Literary
Lagniappe
University of New Orleans
Spring/Summer, 2005
Issue # 33
The word “lagniappe” (pronounced ‘lan
yap’) is a common term used in Louisiana. It
means “a little something extra.” The
literary community of the University of New
Orleans offers our readers a literary
lagniappe–reviews of recently published
children’s books. Within categories, books
are arranged alphabetically by the author's
last name.
FICTION
The Fire Eaters by David Almond.
Delacorte, $15.95 Ages 8-15.
This fictional story offers readers
many dimensions of interest—history,
England, love, hope—all in a believable and
compelling, yet complicated narrative. The
Fire Eaters is a coming-of-age story set
against the backdrop of the 1962 Cuban
Missile Crisis—a time when world powers
threatened one another with weapons of
mass destruction. With a conflict
impending, its potential devastation is
anticipated in far off regions such as those in
the story’s setting of Keely Bay where
British teenager Bobby Burns is struggling
to reach manhood. Through the story’s
several subplots, readers learn that Burns’
ordinary life is not only shaken by his fears
of war, but compounded by several other
worries: losing his father to illness;
witnessing the suffering of others; and
dealing with an abusive situation at his
school. In a manly fashion, Burns
overcomes his fears by standing up to his
oppressors and by accepting fate. As Burns
climactically reaches these terms, all of the
subplots merge with the resolution of Burns
discovering that happiness in life is
experienced by joyfully sharing it with those
he cares for. The author manages to expose
the bleak realities facing an impressionable
young man living through stressful
conditions, while at the same time,
interweaving the reassuring influence of
family and friends who become the real
heroes and cause for celebration in this
story. Age appropriate readers will find this
read challenging as well as rewarding. —
Nancy Pearson
January 1905 by Katherine Boling.
Harcourt, 2004. $16.00 Ages 10 and up.
Set in 1905, this novel gives readers
a glimpse into what life was like for a child
who labored in a mill from dusk until dawn
and another child who was responsible for
all of the household responsibilities from
cooking to milking the cow. The simple, yet
hardworking lives of ten-year-old twins,
Pauline and Arlene, are detailed throughout
the story. Pauline works in a cotton mill
with her parents and her brother Josh, while
Arlene stays at home to tend to the chores,
since she has a crippled foot. The sisters’
hatred for each other is fueled by their
beliefs that the other has a better life. Daily,
both of the twins let their imaginations run
wild by daydreaming about what the other
sister is doing. A series of events help
Pauline and Arlene realize that life is not
always what it seems to be. The sisters learn
to appreciate each other for who they are,
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and they finally create a sisterly bond. The
author separates each chapter into two
sections. The first section is Pauline’s
perspective and the second section is
Arlene’s perspective. Interestingly, the
author does not need to label who is
speaking because the reader will learn the
voices of each character enough to realize
each distinct narrative. Even though the text
is simple enough for a ten-year-old to
comprehend, the realistic story is compelling
enough for adults to enjoy. The author’s
descriptive writing really lets the reader into
the minds of Pauline and Arlene so that their
feelings and emotions can be truly
understood. Also the details and imagery
that the author inserts help the reader obtain
a visual of the setting. This novel can teach
readers about the joy of sibling bonds as
well as what life was like at the turn of the
20th century.–Regina Finch
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti.
Simon and Schuster. $15.95 Ages 12+.
Ruby McQueen was not looking for
her identity, but on the summer before her
senior year she happened to find it.
Amongst bad boys, some illegal activity,
and a hysterical group of the elderly, Ruby
learns about love, family, trust, and most of
all how to look at her mother as a woman.
Ruby labels her mother as a strong
and intelligent woman with a pathetic soft
spot for one thing, her sleazy father. She is
not able to accept or understand her
mother’s behavior, and she cannot fathom
why she constantly puts herself in situations
that make her look so weak. All of this is
baffling to Ruby, that is until she meets
Travis, and her so-called views of the world
come crashing down around her. She may be
more like her mother than she ever
expected!
Featuring non-traditional values and
families, mixed in with old-fashioned
romance warmed up the novel to grace it
with striking realism. The use of
foreshadowing and character reflection
added great depth, and made the novel a
page-turner. Teens will feel for Ruby’s lack
of control over her emotions and sometimes
her actions. Though the book had a
somewhat slow start, the reader has to hold
on to enjoy the exciting, if not bizarre,
journey Ruby finds herself on.
-Paulena Gross
Klimt and His Cat by Berenice Capatti.
Illustrated by Octavia Monaco. Eerdmans
Books. $18.00. Ages 7-11.
This picture book portrays the life of
Gustav Klimt through the eyes of his cat,
Katze who introduces readers to the artist’s
lifestyle while also introducing his artwork.
It also hints about the battle modern artists
face because of the comparison of their art
with traditional art. This short story cleverly
shows the importance of hard work,
dedication, continual education, and being
true to oneself.
Along with the text’s view of his life,
the book’s illustrations mimic Klimt’s
original style. They show readers the
wonderful borders of flowers, architectural
designs, and shapes Klimt painted which
were emphasized through the use of gold
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and silver. The end pages display some of
Klimt’s most famous paintings.
-Kristy Ramirez
conform. Her adult books, Educating Esme:
Diary of a Teacher’s First Year and How to
Get Your Child to Love Reading both
promote the view that childhood is
immeasurably enhanced by books and
zaniness. In this chronicle of Esme’s
childhood, she portrays what it feels like to
grow up amid poetry and drama, romance
and realism, open minds and open hearts.
–Ann Marie Coviello
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard-toSwallow Stories from 5th Grade by Esme
Raji Codell. Hyperion, 2004. Grades 4 up.
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish is the story
of Esme Raji Codell’s childhood in Chicago
in the seventies, but it will appeal to readers
who have never been to Woolworth’s or
survived the blizzard of 1979. Young
readers will connect with the story because
Esme writes about her experiences with
details that make her world—and her
worldview—come alive. Her voice is fresh
and confiding; she invites the reader into her
life as if to say, “You’re sure to find this as
funny and odd as I do.”
Esme is “growing up absurd” with
two eccentric parents. Her mother
encourages her to egg a rich man’s car and
her father tells her “Mazel tov” when she
decides not to attend temple anymore. The
depiction of the “free” school where
students wear Halloween costumes everyday
and take classes in puppet making and disco
dancing will fascinate young readers who
attend schools driven by standardized
testing. There are also timeless aspects to
her tale, such as her dawning awareness of
boys and her love of reading. Many
children will relate to the matter-of-fact way
she deals with hard times, from her parents’
financial trouble to the death of a classmate.
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish is a story
that treasures differences, rejects
materialism, and describes a young life
unhindered by pressure to succeed and
The Wish List by Eoin Colfer. Hyperion.
16.95. Ages 12-16.
The Wish List was an enchanting
novel with a spiritual touch that dealt with
serious teen issues. The story takes place in
Ireland where two teenagers, Meg and Belch
are always into trouble. When a robbery
goes sour, unfortunately Meg and Belch find
themselves dead. Meg, however, is equally
good and bad so neither heaven nor hell will
accept her. The only way Meg will be
accepted into paradise is to go back to earth
and help someone in need. At the same time,
Meg’s evil counterpart, Belch, is trying to
ruin her chances of going to heaven. Colfer
has done a wonderful job of making his
characters come to life giving each character
so much depth that readers feel they know
them. This page-turner is too hard to put
down and leaves readers with a feeling of
happiness and a little sadness too. Although
published as a YA title, The Wish List is a
not-to-be missed book for adults as well. –
Toni Williams
Inside Grandad by Peter Dickinson,
Wendy Lamb Books, $15.95. Ages 7-12.
Gavin tosses a fish to a whale, and the
creature gives Gavin a mysterious smile.
Could it really be a selkie, one of those
mysterious sea creatures that comes ashore
at night and sheds its skin to take on human
form? Grandad’s Celtic tales fascinate
Gavin. Does Grandad really believe in
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selkies? Grandad was talking about the
selkies when he had his stroke. Grandad
cannot speak or respond in any way. Gavin
spends most of his after school hours and
nights with Grandad at the hospital. The
therapist even lets Gavin help with Grandad,
but Grandad is not responding to any
treatment. If only Gavin could get inside
Grandad and tell him how much he loves
him? Should he ask the selkies for help?
Gavin takes a special present to the selkies.
The present is a model boat that Grandad
recently made for Gavin’s upcoming
birthday. Gavin carefully paints the boat
and names it “Selkie.” He takes the boat
down to the edge of the water and sends it
on its way to the selkies. Gavin does
literally get inside of Grandad. Did the
selkies work this magic when Gavin took
hold of Grandad’s hand? Once inside,
Gavin finds that he can communicate
through thoughts. He explains to Grandad
about the stroke and shows Grandad how to
move his hand by helping him remember
how to cast a fishing line. Gavin’s family
and the hospital staff witness Grandad
tightly holding Gavin’s hand. Gavin returns
to his own body. Grandad shows more signs
of recovery from the stroke. Gavin’s
birthday present “Selkie” comes floating
back to him one evening. Could these Celtic
tales of selkies be true? Dickinson writes of
this special bond that exists between
grandparents and grandchildren with humor
and warmth. Dickinson handles the tough
issues of illness and loss with sensitivity.
The selkie magic adds a delightful
mysterious twist to the story.
-Verna Geihsler
Bindi Babes by Narinder Dhami. Delacorte.
$14.95. Ages 11-15.
Told by Amber Dhillon, this book
begins at Coppergate Secondary School
where she and her two sisters are known as
the “Bindi Babes.” Amber-12, Jazz-11, and
Geena-14, are known around school as the
coolest, hottest girls around, but they are
secretly struggling with the loss of their
mum who recently passed away. Because
their father is uninvolved, the girls have
always gotten what they wanted until an
unexpected guest arrives and ruins
everything. Auntie is interfering and
cramping their style. The girls desperately
need to get rid of her and there is only one
way. They need to marry her off. Will
Auntie ever fall in love with someone? The
girls go through twists and turns in this
rocky story to get rid of Auntie while all
along what they really need is the love of
their father, their acceptance of Auntie, and
the memories of their mum to keep them a
happy family. Narinder Dhami captures the
involvement of real situations. She attracts a
younger female audience by telling a tale of
death, love, and life lessons. This novel was
delightful. -Ashley Bernard
A Blue So Blue by Jean-Francois Dumont.
Sterling. $14.95. Ages 4 up.
A Blue So Blue, translated from the
French by Michel Bourque, is a children’s
book about a little boy who lives in the
middle of a big, gray city. He loves to paint
and draw and is consumed with his art. A
recurring dream of the perfect blue color
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sets in motion his quest for a “blue so blue,
the blue of his dreams.” He journeys to a
museum, the big blue sea, a tropical island, a
jazz club, and even an African desert. In
each place he receives help from a different
source – a security guard, a sailor, a turtle, a
bluesman, and a tribesman. After traveling
the world, he discovers that the perfect blue
color is at home, in his mother’s eyes.
Jean-Francois Dumont uses bright
colors, soft, subdued hues, and different
perspectives to both capture the moods and
allow us a glimpse into this small boy’s
world. Through this journey, we learn that
what we seek “may never have been very far
away.” The language is rich and varied; his
descriptions are stunning–“He dipped his
brush on the edge of a tear.” He also
employs rhyme when the little boy tries to
describe the exact blue he seeks, each time
altering the description as he struggles to
define it. “’Night after night I’ve been
dreaming of blue’ the little boy said. ‘A
blue so blue, it’s both warm and cool. A
blue so blue, it shines like a jewel.’“ This
book is a new jewel in the treasure of
children’s literature and is certain to become
a beloved classic.– Lydia Badon
A House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff.
Wendy Lamb Books. $15.95. Ages 9-12.
This memorable book is told through
the eyes of thirteen-year-old Dina Kirk.
Even though Dina has a gift for sewing, she
grows tired of it because she has been
working in her family’s dressmaking
business every day since age four. When
Dina is accused of being a French spy, her
mama quickly arranges for her to leave
Germany and go to her uncle in Brooklyn,
America. She travels alone for fifty-four
days on that dreadful journey. Though Dina
wants to escape sewing, it seems like it’s her
destiny when she steps foot into another
house of tailors. She soon becomes
homesick and yearns to see her loving
family again. As Dina adapts to the new
environment, she discovers priceless family
values and learns how to care for the people
around. Her courage shows through during a
time when smallpox is common. Dina’s
bravery during a fire amazes her neighbors
and strengthens the relationship between her
and the Uncle.
Giff brilliantly allows the reader to
sense compassion from Dina’s Mama and
sister by including their brief but warm
letters. The setting of 1870s Brooklyn
establishes the mood, letting readers feel as
though they are witnessing young Dina’s
growing and changing into a more
responsible person. Even though the plot
seems to be based on big events that the
characters can’t control, their actions and
behaviors drive the story to its best
moments. - Shella Nguyen
The Get Rich Quick Club by Dan Gutman.
HarperCollins. $16.89. Ages 8 – 12.
The Get Rich Quick club, led by
CEO Gina, has discovered a way to make a
million dollars. Gina and her friends devise
a wacky plan that involves a UFO, a picture,
and a newspaper geared to gullible readers.
If the club can get someone to buy their
phony picture, then they will be instant
millionaires. Or so it seems. But
something’s too good to be true. The truth
gets out. What will happen to the Get Rich
Quick club? The twist ending will keep
readers intrigued till the very last page.
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Gutman’s story telling ability keeps
readers turning the pages. He can grab a
child’s interest and hold on to it till the end.
He uses a vocabulary that is easy for
children to understand and uses short
chapters to keep the plot moving. The
book’s action rises as the club devises new
ways to get rich and falls every time the plan
fails, but there’s always a spark of hope
waiting at the end of each chapter. This
spark is what keeps the reader engaged to
the last chapter. Gutman’s humor is over
the top with crazy schemes, and readers
can’t help but laugh out loud!–Heather
Catoir
Ida B … and Her Plans to Maximize Fun,
Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the
World by Katherine Hannigan.
Greenwillow. $16.89. Ages 9 -12.
Nine-year-old Ida B. Applewood
lives in her own world following her own
rules (second to Mama and Daddy’s rules, of
course). Her bestest of best friends include
Rufus the slobbering K-9, Lulu the sassy
feline, the brook, and her apple tree orchard.
Life-loving Ida B. prides herself in creating
fun-filled days of adventure, mischief (the
kind you don’t get into trouble for),
inventing time saving devices, and coming
up with tactics to outwit all kinds of
badness.
Out of nowhere, Ida B’s world gets
flipped upside down, and she’s left to follow
rules that are not her own. She doesn’t
understand why Mama’s not herself and
why Daddy has turned into the meanest
person ever by sending her to school after
being home schooled and by selling a part of
the orchard to a family to build a home.
Brokenhearted, Ida B. must come up with
ways to chase away the new neighbors,
bring Mama and Daddy back to their normal
states, and regain control of her once-wasfun-and-exciting life. This nine-year-old
future super hero soon discovers that it’s
easier said than done.
Ida B. will take readers out of their
world and into hers. This charming book had
me chuckling to myself in a roomful of
grown-ups, brought back fond and
mischievous childhood memories, and filled
my heart with delight.– Vinh “Vinnie” Tran
The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen
Hesse. Illustrated by Wendy Watson.
Wendy Lamb Books, $16.95. Ages 6 up.
This picture book is set during World
War II in Warsaw, Poland, where the entire
Jewish population was herded into a ghetto
and suffered terribly. The illustrator’s use of
simple water color drawing adds a greater
dimension to the telling of the story. The
narrator of the story is a little girl who has
managed to escape the ghetto because of her
Polish looks. This character is fictional but
her voice is used to convey the true story of
the Jewish Resistance. This child is
concerned about the well being of her
friends and neighbors who are being starved.
In a child-like way, she speaks of the
abandoned pets, specifically cats, who no
longer have homes, but are free to roam
wherever and feast on mice. These cats do
not go hungry. They can find their own
food, but the people in the ghetto have no
such hope. This child conveys the story of
how the resistance workers each carrying
satchels filled with breads, groats, and sugar
will be arriving by train. The Nazis learn of
this plan and are ready with their attack
dogs. The Jewish Resistance in the city is
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ready too. Many of those abandoned cats
are stuffed in satchels and when the train
arrives, the cats are let out of the bags. Mass
confusion occurs. The resistance workers
are able to carry out their plan. The food is
crammed into cracks in the ghetto wall to
offer some relief to those imprisoned there.
The story is written with clarity and
sensitivity. The story is one of bravery and
determination set in a terrible time and a
terrible place. Even though the subject
matter may be considered heavy for a young
child, Ms. Hesse delivers a message that
children can readily understand: caring
about others. This book could be an
effective way of sparking chilren’s interest
about unpleasant facts of life while not
taking away their innocence.
-Verna Geihsler
Godless by Pete Hautman. Simon &
Schuster. $15.95. Ages 12- 16.
When sixteen-year-old Jason Bock
and his friends jokingly create a religion
whose deity is the town’s water tower, they
never expected things to get so out of
control. Beginning with the ascent of the
water tower for the churches first mass, a
harmless homespun religion turns into an
out of control cult. This thought-provoking
tale provides the reader with a creative look
at the problems that arise when you attempt
to create your own religion. With the
critical cynicism of a teenager questioning
his faith, Pete Hautman captures the essence
of the young imagination with such satirical
commandments as, “Thou shalt not be a
jerk” and “Thou shalt not eat asparagus.”
While some may take offence with the way
the author pokes fun at Catholicism, such as
his comparing communion to cannibalism,
the story reflects the critical thinking that
often occurs when teenagers question their
faith. Godless is a fast-paced novel that
presents an interesting look at of the
consequences of both having, and lacking,
faith in a higher power.- Allison Tine
Fourth-Grade Fuss by Johanna Hurwitz.
Illustrated by Andy Hammond.
Harpercollins. $16.89. Ages 7-10.
Fourth-Grade Fuss is a comical
account of events that takes place over the
course of a school year. The story takes the
reader from the first day of class to almost
the end of the school year. The tale includes
the trials, tribulations, and fun that fourth
graders Julio Sanchez and his fellow
classmates have. The children are anxiously
preparing for the “dreadful” statewide test.
Leading up to test day, Julio and his friends
begin to rely on superstitions to get them a
passing grade. The children hope that using
a “lucky” pencil or wearing their underwear
inside out will get them into to the fifth
grade. Most young readers will be able to
relate to this story. The book contains
several illustrations, which provide a
glimpse into Julio’s happy family life, the
joy he receives when with friends, and the
sheer agony he is going through on test day.
Hurwitz does an exceptional job of
providing a humorous story, true- to- life
character development, an interesting plot
that entices the reader, with a setting that
makes readers feel like they are personally
in the story. –Judy Fenasci
The Wedding Planner’s Daughter by
Coleen Murtagh Paratore. Simon &
Schuster. $15.95. Ages 9-13.
Willa Havisham is the twelve-yearold daughter of a wedding planner. Both
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mother and daughter are still dealing with
the loss of the father Willa has never known.
To make matters worse, Willa’s mom is
determined that Willa’s life should be
nothing like her own. Throughout the book
the reader is introduced to many interesting
characters that help Willa to deal with her
life and dreams. And in the end Willa learns
that what she thinks she wants is not
necessarily as good as what she gets. Told
through the voice of this young girl and set
in the magical Cape Cod, readers are treated
to a romantic atmosphere and are given a
glimpse of what it is like to live in the Cape.
Young readers may relate to the events that
occur in Willa’s world. This is a really
delightful read. -Lauren Hage
Unexpected Development by Marlene
Perez. Roaring Book Press 2004. $16.95.
Ages 15-18.
The first thing that drew me into this
book was the fact that it is immensely
realistic. While some books deal with young
girls who haven’t developed yet and are
jealous of those who have, Perez brings to
light the reality that girls who develop at a
young age are often embarrassed. This book
is simply refreshing. Told by Megan, a high
school student, the book is written in letters
to her teacher Mrs. Westland whom she
trusts wholeheartedly. Megan has
physically matured very quickly and in her
opinion, she is overdeveloped. Perez’ use of
similes, metaphors and other colorful
imagery brings the novel to life and really
taps into a reader’s senses.
As a whole, the novel’s lesson to
teenage girls in particular is that of self
worth. Inner beauty shines stronger than
anything, and intelligence and personality
will be with you always; beauty is fleeting.
The book demonstrates the message that
when you look in the mirror you should see
and believe in your wonderful qualities, but
not just because others do. You should
believe in these attributes because you,
yourself see them, and what an unexpected
development that will be. This novel may
open both teens’ and adults’ eyes to help
them see a different point of view. –Jessica
Wadge
Tales of Mystery and Madness by Edgar
Allan Poe. Illustrated by Gris Grimly.
Atheneum. $17.95. Ages 11 up.
This collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s
work with illustrations by Gris Grimly offers
the same great taste with a brand new
package. The book is composed of the tales
The Black Cat, The Masque of the Red
Death, Hop-Frog, and The Fall of the House
of Usher. Illustrating Edgar Allan Poe’s
tales in a comic book format, Gris Grimly
has created horrifying yet hilarious pictures.
Readers will laugh at the insane characters
and be left guessing on what is going to
happen next. Grimly fills the book from the
front cover till the last page with ghoulish,
dark, and eye-catching pictures and font.
The illustrations lighten and add humor to
the text, which is perfect for younger
readers. Designed to grab the attention of
readers of any age, this book is appropriate
not only for Edgar Allan Poe fans, but also
for new readers and children. -Fariha Khan
How I live now by Meg Rosoff. Wendy
Lamb Books. $16.95. Ages 12 up.
how I live now by Meg Rosoff is a
young adult novel, telling the contemporary
story of Daisy. This self-possessed, yet
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troubled fifteen-year-old New Yorker is sent
by her recently remarried father and
stepmother to live with her aunt and cousins
in rural England. Since Aunt Penn’s peace
work requires her to travel to Oslo, Daisy
and her cousins are left without any adult
supervision to enjoy the simple, country life.
This bucolic existence is forever changed
when England is invaded and occupied by
an enemy. Daisy and her cousins are left to
their own devices to survive. She develops
a close relationship with all of her cousins
and finds true love. England’s military
subsequently take over their home so Daisy
and Piper, her youngest cousin, are
separated from the others, and all must face
difficult conditions and challenges to
survive.
Rosoff’s novel is filled with
wonderful descriptions and believable
characters. She creates an extraordinarily
vivid voice for Daisy. “’What impressed
me,' Daisy says vaguely, 'is how simple it
seemed to be to throw a whole country into
chaos by dumping a bunch of poison into
some of the water supplies and making sure
no one could get electricity or phone
connections and setting off a few big bombs
here and there in tunnels and government
buildings and airports.'” Readers get to
know the many sides of Daisy- an angry
daughter; a clever, funny, and sarcastic
teenager; and a focused, creative survivor.
This Printz Award winner explores the
themes of love, survival, and how war
changes forever those it touches.–Lydia
Badon
Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon
Scieszka. Penguin. $14.99. Ages 8-12.
Yet another adventure of the Time
Warp Trio, this time takes readers in search
of Leonardo da Vinci. Fred, Sam and Joe
set out to travel back in time to meet the
man behind the legend. They are amazed to
find that not only was da Vinci a renowned
artist but also an avid scientist and inventor.
As they talk with him and flip through his
books, they discover the genius of his ideas,
well before his time. The trio’s exciting
excursion is overshadowed, as Captain
Nassti infringes upon their learning
experience. The trio does not let him keep
them down for long, and they’re back to
business! The Time Warp Trio comes away
from their encounter with da Vinci with
invention aspirations of their own—even if
they do involve pizza, television, and
underarm tricks! Jon Scieszka’s novel is
fast-paced and fun-filled! Adam
McCauley’s zany illustrations add to the
story’s excitement. With its “go out and get
‘em” feel, this book is sure to intrigue young
readers, especially boys. -Ayreca Berthelot
Seen Art? by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by
Lane Smith. Museum of Modern Art,
Viking. $16.99. Ages 6 and up.
Seen Art? is the latest genius of the
Scieszka and Smith collaborations. The
main character walks through the city streets
in search is his friend Art. Helpful New
Yorkers send him to MoMA (The Museum
of Modern Art), where he repeatedly asks,
“Where is Art?” The patrons send him from
room to room of the museum where he
views mobiles, oils, watercolors, collages,
murals, inks, furniture, photography, and
even cinema, but still asks, “Where is Art?”
Scieszka’s play on what is considered art
and therefore where to find it is humorous.
Smith’s quirky illustrations blended with
full-color reproductions of the artwork serve
as a delightful virtual tour of great pieces of
modern art found in the famous museum. –
Christine L. Henderson
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The Boy From The Basement by Susan
Shaw. Dutton. $16.99. Age 12 and up.
Charlie is a twelve-year-old boy
trying to survive being abused by his
parents. After accidentally locking himself
outside of the house one night, he gets lost
and passes out. He wakes up scared in the
hospital and wants to return to the only type
of home he has known. He cannot tell the
authorities anything about himself except his
name because he does not know anything
else. On the journey through his past,
Charlie begins to realize that things in his
house are not right and that he cannot return.
Once authorities learn what is going on in
Charlie’s life, they place him with a foster
parent. Through that loving and caring
environment, Charlie begins the road to
recovery.
Susan Shaw portrays the realities of
child abuse without getting into graphic
details. Having Charlie tell the story in first
person narrative gives the reader an inside
look into his thoughts and feelings. Through
Charlie’s eyes, readers experience an
emotional roller coaster ride. This heartwrenching novel is sure to have you gasping
for breath. –Kazia Brister
inclusion of photographs of the era, Myers
again manipulates the reader’s perception by
having audiences create images from his
words and evoke meaning from his
photographs. What he ultimately crafts is a
window into his Harlem, a place that he has
immortalized in a way that prose cannot
duplicate. Through his words, readers
perceive the strength of character and pride
that embodied this culture of people who
were striving for a better way of life while
living and working in a racially biased
country that did not enforce the principles of
equality. The intensity of Myers’ depictions
rely heavily upon the use dialect and cultural
references, and while his poetry is rich in
meaning, younger audiences may experience
difficulty deciphering his cultural allusions
and understanding the intricacies of his
artistry without the aid of an instructor.
Regardless of the complexity of his work,
his book offers a unique sense of time and
place, and is well worth the effort of
contemplation.—Nancy Pearson
POETRY
Here in Harlem: poems in many voices by
Walter Dean Myers. Holiday House, $16.95,
Ages 12+.
The poems in this book recreate
authentic locations and real people through
the poet’s manipulation of point-of-view.
Myers’ technique involves writing from the
perspectives of residents from his childhood
neighborhood of Harlem to create vivid
impressions that reveal characters
representative of a people, an era, a way of
life, a struggling, yet persevering AfricanAmerican community. Through the
descriptive nature of his poetry and his
A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn
Nelson. Illustrated by Phillipe Lardy.
Houghton Mifflin. Ages 12 up.
This stunning book is unlike any
other–exquisite and tragic. It is a collection
of fifteen interlinked sonnets, called a heroic
crown of sonnets, a form that the author
admits to knowing only one other example
of. Marilyn Nelson further explains that she
used the form as “a kind of insulation, a way
of protecting myself from the intense pain of
the subject matter.” The subject matter is
the death of Emmett Till, a fourteen-yearold boy whose lynching in Mississippi in
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1955 was a galvanizing force behind the
civil rights movement.
Throughout the series of poems,
Marilyn Nelson imagines that she is
weaving a wreath to memorialize Emmett
Till, and the poems abound with lush plant
imagery. At the same time, she is creating a
heroic crown for Till, in the form a ring of
sonnets, each connected to the other. Her
ability to master both the horror of Till’s
death and the intricacy of the poetic form is
breathtaking. Phillippe Lardy’s illustrations
perfectly adorn the poet’s work. This book
will take its place among the most moving
and profound books for young adults.
–Ann Marie Coviello
Science Verse by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated
by Lane Smith. Viking. $16.99. Ages 8 &
up.
Science Verse is Scieszka and Lane’s
complement to Math Curse. Again the
student has been cursed and can now hear
only scientific poetry. He shuffles through
the day where he finds the poetry of science
everywhere. The author parodies traditional
nursery and jump rope rhymes, children’s
songs, classic poetry, and much loved stories
with scientific theories and proofs that will
amuse readers of all ages. A favorite, for
this reviewer, is a jab at teachers’ overuse of
the thematic unit of dinosaurs. The author
suspects that this over-teaching was what
really caused their extinction. When the
student awakens, he realizes that the curse
has been lifted and it was all a dream, but
unfortunately his art teacher hints that there
might be another curse on its way. —
Christine L. Henderson
Even More
Parts by Tedd Arnold. Dial Books. $15.99.
Ages 5-9.
This colorful book is the third in a
series of books by Tedd Arnold, but you
don’t need to read the first two to enjoy this
one. It is about a young boy who becomes
concerned about commonly used phrases
describing body parts. Elementary students
would definitely enjoy this book. The level
covers first grade through fourth grade, but
it could be enjoyed by students of all ages.
The format of the books gives readers
many sayings to reflect upon. Each page
introduces a new idiom about a body part
with an illustration in the center of the page.
Then along the bottom of the pages are
smaller versions of different idioms and
illustrations that reflect the same subject
matter. An example of what you might find
in this book would be “my ears are burning”
showing a boy running with his ears on fire.
This book cleverly depicts sayings we use
on an every day basis, but never stop to
think about what they mean literally.
Arnold skillfully depicts these pictures
without any sign of disturbing images. He
just uses humor.
The art of this book would definitely
appeal to school age children. The text of
the idioms is written in hand letters by the
artist. The illustrations are completed in
color pencils and watercolor wash.
-Kristy Ramirez
Langston’s Train Ride by Robert Burleigh.
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. Scholastic.
$16.99. Ages 7-10.
A fast-paced sense of anticipation
starts our journey. Short, concise phrases
and sentences create an aura of excitement
The pace slows as the sound of clicking
heels on the sidewalk triggers a memory. It
is 1920 and we are riding across the country
with Langston Hughes. His rambling
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thoughts parallel the rumbling journey of the
train. The Mississippi River comes into
view and “Whoosh. Words and phrases
come rushing into my head” as Hughes
conceives a poem. Robert Burleigh
respectfully chronicles the intense ethnic
pride and sense of accomplishment
embodied in Hughes’ poem. Burleigh’s
book flows smoothly and pointedly like a
stream of consciousness mirroring the train
ride, the journey of a people, and the poem
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” itself. The
bold, distinctive colors of Leonard Jenkins’
illustrations vividly portray the symbolic
journey narrated by Burleigh.
–Charmaine Costa
NONFICTION
Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler’s
Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
Scholastic. $16.96. Ages 10 and up.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti has done
it again. Her research and extraordinary
ability to present this blistering story as if
never heard before deserves medal
recognition. Bartoletti lets the reader know
from the beginning this is a story of the
youth during Hitler’s time, not Hitler
himself. With phenomenal research noted in
the foreword, epilogue, author’s note,
photograph sources, and bibliography,
Bartoletti seemingly tells this story with her
researched characters sitting beside her.
Their quotes, naturally placed, authentically
interject each perception.
An initial attention-getting section is
a glimpse inside the main characters.
Throughout this historical narrative of Hitler
planning to build a new world with the
youngest of Germany’s people, these
children and more draw the reader to feel
their personal devotion, hope, and
confusion. From 1926 with the Hitler Youth
membership at 6,000 to the 1945 collapse
reaching 7,031,226 members, their
interactions with parents, families,
commanders, and other youth, including
Jewish and other outcasts, are remarkably
presented in the most neutral tone possible
while subtly connecting it to corresponding
political and world events.
A cover-to-cover reading of this
book leads to an opportunity for teachers to
draw students into the world of history and
nonfiction writing. The access features and
layout allow students to see into the research
and writing process. Particularly helpful is
the “Quote Sources” section. Each quote is
simply organized by chapter with a number
behind it. The number corresponds with a
specific numbered bibliography reference to
help readers easily locate citations of interest
and to recognize the delicate way of
inserting quotes into nonfiction writing. The
timeline, summary in nature, helps to put the
distant past into perspective. Adding to its
historical ambiance are the consistent
antique white pages, black and white photos,
black font, and light gray side borders,
chapter headings and page numbered
frames. The engaging photos capture the
soul of each chapter and clarify the complex
emotions and events crafted into the text. –
Myra Mitchell
The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing
America’s Lost Grasslands by Sneed B.
Collard. Houghton Mifflin. 17.00 Ages
11up.
In narrative and photographs, Collard
captures a fascinating view of the efforts of
a group of scientists to reconstruct a large
grassland area in Iowa. Thanks to the efforts
of Congressman Neal Smith, Congress made
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this area a National Wildlife refuge. The
story chronicles the lengthy, complicated
reconstruction process. Along with
organizing the task force to do the work, the
project directors created a learning center to
teach the local community and other visitors
about the grasslands and the varieties of
plant and wildlife associated with the
prairie. Collard’s exceptionally sharp
photographs dramatically document the
beauty of the grassland and the wildlife that
was introduced back into this habitat. The
clear, concise narrative flows easily from
page to page and is organized to nestle in
amongst the photos. Inserted boxes provide
the reader with information about plants and
animals Through both text and photos, the
author did a masterful job of documenting
the ongoing process of prairie building.
Collard brings three important lessons to our
attention. First, we need to protect the
healthy ecosystems we still have left.
Second, we need to realize the importance of
scientific research. Finally, we need to
realize that we humans are part of the world
around us –Gerald Gooch
Pictures Telling Stories: The Art of
Robert Ingpen commentary by Sarah
Mayor Cox, illustrated by Robert Ingpen.
Penguin, $29.75 Grades 10th and up.
Australian illustrator Robert Ingpen
uses his more than forty years of experience
in illustration to survey the role of
illustrations in stories. Not intended to be a
definitive or comprehensive collection of his
work or a book about his life, this book
gives an explanation of the thinking and
preparation that goes into each illustration.
The artwork shown is taken from drawings
Ingpen of the more than a hundred books he
has illustrated for both children and adults.
While the pictures are breathtakingly
stunning and make up at least 90% of the
book, the focus is not on artistic technique
but rather homage to the art of storytelling
and the illustrator’s duty to convey the
author’s meaning as accurately as possible
while leaving “space” for the reader’s
imagination.
Sarah Mayor Cox provides several
commentaries throughout the book
explaining Ingpen’s technique and his
reasons for choosing to draw pictures in
certain ways. It is the artwork, however,
that makes this book memorable. Many of
the paintings and sketches Ingpen has
illustrated throughout the years are
reproduced. Some are small, rough drafts,
while others are completed works enlarged
and shown on double-pages. All artwork
have captions, and these pictures and
captions almost serve as a review of some of
the greatest literature written.
The strength of the artwork could not
completely compensate for the somewhat
confusing organization and text. This is
definitely a book where the introduction
should be read. The chapters are 15 to 20
pages of drawings and captions followed by
a commentary on Ingpen’s process. While
this style is uniform throughout each
chapter, a better understanding of each
picture discussed in the commentary would
have been achieved if the explanation would
have come before the pictures. Also, the
captions for each picture lacked consistency.
Some were explanations of the pictures,
some were excerpts taken from the books in
which they appeared, while others were
reasons by Ingpen for the decisions he made
concerning the techniques he used. The
book ends with a chronology of Robert
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Ingpen’s life and a catalog of the reproduced
illustrations.
This book is quite successful in
showcasing the work of Robert Ingpen and
in demonstrating the amount of thought
necessary to accurately represent the
author’s vision. It is a worthwhile read for
art enthusiasts as well as students of
illustration. –Susan Guidry
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of
John James Audubon by Jacqueline
Davies. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
Houghton Mifflin. $15.00. Grades 2 to
adult.
Jacqueline Davies focuses on a
vignette from the early life of Audubon in
this biographic picture storybook. On his
farm in Pennsylvania, Audubon becomes so
attached to a family of flycatchers that he
devises a plan to see if the same bird family
will return to him in the spring. The author
writes using colorful language and authentic
details that capture the fabric of colonial life
and Audubon’s unabashed enthusiasm for
birds. For example, when Audubon dashes
in to tell the housekeepers about his
flycatchers, she points her wooden spoon at
his muddy boots in dismay before she
responds. Illustrator Melissa Sweet’s
distinctive combination of watercolor sketch
and collage (seen previously in Girls Think
of Everything) is well chosen to reflect the
style and nature of Audubon’s journal
sketches and natural collections,
interspersed throughout the story
illustrations. The book is well researched,
including a bibliography and notes on
sources from both the author and illustrator.
Even the bird songs (written in musical
notes) from the illustrations are sourced!
Humorous touches throughout the text and
illustrations lighten the subject and spark
interest. An enjoyable read, which just
happens to be a true story, Davies’ book is
also distinctive in that it reveals a snapshot
of the scientific method in action.
–Michelle Posey
W. E. B. Du Bois: A Stranger in My Own
House. Bonnie Hinman. Morgan Reynolds.
$27.00, Grades 5-12.
This enlightening, well-written
biography chronicles not only Du Bois’
broad career as scholar, trailblazer, activists,
writer, and cofounder of the NAACP but
also the African American experience.
Hinman presents DuBois’ academic
accomplishments from high school to being
the first African American to receive a Ph.D.
from Harvard. He emerged as one of the
greatest black leaders in U. S. history and
fought for the liberation of black people all
over the world. He used his position as a
writer and editor of The Crisis to educate
masses of people. Du Bois’ ideas conflicted
with the ideas of Booker T. Washington and
Walter White (executive secretary of the
NAACP) often creating unrest among
Americans. His quest for the truth about his
own people and his outspoken beliefs
eventually caused him to flee the U. S. for
Ghana, Africa, where he died at the age of
97 in 1963. This engaging narrative is
readable and contains table of contents,
timeline, sources, chapter headings, maps,
archival portraits and documents,
bibliography, websites, and index that add
credence to the work. Hannah Trufant
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Shutting Out The Sky: Life in the
Tenements of New York 1880-1924 by
Deborah Hopkinson. Orchard Books.
$17.95. Grades 5 to adult.
Hopkinson focuses on the immigrant
experience of living in the tenements in the
Lower East Side of New York in the early
20th century. She follows the lives of five
different immigrants as they struggle to
survive in abominable housing, find decent
employment, and educate themselves
against frightening odds in a strange
country. The scope of Shutting Out the Sky
is broad, ranging from topics such as
immigrant home life, working conditions,
and child labor, to informational chapters
about historical events such as the Triangle
Fire, union formation, and Jacob Riis’ call
for decent, affordable housing. The
immigrants’ stories, told in narrative form
and punctuated by quotes from
autobiographies, alternate with and pepper
the informational writing about the
conditions in New York at this time.
Stylistically, Hopkinson’s switchbacks from
informational to the narrative immigrant
stories are sometimes awkward and
disconcerting, especially since there are five
different immigrant stories woven into the
book. Perhaps Hopkinson’s flaw with this
book was her ambition to portray the
individual nature of each immigrant’s
experience (stated in the foreword and
reiterated in the author’s note.) If she had
focused on a single immigrant’s experience
in depth, rather than five, the book’s balance
of informational and narrative might have
flowed, creating less confusion. On a
positive note, the book is superbly
documented, containing a bibliography,
author’s notes, timeline, and index. The
numerous sepia photographs are striking,
(reminiscent of Russell Freedman’s
Immigrant Kids), and well chosen to
illustrate the text. Hopkinson’s book is
definitely engaging, if not riveting. Her
specialized non fiction work sheds light on
the historical shadows surrounding
immigrant life in the slums of New York. –
Michelle Posey
The Story of Halloween by Carol Greene,
illustrated by Linda Bronson. HarperCollins
$16.89. Grades 2nd – 5th.
At first glance, this book appears to
be a simplistic overview of Halloween.
After the first couple of pages, however, it is
quite apparent it is more than that. Carol
Green explains the entire history of
Halloween in enough detail to keep readers
curious and interested. Although no
documentation is provided regarding
research done for the book, its content is
quite thorough. The book spans from Celtic
celebrations of 2000 years ago to Halloween
as it is known today. The easy-to-follow
narrative shows how ancient customs and
traditions spanning thousands of years have
been altered and carried on into modern
times. It provides a wealth of information in
an easy-to-read, straightforward, and
appealing way with enough depth to keep
readers interested without presenting too
many elements that may confuse young
readers. It ends with pumpkin art projects
and Halloween riddles. The book starts off
and remains strong until the end, but does
contain a couple of areas that seem
somewhat detached from the greater part of
the book. A section toward the end
describing ways people have made
Halloween unsafe and how communities
have dealt with the problem makes that
segment uneven and somewhat difficult to
follow. In addition, the illustrations,
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although colorful, tend to cause further
distraction. The drawings are stretched and
slightly distorted, and have muted colors
which give an eerie mood that contradicts
the lighter tone of the text. Because the
book is so full of factual information, having
to stop to figure out what is going on in the
illustrations distracts from the content
without offering any additional insight or
meaning. Despite these minor weaknesses,
this is definitely a book worth reading for
anyone interested in the origins and
evolution of Halloween. –Susan Guidry
Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester.
Illustrated by Karen Barbour.
HarperCollins. $16.89. Grades 1 – 6.
Julius Lester, Newbery Honor
Award winning author, says, “I write
because our lives are stories. If enough of
those stories are told, then perhaps we will
begin to see that our lives are the same story.
The differences are merely in the details.”
Through his strong and passionate
tone, Julius Lester immediately makes
readers feel they are conversing with a
potentially new friend. Diversity is brought
to the forefront in a uniquely succinct
manner. Lester’s ability to promote higherorder thinking while using natural and
casual vocabulary to support a young
reader’s understanding is admirable.
Through his narrative story, subtle
statements and occasional questions spur
discussions of a reader’s personal opinion.
Metaphorically, Lester compares the
human race to a story. He conveys that
readers have their own stories. The people
and events occurring in their lives are part of
their personal story. The elements of their
story are personal preferences of favorite
colors, foods, religion, and yes, even race.
With vivid and figurative descriptions,
Lester actively involves the reader into
understanding his stance that race is only
one detail of their individual story.
Everyone is rudimentarily the same, made of
the common bones.
The sporadic changing font size is
not particularly effective. Although it’s
more distracting than interesting, it makes
the format visually unique. Karen Barbour
nicely complements the voice and tone of
this sensitive topic. In harmony, her thick
black outlines, bold color overlays, facial
expressions, and character stances speak
loudly to emphasize Lester’s passion for all
to consider taking off their skin and looking
deeply into each other. Every librarian,
teacher, and parent should share aloud Let’s
Talk About Race. The message is very
current and needed with today’s ethnic
unrest. –Myra Mitchell
Remember the Journey to School
Integration by Toni Morrison. Houghton
Mifflin. Ages 6 and up.
Toni Morrison has created a
photographic and narrative memoir of
school integration. Ms. Morrison states
“Because remembering is the mind’s first
step toward understanding, this book is
designed to take readers on a journey
through a time in American life when there
was as much hate as there was love; as much
anger as there was hope; as many heroes as
cowards.” The photographs selected vividly
portray the intense emotional fervor of the
era while contrasting the courage and
cowardice of the players. The black and
white lettering on sepia pages symbolically
forwards each collection of photographs
while the fictional dialogue illustrates a
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sincere empathy with the emotional intensity
of the event. –Charmaine Costa
The Great Brain Book, An Inside Look at
the Inside of Your Head by HP Newquist.
Illustrated by Keith Kasnot and Eric Brace.
Scholastic. $18.99. Grades 6-12.
HP Newquist’s book about the brain
will engage even the most reluctant science
student. The cover is bright and flashy, and
the accompanying photographs, medical
illustrations, and cartoons add even more
appeal. The reader will understand the
author’s sense of awe towards the human
brain after reading the text. Newquist
briefly introduces the brain and then follows
with more complex chapters. Within the
chapters there are many subtopics. By
having less technical, yet interesting topics
as his beginning chapters, the reader will
feel compelled to read the more scientific,
subsequent chapters. Newquist introduces
many technical terms and complex ideas
about the brain. A phonological guide is
missing, however, for all the medical
vocabulary. The author writes about the
history behind the brain, humans’
understanding of the brain, what’s inside our
brains, how our brains work, and more; all
the while he emphasizes that we still know
very little about this organ. Newquist uses
medical illustrations, sidebars, photographs,
and many metaphors to help support
understanding. At times, he uses too many
metaphors that seem too simplistic given the
complexity of the brain. There is white
space between paragraphs; this allows the
reader to more easily process the
information. Newquist writes in a
conversational style whenever possible,
which makes the book easy to read. This
makes the humorous cartoons seem
somewhat superfluous since the tone has
already been established by the writing
style. There are large printed leads for every
chapter; they invite the reader to imagine,
ask questions, or just ponder the upcoming
topic. The chapters are color coded, but this
seems unnecessary. All pages have a small
medical illustration of the brain and there
are many large clarifying medical
illustrations. This reference book about the
brain will actually excite children to learn
about this amazing organ. –Julie Schneider
Turtle Tide: Ways of the Sea Turtle by
Stephen R. Swinburne, Illustrated by Bruce
Hiscock, Boyds Mill Press. Ages 8-11.
Stephen R. Swinburne uses a
descriptive story to cover the journey of a
loggerhead turtle to a sandy Atlantic beach
in search of a place to make her nest. There
she will lay about 100 eggs. After laying
her eggs, she makes her journey back to the
ocean. Bruce Hiscock uses vivid watercolor
scenes to provide readers with a visual
account of the sea turtle’s life cycle. Once
the eggs are laid and covered, life begins for
the new generation of loggerheads.
Swinburne shows how threats to their
survival by raccoons, ghost crabs, a blue
heron, sand sharks, and sea gulls are reduced
to one lone survivor. Two-paged appended
section entitled “About Sea Turtles”
provides ore information about these
mysterious creatures.–Hannah Trufant
Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered
Great Apes by Pamela S Turner. Houghton
Mifflin. $17.00. Ages 12 up.
The author tells an interesting,
informative, and compassionate story with
photographs and narrative of the mountain
gorillas of Rwanda. The crystal clear
photographs are fascinating in their
revelation of the life of the gorilla
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population in Rwanda’s Parc National des
Volcans and of the dedicated people who
care for them. Perhaps not indicated but
implied in the photos are the inherent
dangers when dealing with these wild
animals.
Turner brings readers to 1902 when
scientists first learned of the mountain
gorillas from a German officer who shot two
of the apes and for whom the scientific name
is derived. Because the forests were cut
down to make farmland, mountain gorillas
were forced higher up the mountain.
Another hunter came in 1921 to collect
specimens for museums and realized that
these animals were not the “hellish
creatures” he thought. Ashamed that he had
shot one of the gorillas, he persuaded the
government to create a national park. Other
scientists in the late 1950s followed to study
the mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey did much
to bring the plight of the mountain gorilla to
the world’s attention, laying the groundwork
for the Morris Animal foundation to fund
the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project.
Turner relates events of current day
veterinarians as she alerts readers to new
dangers facing the mountain gorillas––
human diseases and injuries caused by
poachers.
Turner has done an excellent job of
documenting the continuing story of the
mountain gorillas. She has not only provided
beautiful photographs of the apes, the
countryside, and the people but also she has
provided maps, informative insets,
additional resources, web sites, and
compassionate stories about the animals. –
Gerald Gooch
The Salem Witch Trials An Unsolved
Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and
Heidi Elisabeth Yolen Stemple. Illustrated
by Roger Roth. Simon and Schuster. 16.95
Ages: 8-12
This very informative book told from
a young girl’s point-of-view transports
readers to 1692 where they learn some
factual details about the witch trials. Two
girls named Betty and Abigail become very
sick. They did strange things and shouted
things that people did not understand. The
town became frightened when other people
in the village began to act the same way.
The local doctor Mr. Griggs did not know
what to do so he pronounced the two girls
bewitched, and the town was in an uproar.
Later it was discovered that perhaps
someone in the town had bewitched the
girls.
This book was very good at
explaining the vocabulary to young readers.
I liked how each page had word boxes with
definitions. The book was very factual and
well documented. The authors were sure to
let readers know that some things were
unknown. The young narrator explains how
these stories are only theories and not
definite facts about what truly occurred. At
the end of the book, readers will be able to
read several theories of what might have
occurred in 1692, and they can be the
detectives and decide which theory holds
true for them. The pictures are very vibrant
and fun to look at. The pictures capture the
readers’ attention, as they show a notebook
of clues that invites the readers’
participation.This is not just a boring
historical book, it is worth picking up.
– Toni Williams
Editor: Patricia Austin
Reviews by undergraduate students of
children's literature.
Many thanks to the publishers who support
the UNO Children’s Literature Examination
Center.
LITERARY LAGNIAPPE is NOW
AVAILABLE online at
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