by Judith Hayn

Farrant, N. (2013). After Iris. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Bluebell Gadsby’s twin Iris died three years ago, and Blue feels responsible because she let her extrovert, daredevil sister leave the house without her; Iris never returned. Blue is withdrawn and creative, yet determined to record the family’s quirky day-to-day activities on her video camera. Dad escapes by teaching at a faraway university while Mom globetrots as a high-powered businesswoman leaving the children alone. Blue tries to understand her older sister, the drama queen Flora, along with the younger Babes, Jasmine, and Twig. Zoran, a Bosnian refugee, is hired as the nanny to ride herd on this neglected bunch. Charismatic Joss moves in next door and pays attention to Blue who is immediately smitten; unfortunately, he and Flora fall in love leaving Blue to her camcorder and diary. Grief is complicated, and no one in this family is coping with the loss of Iris, especially Blue who succeeds in being invisible at school and at home. Middlers will root for this sensitive heroine, who tells in first person narrative the story of  her chaotic, dysfunctional family as she struggles to find her way from the shadow where she is hiding to a place where healing can begin.

Natasha Farrant is a literary agent for children’s and young adult literature authors in the U.K.; this is her first foray into the genre. If you are interested in reviews of books like this for tweens and teens and also in articles that will help you use them in the classroom, consider joining SIGNAL, the Special Interest Network—Adolescent Literature by clicking on the link below.

Dr. Judith A. Hayn is an associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

This article is part of a series from the Special Interest Group Network on Adolescent Literature (SIGNAL).

The 94th annual celebration of Children's Book Week is May 13-19, 2013. Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Children's Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader. The International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) celebrates Children's Book Week with this list of lovely new books.

GRADES K-2

Delacre, Lulu. (2013). How far do you love me? Text translated from Spanish by Veronica Betancourt. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Using soft pastels and free style poetic language, the author/illustrator has depicted the love of parent/adult and child using examples from all seven continents. Beginning with the question of “How far do you love me?” (p.1) and answering with “I love you to the top of the peaks/lit by the morning sun…” (p.2) from the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, and continuing with “To the depths of the cave/where a spring seeps sweet water …” from Cenote Dzitnup, Yucatán, México. Other geographic comparisons representing the depth of parental love include Machu Picchu, Peru; the Antarctic Peninsula; the Serengeti Plain, Tanzania; the Siani Peninsula, Egypt; Provence, France; the Alps in Switzerland; Ladakh in the Himalaya Mountains in India; the Mekong River, Vietnam; Kangaroo Island, Australia; the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; and Vieques, Puerto Rico. The book concludes with a map of the world with each location mentioned pinpointed and an invitation from the author to play this game with a favorite child.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Duval, Kathy. (2013). Take me to your BBQ. Illus. by Adam McCauley. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

“Some colored lights from outer space/ Are lightin’ up the whole dang place!” (p. 5) says Willy from his Texas-style ranch while he watches little green men emerge from their space ship once they finish landing on his place. The aliens run around the ranch and get a feel for the garden and tractors and the food. Willy gets out his fiddle, and the aliens enjoy square dancing and the Texas two-step, and then the fun really begins. He fires up the grill, and the aliens commence to pour BBQ sauce on everything – beans, taters, greens, even Willy’s hat and shoes. McCauley’s watercolors and pastels add to the hilarity of the story in the depiction of the aliens and the havoc they create. A surprising twist at the end occurs when Willy and a few farm pets leave in the space vehicle UFO to fly to worlds beyond and open Willy’s BBQ, seen on an appropriate pull-out double page spread in the homeland of the aliens. Several wordless pictures end the book as readers see that a few green men have stayed behind and are taking care (or are they?) of the ranch. There is even a yummy BBQ sauce recipe included on the final pages. Enjoy McCauley’s website where he provides examples that trace how these final pictures evolved. The author has created a detailed teacher’s guide at her website.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Houran, Lori Haskins. (2013). I will keep you safe and sound. Illus. by Petra Brown. New York: Scholastic Press.

This beautifully illustrated and endearing rhymed story arrives just in time for Mother’s Day. The title comes from the three sections of the book that speak to parental love and keeping children safe and sound, beginning with “Brown bears in the den/ While the first buds peep/” (p.3), continuing with “Rabbits in the field/While the crickets cheep/” (p.5), and concluding with “Robins in the nest/ While the rain pours down/ I will keep you safe and sound.” (p.7). The spare rhyming pattern continues with examples of alligators and the sun, squirrels and hawks, dolphins and wild waves, beavers and strong winds, ponies and the setting sun, and a kitten lost in the moonlight. Pencil, watercolor and gouache artwork give the illustrations a soft and warm invitation to very young readers for a lap story safe within the arms of a loving adult. Listen to the illustrator read the book at her website with her delightful British accent.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Kleven, Elisa. (2013). Cozy light, cozy night. Berkeley, CA: Creston Books.

Filled with luminously colored and vividly detailed illustrations, this picture book in rhyming text celebrates that feeling of coziness so often associated with family and home. As the seasons change over the course of the year, all sorts of objects, including dreams, cocoa, birds, sweaters, and apples are described as being cozy. Although it’s wonderful to feel secure and cozy at any time of the year, youngsters experiencing tough times may find solace in this lovely, heartfelt book. There is little doubt that anyone reading this book won't relate to some of the different objects and relationships that spell coziness for the narrator.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Levine, Arthur A. (2013). The very beary tooth fairy. Illus. by Sarah S. Brannen. New York: Scholastic Press.

Every child worries about losing his/her first tooth and wondering about the tooth fairy, and Zach the bear is no different. As he struggles with his loose tooth, it is finally when his sister Leah shares a bag of candy that the tooth comes out. Zach has been trying to figure out if the tooth fairy is a bear or if the fairy is human and whether he should be afraid or not. His mother assures him that all will be just fine because “A bear can be anyone/ And anyone can be a bear” (p.14). That night when Zach hides his tooth, two interesting events occur. Dressed in fairy clothing (it’s sister Leah, really) when Zach is mostly asleep, she slips into his room and leaves an apple for his prize. After Leah leaves and Zach nods off and falls asleep, the “real” tooth fairy complete with wings and wand and fairy dust arrives to find the real tooth and leave a dollar, spritz Zach’s human doll into a teddy bear, and his picture of baseball great Sandy Koufax into a bear baseball player. The magic of the tooth fairy remains a mystery!

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Reid, Barbara. (2013). Picture a tree. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.

Filled with powerful language, this appealing picture book encourages readers to look at trees from many different perspectives. Once they have done so, the author writes, "You may see the end of one thing, or the start of something new" (unpaged). Young readers will appreciate the author's consideration of trees in so many creative, even playful ways while older readers may be reminded of A Tree Is Nice (1956) by Janice May Udry, which covers similar territory. Both books are filled with splashes of green that soothe the senses and make readers pause for a moment. Certainly visually attractive, the Plasticine illustrations are filled with colors and plenty of movement. The images and text in this book also gladden the heart and may prompt meandering journeys through the trees during which hikers may store up sensory images so that they can truly picture a tree when they return home.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Moore, Eva. (2013). Lucky ducklings. Illus. by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Orchard Books.

Of course this true story of the stranded ducklings in Montauk, New York, in 2000, begs to be used with Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings. Carpenter’s wonderful illustrations give several perspectives from the ducklings’ point of view to add to the suspense. Mama Duck has decided to take her new little ducklings for a walk and as she quacks out orders to follow her, Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin, and Little Joe, do just that. They leave the park and nibble on things to eat while on their walk. As Mama Duck continues their walk she marches right over the storm drain, and all of the little ducklings fall through the grate! The little ducklings create quite a ruckus. Fortunately, someone sees what is happening, and although firemen are called to the rescue, they can’t get the grate off. “That could have been the end of the story. But it wasn’t, because ….” (p.16) a man named Perry attaches a cable from his truck and is able to pull the grate off. A wonderful perspective of the fireman crawling down into the storm drain as the little ducks are looking up from the dark is the centerpiece of this story. The ducks are rescued and placed in a bucket to be taken to the pond. But Mama Duck is not happy about that! “Fireman Dennis knows just was to do” (p.21). He removes the ducklings from the bucket and lets them line up with Mama, stops traffic, and allows the ducks to travel on their way. For more background on this author and this true story, read this Q&A interview from Publisher’s Weekly.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Scillian, Devin. (2013). Johnny Kaw: A tall tale. Illus. by Brad Sneed. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

The author has written a tall tale reminiscent of Paul Bunyan although this tale centers around life on the plains of Kansas. Told in rhyming lines, the story begins when Johnny is born, and as he turns five minutes old, he is already six foot two and gains a pound every hour. Very soon, his parents have to find a bigger place to live. As they leave their home, Johnny literally helps them carve out a new place to live by throwing the stones from the field, and in true tall tale fashion the stones become the Rocky Mountains. He spits out a seed of grass and fields of wheat grow. When a cyclone twister whips up, Johnny goes after that storm with his newly created scythe made from a cottonwood trunk and a windmill blade. Life is going well until Johnny’s mother passes away. To deal with his grief, “he cleared every tree and left Kansas bare/ So she could see the sunset from anywhere” (p.27) because watching the sunset was his mother’s favorite time of day. This is a tenderly told story that will add humor and perspective to any tall tale collection of stories. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Scillian, Devin. (2013). Memoirs of a hamster. Illus. by Tim Bowers. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

From the author of Memoirs of a Goldfish (2010) comes the “Question: Who’s the luckiest hamster in the world? Answer: ME!” (p.1). And so begins the writing pattern of this delightful story that must be read aloud for full enjoyment. Each page tells the story of Seymour’s arrival to his new home with Little Girl. Even though she likes to kiss him (Yuck!), he does enjoy his new water bottle, and his Fuzzy Boy 360 exercise wheel, and he really likes the yogurt drops that Little Girl feeds him. However, Pearl the cat questions Seymour’s enjoyment of his wheel since it doesn’t go anywhere, and tells him that the freedom of the sun room and the stairway made of sunflower seeds are a much more enjoyable way of living. As Seymour thinks Pearl might be right, he devises a plan to escape from his cage.  Pearl is anxiously waiting to attack on the night of Seymour’s escape, and as Seymour realizes what could be first but fatal mistake, he asks: “Question: Who’s in big trouble? Answer: ME!” For any child who has had or wanted a hamster, this very funny story with a bit of suspense is just right for sharing with others. Read more about the author in "5 Questions With...Devin Scillian" on the Engage blog.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Sheth, Kashmira. (2013). Tiger in my soup. Illus. by Jeffrey Ebbeler. Atlanta: Peachtree Press.

Perfect for Children’s Book Week, Right to Read Week, El Dia, or any day to commemorate literacy, this book celebrates reading. An older sister left in charge of her younger brother must get his lunch ready to eat. Busily occupied with her own book, she distractedly warms up soup for her brother’s lunch and ignores his pleas to read to him. When the soup is plopped on the table, steamy and too hot to start slurping it down, the young boy is startled as a tiger lunges out of the soup. At every turn, the boy is faced with the ferocious tiger, while his sister sees and hears nothing. The illustrations exaggerate the tiger’s size and fierceness as well as the fear on the young boy’s face, and prompt chuckles from readers. Much of the unspoken fun is in the pictures.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Van Lieshout, Maria. (2013). Flight 1-2-3. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Young readers are always fascinated with transportation. “When taking a flight, what do you see?” is the author’s introductory statement when readers open the book and begin a journey to the airport. Designed as a counting book, the book’s text encourages readers to begin with the number 1 and a sign for an airplane.  The bold illustrations depict a young family getting out of their taxi as they arrive at the airport. Number 2 designates the sign for luggage carts, and the family uses two of them to move within the airport. Number 3 depicts the Check-In desks as the three passengers get their tickets. Number 4 shows the signs for elevators and escalators, number 5 depicts trash cans, Number 6 shows the security officers, Number 7 is for food and drinks, Number 8 and 9 show the restrooms, Number 10 represents the Gates. Large numbers are included at the end for seat belts signs, numbers representing miles and kilometers, feet and meters. This is a perfect travel companion to the author’s earlier book, Backseat A-B-See. Read more about her writing ideas for this book at the author’s blog.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis. (2013). The granddaughter necklace. Illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Press.

A perfect story for Mother’s Day, Sharon Dennis Wyeth shares a piece of her own family history. “Once there was a girl named Frances, who took a boat across the sea. Her mother gave her a glittering necklace that would belong to me someday. Handed down through the generations, it’s a necklace worn by the women and girls in my family” (p.1). Thus begins the mother to daughter story and tradition of handing down the granddaughter necklace to each female descendant. In writing the story Wyeth explored her own family history, tracing her roots back to Ireland, to her surprise. Each separate story is told with nostalgic warmth and describes the passing of the necklace given at special moments during the lives of each young girl along with the story of the necklace. The author has included extensive notes at the end explaining the search of her ancestry. On her website she writes, “My cherished family remembrances shine like jewels!”

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 3-5

George, Jessica Day. (2013). Wednesdays in the tower. New York: Bloomsbury.

The sequel to Tuesdays at the Castle (2011), in which Princess Celie and her brother Rolf learned in the first book that Castle Glower has a mind of its own, this title shows that even a castle can change its mind. Before, The Castle only added or removed rooms on Tuesdays but now Wednesdays seem to have been added to The Castle’s agenda. In this new adventure, The Castle has created a new and hidden room that contains a bright orange egg. Rolf challenges Celie to find the new room, and when she does, she also discovers the egg. Celie cares for the egg and waits to see what will happen. One day, it hatches out a griffin that she names Rufus. With the exception of Bran the Wizard and Pogue the blacksmith, Celie manages to keep the existence of Rufus a secret. Celie tries to learn about griffins and their history within the castle and enjoys the fun of riding on Rufus’s back while pursuing her investigation. The ending leaves the story “hanging” (literally) and wide open for the next installment.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Rylant, Cynthia. (2013). The steadfast tin soldier. Illus. by Jen Corace. New York: Abrams Books for Children.

It's terrific for a modern audience to have another version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story of love between a tin soldier with one leg and a beautiful ballerina who perches on one leg. In this version of the story, a jealous goblin pushes the soldier from the window sill where his owner has perched him. From there, he goes on quite an adventure, sailing into a stream, meeting a rat who demands his passport, and then swept along further until being swallowed by a fish. When he somehow survives his perilous journey, his ballerina love is thrilled, but the goblin has one more trick up his sleeve, a fiery ending planned for the would-be lovers. Nevertheless, despite his treachery, true love triumphs over its many obstacles in this version of the tale. The watercolor, gouache, acrylic and pen and ink illustrations complement perfectly this timeless story of an unlikely romance. Although there is quite a lot of text, the story and the illustrations will hold readers' attention.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 6-8

Setterington, Ken. (2013). Branded by the pink triangle. Toronto, ON: Second Story Press.

Much has been written about the atrocities of the Nazis during the Holocaust, but little has been written about the treatment of gay men during that time period. This book does an excellent job of describing the initial harassment of gay men by the Nazis as they tried to enforce Paragraph 175, a heretofore mostly ignored law passed in 1871 forbidding sexual contact between men. Eventually, anyone suspected as being homosexual was taken to a concentration camp and identified with a pink triangle worn on his clothing. The author describes the stories of some of the men who survived the horrible conditions in the death camps. Some young readers familiar with the play and movie Bent may be familiar with this aspect of the Holocaust, but most will have no idea of this form of discrimination. Young readers will now know this important piece of Holocaust history and understand the significance of the pink triangle, now the symbol of gay rights, once a mark of shame.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 9-12

Lynch, Chris. (2013). Pieces. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Returning to the characters created in Iceman (HarperCollins, 1994) the author returns readers to younger brother Eric, now 17, as he grieves the accidental death of his older brother, Duane, the previous year in a diving accident. Eric is lost without Duane who was not only his brother, but also his best friend. He mentally revisits that night in the hospital when Duane’s organs were harvested for other people in need. Now, a year later, as Eric contemplates his next steps in life including joining the Navy, he debates whether he wants to meet the recipients of Duane’s organs. He decides to attend a meeting where the recipients will be and is introduced to Phil, who is so grateful to have hearing now due to Duane’s inner-ear bones, to Barry who received the liver that he now seems driven to destroy through alcohol, and to Melinda who got a kidney that saved her life and allowed her to raise her child. Enter Martha, Duane’s former girlfriend and object of Eric’s teen crush, and these individuals become a sort of new family group for Eric. Complicated coming of age emotions make this a complex novel and study in characterization.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Lynch, Janet Nichols. (2013). My beautiful hippie. New York: Holiday House.

It's 1967, the Summer of Love in San Francisco, and sixteen-year-old Joanne Donnelly lives right on the edge of the action in Haight-Ashbury. Her middle class upbringing leaves Joanne (Joni) feeling constrained and longing for more. She is drawn to Martin, a hippie panhandling on the street, and his particular lifestyle, even while fearing that he will be unfaithful to her and leave her. It’s clear almost from the start that this is a match not meant to be—despite the strong attraction between the two teens. Even as Martin introduces Joni to the counterculture, her older sister Denise has her own consciousness raised as the result of a disappointing early marriage. While capturing the sounds, sights, and feelings of this turbulent period in the nation's history, the author creates interesting characters that change over the course of the novel. Readers will be drawn to Joni and her determinately rebellious nature while noting that her searching didn't take her very far away from home. In many respects this is a quiet book, but it’s also the story of important life choices being made. Readers are certain to wonder what sort of adult Joni will become.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

McMann, Lisa. (2013).  Crash. New York: Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster.

From the author of the popular Wake trilogy, Crash is the first title in her new Visions series. This first volume introduces readers to Jules and the DeMarco family. They own an Italian restaurant, and Jules is resigned to the fact that if she wants to drive to school, she must take the double-meatball-shaped food truck. Jules is starting to have visions, and everywhere she turns she pictures a terrible crash with a snowplow hurtling toward a building and an explosion resulting in nine body bags. Finally, after one vision she recognizes the face on one of the bodies, Sawyer Angotti, someone she knows and cares about deeply. With a history of mental illness in her family, Jules is reluctant to tell anyone about her visions. Although the visions are appearing everywhere, billboards, road signs, and television, she has to figure out a way to prevent this horrible accident from happening. McMann adds a bit of levity throughout this suspense-filled action novel as Jules is always creating her lists of 5 things she needs to think about and maybe act upon. This supernatural thriller is a great way to begin a new series from this popular author.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Winters, Cat. (2013). In the shadow of blackbirds. New York: Abrams/Amulet Books.

The cover of this book set in 1918 promises an enticing, independent, free-thinking protagonist with a plot revolving around spiritualism. Other black and white photographs, intriguing shots of mediums and possible visitors from the spirit world, soldiers in trenches during WWI, and images of citizens wearing masks to protect themselves from contagion, have been strategically placed within the narrative. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black has fled her Portland home for San Diego where her aunt lives. While her father is on trial for following his conscience, her aunt works hard to forget her own losses. Even as news of the war swirls around them, it is the flu that frightens everyone into staying home so they can avoid the contagion. Perhaps because there is so much death around them, many citizens are fascinated by the possibility of making connections with the spirits of their dearly departed. Mary Shelley scoffs at their gullibility, but when she feels the presence of Stephen, her childhood friend turned potential suitor, after his death, she decides she must figure out why his spirit refuses to rest. The original storyline and fascinating characters will keep even the choosiest reader engaged, and there are enough twists, turns, and bumps along the way to hold the attention of most readers. Effectively and hauntingly capturing the place and time in a surreal fashion, the author prompts reflection about the things we do to save face and whether the events described in the book could have happened. Readers will be unlikely to stop thinking about all those deaths as the result of the flu.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online.

During the annual conference in San Antonio, IRA announced the 2013 winners of the IRA Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards. This prestigious award focuses on promising debut authors; only first and second books by an author are considered. The award has a rich history of selecting authors whom become well-known names (Lois Lowry, Sy Montogomery, and Rebecca Stead, just to name a few), so check out the wonderful books below and watch for these new authors in the future. 

Primary Fiction Winner:
Larson, Deborah Jo. (2012). One Frozen Lake. Illus by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Larsen tells the touching story of a grandfather passing down the tradition of ice fishing with his grandson. Larson’s clever use of numbers and rhymes capture the immediate attention of young readers. As the fishing pair set up their gear inside the ice shack, they spend quality time together sorting tackle, drinking hot chocolate, playing cards, and making friends as they wait for that one big fish to bite. Finally… a bite, but the fish is too small, and grandfather advises his grandson to return him to the deep, dark waters underneath the thick ice. It appears that they are returning home empty-handed, but there is a stronger bond and a great memory of the day they went ice fishing together.

- Amy Vessel, Louisiana Tech University

Primary Fiction Honor:
Redmond, E.S. (2012). The Unruly Queen. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Minerva von Vyle is an impossible child! A spoiled rotten young girl left with house staff while the parents are always away, she stirs up a commotion each and every day. She commands and she demands. She refuses and she confuses. Her tantrums and fits make her seem impossible until the fifty-third nanny arrives. This nanny means business; Minerva has finally met her match! As the nanny crowns her the “Unruly Queen,” being bad doesn’t seem so wonderful anymore. We hope there is a sweet child underneath Minerva after all! E.S. Redmond’s use of vivaciously rich vocabulary with such rhythm and rhyme make this read aloud delightful to children of all ages.

- Amy Vessel, Louisiana Tech University

Primary Nonfiction Winner:
McReynolds, Linda. (2012). Eight Days Gone. Illus. by Ryan O’Rourke. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Linda McReynolds is …
Rumbling. Blasting.
Seizing fame…
with her first book, Eight Days Gone. Through the use of simplistic, retro art work by Ryan O’Rourke and verse brimming with robust vocabulary, McReynolds leads young readers through the historic event of Apollo 11’s moon landing. With minimal words, she touches on the most memorable moments and key figures from the world’s first space adventure. Eight Days Gone is sure to send children on their own quest to discover the mysteries of the 1968 journey into the “starry darkness.”

- Kellie Kostrubala, Ward Central Elementary, Ward, AR

Primary Nonfiction Honor:
Hale, Christy. (2012). Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

Stacking blocks, cereal, and toys around them encourages children’s fascination with building things. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building is an awesome resource connecting children’s imaginative play with that of architects across time and geography. The book links photographs of well-known buildings (on the right pages) with illustrations of basic creations by children (on the left pages.) Written in concrete poetry, the poems’ printed styles match the architectural styles of the buildings. This resourceful book encourages creativity in boys and girls, helping readers of all ages see endless possibilities. The additional information lends itself to further investigation of the architects and their buildings.

- Deb L. Marciano, Valdosta State University

Intermediate Fiction Winner:
Verrico, Susan. (2012). Privateer’s Apprentice. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

Susan Verrico’s debut novel, Privateer’s Apprentice, is a historical fiction treasure. Set in 1712 in the Carolina Territory, readers will be immediately drawn into the rich story world and become attached to its multi-dimensional characters. Jameson, the 13-year old son of a printer, has been recently orphaned, imprisoned, and sold into indentured servitude to the local baker. Just when he thinks his life could not get much worse, he is kidnapped by pirates and forced to live a life at sea. As Jameson proves his worth and finds his own place within the brigand of pirates, Verrico highlights the depth of humanity in her complex characters and reminds readers that one cannot judge people based on perceptions or first impressions.
- Kara Coffino, University of Minnesota

Intermediate Fiction Honor:
Krumwiede, Lana. (2012). Freakling. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Freakling is often described as a dystopia novel for readers who are not quite ready for The Hunger Games. With twelve year old Taemon as the novel’s central character, Freakling is a perfect fit for readers age ten and up. Lana Krumwiede creates two worlds. In Deliverance, the members all have a power called psi – a form of telekinesis that allows them mentally to move and manipulate objects. This privileged society contrasts sharply with the other world called Powerless Colony. Taemon finds himself between two worlds when he loses one power and has to hide that fact; while he discovers another, he is not sure he wants to share. Freakling is the first of the Psi Trilogy and readers now can be quickly guided to Archon – the second book in the series.

- Michael Ford, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Intermediate Fiction Honor:
Lorenzi, Natalie Dias. (2012). Flying the Dragon. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Natalie Dias Lorenzi’s Flying the Dragon is told from the points of view of the two co-protagonists, Skye (Sorano) and Hiroshi. Although they are first cousins, they meet for the first time when Hiroshi and his family move from Japan to Virginia so their grandfather can receive cancer treatment. American-born Skye knows little about her Japanese heritage and resents having to give up soccer in order to attend a language school on weekends so that she can communicate with her Japanese family. Hiroshi, who struggles to learn English and to fit in with his American classmates, finds great satisfaction in spending time with his beloved grandfather and flying their dragon kite.  Both cousins resent each other and vie for their grandfather’s affections. Is it possible for them to ever find common ground?

- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

Intermediate Nonfiction Winner:
Doyle, James. (2012). A Young Scientist’s Guide to Defying Disasters With Skill and Daring. Illus. by Andrew Brozyna. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith.

Interesting facts and survival tips for natural catastrophes, weather phenomena, and dreadful beasts that young scientists might encounter are presented in short chapters. A humorous undertone blends well with riveting details to make brief expository articles students will clamor to read. Between sections, experiments related to the topic are quickly explained. Each experiment could be easily conducted at home or school with everyday materials.

- Lauren Aimonette Liang, University of Utah

Young Adult Fiction Winner:
McNamara, Amy. (2012). Lovely, Dark and Deep. New York: Simon and Schuster.

After a tragic car accident leaves her boyfriend dead and her world upside down, Wren retreats to the safety of her father’s home, secluded in the Maine woods. Seeking escape from overwhelming sadness and guilt, Wren isolates herself from everyone and everything, until she meets Cal Owen. Cal has his own issue, increasingly debilitating multiple sclerosis. At first, their connection is based upon their personal experiences with grief and loss. As time goes by, Wren must decide whether to remain imprisoned within her solitude or risk the vulnerability that accompanies building a relationship with Cal. McNamara paints an honest picture of the reality of bereavement through lyrical, poetic prose. Told in first person, one can’t help being drawn into Wren’s world, hopeful she will find a way out of her self-imposed prison, yet terrified if she tries. Beautifully written with well-developed characters and a compelling story, this novel is truly as its title describes: lovely, dark and deep.

- Kelly Killorn, Minnesota State University- Mankato

Young Adult Fiction Honor:
Arcos, Carrie. (2012). Out of Reach. New York: Simon Pulse.

How do you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved? Rachel grapples with this question after she receives an anonymous email that her brother, Micah, is in trouble. Lost to the world of drug addiction, Micah has not responded to intervention attempts, and now he is living in the streets of Ocean Beach. Rachel and Tyler, Micah’s friend whom Rachel doesn’t entirely trust, decide to find him and bring him home, but their search yields no results. In the end, Rachel must learn to let go of her brother; but in her search for Micah, she has found a new friend.

- Sue Corbin, Shaker Heights Middle School, Shaker Heights, Ohio

Young Adult Fiction Honor:
Kokie, E.M. (2012). Personal Effects. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

The search for a brother forms the heart E.M. Kokie’s realistic fiction novel Personal Effects. Seventeen year old Matt Foster goes on a journey to learn more about his brother TJ recently killed in Iraq. As he copes with grief, Matt grows frustrated by events at school and home. His questions about TJ intensify when he uncovers personal effects returned to the family after TJ’s death. Those clues lead Matt from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin where he finds another family obviously important in his brother’s life. The discovery forces Matt to look closely at his views of war and peace, racial and sexual identity, love and loss. This compelling character and his amazing journey will challenge readers and should provoke conversations about important contemporary issues.

- Michael Ford, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Young Adult Nonfiction Winner:
Levinson, Cynthia. (2012). We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

Audrey, James, Wash and Arnetta, alongside thousands of other young people, braved angry pedestrians, fire hoses, attack dogs, and even jail as they changed history marching for their freedom.  Through their experiences, eyewitness accounts, and historical documents, Levinson weaves together the story of the 1963 Children’s March to end segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Photographs bring faces to the participants and the opposition they encountered while textboxes and timelines help contextualize events surrounding the march. The book concludes with a map of routes taken by the marchers, an afterword with additional information about many of the children featured in the book, and a bibliography of nonfiction books, websites, and other texts for further study.

- Dawan Coombs, Brigham Young University

These reviews were submitted by members of the International Reading Association's 2012-13 Children’s and Young Adult Book Award Committee. More reviews of recent, outstanding children’s and young adult literature are published weekly on Reading Today Online by members of the Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG).

Books that allow readers to see themselves and the ways they think and live are often popular with young readers since it’s important for them to figure out all the ways that they can be true to themselves. It’s vital that books feature individuals just like them as well as others who are quite different from them. As what they know of the world becomes larger, it’s increasingly important for young readers to read books that highlight the ways in which they are alike and different from individuals from across the globe. The best multicultural books allow readers to stretch the borders of their world, providing passports to fascinating places and ways of living as well as offering insight into how someone right next door or someone thousands of miles away may think and live. By identifying commonalities and celebrating differences, these multicultural books foster understanding. ReadWriteThink offers a wide range of lesson plan ideas and activities dealing with diversity and the use of multicultural books for all grade levels.

GRADES K-3

Bates, Katharine Lee. (2013). America, the Beautiful: Together we stand. Orchard Books.

Ten American artists pay tribute to the beloved patriotic song "America the Beautiful" in this lovely picture book. Several distinctive artistic interpretations of the song’s lyrics and their connections to this nation are woven into the title through the illustrations of Bryan Collier, Raul Colon, Diane Goode, Mary Grandpre, John Hendrix, Yuyi Morales, Jon J. Muth, LeUyen Pham, Sonia Lynn Sadler, and Chris Soentpiet. It's interesting to compare and contrast the images as well as the lyrics that accompany them. Additionally, inspiring presidential quotes from Thomas Jefferson, Barack Obama, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt, among others, are included. Back matter provides additional information about the national symbols, one of which is included on every double-page spread. Providing a fresh perspective on history, this picture book reminds readers of the bonds that unite the inhabitants of this diverse country. Chris Soentpiet is the speaker at the Book and Author Luncheon at the 2013 IRA Annual Convention in San Antonio. Read more about him on Reading Today Online and the Engage blog.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

The Global Fund for Children. (2013). Global baby girls. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

The Global Fund for Children has produced several wonderful books for young children including Global Babies in 2006 and American Babies in 2010. This new addition to the series focuses on girls around the world. Full color photographs with baby girls in their native clothing present an emphasis on what girls can do. From countries as diverse as Russia, New Zealand, Liberia, India, Peru, France, China, Guatemala, Canada and the United States, the world of the importance of young girls is visually brought to our youngest readers through this beautifully presented board book. Learn more about The Global Fund for Children and see some of the internal art for this book at their website.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Jiang, Ji-li. (2013). Red kite, blue kite. Illus. by Greg Ruth. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

From the author of the critically acclaimed, Red Scarf Girl, the memoir of her own experience surviving the Cultural Revolution in China, author Ji-Li Jiang brings a picture-book story of young Tai Shan and his father during this same time period. They have enjoyed flying their kites together at every opportunity until the time when the men in red armbands come and take father away to a labor camp. Tai Shan is sent to live with Granny Wang, but Baba has devised a kite-flying code for Tai Shan so they can send messages through their red and blue kites. Each day Tai Shan waits so see his father’s kite soaring high, letting his son know that he continues to be safe in the labor camp. A scary time comes for Tai when the kite is no longer flying. The watercolor illustrations of Greg Ruth provide a colorful backdrop to this story as the red and blue of the kites represent hope throughout this story. The author has provided historical notes at the end.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

MacLachlan, Patricia. (2013). Nora’s chicks. Illus. by Kathryn Brown. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Based on the author’s grandmother’s immigrant experience, award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan writes about the new life for Nora and her family as they arrive from Russia to the American prairie. Nora and her younger brother Milo are having a tough time adjusting to their new life. Papa is busy with the farm and getting their new life and farm settled into American life. The stray dog that wanders into the farm seems to like Milo better than Nora. Papa brings home ten chicks and two geese, thinking more of eggs and a possible dinner or two, and they become Nora’s responsibility. She immediately takes on the care of her new animal friends and they follow her everywhere … even to church. She begs Papa to let her keep them because they are just too beautiful to eat. Through her funny little entourage, Nora gains the friendship of a young neighbor girl, Susannah. Brown’s watercolor illustrations bring out the dusty colors of the prairie but also the beauty of the Russian background of the main characters. Through slight text and enjoyable illustrations young readers will get a sense of early life on the American prairie through the eyes of the immigrant experience. Read an interview with the award-winning author about this book at the blog, Two Writing Teachers.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Mora, Pat. (2012). The beautiful lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe. Illus. by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Knopf.

Although this religious story has been told many times, author Pat Mora and illustrators Johnson and Fancher put a beautiful new touch to the age-old story. This fresh approach opens as two little girls are looking at a statue of the Virgin Mary and ask, “Who is that pretty lady?” Grandma Lupita becomes the storyteller to relive the spiritual appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe who appears to the Mexican villager, Juan Diego, in the year 1531. She asks Juan to speak to the bishop and ask that he build her a church. The bishop is doubtful and asks for proof of the lady’s request. When Juan Diego shows the bishop the roses that are blooming through the snow and the Lady’s image embedded onto his cloak the bishop is convinced. Mora has included a detailed author’s note about this moment in religious history and the influence of the Lady of Guadalupe today. Author Pat Mora’s website, Bookjoy, has numerous activities and background information to use with this book.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Seto, Loretta. (2013). Mooncakes. Illus. by Renee Benoit. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers.

A young girl and her family share simple family traditions while celebrating the Chinese Moon Festival. As they enjoy treats typically associated with the special day, including mooncakes and tea poured from an elegant tea spout, life seems to slow down long enough for all three of them to savor these special moments spent together. As often happens during family gathers, her parents tell three different traditional tales about the moon. At the conclusion of each story, the child peers at the moon to see the characters featured, for instance, the jade rabbit. This simple story features evocative language while noting how the family eats the mooncakes that are "round like the moon. They make a circle for me and Mama and Baba" (unpaged) as they peer up into the night sky together. The illustrations are filled with scenes of quiet celebration and soft colors.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Shewchuk, Pat. (2013). In Lucia’s neighborhood. Illus. by Marek Colek. Toronto, Ontario, CA: Kids Can Press.

Teachers looking for books that share the neighborhood atmosphere, this book along with the short animated film it is based on (Montrose Avenue, 2006) will find this book helpful. Based on Little Portugal in Toronto, Canada, Lucia’s grandmother tells her about Jane Jacobs, an urban planner and environmental activist whose opening quote sets the tone for the book, “The ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and in any one place is always replete with new improvisations.”  Though teachers will have to prepare to explain and work with this quote it does guide the tour that Lucia takes readers on as she introduces all the aspects of her neighborhood. Digitally rendered illustrations reflect all the activity throughout Lucia’s environs. Teachers will enjoy The Very Hungy Bookworm blog that highlights this book on the Cultural Diversity Saturday feature or learn more about the film Montrose Avenue.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Snyder, Laurel. (2013). The longest night: A Passover story. Illus. by Catia Chien. New York: Schwartz & Wade.

Narrated through rhyming text in the voice of a young slave girl child and illustrated with dark acrylic paintings, the story of Passover is told for young readers. In an author’s note, Snyder explains that she always wondered what the children were doing during this time of the Jews enslaved in Egypt 3500 years ago. From that wondering, she wrote her representation of how she thinks their Exodus transpired. The young girl featured in the story begins with the drudgery her life is entrenched with in carrying stone to build other people’s homes. Then the 10 plagues arrive and her life begins to change as the Jews escape the results of plague, frogs, fleas, illness to first-born children, and other disasters that were befalling the non-Jews of Egypt. As she and her mother flee through the sea that has split into two, they are elated to find their freedom. This beautiful picture book presents the Exodus from Egypt that young children can understand. Read an interview with the author about writing this book.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Stier, Catherine. (2013). Welcome to America, Champ! Illus. by Doris Ettlinger. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

As WWII ends Thomas, his mother, and his new baby brother leave their home in England to join his new family in the United States. Thomas's stepfather is a soldier, and while Thomas looks forward to his new life in Chicago, he is anxious about what things will be like in his new school and new home. Before leaving his familiar surroundings, he questions his stepfather about what things are like in the United States, and takes notes on scraps of paper to help him navigate a new world. While he draws strength from the notes, he also helps encourage an anxious young fellow passenger with a special gift that has given him encouragement. The softly-colored illustrations and inviting text pay tribute to war brides and their families and the sacrifices they made in coming to America. Young readers will quickly identify with Thomas’s mingled fears and excitement as they realize that moving to a new country offers challenges as well as hope for the future. Although readers may know about the existence of war brides, they are unlikely to realize that there were so many of them and that the movement of these women to their new homes was known as "Operation Diaper Run." Filled with colorful illustrations and text, the book effectively evokes the particular time when citizens across the world celebrated the end of a bloody war. That universal feeling of hope pulses through this title.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Thong, Roseanne. (2013). Round is a tortilla: A book of shapes. Illus. by John Parra. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Primary teachers that like to use picture books to teach early elements of geometry and want to thread a multicultural element into their math classrooms will appreciate this book. Beginning with “Round are sombreros./ Round is the moon./ Round are the trumpets/ that blare out a tune” (p.1) the rhyming text continues to point out things in a child’s life that take on various shapes. After several pages of one shape, the concluding page asks, “I can name more round things. Can you?” (p.5) The next shape is square, then rectangle, on to triangles, ovals and stars. For each shape, Spanish words are embedded in the narrative and illustrator John Parra’s illustrations offer vibrant pictures of Hispanic culture. Visit the author’s website for other things this multicultural author has written.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2013). Pancho Rabbit and the coyote: A migrant’s tale. New York: Abrams.

Young Pancho Rabbit cannot wait for his father's return from his work in the fields, and when he doesn't arrive on the expected date, he sets off to find him. He meets a coyote who offers to help him, but he must give the coyote and others along the route everything he has. After crossing the desert, Pancho has nothing else to offer the greedy coyote. Just as the animal advances on Pancho, his Papa arrives. The hand-drawn, digitally collaged illustrations are likely to appeal to the eyes of young readers, who will quickly recognize that the story is an allegory for the frequent traffic across the border between Mexico and the United States as men, women, and children rely on coyotes for aid in their crossing as they seek economic opportunities. The back matter details the numbers of immigrants from the country’s southern border and the difficulties experienced by the families left behind. This picture book is sure to open the eyes of many to their plight and possibly serve as food for discussion.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Wade, Mary Dodson. (2013). No year of the cat. Illus. by Nicole Wong. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

The emperor is troubled by the fact that people cannot remember the years, especially the years of great events. He comes up with an idea to have a race. “The first twelve animals to cross the great river will each have a year named for them. With the years so named, we can remember when auspicious events occurred” (p.5). And so the race is on. Knowing that they are smaller and weaker and stand no chance of swimming across the river, Rat and Cat convince Ox to carry them on his back. As the water rushes past, Rat shoves Cat off, and when they reach the far shore, Rat jumps from Ox and is the first to win the race. Ox becomes the next to finish, followed by Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rooster, Sheep, Dog, and Pig. When Cat comes running up to find where he placed, the Emperor tells him he did not finish in time. From that time on, cats have never trusted rats and take every opportunity to catch them! This is one of many variants of an ancient Chinese tale. Enjoy a detailed teaching guide for this book at the publisher’s website.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Yamasaki, Katie. (2013). Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by one family’s experience in a Japanese American internment camp. New York: Holiday House.

Based on this debut author/illustrator’s family experience, this moving picture book relates the story of one family’s internment as Japanese Americans at a camp in Colorado during World War II. After the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Taro’s father is taken away for questioning by the FBI. Taro, his mother, and his younger brother Jimmy are sent to the internment camp for imprisonment. Jimmy is despondent and will not eat. Everything is so different in the camp and he misses his father. Taro comes up with a plan to help his brother. Through vivid stylistic acrylic illustrations, young readers will watch Taro sneak his mother’s scissors into a scarf, and stealthily avoid the camp guards and spotlights, to cut a hole in the barbed wire fence and escape. Searching in a dark forest that he does not know, he comes upon a stream and is able to catch some fish. Returning to camp the same way, he gives his mother the fish to cook for Jimmy just the way they had eaten when they were together as a family before the war. An author’s note at the end gives details of her family’s experience at the Granada Relocation Center in Colorado that includes archival photographs of the period. Visit the author’s website to view some of her beautiful murals and other artwork.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 4-5

Farhana, Zia. (2013). The garden of my Imam. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers.

Fifth grader Aliyah loves her family and her religion, but she feels too uncomfortable about her own place in the school's pecking order to embrace openly her Muslim faith and cultural identity. In fact, when the school principal suggests that she befriend Marwa, a new girl from Morocco who is also Muslim, she avoids the girl as much as possible. Over time, though, as she works on a project for her religion class and watches how comfortable Marwa is with her own self-identity, Aliyah begins to speak up for herself and her beliefs, taking risks and embracing the possibilities that come her way. She experiences bullying and prejudice in all sorts of forms, from an adult shouting ethnic slurs at her mother for almost causing an accident to classmates who seem only to see the hijab worn by Marwa and not the girl beneath the scarf to those who lump all Muslims together. Certain to prompt healthy discussions about the dilemmas faced by Aliyah and Marwa, this title provides an honest approach to issues that many boys and girls Aliyah's age must face. Despite the serious nature of the issues, the book also contains many humorous passages.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Moss, Marissa. (2103). Barbed wire baseball. Illus. by Yuko Shimizu. New York: Abrams.

This inspiring story of bravery and perseverance highlights the determination of one man to find a way to endure his internment in a camp during WWII. As in the case for 100,000 American citizens of Japanese descent, Kenichi (Zeni) Zenimura and his family are imprisoned because the United States government feared that they would spy for Japan. This book describes how the baseball-loving Zeni makes the best of an impossible situation, and painstakingly builds a baseball field inside the internment camp in Gila River, Arizona. His careful attention to detail as he removes rocks from the field, levels the field, and plants seeds to cover the infield are vivid examples of how much Zeni loves the game and its ability to transcend barriers. By the time readers reach the final pages of the book, they will be cheering alongside all the interned citizens inside the camp's barriers. The text will engage readers while the illustrations, created with a Japanese calligraphy brush and ink and then scanned and colored with Adobe Photoshop, highlight the whole community’s involvement in one man's project. Pair this title with Baseball Saved Us (1995, Lee and Low) by Ken Mochizuki and So Far from the Sea (1998, Clarion) by Eve Bunting. Young readers will enjoy seeing three photographs of the diminutive Zeni, one taken next to the massive Babe Ruth, and learning the story behind this story. While small in stature, this man clearly was much larger than life. Read more about author Marissa Moss in "Bringing the 'Story' Back Into 'History'" on the Engage blog.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Whelan, Gloria. (2013). In Andal's house. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

The best student in his class in Gujarat, India, Kumar is excited to be invited to watch the fireworks for Dijali at his classmate Andal's house. But once he arrives, his friend’s grandmother refuses to let him stay because his family is considered one of the untouchables. Kumar is understandably disappointed and upset, and his enjoyment of the sights, sounds, and tastes of the festivities is spoiled because of this slight. His grandfather provides a glimpse of hope, though, as he reminds Kumar of the progress that the nation has already made toward equity and his expectations that it will continue to make because of changing attitudes. Back matter includes a glossary of unfamiliar terms. The richly-hued illustrations almost exude the scent and taste of the foods and the sounds of the busy street. Books for children that address economic and social class inequities are rare to find, making this one an excellent addition to the class library. For more about this author, read "5 Questions With...Gloria Whelan" on the Engage blog.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Wolf, Gita. (2013). The enduring ark. Illus. by Joydeb Chitrakar. Chennai, India: Tara Books.

Classical tales bring messages of hope to readers. This book presents the biblical tale of the great flood in a unique manner. The illustrations are rendered in the traditional Patua style of scroll painting from Bengal, and the book’s pages are folded in accordion style. As the story unfolds, fold by fold, readers see how the harmony intended by God during creation was changed by human behavior. One night, in a dream, Noah and Na’mah receive directions from God who tells them to first build a big, strong ark that will see them through the flood. They then fill the boat with a male and a female of all sorts of animals that live on land, water, and air. After a harrowing journey, they finally find the new land. Strong, colorful pictures and the unfolding pages provide a unique reading experience for readers. This is a great gift and unique addition to school and personal libraries.

- Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 6-8

Barrow, Randi. (2013). Finding Zasha. New York: Scholastic.

Twelve-year-old Ivan Savicheva and his mother have no choice but to take separate paths from their home in Leningrad in 1941. The Germans' continual bombing and blockade of the city have caused much food deprivation. When his mother is sent to another location to continue her factory work, Ivan cannot go with her and travels to his uncle's farm. Before he can reach the rural area, though, he stays with the family of his former neighbor and becomes involved in the partisan movement to fight against the Nazis. A chance encounter with Axel Recht, a cruel Nazi officer, and his two German shepherd puppies provides Ivan with the opportunity to spy on the Nazis. As he grows more attached to the puppies, Thor and Zasha, he hatches a plan to steal them from Recht. The author does a great job of capturing Ivan's experiences and describing little-known aspects of WWII from the point of view of the Russians. Readers will be able to feel the softness of the puppies’ fur as well as flinch from the sting of Recht's whip, wince at the puppies' initial training experience, savor the fresh vegetables Ivan and his new friends enjoy in the countryside, and dread Recht's promised revenge. Fans of Saving Zascha (Scholastic, 2011) will love this one, its prequel.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

James, Helen Foster & Virginia Shin-Mui Loh. (2013). Paper Son: Lee’s journey to America. Illus. by Wilson Ong. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

From the publisher’s Tales of Young Americans series, set in 1926, this is the story of orphaned Wang Lee. The twelve-year-old boy is living with his grandparents in rural China. His parents were killed by bandits just as they were making arrangements for their son to go to America on a “paper son slot” to find a better life. This meant they had purchased immigration papers from people already in America stating that they were related and so his new paper son name became Fu Lee. To get into the new land, the Gum Saan (Gold Mountain), Fu Lee had to be able to pass the entrance requirements at Angel Island, the immigration center in San Francisco for West Coast arrivals in the U.S. Fu Lee was studying his coaching book so that he would be prepared for the difficult examination from the immigration officials. This story is based on actual historical events and the concept of these young Chinese immigrants entering the U.S., spending time on Angel Island and meeting other new immigrants until finding their new life. Wilson Ong’s paintings add a beautiful and authentic background to the story. The author has included historical notes at the end and recommends the Angel Island Immigration Station, now a National Historic Landmark, for further information.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 9-12

Doeden, Matt. (2013). A marked man: The assassination of Malcolm X. Minneapolis:Twenty-first Century Books/ Lerner Publisher.

The life and death of civil rights leader, Malcolm X, has been shrouded with mixed reactions from groups of many different opinions and outlooks toward the 1960s era of civil rights. The first part of the book provides a biographical look at Malcolm Little and the circumstances of his troubled youth. While in prison, he learned about the Nation of Islam and became a follower. After his release he had changed from his more violent approach to civil rights and thus spoke out against the ways and means of the Nation of Islam. A charismatic speaker, Malcolm had followers listening to his new philosophy with interest, though Malcolm knew this put him in a dangerous position to speak against the NOI. The second part of the book explains what happened after his assassination on February 21, 1965, including the arrests of three men responsible, the court proceedings and consequent prison sentences but also goes on to ask many of the unanswered questions that seemed to surround this murder case. There were and continue to be questions concerning conspiracies and cover-ups from the police, investigators and other organizations to remain unanswered. Pair this book with Walter Dean Myer’s picture book biography, Malcolm X; A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, 2000) to introduce this civil rights leader.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Padian, Maria. (2013). Out of nowhere. New York: Knopf.

Based on a real event, the story opens with Tom Bouchard’s senior year at Maquoit High School in Enniston, Maine. Tom is enjoying his life as captain of the soccer team, having a hot girlfriend and in great standing with grades and opportunities for college. In the meantime, Enniston has become a “secondary migration” location for Somali refugee families. Through a series of events including Tom’s sentenced community service at the local community center he becomes a tutor for some of the new Somali students. He gets to know Saeed and recruits him for the soccer team where he quickly discovers Saeed’s amazing soccer talents. Very soon after the soccer team launches into an outstanding season complete with the fan following and media attention. However, not everyone in the community is pleased to see the Somali players get this praise, and consequently, the racism and prejudices that have been lurking beneath still waters flood into the public arena. Read about the background to this fact-based novel and how the author was inspired to write about this actual incident in Lewiston, Maine.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online. The International Reading Association partners with the National Council of Teachers of English and Verizon Thinkfinity to produce ReadWriteThink.org, a website devoted to providing literacy instruction and interactive resources for grades K–12.

The Children’s Literature and Reading SIG is bringing Part 2 to our animal reviews this week. Last week we presented animals in the wild, so this week’s theme deals with pets and domestic animals. As children learn to take care of a pet or learn to deal with some of the less endearing parts of a pet these books might bring some solutions or helpful ideas. Children will also read about rescue dogs and animal shelters. At the same time, there are so many funny things about pets and appreciating their loyalty that authors have created wonderful stories, both fact and fiction, to bring to young readers.

Listen to ReadWriteThink’s podcast entitled “Unusual Pets” for other book recommendations on animals or the RWT lesson idea using Comic Creator for lots of animal possibilities or the lesson plan idea for April and Poetry Month that combines poetry and animals at “Help a Child Write a Poem.”

Plus, the Engage blog has a delightful story called "Bringing Children, Dogs, and Books Together."

Use some of the videos found at The Animal Planet website for media literacy plans and books for even more animal ideas.

GRADES K-2

Arlon, Penelope. (2013). Scholastic Discover More: Puppies and kittens. New York: Scholastic. 

Undoubtedly, there's nothing cuter than a puppy or a kitten—unless it's a litter of the adorable creatures. This book contains plentiful colorful photographs of these cuddly baby animals, sometimes alongside their equally appealing mothers. The book’s thirteen chapters provide information about the particular needs of puppies and kittens when they are newborn and then as they grow. Although some of these facts are well-known, not all of them are. For instance, while kittens can purr when they are only two days old, puppies cannot bark until they are two to four weeks old. The book also contains chapters explaining how puppies and kittens need to play and suggesting toys and games to play with them. This engaging text may encourage readers to visit their local animal shelter to offer a forever home to a new furry friend. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Breen, Steve. (2013). Pug & Doug. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Author/illustrator Steve Breen is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has turned his talents to writing a tale of friendship. Pug and Doug are good friends though very different from each other. They share a secret “pawshake” and a love of donuts, but their personalities take different directions. Doug is artistic and creative and Pug is organized and likes things done correctly in order. It appears that Pug is starting to drift away from Doug, and Doug is worried about their friendship. When Pug realizes what has happened and a birthday surprise is in the works, the two friends reunite and find their friendship stronger than ever. Pastel watercolors, colored pencils and mixed media bring a color palette to the story that brings out the differences in color, and people, but represents how they can be blended to make a beautiful picture.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Crow, Melinda Melton. (2013). Rocky and Daisy at the Park. Illus. by Mike Brownlow. Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books/Capstone Press.

From the Stone Arch Readers series for emerging readers, Owen is a young boy with two dogs that like to do different things. One is more quiet and playful while the other is rambunctious and ready to run. This presents a problem for Owen when he is trying to take them for a walk or play with them in the yard. When his parents suggest trying the dog park, it brings a whole new experience for everyone that includes a great deal of fun, or not, in the mud. This early reader chapter book provides a story that many young children can identify with concerning their pets.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Helakoski, Leslie. (2013). Doggone feet! Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.

A loyal dog that is quite attached to her human companion describes how her life has changed ever since she went home from a park with the person she knows as Legs. Life is pretty good, but eventually she grudgingly manages to make room for other residents, including one that insists on the dog being shampooed and one that throws meat onto the floor. As time moves on, her small family grows to encompass one, two, three, four, and even more additions. Young readers will enjoy the surprise at the end as well as the endpapers covered with the tracks of various individuals. Because readers don't see the upper half of the humans until near the end of the book, the dog's point of view is enhanced. Having the illustrations and the text originate from a dog's perspective adds to this book’s uniqueness. Learn how the book trailer was made for Doggone Feet or check out the detailed activity guide based on the Common Core State Standards at the author’s website.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Himmelman, John. (2013). Katie and the puppy next door. New York: Henry Holt/Macmillan.

Pen and watercolor illustrations bring young readers the story of Katie, the terrier, and her new neighbor, the dachshund, Ruby. Katie’s life has been very good with her owner Sara Ann and the three cats and chew toys enjoyed by all. But when Ruby dashes into their lives and chews Katie’s favorite toys and makes friends with HER cats, Katie is not overjoyed at this neighborliness. However, Sara Ann would very much like for Katie to learn to share. When a tug of war breaks out over toys and cats, Katie learns that this situation can actually be fun. Though the obvious story line is about dogs and cats, the underlying message here very definitely relates to young children and teachers will enjoy this book as a read aloud and discussion starter for young readers.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Horvath, James. (2013). Dig, dogs, dig: a construction tail. New York: HarperCollins.

Kids who love trucks and big equipment will enjoy this book. The construction crew consists of a dozen digging dogs and one black cat. They wake up early from their dormitory room and get to work. A busy day waits as they begin the task of building a playground. In rhyming text, the construction equipment and heavy-duty trucks are explained as they begin the excavation until they literally hit a snag. They have hit upon a dinosaur bone! As their work continues they get the playground finished complete with trails and a duck pond and a huge display for the dinosaur bone. The end pages display the crew with their names. Click here for an activity based on this book. Read more about this author and his new book at his website and blog.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Johnson, J. Angelique. (2012). Getting a pet, step-by-step. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

Meet Maggie and her family as they decide what pet is right for their family. Told through full page photographs and text boxes readers will follow Maggie and her family as they go to the pet store looking at different animals and then looking through books to learn even more about a variety of animal choices and their care. When they decide they would like a dog they look online and the newspaper for possible places to purchase their new pet. They decide to visit an animal shelter and there find a dog named Coco. The caretaker at the shelter gives them information about caring for their new dog. They buy a crate and a leash and chew toys and water bowls and all the supplies they will need and then they are ready to bring Coco to his new home.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Kulling, Monica. (2013). Mister Dash and the cupcake calamity. Illus. by Esperanca Melo. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books.

Madame Croissant is well known for her famously delicious cupcakes. Mr. Dash, a dog with a mixed-breed background, is the dependable deliverer of the cupcakes. One day Madame’s niece, Daphne, arrives to “help” make the cupcakes only Daphne’s idea of helping is ready to drive Madame a little crazy in the kitchen. Sprinkled with delightful French phrases and the bright acrylic paintings of Melo, the fun that ensues might be identifiable to young readers who have also tried to “help” in the kitchen. Madame and Mister Dash sigh a breath of relief at the end of the day when they wave goodbye to Daphne.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Loewen, Nancy. (2012). Good-bye, Jeepers. What to expect when your pet dies. Illus. by Christopher Lyles. Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books/Capstone Press.

It is never easy to lose a loved one, and often for young children their first experience with death is the loss of their pet. In Good-bye, Jeepers, a young gender-neutral Panda is the main character. (Readers do not know if he is a boy or girl and it doesn’t matter. The book is intended to reach young children regardless if boy or girl.) As the story opens and the young Panda wakes up on a Saturday morning he discovers that his pet guinea pig has died. His parents talk to him about death and grief and say it’s okay to cry. He feels sad but goes to school and begins to think about other things. When he gets home, his family helps him plan a burial and friends and neighbors help young Panda get through this loss. Throughout the book are subtle text boxes that contain helpful tips about dealing with death and loss. This could be that just right book for that tough moment when children in your classes have lost a beloved pet.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Meisel, Paul. (2013). See me dig. New York: Holiday House.

This new companion to the author’s 2011 book, See Me Run, is another rollicking romp with this pack of digging canines. Their dig this time uncovers a bear and a pretty scary one at that. They run off to the beach and begin another digging adventure in the sand. This time they uncover a treasure chest and are certain it is full of pirate’s gold. Wrong! It is full of pirate something, but it is the ghosts of pirates that chase dogs. The dogs run off again and find a real excavation site complete with a huge clawed bulldozer. This time however, they learn that their digging sites can be shared. Cartoon-like watercolor, pen-and-ink and pencil drawings combined with very simple sentences and vocabulary make this a delightful reading adventure for primary students.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Panzieri, Lucia. (2013). The kindhearted crocodile. Illus. by AntonGionata Ferrari. New York: Holiday House.

Teachers looking for a read aloud for Children’s Book Week, El Dia, or other literacy celebrations, this is the book for you. With a storyteller’s style and often using direct nods to the reader, this is the story of a crocodile that would like to become a family pet. He conjures a plan to slip into the pages of the picture book the children are reading and hide there during the day. Each night he sneaks off the pages and into the reality of the family where he sees a multitude of ways he can be of help. He folds laundry and straightens things up around the cluttered house and before he slips back onto the pages of the book, he has breakfast ready for the family. Puzzled, the family stays up one night and hides until they see the crocodile slither out from the pages of the book and discover his secret. Now what to do? A family argument develops about whether to keep this wild toothy creature in their home. The colorful textured illustrations, especially the facial expressions of the croc, add to the humor and fun of this family story. First published in Italy in 2008.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Prevost, Jeanne. (2013). It’s raining pups and dogs! (Sit! Stay! Read!) Minneapolis: The Gryphon Press.

Young Lauren is upset when her father says her female dog will not be allowed to have a litter of pups and in fact, will be spayed. When Scout returns from her surgery, Lauren is mad at her father and sad to think she will never get to raise some puppies. Her father carefully explains to her about the overpopulation of dogs, especially unwanted dogs. To make his point even more real, he takes Lauren to a local animal shelter. The shelter attendant shows Lauren the hundreds of dogs waiting for adoption. The story itself does not go into euthanasia or describing puppy mills, but the author includes these facts at the end of the book.  There are not many books available that deal with this subject so frankly and in terms a child can understand. Learn more about the work of Gryphon Press that “exists to bring children beautifully illustrated books about the human-animal bond, books that foster empathy in children for other living beings.”

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Rissman, Rebecca. (2013). Should Wendy walk the dog? New York: Raintree.

Filled with photographs of the children and their pets, this book contains four different scenarios about choices and their consequences. While Wendy and the other children in the scenarios are free to make their own decisions about whether to do the right thing such as walking the dog or cleaning out the hamster cage, the fact that the book shows two different choices and then the results of those choices is liable to encourage youngsters to make better choices. While all of us would rather be lazy at times rather than doing our work, in the end we may be sorry and we may have created more work for ourselves. This book will prompt some good conversations between adults and children.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Stier, Catherine. (2013). Barnaby the bedbug detective. Illus. by Karen Sapp. New York: Albert Whitman.

Author Catherine Stier read about rescue shelter dogs that were trained to become super-sniffing, bedbug detecting dogs, and it planted the seed for the story of Barnaby. Barnaby is a shelter dog who dreams of being a hero. However, he is continually overlooked for adoption as the people who come to the shelter choose quieter dogs. Then one day, Martha chooses Barnaby for her new companion and sends him to a school where they train him, and Martha as his handler, to be a bedbug detective dog. Upon graduation, Martha and Barnaby get jobs in a movie theater and hotels and even people’s homes. Narrated by Barnaby, this tale weaves in actual facts about bedbugs and the final pages give more detailed information about infestation and facts about these invasive insects. For extra visual information, show this video from Animal Planet about these trained detective dogs.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 3-5

Funk, Joe. (2013). Mush! Sled dogs of the Iditarod. New York: Scholastic.

This photograph-filled book focuses on the 2012 Iditarod, the popular dog sled race. The opening ceremony kicked off in Anchorage, Alaska, with perfect weather for racing sleds. With 975 miles ahead, one man, Dallas Seavey, and his huskies headed off on a cold, lonely, and challenging journey to Nome, Alaska. This book starts with the story of the journey of 2012 Iditarod champion, Dallas Seavey, and provides the history of Iditarod trail sled dog race. Along the way, readers will experience vicariously the harshness of the race for both sled dogs and mushers (competitors). Readers are likely to come to admire those brave and intelligent huskies. This book shows readers how humans and dogs work together to overcome tough tasks. Dog-lovers and children will definitely enjoy reading about the bonds that develop between these humans and the dogs as they race for glory. The full-color photos of the sled dogs make the book even more appealing.

- Ying-Hsuan Lee, Washington State University Pullman

Goldish, Meish. (2013). Disabled dogs. New York: Bearport Press.

Starting with the story of Faith, a young puppy born in 2002 with no front legs, and on to stories like Echo, a blind Australian shepherd, and to Angelyne, who is deaf, this book is full of information about how these brave dogs have overcome adversity of many sorts to lead healthy and happy lives. Some have gone on to become therapy dogs that help people. Beautiful but gripping photographs make these disabilities very real for young readers. Fact boxes throughout the text add to the information given for each disability. Vocabulary, glossary, index, additional reading and websites are provided at the end for further study.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Klimo, Kate. (2013). Buddy. Illus. by Tim Jessell. New York: Random House.

Based on a true story, Klimo tells the tale through the voice of German Shepherd, Kiss, being trained as a seeing-eye dog. Kiss is the first dog trained at Dorothy Eustis’s Seeing Eye Guide-Dog School for the Blind. Kiss knows she is bound for doing great things. She is being trained to take care of her trainer Jack, and when she is suddenly given away to take care of Morris, she doesn’t quite understand why her life is changing. Morris is so different from Jack, even wanting to change her name to Buddy. The author has included an ending chapter that discusses the care and training of the seeing-eye dog program and its history that also includes information about hosting guide-dog puppies.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

MacLachlan, Patricia. (2013) White fur flying. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster.

Zoe Cassidy and her younger sister Alice are part of a loving family who takes care of Great Pyrenees rescue dogs. Zoe’s mother trains them, veterinarian father makes sure they are healthy, and then good homes are found for these white fur flying rescued dogs. This leaves behind the family pet, Kodi, also a Great Pyrenees, who misses his new friends once they are placed in new homes. One day a young boy named Phillip shows up at the home of their neighbors, and Zoe and Alice learn that Phillip has come to stay with his aunt and uncle while his parents work out some difficulties. Phillip won’t speak to anyone but slowly develops a relationship with Kodi, in addition to the other family pet, a brassy parrot named Lena. Phillip runs off one night during a terrible hailstorm chasing one of the new rescue dogs, Jack. The power of pets coupled with the power of the writing of Newbery-award winning author Patricia MacLachlan make this a quiet story of strength and survival.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 6-8

Gallico, Paul. (2013). The abandoned. New York: NYRB Classics.

First published in 1950 by Knopf and also in the UK under the title of “Jennie,” this classic cat fantasy will still capture the attention of readers today. Eight-year old Peter is lonely. His mother is quite the socialite and is frequently attending society gatherings abandoning Peter to his nanny. Peter would love to have a cat but his nanny absolutely refuses to even consider the idea. When Peter is out for a walk one evening he watches as a truck is barreling down the street right in the path of a young cat. Peter dives in front of the truck to save the cat and the truck strikes him down. When Peter regains consciousness, he immediately realizes he is different. He has paws…and fur…and a tail! He has become a cat. He learns very quickly that life on the street for a cat is not easy. Fortunately, he meets Jennie—a very street savvy feline who teaches him the ways of the world from the cat’s point of view.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Korman, Gordon. (2013). Hideout. New York: Scholastic.

As is almost always the case with this author, this fast-paced title is filled with humor and populated with interesting characters. In the fifth installment of his Swindle series, villainous S. Wendell Palomino, former owner of Luthor, a huge Doberman, is determined to get the dog back, use him in a moneymaking scheme, and then get rid of him. He claims that there is no paperwork that he actually gave up the dog to Savannah Drysdale who has adopted Luthor and taught him to embrace his inner gentleness. Savannah is understandably upset since she and Luthor share a special bond even while he still has trouble trusting anyone else. Since Griffin Bing and his five friends, including Savannah, are attending three different summer camps while Luthor is supposed to be returned to Palomino [the students call him Swindle], Griffin hatches a plan to keep the dog hidden and safe from his cruel former owner. Although things don't go according to plan, Griffin and his mates keep coming up with alternatives. Readers will enjoy how each of the youngsters takes a turn at taking the lead in this adventure. Although there are plenty of twists, turns, and coincidences and a villain with apparently no redeeming qualities, the book is filled with humorous moments that will appeal to anyone who roots for the underdog--even when he weighs 150 pounds. This would be a great read aloud.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Paulsen, Jim and Gary. (2013). Road trip. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Veteran author Gary Paulsen has teamed up with his son, Jim, to write a book about a father and son road trip. Sounds like a writing match made in dog heaven. The story opens with Dad and 14-year-old Ben heading out to an animal shelter to rescue a border collie. Grudgingly, narrator Ben is going along as is the family dog, Atticus, who actually narrates parts of the trip at the end of Ben’s chapters. As the journey moves along and Ben has learned his father quit his job which means he can’t go to summer hockey camp, things seem to go downhill from there. They pick up quite an assortment of additional travelers including a questionable friend of Ben’s, a waitress who is running away from life but would like to become an actress, and Gus, an auto mechanic they pick up along with a school bus. From a race with the cops, a car fire, and a strange criminal chasing them and all the while trying to document it all on Facebook, this adventure has moments of family discord, canine insight and hilarity that middle school readers will enjoy. Teachers will appreciate the backstory in this interview with Gary and Jim Paulsen with Publisher’s Weekly.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 9-12

Northrop, Michael. (2013). Rotten. New York: Scholastic.

After a summer spent away from home, Jimmer (JD) Dobbs returns to his friends but still holds onto the secret behind his absence even while they seem to know where he's really been. He's desperate to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend, but since he's been incommunicado for the whole summer, that's not going to be easy. Things are a little different at home too. His mother has taken in a rescued Rottweiler who fears men due to his own mistreatment. Surprisingly, JD bonds with the dog, who he renames Johnny Rotten after one of his musical influences. Although JR has a fierce bark and can't stand to be cornered, he slowly learns to trust JD and some of the others in his life. After Mars, one of JD's friends, corners him, the dog bites him. Mars lies about what happened, and his family concocts a plot to sue JD's family and have the dog put down. Readers will worry about JR's fate for much of the book while also enjoying the way he starts to become a very good dog. Throughout the book's pages, readers will reflect on how the cruelty and mistakes of others have made JR fearful and brought him to this particular point as well as how JD’s own mistakes have led to his own particular turning point. The connections between the boy and the dog are described quite well without becoming too maudlin for the tastes of teen readers. Additionally, the author creates complex characters that force readers to reconsider how they regard Mars and Aaron, JD’s classmate who seems to have everything he could ever want, but who turns out to have a dog-related secret in his past.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online. The International Reading Association partners with the National Council of Teachers of English and Verizon Thinkfinity to produce ReadWriteThink.org, a website devoted to providing literacy instruction and interactive resources for grades K–12.