Munsinger’s watercolor illustrations of a father bear
and his family visiting the places in Berlin’s familiar song make it
accessible to small children. The bear family begins by raising the flag
on their home pole and their car arial. They watch a parade for “Stand
beside her” and see military men, policemen, a fireman, and man in a hard
hat-- bears of course. “Through the night with a light from above”
shows the family looking at the new New York skyline from what is probably the
Staten Island ferry. They are camping in the woods for “From the
mountains” and on an old fashioned farm for “To the prairies.”
The family peeks out of the halo of the Statue of Liberty for “God bless
America” and are safely back home for “My home sweet home” where they hug
their mother. The illustrations are very appealing and age appropriate.
Music and lyrics for two verses appear in a double page spread at the end of the
book. The book is accompanied by a CD. Barbara Streisand’s
rendition of this classic is stylized and fits the illustrations better than a
military band would.
An endnote indicates that royalties for the song, published
in 1938, were given to the God Bless America Fund whose money goes to the Scout
councils of greater New York. Today, part of that funding goes to children
affected by the events of September 11. A portion of the publisher’s
proceeds is also being donated to the fund. Since 911, a plethora of
patriotic books have been published for children but this one is superior to
most. This is a first purchase for school and public libraries.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Brown, Marc.
ARTHUR'S CHICKEN POX. Audio cassette and paperback.
An Arthur Adventure. Boston: Little, 1994.
32p. 0-316-11384-0; hb., 15.95
0-316-11050-7; pb., $5.95
Cassette tape, 1998. 0-316-1119474
Book-tape package, $9.95 PreS-Gr. 2
E
Brown takes a common happening in children's
lives–chicken pox-and tells a story which could really happen in a child's
life. A little sibling rivalry, the grandmother coming to help, the
trip to the circus are experiences in the lives of many children When
chicken pox hits the schools (and it usually does), this would be a good
way to calm fears about chicken pox, suggest what you look like, and what
you do; i.e., rest, etc.
The circus music at the beginning of the cassette
really sets the tone for something exciting. The first time we listened,
Sarah was impatient to get to the story and thought the songs were "too
much," but the second time all was OK. The cassette gives the
child the opportunity to listen again and again. Since most children
would love to have another "Arthur" experience and since this one has
such a useful message, it is recommended for elementary school, public, and
home libraries.
Mary Knauss; with help from her Grandaughter, Sarah
Retired educator, Marquette Area Public Schools, Marquette,
MI, 32 years of experience
Brown, Marc. ARTHUR'S FIRST SLEEPOVER. Illus
by author. Boston: Little, 1998.
32p. An Arthur Adventure series. 0-316-11445-6 hb.
$15.95, 0-315-11974-1 pb. $5.95,
0-316-11948-2;
audio and pb., $9.95 Gr. K-3 E
Three cheers for this rollicking Arthur adventure!
What could be better than a boys' sleepover with a good chance of seeing
aliens? This light-hearted story finds Arthur, Buster, and the Brain
planning their first outdoor sleepover. But when the local newspaper
reports an alien sighting, talk among Arthur's family and friends turn to
spaceships and flashing lights, not sleepovers. When the big night
finally arrives, the boys have convinced themselves they will see aliens.
Dragging their great (Including Buster's favorite "blankie,") out to the
tent, they settle in for the night and find some surprises in store which
include scary footsteps and a suspicious bright light. Could the young
adventurers have the adventure of their lives? This story is a must-have
for all Arthur collectors. To double the reading pleasure, the book
comes complete with a read-along cassette tape that includes foot-stomping
music and excellent sound effects. Best of all, listeners get to hear
Marc Brown read his own story. Choose this to read aloud or alone.
It's fun either way. Although there is one sentence missing in
the book that is on the tape, it does not alter the story.
Nancy Anderson, Retired Librarian; Gwinn Area Community
Schools, Gwinn, MI
30 years of experience as a teacher and librarian
Holm, Jennifer L. BOSTON JANE; AN ADVENTURE (4 audiocassettes)
New York:
Listening Library, 2001. 6 hrs. 15 min. 0-8072-0465-X;
audio cassettes,
$26.00. Read by Jessalyn Gilsig. Unabridged.
From a book by Jennifer L. Holm.
Holm, author of the Newbery Honor Book, OUR ONLY MAY
AMELIA (Harper, 2000) has created another feisty heroine in Boston Jane.
The Chinook Indians in the Washington Territory call everyone from the East
coast “Boston” because the first white people they ever saw were from Boston.
Jane has left her father in Philadelphia to join her fiancé, William,
who had apprenticed to her father, a doctor. Her father did not approve
of her going by boat trip to Washington Territory. Jane missed the first
ship because her wedding dress was not finished, her maid died on the terrible
ocean voyage, and when she arrived, William was not there. A sailor
from the ship was interested in her but she remained true to William.
While she waited for William she had to live with a group of crude men who
offended everything she had learned at Miss Hepplewhite’s Young Ladies’ Academy.
Holm cleverly weaves in quotes from her text, The Young Ladies Companio,n
whenever Jane is in doubt about appropriate behavior and this ties the book
together.
Gilsig creates a very believable Jane and gives her the
vitality that readers expect of the character. She also provides voices
to other characters that are appropriate and add to understanding the text.
Holm’s fast paced book with crisp dialogue and colorful characters comes alive
on these cassettes. This is a good addition to school and public library audio
collections.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Krensky, Stephen. ARTHUR'S TV TROUBLE.
Illus by Marc Brown. Boston: Little,
1997.
32p. An Arthur Adventure series. 0-316-10919-3;
hb., $15.95.
0-316-11959-8; pb., $5.95. 0-316-11594-0; audio and pb., $9.95 Gr. K-3
Here's another book in a long list of winners from
Marc Brown and it's one that Arthur the aardvark fans will want to add to
their collection. This is a set that includes a great twenty-minute
read-along cassette tape with bouncy music and sound effects and what's more,
Marc Brown is the reader! While watching TV one day, Arthur is intrigued
by a commercial for a dog toy called the "Treat Timer" and he decides that
his dog, Pal, must have one. The problem is an age old one--Arthur
has $10.03 and the toy costs $19.95. Mom, Dad, and the ever-crafty D.
W. are no help in making Arthur richer, but he manages to land a small job
stacking newspapers that gives him the extra cash. Arthur happily purchases
the "assembly required" and "all sales are final" "Treat Timer" only to discover
that things in the real world and in TV land are often different, and the
toy is not exactly as advertised. Because many children may have a
similar experience, this story can provide a springboard for discussion on
advertising and how it affects our lives. As the beginning of the tape
says, "Arthur stories are similar to the way kids live at home and school.
Purchasing this set is money well spent!
Nancy Anderson, Retired Librarian; Gwinn Area Community
Schools, Gwinn, MI
30 years of experience as a teacher and librarian
Normandin, Christine, ed. SPIRIT OF THE CEDAR PEOPLE: MORE
STORIES
AND PAINTINGS OF CHIEF LELOOSKA. Illus. by Lee Ann Nakwesee and John
Lawrence. Photos by Bill
Bachhuber. New York: DK, 1998. 38p. Accompanied by CD.
0-7894-2571-8; hb.,
$24.95 98-3522 Gr. 1-6+
398.2
Chief Lelooska's first book of Northwest Coast folktales, ECHOES
OF THE ELDERS, received acclaim. That title and this one were
published after Lelooska's death in 1996. This oversize book also contains
noteworthy illustrations which evoke several Northwest coast tribes including
the Tlingit and Haida as well as the Kwakiutl people, the clan into which
Lelooska was adopted in 1968. Although Lelooska's name means "he who
cuts against wood with a knife," the illustrations are not his work.
A map of the people of the Northwest Coast also
includes wildlife that are featured in the tales. The five stories are
about ant, bear, loon, raven, halibut, and puffin. The last story is a
variant of a favorite story about how light and humans came into the Pacific
Northwest. Italicized words are phonetic spellings of the language of the
Kwakiutl. Chief Lelooska tells the legends on the accompanying CD and the
drums and chants add authenticity to the tales. This title will be a
welcome addition to collections and will be checked out by teachers of art,
science, social studies, and storytelling. Students will check out the book for
Native American and nature studies. The book is great for integrated
studies programs.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center, Marquette, MI
32 years experience as a school library-media specialist
Numeroff, Laura. IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES.
Illus by Felicia Bond.
New York: Geringer/Harper, 2000. 32p. 0-694-70105-X;
bk & cass., $11.95.
PreS-Gr. 3 E
Jason Alexander of Steinfeld fame reads this circular
Christmas story. Also on the cassette are other songs and readings including
“Mouse’s 12 Days of Christmas.” The song includes a great big
chocolate chip cookie instead of a pear tree and items from the text like
strings of popcorn and green boxer shorts with candy canes on them.
The second song is a medley of tunes from secular and sacred Christmas songs
that lend themselves to a popcorn theme. The popping sound lends itself
nicely to “Jingle Bells” and works into the chorus (Fa la…) of “Deck the Halls.”
The tape, along with a supply of chocolate chip cookies or popcorn and two
of Numeroff’s books can make a great story hour combination. The story
itself is superbly read, the songs are sung with gusto, and the book is a
winner. What a great combination.
The cassette is accompanied with a small sized book that
contains everything that was in the original title published in 2000.
The book begins when a boy takes a mouse to the movies where the mouse wants
popcorn which leads to decorating a Christmas tree with it, making a snowman,
having a snowball fight, singing Christmas carols, making ornaments which
leads back to the popcorn decorations and the movies. This new title, using
the same pattern as the previous ones, is as good or better than the first
one. Other books by Numeroff using the same pattern are: IFYOU
GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE (Harper, 1985), IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A MUFFIN
(Harper, 1991) and IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE (1998).
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Primavera, Elise. AUNTIE CLAUS. Illus by author. San
Diego: Silver Whistle/Harcourt,
1999. CD: Rosemary Killen Productions, 2001. 15 min.
Read by Ellen Burstyn.
Music by John Guth. Gr. K-3 E
Sophie Kringle and her brother Kris live in New York
City. One day, Sophie was summoned to Penthouse 25C for tea at 3:00 to be
instructed on Christmas activities. .Auntie Claus said "Always
remember my first and final rule--It is far better to give than it is to
receive." Sophie's Great Aunt said the Sophie and Kris were given too
many presents but Sophie's philosophy was "You can't have too many
presents." Auntie Klaus was mysterious; she left on a business trip
between Halloween and Valentine's Day. She also wore a mysterious diamond
key on red ribbon around her neck. When Sophie asked what her business
was, Aunty Claus answered: "That's for me to know and you to find out"
so Sophie decided to find out and stowed away. She watched Aunty use the
key to an elevator in her room. This elevator shot into space on a long
cold journey and landed in the company of an elf who mentioned that there are
only 48 days left. Mr. Pudding put her to work in the mailroom and blended
in with the other elves. The best part of the story is when readers figure
out the family business. That’s why this book is best enjoyed by
children who know the real story about Santa Claus. While working on
various tasks, Sophie found her little brother Chris's name on the BB&G
list, bad boys and girls who would receive only a stinky stocking full of coal
and gunk and Sophie substituted her own name. The moral is there but it is
unobtrusive and therefore more effective. Sophie's unselfishness was her
passport to finding out about Aunty Claus' business and learning that it really
is far better to give than to receive.
This title can be purchased in a gift set that includes the
book, a gold key with a “diamond” in it, and a CD. The story is ably
read by Burstyn on the CD which is marked "Not for individual
sale." The set makes a great holiday gift because the whole family
can enjoy listening to the story and is a must for school and public libraries.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center,
Marquette, MI 49855
32 years of experience as a school library-media
specialist
Weeks, Sarah. LITTLE FACTORY. Illus. by Byron
Barton. New York: HarperCollins,
1998. unp. Accompanied by a CD
0-06-0274298; hb., $19.95 98-221668
PreS-Gr.1 E or 372.64
Bold and bright, dark and light---- That's what this book
is made of! (in the full sense of the word). Little Man owns a little
factory, but in a sing-song fashion, Little Man's factory expands to become a
big factory. The main problem is pollution, but the solution is simple---solar
energy. This easy-read is designed for the preschooler and beginning reader, but
it would be an excellent introduction for environmental pollution or solar
energy. The text is minimal, but the simple, uncluttered pictures fill in what
the story does not provide. A CD-ROM is included at the back of the
book to motivate a child or a class to sing along with the Little Man and make
the world a better place.
Patricia Fittante; Children's Librarian, Escanaba Public
Library.
24 years of experience as a school and public librarian
Weiss, Jim.. THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. Great Hall
Productions, 2003.
59534-11332 Compact Disk $15.00 Gr. K-5
Literature comes alive with storyteller, Jim Weiss. Mark
Twain's original stories of Tom Sawyer and friends is enhanced with the vocal
skills of Weiss on this one hour long CD.
Lynette Suckow, Youth Services, Peter White Public Library, Marquette, MI
Weiss, Jim. ABRAHAM
LINCOLN AND THE HEART OF AMERICA.
Charlottesville, VA:
Greathall Productions, Inc., 2004.
ISBN 188251385-3 CD
Gr. 3-7
Jim Weiss tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s life, including
political races and the Civil War. The
CD includes twelve separate selections and runs approximately 70 minutes.
The Gettysburg Address in narrated in full text.
Lynette Suckow, Youth Services, Peter White Public
Library, Marquette, MI
Wood, Audrey and Don. PIGGIES. Illus.
by Don Wood. Orlando, Florida:
Harcourt, Inc.
1991. Unp.
ISBN: 13: 978-0-15-205667-4 hb.
$17.95. PreS-Gr. 1 E PIC
Piggies are fingers and toes in this whimsical book and musical CD. The
oil illustrations depict pigs romping through silly antics, sometimes clean,
sometimes dirty, until it's time to kiss goodnight. The CD will encourage
singing along as it breaks into simple songs or reggae rhythms that follow the
pages of the book. This combination book and CD would make a great gift for our
children and grandchildren!
Judy Bennett, Clerk, Ironwood Carnegie Library, Ironwood, MI