Award-winning author Jerdine Nolen‘s picture books often tell stories that blend fantasy and realism in an unsettling way that delights young readers and fires their imaginations, from her first book Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm, which was made into a … Continue reading ...
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 8/4/2011
By: Chris Singer,
on 8/3/2011
A Storm Called Katrina by Myron Uhlberg and illustrated by Colin Bootman
Review by Chris Singer
About the author:
Myron Uhlberg is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of a number of children’s books. He has authored five children’s books, among them the Schneider Family Award winner “Dad, Jackie, and Me.” He recently published a memoir of his life in Brooklyn, New York, growing up the oldest hearing son of deaf parents. A retired businessman, Uhlberg lives with his wife in CA.
About the illustrator:
Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad but moved to the United States at the age of seven. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, he has illustrated numerous books for children, including Dad, Jackie, and Me. Almost to Freedom was a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. Bootman lives in New York City.
About the book:
Ten-year-old Louis Daniel hates it when Mama treats him like a baby. But when Hurricane Katrina blows through the Gulf Coast on a fateful August night, followed by broken levees and rising floodwaters threatening New Orleans, Louis feels like a little kid again. With no time to gather their belongings save Louis s beloved horn Daddy leads the family from their home and into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, a winsome black-and-white dog, and desperate neighbors heading for dry ground. Taking shelter in the already-crowded Superdome, Louis and his parents wait and wait. As the days pass, the electricity goes out, the air conditioning dies, the bathrooms are closed, and people around them begin to bicker as they run out of food and water. When Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the Dome, Louis knows he s no longer a baby. It s up to him to find Daddy, with the help of his prized cornet.
My take on the book:
Everything I’ve ever read by Myron Uhlberg has been outstanding and although my daughter is a bit young for some of them, I have been collecting them for her to read when she’s older. A Storm Called Katrina is no exception and might be Uhlberg’s most powerful book yet.
The power in this story comes through the eyes of ten-year-old Louis Daniel. We follow Louis’ journey with his parents after they are forced to leave their home to seek refuge at the Superdome. Through Louis, we see the fear, sadness, devastation and tough choices people face during a natural disaster.
It’s hard to believe Katrina happened 6 years ago (we’re coming up on the “anniversary” this August 29th) and while most of the country hasn’t thought about Katrina in a long time, the devastation is still very real for many as recovery is still ongoing in parts of New Orleans.
As such, the release of this book is very timely and along with the beginning of a new school year throughout most of the country, teachers can discuss the anniversary of Katrina with their students. I recommend teachers and librarians look to
By: Amanda,
on 9/12/2009
After a week off to spend with my lovely family, Picture Book Saturday is back! Enjoy the goodies from this week folks!
Though not out until November, The Steel Pan Man of Harlem, written and illustrated by Colin Bootman, is a must have for your order cards this fall.
A fabulous retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Bootman takes the famous story and plops it town into the Harlem Renaissance, complete with rats, an instrument playing magic man, and a no-good mayor out to get something for nothing.
I love when authors retell famous stories, as it gives a whole new spin on something very familiar from childhood. With this particular story, readers get the beauty and magic of the Harlem Renaissance mixed with a bit of mystery and magic of the Steel Pan Man.
The illustrations are beautiful and the author's note at the end of the story is a very nice personal touch. Great to have on library and home shelves. Awesome for a project on fairy tales or as a backdrop for a unit on the Harlem Renaissance.
The Steel Pan Man of Harlem
Colin Bootman
32 pages
Picture Book
Carolrhoda Books
9780822590262
November 2009
If you're wishing for a wonderfully old fashioned treat, Pennies for Elephants, written and illustrated by Lita Judge, is the perfect title for your family. Even the cover has an old-timey look and with a simple, yet sweet, story based on true events inside the pages, it's a great one to share with the family.
The children of Boston take up a fund to raise $6,000 to purchase three trained elephants for their zoo. The kids contribute every penny they earn, from 2 cents to over a dollar, eventually convincing the entire town to get involved in the drive. $6,000 is a whole lot of money in 1914, but all the children work together and manage to reach their goal.
With a great inspirational message, Pennies for Elephants is one to share with your young toddlers up to middle schoolers. Use during a unit on life in America during the early 20th century!
Pennies for Elephants
Lita Judge
40 pages
Picture Book
Hyperion
9781423113904
June 2009
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My super silly choice for this week is written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett, the collaborators on my all time FAVORITE children's book, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. In their latest piece of work, The Marshmallow Incident, food takes front and center once again, with equally silly results.
The town of Left and Right is separated right down the middle by a yellow dotted line, thoughy why, nobody knows. When an unlucky citizen crosses the line one day, the guard is instructed to take action....with marshmallows! 50,000 boxes of marshmallows in fact! What follows is incredibly silly, overly ridiculous, and a whole bunch of fun.
I love Ron Barrett's simple drawings that certainly illustrate the story, but without taking away from the silliness of the story. The Marshmallow Incident will make for a great read aloud, as well all need a little "ridiculous" in our lives sometimes!
The Marshmallow Incident
Judi Barrett
40 pages
Picture Book
Scholastic Press
9780545046534
August 2009
Finally, from one of my favorite publishing companies, Sylvan Dell, we have Moose and Magpie, written by Bettina Restrepo and illustrated by Sherry Rogers. I love the unique blend of fact and fiction that they effortlessly put out in each book they publish.
In this one, we have Moose and Magpie, two friends that love to be silly. Magpie is always telling Moose jokes, which though silly, elicit a fact about either moose or magpies at the bottom of the page. Your kiddos aren't only getting a cute story about the friendship between two species, but they're getting to learn on every single page.
The last few pages of the book include different activities to help young ones continue learning about the moose and the magpie, as well as more fun facts, and a "Moose Life Cycle" page. Another hit for Sylvan Dell!
Moose and Magpie
Bettina Restrepo
32 pages
Picture Book
Sylvan Dell
9781607180425
June 2009
All books were review copies from the publishers. Thanks to you all :)
To learn more about any of these books, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon.
