School Library Journal» Roaring Brook http://www.slj.com The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:16:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Pick of the Day: The Ant and the Grasshopper (DVD) http://www.slj.com/2013/07/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-the-ant-and-the-grasshopper-dev/ http://www.slj.com/2013/07/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-the-ant-and-the-grasshopper-dev/#comments Fri, 05 Jul 2013 13:00:11 +0000 SLJ http://www.slj.com/?p=49968 The Ant and the Grasshopper turns Aesop’s fable on its ear and celebrates the joy of community and music.]]>  

ant and the grasshopper 300x300 Pick of the Day: The Ant and the Grasshopper (DVD)The Ant and the Grasshopper. DVD. 8 min. Weston Woods. 2013. ISBN 978-0-545-57136-4. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-57138-8: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-57140-1: $29.95.

PreS-Gr 2–The ant is hard at work when she hears the lively music of the grasshopper and his bug band. The music heartens her and gives her the energy to toil on. Upon meeting the grasshopper, she’s enchanted by his tuneful ways and invites him and his fellow musicians into the ant colony so their music can bring joy to everyone. This story by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley (Roaring Brook, 2012) turns Aesop’s fable on its ear and celebrates the joy of community and music. Emberley’s vivid collage illustrations lend themselves perfectly to animation, and the exuberant jazz music takes listeners straight toNew Orleans. The DVD also contains a read-along option, but it covers large portions of the illustrations, even if only briefly. Stick with the regular viewing mode and enjoy a story that is vibrant both in word and picture.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary,Federal Way,WA

]]> http://www.slj.com/2013/07/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-the-ant-and-the-grasshopper-dev/feed/ 0 Pick of the Day: Henry and the Cannons http://www.slj.com/2013/01/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-henry-and-the-cannons/ http://www.slj.com/2013/01/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-henry-and-the-cannons/#comments Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000 SLJ http://www.slj.com/?p=27676 BROWN, Don. Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution. illus. by author. 32p. bibliog. Roaring Brook. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-266-6. LC 2012013450. Gr 1-4–As the American Revolution was getting underway, George Washington knew he needed cannons to defeat the British. Unfortunately, he was camped outside British-held Boston, and the nearest big guns were 300 miles away at Fort Ticonderoga, New York. They were thought to be impossible to retrieve, until Henry Knox agreed to [...]]]> star Pick of the Day: Henry and the Cannonshenry and the cannons Pick of the Day: Henry and the CannonsBROWN, Don. Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution. illus. by author. 32p. bibliog. Roaring Brook. Jan. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-266-6. LC 2012013450.
Gr 1-4–As the American Revolution was getting underway, George Washington knew he needed cannons to defeat the British. Unfortunately, he was camped outside British-held Boston, and the nearest big guns were 300 miles away at Fort Ticonderoga, New York. They were thought to be impossible to retrieve, until Henry Knox agreed to try. Brown employs a light touch in telling this exciting true story. Moving 120,000 pounds of artillery in winter involved dragging the pieces, sailing, sledding, and even retrieving them from freezing water when the ice broke under their weight. Readers will be fascinated by the various methods employed to keep the cannons moving, including poles, ropes, and chains to help the sleds scale steep heights. Amazingly, Knox and his group arrived without losing a single piece of weaponry. Quotations integrated into the text are not directly attributed, but a bibliography is included. Watercolor illustrations are given weight by black outlines. A palette of blues, whites, and browns reinforces the winter tone. Full spreads interspersed with panels vary the pace and allow for certain images to be spotlighted. A nicely composed three-panel page shows the changing weather (clear to rain to snow) as Knox begins his quest. This entertaining tale will be great to use along with studies of George Washington and the Revolutionary War.–Lucinda
Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

 

 

]]> http://www.slj.com/2013/01/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-henry-and-the-cannons/feed/ 0 Pick of the Day: Abe Lincoln’s Dream http://www.slj.com/2012/12/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-abe-lincolns-dream/ http://www.slj.com/2012/12/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-abe-lincolns-dream/#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:00:29 +0000 SLJ http://www.slj.com/?p=23261 SMITH, Lane. Abe Lincoln’s Dream. illus. by author. 32p. Roaring Brook. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-608-4. Gr 2-5–A picture book that transforms the 16th president from a seemingly austere, severe figure into a sympathetic character. A young African American girl named Quincy encounters the ghost of Abe Lincoln on a school tour of the White House. He tells the child about a recurring dream in which he is sailing a ship on a stormy sea, unsure of where he’s heading. (The [...]]]> star Pick of the Day: Abe Lincolns Dreamabe lincolns dream 224x300 Pick of the Day: Abe Lincolns DreamSMITH, Lane. Abe Lincoln’s Dream. illus. by author. 32p. Roaring Brook. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-608-4.
Gr 2-5–A picture book that transforms the 16th president from a seemingly austere, severe figure into a sympathetic character. A young African American girl named Quincy encounters the ghost of Abe Lincoln on a school tour of the White House. He tells the child about a recurring dream in which he is sailing a ship on a stormy sea, unsure of where he’s heading. (The afterword explains that the president reported having this nightmare several times, including the evening before his assassination.) In an attempt to cheer him, Quincy reassures Lincoln that the state of the nation has vastly improved since his presidency, and the two take flight on a whirlwind tour. Dynamic spreads of the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and an American flag planted on the Moon–digitally rendered in oil painting and pen-and-ink–reflect Quincy’s assertion that “‘overall the founding fathers would be proud of our progress.’” The dark palette and parchmentlike background give the book a traditional feel, but Smith adds a sense of whimsy through his creative use of fonts and the witty tone of the narrative. Despite the cartoonish style, Lincoln is fully humanized: visible pen marks that indicate wrinkles and bags under his eyes suggest his anguish over the state of the union, while his penchant for corny jokes (“‘Ghosts are no good at telling fibs….You can see right through them’”) will endear him to readers. Pair this picture book with Maira Kalman’s Looking at Lincoln (Penguin, 2012) to give students a portrait of the man that transcends mere facts.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

 

 

]]> http://www.slj.com/2012/12/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-abe-lincolns-dream/feed/ 1 Pick of the Day: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit (CD) http://www.slj.com/2012/12/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-charlie-joe-jacksons-guide-to-extra-credit-cd/ http://www.slj.com/2012/12/books-media/reviews/pick-of-the-day/pick-of-the-day-charlie-joe-jacksons-guide-to-extra-credit-cd/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:03:23 +0000 SLJ http://www.slj.com/?p=22974 Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit. By Tom Greenwald. 4 CDs. 4:29 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-0309-5. $49.97. Gr 5-7–In this followup (2012) to Tom Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading (2011, both Roaring Brook), a poor report card and a reputation for cutting up in school land Charlie Joe in his middle school counselor’s office. Things go from bad to worse, causing Ms. Ferrell to recommend that Charlie Joe attend “Camp Rituhbukkee,” a summer camp that [...]]]> star Pick of the Day: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit (CD)charlie joe Pick of the Day: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit (CD)Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit. By Tom Greenwald. 4 CDs. 4:29 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-0309-5. $49.97.
Gr 5-7–In this followup (2012) to Tom Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading (2011, both Roaring Brook), a poor report card and a reputation for cutting up in school land Charlie Joe in his middle school counselor’s office. Things go from bad to worse, causing Ms. Ferrell to recommend that Charlie Joe attend “Camp Rituhbukkee,” a summer camp that focuses on academics and reading. Charlie Joe, a self-professed non-reader, is horrified, and he quickly offers a deal. If he gets straight A’s for the last quarter of the school year, he won’t have to attend “Camp Life-is-suckee.” The deal is made and the boy must figure out how to raise his grades.  The answer: extra credit. What ensues is a riot of middle-school mayhem, relationship issues, and teacher troubles all rendered hilarious by the author. McLeod Andrews reads with equal parts youthful exuberance and snarky sarcasm. He gets extra credit for turning a fantastic book into an A+ audiobook through his amazing and entertaining cast of character voices. Give this audio (plus the book, with illustrations by J.P. Coovert) to fans of the “Wimpy Kid” series.  Even reluctant readers, like Charlie Joe, will be won over by this hilarious take on middle-school life, and will be clamoring for the next title in the series.–Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH

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