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Today I bring you the third installment of my recurring "reviews that made me want to read the book" feature (you can find previous installments here). The idea is to highlight books that particularly catch my eye from other people's reviews and book commentary. This will help me to keep track of the books, and will also allow me to give credit to the bloggers who help me to discover great books.

Amanda from A Patchwork of Books made me want to read the first book in James Dashner's The 13th Reality series (The Journal of Curious Letters, Shadow Mountain Press) by saying: "It's got everything: action, adventure, riddles, reality hopping...you name it, it's in there. A perfect mixture of science fiction and fantasy for those kids that have that love of a bit of magic and a bit of weirdness all in one."

Laura Salas got me interested in reading Bonny Becker's new picture book, A Visitor for Bear (Candlewick) by giving out some updated information about the book (rather than a full review). Laura said: "Bonny recently learned that A Visitor for Bear was going to be featured on the picture book wall at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide", and gave some background about how this came about. I was thrilled to hear this because I very much enjoyed Bonny's first book, Holbrook: A Lizard's Tale, and I'm pleased to see her new book getting so much attention.

Ms. Yingling's reviews often catch my eye. I think it's a combination of how prolific she is in writing reviews, and the fact that she and I are clearly kindred spirits in our reading interests. This week, she's intrigued me by writing about Stefan Petrucha's Time Tripper Quartet (Razorbill), starting with Yestermorrow. Like me, Ms. Yingling enjoys time travel books. She says of this series: "What I really liked, however, was the dark, teenage tone, the swiftly moving plots, the quirky characters, and the mind-bending aspects of time travel. These were a great portrayal of a darker side of that thought, which is what I have come to expect from Razorbill."

Stacy Dillon from Booktopia inspired me to add Madapple, by Christina Meldrum (Knopf) to my list, saying "...Aslaug is soon intertwined in a family saga filled with twists, turns and untruths. She has survived so much already, can she survive this? Christina Meldrum has written a devastating, gut-wrenching, compelling and thoughtful story." And I just like the name Aslaug.

My Internet time is going to be very limited this weekend, but I do have a few posts from around the Kidlitosphere that I noticed during the week that I'd like to share with you now (all emphasis mine).

• First of all, on the off chance that you missed it, Roger Sutton at Read Roger (the Horn Book blog) created quite a stir by saying that "adults whose taste in recreational reading ends with the YA novel need to grow up." There is a veritable storm of responses in the comments on that post. Many people have also posted responses on their own blogs. I especially appreciated TadMack's quick and impassioned defense of making her own recreational choices, and her statement that some of the comments on Roger's post "suggest to me a fundamental -- and unsubtle -- contempt not only for the literature of children and young adults, but for... childhood." Also at Finding Wonderland, don't miss a. fortis's cartoon on the subject. Among the other posts out there, I particularly found myself nodding at Liz B.'s remarks at Tea Cozy, and Colleen Mondor's at Chasing Ray. Personally, I think that more adults should read and appreciate children's and young adult books. I think it's a genre that has a lot to offer (including, as several people have noted in the discussion, tighter editing than many adult books). I happen to sprinkle in a few adult books with my children's and YA reading (usually mysteries), because that's the mix that works for me. But I certainly don't do it because I think that it somehow makes me more grown up. I think that people should be able to read what they enjoy, and what has value for them. End of story.
• At Critique de Mr. Chompchomp, Brian Jung writes about boys and reading, and the notion of instituting separate education by gender in schools (referencing a New York Times article on the latter topic). Although he see certain benefits to separate classrooms, and he supports initiatives like Guys Read and Guys Lit Wire, he also notes that "we ought to be alarmed by systematic division of individuals based on gender no matter how "scientific."" He notes, essentially, that although there may be statistical differences between the sexes, there are also statistical differences within each sex, and that such divisions automatically ignore "a really enormous chunk of kids". Having studied statistical distributions quite a bit in graduate school, I found Brian's article refreshing. (Though for the record I also think that organizations like readergirlz that focus on girls and reading are important, too.)
• Lots of book lists were published this week. On Monday, MotherReader announced the winners of the Weird A** Picture Book Awards. Categories include Cover Art, Illustration, Story, and overall winner. You'll have to click through to see. Meanwhile, the ESSL Children's Literature Blog published a nice list of books with "Daring Detectives and Puzzling Plots" for kids, classified by age range. And Librarian Mom Els Kushner posted a list of Toddler Story Time Favorites at Scholastic Parents (noting, in joking fashion, "all the story time books I'd been reading had one of two basic themes: either "Mommy loves you," or "There sure are a lot of animals!""). For a more special-interest book list, Anne-Marie Nichols gathers up Books for Children Named Oliver over at My Readable Feast. She's focused on books for younger readers, but of course any reference to "Oliver" in children's books also makes me think of Oliver Melendy. Finally, the ALSC blog has a Spring Into Early Literacy booklist, with books focused on different skills.
• At Pixie Stix Kids Pix, Kristen McLean writes about a fun new product called "Monster Go Away! Spray". She says that "its psychological mojo comes from the empowering feeling kids get by running around their room at bedtime, spraying it anywhere and everywhere monsters lurk." How cool is that?
• Via Cynsations, I found this audio interview by Claus E. von Zastrow at Public School Insights. Zastrow talks with prolific children's author Joseph Bruchac about motivating young readers. The interview itself is fairly long, but there is also a highlights version, as well as links to specific segments of the interview.
• At the Reading Tub Blog, Terry Doherty writes about the idea that there is no one size fits all approach to getting kids excited about reading. She says: "The important thing is to be open to and try different approaches. Somewhere out in the universe is the spark that will light up your child's world and hook them on reading. The idea is to complement your child's interest and help them find success for themselves."
• AdLit.org's The Mash-Up blog also writes about reaching reluctant readers, saying, among other suggestions: "After several years of working with reluctant-to-read students, the best advice I have is that our reluctant readers are very different, and the way to make a connection with your reluctant readers is through a one-on-one relationship. Get to know the teens, find out their interests, remember those interests, and seek out books that reflect those interests."
• At The Well-Read Child, Jill writes about building your child's library with series books, discussing the Trixie Belden books from her own childhood, and asking readers for their series suggestions. She notes: "Good series books draw readers into the lives of the characters. We care about them. We get to know them. We want to know what happens next. We can't wait until the next book comes out." I was a huge series fan as a kid (including the Trixie Belden books), and I certainly agree with Jill about their merits.
• As with last August's One Shot World Tour, focused on Australia, Colleen Mondor and a group of other bloggers will be shining a light on Canadian authors on March 26th. I don't believe that I'll be participating myself, since that's right around my move date, but if you would like to participate, see details here. See also Becky's early suggestions for Canadian-written books at Farm School.
• This week's Poetry Friday round-up is at The Simple and the Ordinary.

Wishing everyone a happy and book-filled weekend.

Tonight I will be sending out the new issue of my Growing Bookworms weekly email newsletter. If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here. The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's books and raising readers, all in a handy email format. There are currently more than 200 subscribers.

This week's issue contains a review of one book (a fiction picture book), a children's literacy and reading news round-up, and a Kidlitosphere round-up with links to useful posts from the week. I also include my list of books read in February, as well as announcements about the February issue of The Edge of the Forest and the February Carnival of Children's Literature. Content published on my blog this week that's not included in the newsletter includes:

• An announcement about the March issue of Readergirlz (an online publication aimed at helping teenage girls through books).
• A call for participation in Guys Lit Wire, a new blog dedicated to recommending books to teenage boys. I will write about this more for  the newsletter when Guys Lit Wire goes live. The current announcement is aimed primarily at book bloggers, as Guys Lit Wire is seeking additional reviewers.

I apologize for the relatively thin content (particularly the shortage of reviews) in this week's issue. I'm traveling for work this week, on top of the fact that I'm in the early stages of moving, and the combination of the two has been a bit too much to allow me to keep up with the blog. I'll post what I can over the next couple of weeks, and hope to be back up to full strength once I get through the move (a local move, but still an astonishing amount of work).

Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms!

I've been a bit busy this weekend, and so this has evolved to more of a "Sunday night visits" post. But here are some recent posts from around the Kidlitosphere that have caught my eye.

• Via Matthew Holm, I learned that School Library Journal has a new article about the advantages of graphic novels for younger readers, complete with a list of 25 recommended titles (including Babymouse: Puppy Love). I especially enjoyed this part (also highlighted by Matt): "Teachers and librarians are also beginning to realize that these books are perfect for young readers who are making the transition from picture books to text-only titles. And with graphic novels’ hypnotic power to pull kids into a story, they’re also perfect for promoting recreational or free voluntary reading—one of the most effective ways to increase literacy and create lifelong readers." Click through to see the full list. See also this related SLJ article (also via Matt).
• Becky has a lovely post over at Becky's Book Reviews about her childhood love of reading, and how it was nurtured by her mother. She also recaps several of her favorite childhood titles, and discusses why she prefers reading the old battered copies to newer editions. This is a post for all book lovers, as Becky's specific details inspire each of us to reflect on the books that have made us who we are.
• Sarah from The Reading Zone has been posting day by day summaries of her recent trip to Mexico to see the Monarch butterflies. Although this is a bit off-topic from children's books, she has some lovely photos, and these posts are well worth a look. Start here, and work your way forward.
• Camille reminisces about several children's books that feature dolls as important characters over at Book Moot. It's a great list, but I really had to suggest the addition of Ginnie and the Mystery Doll, by Catherine Wolley. I don't remember much about it, but I know that I was fascinated by it as a child.   
• Peter at Collecting Children's Books has a nice post about collecting "perfect" first editions vs. collecting books that have been loved (he sides with the latter). I feel the same way he does - that there's a charm to seeing an old inscription by which a grandmother chose a book to give to a grandchild 60 years ago, and the like. I especially cherish books that belonged to my mother and my grandmothers, and I'm thrilled if I can find written evidence of that inside. Thanks for the validation, Peter!
• Over at Kids Lit, Tasha links to an interesting NPR piece about the importance of creative play for children, and shares a lovely verbal picture of her daydreaming son.
• And speaking of creative play, check out this post from Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup, about brownies, both the little mythic creatures and the desserts. She also features some A. A. Milne, something that should never be passed by.
• I know I already mentioned that Pam Coughlan has been guest blogging at ForeWord Magazine's Shelf Space. But I simply love her new post, about her dual roles as a mother and a reader and how she strives to raise her children to be readers. My favorite part is this paragraph (emphasis mine): "I’ve also been asked by parents that with today’s busy lifestyle, how I find time for my kids to read. For this question, I allow a quick wide-eyed expression of shock so the questioner realizes the very seriousness of the inquiry. For me, it’s as if they’ve asked how I find time for my children to eat dinner. In my family, reading is a necessary and vital part of our day. We formed the habit early, and rarely break it." Keep 'em reading, Pam. Keep 'em reading.
• Inspired by a. fortis's recent post at Finding Wonderland, Charlotte writes about "things that stuck in (her) head" from children's books at Charlotte's Library. The things she highlights are "are more guidelines for living than facts, and not big guidelines, like respecting others, but little things." I feel completely the same way about what I've learned from children's books - I learned values and guidelines, rather than dates and places. See also Kelley's response at ACLA Youth Services blog.
• Speaking of Finding Wonderland, please join me in congratulating a. fortis and TadMack on Finding Wonderland's three-year anniversary. They inspire us all. And don't miss TadMack's post about visiting the Museum of Childhood. So fun!!
• Finally, Cheryl Rainfield reports (citing a Telegraph story) that J. K. Rowling has started a new children's book, unrelated to the Harry Potter series. Only time will tell...

And that's all for this weekend. I'm headed out on a business trip tomorrow, but I hope to squeeze in some time for a literacy round-up tomorrow night. Happy reading!

Making it in just under the wire, the February edition of The Edge of the Forest was published late last night (thank goodness for Leap Year Day). The Edge of the Forest is an online journal dedicated to children's literature, created and edited by Kelly Herold from Big A little a. Christine Marciniak of The Simple and the Ordinary is the recently appointed Features Editor. Here is the list of this month's highlights, borrowed from Kelly:

• An interview with Eric Rohmann, by Julie M. Prince
• A hearty defense of YA Literature, by Little Willow
• Graphic Novels: A Gateway to a New World, by Kelly Fineman
• A profile of illustrator Sylvia Long, by Kris Bordessa
• A fantastic new column called A Backward Glance, by writer Candice Ransom
• P.J. Hoover is this month's Blogging Writer, interviewed by Christine Marciniak
• Reviews in all categories—from Picture book to Young Adult.

For fans of children's literature, The Edge of the Forest is not to be missed. This looks like another excellent issue, one which I look forward to savoring. 

This is a list of all of the books that I read in February, broken up into Picture Books, Middle Grade Books, Young Adult Books, and Adult Fiction. Sadly, I didn't get much reading or reviewing done this month, putting me behind relative to my goal for the year. But hopefully future months will be better.

Picture Books

1. Felice Arena: Sally and Dave, a Slug Story. Kane/Miller. Completed February 1, 2008. My review.
2. Melanie Watt: Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach. Kids Can Press. Completed February 23, 2008.
3. Chris Monroe: Monkey with a Tool Belt. Carolrhoda Books. Completed March 1, 2008. My review.

Middle Grade Books

1. Linda Buckley Archer: The Time Thief (Book 2 in the Gideon Trilogy). Completed February 3, 2008. My review.
2. Emma Young: STORM: The Infinity Code. Dial. Completed February 8, 2008. My review.
3. Kerry Madden: Gentle's Holler. Viking Juvenile. Completed February 24, 2008.
4. Kerry Madden: Louisiana's Song. Viking Juvenile. Completed February 29, 2008.

Young Adult Books

1. Charlie Higson: Blood Fever (The Young James Bond, Book 2). Miramax. Completed February 6, 2008.
2. Malcolm Rose: Blood Brother (Traces). Kingfisher. Completed February 9, 2008. My review.
3. Gary Schmidt: The Wednesday Wars. Clarion. Completed February 12, 2008.
4. Carrie Jones: Love and Other Uses for Duct Tape. Flux. Completed February 20, 2008.

Adult Fiction

1. Mameve Medwed: How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life. Avon. Completed February 6, 2008.
2. Georgette Heyer: Cotillion. Casablanca Press. Completed February 10, 2008.
3. Georgette Heyer: Venetia. HQN Books. Completed February 11, 2008.

Book: Monkey with a Tool Belt
Author: Chris Monroe
Pages: 32
Age Range: 3 to 8

Background: As soon I read Betsy Bird's review of Monkey with a Tool Belt at A Fuse #8 Production, I knew that I had to have it. I included it in last week's Reviews that Made Me Want the Book feature. This week, I needed a birthday gift for a young friend of mine. I ordered a copy, figuring that I could gently pre-read it and then give it to him. Well, now it looks like I'll have to order another copy, because while I still want to give this to my friend, I simply must have it for myself, too. It is fabulous.

Review: Monkey with a Tool Belt, by Chris Monroe, is about a highly resourceful and accomplished monkey named Chico Bon Bon. Central to Chico's success is his well-stocked tool belt, featuring everything from you standard tack hammer to Seussian tools like a zoozle and a snozzer. In addition to a monkey wrench, Chico Bon Bon also has a turkey wrench and a donkey wrench. He even has a pajama hammer. Well, you get the idea. 

The text itself is straightforward and preschooler friendly. For example: "Every day, Chico builds or fixes something for his friends and his family." Chico's creations are elaborate and fun, from a pipe organ for a ladybug to a roller coaster for local chipmunks. The illustrations of him building each item include little insets of the tools required (c-clamp, frizzle, etc.). Chico is clearly an asset to his community. One day, however, Chico is trapped by an unscrupulous organ grinder and taken all the way across town to the circus. Not to worry, though. Chico's trusty tool belt, and his own ingenuity, save the day.

This is a book that you almost read on two different levels. The rhyming text, sprinkled with names of tools, simply begs to be read aloud. Yet the detailed illustrations, usually several per page, reward poring over and give up their secrets gradually. My favorite passage, text-wise is:

"He uses his level on a toy box for Neville.
Wood wonglers are needed to make this nice bevel."

The picture shows what a bevel is. My favorite invention sketch is of Chico building a skateboard ramp, while various small animals say things like "dude", "totally", and "sweet." But my favorite overall illustration is of the journey that Chico and the organ grinder make to the circus. Shades of Richard Scarry, this page follows the organ grinder as he bikes along a winding road, past train tracks and parks and schools and shops. And, for the observant reader, a statue of "Monkey with a Pitchfork", a house made out of a jack-o-lantern, and a skunk smelling sunflowers, among other treats.

So there you have it. Seussian tools and inventions in a Richard Scarry-like town, delivered with a comic strip flavor via panels and sketches, and featuring a main character who is utterly unique and irresistible. Monkey with a Tool Belt is everything that a picture book should be. It is fun and read-aloud friendly, yet is detailed enough to reveal something new on every reading. I think you could read it with younger kids, focusing on the main story and Chico's expressions, but that as kids get older they'll appreciate the details of Chico's tools and his inventions. Really, I think that everyone who has young children should go out and get a copy of this book. I might see if I can buy it in bulk, for all of my gift-giving needs. Monkey with a Tool Belt has my highest recommendation.

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Publication Date: December 2007 (copyright 2008)
Source of Book: Bought it
Other Blog Reviews: A Fuse #8 Production

Happy Leap Day! The February Carnival of Children's Literature is now available at Anastasia Suen's Picture Book of the Day blog. In honor of today, February 29th, Anastasia has chosen "Leap into Reading" as her carnival's theme. For those unfamiliar with carnivals, a carnival is a collection of links to posts, all on the same general topic, each post contributed by a different person. People generally contribute their best post from the past month, making carnivals a source of high-quality content and a way to learn about new blogs.

Anastasia proposes that we all "use this extra day to leap into a book". While I certainly agree with that idea, I suggest starting by leaping into reading this carnival. There are simply tons of great posts included.

Have a great day! And if it's your birthday today, I hope it is four times extra special. I send particular birthday greetings to my friend Nick, and warm thoughts to Al's family, spending his day without him for the first time, but celebrating in his honor.

This afternoon I will be sending out the new issue of my Growing Bookworms weekly email newsletter. If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here. The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's books and raising readers, all in a convenient email format. There are currently more than 200 subscribers.

This week's issue contains reviews of three books (one fiction picture book and two titles for middle schoolers), a children's literacy and reading news round-up, and two Kidlitosphere round-ups with links to useful posts from the week. I also have the second post of my new recurring feature: Reviews that Made Me Want the Book. Content published on my blog this week that's not included in the newsletter includes:

• An announcement about a Readergirlz chat with Nikki Grimes that took place last week.
• A post about the next steps for supporting RIF in their current federal funding challenge. (This is different from last week's post)

If you enjoy the Growing Bookworms newsletter, please consider passing it along to any friends or colleagues who you think would be interested. Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms!

So I did my weekend "visits" post early last weekend, on Saturday. And wouldn't you know it? People posted tons of not-to-be-missed stuff on Sunday and Monday. So here I am with an extra post for you.

First of all, I'm honored to report that not one but two of my very favorite bloggers each granted me a "Blogs that Make My Day" award. The first was from Jill at The Well-Read Child. The second was from Susan at Wizards Wireless. Both of these are relatively new blogs, which I've discovered over the past few months, but they've each quickly jumped onto my must-read list. Jill shares my passion for helping people to encourage children to love books. She offers reading tips, in-depth reviews, and articles like this one, about recognizing and responding to adult illiteracy. Jill jumped right on board to help with my article about reluctant readers back in January, and her input was much appreciated. Susan focuses on children's books, comic strips, and especially Harry Potter. She includes lots of fun polls on her blog, but she intersperses the fun stuff with thoughtful posts on things like why it's ok not to enjoy a book that everyone else likes. The most recent post of Susan's that I flagged for mention was this one, about the value of singing picture books aloud with kids. I'm sure to be mentioning other posts by Susan and Jill going forward.

Now, I know that I'm supposed to pass along this award. But it's so hard to choose. There are quite a few blogs that make my day. So I'm going to say the same thing that I said in response to the Shameless Lions award - if I link to one of your posts in any of my Sunday Visits posts, and/or if I included your input in that reluctant readers article, then you have a blog that makes my day.

Now, on to other links:

• The Lamppost Blog, a new blog written by a high school English teacher from Canada, has an article about common strategies for reaching reluctant readers. I will admit to having found this because I was referenced in the article, but I have bookmarked The Lamppost for further reading. I like the name of the blog, and it's definitely one for teachers to check out.
• Another post in which my reluctant readers article was referenced (it is just all about me today, isn't it?), this one on a blog I've been reading for a while, is this post at Book Advice. Minerva66 asks: Is time an important factor in children's literacy? She proposes that a factor that hasn't received much attention in the decline of reading debate is simply that many kids are so over-scheduled that they lack the time to "relax, think quietly, and create on their own." I think that she makes an excellent point. Have you all run into this issue, in encouraging your kids and your students to read?
• Speaking of encouraging kids to read, don't miss the latest post by Donalyn Miller at The Book Whisperer. She proposes that "The manner in which schools institutionalize reading takes this love (of books) away from children." She also discusses the correlation between being a reader and being a good test-taker, and the way that teaching towards standardized tests via "drill and kill ... slowly strangles the joy of reading out of students, and narrows their possibilities as readers forever more." Anyone know a way out of this problem, given the emphasis that the system places on standardized tests? It is ironic, if teaching to the tests is killing a love of reading, because kids who love to read do well on standardized tests anyway. 
• And if you're looking to encourage boys to read, check out this post at The Miss Rumphius Effect, in which Tricia links to a Chronicle of Higher Education article about what boys should read.
• Over at Kids Lit, Tasha links to a new AP article by Stephanie Reitz about the new trend of taking children's book art more seriously. I especially liked this statement from the article: "More art lovers are recognizing that whimsy and significance aren't mutually exclusive." I would argue that the same could be said for literature, too.
• At ForeWord Magazine's ShelfSpace blog, Pam Coughlan writes about her magical ability to make books disappear from the children's library shelves. She also offers some suggestions to authors, publishers, and reviewers for making the magic flow even more easily (e.g. "The publisher has a huge impact on the book by creating the cover art.").
• I learned from Felicity12 at Look Books that a book that I recently enjoyed (STORM: The Infinity Code) already has three sequels in the UK. One would think that these will make their way over here before too long.
• I've seen several great posts about the recent Dublin Literacy Conference. But I especially enjoyed this post, by Mary Lee from A Year of Reading, about how she learned, during a live presentation, just what a small world it really is. She was showing a live SiteMeter map during her presentation, and was able to identify TadMack dropping by from over in Scotland. Very cool!
• At the Kiddosphere, Jennifer Schultz suggests several "school stories" for those kids who are not enamored of fantasy.
• In the context of a post about an upcoming early literacy summit, Walter Minkel posits, at The Monkey Speaks, that the problem with literacy conferences is that much of the content falls on the "ears of the converted". He suggests a broader approach, by which "we, the librarians out on the floor, who are visiting a school on a parents’ night, or speaking to parents at a preschool, need to be talking up books and encouraging parents to visit the library. Never pass up a chance to talk to the parents who haven’t been converted yet to the “gospel” of reading aloud - to do a commercial for reading aloud." I would actually extend Walter's call, and say that any of us, librarians or not, who have the chance should be making commercials for reading aloud.
• Colleen Mondor has just posted her You Should Read This Awards for 2008: Books Published for Adults that Teens Will Love. I might amend that title to add that these are books published by adults that we adult fans of children's literature are likely to also love. For instance, Ysabel, which is a book that I just mentioned in my "reviews that made me want the book" post, is included, not to mention many other books that I've enjoyed. The list is not limited to recently published titles, and is a great resource for anyone looking for books that will please teens. On a somewhat related note, over at Bookshelves of Doom, Leila is looking for 2007 YA books that "didn't get enough love"
• Do you have a question that you've always wanted to ask Beverly Cleary? If so, check out this post by Rachael Walker, Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, at the First Book Blog. "In preparation for the third annual National D.E.A.R. Day—that’s Drop Everything and Read—Reading Rockets is collecting questions for Mrs. Cleary from readers of all ages. She’ll answer the best and most original questions on April 12, National D.E.A.R. Day and her birthday, in a new exclusive audio interview. You have until this Friday, February 29 to send your question". See also this post at Becky's Book Reviews about D.E.A.R. day.
• The spring issue of the Prairie Wind, the newsletter of the SCBWI-Illinois Chapter, is now available, with lots of great articles.

OK, that was more than a few links. I hope you'll all find something useful.

Book: Not So Tall for Six
Author: Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrator: Frank W. Dormer
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8

Not So Tall for Six was written by 2006 Cybils nonfiction picture book winning author Dianna Hutts Aston, and illustrated by Frank W. Dormer. I was interested in this book, about a very small six-year-old girl, because I'm "not so tall" myself. I must admit that it took me a second read-through to appreciate this quirky picture book, but on that second reading, I was won over.

Kylie Bell "comes from a long line of not-so-tall people." Their family motto is "Brave and smart and big at heart." When confronted at school by a big new bully named Rusty Jacks, Kylie has some negative interactions with him, and even runs away. She manages to play to her own strengths, however. And when the opportunity comes to do the right thing and help Rusty Jacks, Kylie remembers her family motto, and comes through.

The reason this book is a bit tricky at first is that the story is told from a sort of fantasy/surrealistic viewpoint. So, the first time we see Rusty he is "slithering around like a half-starved rattlesnake", and drawn with a human torso and serpent bottom. In another scene he looms over Kylie like a giant. Only in the scene where he needs help is he shown in actual kid size. I suspect that young readers will take in stride this fantasy-tinged Kylie's-eye-view of the situation, but it took me a second pass to get into it.

Closer inspection reveals the cleverness by which Kylie's imaginings tie back the details we know of her home life. For example, the second page of the book includes, as background, a picture of a tiny little woman in a bonnet being menaced by several large men in cowboy hats. Later on, when Kylie is confronted by Rusty, she almost calls Rusty a name, but then "a vision of Great-great grandmother Beulah Bell, who kept hold of her good manners even when the cowpokes didn't, pops into her mind." I like the tying back to that earlier picture. Similarly, one of Kylie's relatives was a snake charmer, and thus it makes sense for her to picture the bully Rusty as a snake.

I also enjoyed the humor of Dormer's pen and ink and watercolor illustrations. A portrait of one not-so-tall relative shows only the top of his head peeking over the bottom of the picture frame. Kylie sits in her father's lap, both of them tiny compared to the high back of the armchair. And to make sure that we get the country and western atmosphere of the book, a pot of cactii sits to the right of armchair, and the colors run to tan, sage, and rust. Kylie herself is rather Pippi-esque, and stands out from the more muted background, with red pigtails streaming out to either side.

The book also features Aston's playful use of language, and a southwestern slant to the text. For example:

"Kylie Bell skedaddles faster than a spooked horse.

At times like this a sneaky thought tip-tippity-two-steps across Kylie Bell's brain. She is so tall the ground rumbles like a mighty oil gusher when she runs. She is so tee-totally-tall, big kids can play hopscotch in her shadow."

and:

"Kylie Bell is afraid. But even though her legs feel like Aunt Cherokee's cactus jelly, she skitter-dee-doos over to Rusty Jacks, looks straight up into his nostrils, and announces, 'Ladybugs do not accept rides from wild boars.'"

Fun stuff. It reminds me of living in Texas. Like Kylie Bell, Not So Tall for Six is itself brave and smart and big at heart. Although the book has solid messages about courage and compassion, they never overwhelm the story. I think that younger kids will miss some of the nuances, but I recommend this book highly for first and second graders, especially those who live in the southwestern states. 

Publisher: Charlesbridge
Publication Date: January 15, 2008 (new edition)
Source of Book: A review copy from the publisher
Other Blog References: See some original artwork by Frank Dormer at 7-Imp, and Frank Dormer featured at What Adrienne Thinks About That as part of the Blogging for a Cure Event

This is the second edition of the new "reviews that make me want to read the book" feature here at Jen Robinson's Book Page. The idea (as introduced here) is to highlight a few recent reviews that have inspired me to want to read the book in question. This will give a bit of much-deserved attention to the authors of these enticing reviews, and will also help me to keep track of these reviews as they pass by my computer. I hope that you find some book ideas here, too.

First up is Chris Monroe's Monkey with a Tool Belt (Carolrhoda Books), reviewed by Betsy Bird at A Fuse #8 Production. I actually loved the cover photo, but was also taken by this text from Betsy (who loved the book): "There is nothing quite so comforting as a competent hero. Monroe has created a story that is as kid-friendly as it is partly because you never really worry too badly for Chico. Even when he's in dire straits you're comforted by the very presence of his tool belt."

Next up is Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (Roc Trade), reviewed by Emmaco at There's Always Time for a Book. Emmaco says that it "stars 15-year old Ned, who has traveled to Provence with his famous photographer father... Ned's worries are soon superceded by new concerns as the past becomes tangled with the present, placing his family and friends into danger. Kay does a great job at gently introducing the many different historical events that have occurred in the region." As regular readers know, I'm a sucker for time travel books, and I like the sound of the way the time travel is mixed in for this one.

I've seen Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (Scholastic) around, and thought that the title was appealing. But Esme Raji Codell convinced me to read it with: "This book has laugh-out-loud slapstick, zany characters, and a meticulous plotting that keeps imagination from becoming mayhem; in fact, I have yet to meet a child (or a librarian) who didn't like this book, probably because it sizzles with magic, and gives readers hope that whatever fault you may have can be turned to an advantage."

Cynthia Leitich Smith made me want to read Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds by April Lurie (Delacorte). The post isn't a full review, but rather an announcement about a giveaway to receive an ARC. However, Cynthia's plot summary, about two teenage girls who inadvertently find themselves involved with the mob, caught my attention. Perhaps because we've just started watching Season 6 of the Sopranos at my house.

And that's it for today. Though I do wonder if I would be better off reading some of the books that I have, instead of writing about other books that I want to read. But anyway, hope this is of interest.

Here is some recent children's literacy and reading news.

• I don't have a link for you, but I did get an email back from Congressman Mike Honda expressing his support for Reading is Fundamental. He said, among other things: "I fully support the goals of the RIF program and will work with my colleagues on the Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee to restore this essential program." And he must have been hearing from other people about this, because he had his letter pretty detailed.
• Tricia links to, and provides excerpts of, several recent news stories about reading at The Miss Rumphius Effect. I especially liked this quote, from an OpEd piece by Timothy Egan: "Reading is something else, an engagement of the imagination with life experience. It’s fad-resistant, precisely because human beings are hard-wired for story, and intrinsically curious. Reading is not about product."
• Anastasia Suen sent me the link to this Reading Rockets post, which in turn links to a primer on dyslexia, published by the Florida Center for Reading Research. The report talks about identifying students with dyslexia, effective instruction methods, preventing reading difficulties for students with dyslexia, and other topics. 
• According to a Herald article by Andrew Denholm, a "literacy project which helps secondary school children in one of the most deprived communities in Britain is to be axed." The article continues: "Since 2000, the £80,000-a-year initiative in Glasgow has given intensive support to pupils with a reading age of four or more years under their chronological age. But now that funding, which pays for two dedicated literacy teachers to help some 30 children a year at Drumchapel High School improve their reading skills, is to be cut off." Kind of like cutting off funding for RIF, isn't it?
• According to the Jamaica Information Service, "The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, ... (recently) launched the 'Reading the Bottomline' project, at the St. Michael's Primary School in Kingston. This initiative seeks to increase the literacy level of students at the primary school level."
• The Herald Bulletin (IN) has an article by Brandi Watters about a children's literacy program that uses newspapers. The papers are used to "foster logic in sequencing", to illustrate the "six basic principles of news reporting", and to help teach the differences between fact and fiction.

And that's all for this week. Happy reading!

it's a stormy, windy day here in Northern California. Mheir had to go into work, so I've been spending some time on the computer. Here is some news from around the Kidlitosphere:

• Jess has a post about the use of digital storytelling for educators, linked from discussion on EduCause Connect. There's a definition of digital storytelling, and a discussion about how Web 2.0 has a "lower barrier to use."
• Sara Lewis Holmes has a conversation going on at Read Write Believe about "otherness" in children's literature. She asks: "what makes you leap into the story? Do you think: Oh! that character's just like me! I would do that! Or is it the opposite: why on earth would a character think that? Do that? Say that?"
• Abby (the) Librarian shares several nonfiction picks for middle grade students that she will be booktalking for the upcoming Women's History Month. She asks readers for other suggestions.
• HipWriterMama describes her recent visit to her daughter's first grade classroom, in which she talked to the kids about the right way to treat books. She incorporated suggestions from several other members of the Kidlitosphere, and the result is both an illustration of the power of this little corner of the Internet, and an inspiration. In fact, Alkelda has dubbed HipWriterMama Super Mama, complete with action figure.
• The new blog I.N.K. (interesting nonfiction for kids) has been off to a strong start, with posts by a variety of nonfiction authors. I especially enjoyed this post by Anna M. Lewis about fun art appreciation books for kids. I think that parents and teachers will find this an excellent resource.
• Another relatively new blogger who has jumped in with both feet is Jama at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. This week she shares her thoughts on finding the courage to start a blog, and the joy of finding her voice. This is a must-read post for anyone out there hesitating over dipping a toe into blogging. She also has a fun post about using chocolate instead of therapy.   
• Over at A Fuse #8 Production, Betsy Bird has been shining a spotlight on "some authors, illustrators, and teachers that are going out of their way to help kids become better readers." Those featured so far include Sue Stauffacher, who has "more than fifteen years experience introducing at-risk kids to the joys of reading", author G. Neri and illustrator Jesse Joshua Watson, and the Kidlitosphere's own Monica Edinger, teacher extraordinaire.
• Lots of people have written this week in response to a New York Times article (subscription required) about product placement in children's books. I first learned about this at The Longstockings, where there has been considerable discussion on the topic. I've especially enjoyed TadMack's impassioned response at Finding Wonderland (here and here). I agree with her that the whole "product placement in children's books" thing is a travesty.
• Another New York Times article that's generated a lot of discussion this week is about James Patterson's efforts to drive up sales of his teen books, by asking bookstores to place them near the front of the store. He's also actively working to market the books to adults, especially women. I first saw this discussed at So Tomorrow. I was interested to learn that "the Maximum Ride series is co-written by one (uncredited) Gabrielle Charbonnet, according to the Times." I don't find this surprising, given the prolific pace at which James Patterson books come out. I still like the Maximum Ride books, despite a certain two-dimensionality of the characters, and a certain ego being displayed by Patterson.
• Speaking of Finding Wonderland, I also enjoyed a. fortis's recent post on Things I Learned from Kids' Books. She says: "As a kid, without those kids' books I wouldn't have learned about dodecahedrons or tesseracts. Those books taught me what a veruca was, and what makes somebody a twit." And if you don't know what books she's referring to, well, clearly there are some children's books that you should be reading or re-reading.
• Charlotte links to a Guardian article about fictional boarding schools at Charlotte's Library, and asks readers what fictional school they would like to attend. I actually wrote about this topic quite some time back, and listed Hogwarts, Mallory Towers, and the village school in Avonlea. Charlotte disagrees with me about Hogwarts, making the valid point that the moving stairways would be inconvenient. Fun stuff!
• Inspired by some recent discussion elsewhere, Kelly writes about her Children's Book Reviews wiki at Big A little a. The Wiki is a site where bloggers can index their completed reviews, by age range, author, title, etc. Her post has inspired several people to archive their own reviews at the site, making it an ever more useful resource. Sara also went to the trouble of getting the Wiki added to the Adaptive Blue Smartlinks widgets. If you write children's book reviews on your blog, and would like more people to find them, do read Kelly's post.
• Sheri from Boys Blogging Books links to a discussion at Through the Tollbooth about boys and books. This post combines discussion from several other posts over the past couple of weeks. There's too much for me to even begin to share with you, but if you're interested in books and books, do click through.

And that's it for today. Happy weekend to all!

Book: STORM: The Infinity Code
Author: Emma Young
Pages: 336
Age Range: 10 to 14

The first of what promises to be a series, STORM: The Infinity Code by E. L. Young is a story tailor-made for fans of the Alex Rider, Young Bond, Alfred Kropp, and Maximum Ride books (though without the fantasy/science fiction elements of the latter two, and aimed at a slightly younger age range). Our hero is fourteen-year-old Will, a talented inventor, unhappy after the death of his father, and his subsequent abandonment by his mother. Will is surprised when a girl from school named Gaia invites him to be part of a shadowy group of teens, focused on solving big-picture problems in the world. The other participants, besides the multi-lingual and brave Gaia, include Andrew, a wealthy computer whiz lacking in social skills, and (sometimes) Caspian, the genius son of a famous and recently kidnapped astrophysicist. As Andrew explains to Will:

"STORM: Science and Technology to Over-Rule Misery. We might be young, but we are not impotent. We can act. We can change the world. The only real challenge is for us to believe it... My vision is this... That we come together, and we recruit others who have talents, and under the banner of STORM we work to tackle the problems in the world. Why not? We're geniuses. We can take on HIV. We can take on global warming. We have the brains. I have the money. I say: Let's do it!"

Will takes some time to be be convinced of these lofty ambitions, but he is eventually won over by his teammates. After solving a crisis close to home, Will, Gaia, and Andrew find themselves enmeshed in a mystery which requires them to travel by train to Russia on very short notice, and without passports. Once there, they find a crisis that could lead to the end of the world, unless the three teenagers can stop it in time. Clever inventions, quick thinking, brave escapades, and team loyalty all play a part in what follows.

Clearly, one must suspend belief to enjoy a book like this. There are implausible coincidences, and some surprisingly hands-off behavior by the adults. (Will's temporary guardian, for example, takes his impromptu trip to Russia quite in stride.) But for the target audience, I don't think that this suspension of belief will be a problem. And The Infinity Code is a fun, exciting adventure.

Will's inventions are ingenious. The book includes an author's note at the end indicating that the inventions, and the science in the book, are based on "genuine research and inventions." Illustrations of the key gadgets are also included in the end material, and are sure to please scientifically-minded readers. The main characters are all unabashedly bright, but they are quirky and emotionally wounded enough to make them accessible to readers. Gaia presents an excellent model of a strong, brave teenage girl, one who keeps Will on his toes. And I like that the characters are not afraid to use science to further their aims.

I think that The Infinity Code, and the presumed future books in the STORM series, will be a hit with their target audience. And they might even become a guilty pleasure for older readers like myself, too. This book is a welcome addition to the growing canon of middle school-level spy novels.

Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: March 13, 2008
Source of Book: Picked up ARC at NCTE in November
Other Blog Reviews: Bookshelves of Doom

The Horn Book will be offering a free monthly newsletter starting in March:

Each monthly issue features interviews with leading writers and illustrators, brief recommendations of noteworthy titles, and the latest news from the children's book world.

Click here to sign up!

(The magazine is well worth the price, too... judging by the issues that float around my house for years...)

Book: The Time Thief (Book Two in the Gideon Trilogy)
Author: Linda Buckley-Archer
Pages: 512
Age Range: 10-14

Background: The Time Thief is the second book in Linda Buckley-Archer's Gideon Trilogy. It was originally published in the UK as The Tar Man. The first book in the series, The Time Travelers, was originally published in the UK as Gideon the Cutpurse. I listened to the audio version of Gideon the Cutpurse last year, and although I didn't review it at the time, I thought that it was original and entertaining. When I heard that the second book was available, I had to have it. I do prefer the UK titles - I think that they are more memorable - but regardless of the titles, this is a compelling series for fantasy and science fiction fans of all ages.

Review: The Time Thief begins immediately following the end of the first book (spoilers here if you haven't read the first book. Stop here and go read that, and then come back, that's my advice.) Kate and her father, Dr. Dyer, have returned safely from their trip to 1763, with their time machine. Unfortunately, however, through a last-minute crisis, they've left Kate's friend Peter behind, with Gideon Seymour, in 1763. Instead of bringing back Peter, they've returned accompanied by The Tar Man, a criminal in any age.

The story follows separate threads, as The Tar Man wreaks havoc in modern-day London and Kate, with Peter's father, attempts to rescue Peter. Unfortunately, due to a unanticipated blunder, Kate and Mr. Schock land in 1792, instead of 1763. Peter has grown to adulthood, raised by Gideon, and isn't sure how to react to finding his friend still 12 years old, and his father apparently his own age. Further complications ensue, as Kate, Mr. Schock, and Peter travel across England and revolutionary France in search of a way home. Meanwhile, back in modern times, Kate's father must conceal the truth from the police, and seek out a way to rescue both Peter and his daughter.

This is a fascinating story, but not for the faint of heart. The Tar Man is quite violent. The French Revolution is described with detail and immediacy. And I think that children might find disturbing the fact that Peter, as we find him in this story, never got rescued, and had to grow up in the 18th century. But for those ready to handle these issues, The Time Thief offers a thrilling ride. The plot is absorbing, the characters are three-dimensional (though there are an unusual number of adult protagonists for a children's book), and the time travel aspects intriguing. Buckley-Archer offers just the right amount of historical detail - enough to give the reader a good view of the 18th century, but never so much as to overwhelm the plot.

I did have a quibble with the parts of the story told from the Tar Man's perspective. At least in the advance copy that I read, the Tar Man early in his visit indicated knowledge of the things around him that he shouldn't have understood yet. Yes, it's told in third person, but it's a limited perspective third person, and I found, for example, an early reference to a Mini Cooper jarring. I would have preferred to see this section told entirely from the perspective of a person from the 18th century first seeing modern-day London (as indeed some of it was told, as when "He encountered few of those outlandish carriages that moved without horses".) But this is a minor point that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I also quite enjoyed the scenes in which the Tar Man learns how to behave in 21st century England, as when he grudgingly accepts that calling  the waitress a "wench" is not the path to good service.

One of the best things about time travel books is the fish out of water aspect - people from the past not understanding what they are seeing in the present, and people from the present acting oddly when thrust into the past. The nice thing about The Time Thief is that we get to see this disconnect from both perspectives. The people in the past don't understand why Peter is so fastidious about taking care of his teeth, while the people in the present are shocked when the Tar Man brazenly steals a policeman's horse.

One of my favorite scenes is the first one in which we see the grown-up Peter, in 1792:

"Then he picked up The Observer and began to read, puffing at his pipe and taking pleasure in blowing smoke rings toward the ceiling. It was a habit he relished, not least because it reminded him of a particular wizard in a book he had loved as a child, and longed to hold in his hands once more." (Chapter 4)

There's something touching about the picture of this grown man, in a world where the Harry Potter books don't yet exist, still thinking longingly of his childhood favorite. Although we're happy to see that Peter has grown into a successful man, we also feel sorry for the boy who never got to go home.

The other interesting thing about time travel books is the paradoxes and moral questions. Is it right to go into the past and tell people about something that's going to happen? How will it change things in the future if you do that? Does time travel inherently render the universe unstable, by creating different trajectories in the world? The characters in The Time Thief ponder these issues seriously. For example:

"Dr. Piretti did not answer straightaway and then replied: 'If you knew, for sure, that going back in time again would potentially damage the universe in some catastrophic way we can't even envisage, would it be right to risk the safety of the rest of humanity for the sake of one innocent boy?" (Chapter 1)

Of course this issue is viewed differently by Peter's father than by the more dispassionate scientists. Questions like these will have the reader pausing to think, even in the midst of rapidly turning pages to see what happens next. All in all, The Time Thief is a worthy successor to The Time Travelers, one that is sure to please everyone from middle schoolers to adults. I highly recommend it, and look forward to book three of the series.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: December 26, 2007
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher. Please note that any quotations are from the ARC, and may not reflect the final text of the book.
Other Blog Reviews: Lady Schrapnell, Scholar's Blog Spoiler Zone, 8areadingblog

Tonight I will be sending out the new issue of my Growing Bookworms weekly email newsletter. If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here. The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's books and raising readers, all in a convenient email format. There are currently 206 subscribers.

This week's issue contains reviews of three books (two fiction picture books and one title for middle schoolers), a children's literacy and reading news round-up, and two Kidlitosphere round-ups with links to useful posts from the week. I also have the announcement about the Cybils Award Winners. (Note that the winner list itself may not display in email, in which case you will need to click through to see it.) Finally, I have the first post of what I expect to be a new recurring feature: Reviews that Made Me Want the Book. Content published on my blog this week that's not included in the newsletter includes:

• An post about a new photo of myself that I've included on my blog (you'll have to click through to see it).
• A post with information on how to support Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in their current federal funding challenge.

The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains a subset of content already included on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, for readers who may not choose to visit the blog every day. It is also my hope that parents, authors, teachers, librarians, and other adult fans of children's books, people who may not visit blogs regularly, or at all, will learn about and subscribe to the newsletter. If you could pass it along to any friends or colleagues who you think would be interested, I would be very grateful.

Thanks for reading, and for growing bookworms! 

Here is some literacy and reading news from around the wires and blogs.

• Education Week looks in-depth into "concerns that money-for-achievement programs actually decrease students’ intrinsic motivation to learn and send mixed messages about studying." Thanks to the International Reading Association blog for the link.
• Tamara Fisher's latest Unwrapping the Gifted column at Teacher Magazine is a veritable treasure trove of links related to gifted students and gifted education.
• School Library Journal's Extra Helping has an article by Debra Lau Whelan about a recent study that found that found that UK kids think that reading is cool. For instance: "kids are quite proud to be labeled as readers, with 71 percent saying the description fits them just fine." The International Reading Association blog has the link to the full report.
• The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune has an article by Steve Shank in the business forum section about the importance of children's literacy in Minnesota, from a business perspective. The gist is "If even a single child graduates from school unable to read, we should be concerned. But when our population of school-age children is shrinking and so many of them are at risk for illiteracy, we should call it what it is -- a national crisis in the making. Changes are needed, and they are needed quickly."
• The Hub (Campaign for Quality School Libraries in Australia), reports that "Elementary students in Ontario are going to get extra help reading and learning in their school libraries. Ontario will provide school boards across the province with an additional $40 million over the next four years to hire about 160 more library staff." They give two thumbs up to Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and I agree. Seems like every week there is encouraging reading and/or literacy news out of Canada.
• The Canberra Times (Australia) has an opinion piece by Ilana Snyder that classifies the current media debates over literacy education as "the literacy wars." Snyder says: "At the heart of these battles are competing definitions of literacy... My view is that both psychological and social understandings of literacy are useful for teaching and learning purposes but that is not the point here. There is no single, correct definition of literacy that would be universally accepted. This lack of agreement about what literacy is helps explain the conflict between the conservatives who want to preserve valued traditions and the literacy teachers who are caught somewhere between the legacy of the past and the imperative to prepare children for the demands of the future." It's an interesting discussion.
• The Age (Australia) has an article by Elisabeth Tarica about a program developed by a teacher from Victoria, Maggie Goodes, who has developed a program "to help teachers better understand and communicate with struggling students." Goodes has been using the program to help underachieving middle schoolers in New York City. The article includes a list of tips for helping an older child with reading. I especially liked this one: "Encourage teenagers to read easy books to younger children and siblings. Struggling readers can see themselves as successful readers when they read to younger children. They can easily read this type and level of text, and it can be rewarding for both them and the younger children." Thanks to Kelly Herold for the link.
• As another idea for helping older children with reading, see this post at Literate Lives, about a parent-child book club. See also this post by Janet at PaperTigers, about how to help children grow into life-long readers. Janet is seeking to compile reader suggestions on this important topic.
• The Menasha Public Library in Wisconsin is launching a program called 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, to encourage parents to read aloud 1000 books with their children before they start school. Read more in this Appleton Post-Crescent column by Kathy Walsh Nufer. The Kidlitosphere's own Tasha Saecker from Kids Lit is the director of the Menasha Public Library, though Tasha is not quoted in the article.

And that's it for this week. Happy reading to all!

This post will be a bit shorter than usual, since I published a visits post on Wednesday, but I have run across a couple of things since then.

• Over at A Year of Reading, Mary Lee has put together a chant/poem consisting of the names of various blogs from the Kidlitosphere. It is fun stuff!
• A bit more information about the RIF situation: Anne-Marie Nichols at the all-new My Readable Feast has links to ways to tell your friends online about your support for RIF at MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube. You can also click this link to stay abreast of other ways to get involved in support of RIF.
• Terry from The Reading Tub has just published the Winter 2008 edition of her newsletter, The Wash Rag. She was kind enough to recommend my Growing Bookworms newsletter to her readers, and she also has lots of other great resources available, like an author showcase.
• The Horn Book Magazine is launching a new monthly newsletter called Notes from the Horn Book. You can find more information, and a link to subscribe, at Read Roger.

And that's all for today. Hope that you all (in the US, at least) have Presidents Day off tomorrow, and are enjoying a restful three-day weekend.

Book: Blood Brother (Traces)
Author: Malcolm Rose
Pages: 160
Age Range: 13 and up

Blood Brother is the sixth of Malcolm Rose's Traces books. Traces is a young adult mystery series focused on a teenage forensic investigator living in a future society, with an intelligent robot as a sidekick. Luke Harding, recovering in the hospital from his last case, is assigned to investigate the mysteriously high number of deaths recorded at the hospital over the last three months.

Working on this case is difficult for Luke, who is suffering crippling headaches, and missing his girlfriend, Jade. But what really makes this case tricky is that one of the prime suspects turns out to be his own father. In Luke's world, children are taken from their parents at five years of age, and raised entirely in schools, with no parental further contact. Meeting his parents for the first time in more than 10 years is quite a shock for Luke. He finds himself caught between his emotions and his duty. He is completely astonished by the radical notion that his parents might love him unconditionally, and this realization changes him a bit.

As with the other books in the series, Blood Brother features an intriguing combination of bleak dystopian future, high-tech forensic tools and techniques, clever villains, and fast-paced action. Luke is a strong hero. He is smart, brave, and loyal. He maintains his humanity, despite his exhausting and soul-deadening job, and struggles quietly but determinedly against a system that forbids his marriage to his girlfriend (because matches are arranged based on like abilities).

Malc the robot adds humor, and emphasizes Luke's humanity through his own rigid though patterns. The book is filled with exchanges like:

"Great!"

"Your remark is in blatant conflict with expectation. I deduce that you are using irony." (Page 99)

and:

"When I told him I was taking a thumb price, his face fell."

"Incorrect. Also, it is impossible unless he also had a face transplant and rejected the foreign tissue." (Page 160)

Malc also explains to Luke "the biochemical basis for the proverb 'Love is blind'." And towards the end of the book, he displays some traces of humanity himself.

The Traces books are a bit dark, and Blood Brother is no exception. However, the books are laced with humor, and offer considerable food for thought. Although Blood Brother is the sixth in the series, I think it stands alone just fine, and does not require the reading of the previous books. Blood Brother is highly recommended for high school fans of forensic detective shows, science fiction, and speculation about what society will be like in the future.

Publisher: Kingfisher
Publication Date: January 15, 2008
Source of Book: A review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: Books for YAs and the People Who Love Them, 50 Book Challenge. See also my review of the fourth Traces book, Double Check.

Book: The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum
Author: Kate Bernheimer
Illustrator: Nicoletta Ceccoli
Pages: 40
Age Range: 4-8

The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum is compelling and beautifully illustrated, though also dark and surrealistic. It's a very unusual picture book, one that stands out from the pack. The story is of a girl who, as you might expect from the title, lives in a model of a castle, inside a glass bubble at a museum. Children (like the girl pictured on the cover) peer through the glass at the girl inside the case, but when she dreams, she imagines children her own size, who can visit her.

Despite having many wondrous playthings, the girl is lonely in her castle. The creepy part comes near the end of the book, when the girl hangs a picture frame on her wall, so that the reader can leave a picture of him or herself, so that the girl "won't have to miss you at all." Now, inside her dreams, inside the book, the reader can keep the girl company. The last line is "Do you see her? She sees you?" It's deliciously creepy - the sort of book that kids will remember long after they're grown, though it might be a trifle scary for the youngest children.

Bernheimer's writing is spare, yet poetic. My favorite passage is:

"But, oh, it is beautiful!
There are moats and turrets
and bright shining lamps.
There are darkly winding streets
That gleam in the rain."

The writing includes frequent questions, and comes across as a conversation between the author and the reader. For example, "And what does she dream of, the girl in the castle inside the museum?" I think that this style will lend itself well to read-aloud.

Ceccoli's illustrations, rendered in acrylic paint, clay models, photography, and digital media, are simply stunning. The clay models and photography give certain elements of the pictures three-dimensionality, while other details are left for the background. Some of the paintings, especially those of people, feature blurred, dream-like edges, in keeping with the dream-like atmosphere of the book.

The two paintings of young girls, apparently sisters, peering into the globe around the castle are compelling, with large eyes that look real (although the girls as a whole are rather doll-like and surreal). The castle is a whimsical treat, filled with engaging and unexpected toys. My favorite aspect of the illustrations is the Escher-like flooring in the girl's bedroom, which makes it appear as though some of the toys are floating.

I think that this will be a somewhat polarizing book. Kids, and their parents, will either love it or hate it. It's definitely not for everyone. But for those with a taste for magical castles, and ready for a hint of dark mystery, The Girl in the Castle inside the Museum is not to be missed. The illustrations pull the reader in, and don't let go.

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (Random)
Publication Date: February 12, 2008 (available now)
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: StrollerDerby, Book Buds (by Kelly)

Book: Sally and Dave, A Slug Story
Author/Illustrator: Felice Arena (blog)
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8

I wanted a copy of Sally and Dave, A Slug Story, written and illustrated by Felice Arena, as soon as I saw the title and the cover. Who could resist Dave, a short, plump slug in a Hawaiian shirt, with sunglasses over his eyes on stalks above his head? Not me. Sally, I must admit, took a bit more getting used to.

Sally and Dave are two slugs. Here are their descriptions:

"Meet Sally. She's sensational at sports. She's sleek, slim, and simply stunning." (Accompanied by a picture of Sally holding a tennis racket and ball, standing on a soccer ball, and with superiority literally radiating from her persona in the form of lines.)

Meet Sally's neighbor, Dave. He's just a common fat slug." (With a picture of Dave lying on his side, waving hello, with a big smile on his face.) "Dave loves sleeping sideways in his own slime, and spending time sucking up salsa sauce he's spilled on his satin shirt." (The picture of Dave sucking up the salsa from his shirt-front, managing somehow to look happy-go-lucky, even as a waiter eyes him disdainfully, is priceless.)

In the story that follows, the contrast between Sally's active successful life and Dave's indolent happy life is shown on every page. Sally undertakes "synchronized swimming", while Dave undertakes "synchronized sipping". Sadly, the superior Sally is downright mean and condescending to the lazy Dave. Until, as the astute reader might expect, Sally ends up in danger, and Dave is able to draw on his own strengths to save the day, and prove that he too is "special". While this is a fairly common theme in picture books, the quirkiness of the two slugs and the s-repetitive alliteration throughout the book make Sally and Dave: A Slug Story original and fun.

I think that kids will find the alliteration particular entertaining. Arena misses no opportunity to throw in some extra S's. Dave sees Sally skate by one day while he's "slicing a salami sandwich". When he's in the shower, he listens to "Superfreak". He doesn't walk, he slithers, sometimes sliding in his own slime. And so on. It made me smile, and I can imagine three-year-olds laughing in delight.

Arena's illustrations also add considerably to the reader's appreciation of Sally and Dave. Rendered in (apparently) watercolor and pen and ink, the pictures have a faintly cartoon-like feel. Arena is talented at conveying the emotions of the slugs, despite their relatively limited facial features, doing a lot with the eyes and mouths. She also includes humorous details, like Sally's ski mask, floating above her head across those eyes on stalks, and Dave's bottle of "Slug Screen", which is appropriately short and fat.

In short, this is a highly entertaining title that is sure to please preschoolers. I think that the fact that the main characters are slugs, with the hero a boy slug, will make this book especially pleasing to young boys, though I'm sure girls will like it, too. In fact, I'm keeping my copy, because I think that when I'm in a bad mood, looking at Dave's happy face will cheer me up. Highly recommended.

Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
Publication Date: March 1, 2008 (but it's available now on Amazon)
Source of Book: A review copy from the publisher

Today I am introducing a new feature of my blog: Reviews that Made Me Want the Book. One of the great things about the Kidlitosphere, of course, is the book reviews. People uncover all sorts of hidden gems, books that would never make the ever-shrinking book pages in print newspapers, yet deserve special attention. Despite the fact that I mostly skim reviews (because I have a keen wish not to know too much about each book before I read it), I frequently run across reviews that make me say "now that's a book I want to read." When this happens, it's usually a combination of the reviewer's ability to get across the essence of the book, and something in the book's subject matter that particularly appeals to me (or that I think will appeal to my blog's audience).

In the past, I've been somewhat haphazard about following up on these "I want to read it" pings. However, I've decided to change all that, by starting an occasional feature in which I list these reviews.

A couple of caveats are in order. No, I won't be making any attempt to keep track of all of the reviews out there. Kelly Herold used to do that, when there were a lot fewer blogs, and it quickly became unmanageable. Instead, she founded the Children's Book Reviews wiki, where a number of people organize their reviews. Sherry does a Saturday round-up of recent book reviews every week at Semicolon, also, and you'll find that a source of nearly 100 links during many weeks.

There are many, many reviews published on the blogs. I'll be highlighting those very few that awoke the "I want it" voice inside myself. I'll be focusing mostly on books that I learn about from a review, that aren't already on my radar. Or in some cases books that I knew about, but wasn't necessarily intending to read, until a reviewer convinced me otherwise. I'm not sure if the result will be of interest to anyone else, but we'll give it a try and see. Here is my first list:

Budge Wilson's prequel: Before Green Gables. This one isn't quite a review, but I was convinced to read the book by an email from Mark Blevis from Just One More Book!, and by Mark's recent podcast about the book and the Anne of Green Gables 100th anniversary.

Zizou Corder's new book: Lee Raven, Boy Thief, reviewed by Bookwitch. Sadly, this book isn't available in the US yet. Bookwitch says: "Although set in 2046 it has the feel of a Victorian novel, with street urchins all over the place. They may use mobile phones, but it’s very Victorian." Doesn't that sound fun?

Joe Haldeman's The Accidental Time Machine, reviewed by Becky at Becky's Book Reviews. Without going into too much detail, Becky says: "No matter what I say from this point, it couldn't do justice to the book. It is exciting. It is fast-paced. It is funny in moments. The writing is definitely all witty and clever and oh-so-right."

Mary Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox, reviewed at The Reading Zone. This one was already on my radar, but Sarah pulled me in with this: "An amazing science-fiction story, I would classify Pearson’s novel as dystopian. It’s a frightening look at where our society is headed and what might happen in our future. It raises questions of medical ethics, bioethics, humanity, and how far we are willing to go to save someone we love."

Linda Collison's Star-Crossed, reviewed by Angieville, who said that it: "reminded me of a mixture of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and a more mature The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Like Kit and Charlotte, sixteen-year-old Patricia Kelley is forced into a radically new life, but remains stubbornly determined to shape it to her will. Orphaned, illegitimate, and penniless, Patricia stows away on a British merchant ship bound for Barbados."

Sundee Frazier's Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It, reviewed by Ms. Yingling Reads. Here's the beginning: "
Sundee Frazier has done a wonderful job of creating a dynamic ten-year-old character who loves rocks, scientific studies and Tae Kwon Do, misses his grandfather who recently passed away, has a supportive mother and father and a best friend to hang out with, and just happens to be biracial."

Kimberly Willis Holt's Piper Reed Navy Brat, reviewed by Marcie Atkins at World of Words. Marcie says: "Are you looking for a book for girls (or guys) who have "graduated" from Junie B., but still need a good, short chapter book to keep them reading? This is the book." And that's enough to capture my interest.

Julia L. Sauer's Fog Magic, capsule reviewed by Becky Levine, in a list of her favorite books. Becky says of the fog: "it is magic. Fog cools, it hides, it changes the light. In Fog Magic, it leads you into the past, into a Brigadoon-like village that doesn't exist in the sunshine."

And that's it for today. These eight titles are now officially on my radar, because of the insightful reviews linked above.