Write for a Reader

A big thank you to Paula from Author Marketing Experts for sending me this book. 

Title:  A Day with My Dad

Author:  Lance Waite

Illustrator:  Manuela Pentangelo

About the Book:  Singing and talking, and simply enjoying their time together, father and daughter take a break from the hectic daily routine to reconnect with each other, and nature.

My Review:  Told from the viewpoint of the child, a little girl recalls a day spent with her dad.  This is a sweet little picture book.  I enjoyed the rythm of the story as the little girl tells about her day with her dad.  What a great gift for a daughter to give to her dad this Christmas, or for Father’s Day.  The print in the book is not your typical block print, instead it is soft script that fits in well with the girls’ perspective of the story.  Manuela Pentangelo has great illustrations that use bright, vivid colors.   I would recommend this story to teachers who want to teach rhyming to their students as it is full of rhymes, hence the great rhythm that happens when you read it aloud.  I also recommend it to parents of girls because there is a great bond between fathers and daughters and this book describes it so well. 

More About the Book: 

Price:  $17.99

ISBN:  978-1-60131-015-6

Pages:  24

Another Lee & Low book; thank you Hannah!

Title:  Honda The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars

Author:  Mark Weston

Illustrator: Katie Yamasaki

Review copy provided by: publisher – Lee & Low Books

About the Book:  One day in 1914 when Soichiro Honda was seven years old, an astonishing, moving dust cloud appeared in his small Japanese town. The cause was a leaky, noisy automobile—the first the boy had ever seen. At that moment Honda fell in love with cars, and a dream took hold. He would one day make them himself.

It took Honda many years to reach his goal. Along the way he became an expert mechanic and manufacturer of car parts. After World War II he developed a motorized bicycle, the forerunner of his innovative motorcycles. Eventually Honda began manufacturing cars, first race cars and then consumer cars. Constantly seeking ways to make his products better than his competitors’, Honda grew into a global industry leader.

Soichiro Honda had an inventive mind and a passion for new ideas, and he never gave up on his dream. A legendary figure in the world of manufacturing, Honda is a dynamic symbol of lifelong determination, creativity, and the power of a dream.

My Review:  Another great biography about someone I didn’t know.  I can see young boys picking this book up and just being enthralled because of the cars, motorcycles, motors, etc.  I love how the author, Mark Weston, not only told the story of Soichiro Honda, but also did some teaching through this book.  He took the time to explain car parts to the reader.  For example:

“He learned how to fix every part of a car.  He rebuilt carburetors, which mix air with gasoline, and he replaced the spark plugs that ignite this combustible mixture to power the engine and get a car going.  He adjusted brakes, patched tires, and put in new water pumps.  He even fixed transmissions, the gears that turn cars’ wheels and allow cars to speed up and slow down.”

Honda had to work hard to reach his goals, and this book does a great job of showing that.  It is a great message for children.  Even though he was not a good student, he worked hard and even almost quit his job because all he wanted to do was know how a car works and make one himself.  It’s a good thing he stuck it out with that job, because that is where he got his start.  The garage owner saw Honda’s dedication and began to teach him basic repairs.  This is a great book to share with students about starting at the bottom, persevering, and working your way up to where you want to be through hard work and dedication.  I could see teachers and students using this book to study inventors.  Again, Lee & Low gives readers another good multi-cultural title about a man that many have probably heard of, but know little about.

More info about the book:

$17.95

ISBN 98-1-60060-246-7

32 pages

Ages 6-11

Published: September 2008

Click here for a booktalk with the creators of Honda.

Thank you to Hannah at Lee & Low books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Title:  Bird

Author:  Zetta Elliott

Illustrator:  Shadra Strickland

Publisher:  Lee & Low Books

About the Book:  Young Mehkai, better known as Bird, loves to draw.  With drawings, he can erase the things that don’t turn out right.  In real life, problems aren’t so easily fixed.

As Bird struggles to understand the death of his beloved grandfather and his older brogher’s durg addiction, he escapes into his art.  Drawing is an outlet for Bird’s emotions and imagination, and provides a path to making sense of his world.  In time, with the help of his grandfather’s friend, Bird finds his own special somethin’ and wings to fly.

My Review:  This is a book for young children that deals with heavy issues.  We don’t usually find books like this that so openly deal with issues like drug use and death, even though they are issues that today’s young children face.  I am glad that Lee & Low chose to take a risk and publish this one.  It carries the seal of the New Voices Award *Honor* from Lee & Low.  I shared this book with a group of 4th graders.  They enjoyed the story.  I’m not sure that they fully got the message, but we did discuss the fact that the older brother was “sick” because of the drugs.  The students that I shared this with could not relate to Bird in any other way than that he is African American, like they are.  However, I do know many students that would be able to relate in other ways.  I am glad to have found a publisher that chooses to publis books with multi-cultural characters because there are not enough of them being used in schools.  Children need to see characters like themselves, and I applaud Lee & Low for finding these books.  I love how this story is told from a child’s perspective, with real feelings.  I also enjoyed the fact that Bird used art as an outlet for what he was going through.  There are many children who do this, and they need to see that it is okay and be able to share that with others.  I think that parents and teachers should share this title with their children.  Drug abuse and death is something that we all have to deal with; we should not hide it from even our young readers.

More info about the book:

$19.95

ISBN 978-1-60060-241-2

48 pages

Ages: 8-12

Published: October 2008

Read an interview with the author.

Click here to see a book trailer for Bird.

Check out this great podcast review of Bird by Just One More Book!

Thanks so much to Hannah at Lee & Low for sending me a copy of this book! 

Title:  Alicia Afterimage

Author:  Lulu Delacre

ARC provided by: Publisher – Lee & Low Books

About the book:  On the evening of September 24, 2004, sixteen-year old Alicia Maria betancourt was killed in a car accident.  Popular, happy, fun-loving Alicia–daughter, sister, and friend to so many–gone in an instant.  How would those left behind cope with such a sudden, devastating loss?

Wrestling with grief, anger, mortality, and spirituality, Alicia’s loved ones struggle to create a lasting place in their hearts for someone who is no longer a physical presence.  They share joyful and painful memories, and discover the resilient power of enduring friendship and love.  In time, each person finds a way to heal while keeping Alicia’s vibrant spirit alive for those who knew her, and those who never will.

My Review: When I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down!  It is an easy read because of the short chapters and the fact that it jumps to a different person’s perspective with the change of each chapter.  I have never read a story like this one, but I would like to.  This book is a first for author, Lulu Delacre, who has illustrated 30 books for young readers prior to writing this one.  What’s so touching about it is that Alicia was her own daughter and she wrote this to help her deal with the grief of losing her daughter.  I love the way she makes it personal for all of Alicia’s friends.  At the end of the book is the Author’s Note, where Delacre talks about interviewing her daughter’s friends in order to write the book.  In doing so, she helped them work through their grief as well.  This is a great book for young adults, because the loss of a classmate is so prevalent these days.  We can not shield our children from death, as much as we’d like to, and grief is real, even in high school students.  Many times they do not know how to deal with the grief and loss, and this book would be a great read for them as well as adults who are living with grief.  I lost a friend in high school and would loved to have had this book to read as I was going through my own grief because it captures the true feelings of real high school students who have lived through the tragedy of losing a friend, yet still go on, in order for the memory and legacy of Alicia to go on through them.  It is amazing to me, the strength of Delacre and Alicia’s friends, who all say, in one way or another, that Alicia will live through them, they will go on for Alicia, and they visit with Alicia, in some way, still.  I just fell in love with this book and hope that many of you will choose to read it for yourself, share it with someone who needs it, or buy it as a gift.

More info on the book:

$19.95

ISBN 978-1-60060-242-9

144 pages

Ages: 12 & up

Pub. date: September 2008

To read what others have to say, click here.

To watch an interview of the author, by the publisher, go here.

There are discussion questions for this book that teachers can use.

Title:  No Mush Today

Author:  Sally Derby

Illustrator:  Nicole Tadgell

Review Copy Provided by:  Publisher (Lee & Low)

Summary from Book Jacket:  Nonie’s had enough!  Enough mushy mush for breakfast.  Enough of her baby brother’s crying.  So off she goes to live at Grandma’s house.  No mush or baby there.  Grandma attends to Nonie.  Grandma takes her out inot the world of grown-ups.  After a day away from home, will Nonie reconsider her move?  Maybe…maybe…if she can make a deal about breakfast!

My Review:  I enjoyed this book.  It is short and simple.  Who hasn’t had their oldest child, because of a younger sibling, want to run away?  I think it is something that every older sibling goes through.  Now that the new baby is here, some of the attention is gone.  That is how Nonie feels.  Plus, she is tired of having mush for breakfast.  Things will be better at Grandma’s (next door).  Or will they?  Children will relate to this story.  I like the fact that the story is about an African American family.  We need to expose children to all cultures and books is one way to do that.  Children also need to see other children like them in books, and Lee & Low does this so well with the titles they choose to publish.  I love how the illustrator uses facial expressions to show Nonie’s feelings.  As you read, you notice these even though the author doesn’t tell you how Nonie feels.  This adds so much to the story.  Young children will love this story for it’s illustrations, and it’s message.  Things may be better somewhere else, but home is the best place to be.

I have no hesitation in telling you that I really enjoyed this book.  I received an autographed hardcover copy and read it almost immediately after I completed the Twilight Saga.  I just couldn’t read anything else until I had finished that.  I’m so glad that Creepers  by Joanne Dahme was the next thing I decided to read.

Synopsis of book:  Courtney and her parents have moved into an 18th century home in Murmur, Massachusetts.  What’s disturbing to Courtney is that the house is covered in ivy and right next door to a cemetery.  Shortly after moving in she notices two people in the cemetery; a man and a young girl.  Come to find out, this is Christian Geyer and Margaret, who she officially meets in the grocery store.  They seem odd to Courtney, but she becomes friends with both of them, especially Margaret who is about her age.  Christian and Margaret have been in Murmur a short while.  They are looking for the remains of one of their ancestors, Prudence.  It seems Courtney lives in the house where Prudence used to live, but her remains were relocated and no one knows where they are.  Strange things start happening in the house and outside; Courtney even thinks she sees a witch!  Will they find out what really happened to Prudence and where her remains are?  You will have to read it to find out.

My review:  Creepers is such a great title for this book, because it is truly creepy.  I enjoyed the story immensely.  I really liked the way the author added insight by putting a picture, letter excerpt, news article, etc. at the beginning of each chapter.  From the beginning I was wondering if Christian and Margaret were ghosts themselves, but Courney’s parents can see and interact with them.  This is a great ghost stoy that I think 3rd grade and up students will enjoy.  Dahme hooks the reader from the beginning and keeps you there by keeping you guessing.  Why does the ivy seem to grow back every time it gets cut down?  Why does the witch keep coming around?  Will they ever find out what really happened to Prudence’s remains?  Adults will love this book as it is an easy read.

I was fortunate to receive the hardback, which I donated to my school library, but I also received an ARC, which I’m happy to pass on to one of you.  Since Halloween has just passsed, tell me your favorite ghost story for a chance to win.  I will keep this contest open until Wednesday, Nov. 12, and I’ll choose a winner via random.org on Thursday, Nov. 13.  Good luck!

I am so excited to have my very FIRST author interview at Write for a Reader!  Caroline at Chronicle Books emailed me out of the blue and told me she had this great children’s book that she would like me to review or interview the author on my blog.  Of course I said YES!, I’ll do both.  So, long story short the book arrived and today I have the interview and review for you.

Let me start off by saying thank you to Chronicle Books and Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt for allowing me the opportunity to do this.  Sheri was so sweet to answer all of my questions.  Here is what she had to say about being a writer and her book, You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?

WFAR:  When did you know that you wanted to be an author?

SBR:  After I’d been writing magazine and newspaper copy for several years.  It suddenly dawned on me one day that books stay around a lot longer than newspaper or magazine content! That’s what I want, I decided: staying power! Too, I wanted to be able to walk into a Barnes & Noble and find my book there. Trust me: that’s a mind-blowing thrill.

WFAR:  What else have you written besides this picture book?

WFAR:  What was the inspiration for You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?

 You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?

Review copy provided by:  publisher, Chronicle Books

Author:  Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt

This is one of the neatest children’s books that I have read in a long time! 

From Book Jacket:  You think it’s easy being the tooth fairy?  Think again – of stormy nights, dangerous pets, pearly whites hidden in pajama pockets or wrapped in dirty tissues, to say nothing of all those thousands of teeth falling out all over the world every single day.  The tooth fairy’s nights are long and hard.  But she’s up for it.  She never misses a tooth.  How does she do it?  For the first time ever, she reveals everything, right here!

My Review:  Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt has written an exceptional book for children!  Being a teacher, I am always looking for great children’s books to share with my students, and I have found one that I’m sure will be read over and over again.  What kid doesn’t love the tooth fairy?  What kid doesn’t wish they knew how the tooth fairy worked her magic?  In You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy, the story is told from the Tooth Fairy’s perspective, and she compares herself to Cinderella and Santa Claus, two other characters that children relate to.  However, she is not like either one of those, she is tough, daring and smart!  She doesn’t need help from reindeer or fairy god-mothers, she does her job alone.  She has even invented items to help her with her job:  a Tooth-o-Finder and Spy-o-Binoculars; what a gal!  I love the way Rehwoldt has created this character to be so over the top that kids will just love her!  I think that girls especially will love this character because it helps them to see that girls can be strong and athletic just like boys.  The Tooth Fairy even teaches the kids about the right and wrong ways to handle their teeth and leave them for her.  I think kids will latch on to that concept and do what she says.   The illustrations add so much to this story.  It is wonderful that David Slonim was paired with Rehwoldt for this because he did an amazing job bringing this story to life!  Thinking from a teacher’s point of view, I can already see this book being used during Dental Health Month, but also to teach character traits.  This is a must see book for adults so that they can share it with the children in their lives.  I think children will want to read this over and over again, especially when they lose a tooth!  Thank you Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt for a great story!

For more on this book and an interview with Sheri and David, click here.  Sheri also has activities and ideas to use with this book on her website.

Yet another book that my librarian received and had out on the “New Books” table.  I just love to walk by there every week and see what “pops” out at me!

Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Matt Phelan

Summary from the book jacket:

A very hairy bear doesn’t mind when his nose gets sticky with honey, wet from salmon fishing, or stung by bees…

But there’s something he does mind.

What could it be?

My Review:

I want to first start off by saying that I love the illustrations in this book.  They look like water colors, and the pages are not glossy, so it adds to the pictures.  I also love the descriptive language in this book.  For example: “Deep in the green gorgeous wood lives a boulder-big bear with shaggy, raggy, brownbear hair everywhere…”  I really think that children could picture the bear in their mind, even without the picture, but the picture just makes it so much better.  Just like the summary says, Very Hairy Bear deosn’t care about many things: a blue nose from blueberries, scolding squirrels, and bee stings to name a few.  There is one thing he cares about, but I would give the story away if I told you.  Once the author tells you, it would be interesting to see how children think bear could solve his problem.  A cute story!

AND NOW…More Giveaways!

Booking Mama is giving away copies of The Space Between Before and After.  You can read the review here.  Go over and check out today’s post about Boundtrack…it is very interesting how music is tied to this book.

Over at My Friend Amy, she has 2 copies of The Shape of Mercy to give away.  Just leave a comment about the Salem Witch Trials with your email and you will be entered.

I don’t usually have time to post on the weekends as my husband and I spend a lot of time outside working on our place.  We have 9 acres and there is always something to be done.  We spent part of the day at a Fall Festival giving hay rides with our tractor and trailer.  It was fun to see all of the kids in their costumes and having fun.  You can tell it’s Fall, but not by the weather here in TX.

I have been drawn to multi-cultural picture books this week, and found this one to be most appropriate as we all get ready to exercise our right to vote.  The following title would be great to add to a unit on voting as it deals with the history of the black man getting the right to vote.

Papa’s Mark by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert, is a book I just happened on in our school library the other day.  Our librarian always spotlights books that she’s recently gotten in, and this one just jumped out at me.  I’m so glad it did.

Summary from the book jacket:

“Freedom don’t come easy,” said Papa.  “My papa taught me that.”

Simms knows election day will be a big day for his papa, and for all of Lamar County.  for the very first time, Papa will get to vote.  But Simms wishes his papa could write his own name, so he could go to the courthouse with head held high.  And Simms is determined to teach Papa, because, like his father, he knows that freedom doesn’t come easy.

My Review:

I can’t say too much about this one without giving away the whole story, but I liked this book.  It is written from Simms’ point of view, a child, which I think adds so much to the story.  It is great to see this time in history through his eyes.  Simms is so excited about election time, even though he can’t vote, his Papa can.  The colored folks are going to get to vote for the first time – history is in the making in Lamar County!  All papa has ever done is put his mark, an X, where his signature should go.  Simms wants Papa to be able to write his name the way others do, not with a mark.  He is bound and determined to teach him, even though Papa doesn’t see why it’s such a big deal to Simms.  Papa wants to be able to write his name for his voting ballot, but he keeps making “chicken-scratch.”  Will Papa ever get it right?  Will he vote in the election?  Read for yourself!

Wanted to let you know about a picture book giveaway.  Bookroomreviews Weblog is giving away Mail Harry to the Moon and The Day Leo Said, “I Hate You.”