subject matter of this book. Even though the intent seems to be showing siblings working together, it could also give the impression that children do not need parental guidance.

The Watertower

Gary Crew

Steven Woolman

Crocodile Books

1994

Ages 9-12

Science fiction

32 pages

Things are not always as they seem.

This eerie tale will keep the reader intrigued long after finishing the book. In the town of Preston, an old rusting water tower stands on the edge of a hill. Two boys decide to go inside for a swim on a sweltering summer day. What happens inside is a mystery, but one of the boys is forever changed.

This 1995 Australian Picture Book of the Year winner uses the contrast between colorful illustrations and black background to great effect. In a twist on the usual picture book, the illustrations tell the real story, while the text provides the background information.

What a great puzzle. This is the kind of book that I could not stop thinking about, even long after I read it.

Ghost Train

Paul Yee

Harvey Chan

Groundwood Books

1996

Grades 3-5

Fantasy

30 pages

Everyone has a gift that they can use to help others.

Could things get any worse for Choon-yi, born with only one arm in a poor peasant family in China? She makes the best of the situation by creating and selling paintings. She is rightfully concerned when her beloved father accepts a perilous job building railroads in America. When she travels to see him, she endures heartbreak before discovering that her magical talent can help her father and many others.

The beautiful oil paintings have a gloomy dark brown tint that adds to the melancholy mood of the text. This winner of the 1997 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Medal effectively uses the subdued pictures to compliment instead of distracting from the text.

I found this to be a powerful book, even though it is written and illustrated with a gentle touch.

The Giver

Lois Lowry

None

Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers

1993

Ages 10-12

Science Fiction

180 pages

Things are not always as they seem.

Jonas lives in the ideal community, or so it seems. Everyone seems so content and safe. Doors are left unlocked, even during the night. However, Jonas soon finds out that there are sinister secrets lurking behind the pleasant veneer of his community. Can he save himself before it is too late?

The winner of numerous awards, including the 1994 Newbery Medal, this book expertly draws in the reader. The reader can find hints throughout the story as more and more clues are doled out. It still leaves the reader speculating the outcome until the very end.

This is the kind of book that I could read again and again and never forget.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Beverly Cleary

Alan Tiegreen

Morrow Junior Books

1981

Ages 7-9

Realistic Fiction

190 pages

A family’s love can overcome hardships.

Ramona can not possibly be a "nuisance." Doesn’t she try her best to keep out of trouble and to help out her family during difficult times? Even a change of school does not provide boisterous Ramona a break from her troubles, but in the end she discovers the true depth of her family’s love.

Even though it was written over twenty years ago, this hilarious tale of an eight-year old is still relevant today. This 1982 Newbery Honor Book humorously, but still sensitively, tells the timeless tale of a difficult time in a child’s life. The simple line drawing illustrations add to the story without distracting from the text.

Is it possible that the author was really an eight-year-old and not the former librarian who claims to have written the book? Her insights into the life of an eight-year-old are uncanny.

Agnes the Sheep

William Taylor

None

Scholastic Inc.

1990

Ages 9-12

Fiction

132 pages

Be kind to others, because the kindness might be repaid to you.

Belinda and Joe, two feuding classmates, become unlikely allies when they are named caretakers of a sheep. Not just any sheep, but a hulking, obstinate sheep named Agnes. It all begins when they are assigned to visit a local "pioneer." Bored at first with the assignment, they soon find that the life of Mrs. Carpenter was anything but ordinary. In the often- humorous episodes that follow, everyone learns a little about life.

William Taylor, the author of this 1991 Esther Glen Award winner alternates between pleasant and disturbing events to keep the reader guessing. Just when the book is almost finished, she adds some surprises to the ending.

Even though the fate of Agnes the Sheep was unsettling to me, I still enjoyed reading the book.

The Friends

Kazumi Yumoto

Cathy Hirano

Farrar Strauss Giroux

1992

Ages 9-12

Fiction

170 pages

People from different generations have a lot to offer each other.

Kiyama and his self-absorbed friends, Yamashita and Kawabe, share an obsession with death. They decide to spy on an old man in hopes of watching his death. However, the old man soon catches the boys and starts to play tricks on them. The boys eventually befriend the old man and they all learn important lessons about life from each other. When the boys are finally confronted with death, it is nothing like the experience that they imagined.

Kazumi Yumoto fully develops the characters in this 1997 Boston Globe Horn Book Award winner for fiction. Portrayed in the beginning as rude, uncaring boys, she slowly delves deeper into each character until their true self is revealed. This 1997 Mildred A. Batchelder Award winning story is sprinkled with a few Japanese words, most of which are adequately explained for the English reader.

In the beginning, this story was very unsettling. The characters were not likeable, and I considered choosing a different book to read. However, I’m glad that I persevered because the story turned out to be a real treasure.

Author:

Paul Zelinsky

Paul Zelinsky

Dutton Children’s Books

1997

Ages 4-8

Traditional fiction

38 pages

Overcoming the challenges of life.

This retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale includes some elements from other variations of the story. In this version, the harsh but protective sorceress locks Rapunzel in the tower to protect her from the outside world. Rapunzel and the prince meet and marry in the tower before being caught by the sorceress. They endure great hardships before the book concludes with the requisite happy ending. Zelinsky includes an author’s section at the end of the book with an interesting history of the tale.

It is easy to see why this book won the 1998 Caldecott Medal. Paul Zelinsky fills the pages with lush golden-toned oil paintings in an Italian Renaissance style. No detail is left out, including the elaborate braids and coils of Rapunzel’s gorgeous long hair. The text and pictures are integrally tied and flow well together.

The gorgeous pictures and captivating text make this book a joy to read. The author’s notes at the end show how thoroughly Zelinsky researched the tale.

Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds

Cynthia Rylant

Barry Moser

Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

1991

Ages 4-8

Non-fiction

23 pages

Remembering your hometown.

Cynthia Rylant fondly describes the area of Appalachia and the people, the "sleeping birds" who live there. The lifestyle of the people is described in detail, including their religion, eating habits, and home furnishings. The author and illustrator both grew up in the region, and several of the illustrations are based on actual photographs of the area.

Cynthia Rylant effectively uses a storyteller’s voice to narrate this 1991 Boston Globe Horn Book Award winner. Barry Moser’s sun-dappled transparent watercolor illustrations add an appropriately tender feel. However, while the people of Appalachia are always portrayed in a positive light, they are over-generalized.

Even though the people and the area are portrayed in a tender, positive manner, I feel that the people in this book are over-generalized. For example, I am sure that not everyone in Appalachia eats bacon and fried chicken and owns a dog.

The Way Things Work

The New Way Things Work (not reviewed-newer version, same author)

David Macaulay

David Macaulay

Houghton Mifflin

1988

Ages 9-12

Non-fiction

384 pages

Principles of how machines work.

Ever wonder how a copy machine works, or how a vending machine determines if the correct change has been used? David Macaulay answers these questions and hundreds more, in this comprehensive guide to the workings of machines. Beginning with a short introduction to general physics principles, the majority of this large book is comprised of four sections of machines grouped by similar working principles. This creates some interesting pairings, such as the zipper and the plow. The book concludes with a history of machines and a glossary of technical terms. The pages are filled with technical drawings complimented by humorous cartoons and stories about a wooly mammoth.

1989 Boston Globe Horn Book Award winner is written in easy language for children to understand. All technical terms are well explained or introduced in a previous section. Macaulay uses a variety of illustrations, from technical drawings to humorous cartoons, to maintain the reader’s interest. The stories of the wooly mammoth are especially humorous, but they are sometimes satirical, such as the illustration of a nuclear power source.

This is the rare technical book that is also a joy to read. It would be a great resource for parents for the inevitable "how does it work" questions.

Holes(soft cover)

Louis Sachar

None

Dell Yearling

1998

Ages 10-13

Realistic Fiction

233 pages

Things are not always as they seem.

Stanley and his family attribute their bad luck to a curse placed on their "pig-stealing" ancestor. Convicted of a crime he did not commit, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment. For a boy who never could afford to go to camp, it sounds like an easy alternative to time in jail. However, Stanley soon learns that there is nothing pleasant about Camp Green Lake. The lake dried up over a century ago, and every day each "camper" must endure scorching temperatures to dig a five-foot hole in the dry lakebed. The exhausting manual labor is meant to build character in the juvenile delinquents, but Stanley suspects that they are actually searching for something buried in the lakebed.

It is easy to see why this mystery won so many awards, including the 1998 National Book Award, the 1999 Newbery Medal, and the 1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Throughout the intriguing main story of Stanley and his bad luck, author Louis Sachar splices in the parallel story of Stanley’s "pig-stealing" ancestor. At first, the pig-stealing story seems like a humorous diversion. As the story builds, however, the secondary story gains in importance until both stories are integrally tied.

This very enjoyable book is the kind that causes the reader to keep flipping backward to see if they missed any clues.

Chato’s Kitchen

Gary Soto

Susan Guevara

G.P. Putnam’s Sons

1995

Ages 5-8

Fiction

29 pages

Friends come in all shapes and sizes.

Chato the cat is overjoyed when a family of mice move in next door. He sends the mouse family an invitation to dinner without letting on that they will be the main course. When the mice ask to bring along a friend, Chato agrees thinking that he will have an extra mouse to devour. When the mice arrive for dinner, their surprise guest helps turn the tables on Chato.

Scratchboard backgrounds add additional texture to Susan Guevara’s bright paintings in this 1996 Pura BelprJ Award winner for illustrator. No detail is left out, including the realistic-looking fur of the personified mice. Humorous details not mentioned in the text are shown in the illustrations, including a bird wedding ceremony performed outside the window. The Spanish words, though a little distracting, add additional flavor to the lively text.

This very humorous story is enjoyable to read and to view.

A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L’Engle

None

Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers

1962

Ages 9-12

Fantasy

198 pages

Everyone has special talents.

Meg’s beloved father has been missing since he began working on a secret physics experiment. On "a dark and stormy night," a strange visitor knocks on the door. To the distress of Meg’s mother, the visitor mentions something called a "tesseract." Could that have something to do with Meg’s missing father? On the advice of the stranger, Meg later sets off on a perilous journey with her "baby brother" Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin in hopes of reuniting with her father. Along the way, Meg battles the forces of evil and learns some surprising truths about herself and her family.

Madeleine L’Engle won the Newbery Medal for this classic science fiction story in 1963. The deeper message of questioning time and space is enjoyably presented through an engaging plot. The main characters are very human and believable against the fantastic background of alien worlds.

This story is such a treasure. I enjoyed it from cover to cover.

Alien Secrets

Annette Curtis Klause

None

Delacorte Press

1993

Ages 10-13

Science Fiction

227 pages

Everyone has something to contribute.

Robin Goodfellow, also known as Puck, is experiencing a difficult time in her life. Expelled from her hated all-girls boarding school, she travels on a space ship to meet with her disappointed parents. Aboard the ship, she meets a dejected alien nicknamed Hush. He has lost a precious item called the Soo that belongs to his people. Inquisitive Puck decides to help him recover the item although it involves much danger. Along the way, she discovers strengths in herself and others that she did not know existed.

Annette Curtis Klause effectively combines mystery and science fiction to create an enjoyable, enthralling story. The unpredictable plot twists add to its intrigue. Unfortunately, after reading half of the book the reader can determine the ending of the story by the illustration on the hardcover edition’s cover.

The character of Puck was so well developed that I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. Even though the places are extraordinary, Puck is very believable as a child experiencing a difficult time in her life.

Crutches

Peter Hartling

Elizabeth D. Crawford

Lothrop, Lee & Shepard

1988

Ages 9-14

Historical Fiction

163 pages

Making do in difficult situations.

World War II has caused much hardship for twelve-year-old Thomas Schramm. Comforts that most people take for granted, like sleeping in a bed or taking bath, are rare luxuries for Thomas. His father was killed in the war, and he and his mother were forced to leave their home. During their journey, Thomas was separated from his mother in a chaotic rush of people boarding a train heading west. With much difficulty, he travels alone to Vienna to locate his aunt. Instead of finding his aunt, he happens upon an eccentric character who calls himself "Crutches." Crutches lost one of his legs in the war, and he ekes out a living through bartering. Crutches agrees to help Thomas in the search for his mother. Along the way, and much to the dismay of Crutches, he and Thomas become close friends.

This powerful book won the 1989 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. The details make the story seem very realistic. Perhaps this is because author Peter Hartling suffered through similar experiences after World War II. Hartling develops the characters expertly, especially with Crutches. Badly wounded both emotionally and physically from the war, the true character of Crutches is never clear until near the end of the book.

This moving book is very well written. It is one of those books that it is difficult to put down once you start reading.

Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales (limited availability)

Virginia Hamilton

Leo & Diane Dillon

The Blue Sky Press

1995

Ages 9-14

Traditional fiction

109 pages

Theme:

Women are strong.

Author Virginia Hamilton collected several types of tales to create this appealing book. She divided the book into five sections: "Her Animal Tales," "Her Fairy Tales," "Her Supernatural," "Her Folkways and Legends," and "Her True Tales." All feature an African American woman as the main character. They range from a variation of the classic Cinderella story named "Catskinella," to a dramatized story about a female keelboat operator named "Annie Christmas," to the true story of a woman who suffered under slavery in "Millie Evans: Plantation Times." At the end of each tale, Hamilton provides an overview of its history. Unlike many traditional tales, many have a heavyhearted ending.

This incredible collection of tales won the Coretta Scott King Award in 1996. The large, detailed illustrations complement the text well. Acrylic paintings with a grayish cast add to the supernatural feel of the book. The tales are sprinkled with Gullah and Creole words, such as "daylean" and "dayclean." These are explained well in the summary following each tale, but sometimes the words are used in several tales before they are explained.

This is a very engaging book. The twist of unhappy endings helps to add an element of surprise.

The Tiny Kite of Eddie Wing(limited availability)

Maxine Trottier

Al Van Mil

Kane/Miller Book Publishers

1996

Ages 4-9

Realistic fiction

22 pages

Never give up on your dreams.

Young Eddie Wing dreams of flying a kite. Unfortunately, his family is so poor that he cannot even afford the materials to make a small paper kite. He decides to fly his own imaginary kite, and eventually other children join him to watch its imaginary flights. Eddie’s dreams become more vivid after venerable businessman Old Chan announces that the smallest kite will win the Festival of Kites. Unknown to Eddie, Old Chan has an unfulfilled dream of his own, to create poetry. In the end, Eddie and Old Chan enable each other to fulfill their dreams.

This engaging book won the 1996 Canadian Children’s Book of the Year award. Illustrator Van Mil cleverly juxtaposes Eddie and Old Chan in two-page spreads. In one especially effective scene, their dreams intermingle. The paintings start with a dark tone but continue to brighten until the end, paralleling the journey to the happy ending.

This uplifting book is a joy to read.

The Night Flyers

Elizabeth McDavid Jones

None

Pleasant Company Publications

1999

Ages 9-12

Mystery

139 pages

Everyone has something to contribute.

The year is 1918, and it has been a difficult one for twelve-year-old Pam Lowder. She worries about her father, who is fighting "somewhere in France" in World War II. Pam and her mother struggle to keep their North Carolina farm running. Things get worse after a mysterious stranger attempts to buy Pam’s beloved homing pigeons. Pam and her father trained them to carry messages during the night, which is rare for pigeons. Pam resists selling the birds because of their connection to her father. She is also suspicious of the stranger because of his German accent. When Pam’s pigeons start disappearing one by one, she suspects the stranger. She decides to uncover the truth, even though it means facing danger. In the end, she finds that people are not always like they first seem. She also discovers that she might be able to aid her father and the other men fighting in the war.

This historical mystery won the 2000 Edgar Allan Poe Award. The historical background of the story is presented well, both through the text and through the historical section at the end of the book. The text is complemented with small black and white illustrations in the beginning of every chapter, a color map of "Pam’s World" at the beginning of the book, and photographs in the historical section at the end. Pam’s character is well developed, but it difficult to believe that a child in 1918 would have a much leeway as Pam’s mother gives her.

The story line and historical information combine to make this story seem very real.

The Clearing (limited availability)

Dorothy Reynolds Miller

None

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

1996

Ages 9-12

Mystery

119 pages

Things are not always as they seem.

Eleven-year old Amanda is shocked when her parents consider moving from the small town of Stump, Pennsylvania to Minneapolis. They decide to send Amanda to her cousin Elsinore’s house while they spend the summer in Minneapolis. Elsinore lives in an area called "the clearing," a group of twelve homes surrounded by woods. At first, Amanda’s time in the clearing is dominated by challenging her bossy cousin Elsinore. In the process, Amanda ends up befriending her cousin Nelson and an older girl named Cynthia Kennedy. Together, the three friends investigate the clearing’s dark secret – the disappearance of five-year-old Bucky Mead ten years ago. All of the people in the clearing suspect reclusive "Spook" Wade. Together Amanda and her friends solve the mystery, but they find that there is an unfortunate price to pay for their efforts.

This riveting story won the 1997 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Splices of humor permeate the serious story line of the book and maintain the reader’s interest. The characters, especially Amanda, are very well developed and believable. Author Dorothy Reynolds Miller effectively tells the story using Amanda as the first-person narrator. This adds both humor and emotional depth to the story. The book has several plot twists, most of which the reader will probably not see coming.

This unpredictable nature of the story made this book a joy to read.

The Dollhouse Murders

Betty Ren Wright

None

Scholastic, Inc.

1983

Ages 9-12

Mystery

149 pages

Things are not always as they seem.

Twelve-year-old Amy is overwhelmed by caring for her mentally challenged eleven-year-old sister Louann. Amy’s mother expects her to constantly watch and entertain Louann, which is difficult because Louann is strong willed and loud. After being scolded by her mother for her purported mistreatment of Louann, Amy runs away to visit her Aunt Clare. Clare persuades Amy’s mother to give her a month-long break from her caretaker duties, and Amy temporarily moves in with Clare. Amy gratefully enjoys her time with Clare until she finds a beautiful old dollhouse in the attic. Any mention of the dollhouse upsets her aunt, and Amy soon finds that the dolls seem to have a creepy life of their own. Amy is horrified when she learns that there was once a mysterious double murder in her aunt’s house. Could the dolls have anything to do with solving the murder mystery? Amy solves the mystery, and along the way she finds newfound love and appreciation for her sister.

The dual story line of the mystery and Amy’s attempts to deal with her mentally challenged sister make this a compelling read. The aunt at first seems too good to be true, but the author adds some elements, such as her emotional problems and her anger, that make her character more believable.

A very interesting story and good characterization combine to make this a fun mystery to read.

Title:

Beyond the Divide (limited availability)

Author:

Kathryn Lasky

Illustrator:

None

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:

1983

Grade Level:

Ages 12-YA

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Number of pages in book, or time required for multimedia item:

254 pages

Theme:

People can triumph over adversity.

Summary:

Fourteen-year-old Meribah Simon is devastated when the Amish community shuns her beloved father in 1849. As punishment for a minor infraction of the Amish rules, her father is not allowed to speak to others, even to his own family. When he decides to join a wagon train heading west in hopes of starting a new life, Meribah decides to accompany him. Along the way, she makes friends and documents her experiences through her drawings. Then, tragically, a terrible act is committed against her friend Serena. No one will tell Meribah what happened, just that "it" happened, and things will never be the same. As Meribah continues her journey, conditions in the wagon train deteriorate, and she is confronted with the true nature of her traveling companions. Her situation becomes dire after her father is injured. Will Meribah and her father survive to make a new life in the west?

Evaluation:

This candid chronicle of a wagon train journey is enhanced by the development of the characters. Author Kathryn Lasky drops hints throughout the book of the true nature of the minor characters, then reveals the truth when the time is right. She develops the main character of Meribah especially effectively by including her private thoughts as well as her general observations. This helps Meribah seem especially real. The plot twists add additional drama to story, and the details of daily life on the trail make the settings seem real. At the end of the book, Lasky adds the account of her research that led to the writing of the book.

This is a very powerful book, both for the fictional story of Meribah, and for the sad true story of the American Indians.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Patricia MacLachlan

None

Harper Trophy

1985

Ages 7-10

Historical Fiction

58 pages

Adapting to new situations.

Life on the prairie has been difficult for Anna since her mother died after giving birth to her brother Caleb. Their loving father never seemed to get over the grief of losing his wife, which is evidenced by his lack of singing. Then, one day, their father announces that he has found a potential new bride. Her name is Sarah, and she is coming to stay with the family for a month as a trial of a potentially more permanent relationship. Anna and Caleb are thrilled, and they are delighted with strong-willed Sarah. They stay on their best behavior, hoping to win her over, but they are troubled by her sadness over missing the ocean. One day, Sara takes off with the wagon into town, which troubles Anna and Caleb. Will she return to marry their father, or will she be lost to them forever?

It is easy to see why this delightful story won both the 1986 Newbery Medal and the 1986 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The brevity of this book is deceiving. Packed into a mere 58 pages is a very enjoyable story with a complete plot. The characters are believable and likeable. Author Patricia MacLachlan effectively adds humor, sometimes subtly, to enhance the story.

This is the kind of book that successfully tugs at the reader’s heartstrings, but then leaves the reader feeling uplifted at the end.

Skylark

Patricia MacLachlan

None

Harper Collins

1994

Ages 8-11

Historical Fiction

87 pages

Family love helps overcome hardship.

This charming sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall begins with Caleb’s marriage to his mail-order bride Sarah. Told through the point of view of Caleb’s daughter Anna, the story is both sweet and heartbreaking. It traces the new family through a dangerous time of drought on the prairie. When the drought becomes so severe that her family must separate, Anna worries that they might never reunite. However, Anna’s beloved father saves the day, just as he always does, and the story ends on a happy note.

Author Patricia MacLachlan effectively uses the first-person observations of Anna to reveal much about Sarah and Caleb. The plot, though quick, is easy to follow. It lacks a little of the gentle humor of Sarah, Plain and Tall, but is still enjoyable to read.

After reading and enjoying Sarah, Plain and Tall by the same author, I had to read the sequel. I was not disappointed.

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution

Natalie S. Bober

None

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

1995

Ages 11-YA

Biography

248 pages

The life of a strong woman.

This complete biography fills in the lesser-known details of the life of Abigail Adams, who was the wife of president John Adams and the mother of president John Quincy Adams. Abigail Adams wrote a multitude of letters during her lifetime, and author Natalie S. Bober uses them as the background of her biography. Bober portrays Abigail Adams as a strong-willed woman who followed the traditional role for women of her day. Adams was very well read, and she wished that women had better access to education. She endured much in her life, from witnessing a battle of the American Revolution, to losing several children to death, to enduring long separations from her husband.

This detailed biography, winner of the 1995 winner of the Boston Globe- Horn Book Award, never ceases to interest the reader. Author Natalie S. Bober includes general facts about historical events at the time that events are occurring in Abigail Adam’s life. This helps the reader gain a better picture of Adams’ situation. Bober includes sections at the beginning and end of that book that explain her extensive research and documentation into the life of Adams.

After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of the hardships that women faced just a few hundred years ago.

Anne Frank, Beyond the Diary: A Photographic Remembrance

Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven

Tony Langham and Plym Peters

Viking

1993

Ages 10-YA

Biography

113 Pages

The tragedy of Anne Frank’s death.

This complete biography of Anne Frank begins with pictures of her infancy and childhood. The pictures show Anne with her happy family who had no idea the horror that their later life would include. Anne received her cherished diary for her thirteenth birthday. At the time she received the diary, her family had already moved from their native Germany to Amsterdam in hopes of avoiding Nazi persecution of people who were Jewish. Unfortunately, the war caught up with them and forced them into hiding less than a month after Anne received her diary. After just over two years in hiding, the family was discovered and arrested. Friends of the family retrieved Anne’s diary and family photo albums before their secret hiding space was emptied. This biography is full of actual family photos, excerpts from Anne’s diary, and other family memorabilia and documentation.

This haunting biography contains beautiful pictures of the Frank family, as well as detailed colored drawings and maps. It was originally published in Dutch, and was an Honor Book winner for the 1994 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. The authors splice in historic sections between sections to help the reader understand the larger historical context in which events in Anne’s life were taking place.

This is a very moving book. It adds another personal element to the sad story of Anne Frank.

The Double Life of Pocahontas

Jean Fritz

Ed Young

G. P. Putnam’s Sons

1983

Ages 8-10

Biography

96 pages

A woman forced to live in two clashing cultures.

This biography begins with the life of the Native American princess Pocahontas shortly before her famous meeting with Englishman John Smith. It continues with the traditional tale of Pocahontas saving John Smith’s life. However, in this version, the author raises the possibility that Pocahontas was asked by her father to pretend to save Smith’s life in a ceremony that would make him part of their family. The Native Americans enjoyed trading with the English, but they were disgruntled by their failure to trade them any guns. Pocahontas’ father thought that by making him an honorary member of their tribe, John Smith would finally trade them some guns. The book goes on to describe the management problems at the Jamestown settlement that caused many people to die. It then goes on to describe Pocahontas’ kidnapping by the English and her forced assimilation into their society in Jamestown. She later married an Englishman named John Rolfe, who she met and moved with to England. She died of natural causes at the age of only twenty-one, and left behind a two-year-old son, Thomas.

This book attempts to dispel some of the stories associated with Pocahontas. Author Jean Fritz develops her character well, including some of the attributes that would have made her susceptible to the conniving of others. Illustrator Ed Young includes soft black and white illustrations with a charcoal feel and a map of the Jamestown area during Pocahontas’ time.

This book gives another side to the legendary story of Pocahontas.

Joan of Arc

Diane Stanley

Diane Stanley

Morrow Junior Books

1998

Ages 11-14

Biography

44 pages

The life of a heroine.

Joan of Arc was born around 1412 to a poor peasant family in France. Her parents named her Jeanette, and she never learned how to read or write. During the time of her life, her country was involved in the Hundred Years’ War with the English over the ownership of France. Word spread throughout the country about a young girl who was going to save France from the English. When she was thirteen years old, Joan of Arc started having visions that convinced her that she was the girl. Joan of Arc became an inspiration to the people of her country. She eventually won the trust of prince Charles, who later became the king of France. Unfortunately, she was caught by the British, tried in the Inquisition, and burned at the stake as a heretic. King Charles later had her retried and cleared, and five hundred years after her death, the Catholic church declared her a saint.

The colorful, rich, full-page illustrations created with acrylics add an appropriately heroic feel to the story of Joan the Arc. Author Diane Stanley includes a helpful pronunciation guide to the French terms in the beginning, as well as a map of the disputed territory of the time. The text and illustrations flow well together and the author includes historical facts that help frame the time period of Joan of Arc’s life.

This narrative of Joan of Arc’s life is especially interesting because it includes lesser-known aspects of her life.

Lincoln: In His Own Words (limited availability)

Milton Meltzer

Stephen Alcorn

Harcourt Brace & Company

1993

Ages 10-14

Biography

226 pages

The life of an incredible man.

Author Milton Meltzer tells this complete, detailed biography using many of Lincoln’s own words. It begins with Lincoln’s humble birth in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1809 and ends with his death at Ford’s theatre in Washington in 1865. Meltzer tells the story in between with a combination of the details of the events in the country and in Lincoln’s own life. Meltzer uses copious amounts of Lincoln’s writing, from a receipt from his law practice, to parts of his famous Emancipation Proclamation, to the entire Gettysburg Address.

Illustrator Stephen Alcorn effectively uses black and white linocut illustrations in full page and two-page spreads which add texture and a feeling of strength. The illustrations show Lincoln and his contemporaries as well as some stylistic visions of the emotions of the time. Although the book is long, it never seems slow-paced. Author Milton Meltzer’s text combines well with Lincoln’s actual words to create a very full characterization of the former president.

Even though some of the documents used in the book are well known, the everyday documents tell much of the story of the life of Abraham Lincoln.

An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly

Laurence Pringle

Bob Marstall

Orchard Books

1997

Ages 9-12

Informational

64 pages

The life cycle of a monarch butterfly.

Author Laurence Pringle follows the life of a monarch butterfly he names Danaus, after her species name, through her yearlong lifecycle. After her spring birth and metamorphosis on a Massachusetts hayfield, she travels thousands of miles, eventually reaching Mexico for the winter. She returns in the spring to the United States to hatch her own eggs and to reach the conclusion of her own life.

Bob Marstall beautifully illustrates this 1998 Orbis Pictus award winner with colorful, detailed paintings. He adds additional illustrations such as maps and detailed close-ups of the butterfly’s anatomy. Author Laurence Pringle describes the butterfly’s life in great detail, but he manages to maintain the reader’s interest though the personal story of Danaus. He adds helpful sidebars with additional information. The book concludes with sections on the danger to the monarch’s winter refuge in Mexico and on how to raise monarch butterflies.

This book is both beautiful and informative.

Through My Eyes

Ruby Bridges

None

Scholastic Press

1999

Ages 9-YA

Biography

61 pages

A little girl’s brave triumph over adversity.

This stirring autobiography describes the ordeals that Ruby Bridges suffered through as a child. After starting first grade at a segregated elementary school that was quite a long walk from her home, she was told she was going to start at a new school which was closer to home. She had no idea what was in store for her. She was one of four African American children who, under court order, were to begin the integration process in the New Orleans public schools.

Ruby was surprised when armed marshalls picked her up for her first day at the new school. She was even more surprised because she seemed to be the only student in the school. Ruby’s teacher, Mrs. Henry, inspired her and lovingly taught her, though they were left all alone in a separate classroom. Mrs. Henry encouraged the few remaining white children in the school to play with Ruby, but they mostly kept to themselves. The daily protestors in front of her school, especially one who carried a black doll in a coffin and a woman who threatened to poison her, terrified Ruby. The book includes sidebars and full pages devoted to the history of the civil rights movement, and Ruby’s role in it. The book concludes with Ruby’s description of the remainder of her life, including her reunion with her beloved teacher Mrs. Henry.

Sepia toned photographs effectively convey an historic tone to this 2000 Orbis Pictus award winner. The writing is poignant and effective, and Ruby’s character seems very real. Just when the reader is wondering about the remainder of Ruby’s life, she adds a heartwarming continuation to the end of the book.

This powerful book really moved me.

Leonardo da Vinci

Diane Stanley

Diane Stanley

Orchard Books

1996

Ages 7-11

Biography

45 pages

The life of a brilliant man.

This complete biography describes the life of Leonardo da Vinci, beginning with his illegitimate birth in Italy in 1452 and ending with his death in France in 1519. The biography includes details of both da Vinci’s personal and professional life. Da Vinci was offered little educational opportunities because of his illegitimacy. Instead, he went to work as an artist’s apprentice, which began his lifelong work. Throughout his life, he sought and received the support of wealthy patrons. Some wanted him purely for friendship, some for his engineering abilities, and some for his art. Each influenced him in a different way. Da Vinci was very curious about almost everything, and he constantly tried new scientific experiments. The book ends with a postscript about the unfortunate destruction of much of da Vinci’s work over the years.

This 1997 Orbis Pictus award winner uses rich, full-page paintings to illustrate the story of Leonardo da Vinci’s life. Each page contains a copy of actual sketches from da Vinci’s notebooks. The text flows well and is complemented by the illustrations.

This is a very interesting portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci’s life.

Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation (limited availability)

Jimmy Carter

None

Dutton Children’s Books

1993

Ages 10-14

Informational

(Social Science)

192 pages

The peace process and the effect of war on civilians.

Former president Jimmy Carter wrote this book to inform young people about his views on peace and war. He includes a history of the Middle East, an account of the Camp David Accords, and a summary of the current wars being fought in the world at the time the book was published. He also includes reasons why he believes war occurs, including lack of basic human needs such as food and shelter, and environmental destruction. Carter discusses alternatives to war such as negotiation. He also explains his own organizations founded to help seek peace around the world, called the Carter Center and The International Negotiation Network. He ends the book with the plea to young people to do what they can to help.

Carter bases this book on his personal opinions, and he is very up-front about it. He provides factual documentation to back up his arguments. He includes copies of actual historical documents and a small section of black and white photos from his presidency and peacekeeping missions.

This was a surprisingly interesting book to read. It is especially relevant because of the turmoil being experienced in the Middle East today.

Jack’s Garden

Henry Cole

Henry Cole

Greenwillow Books

1995

Ages 5-9

Informational

(Biological Science)

25 pages

The foundations of a garden.

Jack’s garden begins as a blank slate of freshly tilled soil. The book follows as the garden progresses. First, worms and bugs prepare the soil. Then, Jack plants seeds, rain falls, seedlings sprout, and finally, plants grow. Illustrations show the insects, birds and butterflies, individually labeled, that sustain their nourishment from the garden.

Beautiful full-color illustrations created with colored pencils add just the right soft, sunny tone to this delightful book. The background color of every two-page spread begins as white and progresses toward brighter colors as the book progresses to the bright last scene. The book has little text, but it has all that is necessary, because the pictures tell the story.

This is a simple, but beautifully done book.

A Caldecott Celebration

Leonard S. Marcus

None

Walker and Company

1998

Ages 8-YA

Informational (Humanities)

49 pages

Great illustrators of children’s books.

This collection celebrates six Caldecott Award-winning illustrators, one for each decade that the award has been given. Author Leonard S. Marcus begins with a section on the history of the Caldecott Award. He then takes the reader behind the scenes to see the creative processes employed by: Robert McCloskey, illustrator of Make Way for Ducklings; Marcia Brown, illustrator of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper; Maurice Sendak, illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are; William Steig, illustrator of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble; Chris Van Allsburg, illustrator of Jumanji; and David Wiesner, illustrator of Tuesday. Preliminary sketches, thumbnail drawings, dummies prepared for editors, and final illustrations from the books are included.

Children’s book historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus wrote this fascinating book. In it, each illustrator describes the influences that led to their award-winning book. All of the stories are inspirational, and some are humorous as well. Marcus engages the reader’s curiosity of the individual authors’ lives by including a brief biography on each of them. The illustrations came directly from the illustrators. Some are merely black and white sketches, but beautiful color illustrations of the final artwork are included, as well as some photographs.

This book shows how difficult the creative process can be, but at the same time, it is very inspirational.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Joy Cowley

Nic Bishop

Scholastic Press

1999

Ages 6-9

Informational (Biological Science)

32 pages

A night in the life of a frog in the rain forest.

The nocturnal red-eyed tree frog lives in the forest. When many of the other creatures in the rain forest are just going to sleep, the red-eyed tree frog wakes up. He searches for the right food to eat, and then he narrowly escapes becoming another creature’s meal. Finally, he finds a good meal, and then he falls to sleep just as the sun rises. Author Joy Cowley includes a two-page section at the end of the book which gives additional information about the frog and its diet.

Large close-up color photographs by Nic Bishop displayed on a lively green background illustrate this bright book. The photographs of the frog and the other rainforest creatures are incredibly detailed. The sparse, sometimes humorous text adds just the right compliment to the beautiful photographs.

This book will leave the reader wondering how the photographer was able to obtain such beautiful, close-up photographs.

Cathedral: The Story of It’s Construction