You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Meme

Hook by Ed Youg
How Robin Saved Spring by Debbie Ouellet, illus. by Nicoletta Ceccoli

Here are a couple of visually striking picture books which touched NMD and I differently. I'll start with Ed Young's Hook, which is an Ugly Duckling tale of sorts. It tells the story of an eaglet which is raised by chickens after his abandoned egg is mistakenly given into their care. It becomes clear to the chickens that Hook is not meant for Earth, and they enlist the aid of a Native American boy to help Hook find his wings. The narrative is told in short, economical sentences which say just enough to move the story along. The illustrations have a sketchy, almost hurried look to them, and like the text seem to portray so much with so little detail. It's a completely different style from what Young used in last year's Wabi Sabi, which was a complex story richly illustrated. I loved this one. It reminded me of Molly Bang's Goose.

How Robin Saved Spring is a great example of judging a book by it's cover. It's hard to resist such a beautifuly delicate image. Nicoletta Ceccoli's illustrations have an other-worldly quality about them which support this original fairy tale quite well. The story tells of Lady Winter and Sister Spring who take turns rising and sleeping over the course of a year. One year, Lady Winter decides that she would like the world to be in winter all year. So she makes a magic blanket which keeps Sister Spring asleep past her regular time. If you can get past this slightly evil premise--sleep and death are too closely associated here for my comfort--then you will enjoy the attempts of various animals to wake up Sister Spring and the punishments which Lady Winter bestows upon them. It takes clever little Robin to save the day, as the title implies. In a perfect example that adults are overly squeamish, NMD liked this very much and felt that Lady Winter was simply "mean". No hidden undertones for her!

Don't forget to visit The Well-Read Child, which is hosting this meme.

You read to me, I'll read to you Meme

This week NMD and I have combined older titles with newer. While she makes her way through Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater, I have been on picture book duty. Here's the current list, some of which I have already commented on.

I read to NMD:
1000 Times No, as told by Mr. Warburton
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Funny Farm by Mark Teague
Grumpy Grandpa by Heather Henson, illus. by Ross McDonald
Marley Goes to School by John Grogan, illus. by Richard Cowdrey
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Sea of Tranquility by Mark Haddon, illus. by Christian Birmingham
Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens by Cindy Neuschwander, illus. by Wayne Geehan
Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale, illus. by Howard Fine
Vunce Upon a Time by J. Otto Seibold and Siobhan Vivian

This week's highlights include Sea of Tranquility, which is a personal favorite. If you think you've heard the author's name before, well you probably have. Before Mark Haddon became internationally famous for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, he wrote this gentle, fond picture book about his own love affair with the moon. The book has been re-released for the fortieth anniversary of the lunar landings as Footprints on the Moon.

No surprise that NMD liked 1000 Times No--she is eight after all! It is an amusing and straightforward story of a toddler who wants to make himself absolutely understood by declaring "no" not once, not twice, but 1000 times in 1000 different ways. Fun to pore over with your own strong-willed child.

This weeks' most interesting concept book is Kathryn Otoshi's One. It is essentially an anti-bullying story. But the way that she combines colors and numbers--everyday teaching tools for young children--with word play for the grown-up reader is a novel approach to a subject which is not always successfully tackled.

Don't forget to visit The Well-Read Child, which is hosting this meme.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

The original meme at Well-Read Child seems to have ceased, but this is still such a good exercise that I'll continue anyway. This is actually two weeks worth of picture book reading, and I did all of it--NMD was simply a contented listener.

• Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
• Dog Biscuit by Helen Cooper
• Dolphins on the Sand by Jim Arnosky
• Enemy by David Cali, illus. by Serge Bloch
• Flapstick by Jon Agee
• My Sister Alicia May by Nancy Tupper Ling, illus. by Shennen Bersani
• Night of the Gargoyles by Eve Bunting, illus. by David Wiesner
• Otto Grows Down by Michael Sussman, illus. by Scott Magoon
• Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
• Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Stephen Gammell
• Smart Feller, Fart Smeller by Jon Agee
• Tacky Goes to Camp by Helen Lester; illus. by Lynn Munsinger
• Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
• That Pesky Rat by Lauren Child

This fortnight's highlights:
Jon Agee's book of playful spoonerisms was not just a good teaching moment ("What's a spoonerism?") but a good opportunity for a lot of laughing. After a brief definition not just of spoonerisms but of their unintentional creator, the tongue twisted Oxford don William Spooner, Agee gets down to what he does best--writing and illustrating intelligent, humorous books. I'm so grateful that he takes the time from writing picture books to play with language as he does.

Night of the Gargoyles is a favorite that we were revisiting. It's a window into the night time world of mischievous gargoyles, released from their silent sentinel duty. Illustrator David Wiesner really lets his imagination free as he creates the scenarios and games for the gargoyles. Mysterious and edgy without being scary.





We are continuing our love affair with Jim Arnosky with this story based on an actual event. Why dolphins beach themselves is a natural mystery for which there never seems to be a reasonable answer. In this story a town pulls together to keep the beached dolphins hydrated and comfortable until they can be returned to the water. Uplifting and satisfying.




I had originally intended to use A Bad Case of Stripes for a storycraft program at work, but when I decided that it wasn't suited, I brought it home to read to NMD. That was a good decision! While the words and images themselves combine to humorous effect, the book tells a serious story about a girl who is so concerned about what other people think of her that her real self becomes suppressed and she can do no more than reflect what others say about her. The scene where she stands in her classroom, helplessly changing patterns according to what her taunting classmates call out to her is particularly painful to read. A good introduction to discussions about self-esteem and being true to one's self, which, sadly, is something that has already come up in these early tween years.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Meme week 6

I Read to NMD:
Egg Drop by Mini Grey
Stay Away From Rat Boy! by Laurie Lears, illus. by Red Hansen
Trudy by Henry Cole

NMD Read to Me:
People Magazine: Special Selena Gomez & Demi Lovato Collector's Issue

We Read Together:
Grandfather Buffalo by Jim Arnosky

Hmmm....what to make of this week's selection. A mixed bag, to say the least. I had such high hopes for Egg Drop--Traction Man is a favorite here. But upon reading this story about an impatient egg who tries to fly....well, NMD and I were both left scratching our heads. We have reasonably "quirky" senses of humor--witness the success of Dust Bunnies with NMD--but neither of us thought this one was either funny or a worth successor of Mini Grey's fantastic picture books.

Book of the week was definitely Grandfather Buffalo. You always know what you are going to get with any Jim Arnosky picture book: a fine, straightforward story with lovely nature illustrations, usually in a slightly over sized format (great for sharing!) Grandfather Buffalo is, as his name implies, an elderly buffalo, and he sometimes has trouble keeping up with the herd. But he is still a steady presence with much to teach the calves. What is particularly nice about this book is how Arnosky conveys a human, generational tale without anthropomorphizing the buffalo. It's an older book, so might require a trip to the library to locate, but worth the effort.

As for NMD's selection.......hello tween years!

Don't forget to visit The Well Read Child, sponsor of the Meme, to see what other bloggers and their children are reading.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Meme week5

What I Read to NMD:

• The Fortune Tellers by Lloyd Alexander, illus. by Trina Schart Hyman
• Little Red Bird by Nick Bruel
• One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh; paintings by Mike Wimmer
• Pegasus as told by Marianna Mayer, illus. by K.Y. Craft

It's a rather short list this week, and all my own reading; NMD was too busy with her private reading to contribute much to bedtime sharing. Still, it was a chance to revisit some classics as well as discover some newer titles. My thoughts on One Giant Leap have already been posted on this blog. And I mentioned The Fortune Tellers in Week 2, in comparison to Doctor All-Knowing. Having revisited the older title, I still see a similarity between the two stories, although it is not as pronounced as it was in my memory.

In terms of revisiting classics, I thought it was time to share some mythology with NMD, since she has not gravitated towards it herself. I went through a distinct mythology stage as a young reader, which I eventually read my way through until 1) there were no new myths to read and 2) the gods and goddesses were too annoying to reread. I thought the story of Pegasus was a good place to start, since NMD is as fond of horses as the next eight year old girl. With illustrations done in a pre-Raphaelite style, this is an attractive if unembellished version of the original myth. She liked it well enough.

Now Nick Bruel happens to be a favorite in our house, and I had high expectations for Little Red Bird. The rhyming text is easy to read, particularly as there is the repeated refrain of "What would YOU do" which the reader can toss out to great effect. And I liked how the story of a bird who must decide whether to return to the comforts of his cage or enjoy the uncertainty of freedom is left open ended--left blatantly in the hands of the reader, in fact. But it lacked the spark of Bad Kitty and the meta-fiction fun of Who is Melvin Bubble. Like its winged protagonist, this book isn't quite settled.

See what other bloggers are reading at the Well-Read Child, which is hosting the meme.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

It's an even ten this week!

NMD read to me:
Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again by Dave Horowitz
No Bows! by Shirley Smith Duke, illus. by Jenny Matthson
Worst Best Friend by Alexis O'Neill, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith

I read to NMD:
A Book by Mordeicai Gerstein
Busy Bea by Nancy Poyder
Library Mouse: a Friend's Tale by Daniel Kirk
Maybelle, Bunny of the North by Keith Patterson
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Scott Magoon
Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

We Read Together:
Crocodile Blues by Coleman Polhemus

This week's list has already received a fair amount of coverage, with Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again as my book of the week, and a number of other titles highlighted as books in which I see elements of my daughter. So what of what's left? This week's "read together titles" Crocodile Blues, is an odd, wordless picture book which tells the story of a man and his parrot (and he's not even a pirate!) who get an egg out of a vending machine, take it home, and are then faced with the dilemma of "what to do" once the egg hatches and reveals a crocodile. Illustrations are rendered completely in contrasting inky black and electric blue. So while the story leaves both the characters and the readers scratching their heads, it is a striking book too look at .

A Book is a piece of meta fiction which doesn't work as well, for me, as Who is Melvin Bubble by Nick Bruel or the high-energy Ivan the Terrier by Peter Catalanatto. This latest offering by Mordecei Gerstein tells of a character in search of a story (wait--I'm getting flashes of Pierendello!) The little girl leads readers through numerous storybook scenarios, many of which will be familiar to readers, before finally finding her true story. Perhaps if the interplay between the character and the reader had been more engaging I would have enjoyed this book as much as I expected to. Still, kudos to Gerstein for playing with the picture book format-I always appreciate that.

Probably the most traditional book we read was Library Mouse: a Friend's Tale, which continues the adventures of Sam, the shy mouse who lives in a library and has literary aspirations. When a boy from the Writer's and Illustrator's Club, which Sam himself inspired, discovers Sam's true identity, the question of "Is Sam's identity safe" is posed. Well, what do you think? Beautiful illustrations and tributes to numerous children's literary classics, old and new, surface in this one, which makes for a fun "I Spy" experience on top of the more traditional buddy tale.

Make sure to check out what others are reading at the Well-Read Child Meme which inspired this post in the first place!

Picture Book Profile

I've had a lot of fun today reading the different responses to the Well-Read Child's What Are You Reading Meme. This is the third week now that I have been contributing, and I'm enjoying not just the recommendations by all the different bloggers, but the conversations created by the comments left on this blog, and the comments I am leaving for others. One of these comments, which I left for the author of Teaching Young Children, set me thinking about picture books in which I have found my own daughter. I'm sure all readers recognize characteristics of people they know in the books they read. Well here's a list of four titles that, when I put them down upon first reading them, made me think, "I know this little girl/pig/bear!"

No Bows! by Shirley Smith Duke, illus. by Jenny Mattheson

"No bows......BRAIDS
No pink.......PURPLE
No puppy....LIZARD"

Now as it happens, my daughter loves bows and hates braids. However, this straightforward point/counterpoint book about a girl with her own flair who knows exactly what she likes is my 8 year old in 50 words or less. There is even a certain physical resemblance between the little girl in the book and the little girl in this house. And this tub shot ....well....says it all really.

Busy Bea by Nancy Poydar
This was a recent discovery for me, made while weeding the P section at work. I am pretty familiar with Nancy Poydar's work, having used many of her picture books in story time, but this debut offering clearly slipped past me. It tells the story of Bea, a little girl who doesn't mean to lose all her stuff......sound familiar to anyone? It's just that Bea is so busy enjoying life that she forgets to remember to bring home her lunchbox and her raincoat and her sweater. This book reminded me of an incident at school where I literally followed a trail of gloves, hats and scarves from my daughter's class room to the entrance where the headmaster was greeting the kids as they arrived. That was slightly embarrassing. But the book was a gentle reminder to me that my daughter's just a kid with a lot of enthusiasm and interests who simply cannot be tied down by such mundane, earthly concerns as remembering to pick up an abandoned jacket. Her mind is busy with much more fantastic possibilities. which brings me to.....

Olivia by Ian Falconer
The similarity between Olivia and my daughter is so obvious that even she picked up on it; she has always demanded that, when reading any of the Olivia books, her own name is inserted in place of the porcine protagonist's. To be honest, Olivia is much more focused and driven than my daughter, but they both share rich inner fantasy worlds inspired by outside influences. In Olivia's case she is inspired by art (think of the scene when the pig family is at the art museum, and when Olivia looks at the Degas painting and she is imagining herself as the ballerina.) For my daughter it is music that triggers a withdrawal into whatever story she is imagining for herself. Like the narrator of Olivia, I often wonder what she is imagining, but I'm always sure that it is wonderful.

Thank You Bear by Greg Foley
Bear is sensitive. Bear is a worrier. Bear has found the most wonderful box for his friend Mouse, but he is so dismayed by the reaction and responses of all to whom he shows it that he is beginning to doubt the value of his gift. Fortunately, Bear is also steadfast, and it's a happy ending for Bear and Mouse who know a good thing when they see it. This book brings back fond memories of perfect sticks and just right pebbles and spectacular seashells, all rescued and treasured by a little girl who saw beauty and value in them all. (She also cluttered the house no end, but the sentiment was genuine.)

So there you have it--my little girl as defined by picture books: a free-spirited, forgetful, swashbuckling, worrying bear. More or less :)

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Meme

NMD Read to Me

Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems

I Read to NMD
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett, illus. by Ron Barrett
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin; illus. by Harry Bliss
Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, illus. by Jean Cassels

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields, illus. by Sophie Blackall

We Read Together

There was a Man who Loved a Rat and other vile little poems by Gerda Rovetch, illus. by Lissa Rovetch (you can see what I've said about this book prevously here.)

We revisited some classic titles this week, just because :) Diary of a Worm is a particular favorite because illustrator Harry Bliss visited my daughter's school this year, and her copy is autographed! The diary format of the book prompted the discussion, "how does a worm write?" The answer was easily answered by a glance at the front cover, but when you apply the question to the premise of worms having noteworthy lives, as opposed to their physical limitations when trying to hold a pencil, it becomes a more interesting debate. "Two Bobbies" also generated much discussion, since the events of Hurricane Katrina are contemporary to my daughter's life, but she doesn't remember having lived through it (as a newsworthy event, not as an actual experience, since we do not reside in New Orleans.) Plus, as a fan of non-fiction, she has a soft spot for anything based on a true story.

My personal favorite this week was Wombat Walkabout, which takes the format of a counting book and uses it to introduce readers to the wildlife and fauna of Australia. The counting is almost incidental, for the teaching moments come not during the counting, which never advances beyond six, but as the reader is introduced to new and wonderful creatures, charmingly illustrated by Sophia Blackwell (known to us previously via the Ivy and Bean series of books by Annie Barrows.) "Wombat" also has elements of the trickster tale as the wily marsupials outsmart the hungry fox. Lots of fun!

You Read to Me I'll Read to You week 2

Slightly less mutual reading this week, what with the end of the school year and doctor's appointments--curling up separately with chapter books was more the trend. But my daughter and I did manage to share a few fun picture books, as well as a couple of chapters from the wildly amusing Horrid Harry series (who will be returning to this blog soon.)

NMD Read to Me:
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas

Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illus. by Tom Lichtenheld

I Read to NMD:
Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
Horrid Henry's School Project by Francesca Simon, illus. by Tony Ross
Horrid Henry's Sleepover by Francesca Simon, illus. by Tony Ross
It's a Secret! by John Burningham

We Read Together:

Doctor All-Knowing retold by Doris Orgel from the Grimm folk tale; illus. by Alexandra Boiger

In terms of pure read-aloud fun, The Doghouse was the hands down winner this week. With it's reliance on cumulative storytelling, vibrant colors, and humorously building tension, a reader can really throw themselves into performance mode with this one. This week's new discovery was Doctor All-Knowing. I thought I was pretty well-versed in the Grimm canon, but I had never come across this tale before. It reminded me very much of Lloyd Alexander's excellent The Fortune-Tellers, in which a wily protagonist is able to rise above their station with a few well-placed words and some good old-fashioned luck thrown into the mix. (Note to self--reread The Fortune-Tellers this week!) And I think "oddest book of the week" goes to The Great Paper Caper. It's one part environmental-morality fable, one part who-done-it, and all parts goofy premise, starting with the lack of substantial legs on the animals! Good fun, though, and worth a visit.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Week 1

So the first week of participation in the Well-Read Child's reading meme breaks down as such:


You Read to Me:
* Alice the Fairy by David Shannon
* Sam Starts School by Barbara Taylor Cork, illus. by Nicola Smee
I Read to You:
* Alfie and the Big Boys by Shirley Hughes
* Beckoning Cat by Koko Nishizuka, illus by Rosanne Litzinger
* Chicken Cheeks by Micahel Ian Black; illus by Kevin Hawkes
* Cow That Was the Best Moo-ther By Andy Cutbill, illus by Russell Ayto
* Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee
* My Red Balloon by Eve Bunting, illus. by Kay Life
* Put it on the List! by Kristen Darbyshire
* Retired Kid by Jon Agee
* Tough Chicks by Cece Meng, illus. by Melissa Suber

Looks like I did most of the reading this week! The breakdown didn't seem so unbalanced at the time, but never mind! My daughter and I are unapologetic picture book fans, so even though she has moved on to chapter books for her personal reading, bedtime is still picture book time. This week's star read was Touch Chicks, with its story of three newly hatched chicks not content to simply loaf around the farm and be cute, as chicks are supposed to do. Honorable mention goes to Alfie and the Big Boys. This long-running series continues to charm with its quiet wisdom and "every-child" protagonist. It seems that Alfie, like Charlie Brown, will never age but stay a winsome preschooler for eternity. And that's okay with us!

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

An interesting Meme is taking shape over at The Well-Read Child; starting next Thursday, bloggers from across the kidlitosphere will link up to list what they have been reading over the course of the week. The parameters are pretty broad: a personal reading list, a child's reading list, recommended favorites. The only stipulation is that the meme must relate to kids reading. Well, never wanting to Miss out on something cool, I've signed on! So this coming Thursday I will link up with the books that my daughter and I have read to each other over the week. You can see the current week's running tally in the right-hand sidebar. As unapologetic picture book fans you can expect a lot of PB titles. But you never know--there may be a random chapter or Doctor Who comic making an appearance.

Rave Review: Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Here are some reasons why you should read Alvin Ho:

The first reason is that it takes place in Concord, Massachusetts, which ensures many literary allusions.

The second reason is that it mentions Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The third reason is that Alvin Ho is a charming narrator, and his brother and sister are not unbearable.

The fourth reason is that, how else are you going to see LeUyan Pham's super illustrations?

The fifth reason is to find out what happens to Johnny Astro.

The sixth reason is that it is a funny, touching book that both boys and girls will enjoy!

Rave Review: The (Mostly) True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

Ever on the look out for recommendations for boys, I picked this one up with high expectations: it's written by Rodman Philbrick and the cover illustration is by David Shannon. That's pedigree! And I must say, I was not disappointed. This is a funny, action-packed, winning book that will appeal to both boys and girls.

Homer P. Figg and his older brother Harold are orphans who are under the protection of their truly despicable uncle Squinton Leach, the meanest man in Maine. When Squint illegally sells an under aged Harold into the services of the Union Army, twelve year old Homer sets off to track him down and free him. With the sass and wits of Huck Finn, Homer lies his way in and out of mishaps and crosses paths with an array of Characters (emphasis on the capital 'C'.) Sometimes, not even the truth can keep Homer out of trouble. And as his adventures become more outlandish, it is sometimes difficult for new acquaintances to differentiate between fact and fiction. With the Civil War as the backdrop to the story, Homer's and Harold's fates come to a head on the fields of Gettysburg in a sequence that is as much high-flying adventure as it is a poignant observation of war.

Homer is an outstanding protagonist that readers can cheer for from start to finish. His voice is clear and distinct, right from the opening paragraph:

"My name is Homer P. Figg, and these are my true adventures. I mean to write them down, every one, including all the heroes and cowards, and the saints and the scalawags, and them stained with the blood of innocents, and them touched by glory, and them that was lifted into Heaven, and them that went to the Other Place."

Kids will love this book. They might not even recognize it as historical fiction, despite the fact that it unfolds during a pivotal time in this nation's history. Homer's cares and concerns, his focused intention of finding his brother, and his longing for his Dear Mother are sentiments that any reader can relate to, even without a Civil War.

What I am Reading Today--Vasco Leader of the Tribe

The success of Erin Hunter's Warriors series no doubt paved the way for the publication of Vasco: Leader of the Tribe, which is more of a poor man's Watership Down than a compelling animal drama. Vasco, a wharf rat, is one of the few survivors of a calculated campaign by Man to exterminate all rats from human habitats. Vasco finds himself the unexpected, but not really unwilling, leader of a rapidly expanding tribe of rats, also on the run from extermination. As he leads them from their homes, through a perilous sea journey to an unknown land, and eventually to settlement in a foreign jungle, Vasco's skills as a diplomat and rat of change are constantly called into use.

As an advocate for rats, I had great hopes for this book. But it was dire. There is none of the mythic purpose that grounds the Warrior books, where well organized clans of feral cats coexist. There's not even the genuine force of evil that propels the struggle in the Ga'hoole series. The rats of "Vasco" are all at odds with each other seemingly because they are fueled by constant panic and a diet of garbage. Vasco is a visionary in his wish to establish a stable life, rather than simply survive, but his is the lone voice of reason or optimism. And at 300+ pages, shifting from one rat fight to another is exhausting and tiresome.

As with any book that has been translated (in this case from French to English) there is always in my mind the thought that perhaps something has been lost in the process. But it's hard not to believe that the nihilistic tone of the book is thoroughly Continental. There are plenty of vicious battles in the Warriors books, but we also see the cats at play, exhilarated by their sense of purpose, and encouraged by their belief in the spirits. The rats in "Vasco" only exist to breed and eat. When I think of Ratatouille, where an ambitious rat also wanted to do more than just survive, I wish that "Vasco" provided more bright spots and less cruelty.

What I am Reading--Dusssie

Is mythology making a comeback? First there was the outstanding The Night Tourist, which revisited Oprheus and Eurydice. Recent releases have given us Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennessey (it looks to be the start of a series of "Mythic Mis-Adventures") and Medusa Jones by Ross Collins. Not to mention the already popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. And here is Dusssie, the story of Dussie (short for Medusa) Gorgon who, at the onset of puberty, discovers that she is only half-human. The other half of her is gorgon. Now with a head full of snakes (the "bad hair day" jokes are plentiful) Dussie tries to come to grips with the changes and choices ahead of her. Turning her would-be beau, named "Troy" no less, into stone doesn't help matters much.

Author Nancy Springer has revisited classic tales before, with her Tales of Rowan Hood series (Robin Hood) and the Enola Holmes Mysteries (Sherlock Holmes.) So she is in a strong position to give ancient mythology a modern spin. Evidently the immortals are with us still (of course--they are immortal) and the majority of them live in New York City, where anyone can blend in. (Considering that The Night Tourist is also set in NYC, perhaps it is conceivable to establish a time-line between the two books?) That being said, this was not a strong story, entertaining though it was at times. Dussie's voice is clear and well-defined--she is every thirteen year old girl, despite the fact that she can telepathically communicate with the 27 snakes writhing on her head. But there are too many pieces that are laid before the reader and then hastily tied up: the truth about Dussie's father; Troy's experience while he is in his state of stone; Dussie's anger at her mother; Dussie's eventual solution to the head full of snakes (which is much more proactive than her mother's--forever wearing a turban.) The book started so well, and then it kind of fizzled. And the over-riding message that beauty is only skin deep is alternately laid on thick and then lost and then tossed in front of the reader again as Dussie wavers between petulance and wisdom.

While not quite a fractured fairy-tale, I'm not sure how to categorize Dusssie. Someone needs to come up with a similar term for this new breed of revisited myths. "Modified mythology"?

What I am Reading Today--My Last Best Friend

Ida May is a bright, regular fourth grader who has just suffered the biggest blow of her young life--her best friend Elizabeth, moved away. Once bitten, twice shy, Ida determines never to make another best friend. This should be easily accomplished since class meanie Jenna Drews has made a career out of telling everyone what a loser she is. So when upbeat, popular, newcomer Stacy Merriweather arrives on the scene and wants to be Ida's friend, Ida has absolutely no interest in reciprocating. Uh uh. Not.At.All.

These days I can't seem to read books about little girls without internalizing their struggles, because my own daughter is just setting down this road: learning that life is unfair, that other kids are mean, and that their parents won't always "get" them. Then I read a book like My Last Best Friend, and I feel a little bit better, remembering that there's good stuff too: that kindred spirits hone in on each other no matter what the obstacles, that mom and dad have seen it all themselves and are there for you, that excellent teachers will notice you and encourage you. There are no real surprises in this book--other than the fact that Jenna Drew might actually have a humble side to her. The reader knows that Stacy Merriweather can't be all that she seems (Ida herself has already figured this out,) and you just know that Ida and Stacy are each what the other needs. This book is funny, touching, and gives the reader everything she wants. And with a sequel on the way, that's good news. This is going straight to the 'Staff Picks' shelf at work!

What I am Reading--Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

The purpose of reading this book was tri-fold (if that's the correct use of the word.) (1)Author Jeff Kinney will be appearing at the Barnes and Noble in Walpole, and I want to go meet him (2)this is the chosen book, along with it's predecessor, for the February meeting of the 5th and 6th grade book discussion group at work (3)I enjoyed the first one so much. Rodrick Rules picks up a few months after the end of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He is back at school and trying to put behind him an unpleasant episode with his brother, which you just know is going to surface at some point. Greg's sibling relations dominate this story: either he's trying to evade to run-ins with big brother Rodrick or avoid doing anything naughty in front of snitch-master little brother, Manny. For the most part, Greg fails on both parts. "Better-than-nothing" best friend Rowley is still around. He reminds me of Ralph from the Simpsons; an absolute idiot who has to work hard to stay out of his own way.

There was something a bit more mean-spirited about Rodrick Rules than "Diary," and I suppose we can blame Rodrick for that. He really is horrid! He's got his father doing his homework, he swindles his mother out of money for bogus drum lessons to Greg and Rowley, and he never seems to get the comeuppance that afflicts Greg whenever he does anything cruel or wrong (unless you count the science fair.) And I found the parents to be particularly obtuse in this volume. Where as the first diary reminded me of the slings and arrows of being in Middle School, this diary has filled me with dread at the thought of raising a middle schooler. Heaven forbid I should get it as wrong as Mr. and Mrs. Heffley do! Still, Mom manages to steal the show towards the end, which almost makes up for the Mystick and Magic stupidity, where her good intentions manage to undermine just about the only thing in the book that Greg does that keeps him out of trouble. All I'll say is that it involves a school talent show, public access cable, and some seriously bad dancing.

Having said all that, fans of the first book will eat this one right up (as evidence by the number of kids who have signe up for the book discussion group this time around.) I expect to run into a sizeable crowd of fans at B&N on Monday. And I'm even looking forward to the next installment, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (according to the publisher's website, at least five volumes are planned.) Does Greg finally get one over on Rodrick? Does he shove the annoying Manny down the toilet? Does Mom finally buy a clue?! We'll see.

What I am Reading Today--Hairy Hezekiah

Dick King Smith is such an inspiration. He started his writing career later in life, after having already tried his hand at farming, teaching, and TV presenting (and doing them all well, I might add, although he claims in his biography, Chewing the Cud, that he was not a very good farmer.) He has written dozens of books, all of them effortlessly readable, giving the impression that anyone with a good story to tell can sit down and crank it out. His most recent offering (at least on this side of the pond) is Hairy Hezekiah, about a Bactrian camel who is lonely in his zoo environment and sets off to find friendship and adventure in the big world. His journey takes him to the Safari Park, Shortseat, located in the English countryside. I have a sneaking suspicion that Shortseat is modeled after Longleat Safari Park, in Wiltshire. The fact that Longleat is the ancestral home of the Marquess of Bath, and the aristocrat in this book is called The Earl of Basin supports my theory. I have visited Longleat--long time ago, now--so perhaps I've actually met Hairy Hezekiah himself. King-Smith uses a friendly, conversational voice for his story, and this tone is reinforced by Nick Bruel's humorous black and white illustrations. This is just right for early chapter readers and will get them primed for some of King-Smith's meatier books, such as Babe: The Gallant Pig and (my personal favorite) Martin's Mice.

What I am Reading--The Garden of Eve

Dead mothers are always a good plot device. There is nothing like the absence of a mother to create a suitable amount of angst, heartache, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Think of the Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, where the first couple of books in the series are driven by the fact that pre-teen Alice is growing up without a mother, surrounded by men in her family, and suffers the nagging fear that she is not approaching the formative years of her life with due female influence. And more recently we have had the mother-less Bee from Being Bee, and Jack from The Night Tourist. Now there is Evie Adler in K.L. Going's The Garden of Eve. Her mother is ten months dead from cancer, and Evie is left with her botanist father who has never appreciated--or even understood--magic the way her mother did. He is too much of a scientist to put much stock in fairy tales, or stories in general. When he takes on the job of trying to revive a dead apple orchard in Beaumont, New York, far from their Michigan home, Evie is resentful. They move into a house right next door to a cemetery--but the only cemetery Evie cares about is the one back in Michigan, where her mother is buried. Her father devotes his time to the orchard--but all Evie can think of is the magic garden she used to plan with her mother, a perfect garden with magnificent trees and noble beasts where the three of them would always be together. When Evie is given a seed supposedly from the Garden of Eden, Evie thinks she has her chance to find that perfect garden, and consequently find her mother, too.

There is a lot going on in this book, some of it allegorical and some of it just old fashioned mystery. There is the boy Alex, whom Evie meets hanging around in the cemetery. Is he really dead, as he claims to be? Is the orchard where Evie's father toils really cursed, or has it simply been abandoned? When Evie plants her seed and enters the magical garden--by way of eating an apple, of course!--is she in Eden or is it a trap? There is another Eve who grew up in Beaumont and disappeared many, many years ago. What happened to her? And will Evie find peace after the death of her mother?

Some of the pieces in the book are tied together a little bit too neatly, but for the most part this is an engaging and thoughtful book. Evie is disillusioned without being broken. The father is pragmatically devoted to his work but all open-hearted and open-minded business when Evie needs him most. The supporting characters range from saintly (the dead mother)to utterly convincing (Alex). Readers who like their books with magic and symbolism will enjoy this.

What I am Reading Today--The First Two Lives of Lukas Kasha

Here's an oldie but a goodie. I reread this for a 5th/6th Grade Book Discussion Group that I am hoping to get off the ground at work. I'll be curious to see what the kids make of it.

I read somewhere (and I'll have to find the citation before Tuesday night!) that The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha was a very personal book for Lloyd Alexander. This is not hard to believe. Storytelling plays a crucial part in the book, and Alexander was a master storyteller.

Lukas-Kasha is a layabout young man who is at his best when making mischief. One day, a traveling magician, Battisto the magnificent, rolls into the town where Lukas lives. He sets up shop and calls for a participant who is "bold enough to face every peril, to dare the unknown." Lukas steps up to the challenge and promptly gets his head ducked into a bucket of water. He is transported to another location, where he is dragged out of the sea and promptly declared King Kasha. And that's just the start of his problems. He finds himself caught in a power struggle with his Vizier, caught between two warring nations, and caught between the desire to live the lazy life of a pampered king (a role he is naturally suited for) and the growing realization that he has the wisdom and the quick wits to rule wisely. All while wondering when and if Battisto will ever pull his head out of the water, and take this new life away.

When I read this book as a middle schooler, I felt it was bittersweet. I remember talking with the friend who introduced me to it about that (and we talk about it still!) Reading it now, I have a much different interpretation (not to mention a new theory for just what exactly happens to Lukas-Kasha while his head is submerged in the bucket.) I have since read every book Lloyd Alexander has written, and can neatly place this volume within the canon. I have the benefit of nearly 20 years between readings. As a pre-teen girl I was totally caught up in the interpersonal relationships between the characters and heartbroken when I saw them come to an end. I could see the point Alexander was making, but I didn't approve! This time around I "get" what Alexander was saying: life is a journey; there is no certainty but uncertainty; stories have the power to heal and protect us. I also noticed the non-stop action in this book, and thought that I really must recommend it to more boys! And I couldn't help thinking how much Nur-Jehan, the bold and spirited Beishangari slave girl (who of course is so much more than she seems--as are all of Alexander's heroines) sounds like a Klingon, with all her talk of honor and warrior codes. I love the way we (that's the royal "we" BTW) cross-pollinate Art with the references and experiences we pick up every day. There is a lot of that in this book, too, as the characters apply knowledge from one sphere of their experience onto another.

Alexander dedicated The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha to "all who can imagine it really happened, and for all who wish it could". I now count myself among both camps. They are equally satisfying.