Review of FOUR LEGS BAD, TWO LEGS GOOD!

Johnson, D.B. 2007. FOUR LEGS BAD, TWO LEGS GOOD! Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0-618-80909-7. $16.00.

While most of the animals of the No-Man Farm are working hard to keep it running, Orvie the pig is not. When Duck discovers Orvie is a lazy despot rather than a hard-working farmer, he decides to do something about it. Duck pulls the plug on their routine challenging the validity of the way things are.

Johnson’s layout includes Picasso-like, mixed media illustrations and hand-lettered text. Many pages are presented in a series of comic book frames and conversations are presented in speech bubbles. This format is likely to hold young readers’ attention by illustrating sequencing and dialog. Though this book may prove to be over the heads of its primary audience, its usefulness is clear. The lazy pig and pestering duck are sure to strike a chord with young children. Give this book several readings if you want to catch all the details creatively peppered throughout its pages.

“Slightly cubist, cartoon-like illustrations in mixed media capture the lighthearted politics of this comic animal farm.” (Kirkus Review, 2007)
“…More than a few adults sharing it with kids will be tempted to revisit the classic.” (School Library Journal, 2007)

Recommended use: Read aloud, story time, or independent reading for children ages 5-12 years. This is a good story for discussing team work and equality as well as more weighty topics such as oppression and prejudice.

Review of EL GRAN DÍA DE LILY (LILLY’S BIG DAY)

Henkes, Kevin. 2006 (Spanish translation, 2008). EL GRAN DÍA DE LILY. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 978061363160

Lily is back and is as precocious and self-assured as ever. The young mouse best known for her purple plastic purse and movie star glasses now has designs on being the flower girl, la damita de honor, at her teacher’s wedding. Needless to say, Lily is not pleased when she learns that Mr. Slinger’s niece, rather than herself, has been selected. Readers will enjoy watching Lily make lemonade out of lemons as she copes with her disappointment and accepts Mr. Slinger’s concession.

Henkes continues to capture this young mouse’s voice with precision. He uses dialogue, illustrations and text position to emphasize Lily’s signature perseverance. Even after her parents explain to Lily she is not likely to be Mr. Slinger’s choice, Lily confirms to herself, “…I’m going to be the flower girl.” Further, Henkes emphasizes Lily’s commitment to proper flower girl etiquette by using 18 mini-illustrations on a two-page spread!

The Spanish translation of the text flows well with few unfamiliar words. The terms “tarareó” and “aula” are not commonly used among our school’s population. However, Henkes’ skillful use of context clues facilitates comprehension as well as vocabulary lessons. Criticas says, “the translation sparkles” and Horn Book notes “seeing this book in Spanish is a reminder that a good translation, such as this one, can make a story transcend language barriers.”
Recommended use: read aloud, story time, or independent picture walks for readers ages 5-9 years.

Review of UN LEON EN LA BIBLIOTECA (LIBRARY LION)

Knudsen, Michelle. Kevin Hawkes (Ill.) 2006 (Spanish translation, 2007). UN LEÓN EN LA BIBLIOTECA. New York: Lectorum. ISBN 978-1-933032-30-6

How important are rules? If the rules don’t apply, then what? As a lion walks through the library sniffing and rubbing, El Señor McBee wonders just that. The wise librarian, Señora Buendía, responds, “déjelo estar” (let him stay). This thoughtful story challenges readers to consider, “When is it ok to break the rules?”

Hawkes’ acrylic and pencil illustrations use soothing, muted tones reflecting the calm library environment. Even the text is a light brown shade rather than the traditional black. When the lion leaves, the text and illustrations make it evident he is missed—down to the wilting plant in the window. Throughout the story, wide-open eyes and mouths agape emphasize the text’s meaning. Señor McBee’s scowling face reveals a jealousy at which the words merely hint and text within the illustrations emphasizes the vehemence of Lion’s roar.

The Spanish translation of the text flows well with few unfamiliar terms. The phrase “mostrador de préstamo” (circulation desk) is new to me, but familiar to a colleague from Monterrey, Mexico. Teresa Mlawer’s translation uses formal yet accessible Spanish to relay Knudsen’s story. Criticas says, “kids will be drawn to [the lion], to the library, and to storytime.”

Recommended use: read aloud, story time, or independent picture walks for readers ages 5-9 years. Good story for beginning of the year “Rules” lesson or “How to respond in an emergency” lesson.

Review of SNAKES

Gibbons, Gail. 2007. SNAKES. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-2122-8

Historically, snakes have been seen as gods and symbols of health. But today, the mention of snakes makes many people’s skin crawl—even though most of the 3,000 kinds of snakes are harmless to humans. Gibbons hits yet another homerun with this accurate, well-organized, and informative book on snakes. Though somewhat cartoonish, Gibbons illustrations are accurate and labeled with the name and geographic region of each snake. A color-coded world map highlights the areas which snakes inhabit. The short text blocks include easy-to-read sentences which are supported by the corresponding pictures. This style facilitates reader comprehension. Gibbons’ use of complete sentences in her captions also models proper writing form. Specific information in this book is easily found by using the bold, consistently located headings. In order to share tidbits about snakes which did not fit into a heading, a fact page is included. There is neither an additional resources section nor a bibliography in SNAKES. This leads the reader to independent research, though a few hints would have been nice.

This informational resource on snakes is recommended for readers ages 5-10.

Review of NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S YOUR BIG BACKYARD

National Wildlife Federation. May 2008. YOUR BIG BACKYARD, 12(5). ISSN 0886-5299

From photographs and articles to games and recipes, this magazine for young animal enthusiasts has something for everyone! Published by the National Wildlife Federation, YOUR BIG BACKYARD contains accurate information on all types of animals. Each issue has a theme on which all pieces focus—May’s theme is Meet the Kids. It includes information on the appearance, habitat, and other characteristics of baby animals. Interspersed among the informational text are rebus stories, mazes, a pull-out poster and the Find Bonnie game. Many of the features, such as kid-friendly recipes, recur throughout the year. This provides a comforting sense of predictability for young children. Interaction between the reader and her caregiver is encouraged by including such things as shared reading stories, the use of questioning, as well as crafts. Every item in the magazine is outlined in a clear, attractive table of contents using both words and pictures to help readers find articles. The articles themselves are marked with page numbers and an easily recognizable title. In addition, pictures support new readers by having well-matched captions. The voice is right on target for this magazine’s intended audience. Though anthropomorphism is found throughout the issue, it is reflective of how many young children perceive and interact with animals. Short articles and stories, succinct sentences, and opportunities for interaction make YOUR BIG BACKYARD a hit month after month.

This magazine is highly recommended for animal enthusiasts ages 3-6.

Review of A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER

Adler, David A. 2002. A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 09-8234-1702-6

Ever heard, “I like Ike” and “I still like Ike?” From this picture book biography, the reader can assume that David Adler still likes Ike too. This biography of Dwight Eisenhower is one in a series of over 30 picture book biographies Adler has written. Though easy to read, entertaining and packed with original photographs, alas this book falls into the trap of glorifying its subject. Though a praiseworthy man, the litany of compliments, including “brilliant leadership,” “friendly and popular in school,” “natural leader,” and “superior student,” seem a bit like overkill—as compared to the modest admission that “sometimes he lost his temper.” This glorification notwithstanding, A PICTURE BOOK OF DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER is most likely an accurate depiction of his life. In the verso, the executive director of The Eisenhower Foundation praises the book as a “factual pictoral biography.” Reference aids include a time line of important dates and an interesting and informative author’s note. Though many pieces of Eisenhower’s life are introduced, much is left unsaid. Few details of his war experience and his presidency are discussed. An interested reader could use the selected bibliography and recommended websites sections to fill in the gaps. With bestselling books to his credit, Adler is clearly a talented writer. However, I can’t help but wonder, what would Adlai Stevenson have to add to this biography?

This picture book biography is recommended for readers ages 6-10.

Review of THE BROOK BOOK: EXPLORING THE SMALLEST STREAMS

Arnosky, Jim. 2008. THE BROOK BOOK: EXPLORING THE SMALLEST STREAMS. Westport, CT: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9-780525-477167

Mayflies begin their lives here while some fish and wildflowers spend their whole lives here. The chickadee and muskrat depend on it for survival. Brooks can be interesting places and Jim Arnosky sets out to ensure readers of his book know why. With sections on insects, amphibians, plants, fish and more; the reader learns about what can be found in and around brooks and how best to appreciate those things. With particular focus on study and preservation, Arnosky includes strategies for having the least negative impact on this fragile ecosystem. His tone is informative and instructional without being patronizing. Detailed information such as the materials used by the Caddis flies to build their cases sets THE BROOK BOOK apart from other more general books on water ecosystems. The realistic illustrations are labeled and often accompanied by a life-sized silhouette, giving readers a sense of dimension and perspective. An author’s note geared toward teachers encourages the use of brooks as an outdoor learning environment. Also included is a bibliography of resources for additional study on brooks. This piece of informational literature has neither a table of contents nor an index, though its organization lends itself to the use of both. Unfortunately, if the reader is in search of a specific piece of information about brooks, he or she must either browse or read the entire book.

This informational resource on brooks is appropriate for readers ages 5-9.