Review - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (101 Words to Know)

 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (101 Words to Know) - Washington Irving, author

Summary (from Goodreads):

This classic scary story features 101 challenging vocabulary words that everyone going into the 4th grade should know. Definitions are included, as well as word puzzles and games. And the story of Ichabod Crane's wild ride through Sleepy Hollow as he attempts to escape from a terrifying ghost is just plain fun to read!

My Review:

I liked this adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, especially because of the highlighted vocabulary.  The book is a quick read, but seems to be a faithful adaptation of the original story, and the puzzles in the back of the book look like fun.  I can see myself using the puzzles as a comprehension activity if I decide to teach this story...especially around Halloween!

Read: February 2022

Review - The Robe of Skulls (Tales From the Five Kingdoms, #1)

 

The Robe of Skulls - Vivian French, author

Summary (from Goodreads):

All is not well in the crumbling castle high above the mountain village of Fracture. The sorceress Lady Lamorna has her heart set on a new robe. A very expensive new robe. To get the cash she will stop at nothing, including kidnapping, blackmail and more than a little black magic.

My Review:

I'm not usually a fan of fantasy books, but I had to read a fantasy novel for the Children's Literature course I've been taking, and after much struggle to find a book that fit the criteria my professor set out for me, I came across this book. I couldn’t put it down.  This is the first book in the Tales from the Five Kingdoms series, published in 2007.  My daughter’s 5th grade ELA teacher had given it to her, but I think it would have been more appropriate for 6th or 7th grade, given the vocabulary used in the story.  The story centers around a Cinderella-like heroine named Gracie who, along with Prince Marcus, some talking bats, and a troll named Gubble, foils the plans of the evil sorceress Lady Lamorna.  The sorceress has hatched a plan to hold several princesses and princes hostage for money, as she is broke and needs to pay for a fabulous new gown she wants.  Unfortunately, Lady Lamorna has not left her castle in years, so she’s a bit behind on how the world works, which causes her plans to go awry.  

This book ticks off all of the fantasy motif boxes - there’s magic, the story takes place in a completely made-up universe, and the good-versus-evil motif is central to the story, as is the heroism of the main character.  The story employs several special character types, primarily Gubble the troll, but also three Ancient Crones who appear based on the Greek Fates.  Just for added spice, Gracie’s evil stepsister happens to be half-werewolf, because why not.  Finally, the prince helps Gracie via a map that is imbued with magical properties.  And a bunch of royalty get turned into frogs - who doesn't love that? Read: February 2022

Review - One For Sorrow

 

One For Sorrow - Mary Downing Hahn, author

Summary (from Goodreads):

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie's friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

My Review:

This story was quite well done overall; the tension between the characters was believable, and people reading this story nowadays will recognize parallels between the anti-German sentiment during WWI and the pandemic of Spanish flu and today's unfortunate anti-Asian incidents in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. I would have liked to see a bit more descriptive detail regarding life in 1918; I know quite a bit about the time period, but I think young readers will have a difficult time envisioning the setting. Overall, however, this is a satisfying read.

Read: February 2022

Review - Give Me a Sign, Helen Keller!

 

Give Me a Sign, Helen Keller!  Peter and Connie Roop, authors.  Ursula Albano and David Wenzel, illustrators.

Summary (from back cover):
A fever left two-year-old Helen Keller blind and deaf.  Still, she learned how to read, write, and talk.  She graduated from college, met eleven U.S. presidents, and won many awards.  But what was Helen Keller like as a young girl?  Did she know that one day she'd overcome her disabilities?

In this book, you will find out all about Helen Keller before she made history.


My Review:
This is a very quick read, with simple language and accessible ideas for beginning readers.  It's a very rosy picture of a complicated woman, but as a high-level introduction to Keller's life, it's just enough information and detail to hopefully get kids interested in learning more about Keller through the more detailed books that are out there.  As a first chapter book for young or struggling readers, it gets the point across without being too heavy on context or schema that young readers may not possess.

Read: February 2022

Review - Who Was Queen Elizabeth? (Who Was...? Series)

Who Was Queen Elizabeth? (Who Was...? series)  June Eding, author.  Nancy Harrison, illustrations.

Summary (from Goodreads):
Our bestselling series is fit for a queen! The life of Queen Elizabeth I was dramatic and dangerous: cast out of her father's court at the age of three and imprisoned at nineteen, Elizabeth was crowned queen in 1558, when she was only twenty-five. A tough, intelligent woman who spoke five languages, Elizabeth ruled for over forty years and led England through one of its most prosperous periods in history. Over 80 illustrations bring "Gloriana" and her court to life.

My Review:
A pretty well done, light introduction to this monumental historical figure.  The WhoHQ series seems to produce well-researched and interesting products for middle-level readers, and this book is no exception.  It must have been a very difficult task to distill such a long and intense life into a short book for kids, but I think the author does a good job touching on the most important parts of Queen Elizabeth I's life and reign and keeping the story accessible for most readers.

Read: February 2022

Review - They Called Us Enemy

 

They Called Us Enemy - George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, authors.  Harmony Becker, illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):
A graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon -- and America itself.

Long before George Takei braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father's -- and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future.

In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten "relocation centers," hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard.

They Called Us Enemy is Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future. 

My Review:
I've been a huge admirer of George Takei for years now, thanks to his advocacy and humor on social media.  I respect him even more now for having shared his poignant story of internment during World War II.  Seeing the events of those years through his eyes brought them to a level of life that no textbook could ever do successfully.  The structure of the book (especially the timelines - he flashes back and forth between past and present fairly abruptly, to the point where I often had to check the page numbers to ensure I hadn't accidentally skipped a page) might be jarring and confusing for some readers, especially those unfamiliar with the way graphic novels are read.  With practice and thought, it is a structure that becomes easy to follow, but I would hesitate to share this book with students younger than eighth grade.  The history and background, as well as some of the political and philosophical contexts, will be too high-level for most middle schoolers.  More mature readers looking to understand the internment of the Japanese during the war will find this book compelling, however, and adult readers should have no trouble following the story.

Read: February 2022

Review - No One Likes a Fart

 

No One Likes A Fart - Zoe Foster Blake, author
                                    Adam Nickel, illustrator


Summary (from Goodreads):

No One Likes A Fart is a sweet, funny story about a lonely fart who is just looking to make a friend. But it's hard out there for a fart. Too smelly. Too embarrassing. Too gross. Striking the perfect balance of gross-out humor, wit, and heart, this beautifully illustrated picture book delivers a message of accepting yourself and finding a friend who loves you just the way you are. 

My Review:

I admit, when I saw this on the shelf at Walmart, I was all about it without even reading it.  My daughter was horrified to be around me as I read through the story and fell absolutely in love with it.  I felt so bad for the fart - he just wanted to find a friend!  I'm sure that a lot of kids can relate to the message of this story...once they stop giggling.  

Read: February 2022

Review - The Giant Germ (The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books #6)

 

Review - The Giant Germ (The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books #6).  Anne Capeci, author.  John Speirs, illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):
Learn all about germs when Ms. Frizzle's class takes another exciting field trip!

Ms. Frizzle takes her class on amazing field trips in the Magic School Bus. They never know what will happen when they get on the bus, but they always learn something new about science! In THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS CHAPTER BOOK #6: THE GIANT GERM, a class picnic in the park becomes an exploration of the mini world of microbes. Even though microbes are tiny, they have huge effects on the world. Ms. Frizzle and her class get into trouble when they run into a giant germ! 

My review:
I'm too old to have the nostalgia for The Magic School Bus and Ms. Frizzle (I'm a Bill Nye The Science Guy kind of girl!), but I thought this book was a really great introduction to the microscopic world.  It reads like a television show episode; the pacing is swift but not so fast that most readers will be left behind.  The students are a bit goofy; DA is unrealistically well-read for an elementary student, but kid readers should relate pretty well, especially if they watch the show on Netflix or YouTube.  I definitely read Ms. Frizzle's dialogue in Lily Tomlin's voice!

Read: February 2022

Review - Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain

 

Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain - Margaret Bateson-Hill, author
                                                    Francesca Pelizzoli, illustrator

Summary:
A greedy emperor demands an impossible task from Lao Lao, a peasant woman who makes beautiful shapes from paper. The full story in Chinese and instructions for making traditional Chinese paper-cuts are also included.


My Review:
This book is beautifully illustrated, and the Chinese text is written near the English, so young readers can get a bit of exposure to the Chinese language.  It's a great cautionary tale about being greedy and the consequences of one's actions.  I plan to use it as one of the anchor texts of a World Mythology unit I'm creating, and I hope my students like it!

Review - I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 - Lauren Tarshis, author.
                                                                        Scott Dawson, illus.

Summary (from Goodreads):

The most terrifying events in history are brought vividly to life in this new fictional series! In book 1, ten-year-old George is trapped on the Titanic -- how will he survive?

Ten-year-old George Calder can't believe his luck -- he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life changes forever.

Lauren Tarshis brings history's most exciting and terrifying events to life in this new fictional series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they survived!

 
My Review:

Titanic has been a fascination of mine for years; Dr. Robert Ballard had only just found the wreck when I learned about the ship in the late 1980s or early 1990s, and then the 1997 film reignited my excitement for Titanic lore.  I was initially a bit leery of this book, because I was afraid that the story of the doomed liner would trivialize the tragedy, or that it would disrespect the memories of the over 1,500 people who lost their lives.  Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this novel.  The main character, George, is mostly believable as a protagonist, and I liked the fact that he came to the Titanic storyline as a somewhat-troubled youth, having lost his mother several years before sailing.  George's behaviors and the shenanigans he gets into, both at home and aboard ship, are realistic for a ten-year-old who is struggling to reconcile himself to a life without his mother.  The story is accessible as is, but for students who lack the schema to understand the setting of the Titanic, numerous visual media exist to provide that background and enhance the story of George and his family.  The tension created by the pacing of the story was fairly intense, and even caused me to wonder if the book was going to end sadly; I laughed at myself when I remembered that the title said, "I Survived."  This book is apparently the first I Survived book, and if they are all as well crafted as this one, I'll be interested to read more in the series.

Read: February 2022

Review - Little Bear (#1)

Little Bear (#1) - Else Homelund Minarik, author
                            Maurice Sendak, illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):
Enter the world of Little Bear. Children will be entranced by Little Bear's trip to the moon, his birthday party, and his wishes and adventures.

This is the first of the five classic books about Little Bear, introducing the funny and strikingly childlike bear cub and his friends. The combination of Else Holmelund Minarik's simple, yet eloquent, stories and Maurice Sendak's warm, tender illustrations have made this beloved character an enduring favorite among beginning readers.

My Review:
I thought this book was charming, and not too pandering to early readers.  Little Bear is sweet and inquisitive, as well as inventive.  The reading level is very easy, but not so much that older, struggling readers will find it silly and infantile.  The setting appears to be quite far into the past, so some of the illustrations may not make sense (e.g. a treadle sewing machine, Model A-style car) to modern readers, but they aren't so odd as to detract from the story.

Read: February 2022

 

Review - Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Judy Blume

Summary (from Goodreads):

Millions of fans young and old have been entertained by the quick wit of Peter Hatcher, the hilarious antics of mischevious Fudge, and the unbreakable confidence of know-it-all Sheila Tubman in Judy Blume's five Fudge books. And now, Puffin Books honors forty years of the book that started it all, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, with a special edition--featuring a new introduction from Judy--to celebrate this perennial favorite.

My Review:

Overall, I thought this book was well-written, and the protagonist, Peter, well-developed. Peter generally plays second-fiddle to his little brother, Fudge, and as offensive as I found Fudge (and their mother, who outright babies and spoils Fudge), I found the relationship between the two brothers to be accurate as far as I know - being an only child, I have limited experience with pesky little brothers! I really wanted to see more parenting going on with the kids, especially from the father, but the book is a product of its time in many ways (it was written in 1972, when more moms stayed home and dads escaped to work), so I wasn't surprised that, when Peter's dad had to watch the boys, Dad had ZERO clue how to manage.

I definitely wanted to give Peter a hug through most of the story; I can really see why he considers himself a "fourth-grade nothing," because that's often how he's treated. 

Read: February 2022

Read: February 2022

Review - Time Enough for Drums

Time Enough for Drums - Ann Rinaldi

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Jem and her servant struggle to keep things going at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence from the British king.


My Review: 
I first read this book for a project in 8th grade English class; we were learning about the Revolution in Social Studies class and had to read a novel about the Revolution to go along with that. I've never forgotten the book, and I've owned several copies in the intervening 30 years. It's one of those rare books that I will always keep a copy of.

The protagonist, Jem, is the somewhat spoiled, rather unconventional 15-year-old daughter of a Trenton, New Jersey Whig merchant during the Revolutionary War. We see the war through her eyes as she says goodbye to her older brother, Daniel, and endures the constant scolding of her hired Tory tutor, John Reid. The war and subsequent suffering, especially at the hands of the Hessian soldiers who invade Trenton, force Jem to grow and mature into a strong, independent young woman who becomes a capable citizen of the new United States.

Read: February 2022