"Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin

Cronin, Doreen (2000). Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Pictures by Betsy Lewin

2001 Caldecott Honor Book

This story of some cows demanding better treatment from their farmer and speaking also on behalf of the hens is so funny! Thanks to the typewriter, the cows and some other farm animals use the power of words to make much needed changes in their situations!!

The farmer also decides that the typewriter will help him voice his concerns and demands! Finally, a compromise is reached thanks to that same typewriter, but all has not ended there. The ducks get in on the actions, too!

The artwork is deliberately done with strong, primitive lines to convey the simplicity of the farm, which contrasts greatly with the sophisticated deeds being done through the typewriter, and that is part of the hilarity of it all!

This is one of my favorite books just because it brings a huge smile to my face and it lightens whatever load I tend to have each time I come across it!

"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, Maurice (1970, 1995). In the Night Kitchen. New York,NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Challenged Book

Yes, I can see why this book was challenged and even withdrawn from some libraries!

It is, however, a very innocent story about a child dreaming in the night. Mickey dreams about floating into the night kitchen and falling into some batter, then he is baked. He then explodes from the cake and falls into some dough which he fashions into an airplane. Then he falls into a giant bottle of milk, and finally wakes in bed fully clothed and refreshed!

I think the only problem that some people find is that in the dream, the child Mickey loses his clothes and is almost-anatomically-correctly drawn and is floating around in his birthday-suit in free abandon! The fact that there are three male cooks in the "night kitchen" might be a problem also to some... But I only saw a wonderfully illustrated fantastical and dream-like story that is sure to delight a child who sees no wrong!

The artwork is very much in the style of Sendak with all its incredible detail and fantastical visual imagery. There is always something new to find in each illustration!

This book is a wonderful opportunity to star an interesting and perhaps necessary conversation!!

"The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" by Mordicai Gerstein

Gerstein, Mordicai (2003). The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press.

2004 Caldecott Medal Book

I had never heard of the French aerialist Phillipe Petit, but Gerstein's introduction forced me to become intrigued!

Gerstein's use of a concise amount of words encased in very detailed illustrations brought Phillipe's story to me in a very imaginative way! The story centers around the World Trade Center and how Phillipe made a tight-rope journey between the buildings brings in 1974. There is an inevitable sad tone to the story because of what we now know happened 27 years after Phillipe completed his historic journey.

The Twin Towers came back to life for me. I began to imagine how alive everyone inside the buildings must have felt while they were awaiting Phillipe to finish his daring feat with his feet! Beautifully designed and created in honor of the fallen towers, Gerstein's book is one I am glad to have purchased for my personal collection...

"The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg

Van Allsburg, Chris (1985). The Polar Express. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

1986 Caldecott Medal Book

I must admit I saw the movie before I ever read the book. The movie was very surreal to me and it had a very serious tone despite the fantastical characters and the other-worldly feats being accomplished.

As I read the book and examined the artwork, the same "magical" tone came through, despite the fact that the book is much, much shorter than the movie. The additions to the movie stay very true to the author's intent and only add to the whole central theme.

The theme is centered on the need for a strong belief in the Christmas spirit of charity and goodwill through the eyes of a child, and this is indeed concretely symbolized by the gift of the single sleigh bell that is central to the story. This book is successful in conveying this abstract idea without delving into the real meaning of Christmas for Christians.

The artwork is beautiful and haunting, which lends itself well to the whole tone intended!

"Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin" by Lloyd Moss

Moss, Lloyd (1995). Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

1996 Caldecott Honor Book


Oh, the swirly-twirly illustrations of the major instruments of the orchestra coming together to make a communal sound are such a delight!! The addition of the two cats, a dog, and a mouse enjoying the sights and sounds of music is so adorable! That the animals naturally do not get along at first can be seen, but the power of music and the example of all very, very different instruments coming together to make one beautiful artistic creation can be seen quite clearly!

I really love all the detail the art has, all the musical, rhythmical flow of the words within the art, and the aesthetically enjoyable fun that leaps from the pages!! This is a must-have book for music teachers, yes, but also for anyone in love with music and how much power it has to move mountains with a single beautiful note!

"Arrow to the Sun" by Gerald McDermott

McDermott, Gerald (1974). Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale. New York, NY : Puffin Books.

1975 Caldecott medal Books

The artwork in this lovely book is perfect for expressing the American Indian tale retold by Gerald McDermott.

The tale of the boy who had the Sun as his father is retold simply, but it is done very well. It is done in the traditional folktale style that makes the retelling more authentic to its source.


I enjoyed the artwork very much since it seems very authentic to the Pueblo art I have seen during summer travels with my family.

I was also enchanted by the tale the art represented. I had never heard the tale before, but was surprised to find many common elements with the Christian story of the Son of God.

"Arrorro, Mi Nino" by Lulu Delacre

Delacre, Lulu (2004). Arrorro, Mi Nino. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

2006 Pura Belpre Honor: Illustration

I met Lulu Delacre and spoke to her briefly about this book at the ALA conference in Washington D.C. She was so approachable and very excited while talking about motherhood and the common songs we shared with our children as we have reared them. I, too, grew up with these songs that Delacre has selected for her illustrated book, and so they take me back to the days of my childhood and the days when my three children were welcomed into our world!

The songs and chants selected for the book are musical staples in the hispanic world! I was so glad to find out that Delacre had made sure to create a CD to accompany the book, since you really can't appreciate an oral tradition in only print! The CD pieces are each so beautiful. From a music teacher's perspective and a Latina reared with these songs and chants, the CD is superbly done! The book's design is beautiful to say the least, and Delacre's art is just memorizing! It is so soothing and rich in detail; she is a true artist! I brought the book and CD from the Washington D. C./ ALA trip and am so very glad to have done so!

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, Maurice (1963). Where the Wild Things Are. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Challenged Book

One of my own children's favorites!

Just yesterday I met with all the elementary music teachers in the district and we brought this book to life with song, instruments, movement and drama, and it was a beautiful thing!

We were looking for a piece to perform as a group at our faculty concert in January, and we decided to do away with the pieces we were thinking about. We will now perform this literary wonder, and we are very excited! Our performance will embody what we elementary music teachers do in our classrooms every day!

Sendak's journey into a preschooler's imagination takes us to exotic and far-away places only to make us realize that home and family is the best places to be. How better to bring this book to life than to bring it into a music and movement world! The Wild Rumpus is the best part! I'll post a video soon!

"Verdi" by Janell Cannon

Cannon, Janell (1997). Verdi. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

1999 Bluebonnet Award Winner

The end of the book reflects how I feel. I have aged into a "new color" and my new "vintaged" body is not the one I prefer, but I am still ME!

Even the title of the book foreshadows the ending. "Verdi" is a term that means green, even if Verdi is yellow when the book begins. Verdi was always and will always be himself!!! He just needs to accept himself at every stage of his life!

Verdi is a modern parable about the fear of growing up (or growing old) and becoming what grown ups seem to be. Inevitably, growing up and growing old will come. How one welcomes (or not!) these changes makes all the difference in the quality of life one lives...

The art is so realistic, that each illustration almost looks like a photograph! It was so beautiful to look at while I enjoyed where the story was taking me! This is a great coming of age book!

"Los Gatos Black on Halloween" by Marisa Montes and Illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Montes, Marisa (2006). Los Gatos Black on Halloween. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Illustrated by Yuyi Morales.

2007 Notable Children's Book - Young Readers

Oh, the Spanish mixed with English in this story...!!!

This mixed-language poetry is music to my ears! This mixed language is MY language! I am neither an English speaker or a Spanish speaker, but a Spanglish speaker, and this libro is how those beautiful languages truly intertwine to make a sing-song rhythmic flow of a very entertaining Halloween tale! Yes, that is how true bilinguals think in their head: Both languages live inside the cabeza as one!

The musical language in the book is a wonderful read-aloud and it takes me back to my childhood with my Mama Grande Adelina and our familia's Halloween celebrations mixed with El Dia de los Santos! Yuyi Morales visually captures my mixed Spanish and Mexican heritage in this enchanting book with so much detail!! From a musicians perspective, even the harpsichord is true to reality!!! I am so glad I ordered this book to keep! It pulls on my corazon-strings so very hard!!

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

Kinney, Jeff (2007). Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

The New York Times Bestseller List

Hilarious!

Greg's diary sure opens my eyes to the mysterious world of boys! It helps me understand my 13 and 11 year-old sons! No wonder they eat these "wimpy" books up!

Greg is trying to survive middle school and come out somewhat ahead, but life seems to just make everything that much harder! Greg just can't get ahead: from Greg's mom substituting in his class on the day he was planning to become popular by outwitting the substitute, to the comic strip that was supposed to put Greg in the map but just couldn't because it was edited to death. Bummer after bummer comes through!

My boys will read and re-read these books over and over! I never took the time to find out what all the fuss was about, but now I am glad I did! I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is absolutely funny and a joy to read! I laughed at all the same parts my kiddos did and we now have even more to talk about; they even think I am a little bit cool for reading the book! Jim Kinney has a short interview out that really helps put the books in context. I shared it with my boys and they now have a better appreciation for the books! An author visit from Kinney would be awesome!

"Lawn Boy" by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, Gary (2007). Lawn Boy. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

2008-2009 Bluebonnet Award Master List

The unnamed twelve-year-old boy who narrates this story opens with his summer birthday. His grandmother gives him his deceased grandfather's lawn mower. He knows it sounds corny, but he goes on to say how he connects with the memory of his grandfather and with the lawnmower right away. He then decides it would be a great idea to mow a lawn or two for extra money to buy a much needed inner tube for his bike. His parents are practically broke, so money for some of his needs must come from somewhere else. But after meeting an eccentric stockbroker named "Arthur" who needs his lawn mowed, our narrator's "business" begins to grow to gigantic proportions, and some interesting adventures begin to come his way!

THAT IS THE NEW BUSINESS I COULD START!!! It sounds like a lot of fun, adventure, and WEALTH comes to those on a beat-up, old riding lawn mower! Paulsen wrote this very, very funny story so well that I read it all in one sitting! I just could not put the book down! I especially liked the many idiosyncrasies that the characters have. Like the crazy things that come out of the grandmother's mouth, the suits and "grooviness" that belong to Arthur, the Gigantic Heart that belongs to Joey Pow, and the red hair that belongs to Pasqual!!

I really liked this book. I need to read some more Paulsen...

"Just Grace" by Charise Mericle Harper

Harper, Charise Mericle (2007). Just Grace. New York, NY : Houghton Mifflin Company.

2008-2009 Bluebonnet Award Master List

Third-grader Grace Stewart ends up being called "Just Grace" because of a misunderstanding at school. Another chaotic misunderstanding takes over when Grace decides she needs to use her not-so-super power of empathy to help her neighbor-teacher Mrs. Luther reconnect with her cat "Crinkles."

I felt transported to when I was in third grade while reading Grace's adventures! Her thought process is similar to mine at the time! I always thought I had to be on the lookout to make someone else feel better and it always seemed to backfire on me, too!

The book was so funny that it had me giggling throughout! The well illustrated childish cartoons were my favorite part of the book since I have always been a closet sketcher. When I found out that Just Grace is a series, I was elated and I plan to keep on reading about her adventures! She reminds me so much of my nine-year-old self!

"Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book" by Yuyi Morales

Morales, Yuyi (2008). Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

2009 Pura Blepre Award Winner: Illustration

The illustrations of the Chalupa game cards were my favorite!!!

Senor Calavera gets busy trying to find a gift for his friend Grandma Beetle's birthday party. He almost forgot about a gift, but Zelmiro the Ghost reminds him all about it! As Senor Calavera goes through the Spanish alphabet to find a gift, he finds the perfect gift when he reaches the letter Z. And what a surprise it is!!!

Morales cleverly incorporates an "informational" twist into a wonderful little tale of friendship. This story goes deeper, however, into the roots of El Dia de los Muertos and its true beautiful meaning which is often misunderstood. Every inch of this book is in covered in color and illustration! The art cradles the words so beautifully!! I truly think this book will become one of my favorites!

"Ghost Fever" by Joe Hayes

Hayes, Joe (2004). Ghost Fever/Mal de Fantasma. El Paso, TX: Cinco Punto Press.

2007 Bluebonnet Award Winner

Fourteen-year-old Elena is new to town and her father decides to move in to the house that nobody else has ever rented from Mr. Cole.
It is said to be absolutely haunted, and Elena certainly can attest to that after she moves in!

Author Joe Hayes has written a classic ghost story TWICE in one book. You see, he has written every page in English and in Spanish! Both languages are written very well, and the story flows simply, but effectively! I am still trying to find out if the story comes from a true tradition, or if Hayes created the story in its entirety. The ghost story is so very similar to many of the stories my grandparents told me from a tradition that says they are true! This warrants some investigation, and in the meantime, I need to pass this book around to anyone interested in a very good ghost story! Awesome read!

"Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures" by Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol

Metselaar, Menno, Ruud van der Rol, and Arnold J. Pomerans (2009). Anne Frank: Her life in words and pictures from the archives of the Anne Frank House. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press.

2010 Notable Children's Book - Middle Readers

This seemingly small book is quite heavy in more ways than one. It is made with quality paper and quality words and design. It also carries a very heavy message from a solitary short life that was extinguished brutally.

Of course I have read and heard about Anne Frank since my childhood. However, this "little" book stirred me much more than any other Anne Frank book or presentation has ever done. That was mostly due to the superb and simple writing done by the compilers/authors and the photos placed in the perfect place in each page. The combination of both the words and the photographs was quite moving in a way I cannot express easily. It comes across as a beautiful tribute in an "artistic museum" kind of way. I felt like I was personally introduced to Anne after I finished the book, and the last quote left me very haunted.

"The Lion and the Mouse" by Jerry Pinkney

Pinkney, Jerry (2009). The Lion and the Mouse. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

2010 Caldecott Medal Book

Beautiful!

Pinkney's watercolor with a combination of sketches creates a rich and vast world of nature where the majestic king and the resourceful rodent have so much room, that they should never cross paths. But when they do, oh what a story unfolds! This Aesop's fable is presented in a very unique way in this book! Your eyes are treated to a beautiful rendition of the story while your inner ears can actually hear all the sounds of the African Serengeti while the action unfolds with almost no words!

I am just awed at how much dignity each visual image has. No wonder it is the new Caldecott medal winner! I truly love art in all forms, and this book is not just a visual delight. I can see the possibilities of vocal, musical, theatrical, and dance art being combined to "read"the book...but then, you can just sit quietly still while you flip the pages and still be immersed in a story told through the arts that will make a whirlwind of your imagination!

"Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon" by Catherine Thimmesh

Thimmesh, Catherine (2006). Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. New York, NY:
Houghton Mifflin Company.

2008-2009 Bluebonnet Award Master List

Thimmesh wonderfully introduces the lunar mission from the birth of its idea to the astronauts' homecoming after their lunar landing. Her narrative is so smooth and engrossing and all the photos and illustrations are exquisite! I love the size and design of the book and am so very glad that I purchased it for my own collection! I am a NASA fan and this book is definitely a must-have!

I especially enjoyed all the personal quotes from those "who were there." They make the whole story become so very human. And all the interesting details and the recounting of little-known facts add to the book's charm. Any NASA enthusiast will adore this book whether they are rookies to the NASA world or seasoned veteran fans of aeronautics and space exploration.

"The Tarantula Scientist" by Sy Montgomery

Montgomery, Sy (2004). The Tarantula Scientist. New York,NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Photographs by Nic Bishop

2005 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts.

Montgomery narrates the exciting research that Sam Marshall undertakes almost continuously (now at the University of Cincinnati). This arachnologist (arachnid scientist) and his fascination with Theraphosidea (the tarantula family) is chronicled with a touch of some neat personal experiences that Sam Marshall and his students undergo in order to find out all they can about these beautiful creatures. The photos taken by Nic Bishop make the book really come to life! The entire design of the book is so very appealing and the reader cannot help but learn so very much about what Sam Marshall does and about the creatures he studies.

I really enjoyed this informational book so much that I now have a new respect for spiders of all kinds, but especially for tarantulas! I am a very visual learner, so Bishops photos helped tremendously in my comprehension of the narrative that was interesting despite its younger-audience reading level. The inclusion of the people involved and their emotional connection to what they do, really helped make the book connect with me.

"Firegirl" by Tony Abbot

Abbot, Tony (2006). Firegirl. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company.

2007-2008 Bluebonnet Award Master List

Tom is a seventh grader at St. Catherine's School when a new student named Jessica becomes part of his classroom. Jessica stays only for a few weeks and leaves, but the impact she has made on Tom, his teacher, and each of his classmates is so great, that no one will be the same again. You see, Jessica is a burn victim who has been disfigured to the point of almost not seeming human. She forces each person in the room to deal with her shocking appearance and forces them to take a really long look inside themselves and really find out what kind of person they really are.

I could not put this book down from the start and I just had to read and find out how Tom, Jessica, and all others actually were going to deal with what was presented to them. This book was powerful in examining what is truly important in relationships, whether they are close or just relationships of acquaintance. Author Tom Abbot is superb at understatement and powerful insight in this book. The characters are so well developed that they seem extremely real which helps force the reader to deeply care for the persons they are reading about! I made a very small impromptu booktalk about Firegirl just yesterday, and today several students had started reading the book and have been asked by many others to hurry up and finish!

"The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt and Illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi

Howitt, Mary (2002). The Spider and the Fly. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi

2003 Caldecott Honor Book

Mary Howitt's 19th century cautionary tale warns that "Not everyone that talks sweetly offers sweets." (William Bennet, 1993). What else would one expect from a story about a spider and a fly? It's timeless lesson is overshadowed by the artistry of the author and her wonderful use of poetry to weave of web of wonderful words into a highly amusing tale!

Along comes DiTerlizze and in 2002 brings Howitt's tale to a whole new level with his visual art! I am a total fan of DiTerlizze's art and stories, and when I met him at ALA in Washington D.C., he was so welcoming and approachable that I was privileged to learned firsthand how much his art of words and images mean to him!

The "Spider and the Fly" coupled with DiTerlizze's art just made one of my favorite poems from my childhood become an adult favorite with a new depth and appreciation!

"The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane" by Russell Freeman

Freeman, Russell (1991). The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane. New York, NY:

Scholastic, Inc. 1992 Newbery Honor Book

This fabulously designed book details the adventurous experiments that Wilbur and Orville Wright meticulously undertook to prove that the impossibility of flight could actually be very possible! Freedman includes many inspiring photographs of the experiments and of the pioneering Wright brothers themselves. The artistic narrative is exciting and flows very smoothly. The reader cannot help but be intrigued and proud of these American heroes.

I visited the Air and Space Museum and actually had tears run down my cheeks as I visited the Wright Brothers Exhibit in Gallery 209. I had the opportunity to view close-up the historical 1903 Wright Flyer that changed the world! I wish I had read Russel Freedman's book before I had seen the exhibit because it would have steeped me in the Wright brother's history and prepared me to be more in awe of the things I saw at the exhibit. I was still in awe at the time, but Freedman's book helped the appreciation become even deeper. I have a strong desire now to revisit the exhibit with my new knowledge!

"Feathers" by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, Jacqueline (2008). Feathers. New York, NY: Penguin Young Readers Group.

2008 Newbery Honor Book

Frannie is a sixth grader in 1971. A war is raging on the other side of the world, and many things are happening and changing right in her home, her school, and neighborhood. When a new boy appears in school, he seems so out of place, but in a hopeful kind of way. Her deaf brother Sean also adds a new dimension to understanding all that is going on around and inside Frannie. Woodson adds a touch of Emily Dickinson's "feathers of hope" throughout the book which makes Frannie's story very uplifting despite all the tensions going on.

I really enjoyed reading this short novel jam-packed with deep insights and deep characters. The story made me reflect upon many things, and it inspired me despite the book's sad undertone. I came to truly feel for each character because Woodson showed them to be very vulnerable and real to me. Despite some very hurtful episodes and issues, dignity, charitable humanity,and hope surely shine through in this deeply moving plot.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil (2008). The Graveyard Book. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

2009 Newbery Medal Book

Nobody "Bod" Owens escapes from a vicious attack by a man named Jack. His mother, father, and seven year old sister are not so lucky and die from Jack's brutal stabbing attack. One-year-old Bod manages to get out of the house and wander into the nearby graveyard where benevolent ghosts take him in, keep him safe, and see him grow into a noble fifteen year-old. The ghost world has kept Bod safe, but the world of the living is where Bod would love to be. However, the man Jack is still trying to find and kill him.

The very first few sentences had me hooked and wondering what was going on! As the story progressed, I still felt very lost and could not get a grip on the story line. This was mostly due to the fantastic plot and the many twists and turns it was taking. Each character, including the main protagonist, was quite a mystery to be solved as well. It was this sense of "Okay, so where is this all going?" that made it hard for me to keep reading. I am not saying I did not like the book, I just personally felt always so dizzy in the plot, and was not fond of that feeling! I did indeed admire the way the characters have depth combined with a big mystery to them. I admired the way Gaiman could put so many out-of-this-world creatures and scenes into one story and make it quite believable despite the deep sense of confusion prevailing throughout the book. I liked the book, but not the confusion I felt while reading it.

"Running Loose" by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, Chris (1983). Running Loose. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.

Challenged Book.

Seventeen year old Louie is your ordinary high school football-playing kid in a small-town high school. He's not the best at everything like his friend Carter, but he holds his own. He's lucky enough to get the attention of the high school goddess named Becky and lucky enough to have decent parents. But when life throws him some very serious situations upon him, he deals with them the only way he knows how. He asks his father, Norm and his adopted sage, Dakota for advice.

I am not a sports fan (sorry!) and much less do have any sports ability, so I figured this book was not for me. Chris Crutcher changed my mind about the book by page number two. I felt like I wanted to actually meet Louie, because Crutcher made him so very endearing without any hint of mushiness. The story is very engrossing all the way through, and the serious issues being introduced were ones that I thought very appropriate for young adults, or anyone with a hint of maturity for that matter, to be exposed to. I liked the fact that this book could be recommended for any reluctant-reader, especially boys, because of its believability and its ties to sports and life in general.

"Let It Shine: Three Favorite Sprituals" by Ashley Bryan

Bryan, Ashley (2007). Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

2008 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

Bryan has compiled three well known "Negro Spirituals": "This Little Light of Mine", "When the Saints Go Marching In", and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." The spirituals themselves are happy, hopeful, and upbeat. That says volumes about the slaves that created them in community. All that was really theirs was their spirit, their hope, and their songs which in their simplicity showed the genius of their expression. Bryan dedicates a page to give some information about these treasured spirituals at the end of the book which comes after all three songs are set to music notation with his beautiful artwork in the background.

Bryan's artwork is hypnotizing! He uses paper cutouts, which seem to be cut from construction paper, and overlays them to create beautiful collages rich with vibrant color, rich with texture that you can feel with your eyes, and numerous, almost overwhelming detail. The art is deliciously sweet to the eyes and enhances the lyrics of the spirituals with added meaning and a deeper sense of hope.

"Late for School" by Steve Martin

Martin, Steve (2010). Late for School. New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing.

Illustrated by C. F. Payne

The New York Times Best Seller List

The story is based on a bluegrass banjo composition by Steve Martin from his banjo album "The Crow." The book comes complete with a CD which has a track of Martin singing his song and playing his banjo and another as an instrumental track to sing along to.

The protagonist is a middle school aged boy waking late and having to endanger his grandmother to get to the bus which he misses. He then trips on his shoelaces, almost falls into a pool, has a kite fly him, and finally gets to the classroom door after several more adventures only to come to a surprising realization!

It helps to "read" the book while listening to Martin sing the story. Although I am not a fan of the melody since it seems a bit "worked on" and it almost sounds like it's fighting with the lyrics, I did enjoy the banjo playing! I had no idea Steve Martin played and I was impressed! The story itself is quite funny but the words without the music are a bit tough to express smoothly in a read aloud setting.

The art, however, is superb! It seems to be a bit a-la-Norman-Rockwell with a cartoon-ish twist! I love the detail and the action it conveys! My favorite character in the art, of course, is the the boy protagonist who embodies Steve Martin to a tee!

View Steve Martin performing "Late for School" on Saturday Night Live HERE.

"It's a Book" by Lane Smith

Smith, Lane (2010). It's a Book. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

The New York Times Best Seller List

I smiled so hard after reading the text and the art of each page, but had to laugh after reading the end of the book even after I already sensed it was going to end just like it did!

A monkey is peacefully reading a book, while a jackass comes over and asks about what the object in the monkey's hands is. The jackass is quite a computer wiz and wonders if what the monkey is holding is a new technological device. The monkey simply says, "It's a book."

This book makes quite a powerful statement in defense of real-live books! Its simplicity so genius and the dry humor so hilarious! The cartoon art is simple and has an innocent childish touch with adds to the more mature comedic undertone given. Even the dialog font from the monkey as compared to the jackass makes for quite some giggles!

This books makes a great gift for a librarian, and maybe even for a techie or texting junkie! As for a young child...hmmm... I have to think about that one.

"My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story" by Jamie Lee Curtis

Curtis, Jamie Lee (2010). My Mommy Hung the Moon: a Love Story. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Illustrated by Laura Cornell

The New York Times Bestseller List

Okay, so I did tear up with this book because I wanted my mommy after each page I read...

I actually was impressed with the easy-to-read-aloud rhyming rhythm of Jamie Lee Curtis's words. They were even surprisingly filled with authentic childlike feelings for one's mom. Yes, I was not expecting so much from what I perceived to be a more commercialized series of books from Curtis.

"My mommy hung the moon. She tied it with a string. My mommy's good at everything." And she also grows and makes all food from scratch, she writes all the books, she makes all the music, she pours all the seas, and pretty much everything else...Well, I though MY MOMMY had done that!

The cartoon art from Laura Cornell makes Curtis's verses have a more vibrant life! It's great to keep one page open and find all the wonderful details that Cornell has beautifully placed in her art design! Cornell even adds some small text for you to find and laugh over!

"Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" by Simon Beecroft

Beecroft, Simon (2009). Lego Star Wars the Visual Dictionary. New York, NY: DK Publishing.

The New York Times Bestseller List

So this is what half of my teacher's paycheck is going towards! My two sons are fanatics and they each have their own copy of this Lego Star Wars bible!

One page of this informational book on the Lego Star Wars Collection (which might have to have multiple editions since the collection is growing as I blog..) was enough to keep me extremely informed about what all the fuss was about! After reading, I think it is a good move to buy some stock into this market! The Lego Star Wars Collection is still grossing in a horde of money since its inception in 1999 to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode 1: the Phantom Menace.

Each of these Lego sets has its own data boxes with pertinent information, description, and any other information that will be useful to the serious collector. Photos of the collections and individual pieces are cleverly displayed and the page designs are easy for the eyes to maneuver. Adults and children will covet this book if they are into Lego Star Wars. No wonder this book has been a New York Times Bestseller for 40 weeks!

"Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" by Verna Aardema

Aardema, Verna (1975). Why Mosquitoes Buzz in in People's Ears: a west African Tale. New York, NY: The Dial Press.

Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

1976 Caldecott Medal Book

This funny retelling of this traditional West African tale is complete with sound effects ("mek, mek, mek, krik, krik, krik, and more...) and beautiful ethnic artwork!

The story begins with Mosquito trying to gossip to Iguana. Iguana refuses to listen to mosquito and puts sticks in his ears, and thus begins a chain reaction that causes so much misunderstanding, fear, suspicion, and the lack of the sun's return!

When all is said and done, Mosquito is left buzzing in people's ears asking if everyone is still angry at him. And of course, we all are! Splat!

The Dillon art seems to be similar to woodcuts that have been airbrushed. The art has an ethnic West African style complete with beautiful color combinations and traditional African mask-like expressions on the characters. The art enhances the misconceptions in the story and at the same time, reveals the truth in what is happening! Without the Dillon art, this book would not be as powerful!

"The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jone Scieszka & Lane Smith

Scieszka, Jon (1992). The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York, NY: Viking.

Illustrated by Lane Smith

1995 Bluebonnet Award Winner

I had heard about this book but never actually read it. It is just too funny and full of creative silliness!

This collection of stupid stories borrows from original fairy tales but adds a twist to make them fairly stupid tales. For instance, when the evil stepmother and stepsisters go to the ball, Cinderella does not get help from Fairy Godmother, but instead gets a visit from annoying Rumpelstiltskin. The step-relatives return to find Cinderella still in the house after she kicks Rumpelstiltskin out. They give her more chores to do and a new name: Cinderumpelstiltskin. THE END. Hilarious!

Everything in the stories and in the design in the book is quite askew, but nothing is as askew as the artwork! Lane Smith has a funny dark humor to him and it comes out in his art which seems to be scissor-and-glue-collaged into dark, post-modern masterpieces complete with tiny try-and-find-me details. They sure do help visualize the stupid tales to the best stupidity possible! Watch out reluctant readers, you just might lose your reluctance right here!

"Math Curse" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Scieszka, Jon (1995). Math Curse. New York, NY: Viking.

Illustrated by Lane Smith

1997 Bluebonnet Award Winner

Jon Scieska and Lane Smith work together to create the most silly things possible...again...
and they win awards... again!

On Monday Mrs. Fibonacci says, "YOU KNOW, you can think of almost everything as a math problem." Then the math problems begin for our young female protagonist! As soon as Tuesday begins at 7:15 AM, all math problems break loose. Our young lady seems to be losing her mind fraction by fraction until that night when the math curse nightmares begin. She solves her math "problem" in her dream by making two fractions into a Whole, or Hole!!! She is FREE from the Math Curse...but then on Wednesday, Science class comes and Mr. Newton seems to be handy with curses himself!

Scieszka's critical thinking story is art in words, but Smith's dark and angular artwork with a super-comical side adds meaning to the text which is already in all different kinds of fonts, sizes and designs! There is so much texture in Smith's art that you can't help feeling your eyes being scratched...hmmm.. that's interesting...

Afterthoughts:
What's with the green M&M on page...mm..sorry no page numbers...
"Tunafish + Tunafish = Fournafish" is so funny!!!
What about all that cut magazine stuff...???
Oh boy, Scieszka and Smith's silliness is contagious.

"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin

Lin, Grace (2009). Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

2010 Newbery Honor Book

Minli lives in a village right at the foot of the Fruitless Mountain, which legend says is the heart of the Mother Jade Dragon who lost her four dragon children when they became rivers to help the thirsty people. Jade Dragon then proceeded to become the dark and dreary Jade River and left her dark, sad heart behind as a black rock mountain that will not give any vegetation whatsoever.

So Minli's parents, Ba and Ma, work hard everyday to be able to have a few grains of rice to live on when they return to the little humble shack they share with Minli. Everyday after their meager dinner, Minli's father, Ba, tells her wonderful stories of the dragons, the outside world, and the Old Man of the Moon who knows the answers to all questions. After coming to realize that Ba and Ma work ever so hard and never are able to rest, Minli decides to find the Old Man of the Moon in order to ask him some questions and hopefully bring a better fortune back to her home. Minli's epic journey has many touches of magic full of hope. The list of fantastic characters she encounters includes a flightless dragon who becomes a dear friend. Minli does find a better fortune for her family, but in a way that is not quite expected.

This story is made more endearing because it is steeped in Chinese culture. The stories sprinkled throughout the book are inspired by traditional Chinese folk tales and are tied together with a magical red thread of fantasy which make the journey that much more interesting and appealing. Lin's use of musical alliteration also adds to the story's appeal. The art in the book, which reminds the reader of Tang Dynasty paintings with added vibrancy, takes the reader's eyes to these fantastical places and brings the characters out of the story for a better view!