School Library Journal» Candlewick

Pick of the Day: Living with Jackie Chan

SLJ — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 09:00:42 +0000

KNOWLES, Jo. Living with Jackie Chan. 384p. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6280-6; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6716-0.
Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Josh expected to be hanging out with his friends and going to parties during his senior year, but all that changed after a one-night stand ended in an unexpected pregnancy. Afraid to face the girl whose life he believes he ruined, Josh moves in with his Jackie Chan-loving Uncle Larry and begins a new life at a new school.Yet no matter how hard he tries, he can’t escape his past. Overcome with guilt and regret, Josh concentrates on helping his uncle with his karate class. His growing friendship with his neighbor, Stella, forces Josh to face his past in an attempt to find forgiveness, especially from his own worst enemy: himself. In this companion to Jumping Off Swings (Candlewick, 2009), Knowles provides readers with an intimate look at Josh a year after the events of the first book. Tormented by his past actions, Josh is constantly at war with his feelings, denying himself any happiness as penance. As the emotional core of the book, Josh is a complex yet incredibly likable character with whom readers will empathize. Similarly, both Larry and Stella possess dynamic, well-developed personalities, making it easy to believe how crucial a role they play in Josh’s recovery. Divided into four parts, the compelling narrative offers an honest and frank look at teen pregnancy from the male’s perspective, and while the book could have been a depressing read in another author’s hands, Knowles succeeds in writing a character-driven story that is as uplifting as it is heartbreaking.–Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH

Pick of the Day: Hero on a Bicycle | Audio

SLJ — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 13:00:52 +0000

Hero on a Bicycle. By Shirley Hughes. 3 CDs. 3:35 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4692-7493-5. $54.97.
Gr 5–8–The first novel (Candlewick, 2013) by octogenarian Shirley Hughes, the award-winning picture book author and illustrator, is set inItalyin 1944. The story follows 13-year-old Paolo, his 16-year-old sister Costanza, and their mother. The family lives in the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Florence. Their father, an anti-Fascist, fled when the Nazi’s took control, leaving the family in a politically precarious position. Paolo’s nighttime forays into the city on his bicycle have brought his family into contact with the Partisans, the Italian resistance, who ask them “in a convincing manner, made more convincing because of the gun” to help them. Told in third-person narration, the story builds in tension, skillfully shifting between the perspectives of each main character as well as the many well-developed secondary characters who add depth and understanding to an age-old question this story seeks to answer: What motivates people’s actions in times of war? Simon Vance’s incomparable vocal style is a perfect fit for this intense and suspenseful work of historical fiction. With his strong and consistently paced narration, as well as subtle and skillful character voices, Vance’s performance is both nuanced and captivating. A website (www.heroonabicycle.co.uk) offers additional material to supplement lesson plans or deepen book discussions. For those interested in offering students more in-depth information about the time period, other supplemental sources would be required. Highly recommended for students who enjoyed John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (David Fickling Bks., 2007) and historical or WWII fiction.–Chani Craig.ConverseMiddle School. Palmer, MA

Manzano Wins Americas Award; Celebrate International Dot Day | News Bites

Phyllis Levy Mandell — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:30:11 +0000

Celebrating Latin American Culture

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (Scholastic; Gr 6–10) by Sonia Manzano won the 2013 Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, established by the Consortium for Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) “to encourage and commend authors, illustrators, and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States, and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use.”

In Manzano’s novel, 14-year-old Evelyn Serrano lives in Spanish Harlem in 1969. The family is of Puerto Rican descent, and the teenager struggles with her own sense of identity and what it means to be Puerto Rican in El Barrio.

Honorable Mention went to Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert (Clarion; Gr 2–4) written by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by David Diaz. The picture-book biography tells the story of the life of the first black saint of the Americas who was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru.

There were also three Commended Titles: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (S & S; Gr 9 Up) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Drummer Boy of John John (Lee & Low; PreS-Gr 3) written by Mark Greenwood and illustrated by Frané Lessac, and In Darkness (Bloomsbury; Gr 9 Up) by Nick Lake.

Titles published in 2012 were considered for the 2013 award. Books are judged for their literary quality; cultural contextualization; exceptional integration of text, illustration, and design; and potential for classroom use. The award presentation will be held on October 5, 2013 at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Dot Day

Celebrate International Dot Day with its creator, Peter H. Reynolds, at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, on September 15, 2013 from 1–4 pm EST. The event was inspired by Reynolds’s book for young readers, The Dot (Candlewick, 2003), that “encourages children and adults to unleash their inner creativity through reading, art, and more.” International Dot Day has been celebrated in classrooms and libraries since 2009.

Events at the Carle include a book signing with Reynolds, a storytime, screening of the three films (Weston Woods) in Reynolds’s “Creatrilogy” series (The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color). All the activities are free with Museum admission.

“What began as one little dot on the pages of a book has grown into a movement that has countless people fearlessly expressing their creativity—not only on International Dot Day, but now all year long,” noted Reynolds.

Pictures of the Week: YA Author Todd Strasser Catches a Wave

SLJ — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 21:30:50 +0000

Send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com

YA Author Todd Strasser poses with his surfboard in Montauk, New York. Strasser started surfing when he was in his mid-50′s. His next book, Fallout (Candlewick) publishes in September 2013. Photo by Rocco Staino

Candlewick Fall Kids | Preview Peek

SLJ — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:15:07 +0000

What better time to host a publisher’s preview than BEA? Fans of all things literary are in town for the big show, and everyone’s got books on the brain. Candlewick Press held its librarian preview at Bank Street College of Education in New York City on May 30, the day after SLJ’s Day of Dialog (DoD). The room was abuzz with post-DoD talk: authors and illustrators, which panel impressed the most, and who got what books signed by the authors. Then came the presentation of the new titles.

First up were the picture books, and Candlewick started it off with a bang: Dinosaur Kisses (August) by David Ezra Stein. Featuring an overzealous young dinosaur, this book has huge storytime potential for toddlers; the dinosaur just wants to hug and kiss and play…but ends up biting and pushing in all his excitement. Working in a limited palette of greens, yellows, and browns, Stein demonstrates once again that he has his finger on the pulse of the kid experience.

Librarian Laura Lutz, with librarian Bina Williams, presenting Matt Phelan’s Bluffton.

As you can imagine, much of Candlewick’s team was tied up with BEA preparations so yours truly agreed to help them out by presenting a couple of titles. I had the privilege of sharing How to Train a Train, written by Jason Carter Eaton and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco. This is a clever pseudo-guidebook on how to make a train your pet. Many librarians in the room were talking about the sons, nephews, and friends in their life who will go nuts over this transportation-themed picture book. The sad news? You’ll have to wait until September for this one, folks.

Journey, by debut author-illustrator Aaron Becker, was met with longing sighs and excited gasps by the preview attendees. A young girl escapes to an imaginary world…and what a world it is. Wordless, lovely, and quiet, this was succinctly described as “a novel in picture book form.” This releases in August, but it’s already received two starred reviews and—if the gushing around the room was any indication—it’s likely to receive more in its future. A delight…and, I daresay, a highlight of the preview.

Toon Books was up next with its latest slate of beginning comics for young readers. The Big Wet Balloon is the American debut of world-renowned Argentine artist Ricardo Liniers. Two sisters have an adventure in the rain, and readers will be dying to romp in the puddles alongside them. This comes out in September, publishing simultaneously in English and Spanish.

Readers will also be excited to have another book from Geoffrey Hayes in their hands; Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories (August). And fans of Otto rejoice: Otto’s Backwards Day, by Frank Cammuso and Jay Lynch, debuts in August as well. Otto ends up in a backwards world; the catch is that the world is a palindrome, just like Otto’s name. Clever!

To change the pace, editor Sarah Ketchersid next presented With a Mighty Hand: The Story in the Torah, adapted by Amy Ehrlich and illustrated by Daniel Nevins (August). This includes the first five books of the Hebrew bible and a genealogy map. But what elicited excited murmurs from the attendees was the artwork—hand-painted on wood, the book’s illustrations are rich in color and quite stunning.

You’ll all be thrilled to find out another Kate DiCamillo story is on its way in August. Flora and Ulysses, illustrated by K.G. Campbell, is a middle-grade novel that’s a nice transition for kids ready to move on from Mercy Watson but not quite up to the length of A Tale of Despereaux. The black-and-white illustrations—featuring a girl that looks, entertainingly, like Candlewick’s Sharon Hancock, executive director of school and library marketing—have a graphic novel feel to them and are certain to appeal to DiCamillo fans everywhere.

Next in the proceedings, I was up again to present Matt Phelan’s new graphic novel Bluffton. A fictionalized version of Buster Keaton’s real-life summers spent in Bluffton, Michigan, this will wow readers who already believed Phelan had outdone himself with Storm in the Barn and Around the World. You won’t have to wait long for this one: it comes out in July.

Preview attendees were seeing stars when they heard the names “David Almond” and “Oliver Jeffers.” Their new collaboration is The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas (August). It’s a fanciful adventure story with a carnival-themed twist. We were all left envying the Brits; this has already been published in the UK, those lucky blokes.

Candlewick’s Jenny Choy, marketing manager, had us all on the edge of our seats whilst talking about Fallout by Todd Strasser. It’s 1962 and the bomb has gone off. A family scrambles into their shelter but are followed by others in their neighborhood. Suddenly a shelter built for four is housing ten. Jenny described the scenes in the shelter as being “filthy, oppressive, and claustrophobic,” and we all swooned a little when we learned we had to wait until September to see what happens.

Romeo and Juliet, as imagined by acclaimed illustrator Gareth Hinds…not much more to say about that, right? We know this graphic novel version will be outstanding. Featuring a diverse cast to capture Shakespeare’s universality, this comes out in September.

Young adult titles were next. There is the Wuthering Heights retelling that got excited murmurs from the room, Black Spring (August) by Alison Croggon. It has a magical quality to it, with witches and “ancient laws of vendetta.” Can’t wait to curl up with this on a drizzly fall afternoon! Also on the YA docket is Living with Jackie Chan, Jo Knowles’ companion story to Jumping Off Swings. This time, the story is told from perspective of Joss.

Ears perked up upon hearing about debut author Susann Cokal’s story of court intrigue in an imagined Scandinavian country. The Kingdom of Little Wounds is an upstairs-downstairs type story featuring feminist themes and true history details. Sweeping and rich in detail, this October title has enormous crossover appeal. And just look at that cover.

We all reacted quite strongly to the pitch for More Than This by Patrick Ness—immediately we all whispered and gushed. This was described to us as a “page-turner,” “heartbreaking,” “dramatic.” It sounds like an absolute heart-stopper. How many days until September?

Lastly, we got a special treat: one of our own, Monica Edinger, Dalton School teacher and blogger at Educating Alice, spoke about her new book, Africa Is My Home. Telling the little-known story of the real-life children aboard Amistad, this labor of love was thirteen years in the making for Edinger. She uses primary source materials and archival images to drive the story home; accompanied by illustrations from Robert Byrd, this is an emotional and rich book. The room was so supportive of Edinger, and we all can’t wait for this one to come out in October.

With that, we all scurried off to BEA to meet authors, network, and check out upcoming titles. We’re already looking forward to next year.

Laura Lutz is a middle school librarian. She is also an assistant visiting professor at the Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science, and a blogger at Pinot and Prose.

Pick of the Day: Zebra Forest

SLJ — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:12 +0000

GEWIRTZ, Adina Rishe. Zebra Forest. 200p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6041-3; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6568-5. LC 2012947251.
Gr 5-8–It’s almost summer and 11-year-old Annie Morgan has a small list of things she hopes to accomplish during her vacation: grow tall, have an adventure, and meet her father. Sadly, the last wish is impossible given her father’s death in a brutal fight many years before. Annie and her younger brother, Rew, live with their caring, but mentally unstable, grandmother in the backwoods of Sunshine. The siblings pass the time in the “Zebra Forest” of birches and oaks behind their house, weaving elaborate fantasies of their dad as a pirate or secret agent. When a prison escapee barges into their house and holds them hostage, the siblings are shocked to discover that the interloper is their presumed-dead father, Andrew Snow. Gran’s fragile state renders her incapable of helping the children process this revelation. Rew lashes out against his captor, refusing to believe that this man is his dad. Annie is torn between siding with her brother and her desire to know their father. Gewirtz veers away from melodrama, deftly capturing nuances of family dynamics in spare prose. Another notable element is the thematic parallel with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, which the children read throughout the story. Despite Zebra Forest’s slow start, audiences will appreciate this novel’s multilayered characters and touching message of hope and forgiveness.–Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA

Pick of the Day: Courage Has No Color (Audio)

SLJ — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:47 +0000

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers. By Tanya Lee Stone. 3 CDs. 3:03 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4692-6257-4. $54.97.
Gr 5 Up–Stone’s book (Candlewick, 2013) presents a history of racial segregation and integration in theU.S.military during World War II and a relatively unknown but important group of unsung heroes. Initially, a group of African-American soldiers served as guards at theParachuteSchoolatFort Benning,GA, while their white counterparts were trained to be paratroopers. Battling prejudice and resistance from military and political leaders, these enlisted men became part of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and were known as the Triple Nickles. The fully trained unit was not wanted on either the European or the Pacific war fronts, but they served the war effort as fire jumpers in ourPacific Northwest. At first, it seemed that they were just there to fight forest fires, but, unknown to most Americans, the Japanese had started sending balloon bombs to our shores. Most of these bombs didn’t detonate, but they needed to be found and disarmed without alerting residents or letting the Japanese know that their bombs had reached our shores. The Triple Nickles discreetly searched the forests and disarmed the bombs to keep Americans safe. At the end of the war, the Triple Nickles were integrated into a previously all-white military unit. In 1948, President Truman ordered the integration of all military branches. JD Jackson ably narrates, bringing the account to life. Be sure to have the print version of this expertly researched book available so listeners can peruse the photos that perfectly complement the narrative.–Ann Weber,Bellarmine College Prep.,San Jose,CA.

Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominees Announced | News Bites

Phyllis Levy Mandell — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:14:55 +0000

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has just revealed the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award nominees and jury. Twenty-nine authors and 31 illustrators have been selected from 34 countries. Kudos to author Jacqueline Woodson and illustrator Bryan Collier, the only nominees from the United States. Authors Kenneth Oppel (Canada) and Eoin Colfer (Ireland) are also among those honored. Be sure to check out the complete list.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books. The Awards, given every other year by IBBY, recognizes “lifelong achievement and are given to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children’s literature.”

The 2014 jury, led by María Jesús Gil (Madrid, Spain), is composed of 11 writers, editors, publishers, and educators from around the world. The United States is represented on the jury by Susan M. Stan, Professor of Children’s Literature at the Central Michigan University. Winners will be made known to the public at the IBBY Press Conference at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair on March 24, 2014.

Christopher Awards

The winners of the 2013 Christopher Awards have been chosen. Eleven books for adults and young people have garnered the award. The six winners in the Books for Young People category are: Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body (Pauline Books and Media), written by Nicole Lataif and illustrated by Mary Rojas; The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (S & S) by author/illustrator William Joyce and illustrator Joe Bluhm; The House on Dirty-Third Street (Peachtree) by Jo S. Kittinger, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez; the Newbery Medalist The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins) by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Patricia Castelao; R. J. Palacio’s Wonder (Knopf); and Warren St. John’s Outcasts United (Delacorte).

Created in 1949, “these awards are presented to writers, producers, directors and illustrators whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” The Christophers, a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, “is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity.” “The creative forces behind the projects we’re honoring are improving our culture by telling stories that awaken hope instead of despair, acknowledge the necessity of sacrifice in the service of a greater good, and light a candle rather than curse the darkness,” noted Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications.

Math SAT Prep

Do your students want to improve their SAT math scores? That’s no-brainer! Well, Shmoop, a publisher of digital curriculum and test prep, is offering a new SAT math practice tool—Math Shack. It offers more than 200 types of math problems in all the categories that appear on the SAT: Numbers and Operations, Algebra and Functions, Geometry and Measurement, and Statistics and Probability. Users get a lot more than just practice. For every problem, there are hints and detailed explanations of the answer. Student progress can also be tracked. Math Shack is instantly available to subscribers of Shmoop’s SAT test prep.

Industry News

Carnegie Medal-winning author Patrick Ness’s new book, More Than This, will be published in September 2013 by Candlewick. Ness’s previous novels, “Chaos Walking” trilogy and A Monster Calls (all Candlewick) garnered numerous awards. His new book chronicles “the life–or perhaps afterlife–of a teenager trapped in a crumbling, abandoned world. The book will be published simultaneously in the US, the UK, and Australia.

“I’ve wanted to write a book about waking up alone on the planet since from about the day I knew I wanted to be a writer,” said Ness. “And the ambiguity and mystery that Seth faces when he wakes [after drowning]—what is this place? Is it a memory? Is it real? Is it somehow both?—felt so much like the yearning and questioning I had growing up, it just all came together at the right time. Though there’s despair here, and pain, in one way it might be the most hopeful thing I’ve ever written.”

Pick of the Day: Look Up!

SLJ — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:00:28 +0000

CATE, Annette Leblanc. Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard. illus. by author. 64p. illus. index. Candlewick. Mar. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4561-8. LC 2012942416.
Gr 3-5–With its emphasis on looking at the birds near home–from suburbs to inner cities–this invitation to bird-watching is an engaging addition to any collection. By grouping birds by colors, shapes, behaviors, feathers, calls, habitat, migration, and more, the spreads highlight the multitude of avian features to be observed. Cate emphasizes the importance of observation and includes sketching instructions as a way to hone those skills on the individual aspects of a bird along with its species’ characteristics. Each page is filled with full-color illustrations. At first glance they may appear crowded and busy, but the detailed drawings are charming, lively, and fun. Humorous dialogue bubbles feature bird “thoughts” in accessible language. Comic human observations are also included: “Are those pesky birds pooping on my windowsill again?” Lots of fun–and informative.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Pick of the Day: Sky Color (DVD)

SLJ — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:00:27 +0000

Sky Color. DVD. 6 min. with tchr’s. guide. Weston Woods. 2012. ISBN 978-0-545-52331-8. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-52330-1: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-52329-5: $29.95.
PreS-Gr 2–What color is the sky? Marisol is faced with this question as her class paints a mural in the library. She chooses to paint the sky, but blue is not one of the colors available to her. She notices, however, that the actual sky is not always blue. It might be the glowing colors of a sunset, or the deep velvet black of night with scattered diamond stars, or the grey of a rainy day. This gives her the scope to create a truly memorable sky. Peter H. Reynolds’s book (2012) is part of what he calls his “creatrilogy”—which includes The Dot (2003), and Ish (2004, all Candlewick, Weston Woods). As with the other two titles, Sky Color celebrates art and the power of creative thinking. Reynolds’s flowing watercolor illustrations against a stark white background have been beautifully animated. Sisi Aisha Johnson reads with a crisp, young voice as original, sprightly music by Ernest Troost plays in the background and sound effects draw listeners in. A read-along subtitle option is available. In a short interview, the author/artist explains his views about stories and art and encourages students to think creatively. Everyone can be an artist. This is optimistic and inspiring—a wonderful prelude to any class art project. It encourages young artists to think outside the paint box.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

Pick of the Day: Personal Effects (Audiobook)

SLJ — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:21:27 +0000

Personal Effects. By E.M. Kokie. 8 CDs. 9:08 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-0637-0. $54.97.
Gr 9 Up–Matt has had a rough time coping since his brother’s death in Iraq left him alone with his abusive father. When his father tries to keep him from looking through his brother’s personal effects, Matt can no longer just do as he’s told. Convinced that his things will give Matt insight into TJ’s “real” life, Matt secretly defies his father and discovers that his brother had a secret significant other in Wisconsin. Needing to deliver TJ’s final unmailed letter, Matt heads for Madison to seek out C, only to find that there was even more to TJ’s secret than he’d thought. Matt must choose a path for his own future. Will he follow in his father’s footsteps or will he defy him and accept who TJ truly was. Kokie’s stellar debut novel (Candlewick, 2012) is narrated by Nick Podehl who easily captures an unsure teenager’s emotional struggle. As Matt strives to find his own self-worth and uncover his brother’s TJ’s secrets, Podehl draws listeners in and keeps them invested in Matt’s story. He fluidly evokes the wide gamut of emotions that Matt experiences, while still maintaining a sense of underlying grief throughout. The expert narration coupled with a powerful and heartfelt story make this audiobook a must-have for all high school and public library collections.–Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA

Pick of the Day: The Goldilocks Variations

SLJ — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:00:16 +0000

AHLBERG, Allan. The Goldilocks Variations. illus. by Jessica Ahlberg. 40p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6268-4.
PreS-Gr 2–With whimsical illustrations and interactive features such as flaps, pop-ups, and pull tabs, the Ahlbergs showcase six silly variations on the classic tale. The standout of the bunch has the heroine wandering into the “trood (or spaceship) of The Three Bliim.” Full of silly alien words, the tale begs to be read aloud. In other adventures, Goldilocks takes on 33 bears, the furniture (chair, bowl, and bed finally get starring roles), and a host of fairy-tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Pigs. Jessica Ahlberg’s fanciful watercolor and ink illustrations sprinkle the pages and are the perfect counterpoint to the text’s cheeky humor.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Pick of the Day: Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers

SLJ — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:00:19 +0000

STONE, Tanya Lee. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers. 160p. appendix. bibliog. chron. notes. photos. reprods. Candlewick. Jan. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5117-6; ebook $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6405-3.
Gr 5 Up–A moving, thoughtful history of the United States military’s first black paratrooper unit. During World War II, African American soldiers were mostly relegated to service and security jobs, generally denied the same training and active-combat positions that were available to their white counterparts. Expertly woven together are two narratives: the large, overarching history of rampant racism in the U.S. military and the smaller, tightly focused account of a group of black soldiers determined to serve their country and demonstrate their value as soldiers. Readers are taken along on the emotional journey with the soldiers as they leapt forward from guard duty at The Parachute School into official paratrooper training, the first of its kind for blacks. They faced multiple setbacks as they encountered discrimination, some justified as “policy” and some that was more personal and insidious. Throughout the book, the courage and strength of these men is evidenced in their tireless quest to be the best at what they do, throwing themselves headlong into sometimes dangerous and terrifying training requirements. The photographs and the design of the book as a whole are a gift to readers. Rich with detail, the pictures not only complement the narrative, but also tell a stirring story of their own, chronicling the triumphs and frustrations of the soldiers as they pursued their dreams. Complete accessibility to a wide range of readers, coupled with expert research and meticulous care, makes this a must-have for any library.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

To read an interview with Tanya Lee Stone, see Jennifer M. Brown’s “A Mission Above and Beyond Them.”

Pick of the Day: Splendors & Glooms (Audiobook)

SLJ — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:21 +0000

Splendors & Glooms. By Laura Amy Schlitz. 10 cassettes or 10 CDs. 12 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4498-3568-2, CD: ISBN 978-1-4498-3572-9. $108.75
Gr 4-8–Set in a Dickensian London, Davina Porter is the perfect narrator to capture the nuances of the characters and the time period in Schlitz’s exceptional Victorian fantasy (Candlewick, 2012). Listeners will ache for the orphan children, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, when they come up with money after pawning a watch. Should they have a proper meal and see the marionettes, or spend the money on practical items they so desperately need? Will they be able to hold onto it long enough to realize either option? The privileged Clara has been kidnapped and transformed by the evil puppet master Grisini. He gained his power from the witch, Cassandra, who desperately needs a child to steal the fire opal that fuels her magic, thereby saving her from a fiery death. Grisini offers up his charges, not realizing that they have discovered the puppet Clara. Parsefall believes it is the missing girl, and Lizzie Rose can’t quite deny it. When Clara’s father sees Parsefall using the puppet, he confronts the children who performed with their master on his daughter’s birthday. Threatened by the possibility of police, the children flee. Cassandra’s promise of an inheritance and money for the train arrive just in time. If and how the three children can save themselves will keep listeners enthralled to the very end. Porter’s deliberate pacing intensifies the drama and her talent with accents broadens the portrayals. A not-to-be-missed gothic thriller.–Janet Thompson, Chicago Public Library, W. Belmont Branch, IL

Pick of the Day: See You at Harry’s (Audiobook)

SLJ — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:00:24 +0000

See You at Harry’s. By Jo Knowles. 5 CDs. 5:49 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-8958-7. $49.97.
Gr 7 Up–Twelve-year-old Fern is quiet and conciliatory, and often taken for granted. Left to take care of whatever the rest of the family members are too busy to deal with, she feels alone and resentful. Dad is constantly trying to boost business for the family restaurant, Mom is always escaping to meditate, Sarah is spending an embarrassing post-high school gap year working in the restaurant, and Holden is teetering on the verge of announcing his sexual orientation. The glue that holds the family together is three-year-old Charlie. Everyone’s biggest joy, and sometimes Fern’s biggest pain, Charlie’s uninhibited glee in life keeps everything in perspective. Then, while in Fern’s care, a freak accident takes Charlie’s life. What starts out as a wonderfully realistic look at growing up in a semi-dysfunctional middle-class family turns swiftly into an equally realistic portrait of profound loss and guilt. Knowles’s novel (Candlewick, 2012) takes us step by painful step through the days leading up to the funeral, the day of the funeral, and onto the impossible process of getting back to “normal” life. Kate Rudd gives a brilliant performance as, through the eyes, heart, and soul of Fern, she gives voice to the full breadth of grief experienced by each member of the family. Listeners are taken through every stage of the dark, heart-wrenching grieving process with throat constricting immediacy, and then led slowly back into the light. A beautiful, if painful, story delivered with remarkable clarity and sensitivity through an exceptional performance.–Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA

News Bites: Help Hurricane Sandy’s Victims

Phyllis Levy Mandell — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:57:31 +0000

Books for devastated libraries: Hurricane Sandy devastated scores of schools and libraries across the East Coast. You can help provide books for these libraries and children in need by making a tax deductible donation of at least $2.50 to First Book. Every $2.50 you donate will buy one book. First Book’s publishing partners—Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Abrams Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan, Candlewick, Sterling, Hachette, and others—will match each contribution by donating an additional book.

Founded in 1992, First Book provides new books to children in need. To date, the organization has distributed more than 90 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities.

Pick of the Day: The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World (CD)

SLJ — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:37:37 +0000

The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World. By Mary Losure. 2 CDs. 2:26 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-5194-2. $49.97.
Gr 4-8–This is the true tale of Elsie Wright, 15, and Frances Griffith, 9, who concocted a fairy hoax in the early 1900s that grew well beyond their expectations. Tired of being teased by their parents for their stories, Elsie painted and then cut out detailed illustrations of fairies. The girls photographed the “fairies” with themselves in the picture. When Elsie’s mother mentioned at a Theosophist meeting that her daughter had taken a picture of fairies, the hoax quickly escalated. A number of adults, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, promoted the photos as the real deal. Mary Losure’s narrative account does an excellent job of explaining how a childish fabrication became an international sensation in her intriguing book (Candlewick, 2012). Narrator Nicola Barber provides excellent pacing, unique voices for the girls, and an inviting tone that will maintain listeners’ attention. Have the book available so listeners can peruse the fascinating photos and drawing.–Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT

Pick of the Day: This Is Not My Hat

SLJ — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:30:24 +0000

KLASSEN, Jon. This Is Not My Hat. illus. by author. 40p. Candlewick. Oct. 2012. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5599-0.
PreS-Gr 1–With this new creation, Klassen repeats the theme from I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick, 2011), but with a twist. The narrator here is the thief–a small, self-confident fish who has pilfered a little blue bowler from a big sleeping fish. He wastes no time or words in confessing his crime as he swims across the page announcing, “This hat is not mine. I just stole it.” He continues his narrative with no regrets, but with a bit of rationalizing (“It was too small for him anyway.”) as he swims to his hiding place, unaware that the big fish is in quiet pursuit. Readers, of course, are in on this little secret. When the two disappear into a spread filled with seaweed, the narration goes silent, and youngsters can easily surmise what happens as the big fish reemerges with the tiny blue bowler atop his head. Simplicity is key in both text and illustrations. The black underwater provides the perfect background for the mostly gray-toned fish and seaweed while the monochromatic palette strips the artwork down to essential, yet exquisite design. Movement is indicated with a trail of small white bubbles. This not-to-be-missed title will delight children again and again.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Cincinnati, OH

News Bites: Join Candlewick’s ‘We Believe in Picture Books’ Campaign

Phyllis Levy Mandell — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:49:55 +0000

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Picture books: On August 31, Candlewick launched a yearlong video celebration of picture books in honor of their 20th anniversary. Every day for 365 days, as part of the We Believe in Picture Books campaign, Candlewick will offer a video shot by authors, illustrators, staff, and friends, sharing what picture books mean to them, recommending a favorite story, and more. Librarians and teachers are welcome to post these videos on their own websites to share with students. You can also submit your own video to the publisher in which you informally talk about your favorite picture book, what the format means to you, or why it matters.

Pinterest Contest

Win an audio package: Califone International is encouraging educators to follow them on Pinterest and create their own board titled “Classroom AV Wish List,” in order to win tools for their classrooms. To enter the contest, educators have to repin one of four audio packages—portable PA, mobile and ELA learning, library, and clicker—from the Califone Pinterest contest board and then explain how the it will help enrich their classroom. One pin per contestant per week is permitted. Contest rules and submission requirements are featured on the Califone blog. Winners will determined by Califone based on creativity and effective use of audiovisual products. You have until September 24 to enter. Winners will be announced by October 5.

Buy One Get One Free

Ebooks: To celebrate Capstone’s expansion of its Interactive Library interactive ebook program, the publisher is offering customers the opportunity to buy one ebook and get another free. This fall Capstone is expanding its program to include more than 2,000 titles. The program has also improved its technology and is compatible with any PC, Mac, iPad, interactive white board, and any other device with high-speed Internet access. Kids can access Capstone’s interactive ebooks in school, at home, or on any mobile device 24/7. Hurry—this special promotion only runs until November 16. To place an order, customers should use the code “12CILBOGO.”

Careers in Library Service

Career opportunities: The Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science (SILS) is offering students in their SILS program tuition scholarships and two semester internships at the Brooklyn Museum, the Frick Art Reference Library, and the New York Art Resources Consortium to prepare them for careers in museum libraries and archives. M-LEAD TWO (Museum Library Education and Digitization-Technology, Web, Online) is a three-year project that will give students hands-on experience—they will be able to work with research materials from these museum libraries and be mentored by the museums’ staff. Students will graduate with a master’s degree and an advanced certificate in museum libraries and will also get stipends for participating.

The project is funded by a grant of more than $261,000 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the 2012 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. “With a two-semester internship program and a focus on collection accessibility, the new project furthers our efforts to prepare students for careers as museum librarians and archivist and also advances a new model for museum library education for the 21st century, incorporating digital collections and services across the museum so that graduates are preparing to meet the challenges of museums in our global networked information environment,” noted Tula Giannini, dean of Pratt-SILS and project director.