Small Readers: Shampoodle by Joan Holub, illustrated by Tim Bowers

[This review has been previously published. It has not been edited.]

First of all, just look at that cover. Doesn't it make you want to giggle? I've been chuckling every time I glanced at it, and now that I've read the book my chuckles were not ill-founded.

It's time for a bath and a motley collection of dogs are going to the groomers. Baths, haircuts, and fancy touches are in store! But, uh-oh, something's gone wrong!

This is a level 2 Step Into Reading, which in their system means "reading with help". There are enough familiar simple words that a child can feel confident on their own but plenty of new fun words to sound out with a little help. Even with the limitations of language in an easy reader, Joan Holub has created a fun rhyming story that kids will enjoy working their way through and parents and teachers won't mind listening to for the fiftieth time!

Tim Bowers' illustrations are the perfect touch of hilarity, especially when he matches the dogs' crazy 'dos to their groomers' own haircuts. The pictures enhance the text without offering too many clues to readers.

Verdict: Hand this one to fans of Capucilli's Biscuit series and kids who like funny stories and stories about dogs. It's also going to be a good starter for kids reluctant to try stories on their own, as the fun pictures entice them in to try the chewy words for themselves! Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-0375855764; Published October 2009 by Random House; Review copy provided by author; Added to the library's wishlist

Cybils Nominations for Easy Readers and Beginning Chapter Books

Well, the "public" part of my first Cybils panel is over! I have reviewed all 39 of the books nominated in this category. Phew! Shortlists will be announced January 1st, so that's something to look forward to, and I still have lots of book discussing to do with my fellow panelists!

Here is the grand list of titles and reviews. Thanks to all the publishers and authors who supplied review copies - I've also listed where they are going after we finish our weighty deliberations! I'm posting this in the interests of full disclosure and because I like to make lists.

Easy Readers

• Annie and Snowball and the cozy nest by Cynthia Rylant. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker. Borrowed from my library.
• Cork and Fuzz: Finders Keepers by Dori Chaconas. Borrowed from my library.
• Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Horse in the house by Erica Silverman. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Elephant and Piggie: Are you ready to play outside? Elephants cannot dance. Watch me throw the ball! by Mo Willems. Review copies supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Fancy Nancy and the dazzling book report by Jane O'Connor. Borrowed from my library.
• Flamingos by Jean Malone. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Good dog, Aggie by Lori Ries. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk by James Howe. Borrowed from my library.
• Joe and Sparky get new wheels by Jamie Michalak. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Katie Woo: Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt by David Catrow. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Mr. Putter and Tabby spill the beans by Cynthia Rylant. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• No room at the inn by Jean Malone. Review copy supplied by publisher, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Shampoodle by Joan Holub. Review copy supplied by author, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Snow Wonder by Charles Ghigna. Borrowed through library consortium.

Beginning Chapter Books

• Alice's Shooting Star by Tim Kennemore. Review copy supplied by publisher and kept by me b/c I already got this for our library and I just adore Alice!
• Amazing trail of Seymour Snail by Lynn Hazen. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Backyard Sports: Hand-Off by Michael Teitelbaum. Review copy supplied by publisher, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Bait for lunch by K. A. Okagaki. Review copy supplied by author, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Chasing George Washington adapted by Ronald Kidd. Review copy supplied by publisher, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Down Girl and Sit: Bad to the Bone by Lucy Nolan. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Field Trip Mysteries: The painting that wasn't there by Steve Brezenoff. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Gruffen by Chris D'Lacey. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• Harley Quinn's Shocking Surprise by Blake Hoena. Review copy supplied by publisher, donated to library.
• How Oliver Olson changed the world by Claudia Mills. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Keena Ford and the second-grade mix-up by Melissa Thompson. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Last Castaways by Harry Horse. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Magical Ms. Plum by Bonny Becker. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Mercy Watson: Something wonky this way comes by Kate DiCamillo. Borrowed from my library.
• Mozart in the future by Tania Rodrigues-Peters. Review copy supplied by author, added to summer reading free book stash.
• Nana cracks the case by Kathleen Lane. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Penny and Rio: the locked doghouse mystery by Jennifer Swanson. Review copy provided by author, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Peter Peter picks a pumpkin house by Christine Graham. Borrowed through library consortium.
• Puzzle King by Nina Cordelia Craft. Review copy provided by author, added to summer reading free books stash.
• Roscoe Riley Rules: Never race a runaway pumpkin by Katherine Applegate. Borrowed from my library.
• Zac Power: Poison Island by H. I. Larry. Borrowed through library consortium.

Houndsley & Catina, Cork & Fuzz, Joe & Sparky, Annie & Snowball, Mr. Putter & Tabby, Cowgirl Kate & Cocoa

When Arnold Lobel introduced Frog and Toad to the world of easy readers, he set the pattern for a classic format that continues to pop up in easy readers again and again. In my group-Cybils-review today, I have several examples of that format.

First, the latest in the Houndsley and Catina saga, Plink and Plunk. This is closest to the F&G model, with two animal friends who enjoy doing things together but sometimes have differences. The illustrations are swashy with lots of blues and greens and the different animal characters are beautifully drawn. This is labeled as a "level 3" at my library, roughly 1st/2nd grade.

Verdict: A classic series that beginning readers will enjoy.

Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk by James Howe, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
ISBN: 978-0763633851; Published August 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library
Our next story has a similar reading level and follows the F&G model as well. Cork and Fuzz, a muskrat and opossum, are good friends. But in Finders Keepers, Fuzz's love of collecting causes a problem when he insists on keeping Cork's green stone. Another cozy animal friendship story, pretty much the same reading level as Houndsley and Catina. My favorite, favorite part is the illustrations. Lisa McCue's characters are so delightfully fuzzy without being too cute. The color scheme here is greens and browns, settling in autumn.

Verdict: I discovered this series for our library recently and it's very popular!

Cork and Fuzz: Finders Keepers by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lisa McCue
ISBN: 978-0670011131; Published July 2009 by Viking; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library
Now, we have something a little different. For the kids who like the classic F&G but want something with a bit more zing, hand out the inimitable Joe and Sparky! Sparky is a stay-at-zoo turtle, while Joe likes new experiences and adventures. Their wild day out of the zoo is full of silly misunderstandings, sly humor, and the warm friendship of a classic F&G. Kids will enjoy giggling over Joe's innocent enjoyment as he leaves havoc behind him and Sparky's nervous protestations as he tries some new experiences.

Verdict: Lots of bright colors, especially yellows, make this wacky easy reader shine on the shelf!

Joe and Sparky Get new wheels by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
ISBN: 978-0763633875; Published March 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Next, we have the Cynthia Rylant adaptation of the F&G with human friends and animal pets. In the latest Annie and Snowball (friends of Henry and Mudge) Annie finds something special: a bird's nest! Rylant perfectly captures the delight and fascination of watching the bird build the nest, lay eggs, and hatch out a family. There are plenty of touches of gentle humor. A warm and friendly story, Rylant easy reader fans will approve! Annie and Snowball is a lower reading level than the previous easy readers we've looked at, a level 1 or 2 in our library (can't remember exactly at the moment) about kindergarten to 1st grade.

Verdict: A popular series with fans of Henry and Mudge. Workable, if nothing out of the ordinary


Annie and Snowball and the cozy nest by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson
ISBN: 978-1416939436; Published February 2009 by Simon; Review copy provided by the publisher

The second Rylant continuation we have in our nominations, is another addition to the equally popular Mr. Putter and Tabby series. Mr. Putter and his friend Mrs. Teaberry are very different characters, but they do have fun together! Mrs. Teaberry's latest educational and fun idea doesn't turn out quite like either of them expects; but it's certainly fun!

Verdict: This is the funniest of the Mr. Putter stories I've read and it's a welcome addition to non-traditional characters in children's literature. The reading level is perfect for 1st through 2nd grade.

Mr. Putter and Tabby spill the beans by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard
ISBN: 978-0152050702; Published August 2009 by Harcourt; Borrowed from the library

Finally, we have a nice blend of the F&G and the Rylant Diversion with Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa - a girl and her talking horse. In this story, Cocoa decides to investigate the house; after all, her place is with Kate so she must belong in Kate's "stall"! Some things about the house are nice, but Cocoa realizes she belongs in the barn after all. This is a popular series at my library, full of the gentle friendship of an F&G with the added human touches of Rylant and lot of little laughs. The watercolor illustrations bring out the perky character of Cocoa and her faithful friend Kate perfectly.

Verdict: Excellent for the horse-loving 1st or 2nd grader.

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Horse in the house by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
ISBN: 978-0152053901; Published April 2009 by Harcourt; Borrowed from the library

Overall Verdict: And there you have it, six easy readers in the classic pattern! These are all great choices for the beginning reader looking for a fun series to read. The series are excellent quality throughout and perfect for the emerging reader!

Good Dog, Aggie by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank Dormer

Good Dog, Aggie is the sequel to Aggie and Ben: Three Stories, in which we meet a little boy and his cute - and often confused - pup Aggie.

In Aggie and Ben's three new chapter stories, Ben is struggling to teach Aggie to obey simple commands; sit and stay. Sometimes she gets it; more often she doesn't. Ben's patience and determination is matched only by Aggie's lovable stubborness. There are plenty of laughs but ultimately this is a story of love and perseverance.

Frank Dormer's pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations are full of unexpected shapes and colors, from an outragedely orange teacher to Ben's vibrant purple friend Mr. Thomas.

Verdict: Equally charming as a read-aloud, this quiet little series has staying power - I hope we'll be seeing more Aggie and Ben for a long time!

ISBN: 978-1570916458; Published February 2009 by Charlesbridge; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Elephant and Piggie (series) by Mo Willems

Well, here we are. Mo Willems. Three Elephant and Piggie books nominated for Cybils. What can I say? I mean, have you ever seen a bad review of Mo Willems? I didn't think so. And this first one here, Are You Ready to Play Outside? Geisel winner. I may not pay much attention to Newberys and stuff like that, but Geisels never go on our shelves....because they're always checked out. Well, I will try.

Just in case you thought Elephant was always uptight and Piggie was always flexible and fun....here's Piggie in a rage because of the rain while Elephant knows just how to adapt. Lovely clean lines, humor in each little squiggly eyebrow, and spot-on child voices.


Now in this story, Piggie is ready to teach Elephant a new skill. Elephant is not sure this is a good idea; but he's willing to try. And try. And try. Until it just doesn't work! Or does it?

Um...I need to say something else. Let's see.....well, on top of recommending Elephant and Piggie to rabid comic fans who want to start their kids out early, kids who want funny easy readers, kids who love Mo Willems picturebooks, parents who love Mo Willem's picturebooks....Elephant and Piggie make great duologues! They're my go-to books when teachers or kids need something simple that two kids can do. The dialogue is all there - all you need to add is expression!

Ah, now my favorite. Still my favorite despite having read it twenty or more times at my summer reading promotions last May. I have the whole thing memorized. I can do it in my sleep. Funny voices and all. That delicious moment when the ball plops and the kids shriek with laughter...beautiful. Just beautiful.

Verdict: Haven't read Elephant and Piggie? Your life is a barren waste and verging on pointless. These are the rare easy readers that aren't just for beginning readers, they're perfect for all ages. Read them aloud as picturebooks, hand them to an older child on a bad day, use them in your high school theater class, or curl up with a big stack to relax and recapture the wonder, despair, and hilarity of childhood.


Watch me throw the ball!
ISBN: 978-1423113485; Published March 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Are you ready to play outside?
ISBN: 978-1423113478; Published October 2008 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Elephants cannot dance!
ISBN: 978-1423114109; Published June 2009 by Hyperion; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

The Puzzle King by Nina Cordelia Craft, illustrated by Hillie Dijk

There are some good bones to this story, but it needs some work. The basic story is a sweet fairy tale. A king, obsessed with puzzles, sets his sorcerer the task of finding a bride for him. The sorcerer discovers a magical puzzle and once the king and his subjects have put it together, it frees the princess from a spell and the king has his bride.

There are only a few illustrations; the cover has a kind of watercolor effect and there are small black and white illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.

The story is written in a high fantasy style, which means that some of the vocabulary is going to be too difficult for beginning readers. The descriptions are a bit long-winded and elaborate and many feel cliched. The sections about the sorcerer don't quite fit in with the rest of the plot and there are several loose ends; why is the sorcerer sad? How does the kingdom run if everyone sits around putting together puzzles all day?

But, as I said, there are possibilities in this story! The basic plot of a king finding his princess by putting a puzzle together is intriguing and the side plots of the sorcerer's books are fun and light-hearted. Although the language is a bit convoluted and lengthy, the author has some good turns of description and and plenty of imaginative sparks. I can see the puzzle king plot making an excellent picture book, once the story has been pared down and with a good illustrator. The sorcerer and his books might be a fun middle grade fantasy with some additions to the plot and more character development.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this book as is, but I suggest keeping an eye on the author; she has possibilities!

ISBN: 978-1608601493; Published June 2009 by Eloquent Books; Review copy provided by author for Cybils

Chasing George Washington, Based on the play by Karen Zacarias and Deborah Wicks La Puma, adapted by Ronald Kidd, illustrated by Ard Hoyt

This book has a worthwhile motive, making the history of the White House live for contemporary kids. Unfortunately, it tries to do this by giving historical characters contemporary speech and behaviors and tacking a string of historical facts onto an extremely thin plot.

Three students are on a White House tour; Dee from the suburbs who enjoys and flaunts her family's new wealth, Jose who lives in a crowded apartment building with his loving family and relatives, and Annie, a recent immigrant from Poland. The tour guide is giving the most boring tour of all time, telling the children about antique furniture and dishes and the security guard, Mr. Flower is on the lookout for any breaking of rules.

When the three children accidentally knock the portrait of George Washington off the wall, a wild chase ensues with Mr. Flower trying to get him back in his frame as they race through history and meet some of the children who have lived in the White House. They end up helping Lincoln sign the Emancipation Proclamation and seeing the portrait being saved by Dolley Madison. George Washington ends up back in his protrait and the students now have a better understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of White House.

This story is based on a play and while I can see it working well as a school play, as a beginning chapter book it's weak and pounds in its moral with a two-ton hammer. Also, this book hits on one of my rant-buttons for books - putting contemporary language into the mouths of historical characters and giving them contemporary motives and behaviors. Yes, George Washington was a real person; a good biography can give you plenty of information about his life that shows him as a human, not just a hero of the American Revolution. But he'd never say "Hey, I like smiling...It feels good." Sheesh.

Verdict: I'd suggest Ron Roy's Capital Mysteries for kids who like historical facts and information mixed into their stories. There are also many, many excellent historical fiction and nonfiction picture books that are a suitable reading level for beginning readers.

ISBN: 978-1416948582; Published September 2009 by Simon and Schuster; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Harley Quinn's Shocking Surprise by Blake Hoena, illustrated by Dan Schoening

This is the newest installment in a chapter book series of Batman and Robin's adventures. In this story, Robin is bored at home, procrastinating on his homework while Batman's out on a call, when the alarm goes off. Robin answers the alarm, falls into a trap, and becomes the main event at Harley Quinn's surprise birthday party for the Joker. With a little help from Batman, Robin escapes and they're ready for another adventure!

There's a little more character development and interaction in this story than in, say Zac Power, but it's basically the same structure - plenty of fast-paced action, a few jokes, and some familiar characters to entice reluctant readers. Readers will need to know some basic information about the Batman story to follow the plot, but there's a quick bio in the back about Harley Quinn, whom not all readers are likely to know. The illustrations are colored full-page spreads highlighting some of the high-action moments of the story.

These are, by the way, NOT graphic novels. I've had multiple people tell me they're comics and they're NOT. They're illustrated beginning chapter books. Just because they're about superheroes and contain colored illustrations doesn't make them a comic or graphic novel.

Verdict: These are fun filler reading for superhero fans and reluctant readers. You can also hand them out to parents who don't want their superhero-fan kids to read comics.

ISBN: 978-1434215628; Published August 2009 by Capstone; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Gruffen by Chris D'Lacey, illustrated by Adam Stower

The Dragons of Wayward Crescent are set in the same quasi-magical world as the popular Last Dragon Chronicles but are aimed at a younger audience.

Nine-year-old Lucy and her mother Mrs. Pennykettle live in a mostly ordinary house - except for the dragons. Mrs. Pennykettle is a potter and sculptor and, among other things, creates marvelous dragon sculptures. What no one but Lucy and Mrs. Pennykettle knows is that some are special; some are alive. When Lucy is scared by a mysterious shadow flitting about her room, her mom makes her a special guard dragon. After some initial mishaps, Gruffen catches the mysterious shadow, which turns out to be a bat. With the help of a bat expert and after a few more Gruffen-mishaps, the bats are given a safe home and Gruffen has fulfilled his mission to protect.

This beginning chapter book is on the older end of the spectrum, sprinkled with small black and white, slightly cartoonish illustrations, and focusing mainly on the text. Previous fans of D'Lacey may be interested in reading this short stories, but a reader who isn't familiar with D'Lacey's world may become bored by the lengthy explanations of the mechanics. There's a lot of foreshadowing, we'll get to it in another story-ing, and the frightening monster turns out to be another wildlife rescue project for Lucy and her mom.

Verdict: Kids who like gentle fantasy reads and animals with a little touch of humor and don't mind wading through a couple slow chapters will enjoy this, but it's not going to grab reluctant or easily discouraged readers. Kids who enjoy this series will probably also eventually like the series for older readers, which is more of the same with a little more drama thrown in.

ISBN: 978-0545168151; Published September 2009 by Orchard; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Nana Cracks the Case by Kathleen Lane, concept by Cabell Harris, illustrated by Sarah Horne

Nana, not content to decay into old-lady-hood as her daughter Elaine would like, has found another job - this time as a detective. With the help of her grandchildren, Eufala and Bog, she sets out to solve the case of the candy stealer.

This rollicking and rather wandering story includes lots of candy, naughty children, stupid adults, unhappy policemen, and a tough old Nana who's intent on experiencing everything she can. But she's also elderly; she forgets things, gets lost, makes mistakes, and often acts in an extremely childlike way, which means she fits right in with....

Her grandchildren Eufala and Bog. They have some genuinely funny moments, such as when forbidden by their worrywart mother to open the front door "Never in a million years would they have so much as touched the doorknob of the front door. Anyhow, why open the front door when the kitchen window worked just as well--and, they had found, was much less likely to draw the attention of neighbors." Their mischievous naughtiness quickly degenerates into a series of unpleasant and greedy misbehaviors.

The illustrations are full of maps, odd items, and caricatured characters. The best and most humorous part of the illustrations are the end-papers, designed to look like want ads. Once you've read the book, you'll realize that some of them are jobs Nana has had which haven't worked out exactly as she planned!

Verdict: This book isn't really a mystery. It's a nonsense of irresponsibility. Nana, Eufala and Bog, the policeman, even the children's mother, all act in the most outrageous and insane ways, clearly showing the reader they're not meant to be taken seriously. If you like the weird and wacky with plenty of humor, you may enjoy this quick and kooky read. Hand this out to fans of Horrid Henry and incipient Series of Unfortunate Events readers.

ISBN: 978-0811862585; Published April 2009 by Chronicle; Borrowed from the library

Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris van Dusen

This is the first Mercy Watson book I've read. I admit it. I'm not a huge fan of Kate DiCamillo. Hey, she has lots of fans, she doesn't need little me. I do, of course, recommend her to appropriate readers. (Although I nearly wacked that one patron over the head, when she explained to me that she was reading her eleven-year-old son all of Kate DiCamillo's books. Even though he hated them. Because she liked them.)

Anyways. If you, like me, have not previously encountered Mercy Watson, here's her basic story. Mercy Watson is a pig. She lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson in a charmingly old-fashioned town. Mercy Watson is slightly anthropomorphized and her owners treat her almost like a human, but she remains completely and always a pig. And in this story....what happens when you take a butter-loving pig to the movies? The movies where they serve real butter on their popcorn? Chaos, that's what happens.

This series is on the young side of beginning chapter books with limited text that's very bold and easy to read. There's plenty of quirky turns of phrase and kooky humor for kids to enjoy, but the overall effect of these books is sweet family fun.

The main draw, to my mind, is the luciously colored illustration by Chris Van Dusen. They somehow manage to create a 50s style without looking outdated and they just...glow. Really.

Verdict: Kids who like the slightly wacky with plenty of sweet and don't want to give up their favorite illustrated picturebooks will enjoy this laid-back beginning chapter book.



ISBN: 978-0763636449; Published July 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills, illustrated by Heather Malone

Okay, I cannot put this off any longer. I am really torn on this book. You see, I want to like it. I really do. I should like it. It's all about being independent, about parents letting their kids try new things without hovering, something I am majorly in favor of. It takes a strong whack at parents who do their kids' homework, something else that drives me nuts (you've seen them, o long-suffering librarians, dragging a bored child through the library "we need such and such a book and it has to have this and this because it's worth so many points"). I am no more in favor of smother mothers or helicopter parents than any other intelligent person. Everybody else likes it. Fuse #8 likes it.

But I am all about teh honesty here, and it just didn't work for me. So, first things first; the plot. Oliver has majorly over-protective parents. They never let him do anything even remotely dangerous -- or independent and even do his homework for him, right down to the last detail. Oliver hates it. He wants to be like all the other kids in his class, he wants to do his solar system diorama on his own, he doesn't want to use his mom's idea for a change-the-world suggestion for the upcoming contest, and he really, really wants to go to the school sleepover. It takes some help from an unexpected friend and some tough love for Oliver to start breaking free and growing up.

So, why didn't I like this? It just doesn't feel realistic to me. Oliver's parents' overprotectiveness is explained because "he had been sickly as a little boy". That just felt...cliched. The ending felt too pat - Oliver's friend sending in his neglected suggestion and his unexpected victory just didn't feel real to me. And I can't decide if Oliver's mother is an overly exaggerated irritating twit, or she's so well-written that she's supposed to be an irritating twit, especially in the part at the end where's she's fussing over Oliver and finally agrees to let him go. Finally, I'd really like to think kids like Oliver whose parents do every little thing for them really do want to be responsible; but I've just seen too many of them perfectly content to let their parents do all the talking, research, homework, and thinking for every moment of their lives. Or maybe they've just given up.

I'm not sure how I feel about the cover and interior illustrations. On the one hand, they really seem to fit the book. On the other hand, they just don't grab the casual browser and the cover feels a little...childish? I don't know. The boy on the cover doesn't look 9 to me, but I'm awful at judging ages.

Why should I like this, asides from the aforementioned reasons at the beginning? The characters are well-drawn and I especially enjoyed the spunky, independent Crystal. There's plenty of nonfiction nuggets woven into the story, and Oliver is a good picture of the kid who doesn't think there's anything special about him but wishes there was.

Verdict: What I'm really unsure about, and what I'd really like to test, is will kids like this book? Will the cover attract them or turn them off? Will they sympathize with the character and maybe think about doing more things on their own? I'd love to hear from anyone who's managed to kid-test this - did they love it? Hate it? No strong feelings either way?

ISBN: 978-0374334871; Published March 2009 by Farrar Straus and Giroux; Borrowed from the library

Flamingos & No Room at the inn by Jean Malone, Snow Wonder by Charles Ghigna, Katie Woo: Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin

My easy reader mixed-review today, is all varieties of nonfiction and almost-nonfiction.
Flamingos, a station stop 2 All Aboard Science Reader, contains lots of interesting facts about flamingos and a plethora of photographs. I was a little irritated that they had a pronunciation guide for "carotene" but not "lamellae". The last two pages, encouraging readers to recycle etc. to help flamingos felt a bit tacked on to me. Altogether, a nice nonfiction easy reader for kids interested in birds.

Flamingos by Jean Malone
ISBN: 978-0448452067; Published January 2009 by Grosset and Dunlap; Review copy provided by publisher for Cybils; Purchased for the library

The next easy reader I have here is not exactly nonfiction, but it's not one I'd casually hand out for just any beginning reader. Katie Woo's dog, Goldie, is very old. One day, she dies. Katie goes through a simple process of grief, from crying to remembering all the wonderful things about Goldie. There is a simple glossary, discussion questions, and projects in the back. This is an excellent easy reader to hand out to kids who have lost a pet - or a friend. If you're not worried about the dying dog in the beginning upsetting the reader, kids who like dogs will also enjoy this story as it's full of Goldie's funny antics.

Katie Woo: Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie Lyon
ISBN: 978-1404854956; Published August 2009 by Picture Window Books; Review copy provided by publisher for Cybils; Purchased for the library

Okay, I admit this isn't even remotely nonfiction, but I threw it in here anyways. It's a simple list of all the wonderful things to do in winter, especially in snow. There were a couple things I wasn't happy about with this book - I felt that the rhymes, sometimes stretching across two pages, were too long for the reading level. This is a sticker book, with the sticker pages in the middle, so libraries will need to either remove or tape over them. The illustrations focus on one extended family with big smiley faces and simple shapes. This could be a fun purchase for an individual family, especially if your beginning reader has never seen snow or is looking forward to winter, but it's a bit flimsy for a library purchase.

Snow Wonder by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Julia Woolf
ISBN: 978-0375855863; Published October 2008 by Random House; Borrowed from the library

This easy reader is a retelling of the Nativity story. It's a simple but fairly well-written retelling. However, this story is going to work for some and not for others. The "religious" elements, for lack of a better word, have been tidily smoothed over. Jesus "was born to bring peace to the world." The angel Gabriel asks Mary to be the mother of God's Son - not quite the same as the original announcement! "Joseph was not sure whether he was good enough to be a father to such a special child." Um...that's not how I remember it!
The illustrations are rounded and gentle - but we're still stuck with the traditional Westernized versions. I guess we can be thankful Mary's hair is covered so if she's still showing blonde we can't tell.
Families looking for a simple introduction to the traditional story without any religious or possibly controversial elements might want to read this, but it's basically a watered-down version of the Biblical story.

No room at the inn by Jean Malone, illustrated by Bryan Langdo
ISBN: 978-0448452173; Published October 2009 by Grosset and Dunlap; Review copy provided by the publisher
Verdict: I recommend Katie Woo - an excellent story dealing with the death of a pet. Flamingos is a good purchase if you have lots of fans of birds or need more nonfiction in your easy reader section. Snow Wonder, because of the stickers, isn't something I'd add to my library but if you're a parent or giving a gift, consider it. I don't honestly think we need any more Westernized versions of the Nativity story; I don't recommend No Room at the Inn.

Mozart in the future by Tania Rodrigues-Peters, illustrated by Pedro Caraca, translated by Paula Vaz-Carreiro

In the interests of full disclosure, I will first say that I don't like Mozart. In fact, I don't really like any of the Classical composers. (In case you are wondering, I like J. S. Bach, Alan Rawsthorne, Henry Purcell, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, and Poulenc, to give a few examples). I did not listen to Mozart while reading this, as suggested by the author. I was/am listening to Live! At the Concertgebouw but they're playing Bartok, which I like in small doses. Anyways.

This is a very...strange story. An ambitious mother, constantly pushing her son to improve his music, holds Mozart up as a role model. Max has a nervous breakdown and has to stay home, stop playing the piano, and rest. Um...and then a beautiful sort of fairy shows up who turns out to be the Spirit of Music. Max explains that he really wants to play, but he just can't and she asks who he'd like to help him. He calls Mozart. He...gets Mozart. Mozart doesn't get the modern world at all, but enjoys it anyways. Eventually, the spirit explains to Max that he does have talent even if he's not a genius, Mozart goes back to his own time and Max's parents and the doctor try to convince him it was all a dream but he knows it wasn't.

The illustrations are a kind of mixture of fantasy and cartoon and are rather attractive with long, flowing lines.

Asides from the plot, the major problems with this book are the length, format, and syntax. Although the book is only 100 pages long, the text is very dense, much too lengthy for a beginning chapter book. There are no quotation marks, instead, dialogue is marked with a music note at the beginning - but not at the end, so it's difficult to tell when the dialogue ends. The syntax is very odd. I couldn't figure out from the biographical information at the back what language this was translated from; the author appears to have come from Sao Paulo, although she now lives in Austria. Some examples:

"Max is a boy who loves music and who has been studying the piano for years because it has always been his favourite instrument. But the problem is his mother who demands too much of him and does not give the time to play with other boys."

"[music note] I don't know but, personally, I don't miss it at all -- Mozart says showing little interest in the so-called Internet."

I'm guessing translated from German (Austrian German is a standard variety of "regular" German. Your interesting fact of the day) but I may be wrong.

Verdict: Not recommended because of the length of the text, odd syntax, difficult punctuation, and unappealing plot. If you happen to have any young fans of Classical music (I don't at my library) they're going to be more interested in actual biographies of their favorite composers or possibly general histories or historical fiction set in the time period.

ISBN: 978-3950280401; Published August 2009 by the author; Review copy provided by the author for Cybils

Fancy Nancy: The dazzling book report by Jane O'Connor and A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker

The easy readers I'm reviewing today fall into another category; picture book to easy reader. Both follow up on popular and well-loved picture books.

Fancy Nancy is a hugely popular series, encompassing picture books, easy readers, and a variety of "novelty" books (I recommend the Fancy Nancy Tea Parties for libraries - cover the detachable cards with clear contact and it circs like crazy with no damages!)

Although in general I am somewhat blah about fancy/princesss/pink books, I do really like Fancy Nancy. I love her elaborate words and the way she enjoys ordinary things. I also love how ordinary her family is; fancy does not equal wealthy! Also, I appreciate the way Fancy Nancy's parents let her express herself in her own inimitable style. I hadn't thought about this until someone (I don't remember who) at my library commented on how weird/cool/fun it was that her parents let her wear what she wanted. Blink. It's times like these I appreciate my own childhood. Thanks Mom.

So, how does Fancy Nancy translate from picture book to easy reader? Fantastically! Most of the Fancy Nancy easy readers deal with the world outside home, specifically school. Sometimes being fancy is wonderful; but sometimes it gets in the way, as in this story. Fancy Nancy is delighted about doing a book report; she is an excellent reader and she is going to have the most beautiful binder in the whole class. Unfortunately, she gets carried away with decoration and doesn't get to the actual report part. What will she do when she has to present her report? Will her teacher, Mrs. Glass, understand?

The interior illustrations are drawn by Ted Enik, but he has carefully imitated Robin Preiss Glasser's curly and exuberant style. And come on, who doesn't want that marvelous book chair on the cover?

Verdict: Kids who loved Fancy Nancy and are read to read on their own will enjoy this series, as will emerging readers who like realistic stories about kids and school.

ISBN: 978-0061703690; Published March 2009 by HarperCollins; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library
Our second picture book to easy reader is a much newer effort. Bonny Becker's Visitor to Bear was a big hit with its delightful illustrations, charming characters, and verging-on-the-silly-but-not-quite repetition. In the original story, Mouse convinces Bear that he really does want a visitor; and not just a visitor, a friend. In this easy reader, Bear does NOT want a birthday and Mouse uses similar tactics to show him that birthdays really can be a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this continuation. It just didn't come up to the high standards I was expecting after Visitor. My main gripe is the plot. A grumpy bear who doesn't want visitors is one thing. A grumpy bear who would rather clean his house than have a birthday with his new friend is another. Why doesn't he want a birthday? The style tries to follow that of the picture book, with somewhat elaborate language on the part of mouse. But there's not enough space for the full amount of repetition so it falls a little flat. Because of the more advanced vocabulary, you're going to have to hand this out to older readers; who are going to be puzzled by the random plot.

Verdict: Now, just because I was disappointed doesn't mean it's a bad book! Comparatively speaking, this is a very good easy reader. It has charm and humor, a familiar character that many kids will recognize and a silly plot that they'll laugh over. It just didn't work as well for me as Visitor for Bear. I would have liked to see a continuation of Bear and Mouse's friendship, not a re-write of their first encounter.



ISBN: 978-0763637460; Published September 2009 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Hand-Off by Michael Teitelbaum, illustrated by Ron Zalme

The plot of this story is extremely thin; all-around excellent athlete Pablo decides to try his hand at flag football. He does ok the first day, skims some plays that night, then fails miserably in the game the next day. And the next day. And so on. He religiously studies the playbook, practises constantly, and when the quarterback gets a sprained wrist stands in and wins the game.

The above-described plot takes up about as much space as the actual text of the plot in the story. What really makes up this book is a detailed description of the plays, how to play them, where everybody goes, and what they do.

The book is apparently based on a sports video game and the illustrations look like renderings of animated characters. Some illustrations of the various plays would help readers who have trouble visualizing all the different moves.

Verdict: This isn't really a story so much as a sports manual with a little plot thrown in for fun. The descriptions and explanations are clear and simple, so even a beginner can figure out what's happening. This book won't have much general appeal, but kids who are serious about sports - or interested in starting - will enjoy it.

ISBN: 978-0448449005; Published October 2008 by Grosset and Dunlap; Borrowed from the library

Never race a runaway pumpkin by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs

The seventh Roscoe Riley story includes math, superstitions, candy, cats, pumpkins, and more!

Roscoe is very busy these days. There's a big contest at the town bookstore - whoever guesses the weight of the giant pumpkin will win a giant pumpkinful of books for the school library and a pumpkinful of candy for themselves! Ms. Diz, their teacher, is excited about this wonderful "learning opportunity" to learn about estimation - and pumpkins!

But Roscoe's got even more things on his mind - he's watching out for superstitions. No matter what his teacher, parents, and others tell him, he's sure that disaster is lurking around every corner. This being Roscoe Riley, it is! Just not quite the disaster he'd pictured.

I bought the first two books in the series for my library mainly because of the cute covers - I don't recall seeing any reviews. I stuck them on the series shelf and forgot about them....until a cute little boy solemnly trooped up to my desk and informed me that these were "really funny, do you have any more stories about Roscoe Riley?" I promptly bought the rest of the series and have been watching them fly off the shelf ever since, though it's taken until now for me to read one myself!

There's a lot of the classic beginning reader school story in Roscoe, the kid who gets in little troubles at school, supportive family and teachers, and a lesson learned. But Katherine Applegate ups the ante with silly jokes, a hilarious and off-the-wall conclusion, and a seamless blending of fact and fiction that both beginning and reluctant readers will enjoy. Brian Biggs' illustrations have an animated/cartoonish quality that perfectly fits the slightly zany story.

Verdict: Hand this to reluctant readers, kids who like school stories, kids who like nonfiction, and anyone who wants a good laugh!

ISBN: 978-0061783708; Published August 2009 by HarperCollins; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Poison Island by H. I. Larry, illustrated by Ash Oswald

In Zac Power's latest adventure, he must save his nerdy brother, rescue a secret formula, escape from a volcano - and all in time to get home and walk the dog.

Starting with his jump out of an airplane in the first chapter, twelve-year-old Zac's adventures are pure action. The story reads like the script of a adventure/thriller movie - Zac is hardly still for a moment, dashing from adventure to adventure. One minute he's escaping through the jungle, the next he's swimming through a barracuda-infested pool. There's no time for character development, description, or even much plot development, but that's not the point of the story. It's all about action!

These won't appeal to kids who like realistic fiction or the more family and school oriented stories that are usual for beginning chapter books, but reluctant readers, especially those who like action-packed movies and cartoons, will really enjoy this series. I'm happy to discover another good series for reluctant readers.

Oh, I almost forgot the illustrations - they're all pretty small, mainly pictures of gadgets, or highlighted parts of the story - clocks, exclamations, etc. They give the story a nice spy feel.

Verdict: Light, but fun!


ISBN: 978-0312346591; Published October 2008 by Feiwel and Friends; Borrowed from the library

Alice's Shooting Star by Tim Kennemore, illustrated by Mike Spoor

I've given this a brief review before, but a good book deserves another look!
In Alice's Birthday Pig, Alice triumphs over teasing and gets her dream pet. In Alice's World Record, she wins out over her perfect(ly irritating) older brother and sees a whole new side of him.

In her third adventure, we get a good look at her relationship with her little sister Rosie. In the past, Alice has kind of resented Rosie getting away with all the things nobody else would even dream of doing. Rosie is the star, the cute one, the little sister who shines. But now that she's growing older, Alice is starting to see her as a person and maybe as a friend. Alice especially loves Rosie's wild imagination and the magical stories and language she brings home from nursery school. But their parents are worried about Rosie's "lies." Oliver tries to logically explain the difference between fact and fiction; their parents make her a truth-telling chart. Alice privately thinks they should just enjoy Rosie's silly stories and leave her alone. Especially when she gets stuck coaching Rosie in her part in the upcoming school production. In a final wild whirl of hilarious events, Alice is, for the first time her life, in the spotlight.

There's a lot packed into this little story. The illustrations catch the various characters' expressions and personalities perfectly and blend smoothly to enhance the text, the function of every beginning chapter book illustration. There's Alice's struggles as a middle child trying to find what makes her unique and where she belongs, especially when she's sandwiched between two very outgoing and assertive siblings. Alice's relationship with her sister Rosie is a perfect mixture of older sibling exasperation and growing friendship as she begins to see Rosie as a person. And the story is just plain funny. From Rosie's insane stories, to Oliver's ridiculous sulks, to the final laugh-out-loud catastrophe, this book will keep the reader giggling all the way through.

Verdict: Kids who love realistic and funny stories and anyone who's ever wished they could do something out of the ordinary will gulp down the Alice stories and ask for more!



ISBN: 0802853374; Published March 2009 by Eerdmans; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal collection

The Painting That Wasn't There by Steve Brezenoff, C. B. Canga

You can never have too many good, solid, beginning chapter book mysteries. Or dinosaur books. Or Star Wars anything. Or fairy books. Or...ok, ok, getting off the subject here. Sorry, haven't had my tea yet this morning.

Ok, where was I? Oh yes, beginning chapter book mysteries. You got your classics, Cam Jansen, A to Z, your middling populars, Third Grade Detective, Capital Kids (Am I the only person that thinks that should be Capitol?), your screwy/funny, Hank the Cowdog, Chet Gecko, your spin-offs, Nancy Drew misc. dreck, Mary-Kate and Ashley, and now...

We have a new classic on our hands! It's got all the elements - kids with strong independent voices and quirky nicknames, a real mystery and a real crook, and lots of clues and logical deductions, and, of course, clueless adults! Because why else would a kid be needed to solve the mystery?

This particular story is about a missing painting. Gumshoe (James Shoo) and his friends Sam (Samantha), Cat (Catalina), and Egg (Edward) are off on a field trip with their favorite teacher - Ms. Stanwyck from art class. They're excited to get a closer look at the paintings she's been showing them in class, and Egg is especially excited to be doing what he loves best; photography! But when a mean guard starts picking on Egg, they have second thoughts. And then Egg notices something's....different. Ms. Stanwyck won't listen, so it's up to the four to solve the crime!

The illustrations have a dark, spooky quality that fits the mysterious plot. I would have liked clearer reproductions of the pictures, so the reader can see the clues, but kids will enjoy the characters revealed in the illustrations and get a shiver out of the dark corners.

Verdict: I'm excited to discover this new mystery series and look forward to adding it to my library....sometime next year. Ah, end of the year budget woes.



ISBN: 978-1434216083; Published August 2009 by Stone Arch; Review copy provided by publisher for Cybils