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Reading Level: Ages 7-9

Add this book to your collection: Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers

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Video courtesy of TheScholasticChannel.

©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 19, 2011

Gloria Spielman

Gloria Spielman is the author of two picture books Janusz Korczak’s Children and Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime which has been awarded a Silver Medal in the 2011 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards in the category of Non-Fiction Picture Book. A former high school English teacher, Gloria has also written English teaching books and contributed to multi-media English courses. She has many more wonderful books in the works that we can look forward to reading soon.

Nicki Richesin: Congratulations on your lovely Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime. It’s a beautifully compelling book about his legendary career and how he brought the world’s attention back to the ancient art of pantomime, but it’s also the story of how he survived World War II. What inspired you to create this well-deserved homage to Mr. Marceau?

Gloria Spielman: Thank You, Nicki. I always enjoy reading The Children’s Book Review; it’s such a terrific resource for anyone in the world of children’s books, so I was thrilled to talk to you.

I’d much rather tell you what inspired me to write my first book, Janusz Korczak’s Children, it’s a far better story. My then third grade daughter had to do a project on Korczak for Holocaust Memorial Day, and that got me reading and thinking.

The truth is, the original inspiration for Marcel Marceau actually came from my friend Mandy. She was looking at Janusz Korczak and said “You know, you should write about Marcel Marceau. He was really interesting.” She told me of his work with the resistance and after she left I did some reading. Mandy was right. I started to imagine the pictures. I often imagine a picture book in pictures as well as words. My editor agreed. So did the publisher. And I started to write. I wish could say I saw a wonderful mime performance when I was a child and fell in love with it, but that would be a lie.

I was astonished to learn that Marceau was a part of the French resistance. He bravely smuggled Jewish children through the forests to safety and entertained allied troops. He led such a fascinating life. Did you discover anything that surprised you when doing your research?

It was all fascinating.  But there is only so much that can go into a 32 page book. One anecdote that would have made a great picture book illustration is when Marceau came face to face with the man he called his creative father, Charlie Chaplin. He told Chaplin how he paid tribute to him in his American performance and began to imitate him in the middl

Add this book to your collection: The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles)

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Add these books to your collection: The Phantom Tollbooth 50th Anniversary Edition and The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth

Reading Level: Ages 8-12

Video courtesy of RandomBooks: “2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the beloved classic, The Phantom Tollbooth. Meet the book’s creators, Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, and hear them discuss how this classic came to be.

Also with commentary from Leonard S. Marcus, children’s books critic and historian, and author of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth.”

©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 3, 2011

It’s such a pleasure to introduce children to new subjects, such as dance, through literature. Watching them discover a new love for learning about a topic they’ve yet to explore is pure joy. These books will open a ballroom door to the world of dance in its wide variety of forms, from the gypsies who migrated from India to Spain to the prima ballerina who dedicates her life to her craft.

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories

By Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple is an eclectic collection including dance tales from Germany (The Twelve Dancing Princesses) Japan (Robe of Feathers) West Indies (Making the Stone Smoke) Spain (The Shepherd’s Flute) Czech Republic (Dancing with the Birch Fairy) Egypt (When The Goddess Danced) Scotland (Tam O’Shanter) and Mali (The Little Bird Who Went Dancing). Helen Cann’s paintings move and sinuate across the pages with brilliantly colorful strokes. Best of all, this book includes a CD with lively background music and grand dame of stage and screen Juliet Stevenson narrating the stories with her warm and gentle voice. (Ages 8 and up)

Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and the Prince

By Grace Maccarone; illustrated by Christine Davenier

Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and the Prince is an amusing tale of a classroom of little ballerinas who must welcome a new student, a boy. Quelle horreur! Grace Maccarone’s book is somewhat reminiscent of the Madeline and the Bad Hat (although this boy is not nearly as horrid as Pepito) with its rhyming lilt and even Christine Davenier’s illustrations remind me a bit of the little girls in Paris visiting the zoo with dear Miss Clavel. No need to fear, the prince doesn’t upstage the girls and all’s well that ends well for the little ballerinas of Messina. (Ages 3-6)

Ole! Flamenco

By George Ancona

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 1, 2011

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

Cedella Marley Inspires with “One Love”

Author Interview: Gary Paulsen

Lessons from Laura Ingalls Wilder

Review: Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online

The most coveted books that release this month:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

by Jeff Kinney

(Ages 8-11)

Inheritance

by Christopher Paolini

(Young Adult)

Home for Christmas

by Jan Brett

(Ages 0-5)

Ivy an Bean: No News is Good News

by Annie Barrows

(Ages 6-9)

Red Sled

by Lita Judge

(Ages 0-5)

Steps and Stones: An Anh’s Anger Story

by Gail Silver

(Ages 4-10)

THE BEST SELLERS

Add this book to your collection: Dark Eden

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Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.Reading level: Ages 12 and up

Publisher’s synopsis: If you had the chance to change one thing about yourself, what would you be willing to give up in exchange?

Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares-with the help of the group facilitator Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night’s experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains…What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman’s DARK EDEN is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and ultimately, immortality.

Experience the fear: http://enterdarkeden.com

©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 27, 2011

Monster Comics

By Mike Herrod

Doodlers and fans of monsters and comics, unite! From freaked-out moms to thirsty vampires, using clean lines and minimal color, the talented children’s book author and illustrator Mike Herrod offers kids over 30 spook-tacular monster-pieces to finish off with their own drawings. However, it’s the “Magic Monster Pen” that steals the limelight. Kids can use the pen to compose their own secret messages or design their own hidden drawings; it also magically reveals 16 invisible ink picture pages throughout the book. This is an activity book that fans of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid are bound to enjoy.(Ages 7 and up)

Make a Mummy, Shrink a Head and Other Useful Skills

By Pat Murphy

Pat Murphy and the Scientists of Klutz Labs have put together a very unique book of activities for fearless explorers. Kids that enjoy experiments can make their very own mummy from a hot dog and a few other household items, such as toilet paper. Kids that really enjoy art and have a little patience will love turning an apple into a creepy, shrunken head. The well organized book includes fun facts and amusing photographs every step of the way. (Ages 8 and up)

PomPom Monster Salon: Create, Cut & Style Your Own Monsters

By April Chorba

This is an activity that really brings out creativity and personal style. Easy to follow instructions and simple tools make it really easy to customize homemade pompoms. Although the publisher (Klutz) recommends this activity book for 8-year-olds and up, parent or guardian participation makes it a great choice for younger children, too. (Ages 8 and up)

Wicked Cool Friendship Bracelets

By Karen Phillips

This Klutz activity book offers a spooky take on the classic friendship bracelet. Including cord, charms and beads, kids are introduced to the basics of the bracelet making process before taking on the task of creating bracelets with names such as Bitten and Cobweb. And, even when the provided supplies are all used up, you can easily buy more sup

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 26, 2011

Fairy tales have the power to teach us valuable lessons about love, loyalty and friendship. In these stories, characters are transformed into magical beings, sacrifices are made in their honor and small creatures perform enormous acts of courage and daring. These classic stories have been told for many generations and yet their legend grows richer with each telling.

Michael Hague’s Treasured Classics has the old-fashioned appeal of books my mother once read to me. Reading “The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” I fondly remembered my mom growling like the fierce troll under the bridge. With fourteen tales to choose from including “Jack and The Beanstalk” and “The Gingerbread Man,” children will marvel at the intricately detailed illustrations. It seems this book played a magic trick on me by transporting me back in time. (Ages 6-9)

Mouse & Lion is an unusually beautiful retelling of Aesop’s fable. Rand Burkert’s rich language embellishes the familiar story and Nancy Ekholm Burkert’s lush illustrations reflect the magnificence of the African landscape (with its brilliant orange setting sun and ancient baobab tree) in this heartwarming tale.  Burkert has composed and recorded a CD of songs inspired by Aesop, also entitled Mouse & Lion. (Ages 4-8)

Brigette Barrager illustrations in Twelve Dancing Princesses reminded me of classic Disney movies such as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, but her version has a decidedly modern spin.  When Pip the clever cobbler discovers why the sleepy princesses’ shoes are worn out each morning, she unveils the mystery with witty dialogue rather than long-winded descriptions of the enchanted forest, boat ride, and ballroom (yawn). Well done, Miss Barrager. A lovely matching game is also available from Chronicle Books. (Ages 5-8)

Bambi by Felix Salten is such a sad story and yet this coming of age tale brings with it hope and resilience. The soft watercolor paintings by Maja Dusikova of the sweet woodland creatures glow in the forest ligh

©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Publisher’s synopsis: This hilarious and inventive drawing book by animator Chris McDonnell features page after page of off-the-wall gags and fillin doodle prompts. McDonnell’s infectious humor recalls MAD magazine at its finest. Ideal for an instant laugh or for anyone looking to spark their creative side, this interactive volume is the ultimate resource for fun with pen and paper.

Add this book to your collection: Sasquatch’s Big, Hairy Drawing Book

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 12, 2011

Looking for some spooky good reads this Halloween? Below is our family’s list of all-time favorites. Have a Happy Halloween!

A cautionary tale from 1829 The Spider and the Fly will capture your children’s imagination. Tony DiTerlizzi spins a masterful retelling of Mary Howitt’s poetic fable with his perversely charming pictures. It’s such fun and best read with a wicked voice… Ba ha ha ha ha! (Ages 6-9)

Humbug Witch is a little witch who can’t quite fly her broom or make her cauldron boil and bubble, but Lorna Balian’s surprise ending will delight your little ones. (Ages 3-8)

Diane Goode’s Book of Scary Stories & Songs is a fabulous collection of old folktales, poems, and songs that will either send a shiver down your spine or make you laugh out loud. Goode’s playful illustrations bring old favorites back to life like “The Ghost of John” and “The Green Ribbon.” (Ages 5-8)

From the creators of The Gruffalo, zooms Room on the Broom. Julia Donaldson tells the story of this enterprising witch and cat. Young children will become bewitched by the rhyme and have a silly time. (Ages 4-8)

The Witches’ Supermarket is a terribly clever book for ages 4-8 who will enjoy being one step ahead of the little girl in disguise who shops for all manner of shocking grocery items (like apples with worms and shake n’ bake snake) with her faithful dog. (Ages 5-8)

Ghosts in the House become repurposed by the new owner as lovely curtains, tablecloths and comforters. Decorating her cozy home with Kazuno Kaharo’s simple yet charming illustrations, kids might just want to move in. (Ages 3-6)

You’ll probably have to check your local library for copies of Adrienne Adams classic Halloween books

Add this book to your collection: Dreamland (Riley Bloom)

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showacse

By Julia Drake, Julia Drake PR
Published: October 1, 2011

SCARY SCHOOL

By Derek The Ghost (aka Derek Taylor Kent)

A Harper Collins Hardcover published on June 21, 2011

Price: $15.99/Pages: 144/ISBN: 978-006196092

“Kent takes school integration to a new level with breezy tales of ‘learning, horror, and mayhem’ at a grade school attended by a mix of humans and monsters.” — Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis

HarperCollins is proud to present SCARY SCHOOL by Derek Taylor Kent, a brand new series of three books for middle-grade readers (ages 9-12). The first book of the series had been released June 21, 2011.

Narrated by recently deceased eleven-year-old Derek the Ghost, SCARY SCHOOL details the spine-tingling and outrageous happenings at a school where monsters and normal kids tread the halls together and just making it to lunch with all your limbs intact is considered a good day. Teachers include Ms. Fang, a 850-year-old vampire, Dr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recess, and Principal Headcrusher, who… well, the name says it all. Things get extra scary this year when the school is chosen to host the annual Ghoul Games – a junior-olympic event between all the “scary” schools in the world. The winners get to eat the losers! Faced with their superior monster opponents, it’s do or die for the normal kids at SCARY SCHOOL. Together they hatch a plan that will change the future of SCARY SCHOOL forever.

Original, funny, and delightfully scary, SCARY SCHOOL teaches kids to find laughter in fear, to stretch their imaginations, and to discover that your smarts will always prevail over bullies.

****

Praise For Scary School

“This is a laugh-out-loud offering that should find a broad and appreciative audience among boys and girls alike.” –– Booklist

“This hilarious look at a school unlike any other will likely become a staple in homes and libraries across the country.” –– Cracking the Cover

“So be prepared to shiver in fear!  Of course, you’ll also be laughing your head off.” –– Books Kids Like

“This is a perfect book for getting ready for school.” — KidsReads

“Fun and packed full of adventures.” — MyLittleMe

Derek Taylor Kent Bio

Derek T. Kent is the son of Melanie Taylor Kent, a world-renowned artist and Los Angeles icon. Derek started writing children’s books at the age of 13. His first published book, RUDY THE BEAST, has recently been optioned by renowned film producer Colin Callendar. His other book, MICHAEL JORDAN’S MAGIC SHOES, became a one-man-show that Derek wrote and performed at UCLA’s School of Theater before touring with it across the nation. Kent has also written and produced many children’s plays with sold-out runs at the Westside Playhouse and Culver City Public Theatre and has acted in many stage plays, musicals and films. He’s been a mentor at many summer camps and children’s programs, overseeing creative storytelling and arts & crafts activities. In his spare time, Derek teaches Children’s Writing and Young Adult writing for

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 30, 2011

F. Isabel Campoy

F. Isabel Campoy is a scholar devoted to the study of language acquisition. She is a well-known author of numerous children’s books in the areas of poetry, theatre, folktales, biographies, and art. She is the recipient of many notable awards, including the Reading the World Award 2004, for “Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelitas;” and the Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Award, 2006.

TCBR: As a writer, you have a strong focus on the culture and civilization of the Hispanic world. Can you share a little on your background and how you became a children’s book writer?

F. Isabel Campoy: I cannot remember a time in my life in which I wasn’t part of the world of children’s literature. As soon as I learned to read I became the person that teachers chose to read out loud to the rest of the class while they did art, or sewing. I had a good voice and I couldn’t hold a thread and needle for more than two seconds, so it was a perfect match to keep everyone busy. That practice stimulated the writer in me and when I was eleven-years-old I published my first tale in a local magazine. I continued writing throughout my childhood. When I came to the U.S. for the first time at age fifteen in 1963, writing kept me alive through the difficult moments of missing my family (I was here as an AFS exchange student), and conquering my fears after the tragic assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy on November of that year.

My first job after college was as an assistant editor in Madrid. I applied to the position because it was my way to be part of the publishing world. Later I was offered the opportunity to co-author with Phillip Locke a series for the teaching of English, my responsibility being to provide the literary texts. I left publishing many years later. At the time, I was a Senior Acquisitions Editor for College publications in a company in Boston. I realized then that the joy of publishing others was hiding my fear to publish my own manuscripts… so I finally quit everything and became a full time writer.

I love to travel. I am interested in the places, the people, and their histories. When I began writing for children I wanted to contribute to present the cultural richness of Latino history, art, and literature for readers in this country. There is much to be written about our culture.

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection is one of the many books you have written with Alma Flor Ada. Why do you think so many readers are drawn to your retellings of these particular folktales?

Authors love all their books, but there are some that connect with you in a very personal way. “Tales Our Abuelitas Told” was published the year I lost my mother. She was the greatest storyteller, imaginative, soft spoken, and these were tales

Author Showcase

By Isabel F. Campoy, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 29, 2011

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection

by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada

Atheneum. Simon & Schuster

Book overview: Once upon a time, in a land far away…

These stories have journeyed far—over mountains, deserts, and oceans—carried by the wind,  passed on to us by our ancestors. Now they have found their way to you.

A sly fox, a bird of a thousand colors, a magical set of bagpipes, and an audacious young girl… A mixture of popular tales and literary lore, this anthology celebrates Hispanic culture and its many roots –Indigenous, African, Arab, Hebrew, and Spanish.

F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada have retold twelve beloved stories that embody the lively spirit and the rich heritage of Latino people.

This unforgettable collection is highlighted by the  work of four leading Latino artists: Felipe Dávalos, Viví Escrivá, Susan Guevara and Leyla Torres.

Awards

A Junior Library Guild Selection
Kirkus Reviews Best Books
A Parent’s Choice Rec­om­mended Book
Best Books of the Year, Notable Books for a Global Soci­ety  – Amer­i­can Library Asso­ci­a­tion
Best Folk­lore in Best Books of the Year, Nick Jr. Mag­a­zine
Fea­tured Book of the Month, Col­orín Col­orado Web­site, Amer­i­can Fed­er­a­tion of Teach­ers
List of Best Books for 2006, New York Pub­lic Library

Critical Acclaim

The intro­duc­tion to this delight­ful col­lec­tion explains clearly how sto­ries develop and change over time; in fact, the two sto­ry­tellers heard most of these amus­ing tales when they were chil­dren and have retold them many times since in their own unique styles. … Chil­dren will rel­ish their humor, espe­cially if read aloud, and teens will also enjoy this lively pre­sen­ta­tion. Tra­di­tional story begin­nings and end­ings are pro­vided in Span­ish and trans­lated into Eng­lish … . Make room on your shelves for this excel­lent book. ~ School Library Journal

The authors cel­e­brate His­panic cul­ture and its many roots–indigenous, African, Span­ish, Arab, Hebrew–assembling tales from as far afield as Spain and Idaho, and show­ing how the tales have trans­formed and influ­enced one another, and even how Ada and Cam­poy have changed them. … The spa­cious book design will work well for both inde­pen­dent read­ing and read­ing aloud, and each story is illus­trated with one or more full-page pic­tures in

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: It’s the First Day of School…Forever!

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