Top 100 Poll Continues!

The next installment of the Top 100 Children's Novels at Fuse #8 continues!

• Sarah Plain and Tall by Maclachlan (I've read it, but I thought the movie was...disturbing)
• Ramona and her father by Cleary (Cleary doesn't seem to circulate much anymore, except Dear Mr. Henshaw, which gets assigned in schools. maybe the upcoming movie will change that. Except it sounds like it might be srsly awful)
• High King by Lloyd Alexander (I've read various Alexander, but just never really liked it. Too high fantasy or something, I dunno)
• View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg (One of the few "realistic" authors I deeply love. I was able to hear her speak once and it was AMAZING)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (no big surprises here)

Hah, 5 out of 5. Will I be one of the amazing ones who has read every book on the list!

Snipesville Chronicles by Annette Laing

Sometimes, I just can't make up my mind about a book. Like Selene Castrovilla's historical picturebooks, which I loved but wasn't sure would circulate well - they have! or Gervay's I am Jack; I felt lukewarm about it, a neighboring librarian strongly disliked it, and it's currently meandering around our school district. By the law of averages, someone there will love it.

So, the first book in the Snipesville Chronicles by Annette Laing, Don't Know Where, Don't Know When. Three modern children travel back in time to World War II. They have to find a missing child before they can return to their own time.

The good: detailed, engrossing, realistic view of life in England during World War II. Many of the historical fiction books I've read emphasize the "they're just like you only wearing different clothes" school of historical thought (a certain large doll company springs to mind) but this book did an excellent job conveying the different mindsets, social conventions, and culture that existed less than a hundred years ago.

The characters had realistic reactions to their confusing surroundings and didn't just happily adapt to a completely different time and place as many time traveling culture-shock immune characters seem to do. While there were many aspects of the children's characters which weren't likable, their flaws fit into the story.

However, I felt confused by the different threads of the plot and the Professor's character, especially at the beginning, was too Snicketish for my taste. The story seemed to drag for a while before there was any action and I felt like the plot was too lengthy and could have been tightened.

But. Obviously, a lot of kids like Snicket! And the beginning may draw them in. If they're interested in historical fiction, history, and daily life, they may be fascinated by the minutia. As I said before, the historical aspect of the book is excellent. I would have liked to see some further resources or maybe a bibliography, but how many kids really look at those?

So, as I said, this is going to be one where I reserve judgement. I'll see how it circs and what responses I get from our library patrons and repost in a few months!

Snipesville Chronicles: Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Annette Laing, review copy provided by the author and donated to the library for further testing.

Read Snap

I borrowed the first two Rosario + Vampire mangas by...um...I can't remember the name. Anyways. Someone requested the series and we bought one and it zoomed out, so I bought the rest of the series. Then I had several teens and adults tell me how much they loved it, so I tried it myself. It was amusing and I enjoyed it, but I found it a bit repetitive. Anyhow, a light and fun vampire/romance manga and I am planning on purchasing the second series of Rosario as well. I'd recommend it to older teens, btw, as there's a fair amount of flesh showing and some innuendo. Probably other stuff I missed, since I don't read a lot of manga. On the other hand, a couple kids who have told me they liked it were about 12 so...whatever.

Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker by Geoffrey Hayes

It's always delightful when a good series stays good. Geoffrey Hayes, (author of one of my favorite childhood books Patrick Eats His Dinner, which I would love to have my own copy of but the paperback price is currently $562. Sigh.) has written his third in the award-winning Toon series, Benny and Penny.

Benny and Penny, two delightfully realistic siblings, have weathered the storms of playing together and meeting a new friend. Now they have to deal with....The Toy Breaker.

The Toy Breaker is their cousin and he just doesn't play nicely! He's rough and mean and he teases! Not to mention breaking toys! Is there a way they can play with Cousin Bo? Or is he just too mean?

One of the things I love about the Benny and Penny series is that Hayes doesn't trivialize or simplify children's developing social relationships. Yes, Cousin Bo is mean and he teases. But a lot of the damage is caused by Benny and Penny trying to hide and hold on to their toys. On the other hand, Bo's teasing really does hurt the two siblings. The solution isn't a lesson in getting along or forced on them by the outside intervention of an adult; the micelings come up with their own solution, where everyone gives a little and makes up for hurting each other.

As in the previous volumes, the art is adorable but not too cutesy with plenty of facial expressions to expand the dialogue and a clear progression of the story through the panels.

Our library patrons can look forward to another winner with Benny and Penny and I can't wait to pass it out when it's released in April!

Review copy provided by publisher, will be donated to library when the happy release day rolls around, plus the copy I had already intended to order, so we will have two, which makes me very happy! Our easy reader section is very worn and sad and I am so happy to see new, bright and happy easy readers like Toon Books coming along to brighten things up!

Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker by Geoffrey Hayes.

Read Snap

I tried to read my ARC of Heist Society by Ally Carter, which I scooped up at ALA....I just couldn't get into it. Come to think of it, my sister tried to make me watch some classic "heist films" like Oceans 11 and I didn't like those either. So just not a good fit for my reading tastes. But I have ordered this for my library and I know I have lots of Ally Carter fans waiting for it!

I got cool stuff!

This has been an exciting day for getting things! I got a LibraryThing Early Reviewer copy of of Steamed by Katie Macalister (which looks really fun). I got something cool and special which I can't tell you about yet! I got library performers (well, performer) signed up. We are getting snow soon (snow is still a fun novelty to me). Annnnnnd....

I got a blog award! From Charlotte's Library, who does the best middle grade fantasy reviews and roundups! I even go back and read her reviews after I've read the book, which I don't do for just anyone!

I will pass it on to Ms. Yingling Reads, who is my authority on all things middle grade, so we're sticking with a theme here!

A Random Library Tip

To remove melted crayon from scissors, knives, and other surfaces: Boil water. Dip the item in quickly. Wipe off with paper towel. It works!

Top 100 Children's Novels!!

Fuse #8 has begun listing the Top 100 Children's Novels! With TONS of commentary, movies, and more! This batch includes:

• Egypt Game by Snyder (I loved that one)
• Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Banks (umm. yeah. I read a bunch of those, but only b/c there wasn't anything else around at the time)
• Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston (yayyy!!! I actually voted for a different Knowe book, knowing I might be dooming my beloved books to total obscurity, but looks like we got enough love to be on the list!)
• Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCammilo (I'm not a huge fan, although I liked Despereaux)
• Witches by Dahl (not one of my favorite Dahls)
• Pippi Longstocking by Lindgren (I voted for a more obscure Lindgren, which I am guessing I am not going to see. Sniff)
• Swallows and Amazons by Ransome (Yay! Glad to see this getting love!)
• Caddie Woodlawn by Brink (I have the Trina Schart Hyman cover, which I love, although there are parts of the book I never liked)
• Ella Enchanted by Levine (Will I be boycotted by the kidlitosphere if I admit I kinda liked the movie? Parts of it?)
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Sachar (time we bought new copies of these)

Hold on to your hats, this is a seriously cool new book!

Quick! Name me a book that:

is nonfiction
is a great read-aloud for preschool through 2nd grade
is all about science
has amazing photographs
and is also an easy reader.

Stumped? Well, until now there was really only one book I've found that fit the description: Sarah & Richard Campbell's Wolfsnail. Imagine my delight when I opened my mail a few weeks ago and discovered that this team has done it again. This time, they've created a book that explains Fibonacci numbers in nature.

I am not a math person (well, except algebra and chemistry, but that was just b/c I like formulas). Somehow, I totally missed the Fibonacci numbers when I was studying math and never quite figured out what they were. Now I know.

This book uses exquisite photographs and perfectly chosen text to explain the concept of patterns in nature, specifically Fibonacci numbers, in such a way that even a kindergartener can understand. Hey, I bet I could read this to PRESCHOOLERS and they would get it!

There's not too much text, it's simple enough for an easy reader; but each word is obviously perfectly chosen to explain a mathematical concept for any reader.

This is going on my order list, into my summer reading promotions bag, and onto the list of school visit books I keep. Librarians and teachers, check this one out ASAP!

Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah Campbell, photographs by Sarah and Richard Campbell. Review copy provided by publisher; release date, March 2010.

Dragonbreath is back!!

So many people know of the insanely hilarious gorgeousness that is Ursula Vernon, that it seems silly to write an actual review of a book that everyone will love, simply by looking at the cover. I mean, ninja frogs!

Somehow, in the long bleak months between a new offering from the great Ursula, I manage to forget how funny she is. Then I open my coveted ALA review copy of Ninja Frogs and...

Danny Dragonbreath is back and things are Not Good. Wendell has been seen talking to *gulp* a girl. Granted, it is the new exchange student and she is kind of neat and he did say he was just lending her comics and they weren't even girly comics but still....Danny is not happy, until suddenly Suku is being tracked by Ninja Frogs! Danny, Wendell, and Suki must take the bus to Japan and solve the mystery once and for all!

The many good things:

Ninja Frogs!

Taking a bus to Japan! "You haven't been here long enough to appreciate a really good bus system"

"Real live ninjas, a trip to mythological Japan, and pizza for dinner two nights running. Could life get any better?"

Cool ninja facts.

Green comic panels!

A live volcano!

Samurai Geckos!

Ursula Vernon's humor is always fresh, always new. Appealing to children of all ages and adults, Dragonbreath is for anyone who needs a good laugh, who's ever daydreamed in school, and who loves reptiles, mythical or real.

The only drawback....now I want to watch Danny's cool kung fu movies, like "Vengeance of the Thirteen Masters, in which a blind salamander samurai fights off thirteen ninja clans, using only a pair of chopsticks." But I guess they don't really exist. Sigh.

Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon. ARC snatched from other hungry librarian fingers at ALA and selfishly kept just for ME because of my great love for Ursula Vernon. But I will show it off at our tween book club on Monday, because the library's "real" copy hasn't arrived yet.