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"With a stunning combination of computer animation, interactive features, and traditional picture-book elements, William Joyce and Moonbot Studios have developed an enchanting story about the power of books. Based on their award-winning short film, this production sets the bar high for picture-book apps.

2 Comments on The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (ages 6 - 10), last added: 2/27/2012

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Katherine Sokolowski said, on 2/27/2012 4:51:00 AM

Love this post. Just saw the film last night. Plan on checking out the app today.

Ele said, on 2/27/2012 3:43:00 PM

Excellent review. Thank you!

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2. The Cybils are coming, the Cybils are coming!

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 2/12/2012
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Cybils 2011, Add a tag

I'm so excited to see the announcement of the Cybils winners this week. The Cybils Awards honor children's and young adult books that combine literary excellence with kid appeal. As tthe Cybils website states, "If some la-di-dah awards can be compared to brussel sprouts, and other, more populist ones to gummy bears, we’re thinking more like organic chicken nuggets. We’re yummy and nutritious."

I love this award because the panelists continually bring to my attention books I hadn't heard of, and they celebrate so much of what I value in children's literature. The Cybils also celebrate many genres of children's literature. There are different awards for graphic novels, poetry and chapter books - all genres that are not typically included in the major children's literature awards.

The panels have been hard at work evaluating the finalists, discussing the merits of each book and making hard choices about which one they all agree upon as the best in its category. The Cybils winners will be announced this Tuesday, February 14th. This year I have had the honor of coordinating the Book App category. We've had fantastic members of each panel, and they've evaluated over 50 book apps. They've considered the stories, the interactive features, the audio narration and the overall kid appeal of these apps. We've had fascinating discussions, and I think we've all learned something from the process.

As Sondra Eklund wrote about over at the ALSC blog, definitely check out the list of Cybils finalists for suggestions on books for your children, students or patrons. Here are the links to the individual categories. And be sure to check in on Tuesday morning for the announcements of the winning books!

• Book Apps
• Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books
• Fantasy and Science Fiction (middle grade)
• Fantasy and Science Fiction (young adult)
• Fiction Picture Books
• Graphic Novels
• Middle Grade Fiction
• Nonfiction for Middle Grade and Young Adult
• Nonfiction Picture Books
• Poetry
• Young Adult Fiction

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3. February 2012 Events

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By: Aline Pereira, on 2/1/2012
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Lisa Yee, Black History Month, Eventful World, Calendar of Events, Allen Say, children's literature conference, children's literature events, children's literature symposium, Reading the World conference, children's illustrator exhibits, SCBWI events, National Year of Reading Australia, Cybils 2011, Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable, Paul Yee, Serendipity 2012, Reading Ourselves, youth literature conference, Add a tag

Black History Month~ Canada

African American History Month~ USA

National African American Read-in~  USA

National Year of Reading~ Australia

National Storytelling Week~ ongoing until Feb 4, United Kingdom

Kolkata Book Fair~ ongoing until Feb 6, Kolkata, India

Japanese Children’s Literature: A History from the International Library of Children’s Literature Collections~ ongoing until Feb 12, Tokyo, Japan

Taipei Book Fair~ Feb 1 -6, Taipei, Taiwan

28 Days Later: A Black History Celebration of Children’s and YA Lit~ Feb 1 – 29, USA

Children’s Literature Symposium: The Same Text but Different: Variants in Children’s Media~ Feb 3 – 4, Sarasota, FL, USA

2012 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour~ Feb 5 – 10

The Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC) Presents an International Conference on Book Therapy~ Feb 9 – 11, New Delhi, India

Imagine Children’s Festival~ Feb 10 – 26, London, United Kingdom

Writer-in-Residence Launch: Meet Sarah Ellis~ Feb 11, Toronto, ON, Canada

47th ACELT Conference: Reading Ourselves, Reading the World~ Feb 11, Manila, Philippines

2011 Cybils (the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards) Winners Announced~ Feb 14

First Nations Public Library Week~ Feb 14 – 19, Province of Ontario, Canada

Chapter & Verse’s (A Book Club for Adults Discussing Children’s Lit) Discussion of ALA/ALSC Award Winners Feb 15, USA

Sun Gallery’s Twenty-third Annual Children’s Book

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4. The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs (ages 4 - 8)

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 12/15/2011
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  nonfiction, science, ebooks, kindergarten, ages 5-8, Cybils 2011, Add a tag

Dinosaurs fascinate many young children. These huge beasts dominated the world, and yet they vanished leaving only a few traces behind. Preschoolers and kindergartners love the sense of power that dinosaurs bring - there's nothing better than stomping through the sand box pretending you're a giant dinosaur on the hunt. But these young children also soak up scientific information as they learn about dinosaurs. If you have a dino-lover, check out the new book app: Magic School Bus Dinosaurs.

The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs
developed by Scholastic Media
based on the book
The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
for the iPad
version 1.1 - October 25, 2011
current price: $7.99
ages 4 - 8
available from the iTunes app store

nominated for the Cybils Book App award

Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a field trip to a dinosaur dig to investigate how dinosaur bones are uncovered. The paleontologists at the site have discovered some Maiasaura dinosaur bones, but are disappointed that they haven't discovered any eggs. Ms. Frizzle has the perfect solution: her class will travel back in time to see if they can figure out where the Maiasaura's nests are.

The bus transforms to a time machine and takes the class back to the Late Triassic period, then moves forward through the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Ms. Frizzle and her class discover which animals and plants lived during the different eras. Along the way, different class members share short reports with readers.

The app stays true to the original Magic School Bus book, making it accessible for a nice range of audiences. I've found that young children, ages 4 - 7, adore the wacky Ms. Frizzle but are often unable to read these busy books on their own.

This app uses engaging narration along with a well designed interactive app to pull young children into discovering this interesting scientific information. Children listen to the main text, but then they tap speech bubbles to hear what different characters are saying. This means that kids are actively engaged with reading this story, not just passively watching the movie roll by.

The highlighted reports are a great way for young kids to really absorb interesting scientific information in small chunks. I really like the way that the reports pop out when you press on the report icon, so kids focus on just that information. See this screen shot for an example:

1 Comments on The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs (ages 4 - 8), last added: 12/15/2011

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book hopper said, on 12/15/2011 8:40:00 PM

Looks like a good book and so appealing to the eyes of the kids. I'm sure my little one will like it. Thanks for the share. Have a happy holidays ahead. :)

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5. Around the World, by Matt Phelan - graphic novel adventure (ages 9 - 12)

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 12/13/2011
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  books for boys, ages 8-12, Cybils 2011, graphic novels, history, Add a tag

Take a graphic novel and an adventure story, and kids are going to love it - right? Add in real life adventures from the late 1800s, and you've got yourself something really interesting. Matt Phelan's newest book, Around the World, is a wonderful book to open kids' reading world. They'll read about three real-life adventurers who traveled around the world in the late 1800s, inspired by the fictional journeys of Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days.

Around the World
by Matt Phelan
MA: Candlewick Press, 2011
ages 9 - 12
available from your local library, favorite bookstore and on Amazon

nominated for the Cybils graphic novels award

Award-winning graphic novelist Phelan chronicles the real-life journeys of three nineteenth century adventurers who each set out to circumnavigate the globe for the sheer challenge of the journey. While the nineteenth century was full of Americans pushing boundaries and exploring new territories, these three were each inspired by Jules Verne’s best-selling novel Around the World in Eighty Days.

Thomas Stevens rode a high-wheel bicycle from San Francisco to Boston, and then continued around the world with or without roads. Just look at the spread above and you can get a sense of Stevens' crazy determination, starting in San Francisco of the Gold Rush era and venturing first across the US and then across the world.

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6. Harold and the Purple Crayon book app - wonderful celebration of imagination (ages 2 - 6)

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 12/10/2011
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  picture books, ebooks, ages 2 - 4, Cybils 2011, Add a tag

One of my favorite books as a young child was Harold and the Purple Crayon. I can't actually remember reading it, but whenever I read it now the feelings and memories flood back to me. The wonder as Harold draws his world, whatever he wants to see. My amazement at when his hand shook and water appeared behind him. And my delight when he was so clever that he realized he could draw his own window around the moon. I was so happy to see that the new iPad/iPod book app remains true to the original story, but brings it to life in a new way. It's a real joy, one that I highly recommend for young children.

Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crocket Johnson
developed by Trilogy Studios
for the iPhone, iPod, iPad
version 1.4 - December 6, 2011
current price: $6.99
ages 2 - 6
available from the iTunes app store

nominated for the Cybils Book App award

Features: Touch Tale * Read to Me * Read Alone * Tutorial

Harold is a little boy who decides one night to climb out his window for an adventure. He isn't sure where he should go, but he decides to create his own adventure - drawing it each step of the way with his purple crayon. It's a wonderful celebration of children's imagination.

The book app "Touch Tale" incorporates wonderfully paced narration with just the right amount of interactive features. Children are invited to draw along with Harold, tracing over gray lines that become bold purple when the child draws them. But you also can discover hidden treasures, like swiping over the empty sky to reveal twinkling stars. When Harold gets to the city, the careful reader will notice that there is a cat hiding in one of the windows which you can tap on to zoom in to see.

Harold's journey is animated, but in a way that stays very true to the simplicity of the original story. You follow Harold through his imaginary world, seeing the dragon roar or the ship sailing. But most of the details of this world are still left to the child's imagination.

The pacing and narration fit the story perfectly for a young audience. The app "chunks" the original picture book pages, so that only one line appears at a time on the screen. This helps children see the words at a nice, slow pace and large enough to see clearly. If you tap on different items in Harold's world, the word labels will pop up - helping children develop an awareness of printed words. But best of all is the soothing voice of the narrator - perfect for a bedtime story.

This is a joy to read, a

1 Comments on Harold and the Purple Crayon book app - wonderful celebration of imagination (ages 2 - 6), last added: 12/12/2011

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Miranda "Sibo" Paul said, on 12/12/2011 7:40:00 PM

Fun! The Harold stories are some of my daughter's favorites. I bet she'll love the app now too! Thanks for sharing.

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7. Top Apps for 2011 - School Library Journal's list, part 1 (ages 2 - 10)

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 12/7/2011
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  ages 5-8, ages 2 - 4, Cybils 2011, ebooks, Add a tag

I'm finding the hardest thing about book apps for kids is discovering ones that are really good. That's why I was happy to see that the School Library Journal came out with a list of their favorite apps for 2011. I'm going to divide their list into age groups. Today, I'll share their apps that work for younger kids (ages 2 - 10). Tomorrow, I'll share the apps they're recommending for tweens and teens.

1. Pat the Bunny (Random House / Smashing Ideas Inc.). I haven't had a chance to see this app - on the face of it, it seems so odd that Pat the Bunny is an app. But I've heard from many places that this app is engaging with perfect age-appropriate interactive elements. It's a difficult balance to achieve, and I'm looking forward to trying this out with my young nephew.

2. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Moonbot Studios): this app is truly captivating, in my opinion. As I wrote in the SLJ review on their blog Touch and Go, "With a stunning combination of computer animation, interactive features, and traditional picture-book elements, William Joyce and Moonbot Studios have developed an enchanting story about the power of books. Based on their award-winning short film, this production sets the bar high for picture-book apps." Indeed - my 7 and 10 year old both read this book over and over again this summer.

3. Spot the Dot (Ruckus Media): David Carter's app combines his creative books with a find-and-seek game. Preschoolers and kindergartners will love searching for the hidden dot, following the progressively more difficult challenges with each turn of the page. I am fascinated by this blend of a book and a game. Each time you open this app, the dot changes its hiding place. We had a lot of fun with this app!

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8. Review: The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar by Martha Freeman (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 12/3/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  genre: mystery, cybils 2011, reviews, chapter books, series, holiday house, Add a tag

The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar

 by Martha Freeman

2011 | 144 pages | Chapter Book

The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar is the second book in the First Kids Mysteries series, which focuses on sisters Tessa and Cammie, daughters of a female U.S. president. The plot revolves around two missing diamonds, a series of incidents with the First Dog, and a parade of suspects ranging from the White House dog handler, to a dog obedience coach, to the president of a country referred to only as "a certain nearby nation."

I found it really difficult to get through this book. Not only did the plot feel muddled and drawn-out, but there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and many words that I thought would be unfamiliar and especially difficult for new readers. I appreciated the fact that the girls recapped their evidence and suspects at various points in the book, because it did help me keep track of what information was still missing from the overall picture. I was disappointed, though, to realize that the crucial piece of information needed to solve the mystery was withheld from the reader until the very end, making it impossible to solve the mystery on one's own. I also didn't think the portrayal of the White House was very realistic, nor were most of the adult characters.

A pretty decent afterword at the end of the book gives some great information about being a kid in the White House, which was really interesting, and shows all the research that went into this story, but overall, the mystery and characters didn't really work for me, and I wound up feeling mostly disappointed by my reading experience.


I borrowed The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Mariana Cruz for the 2011 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!

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9. Review: Almost Zero by Nikki Grimes (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 11/30/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  reviews, chapter book, series, penguin, genre: realistic fiction, cybils 2011, Add a tag

Almost Zero

by Nikki Grimes

2010 | 96 pages | Chapter Book

Almost Zero is the third title in Nikki Grimes's chapter book series about African-American third-grader Dyamonde Daniel. As the book opens, Dyamonde's classmate Tameeka, who has recently gotten new hightop sneakers, explains that Dyamonde should be more forceful with her mother and make it clear that her mom's job is to buy her expensive clothing. Dyamonde uncertainly takes the advice, but her mother will have none of it. Dyamonde's punishment is to have all but the bare necessities taken from her and locked away, with the goal of helping her appreciate all that her mother provides for her. The message doesn't fully sink in, though, until another of Dyamonde's classmates suffers an unexpected tragedy, and Dyamonde is inspired to lead the campaign to help her family.

What impressed me the most about this book is Grimes's unique writing style. While the vocabulary, pacing, and simplicity of the story are certainly appropriate for the early chapter book genre, the writing is also quite skillful, and in places, even poetic. Many chapter books tend to sound alike, developing a generic chapter book voice, but Grimes has a unique tone and style that infuse Dyamonde and her friends with life and really help the story jump off the page. It was hard for me to relate to Dyamonde in some ways, but her personality shone through and drew me to her nonetheless.

The message of this book is certainly appropriate for kids struggling with materialism. I know many girls in elementary school who yearn to have the same clothes, cell phones, and other items as their classmates, and who think their own value is somehow tied up in their possessions. This book challenges that mindset, and brings home the importance of counting one's blessings and appreciating what one does have, instead of always wanting more. This series also brings some diversity to the chapter book genre, providing a window into a neighborhood many kids in urban areas will recognize as similar to their own. I also really appreciate the way Grimes takes on the serious issues kids today are worried about and presents them in a way that is appropriate for the age of her audience.

On a personal level, I didn't really connect with this book, but I still recognize the author's obvious talent with words, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to early chapter book readers, especially those who might see themselves in Dyamonde.

I borrowed Almost Zero from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Steve L. for the 2011 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!

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10. A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness (ages 12 - 15) - a powerful story of a boy coping with grief

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By: Mary Ann Scheuer, on 11/29/2011
Blog: Great Kid Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Cybils 2011, young adult, fantasy, books for boys, ages 12+, Add a tag

I sometimes wonder if we, as parents, try to protect our children from the hard things in life too much. We try to protect them, even though our children deal with hard things every day. And other times, I wonder if we are trying so hard to deal with our adult issues that we don't really see our children and the issues they're wrestling with. Conor, in Patrick Ness's powerful new book A Monster Calls, knows all too well about wrestling with life's pain. His mother is battling terminal breast cancer. And yet in so many ways, Conor is alone to deal with his pain - alone, that is, until the monster comes walking.

A Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness
inspired from an idea by Siobhan Dowd
illustrations by Jim Kay
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011
ages 12 - 15
available from your local library, favorite bookstore or on Amazon

Life for Conor has been completely changed by his mother's cancer. Breakfasts alone, as his mother struggles with the effects of her treatments. The recurring nightmares, filled with screaming and falling. And of course, school - where everyone avoids him, not knowing what to say. And then, the monster comes. At 12:07, to be precise. The monster is looming, giant drawn up from the earth, from the ancient yew tree outside Connor's window.

"Conor O'Malley, it said, a huge gust of warm compost-smelling breath rushing through Conor's window, blowing his hair back. Its voice rumbled low and loud, with a vibration so deep Conor could feel it in his chest.
I have come to get you, Conor O'Malley, the monster said." (p. 8)

Jim Kay's illustrations add a powerful, almost visceral element to A Monster Calls. He uses everything from beetles to breadboards to create marks, textures and images from Conor's dreams and his sense of reality. The dark pen and ink, along with relief printing and various printed textures, convey the dark, twisted, nameless horror and grief that consumes Conor. The illustrations are perfectly pitched toward a teen audience, suitably abstract, dark and disturbing.

This book

2 Comments on A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness (ages 12 - 15) - a powerful story of a boy coping with grief, last added: 12/1/2011

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Allison said, on 11/29/2011 11:25:00 PM

What an excellent, insightful post, Mary Ann. This book basically wrecked me. I love your point that it will affect every reader differently, because each reader brings their own story to it. Yes.

I don't know if I could recommend it to an individual reader, not knowing how it would affect them. I listed it as one of my recommendations for Fall in my library's e-newsletter, but I really don't think I could just hand it to someone and tell them it's a great read. It IS a great read, but it's too personal... I have to stick with blanket, general recommendations for it and hope that some readers will be led to read it if they're in the right place for it.

So interesting- I really hadn't thought about that until reading your post.

Reading Everywhere

Jackie Castle said, on 12/1/2011 4:50:00 AM

I haven't read it, but your post has me intrigued. I think, perhaps, it sounds like one of those book you just need to file away until you meet someone who is struggling with that issue. And isn't that what makes for a great book? Touching people and helping them feel they aren't alone?

Maybe it's not for everyone, but it's for someone. Great to know it's out there. Thanks for the insightful discussion on it.

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11. Review: Flip Flop! by Dana Meachen Rau (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 11/25/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  reviews, random house, easy readers, genre: realistic fiction, source: public library, cybils 2011, Add a tag

 Flip Flop!

 by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Jana Christy

2011 |  24 pages | Easy Reader (Step Into Reading, Step 1)

Flip Flop! is a Step 1 easy reader from the Step Into Reading series. Two girls, decked out in summer-wear, including flip-flops, have a lot of choices for how to spend their summer day. "Flip! Flop!" the story begins. "We can't decide." The girls explore 20 different summer activities they could participate in, including doing cannonballs into the pool, riding a rollercoaster, licking ice cream cones, and drinking from the garden hose. The girls are indecisive. "We flip, we flop," the text reads. But in the end they "toss" their flip-flops and head barefoot to the beach.

The concept for this book is so simple, but so well-executed. From the start, I loved the dual meaning of flip flop, referring both to the footwear and to the back-and-forth as the girls decide between each pair of activities. I haven't seen many easy readers that include that type of word play, and in other books, I might even advise against it, worrying that it might complicate the plot too much for the reader. Here, though, that double meaning is so clear, I have no doubt the reader would grasp it right away.

This book also includes some really colorful vocabulary words that will provide learning opportunities for beginning readers. Most of the words are fairly easy to sound out, so new readers have a chance of figuring them out independently, instead of needing to ask an adult, but they're also really rich, specific words that might not be found in everyday speech, or even in other books kids might be reading at this level. I love the use of verbs like sip, toss, watch, ride, fish, and sail, which add lots of action to the book, as well as bigger words like decide, cannonballs, straw, frozen, and garden.

The illustrations are filled with warm summer yellows, pinks, and reds, as well as cool blues and greens for water and grass that create contrast between hot and cold. As with the picture books new readers are hopefully familiar with, the illustrations tell much of the story, and even add some elements not present in the text, such as animals, background characters, and even a lemonade stand. The illustrations depict exactly what each sentence describes, which will help the reader decode new words, but they also have a lot happening in them that will appeal to a child listening to an adult read the story as well.

The more times I read this book, the more I love it. It evokes all the freedom and possibility of a summer afternoon and uses rhyme and rhythm to tell a simple story of two friends enjoying the summer sun. It's everything I want in an easy reader, and more importantly, everything a child could want (including free stickers in the back of the book!)

Dana Meachen Rau has written over 200 books for children. Learn more about her work here. More of Jana Christy's adorable artwork can be seen on her blog.

I borrowed Flip Flop! from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by

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12. Review: The Tricky Tooth by Fran Manushkin (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 11/23/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  series, easy readers, capstone, genre: realistic fiction, source: public library, cybils 2011, reviews, Add a tag

The Tricky Tooth

by Fran Manushkin

2011 | 32 pages | Easy Reader

The Tricky Tooth is a 2011 title in the Katie Woo series by Fran Manushkin. The series is very loosely based on the author's great-niece, also named Katie Woo, but according to the author, the real Katie Woo "never gets in half the trouble  of the Katie Woo in the books."

In this episode, Katie, a first-grader, has a loose tooth, and since she is the only student in her class who hasn't lost one yet, she is desperate for it to come out. The tooth just isn't ready yet, though - neither popcorn nor aggressive tooth-brushing nor bumping a ball with her head encourages it to come out. Finally, though, after being patient for a few days, a friend's dog nuzzles Katie's cheek, and out the tooth comes! Losing teeth is tricky, but it all works out for the best in the end.

This series never fails to catch my eye on the shelves in the bookstore or library. They are really attractive books, with hard covers that are just the  right size and shape for the hands of a new reader. Katie's name is printed on the cover and title page in big, bold, patterned letters, and each very short chapter is illustrated with full-color drawings that create context for the reader. This particular story doesn't cover very much new ground, but like the other Katie Woo books, it is perfect for new readers just learning to read books with chapters. Losing teeth is an important part of the first grade experience, which makes the book easily relatable for boys and girls, and makes the book extremely relevant to the readers' day to day lives. This series is also one of the few at this level that includes a diverse, multi-cultural cast of characters. Tammie Lyon's illustrations really highlight that diversity and enable kids from all different backgrounds to see themselves in the book.

I recommend Katie Woo all the time to families who are just discovering the easy reader genre. They make a wonderful introduction into the world of books for beginning readers, and they satisfy parents looking for books without toilet humor, scary creatures, or fantasy elements. Though I don't think it necessarily stands out, this book is representative of the things I like about the series as a whole. Recommended to first graders, especially those with a tricky loose tooth!

I borrowed The Tricky Tooth from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Tammie Lyon for the 2011 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!

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13. Review: Ruby Lu, Star of the Show by Lenore Look (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/25/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  reviews, chapter book, series, simon and schuster, genre: realistic fiction, cybils 2011, Add a tag

Ruby Lu, Star of the Show

by Lenore Look

2011 | 137 pages | Chapter Book

In this third story about Ruby Lu, Ruby is absolutely loving third grade. "The best thing about third grade was absolutely everything," is the opening sentence of the story, and indeed things look pretty great. Ruby's going to learn cursive, write haiku, play the recorder, and take her dog to obedience school. That is, until her family must deal with an issue many families have faced during the economic recession: her father loses his job. Ruby takes the news pretty hard, but is determined to raise some money on her own. She even sends some emails on her dad's behalf in the hope of getting him a new job. To Ruby's great surprise, though, it is soon her mother who goes off to work, leaving Dad at home to take care of the kids. He doesn't do everything exactly like Mom would, and Ruby has a tough time adjusting. Other plot threads involve Ruby's cousin, Flying Duck, who is deaf and communicates using Chinese Sign Language, Ruby's dog, Elvis, who may not be who she thinks he is, and the members of the 20th Avenue Plum Club, who stand by Ruby and subject themselves to her short-lived makeover business.

This book was very slow to start, and I really thought the story could have begun with the second chapter. That's where the action really begins, and where I first felt connected to Ruby as a character. While this subject matter has been covered in other chapter book series - most memorably, in Ramona and her Father - this was a somewhat new twist on the concept, given the extended family living with the Lus, and the creative ways Ruby comes up with to assist her father. The writing style, too, is very strong, and after that first chapter, Ruby's voice propelled me through the story fairly quickly.

What I didn't like as much was the way the title of the book didn't seem connected at all to the main points of the plot. Yes, there is a connection in the final chapter of the story, but it felt almost like two books were smooshed together - one about Mr. Lu's lost job, and the other about Ruby and her dog. I'm puzzled by this, but I think Lenore Look's writing is continually stronger in the Alvin Ho books, and doesn't connect with me in the same way when she writes about Ruby Lu.

Another thing I noticed was the change in illustrator from the first two volumes to this one. Ruby Lu, Brave and True and Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything were originally illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. I was pretty attached to her style, but somehow Stef Choi's illustrations in this third volume felt like a more honest representation of the characters. The way she draws figures and faces is very animated and almost cartoonish, and many of her illustrations made me feel nostalgic for artists like Crockett Johnson and Syd Hoff, and even reminded me a little bit of the way Fisher Price Little People looked when I was a kid.

Overall, I think the illustrations somewhat outshine the text, but both work together to tell a strong story about a girl who is sure to find fans among readers of the Just Grace and Mallory McDonald series.


I borrowed Ruby Lu, Star of the Show from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by 

1 Comments on Review: Ruby Lu, Star of the Show by Lenore Look (Cybils Nominee), last added: 10/25/2011

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Michelle M. said, on 10/25/2011 7:53:00 AM

I only read part of one of the Ruby Lu books so far but I see what you mean that the Alvin Ho books seem better written than the Ruby Lu ones.

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14. Review: Dodsworth in Rome by Tim Egan (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/24/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  series, easy readers, houghton mifflin harcourt, source: public library, cybils 2011, Add a tag

Dodsworth in Rome
by Tim Egan

2011 | 48 pages | Easy Reader

This easy reader by Tim Egan is the fourth volume in the Dodsworth series. This time around, the title character travels through Rome accompanied by his friend, the duck. The two friends visit such famous landmarks as the Trevi Fountain and the Sistine Chapel, and enjoy authentic Italian pizza and gelato. They also have an adventure when Dodsworth misplaces his suitcase and realizes he has no money to get back to the hotel.

Though I was not familiar with this series prior to reading this particular book, it didn't take me long to recognize that it shares a lot of wonderful qualities with other well-loved and award-winning easy readers.

For one thing, as is the case with so many easy reader series - Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, Mr. Putter and Tabby, Henry and Mudge, George and Martha, etc. - the central focus of this story is the friendship between Dodsworth and the duck. Egan uses clever dialogue to demonstrate the differences between the two friends. Dodsworth is more serious, more responsible, and more mature, while the duck is curious, naive, and silly. The dynamic between these two characters reminded me a lot of some of the disagreements and conversations written into the Frog and Toad and Elephant and Piggie series, other books where opposites are best friends.

Dodsworth in Rome is also quite funny, at least from the point of view of a second grader. There are some corny jokes, such as when duck starts "roaming" because Dodsworth says, "Rome," and some moments of childlike misunderstanding, also on the part of the duck. There is even a bit of mystery, as Dodsworth and the duck try to track down the missing suitcase. These are all common themes in easy readers at this level that help make them so appealing to their audience.

Another similarity between Dodsworth in Rome and other books in its genre is the way the book is structured. Like many Level 2 and Level 3 readers, this book is organized into smaller chapters that break up the plot into shorter, more manageable episodes. This serves to keep the new reader from becoming intimidated by the length of the book, but also gives that sense of pride of really being able to read a book that contains chapters, just like the older kids.

What makes this book stand out, though, is that it takes these fundamental characteristics of easy readers and puts them in a new setting, with lots of great details, vocabulary, illustrations, and experiences. A lot of easy readers stick close to familiar settings, like home and school, or refer to no real setting at all, just placing the characters against a backdrop and telling their story. Here, though, Egan has made traveling to Rome an accessible topic for even the youngest independent reader. Kids can take a real armchair vacation when they read this book, learning about real places in the world they might visit and understanding a little bit about another culture. Egan makes learning about another place more interesting than any social studies textbook I read in elementary school, and I think he's so successful at it because he has these well-developed core characters and a fun, light writing style.

I never would have chosen to read this book based on the cover, so I do sort of regret the fact that it's not very appealing or eye-catching. But certainly, any child who makes it past that initial setback will love reading of duck's hi-jinks and Dodsworth's efforts to keep him in line, no matter which country they visit.

0 Comments on Review: Dodsworth in Rome by Tim Egan (Cybils Nominee) as of 1/1/1900

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15. Review: Toys Come Home by Emily Jenkins (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/21/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  genre: fantasy, source: public library, cybils 2011, reviews, chapter book, series, random house, Add a tag

 Toys Come Home

by Emily Jenkins

2011 | 144 pages | Chapter Book

Toys Come Home is actually a prequel to Toys Go Out and Toy Dance Party, but I have never read either of those, so I’m really reviewing this book in isolation. This story is mainly about a toy stingray and how she comes to be in the possession of a little girl who also owns several other toys. It is also - among other things - about what happens when a toy is lost, how a sheep who apparently figures heavily into the other two books loses an ear, the cliqueishness of the towels living in the linen closet, and the warmth associated with being the toy chosen to sleep in the big bed.

I have loved every book I’ve read by Emily Jenkins but I was very unexpectedly blown away by Toys Come Home. I’ve seen Jenkins do witty and funny in her YA novels written as E. Lockhart. I’ve loved her picture books, especially The Little Bit Scary People, for turning stereotypes on their heads and challenging kids not to be judgmental. I also loved Invisible Inkling for its wonderfully imaginative creation of an invisible species. And Toys Come Home is the book that completes my portrait of this author. It is yet another side to her writing, that beautiful, emotional, nostalgic tone that we often see as a sign of great children’s literature.

This book contains so much that will undoubtedly turn it into a classic. Each word is chosen so carefully, to convey exactly the thought or emotion the character experiences. From the first moment of the story, when Stingray first becomes aware that she is sentient, and that she has found a new home, the reader is just immersed in this gorgeous stream of consciousness that conveys exactly what it would be like if toys had feelings. And the toys in this book have many feelings - joy, sorrow, grief, loneliness, uncertainty, fear, bravery, love. They question their existence and speculate about the girl’s feelings for them. They watch out for one another, and over time, grow from uncertain newcomers into leaders.

It’s amazing what Jenkins has done with such a simple concept - toys that come to life. Within the world she has created, there are so many opportunities to explore the bigger questions that kids and all human beings must wrestle with. It’s the kind of book that really gets into your mind and doesn’t easily leave again. I am really looking forward to reading the other two books to find out what else happens in this series.

I would recommend this book, honestly, to anyone, even very small kids who would need to have it read aloud. In terms of reading independently, however, it is on the high end of the early chapter book spectrum, and probably most appropriate for kids reading at the third grade level.

I read Toys Come Home at my local Barnes & Noble store.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Becky<

2 Comments on Review: Toys Come Home by Emily Jenkins (Cybils Nominee), last added: 10/21/2011

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Michelle M. said, on 10/21/2011 11:12:00 AM

Sounds interesting! I'm going to have to add it to my list!

Peter Sacoo said, on 10/21/2011 11:34:00 AM

Peter is an author, psychology professor and former private practitioner. But Peter himself didn't put pen to paper at all, and he once even stated he'd never read them coz he "Knew what was in them anyway". Peter may have 500 articles in Canadian and USA media/magazines written and also many more books, so you could try looking up? I read books written HAUNTED NIAGARA: LEGENDS, Best Selling Vampire Book and Horror book for Children, Vampire Book
http://www.petersacco.com/
Thanks

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16. Review: Scab for Treasurer by Trudi Trueit (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/20/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  reviews, chapter book, series, simon and schuster, genre: realistic fiction, source: public library, cybils 2011, Add a tag

Scab for Treasurer
By Trudy Trueit
2011 | 142 pages | Chapter Book

The reason I have never read a Secrets of a Lab Rat book until now is actually somewhat ridiculous and embarrassing. They've been on my library shelves for months now, and I've shelved them now and then, but never really looked closely at them. In fact, all I knew of the series was the logo on the spine, which I now know reads "SLR." My problem is that I read it as "SIR" and thought it was a series of books about a knight. And since I generally gravitate toward realistic fiction in chapter books, I kept skipping over it, assuming it didn't interest me.

Imagine my surprise when I finally found out that the series is actually Secrets of a Lab Rat, and that each book is a humorous, reality-based story about kids in school - my favorite! I devoured this story and plan to go back and read the previous volumes once Cybils season is over.

Scab for Treasurer is the third book in the series, and it focuses on the class elections at River Rock Elementary School. Main character Scab McNally, an inventor who loves all things scientific and disgusting, decides to run for class president, not so he can enact positive changes, but so he can beat Missy Malone, the annoyingly perfect girl in his class who never ever misses a question in the class games of Fly Around the World.

But "Never Missy" as she is called by Scab and his friends, is very difficult to beat, and Scab knows he needs to show her up in a big way. Though his twin sister, Isabelle, who is so smart she skipped a grade, keeps telling him he should develop a platform and stop fooling around, Scab decides to perform a huge stunt in front of the whole school. Will Scab pull it off? Will it be enough to help him win? Or will he be stuck running for treasurer instead? All is revealed in the hilarious  and unexpected conclusion.

Trudi Trueit's writing is just right to suit the sense of humor of third and fourth grade boys. I love the way so many pages of the book are interspersed with boxes of information, including "Did You Ever Wonder" questions, Scab's mother's rules,  and Isabelle's daily reports tattling on her brother's every wrong move. The illustrations, too, are perfectly suited to the fast-paced and funny tone of the book. They remind me of the same style used by a lot of cartoons on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon that kids in the book's intended audience undoubtedly have watched and enjoyed. (Fans of the My Weird School series, and its spin-offs will also instantly recognize illustrator Jim Paillot's work.)

At times, the story does rely on bathroom humor, or just plain disgustingness, to get a laugh, but it always works within Scab's scientific interests, and the stunts he and his friends perform to try and out-gross each other. Trudi Trueit has clearly not forgotten the annoyances and triumphs of being in an elementary school classroom, and she also has a perfect handle on what makes fourth-graders tick. I really enjoyed this book, and I think fans of the Weird School, Bailey School, and Horrible Harry series will find these a nice final step before fully beginning to read middle grade novels.

I borrowed Scab for Treasurer from my local public library.


NOTE: This book was nominated by&nb

1 Comments on Review: Scab for Treasurer by Trudi Trueit (Cybils Nominee), last added: 10/20/2011

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[email protected] said, on 10/20/2011 7:48:00 PM

As a shelver of books at the local library, I absolutely connected with your "confession." Wonderful! And, I appreciate being introduced to another silly elementary school series! Great review!!!

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17. Review: The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/18/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  reviews, chapter book, series, harper collins, genre: fantasy, cybils 2011, Add a tag

The Trouble with Chickens

by Doreen Cronin

2011 | 119 pages | Chapter Book 

The Trouble with Chickens is a chapter book by Doreen Cronin, who is the author of a bunch of hilarious picture books, including Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. In this, her first longer book for kids, she introduces us to J.J. Tully, a retired search-and-rescue dog, who despite his suspicion of chickens, is roped into helping Millicent, whom he calls Moosh, find her lost baby chicks. The story is told in the first person, mainly from J.J.'s point of view, and includes lots of humor, interesting vocabulary, and several surprise plot twists.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Not only was it laugh out loud funny, with clever turns of phrase and well-timed punchlines, it was also just really well-written. The first sentence alone is fantastic: "It was a hot, sunny day when I met that crazy chicken." But that is just the beginning of the wonderful ways Cronin plays with language throughout the text. J.J.'s voice is absolutely perfect for his character. His deadpan tone and wry sense of humor really create the atmosphere of the story and wonderfully develop his character as a dog with a dangerous past, who has seen it all.  Cronin also creates these great rules and concepts that define how animals behave and interact with one another. J.J. notes the differences between indoor and outdoor words, for example. He also calculates time according to species. An hour in dog time is seven hours in people time, "[w]hich translates into forty-three hours in chicken time." There is a human in the story - Barb is the owner of J.J., the chickens, and Vince, the rival dog who lives in the house - but the drama of the book belongs solely to the animals and especially to the duplicity of the chickens.

I think it's really difficult to write a story for early readers that is both easy enough to read and interesting enough to attract readers. Cronin has managed not only to entertain me with this story, but also to produce a really sophisticated book that shifts between points of view, tricks the reader with red herrings, and comes together in a clever surprise ending. I do think some of those sophisticated aspects make it a book for kids on the older end of the early chapter book audience - eight and nine year olds, most likely - but it's a definite standout of the genre for this year, and one of my favorite 2011 reads.

I borrowed The Trouble with Chickens from my local public library.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Amanda Snow for the 2011 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!

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18. Review: A Green, Green Garden by Mercer Mayer (Cybils Nominee)

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By: Katie, on 10/10/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  harpercollins, reviews, series, easy readers, cybils 2011, Add a tag

A Green, Green Garden

by Mercer Mayer

2011 | 32 pages | Easy Reader (I Can Read! My First - Shared Reading)

Little Critter, about whom Mercer Mayer has been writing stories since 1975, goes green in this 2011 addition to the I Can Read! series. Ready to plant his garden, he heads to the local garden store, where he and his parents purchase seeds and baby plants and rent a plow. At home, Little Critter and his sister find out that gardening is hard work, but that having patience and caring for the garden ultimately yield a wonderful result.

It's become somewhat trendy in recent years to include a title about going green in every popular children's series. Just in 2011 alone, we've had them from Arthur, Gilbert, Sesame Street, The Boxcar Children,  and Sid the Science Kid. During the past five years, Fancy Nancy, Dora the Explorer, Robin Hill School, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, Just Grace, Spongebob Squarepants, Mallory McDonald, and Rainbow Magic have also published titles in the genre Novelist K-8 and other sources now identify as "eco-fiction." (I tried to find out the original source of this term, but only made it back as far as this book.)  

Certainly, it makes sense that every popular series would want to involve its characters in as many holidays and childhood experiences as possible, but the key to making that work, in my opinion, is to write a book that really stands out and does something different than what other books have done. And though this story has a lot of those time-tested and truly loved qualities that have come to be associated with Little Critter in the last 35 years, the content of  the story doesn't really introduce anything new.

That's not to say this book isn't well done. I read through it several times before sitting down to write this review, and each time, I was impressed by something new. Since this book is at the  "My First" level of the I Can Read ladder, and is intended for an adult to share with a child who is starting to learn to read, there is a lot happening in the illustrations that really supplements the text, which helps new readers contextualize new words, but also enhances the story for kids not yet reading on their own.

One really wonderful thing about the illustrations in this book is the fact that almost all of them include print in so

2 Comments on Review: A Green, Green Garden by Mercer Mayer (Cybils Nominee), last added: 10/13/2011

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Darshana said, on 10/10/2011 11:17:00 PM

Thanks for the great write-up. It is helping me expand how I review/analyze these books.

Katie said, on 10/13/2011 6:53:00 AM

I'm glad you found it useful!

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19. Blogoversary Challenge #12

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By: Alyssa F., on 10/1/2011
Blog: The Shady Glade (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  cybils, challenge, blogoversary, 5th blogoversary, cybils 2011, Add a tag

So I figured we'd make this a round dozen of challenges. Once again, this will be another great way to rack up points to earn prizes.

October 1st is a very important day in the kid lit blogosphere. It marks the opening of the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Literary Awards) nominations. I've been participating in the Cybils for 5 years now, so they are near and dear to my heart. But the awards wouldn't be possible without nominations, which brings me to this challenge.

Challenge Details:
Points: +1 for every nomination you submit.  There are 10 categories, and you can nominate up to 1 book per category, for a possible point total of 10 points.
Deadline: Nominations are open until Oct 15, but if you want points for this, you must submit your nominations by midnight on October 3rd
How To Enter: Head over to the Cybils page to enter your nominations.  Once you're done, come back here and leave a comment on this post with the titles of the books you nominated.

2 Comments on Blogoversary Challenge #12, last added: 10/2/2011

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Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said, on 10/2/2011 8:34:00 AM

I nominated 'Small Town Sinners' by Melissa Walker for YA fiction and 'Shift' by Jeri Smith-Ready for YA Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Lieder Madchen said, on 10/2/2011 9:42:00 PM

I nominated Dark Souls by Paula Morris for Teen Fantasy, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan for YA Fiction and The Margrave by Catherine Fisher for Middle grade fantasy. :)

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20. Cybils Nominations 2011

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By: Katie, on 10/1/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Cybils Nominations are open!

I have been making a mental list of titles I wanted to nominate for the last couple of weeks, and I got them all in there right away. No guarantees that each book is eligible, since this is my first year involved with the Cybils, and they haven't been approved yet, but here is my list, by category. (Category links are to the lists of nominated titles, title links are to my reviews.)

Easy Readers: Back in the Saddle by Catherine Hapka
Early Chapter Books: Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins
Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Fiction Picture Books: Shoe-La-La by Karen Beaumont
Middle Grade Graphic Novels: True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know) by Jimmy Gownley
Middle Grade Fiction: One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street by Joanne Rocklin
Middle Grade/YA Non-Fiction: How to Die of Embarrassment Every Day by Ann Hodgman
Poetry: Dear Hot Dog by Mordicai Gerstein
Young Adult Fiction: Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing-Smith

What will you nominate?

2 Comments on Cybils Nominations 2011, last added: 10/2/2011

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Michael G-G said, on 10/1/2011 8:40:00 AM

You are organized! Great nominations!

Peaceful Reader said, on 10/2/2011 2:00:00 PM

You are organized! I enjoyed a few of your choices and want to read Breadcrumbs. Your nomination brought me to your site. Good luck!

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21. Cybils 2011

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By: Katie, on 9/28/2011
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Now that the official announcement has been made, I am very happy to be able to tell you that I will be a first-round judge for this year's Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils) in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. Since I already have a number of blog posts scheduled for  the months of October and November, I don't think this will cause a decrease in blogging activity for the foreseeable future. In fact, with all the books I'll be reading, it's pretty likely I'll be posting even more reviews!

Cybils nominations will open this Saturday, October 1st, and will remain open for two weeks. I really encourage everyone to think of those wonderful titles that stood out for you throughout this past year and put in your nominations! Anyone is welcome to participate. Each person is allowed one nomination per genre, and any book published between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2011 is eligible. I will post reminders throughout the two weeks here in the blog, as well as on Twitter (@sharingsoda). Please spread the word and encourage all your kidlit-friendly friends to nominate  their favorites as well.

I look forward to reading all the nominations in my category, and helping to find the year's best books. For more on the Cybils, visit http://www.cybils.com/.

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