Book Description

Book Description

Happily ever after has never been so happy! These inspired retellings of classic children's fairy-tales are simply told and beautifully illustrated.This is a series of books that parents will treasure and children will love hearing again and again.Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics include: - Cinderella - Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Jack and the Beanstalk - Little Red Riding Hood ... Read more

Book Description

There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice.

Inspired by the countless young people who took a stand against the forces of injustice, two Coretta Scott King Honorees, Angela Johnson and Eric Velasquez, offer a stirring yet jubilant glimpse of the youth involvement that played an invaluable role in the Civil Rights movement. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Unnoticed...
When mentioning the Civil Rights movement, we automatically think of Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, and other adults who spoke out against inequality.However, the role of children and young adults is not often discussed, and it should be.A SWEET SMELL OF ROSES by Angela Johnson takes a step in sharing their involvement.

The book opens early one morning as two girls sneak out of their house to join a civil rights march. They run through the streets and upon meeting the others, listen as Dr. King talks of peace, love, and nonviolence.They then join the march as protestors shout along the sidelines and police observe the group.Finally, they stop in the middle of town as King again takes center stage. Afterwards, they run back home late in the afternoon to find their mother waiting, with a worried face.

THE SWEET SMELL OF ROSES is written as a tribute to the many children and young adults who took part in the fight for justice during the Civil Rights era.Though I can't really imagine younger children leaving their houses without permission, racing through the streets alone, joining a march, and staying out all day, it could've happened, as the times were a bit safer for our children. Additionally, there are likely other areas they participated in as well and I would've loved to see that incorporated in the book.Better yet, to have them joining their parents in the march would've been more age-appropriate.

The illustrations are highly detailed, done in black and white, capturing the tone of the book. Additionally, the writing is easy to understand and children may enjoy it in a reading circle type of scenario, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.It doesn't fit the projected age group. It is, however, a great look into the history of the Civil Rights Movement and a nice way to introduce children to it.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ed Young drops the ball
Not everyone knows this, but authors don't always have control over the artists that illustrate their books. Sometimes a well-established author will be paired with an up-and-coming illustrator, and sometimes it's the other way around. In an ideal situation, the text and the art compliment one another flawlessly, making it so that the reader finds it impossible to imagine any other pairing for that particular book. If I had been Penny Pollock, I would have been initially overjoyed to learn that Ed Young had been selected to illustrate my work. After all, Mr. Young is a winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. His books include the beyond beautiful "Lon Po Po" as well as the technically adept and gorgeous "Seven Blind Mice". Which makes it all the more painful that Ed essentially slept through the making of "The Turkey Girl". While the book has a rather interesting and remarkable story, Young's illustrations look slapdash and amateurish. This is a book that has been ruined by its pictures. Worse still, it's been ruined by a formerly very talent artist.

This Zuni tale is a kind of Cinderella story with a dour ending. It tells the simple tale of a girl who lived in her village and was very poor. Her only means of sustenance came from tending the turkeys of the rich, thereby earning her the moniker, Turkey Girl. One day the Turkey Girl overhears that there is to be a fabulous harvest dance that everyone may attend. The Turkey Girl understands that she hasn't the clothes or appearance for such an event, so she contents herself by telling her woes to her only friends, the turkeys. To her amazement, however, the turkeys respond by talking to her. Not the dumb birds we have taken them for, the turkeys present their mistress with a beautiful dress and jewelry for the dance. They insist, however, that she return to them that night before the sun sets. If she does not, they will fly far away and never return. The Turkey Girl promises and goes off to join the dance. She's a hit, but as the afternoon turns to evening she keeps putting off her return to the turkeys. Finally she tears herself away, only to find that they've all gone and that her dress has been returned to rags. As Pollack says in her Author's Note, this book (like some other Native American versions) ends with, "the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price".

Though it's a little depressing in the end, I liked what this tale had to say. The author has an excellent voice, and the scenes are beautifully presented through her narration. Then we get to the pictures. At first, I was captivated by Young's style. Using pastel and oil crayon, Young works with colors that are native to the American Southwest (where this tale takes place). Though a little fuzzy at first, I was more than willing to give Young the benefit of the doubt. The fuzzy image of the Turkey Girl leading her charges out of the pueblo village looks as if we are viewing the scene through the wavy lines of heat you get on especially bright sunny days. But as the book continued I realized that this style of drawing, while lovely, was completely misplaced here. Though the action in the text becomes interesting and intense, the illustrations are static and without any detail at all. In the section where the Turkey Girl goes to a spring and hears the other girls gossip (soon followed by the announcement of the dance), the picture shows a fuzzy white image of a girl perched on top of (why?) a pueblo as similarly fuzzy images walk away with pots of water on their heads. The scene where the Turkey Girl receives a beautifully described dress of, "white doeskin...belted with red-and-yellow cloth", is accompanied by a shot of two or three somewhat grotesque turkeys taking up 1.25 pages. Worst of all is the dance. The closest we get to seeing ANYTHING at all is a washed out watery shot of eight or so legs that are, for all intents and purposes, not moving. How hard would it have been for Young to infuse a little life into these pictures? Or even, heaven forbid, a little detail. The illustrator seems to be under the impression that to show any intricacies would be to betray the story itself. If so, allow me to assure you Mr. Young that we would have been GLAD to read a book where in the event that a character does something...you see it! Instead, a section that says that, "The Turkey Girl danced every dance, her heart beating in time with her stomping feet", is accompanied by a lazy-hazy view of slightly turkey-shaped clouds against a peach background. If I have no patience for this, then I can guarantee that a five year old being read this story is definitely not going to have any patience with it either.

Which is a real pity. Though Pollock's tale is a bit dark and sad at the end (not only is the Turkey Girl tawdry once more but she's also out of a job) it could easily have worked beautifully with some well placed illustrations. I just can't understand how Ed Young screwed this up. Maybe he was really busy the month he was supposed to be drawing this. Perhaps it didn't pique his interest. Whatever the reason, this book looks like nothing so much as some rudimentary studies of Zuni color schemes hastily scrawled onto a series of pages. If you'd like an adept and haunting Native American picture book fable, allow me to recommend, Rafe Martin's "The Rough-Face Girl". An Algonquin (rather than Zuni) Cinderella tale, that book has the life and energy that this book lacks. All I can say is that I feel very badly for Penny Pollock. I hope that in the future she's given an illustrator that spends a little more time and energy on the final product. For as much as I admire Ed Young, I cannot understand how he allowed himself to produce such a drab creation. I guess it just happens to the best of us sometimes. Maybe.

Not authentic!
Many professional and lay people have given this a positive review, but my study of the book reveals it strays significantly from the way the Zuni people tell this story. While it may be poetic and well written to an uninformed eye, it fails miserably to convey the values and concepts within Zuni culture. As such, it cannot be used in a unit that teaches children about Zuni people.

A Cinderella with substance
This wonderfully evocative retelling of the Cinderella tale has a very different spin, giving the reader much more to think about than the more familiar version. It will make you reflect on your own integrity and will leave you with a clearer understanding of just how much your actions influence your future. Very powerful.

An excellent American Native version of the Cinderella story
Turkey Girl is one of the finest versions of the Cinderella Story to use in your fairy tale and Native American curriculumns. I use Turkey Girl when reading in school classrooms and in my public library, and the children love to hear a story where there are consequences to one's actions. Too many fairy tales rely on the "happy ever after" ending, when everyone knows that if you break a promise, there are consequences to it. This book leads to lots of good discussion about promises and consequences and can be used with children from first through fourth grade. Penny Pollock writes beautifully as always.

Exquisite Native American tale of Cinderella.
A classic. Beautifully illustrated and a moving story. The book is culturally accurate and well researched. It is an exquisitely retold Cinderella's tale in a Native American setting ... Read more

Book Description

As a seamstress in the Big House, Clara is luckier than the slaves who work the fields. Still, she dreams of a reunion with her Momma, who lives on another plantation–and even of running away to freedom. Then she hears two slaves talking about how they could find the Underground Railroad if only they had a map. In a flash of inspiration, Clara sees how she can use the cloth in her scrap bag to make a map of the land–a freedom quilt–that no master will ever suspect. Drawn from true incidents in African-American history, this is a compelling and emotionally charged picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good book for kids to learn about history
I liked Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson. It is a book about a girl who likes to quilt and make things. I like to make things myself. I think it's important to learn how to make things that means something to you or to people. This book also takes place during a time in America's history when there were slaves. I would have given this 5 stars, but it was too short of a book. If you like books about quilts and history, I also recommend Lucy and the Liberty Quilt by Victoria London. It also is about a girl who likes to sew things with meaning.

A tale not often heard
A small quibble before I sink into utter praise. The cover of this book depicts the aforemention sweet Clara and her sweetheart as they run joyfully through the fields. To freedom. Running joyfully, mind you, away from the slave plantation in broad daylight. I'm not saying that there weren't a couple slaves here and there who felt complete and utter joy as they ran, but this scene is positively idyllic. Shouldn't they be afraid of getting caught? Then again, maybe it's just representing the feeling that accompanies such flight, rather than sticking to the strict facts of the matter.

In any case, I began off point and I'm bound to wander off point unless I pull myself up and mosey on over the actual point. Ahem.
ACTUAL POINT: The book is quite good. You don't see that many stories reflecting the quilts that served as maps to lead slaves to freedom. The story is a realistic one, despite everything I said about the cover. And the people are especially well represented. You like Clara. You want her to find her mother and escape off of the plantation. The illustrations are, in pure James Ransome style, beautiful. I've nothing more to say. It's a book that should belong in every library's collection. Nuff said.

--This is a well written and very interesting story--
I discovered SWEET CLARA AND THE FREEDOM QUILT when I was doing a little research into the Underground Railroad. It has been a long-standing theory that patchwork quilts were used to help the enslaved people to escape by the encoded messages in the quilt patterns. This story is another take-off on that traditional idea.

Clara, a slave girl under the age of twelve, was sent away from her mother to another plantation to work in the fields and pick cotton. She makes friends with Young Jack who sees that she's unhappy and not eating and advises her that she must eat to have the strength to be a field worker. Clara now shares a cabin with an older woman, who is kind to her and though unrelated, is called Aunt Rachel.

Aunt Rachel also sees that Clara may not be strong enough to be a field laborer, and over a period of time teaches Clara the art of sewing. Once she can learn to sew, she can work with Rachel at the Big House. Clara proves to be an apt pupil and eventually becomes a seamstress and goes to work for the mistress of the plantation.

The sewing room is next to the kitchen so that Clara meets a lot of people who move around the countryside. She also hears stories about the Underground Railroad, which is a group of people who help slaves to escape. As Clara listens to the people talking, she begins to question them about the surrounding land and decides to make a map out of sewing scraps. Eventually the quilt map is completed and Clara and Jack are ready to leave the plantation and go north to find the Ohio River, and head for Canada. Since Clara had memorized the quilt map, she left it behind so that others could use it too, and escape to the North.

The illustrations by James Ransome are excellent. The drawings are colorful and the expressions on the faces of the characters are wonderfully presented. My favorite illustration and excerpt takes place when Clara is leaving the plantation, and Aunt Rachel advises, "Before you go, just cover me with your quilt, Sweet Clara," she say, "I'm too old to walk, but not too old to dream. And maybe I can help others follow the quilt to freedom."

This is a wonderful offering by Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome!

Great intro to history for young readers
This is a great book to share with young students as an introduction to the history of the Underground railroad and the many couragous and creative measures taken for freedoms sake. I enjoyed the story a great deal and found a number ways to connect the book to a variety of subjects.

A Story of Freedom
Sweet Clara's aunt teachers her how to sew and she makes a quilt. She and young Jack leave because they were slaves, but you are going to have to find out if they make it to freedom or not. I liked this book. It was very interesting and I learned about history. I think you will like it too. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A book that has haunted me for years!!
I am so excited to have found this book! I am 21 years old and my mother read this book to me once long ago when I was little. It has haunted me ever since that time over the years and I have wanted to find it again. I only was able to hear the story once and never again because my Mom bought it for children at a powwow and gave it to them. I am so glad I will have it again. I plan to read it once more and than give it to children at the school I'm teaching at so they can enjoy it, too. A great message and a lovely story! I would recommend it for girls between 4-10 years of age.

A Great Book!
I loved this bok!
I thought it was a very good story and very cleaver. I liked the deepth of it and meaning. I would buy this book! It has great illlustrations and it is my favorite fairy tale/ picture book! I'm going to buy it! Even though I am almost 12 I still enjoy this book very much!

Well composed
Although the retelling of story is not be perfectly authentic, the story flows well and and the illustrations are of good quality. It does contain some culturally accurate information and would be an excellent addition to a tasteful collecter's children's library.

No native Cinderella's
Sorry, but there are no cinderella's in the native world. Not in the way this story is portrayed.

This is just one of several theme repeats the author is doing to make money. It is not representative of natives, and especially the Ojibwa.

Aboringinal Education
This is a great story for comparing all the "Cinderella" cultures in the world. It also leads to a wonderful teaching unit on Aboringinal customs and their way of life.

Used extensively in primary grades. ... Read more

Reviews (48)

"HOOPS"
Hoops Walter Dean Myers

When was the last time you read a great Walter Dean Myers book? He is a great author for teenaged readers. He writes about what teenagers go through in life. One example would be drugs. Another would be friends and the things they make you do. All of these things are talked about in this book. It's not directly said, but the author hints about these things. Other books that Walter Dean Myers has wrote like The Contender and Slam are other great books. If u read theses books you would notice that this is all compared to a teenage life.
The novel Hoops is a great book for kids that love basketball and kids that live in the ghetto. I think they would like it because it's realistic fiction and they will realize that they are not alone.
Almost everyone gets along with seventeen year-old Lonnie Jackson. He enjoys basketball and is the captain of his high school's basketball team. He is so good that if he keeps it up he could make it to the NBA. His coach Cal believes Lonnie could go all the way, but like any other kid, especially a kid from the ghetto, he struggles.
Someone is paying to keep Lonnie off the court. He has haters after him because they know he might go big and they are just jealous. Well, Lonnie is trying to find out the culprit, but he's running out of time.
This book was very good. I think I relate to the book and that's really what attached me to it. This book made me feel good. I felt that for the first time I had picked a book that I enjoyed. I think it's interesting that this author lived in the ghetto and has seen the things that have happened. I relate to the author because I think that all of his books, especially Hoops, relates to his life and the things he has been through. I don't think an author makes a book or a novel without reason. I think that there's always a reason for a book.

~...

A definite must read for anyone who loves basketball.
Hoops by Walter Dean Myers is a fantastic read. This is the first Myers book that I have read and it makes me want to read another. This is not just for people who enjoy basketball but for anyone who has ever had a difficult decision to make. Lonnie Jackson is a seventeen-year-old boy who lives in Harlem, New York. He is your typical teenager, his mom gets on his nerves, he has a job working at a hotel,he has a girl who he cares about but can't exactly tell her, and he gets into some mischief. One thing sets him aside though, that is his love for basketball and his skills. These skills help lead his team into a tournament where his coach, and friend,Cal gets involved in some gambling. He sits Lonnie out because he is supposedly injured. Does Cal keep Lonnie on the bench and lose or does he put him in and have a better chance of winning? Read Hoops and find out.

Hoops Summary
The book is about a teenager named Lonnie Jackson that wants to make it into the NBA. I didn't find the book too interesting until the final game. (which is in the last 1 or 2 chapters)I don't think someone should read the book unless they know a lot of basketball terms. I also think that boys will probably like this book more than girls. Simply, because it deals with a BOY that wants to make it to the NBA. I didn't enjoy this book too well, but maybe you will! Good luck reading!

Hoops Summary
Seventeen-year-old Lonnie Jackson is a star basketball player that dreams about making it into the NBA. There is an important game that he must play in and it will decide if he makes it into the NBA, but the pressure is high because some bettors want Lonnie to blow the game on purpose. Will Lonnie make it to the NBA or will he give in to the pressure? You'll have to read this action packed book to find out!

the best book ever
im not done reading it yet, but its an awesome book. its about lonnie jackson a street baller from harlem who playesin this tournament. at first he dont wanna play becausehis coach is a wino. but then he learns to like him. anyway i recommened this book ... Read more

Reviews (10)

American Girl Addy
Having two bookworm granddaughters the American Girl books have provided a warm bonding time for us. Learning of the civil war through the eyes of a young save girl, escaping to freedom, only to work as hard as every and searching for family to once again be together. This is a "one more page please grandma" book. My granddaughters know when the Civil War ended, they know the hard ship of slavery thanks to these books. We shared tears with Addy and her mother when Sam and Father were sold. We shared the Joy of freedom and the work of a Victory garden .These books are a wonderful learnning tool as well as entertaining. We plan on reading each set together.

This is a wonderful series
I am currently reading these books to my daughter who just turned five. We are both really enjoying them. I know the recommended age is seven and up but these books are great even before then but be prepared to discuss it also. My daughter can't wait to find out what Addy is going to do next. I think that these books are a great foundation for young girls. It can help them understand history as well as know that they can make a difference in the world no matter how small they are. We are working our way through the different American Girl series but I definately recommend the Addy books to everyone young and old. I think the history section at the end of each book is fabulous and really puts it in language a child can understand. It also helps that they relate the history to Addy since she is someone your child "knows" after reading the books.

Best American Girl!
I really liked this book out of all of the American Girls books. Addy is my favorite. I haven't read this book since I was about in the second grade, I'm in seventh grade now. I really need to get the whole Addy set. I recommend Addy for everyone!

Meet Addy
I like this book because it is fun and easy to read. It only has
69 pages and a lot of good pictures. Addy is an American girl who
is a slave and wants to be free. At the end of the book she was
free. I was happy for her.

NICE BOXED SET!!!!!!!!!
I liked the Addy books a lot when I was younger, and got the hardcover boxed set for Christmas. Addy is one of the better American Girls in the American Girls Collection, and her books should be a recommended read. ... Read more

Book Description

This jewel-like vignette from Sandra Cisneros's best-selling The House on

Mango Street shows, through simple, intimate portraits, the diversity among us.

"This exuberant bilingual picture book, with eye-catching artwork, is an

affectionate picture of familial love and a cozy bedtime book."--The Horn

Book.A Dragonfly Book in English and Spanish.


A Parenting Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year




... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Gem
I went to Barnes & Nobles and to my surprise, the children's section had a few Spanish/English books. I took home TOO MANY TAMALES, CHATO'S KITCHEN, TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA!, CARAMELO, and all of Sandra Cisnero's books. Finally, there are books that represent the diversity of Latino's in the United States... PELITOS and TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA! were my daughter's favorites. In both books you can hear, see, touch and smell the settings. One author is Cuban, the other Mexican and they both bring us into their culture in a beautiful way. Pelitos is lyrical beyond words. Sandra Cisneros is a poet. This treasure is a must!

Great book
I love this book! It is written with the words both in English and Spanish. It is short, sweet and so comfortiing. It's also great for discussing diversity, even in one's own family. My daughter and I love to read this at bedtime.

Wonderful Hairs
Hairs Pelitos by Sandra Cisernos is an excellent resource for early childhood educators and parents. It is a bilingual story that describes the differences between family members' hair. It offers children the experience of diversity within one's own family and how we can accept the differences within our own family. As a teacher, the concept of diversity can be extended from family to community and beyond. The language is beautiful and can be used to demonstrate to children how a writer uses descriptive language. The story captures an up-close look at one example of wonder..how simple things mean a lot. Children can pull from their own family rituals, similarities and differences to write their own story.

a warm tale
Hairs- Pelitos, is a poetic short story about the various heads of hair in a family. Mama's is the most wonderful as it carries with it the odor of fresh baked bread, a smell the narrator associates with being close to mama. Difficult to capture in a short review, I recommend this book to those who appreciate poetry and lyricism within a short story for children. It is especially wonderful how appreciated the mother is in the story, and how cherished. My three year old finds it touching.

Charming for Children of all Cultures
This is a little picture book that accomplishes many things and it has captured the attention of my preschoolers. It attempts to describe things that are different and things that are the same. The story describes each member of a Hispanic family by varied hair types, a phenomenon not uncommon in Hispanic families. The colorful illustrations play on this theme and depict different interests for each person of the family. What I sense is the same is that all these varied individuals belong to the same family and are subject to the mother's love. The words, both in Spanish and English, are lyrical and enchanting. The narrator is a young girl whose "hair does not obey barrettes or bands" yet still enjoys sleeping next to her mother. This story may help young children celebrate the differences within a close family. The illustrations are fun and vibrant (at least in my hardcover edition). It may also be an excellent tool if you want them to know a story in two languages. This is an enjoyable, creative story that takes no more than ten minutes to share with your children. ... Read more

Book Description

The stunning 1995 Caldecott Honor Book

John Henry is stronger than ten men, and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Julius Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. Jerry Pinkney illustrates the story with "rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smiles and tears" (Booklist).

"A tall tale and heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit....The story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world." --Booklist, starred review

* A Caldecott Honor Book
* Winner of the Society of Illustrators' Gold Medal
* An ALA Notable Book
* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
* The Horn Book Fanfare List
* A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year
* A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
* Winner of the Aesop Prize

* A Picture Puffin
* Full-color illustrations
* 40 pages
* Ages 4 up ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If I had a hammer...
If you haven't read a book that combines the individual talents of Lester and Pinkney (Julius Lester writes, Jerry Pinkney draws) then this might be a good place to start. The two artists have reinterpreted a variety of classic African-American tales to their own liking. From their, "The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit" to the more recent "Sam and the Tigers" (a reworked "Little Black Sambo") they are nothing if not prolific. With this book they tackle one of this country's tallest tales. The legend of John Henry. And whether you delight in their version or cling to the story you learned as a child (as I confess, I did while reading it) you have to step back and admire their enthusiasm.

In this version of "John Henry" the duo has consulted a variety of texts and versions, adding some special touches and flourishes of their own. This John Henry is a baby one day and an adult the next. He can outrace the meanest man in town and carve through solid rock with a rainbow draped across his shoulders. When the final showdown against a steam drill comes, John Henry's ready. He beats that drill only to die from a burst heart. We are assured, however, that he is buried on the White House Lawn and that at night you can hear his voice singing.

There's some getting used to here, certainly. No refrain of, "I'm gonna die with a hammer in my hand" is chanted. And John Henry doesn't work the railroads with everyone else. Rather, he accidentally stumbles across the man with the steam engine while on travels of his own. And then Lester has tried to make the story applicable to the youth of today. He did this in "The Tales of Uncle Remus" too, and I had some very similar problems. In this particular book, for example, it mentions early on that, "That day John Henry helped his papa rebuild the porch he had busted through, added a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of the jacutzis". Personally, I don't see why this helps the text at all. I dunno. Maybe kids like hearing about Jacuzzis in their picture books. But for me, at any rate, it distracts. Pinkney's illustrations, on the other hand, are above criticism. Here we have a Ferret-Faced Freddy that has a mean weasel-like face. We see John Henry grow older and older as we watch, as well as taller and taller. I liked the clothes, the setting, and the landscapes. I especially liked the fact that John's gap-toothed grin is with him from infancy through adulthood.

The world is sorely in need of more African-American fables as remarkable as this one. And it goes without saying that everyone EVERYONE should know the ballad of John Henry by heart. I'm not willing to drop the towel and declare this particular version the epitome of all John Henrys, but it is still a noble work. Feel free to criticize it, but don't discount it. Never discount it.

Magical
Julius Lester's version of the legend of John Henry is well-told. I laughed out loud when Lester described Ferret-Faced Freddy, a man "so mean, he cried if he had a nice thought." Lester also uses marvelous metaphors (next to a large mountain, John Henry doesn't look "much bigger than a wish that wasn't going to come true"). Lester's version is very different from other versions I'm familiar with (such as Ezra Jack Keat's), but I love it.

Pinkney, who has teamed up with Lester on other books (my favorite is "Sam and the Tigers"), provides beautiful illustrations to accompany the text.

So-so
My 5 year old was only half interested in this book. I think the story was a bit long, and the wording did not flow well. The drawings were nice, but I think they appealed to me more than my son. ... Read more

Book Description

After tumbling off the back of a wagon, Jip was brought to live at the town poor farm. He has been content to do chores and tend animals -- until the day the lunatic arrives. Put seems terrifying and less than human, but as the weeks pass, Jip sees the man he truly is. So, when a menacing stranger comes to town, claiming to have been sent by Jip's grieving father, Jip turns to his new friend to make sense of his past. Jip is another triumph from Katherine Paterson -- and fans of her Lyddie are in for a special surprise." Like Paterson's Newbery-winning Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, this historically accurate story is full of revelations and surprise...The taut, extremely readable narrative and its tender depictions of friendship and loyalty provide first-rate entertainment."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review" Maintains its riveting pace from the opening chapter to the final moment when the protagonist triumphs over adversity...Evokes the attitudes and social conditions of the times [1855-1856] in lucent prose."-- The Horn Book, starred review ... Read more

Book Description

A vivid portrayal of a close-knit Hispanic community

Felita's parents promise she will love their new neighborhood. Only Abuelita, her grandmother, understands how much Felita will miss her old block, and her best friend Gigi. But her new neighbors taunt and tease Felita and her family because they are from Puerto Rico. First published twenty years ago, Felita's compelling story has resonance for kids today.

"An honest, realistic view of an important aspect of contemporary American life."--The Horn Book

* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* A Child Study Children's Book Committee Children's Book of the Year

* A Puffin Novel
* 112 pages
* Ages 8-12 ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Felita Review
Felita is a story of a Puerto Rican family struggling to give their children a brighter future in the face of racism and prejudice. I think these are important issues that need to be addressed with children, in the classroom or in the home. I found it especially poignant that the children immediately accepted Felita as a friend, but it was the adults that rejected differences and cultivated the prejudice in their children. I am confused about the previous review stating that this book is appropriate for chidren ages 4-8. The back of the book states that it is for children 7-11 years of age and the top of this page states that it is appropriate for ages 9-12. Children of these ages should become familiar with short chapter books such as this one. Overall, I found this to be a good addition to a culturally diverse selection of childrens books-- one perspective to add to the many that make up life in the United States.

A book better shared
Felita introduces the reader to a strong and loving Puerto Rican family living in New York. The characters are well-developed and interesting. The plot is interesting enough to engage young readers. The book is recommended for children 4-8, but I feel it is more appropriate for children comfortable with chapter books. I realize that age levels are subjective, but I believe that a 4-8 year old would be better off sharing this book with a caregiver or teacher. The book deals with racism and death of a loved one, and for these reasons I feel that it makes an appropriate shared reading book. It is important to offer children a chance to discuss Felita's experience with racism. Without open discussion,it could lead the reader to believe that all Irish and Germans are racist. In this story Felita's beloved grandmother dies, but the death is dealt with in three pages at the end of the story. I don't think given the care taken to describe the relationship between Felita and her grandmother, this ending does the characters or subject justice. ... Read more

Book Description

Has Keisha found happiness at last?

In her senior year, things are finally looking a little brighter for Keisha. Still haunted by the suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Andy, she finds comfort in the attentions of the new track coach, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan Hathaway, the principal's son. How can Keisha not be swept off her feet by a tall, dark, handsome "lemon drop wrapped in licorice" who treats her like a woman, not a girl?

But suddenly this intoxicating relationship takes a frightening turn, and Keisha is once again plunged into the darkness she's fought so hard to escape. Will Keisha ever be able to find her way back into the light? ... Read more

Reviews (17)

DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN
The book tath Iam reading is called Darkness Before Dawn and it's about a girl named Keisha and her friends.Keisha seems to be very confused because her old boyfriend Andy killed himself,and she starts to date a 23year o;d named Johnathan hathaway the principal's son.Keisha attendends Halzewood High in Cincinatti,Ohio and she's 18years old.The 23yearold that keisha's dating is a rapist but she dosen't know it.He tries to attack Keisha but she fights back. The reason why I like this book is because of the realism, things that happened in this book also happens everyday in real life.Ialso liked this book because of the characters.I can relate to some of them and they seem like people I would like to be my friends.Another reason thst I liked this book is because of the fast pace.It wasn't boring at all.This book made me express my anger when someone did something wrong and sad when Keisha got attacked.Irecommed this book to everybody to read.This was a good book especially for young people.

Darkness before Dawn
Keisha is a student in high school. Her ex-boyfriend has just committed suicide. She is trying to cope with this tragedy. Her friends are a great help. She really starts to come around when the principals son, Jonathon takes interest in her. She wants to go out with him but he is 21 and she is 18. Her parents are not to keen on the idea of Keisha dating someone three years older than her. They give in when Jonathon takes several students on a ski trip. Afterwards he calls her every night. The Valentine's Dance is coming up and Jonathon has something special planned. Keisha knows her parents will not allow her to go alone with Jonathon so she goes with a friend. Then she pretends she has a headache and he takes her home. Shortly after Jonathon picks her up to take her out to eat. Keisha is expecting a nice restaurant. Where she ends up and what happens next are not what she anticipated. To find out, read the book.

This is the sequel to Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire. If you enjoyed these books, then Darkness before Dawn is a must read. This book is recommended for young adolescents due to issues that Keisha deal with.

Love
I really enjoyed this book i would actually read it over and over. I think that what happen to Keisha can happen to a female everyday i feel that forJonthan to be so sweet how could he be so cruel I think that he acts the way he acts because he has a mental problem or he's suffering from something that occured in his childhood. He really didn't learn his leason about Keisha or his past victum because he went out and prayed on another female. I think he should be looked away and they should through away the key. I don't know how anybody could commite such a crime. I pray that all men like him get looked up forever, they should have to suffer mentally and physically let all those women did.

this book hepled me alot
before i read this book, i didnt have a clue as to what type of things guys can do out there in the world. When Kiesha thought Jonathan was the cure for her problems, i thought she was right. but when i read on, i was obviously wrong. I took advice from this book such as me now listening to my parents and friends thoughts and feelings. a couple of weeks before i read this book, i had ran off with an 18 year old, and im only 12. my mom was hurt when she found out. i felt alful and now i know how keisha's mom and dad felt. when Edna showed up and saved Kiesha after she ran out of Jonathans apartment, i knew that if you helped someone, then they will show up and help you. i loved this book and sharon m. draper. i hope to one day be as good as a writer as her. r.i.p andy

Darkness Before Dawn
Darkness Before Dawn was the best book! Everyone should read it. It shows you that you can cope with things no matter how bad they get, and how hard it might seem. It shows you that you should be especially careful who you trust, and that you can always count on a friend and even the kindness of strangers. Keisha couldn't have survived her seinor year if she hadn't had both during her incredibly rough timne at Hazelwood High. ... Read more

Book Description

Korean Children's Favorite Stories is a captivating collection of Korean folk tales that have thrived for generations. Some are unique to Korea, while others echo those told in other countries. Written with wit and pathos, they reveal the follies of people everywhere and expose the human-like qualities of animals and the animal-like qualities of humans. ... Read more

Book Description

No matter how gently Mama pulls as she combs Keyana's hair, it still hurts.Keyana doesn't feel lucky to have such a head of hair, but Mama tells her she is because she can wear it any way she chooses. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Reflective Commentary On I Love My Hair
Roethler, Jacque. "Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity Formation for Black Children in the United States." African America Review 32.1 (1998): 95-104. Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia. I Love My Hair. Illus. E. B. Lewis. Canada: Little, Brown and Company 1998. In I Love My Hair, the author reflects on a little girl's experience of her mother fixing her hair. Although Keyana's experience of getting her hair fixed is not always pleasant, the outcome is always pleasing. While Keyana's mother fixes her hair, she tells Keyana how beautiful her hair is and that she is lucky to have the kind of hair that she does. Once when Keyana's mother fixes her hair in an afro, the kids at school teased her, but then her teacher told her that she should be proud of her hair and that the afro style is a statement of pride in her African heritage. Through her mother's and her teacher's encouragement, Keyana learns to appreciate and love her hair as well as herself. I like this book for various reasons. First the main character is Afro-American. During my childhood, I was not exposed to books in which the main characters and illustrations reflected African American culture and values. The beginning of I Love My Hair depicts a situation that is so familiar among African American communities: Keyana sits between her mother's legs, squeezing her eyes together as her mother combs her hair. I became nostalgic while I read that page. I believe that literature containing African Americans as central characters is vital for African American children. This view is also shared by Jacque Roethler who, in her article "Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity Formation for Black Children in the United States" declares that children are sensitive to illustrations. She says that one of the ways in which Afro-American children develop their schemata is through illustrations in literature. This statement alone conveys how important it is to have Afro-American characters in literature. Roethler goes even further to say that the absence of Afro-Americans from literature and illustrations is detrimental because it makes Afro-Americans invisible in society. It is important to have Afro-Americans as main characters in literature, but it is more essential that their presence be positive. Many people perceive African American physical features as ugly or in need of correcting. In I Love My Hair, Tarpley takes one of these features and refutes its long-lived misconception. In this book, Tarpley tells of the natural beauty of Afro-Americans' kinky hair texture, thus countering the myth that most Afro-American females in today's society were brought up to believe: that if you don't have "good hair" (not kinky and fuzzy), then you must straighten or relax your hair to make it beautiful. Tarpley describes the beauty of Afro-American hair when Keyana's mother tells her that because she has this kind of hair, she can fix it in any style she wishes. Her mother continues to tell her that never will she be restricted to one style: one day, she can plant rows of braids in it like rows of vegetables in a garden; the next, she can have two ponytails on the side like wings to fly away. Just as the comparisons of her hair to nature portray the naturalness and beauty of her hair because nature is beautiful, the multifaceted nature of Keyana's hair also symbolizes the versatility of the African American people. This is another reason that this book is so enjoyable. Finally, E.B. Lewis' illustrations communicate the essence of what Tarpley describes in words. The cover of this book shows Keyana smiling, with her hair in small braids with red and blue beads on the ends. In this picture, Lewis makes visible the stray strands on Keyana's braids. This picture is so beautiful to me because it looks real. The familiarity and realism of the scenes in this picture made me wonder about Lewis's race. Because of the way these illustrations capture the experience of "hair fixing," I concluded that Lewis is indeed Afro-American. . Roethler states that Afro-American illustrators, having first-hand experience, seem to know what fits naturally and are able to "touch chords" that illustrators from other cultures may not be able to caress (Roethler 98). For instance, the afro-picks, hair bows, beads, twisters, and grease are objects that African Americans associated with hair fixing and these are all pictures that appear in this book. In an illustration, Keyana's skipping down the sidewalk and in the background two girls are playing a hand game like "Miss Mary Mack". Hand games are a common tradition among African American communities. These are some things that illustrators from other cultures may not have captured. I Love My Hair captures the African American community in a positive way. This book promote the messages of accepting and loving one's self and accepting other peoples differences. Tarpley does a wonderful job of taking what is often seen as negative and showing where it is actually positive. More books of this caliber are needed.

Loving Your Hair
Natasha Anastasia Tarpley introduces us to Keyana in her book I LOVE MY HAIR! It is an account of Keyana's displeasure of the nightly ritual of having her hair combed. Her mother tenderly coddles her and washes away her cries with words of comfort and pride in having hair that can be styled in any way. She shares stories with her to help the time go by and to take Kenyana's mind off of her hair.

I LOVE MY HAIR! is a beautiful story of mother and daughter and instills pride in oneself while at the same time validates the importance of bonding with your children. The illustrations of E. B. Lewis vividly display various hairstyles and the flowing words of Tarpley's story.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal of
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Hooray for Ethnic Hair!
As the cacausian mother of an African-American daughter, I am grateful for this book. My daughter hates having her hair combed. She has always cried and begged me not to do it. So I bought this book. Now she looks at the pictures and reads about Keyana and her hair while I comb through her own. It not only gives her something to do, but she doesn't feel singled out any more! Thank you to the makers of this title.

beautiful story for kids...
great book and story. i love my hair is a positive affirmation of hair luv to black children. we need more of this positivity in the afro community. i read to my daughter nightly and she likes this book a lot... i have been napptural for almost 3 years and i can honestly say "i love my hair!"

blessings!

I like this book...
I liked the book because she talked about her hair and the different styles she could do with it. I also liked the part when she 'danced to the rhythm of the beads in her hair.' I loved the ending when she said she was going to make her hair into ponytails 'like a pair of wings' and 'take off and fly away' It is one of my favorite books.

The pictures were very detailed. I really liked everything about this book.

Nyasha S. of California ... Read more

Book Description

After a fire destroys their home and possessions, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save and save until they can afford to buy one big, comfortable chair that all three of them can enjoy.After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy. "A superbly conceived picture book expressing the joyful spirit of a loving family."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A favorite for generations
Mama brings home the biggest jar that she can find. They all save their change until the jar is filled. They had a fire and are starting out new again. They really want a big comfy chair. My mom loved to read this to my brother and I when we were young. I love reading it to my son and he loves the book too. This book goes in our book box with just our favorite books.

wonderful story
I really loved this book. It tells a sweet story about how a family is supported by friends and family after they lose their house to a fire. It also shows how the family works together to save up for a chair so the mother, who works as a waitress to support them, can have a comfortable place to sit.

I give it 4 stars only because my son did not care for it. I can only assume it is because none of the characters were boys and, it's really not a "boy" story, I suppose. He may also have had a difficult time relating to the whole idea of single parenthood. This is a rather foreign thing to him.

Happiness is a big comfy chair
Vera B. Williams's best known book. In this story a young girl, her single mom, and her grandmother all occupy the same apartment after their home is destroyed by a fire. To fill their empty space the women scrimp and save for a big comfy armchair.

This is a story of perseverance, but it isn't preachy in any way. The family looks to be South American, but this isn't drummed into the readers' heads. All it's trying to do is tell a story about getting what you want when you've faced a disaster of some kind. Though I've never really been a fan of Williams's art, this book is very well done. Ms. Williams works with a rough watercolor style that leaves little room for fine details. Just the same, when the mother in this book sees her house on fire after buying new pumps, the next picture displays the woman, new shoes in hand, sprinting towards the house. It's the little touches that make any book interesting, and this book falls into that category. Finally, it's a bright cheerful story that is smart enough to acknowledge sadness and hardship. An excellent book for kids.

Even the very young will love this book
I borrowed this book from the library to read aloud to my 2 year old. He loves it and I'm adding it to my wish list.

The story is about a family of mother, grandmother and daughter (maybe 7 or 8 years old). The mother works as a waitress to support her family. The little girl realizes and appreciates how hard her mother works - she often helps out at the diner herself after school. She's learned from her mother the value of saving - when her mother's boss gives her some money for filling the salt shakers, she puts half in the big jar at home.

The little girl speaks of a fire that detroyed their home and all their possessions. Through the help of extended family and friends they are able to start over. However their new apartment lacks a place for her mother to "take a load off [her] feet" The family saves coins in a big jar for a year to be able to buy a new easy chair - from the mother's tips, from the grandmother's market savings, from the little girl's "earnings".

The pictures are beautiful - colorful, almost luscious. Our favorites are of the mother collapsed in a chair while the little girl counts her tips and a picture of the little girl's fantasy chair - huge, covered in velvet with roses on it.

The words are simple enough that beginning readers will be able to master it, especially after having listened to it being read aloud over and over again. My son has asked for it at least a dozen times in the last week!

A Chair for My Mother
This book is about a family that lost all of their furniture in a house fire. The family members decide to save coins to buy a new chair for their home. The mother is a waitress and tries to save all of the money she can to help out the family. The mother and daughter take all of the money they save it in a jar. When the jar is full they go out and buy a beautiful chair for the family to enjoy. This book is appropriate for ages 6 to 10. The illustrations are very meticulous with a painted appearance and show exactly what is going on in the text. Each page has an inventive and vibrant border on it that pertains to what is happening on that particular page. This is a Caldecott Honor Book that teaches a valuable lesson on how hard times can always be worked through and that working hard and giving 110% will always make a difference. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

sweet story
The Red Blanket is a very sweet picture book about adoption. This is written instory form from adopted mother to her child. She tells the story of how she was lonley and wanted a child to share her life with. She plans everything out and buys items for her new baby. The items include a special red balnket. The blanket is loney and has been in the children's shop for a long time. The mother feels like it has been waiting for a special child. She goes to China and adopts the baby girl. At first the bay is unsure of the new mother. But she gives the baby the blanket and things go better for them both.

This is a great picture book to teach young children that sometimes Mommys and Babies become a family by adoption.

We recommend this book to children ages 1-4. The book is short enough to keep their attention and has a great story line as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Dad believed people were like money. You could be a thousand-dollar person or a hundred-dollar person -- even a ten-, five-, or one-dollar person. Below that, everybody was just nickels and dimes. To my dad, we were pennies.

Fourteen-year-old Manny Hernandez wants to be more than just a penny. He wants to be a vato firme, the kind of guy people respect. But that's not easy when your father is abusive, your brother can't hold a job, and your mother scrubs the house as if she can wash her troubles away.

In Manny's neighborhood, the way to get respect is to be in a gang. But Manny's not sure that joining a gang is the solution. Because, after all, it's his life -- and he wants to be the one to decide what happens to it.

Reviews (66)

Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez
Victor Martinez's Parrot in the Oven, was in my opinion, one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. Its not a book that demands a great amount of intelligence from the reader because it is written in a form that can be read by a wide range of ages, but the story is truly genuine. It focuses on the life of Manuel Hernandez and his family's struggle with problems such as a racism, poverty, and violence. Forteen year old Manuel, often called "Manny", has an older brother, Bernardo, often referred to as "Nardo", an older sister, Magda, and a younger sister Pedi. They live in the projects, constantly avoiding people such as the Garcia family, who are almost always up-to-no-good. Manuel's father can't keep a job, much like his son Bernardo. His father spends most of his free time at Rico's Pool Hall intoxicating himself into an angry stooper, only to return to his home, occasionally reulting in abusive behavior. Manuel's mother tries so hard to maintain a clean, and socially acceptable home, but her continuous arguments with her husband, as well as Magda's lack for respect and responsibility, manage to keep her stress level high, and the thought of true happiness inconceivable. Manuel desperately wants to be respected, but what he really wants is to be loved, especially by a girl. He once said, "Just thinking about telling a girl I liked her clamped the muscles on my chest and made my lungs pull hard to catch a breath." Eventually, Manuel gave up the idea that he would ever be "smooth" with girls and decides to join a gang in hopes of being allowed to kiss a girl in the gang. He kisses the girl, but later realizes that he doesn't really need to belong to a gang. In the end, Manuel realized what he has had the entire time, a home. He sits in his house, watching his sisters sleep peacefully on the couch and he knows, for the first time, that his is where he is supposed to be. He is at home. This book made me realize how much I personally, neglect the things and people that I love. I realize now, how much I take for granted. I not too, walk into my house and feel like it is where I belong more than any other place in the world. There, I have a family that I love and that loves me in return. I knew that before I read this book, but Parrot in the Oven made me appreciate my home and the fact that I am loved even more than in the past. I would recommend this book to anyone who occationally takes their life for granted.

Parrot in the Oven
This book is from th view of a young teenager known as Manny. This story is about him and the moments he goes through, while dealing with family and firends. These moments help him figure out what is important in his life. In addition, this story also involves Manny's Mexican-Amercan family that tells their ups and downs and how they pull through, despite the financial and social problems that come from living in a complicated family. They try to overcome obstacles in a tough neighborhood in California.
In my opinion,"Parrot in the Oven" was not the type of book I would usually read. However it was interesting and it focused on everyday challenges such as teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, gangs, poverty, and dysfunctional families, issues faced by teens everywhere. The author mixed true experiences from him and his sibling lives. Although, some events were not necessarily the truth the character known as Manny, was very much how the author felt between the ages of fourteen to sixteen years old. Therfore, the reader can only imagine what parts of the story consist of fiction and non-fiction. So, if teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, gangs, poverty, and dysfuctional families interest any reader, this is the book for them.

HARDSHIPS
I really enjoyed Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez. This book is about a boy named Monolo Hernandez, who lives a difficult life. His father is a drug addict and a drunk. His mother cheats on his father, and his father tried killing her for that. His brothers are mean to him. He thinks the only way of getting over all of this is by joining a gang. The only problem is that Manny doesn't know if that is what he wants to do. He doesn't know if he wants to get into that kind of life. If you want to know what happens to