Beginning Chapter Books: Shorts

Last April, I read a TON of beginning chapter books. So, for your delectation, I have tidied together all their read snaps and squooshed them into one handy post and here they are, both good and bad!

1. Violet Bing and the Grand House by Jennifer Paros. Probably a helpful manual for mild agrophobics but it's a very strange writing style and I can't really see it appealing to kids.
2. Squirrel's World by Lisa Moser. Squirrel's exuberant hyperactivity and helpful disasters will resonate with kids who are always being told to calm down - and their parents. Perfect characterization, great dialogue!
3. Madame Pamplemousse and her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher. This sweet beginning chapter book is a bit of a Babette's Feast for the younger crowd. Readers will enjoy the fantasy elements of the magical cat and the strange and exotic foods of Madame Pamplemousse - and will cheer when Madeleine wins out over her beastly uncle.
4. One Beastly Beast (Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales) by Garth Nix. My favorite of these was the first, BlackBread the Pirate. The wimpy sailor rats, the hero's wafflings, and the silly and outrageous plot were quite amusing. The other three stories felt rather contrived.

1. You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum by Andy Stanton. A cross between Lemony Snicket and something I can't quite think of at the moment. Far too rambling and too many inconsequential details and miscellaneous asides for my taste, but I can see some kids finding it hilarious. The audiobook was funnier and I recommend it more than the book.
2. Bad Luck Chair by Sue Wilkowski. Spot-on portrayal of elementary kids' little superstitions and daily trials.
3. The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris. All I'll say is that it involves shiny armor, love-sick ladies, and afternoon naps....first in the Knights' Tales series by Gerald Morris. Not to be read while drinking milk.

1. The Boy Who Sprouted Antlers by John Yeoman. So, you know how teachers and other well-meaning people are always telling kids they can do anything if they just work hard enough...live up to your potential....and so on and so on? Well, this little boy TOTALLY BELIEVES his teacher. But while her idea of doing anything he wants if he just works hard enough is improving his schoolwork (specifically his basket-weaving in art)....He's got something a little more interesting in mind. Yeoman's characterization is absolutely perfect - I can completely see kids talking like his characters! I laughed and laughed and laughed. Never mind the publisher's blurb on the back saying it's a book about "being different." Nope, this is a totally wacky book that's just FUNNY. And what more do you need?
2. If you are a fan, as am I, of Krista Ruepp and Ulrike Heyne's lovely horse picturebooks, featuring a small Icelandic girl and her beloved pony, you will want to do some digging for their beginning chapter book series! The stories are simple but elegant, showing the characters' unique personalities and love of their island home in every line. The pictures, as always, are marvelous, the horses' wild manes and frothy waves showing the harsh but exuberant life of these northern islanders. These lovely stories are perfect for the young horse-lover as well as fans of Bodil Bredsdorff. Titles include: Horses in the Fog, The Sea Pony, and Midnight Rider.

Random reading continues

I had seen a lot of glowing reviews for John Howe's Lost Worlds, but the only library in our system that owned it marked it missing practically as soon as it was on the shelf. So I borrowed it from ILL. I had the feeling it might have many small pieces and wanted to know before I bought it. It turned out to NOT have small pieces, but I've decided not to buy it anyways. The art is gorgeous and the text seems well-written, but the juxtaposition of real and imagined lost worlds makes me uncomfortable - is this fiction or non-fiction? It's a gorgeous book, but I don't think I have enough interest in the subject at my library to justify buying it.

Malice by Chris Wooding. Nice mix of black and white comics and text. Sort of creepy mixture of urban myth and horror. I don't often read horror and this one didn't really grab me. Too much atmospherics and not enough action, plus the jumping between characters at the beginning was kinda confusing. Plus the stand-out text and images on the cover will make it hard to shelve. I'm getting Tom Becker's Darkside series instead for our new horror series of the year.

Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty. Nice story about a girl dealing with grief with a little mystery in it. Why do stories about death always have flashbacks in italics? The fantastic nature of the flashbacks makes me a little doubtful about the appeal of this story. It doesn't have quite the realistic feel and emotional punch of Love Aubrey.

Ben and the Sudden Too-Big Family by Colby Rodowsky. Well-written and engaging story about blending and creating new families. Ben's character was built realistically and sympathetically and I appreciated seeing a story with characters who were a little more introverted - and that was ok, not something they had to be "cured" of. Very unfortunate cover though.

Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel by K. A. Holt. Don't often see genuine scifi for the elementary/middle grade reader. Plenty of science, mystery and heart-stopping action. Kids who like fast-paced adventure and science will really love this one.

Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt. Don't often see ya mysteries that are this....wholesome for lack of a better word. Plenty of realistic action, some death, a thread of women's rights issues running through the story, but nothing too overtly violent, sexual, or depressing. Ever notice how many ya mysteries are depressing? Plus, this is a "real" mystery with clues, a tightly constructed plot, and the characters are believable.

I've still got a few library books to go, but that might be all my faster-than-the-speed-of-light reading for today....or maybe not. I've still got a cold or something and can't sleep when I can't breathe, so might as well stay up all night reading....

More Village Fiction!

I tag "village fiction" a unique British genre that details life in British villages, usually from the viewpoint of an educated, but not upper class person, such as Miss Read (school teacher), James Herriot (veterinarian), Nicholas Rhea (village constable), and the newest series I have discovered, Fred Secombe (curate/vicar). I love the little details of the life, the gentle humor, and the cheerful, matter-of-fact approach to everyday life. Yes, there are tragedies. We sniffle a little and life continues. There are arguments and bad feelings. We smooth them down and go on. And there is humor in everyday occurrences and a little romance to make life glamorous. Sigh. Oddly enough, the main format I seem to find these in is large print, through inter-library loan. Apparently, they generally appeal to older people. So, either I'm wise beyond my years or I'm approaching early senility....

A collection of picture books and some obsessive worrying

I'm cleaning out my stack of picture books from the library in an attempt to calm my pre-flight jittery nerves. Not working. No, in case you're wondering, I'm not scared of flying. I'm scared of:

1. My alarm not going off and me oversleeping and missing my flight and then what will I do?
2. Getting lost on the way there
3. Getting lost finding the parking lot
4. Figuring out how to check in. I only fly every couple years and everything is completely different each time.
5. Being late and missing my flight.

Anyways.

• Hooray for Fall by Kazuo Iwamura. This is one of a series of season books featuring a cheerful family of squirrels. Each one has a funny motif - in spring, it's what birds eat, in winter it's being cold, in fall it's changing colors. Sweet and funny.
• Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr. Now this is a classic. Vivid colors and a delightfully silly but logical story of a hungry tiger.
• Cool Cat by Nonny Hogrogian. Lovely wordless story of a cat creating a lush, living landscape out of the barren earth.
• In my dreams I can fly by Eveline Hasler and Kathi Bhend. Odd story of a worms, a caterpillar and a grub underground during the winter. Somewhat charming pictures, but a confusing - or innovative - plot. I'm not sure which.
• Heidi by Johanna Spyri, illustrated by Maja Dusikova. The illustrations are lovely, soft pastoral landscapes. There's no info. on who abridged the story, but I found it choppy. It's hard to squash a fairly lengthy novel into a picturebook.
• Gumdrop: the adventures of a vintage car by Val Biro. An Australian friend recommended this to me. Charming, with vintage illustrations that are still bright and attractive. Lots of details of the car which would definitely catch the eye of machine-minded children.

Still jittery....I am going to try to get some sleep anyways.....next you'll hear from me on Monday!
Unless I oversleep and get lost and miss my flight and never get there at all!!

My Top Ten Chapter Books

Betsy Bird, over at Fuse 8, is doing a 100 best chapter books poll! Yay! Here are my choices. Mind, I don't necessarily think these are THE top ten of all time, or even my top ten favorites or whatever. They're just sort of the top ten that I found browsing my personal library shelves and skimming from the top of my mind. Yes, I am one of those people who detests the infamous, "what is your favorite book?" question.

1. The River at Green Knowe by L. M. Boston. Although this is not the most critically recognized of the Green Knowe books, I place it at the top of Boston's works for its sense of wonder and exploration and the growth and magical independence of the characters. (and wherefore am I qualified to speak on this? well, I spent most of my four-year degree in English literature studying L. M. Boston's works, finishing up with an Honors thesis on said topic. For whatever it's worth...)
2. Look Through My Window by Jean Little. This is the first of Jean Little's books I read and will always be my most beloved. Her story of friendship, poetry, and family shines with warmth, exuberant humor, and beauty.
3. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede. The first in Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest chronicles, this classic fantasy stands fairy tale conventions and stereotypes on their heads while producing an exciting, hilarious, and delightful story. The original Trina Schart Hyman covers add extra points!
4. Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue by Astrid Lindgren. Astrid Lindgren took a variety of classic genres in children's literature and added her own subversive flavor while maintaining the appeal and structure of the story. Bill Bergson works within the frame of the juvenile detective story with humor, adventure, and realism. (Why, yes, I wrote some papers on Scandinavian children's literature too. How could you tell?)
5. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. I love this story best of all the Oz stories, from Dorothy's plucky common sense to the first appearance of Tik-Tok the Clockwork Man, the story is full of the logic, magic, and sly humor that characterizes the first truly American fairy tale genre.
6. Serial Garden by Joan Aiken. I think this is the best of the various Joan Aiken short story collections and I'm so thrilled it made the finals for the Cybils this year!
7. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. There are lots of "classics" I could add to this list, but I think this one is the one most likely to continue to survive and appeal to children. I own the Ernest Shepherd edition as well as the Michael Hague, but I grew up with the Hague so it is my favorite.
8. Cricket Winter by Felice Holman. I love this story as much for its lyrical writing and layered themes as much as I do for it being the first book for which I wrote a "real" critical review. I wasn't able to find the original cover, but this one is nice too. Here's Part I, Part II, and Part III of my original review!
9. Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones. Yes, I know it's a sequel. But this has been my favorite of Jones' work since I first discovered her. The hilarious mix of school story conventions, magical philosophy, and romantic friendships is delightful. I admit there are some similarities to be drawn between it and Enchanted Forest, but I love them both very much and we need more funny fantasy!
10. The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay. This is a new favorite for me, discovered only a few years ago. Presumably most Australian kids know this famous food-focused classic.
    
    
    

Dusting off some Christmas treasures

At least half of my tbr pile is ex-library books I just had to read before saying a last, fond farewell. I read two of them last night and realized suddenly this morning....they were both Christmas books! Perfect. Here they are:

Daisy by Elizabeth Coatsworth, illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown. Published in 1973, this little book is only 69 pages and full of Brown's evocative black and white sketches. But it's no beginning chapter book. The vocabulary and complex plot would be considered "too difficult" for today's beginning readers. If you, like me, are an Elizabeth Coatsworth fan and have read her fascinating and layered autobiography, Personal Geography, you'll recognize this as a story from her childhood. Daisy, the youngest of two sisters, is shy, awkward, and timid about trying new things. But when she slips out to hear a street singer and gets lost, she gains new confidence and feels that she has become a new person. Although this story takes place in Mexico right around Christmas, it's not really about Mexico or Christmas. It's about a young girl's experiences and how she begins to change as she grows up.

I saw three ships by Elizabeth Goudge, illustrated by Margot Tomes. This is a warm and cozy Christmas story. Little Polly, gone to live with her elderly aunts after her parents' death, is determined to honor Christmas custom and leave a door open for the three wise men. Her aunts are shocked and horrified at the idea of doing something so unladylike - and dangerous, for there is no MAN in the house, only THE HAT. But Polly, as always, gets her way and there are happy endings and delight for all as three ships come sailing in. This story is also fairly short in length and would make a nice read-aloud for several evenings before Christmas. It's sweetly old-fashioned and full of warm Christmas spirit.

Christmas Favorites

Just in time for a trip to the library before the Christmas rush...here are my Christmas favorites!



In order of their appearance:

• The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book: Take Joy!
• I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge, illustrated by Margot Tomes
• The Snowman by Jacques Duquennoy
• Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little, illustrated by Werner Zimmerman
• Millie in the Snow by Alexander Steffensmeier (hilarious!)
• Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke
• The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot, illustrated by Ruth Brown (a little sad but sweet)
• Star Mother's Youngest Child by Louise Moeri, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
• How Six Found Christmas by Trina Schart Hyman
• Christmas Poems by Myra Cohn Livingston, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
• A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
• The Runaway Sleigh Ride by Astrid Lindgren
• Christmas in the Stable by Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Harold Wilkon (I think)
• The Song of the Christmas Mouse by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, illustrated by Donna Diamond
• A Newbery Christmas edited by Martin H. Greenburg and Charles Waugh
• The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
• The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
• How the Hibernators Came to Bethlehem by Norma Farber, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
• The Church Mice at Christmas by Graham Oakley (hilarious!)
• Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Ilon Wikland
• The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglass Wiggins (very sad)
• Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
• Corgiville Christmas by Tasha Tudor
• Christmastime by Sandra Boynton (hilarious!)
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
• The Twelve Days of Christmas [correspondence] by John Julius Norwich, illustrated by Quentin Blake (hilarious, but not really for little ones)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• Teddy Bear Postman by Phoebe and Sally Worthington
• The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
• Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent
• The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald, illustrated by Linda Hill Griffith (some of these stories are very sad)
• The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper by Jean van Leeuwen, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (hilarious!)
• Fell Farm for Christmas by Marjorie Lloyd
• The Christmas Party by Adrienne Adams

So there you have my Christmas picks! Many of these are out of print and obscure, so you have the added joy of looking for these treasures (-:)