A good book review will make anything want to read.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Wolf in the Snow By Matthew Cordell
Evaluate
Wolf in the Snow is a 2018 Caldecott Medal winner that looks at the struggle of a lost girl who struggles the snow to help a lost wolf pup. When a reader thinks about what a picture book looks like I don’t know that Wolf in the Snow would come to mind. Most people’s idea of a picture book is heavy in pictures that support the words, whereas this story has five to six onomatopoeias that support the pictures.
The color choices used help from the setting of the story. In the beginning, the light blue sky and white specks shows is a snowy but bright day. As the story progress and the dark blue and bigger white specks start to form it is easy to tell that night is coming on and the snow is getting heavier.
The draws are made up of rough scribble formed lines. It has the feel that the illustrations are the rough draft and not the final product. However, even though the girl is covered from head to toe in winter gear, you can still see her eyes. Cordell’s ability to show the girls feeling and thoughts with only the change of her eyes is wonderful. The girl’s legs that get less straight and more bent at the knees help to show her exhaustion from walking in the snow.
Response
To be honest, I have not read too many books without words. The ones I had were nowhere to the quality of this book. I liked how you could see the caring and compassionate traits of the girl without her saying a word. The way she holds the wolf pup and walks forever following the howls of the wolf pack is wonderful. My 3rd graders will are too old for this book, but I find sometimes the simplest books can teach I concept. I plan to show this to them as an introduction to my lesson on onomatopoeias or even inferencing.
Conclusion
I would recommend Wolf in the Snow for young children who have not started to read. The illustrations could easily be used to teach colors or allow the children to tell you what the story is about. Wolf in the Snow is a wonderful book and Cordell’s use of drawings and minimal words created a picture book that any aged child would enjoy. It is easy to see why it earned a Caldecott medal. I would recommend this book for young children who have not started to read. The illustrations could easily be used to teach colors or allow the children to tell you what the story is about.
APA Citation
Cordell, M. (2017). Wolf in the Snow. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends
Ada Twist, Scientist
by Andrea Beaty
Evaluation
Andre Beaty’s newest child genius Ada Twist, Scientist is full of questions, and she will not settle for “That’s just the way it is.” Beaty’s understand of inquisitive children is shown by Ada Marie Twist being a child who will take apart anything to figure out how it works. Beaty shows the struggle parents go through with some children. Ada’s parents who are loving and encouraging until Ada tries to put the cat in the dryer for a science experiment. Sending her to the “Thinking Chair” did not affect her. It only made her think up more things to experiment.
The whole story is written in rhyme which gives a sing-song feel to it. The book does a good job introducing readers to the scientific method of experiments. Beaty does a good job of showing science through the eyes of 2nd graders.
The cover’s representation of graph paper with Ada drawing out her experiment notes and her puzzled brother looking on screams for readers open the cover and find out what her experiment is all about. The illustrations in the book are bright and have a hand-drawn feel to them. Beaty’s creation of a diverse group of friends for Ada is easily noticeable.
Response
I loved the idea of a child being interested in science at a young age. The main character being a girl is a bonus. The repeating of who, what, when, why, how questions throughout the book help support the scientific method seen through the eyes of 2nd graders. The book continues to encourage readers to be inquisitive by ending the story with a question that is begging to be answered. The repeating words along with the rhyming meter makes this book an easy read.
Conclusion
With the main character being a girl interest in science and always questions, it is no surprise Ada Twist, Scientist is the 2017 Little Rebels Award winner. The bright colors and rhyming words add to the joy of this story. So, what do you do when your child knows more than you? You just encourage her to learn more of course.
APA Citation
Beaty, A. (2016). Ada Twist, Scientist. New York, NY: Abrams Books.
The Girl from Everywhere
By Heidi Heilig
Evaluation
You want to be in New York 2016 on Monday, India 1774 on Tuesday, and Hawaii 1868 on Wednesday? Well, Nixie could as long as she had a map. The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig looks at the life of Nixie Song who grew up on the high seas with her father going from one country and time to another search for the one map that would take them back to Honolulu 1868 the place she was born.
Time travel has entertained readers for years. However, Heilig gives it a new spin. When two maps were placed side by side, the Temptation would sail off one map and on to the other of a different place and time. Heilig’s descriptions of the different places and times in the book were very good. She made you feel like you were there.
The characters in the story all have unique personalities, and their relationships with each other are as well. Nixie is a 16-year-old wanting to live her own life, but her commitment to her father and the crew tends to require to put them first. Nixie’s romantic relationship with Kashmir, a thief, is well handled along with her mixed emotions about the Captain, her father, an opium addict.
Response
I have always enjoyed the idea of time travel and giving the change I would probably want to jump back and forth through time. However, when the characters start talking about the places and times, they have gone back and forth to it confused me. I had to reread a number of pages. While reading, I wondered about time and place paradoxes that would happen every time they visited a place. Would there being there change things in the future or not? This question was never really answer even though it tried.
Conclusion
The Girl from Everywhere is filled with excitement, adventure, and romance. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and it’s not hard to see why it was a chosen for the TAYSHAS book list. I would recommend it to teenagers who enjoy adventure books.
APA Citation
Heilig, H. (2016). The Girl from Everywhere. New York, NY: Greenwillow.
Big Cat, Little Cat
By Elisha Cooper
Evaluation
Big Cat, Little Cat, is a 2018 Caldecott Honor book. In this simple children’s book author Elisha Cooper shows the life of two cats and how the loss of a four-legged friend can affect more than just the two-legged families. Coopers ability to take an average of 5 words per page and create a heartfelt story is brilliant. The reader will find themselves smiling and laughing at the daily activities and actions of the two cats. However, only in a few words sadness can come. It is amazing how 3 words on only 2 pages can make you hold your breath to see what will happen next.
The only color in the whole book is the orange color of the cover. It allows for the simple drawing of the cats to become the main focus. To keep the illustrations simple she even has Big Cat all white and Little Cat all black. This color difference comes in handy as Little Cat grows up and gets bigger than Big Cat. This monochromatic color scheme of black and white is continued through the book.
The illustrations are a simple line drawn pictures. Other than the cats, birds, and people, all the detail of everything is squares and circles. The simplicity of the detail supports the simple life of a cat that Cooper is relaying.
Response
Even though it isn’t written for adults, they will enjoy the reading time spent with a young child as it is being read. I love when I found a book that my granddaughter can read on her own, and this is just one of those books. The words are easy to pronounce and are repeated for better vocabulary support.
Conclusion
Big Cat, Little Cat with its simple words, details, and storyline will make this award-winning book a joy for young children. The illustrations in the book are simple black and white drawings, which will help children to focus on the storyline. This is a good book for independent reading by kindergarten and first graders. Plus an easy book for older children to confidently read to younger children.
APA Citation
Cooper, E. (2017). Big cat, little cat. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
By Dan Santat
Evaluation
After the Fall is an adaptation to the nursery rhythm Humpty Dumpty. The whole book is told from Humpty’s point of view. Santat does an excellent job making the reader see Humpty as a person and not just an egg. Unlike the nursery rhythm, all the King’s men were able to put Humpty back together, but the readers get an unexpected insight into the emotional struggle the fall had on Humpty when he says “There were some parts that couldn’t be healed with bandages and glue.” The depression Humpty goes through is real and felt by the reader.
The illustrations bring a modern feel into the traditional rhythm. Everything in the town and house that Humpty lives is what you would see in present years. The cereal in the grocery stores has similar names and prices to this day and age. The hospital, building, and the furniture in his room all have a modern feel.
The colors used in the book support the depression Humpty feels. Everything that surrounds Humpty has darker tones and hues. However, the sky above his favorite wall is light and bright. Even the cereal boxes in the stores show the colorful kid favorites on the high shelves Humpty can’t reach, whereas the boring adult cereal like flax and fiber flakes are duller colors on the lower shelves. This light and dark coloring continue throughout the book as Humpty is always walking just inside the shadows.
Response
My first thought after reading this story was how many of my students need the encouragement of overcoming fears this book can give. I liked that even though the book was about Humpty’s fear of heights, it can easily be used to address other fears or struggles children have. The emotional changes Humpty goes through while dealing with his fear of heights and then later overcoming those fears to climb back up the wall shows young children that even though things seem bad now, it can get better. Having gone through depression before Santat’s use of the light and dark colors brings home how I felt. This always seemed so dull and unhappy.
Conclusion
It is easy to see how After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again won the 2018 2X2 Book Award. Dan Santat’s use of color, modern detail and humanization brought the fears of Humpty Dumpty to life. However, is climbing the wall the only cure for his depression? I would encourage all to read it to find out. I believe this book will help children see that life can get better after any setback.
APA Citation
Santat, D. (2017). After the fall: How Humpty Dumpty got back up again. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
By Ava
Evaluation
Winner of the 2003 Newberry Medal Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Ava is set in 14th Century England where a common peasant is accused of murder and the chase to find him. Ava does an excellent work of forming the setting and the historical accuracy of the 14th century. The language and words used to describe things take the reader back in time. It is easy to see the lowly towns owned by Lords which are overseen by ruffles and dishonest stewards and the walled cities with crowds of people and muck that ran down the streets.
As Crispin runs for his life, he sees things he has never seen and didn’t even know was out there. Ava’s description of everything Crispin sees is so vividly you can see the owner of the Green Man Tavern as if she was standing right in front of you.
“Behind this counter stood a large, buxom woman. Dressed in a brown, grease-spotted kirtle, she had a lopsided white linen cap upon her dark and gray-streaked tresses. Around her waist was a belt of glassy rosary beads, from which dangled a leather purse. Wooden pattens were on her feet. As for her face, it was a flushed and rosy red. Her cheeks were sunken, too. Withal, she cast off a brimming, bustling force.”(pg. 151)
After Asta, Crispin’s mother passes away; he is left with so many questions as to who his mother really was and why she was shunned by others around her. Even though this story is not a mystery, Ava gives it that feel. Slowly giving information piece by piece to exposes more information to answer Crispin’s questions. Without knowing it, the reader finds themselves trying to figure out who Crispin’s father is.
Response
I’m a lover of historical fiction, and this story doesn’t disappoint. I enjoy seeing England through Crispin’s eyes. Having never heard of the Crispin series I was not sure what to expect. The fast-paced storyline easily kept me engaged in the story. There were a few words I didn’t know but was able to figure as I read. The book does have a glossary in the back to help as well. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Conclusion
With the quality of writing, character development, and action in the story it is no wonder Crispin: The Cross of Lead received a Newberry medal. The opening lines of the story set the adventure in motion.
“In the midst of life comes death.” How of often did our village priest preach those words? Yet I have also heard that “in the midst of death comes life.” If this be a riddle so was my life.” (pg. 1)
Anyone over the 5th grade who loves to sneak down a dark alley or climb up sides of the building or just like to read about it will like this story. I have definitely added book two Crispin: at the Edge of the World, and book three Crispin: the End of Time to my reading list.
APA Citation
Avi. (2002). Crispin: the cross of lead. New York, NY: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.
The Fastest Train in the West
By Geronimo Stilton
Evaluation
The popular Geronimo Stilton books have made it to the graphic novel genre. The Fastest Train in the West is the next big adventure of Geronimo Stilton, editor of the Rodent’s Gazette. Along with his sister, cousin, and nephew, he goes back in time to foil the plans of his archenemies the Pirate Cats.
The story starts out in present-day Mouse Island, then leads Geronimo and his group back in time to 1862. This modern-day start gets the readers’ attention and makes them wonder what the story may really be about since the cover depicts the 1800s. Also, throughout the book, Stilton places side notes to the reader explaining the importance of 1862, along with what the First Transcontinental Railroad, the electric telegraph, and dynamite were. With the story taking mostly in Promontory Summit in Utah and the last gold stake being placed in the railroad tracks by Leland Stanford the governor of California, his book has the qualities of being good historical fiction.
The illustrations are brightly colored and like most graphic novels have a comic book feel. Stilton does an excellent job at making the reader forget you are reading about mice and not humans. Also, a good job was done at matching the clothes of 1862 with those in the story.
There are a number of big words that some children may not have seen before. The reading level is around 3rd grade, but depending on the student it could be difficult to read. The side notes will help with understanding. From the inside of the cover to the inside of the back cover Stilton writes the story. He uses this area to give important information about the characters that help those readers who have never read his books before.
Response
I’m normally not much of a graphic novel reader. I like them, but with all the different books out there I tend to find myself not spending on them. This one, however, is a fun and educational story. I liked that the story took a historical fiction approach. I will have to read more Geronimo Stilton graphic novels to see if they are the same way. I like how every part of the book from the inside cover to the back has something to do with the story. As a reader, I like the idea, as a librarian, it’s hard to find where to put the labels where you are not covering anything up.
Conclusion
A librarian blog of book reviews, Shelf-Employed, was quoted saying “Is it fact? Is it fiction? It is a faction, and it’s fun.” when asked about Geronimo Stilton’s The Fastest Train in the West and I agree. There is no better way to describe the interesting facts, the unique characters, and time travel idea. Even if you are not into graphic novels, this one is a fun one to read.
APA Citation
Stilton, G. (2013). The Fastest Train in the West. New York, NY: Papercutz
Deborah Gibbs 