Earth Day by Jane Yolen

I am the Earth

And the Earth is me.

Each blade of grass,

Each honey tree,

Each bit of mud,

And stick and stone

Is blood and muscle,

Skin and bone.

And just as I

Need every bit

Of me to make

My body fit,

So Earth needs

Grass and stone and tree

And things that grow here

Naturally.

That’s why we

Celebrate this day.

That’s why across

The world we say:

As long as life,

As dear, as free,

I am the Earth

And the Earth is me. 

Poem from http://bit.ly/Z4WHIw

Earth Day Image from http://bit.ly/11iXi98

The Sun in My Belly by Sister Susan; illustrations by Sister Rain

Jenny and Molly are two young girls playing ball in a field. They begin to argue and finally walk away from one another, both angry and sad. Jenny cries, but the warmth of the sun on her head gives her comfort, and she begins to realize that everything is connected and thus inside of her. As she reflects on the beauty of the natural world around her—and subsequently the beauty in herself—she is happy and no longer feels alone. When Jenny encounters Molly again, they both apologize for their behavior and begin to share their thoughts on the world and its many wonders.

Inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, The Sun in My Belly introduces readers to the Buddhist practice of mindfulness and connectedness. Sister Susan and Sister Rain, both ordained nuns in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote this book to share a philosophical concept: we are never alone because everything is a part of us, from the rain and sun to the plants and animals with which we share our world. Sister Rain’s beautiful watercolor illustrations lend a softness to the story and teachings, and it is a nice introduction to a very philosophical and meditative view of life.

Some families may find this a good book for a home collection, especially for parent-kid discussions, but finding the appropriate audience for The Sun in My Belly could be difficult because of its abstract and spiritual content. I expect most copies of this book will end up either in class units about world religion or with school counselors dealing with loss, loneliness, and meditation. Though the plot is not very motivating–it exists only to define an idea–it is a unique book, and the pictures are lovely and calming. I personally enjoyed The Sun in My Belly and its reflective nature, and I am happy to have it on my own bookshelf. If you have a place for it in your (or your child’s) life, it’s a good choice.

Ages 4-8

Copyright March 2007

ISBN: 9781888375640

Image from www.bookadda.com

In the middle of America (Wisconsin, to be precise), twelve-year-old Cyrus Smith and his older siblings Antigone and Daniel are living their everyday hum-drum lives. Of course, their version of “hum drum” involves living parent-less, managing a run-down motel, and eating pancakes for just about every meal while pretending to the outside world that all is well. But when a strange tattooed man claiming to know their deceased father shows up, a strange turn of events (and one wild taxi ride) takes them to Ashtown and the steps of the Order of Brendan, the secret society of famous explorers throughout history. Thrown headfirst into a world of conspiracy, secrets, and adventure, they fight to prove themselves and stay alive in what is a sometimes crazy, sometimes scary, and always entertaining journey.

N. D. Wilson, author of the 100 Cupboards series, has created an adventurous and magical world that could almost exist in your own backyard. Think Harry Potter but in America and with real historical people as characters. Wilson has made U.S. history fun, stretching it out to fit a supernatural world that, despite the occasional magic trinket, runs mainly on brain power, physical prowess, and science. The Smith’s must learn not only how to fly airplanes and deep-sea dive but also to speak Latin, perform math, and navigate distant lands. Kids who read these books will be able to do those things and follow in a character’s footsteps, making Wilson’s books more accessible than any other epic fantasy I can think of. In his own words (from a letter to readers posted on Amazon): “Escapism in fiction can be a beautiful thing. But that’s not the only thing I hope to create. If kids around the world pass through The Dragon’s Tooth and [...] dream of learning to sail, to swim, to fly, if they dream of running faster than they’ve ever run and studying Latin (or Greek or Persian or Creole), if they walk outside and realize that their world is more wonderful, more surprising, more dangerous, and more exciting than anything I could ever create, if they discover that they themselves could become more interesting than any character I could ever shape, then I will have succeeded.” (Read his full letter and an additional review from James Dashner [author of The Maze Runner] here.)

The writing is great, full of gritty details that jump off the page. The characters are interesting and complex enough to grow from one book to the next, and the sibling banter is well done. There is a fair amount of violence and desolation, and kids are forced to rely on themselves as evil attacks not only them but their newly discovered world of exploration. That said, it’s nowhere close to the graphic violence in books like The Hunger Games. To compare it to Wilson’s 100 Cupboards books, The Dragon’s Tooth is aimed at a slightly older crowd, though younger readers may also enjoy it. All in all, it’s a great balance of story, action, character, and fantasy, and I recommend it to fans of epic fantasy/adventure series like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and more.

The Dragon’s Tooth is the first book in the Ashtown Burials series. The sequel, The Drowned Vault, is already out, and it is also a page turner. All together the series be five novels long, and I’m eager to see how it continues.

Ages 8-14

Copyright August 2011

ISBN: 978-0375863967

Image from www.randomhouse.com

Sometimes Earth can be uncomfortable with weather that’s either too hot or too cold, and huge storms seem to come out of nowhere. In this introductory book about the planets, author Wells invites kids to pretend they’re visiting each of the planets in our solar system to find a new place to live. (As he says, “If you’re thinking about moving, you’d want to visit first, to see if the planet was right for you.”) The journey brings us to all eight planets in our solar system, Earth included, and at each we learn about distance from the sun, planet diameter, orbit time, number of moons, temperatures, and more. Each planet is interesting, but none seem to quite fit the bill for what humans, plants, and animals need in a home. When we finally travel back home to “our” planet, Wells explains why Earth is just right for us and the animals and plants we live with. He also tells us that we haven’t always taken good care of our home (pollution, etc.) and there are ways to make it better. He talks about recycling, reducing use of resources, and reusable energy. After all, planet Earth is pretty special–we’d better take care of it!

Bright, cartoon-like illustrations make the book fun, and some pages are written and drawn at different angles so readers have to rotate the book, which makes it interesting. In some ways, What’s So Special reminds me of The Magic School Bus series with its bright colors, conversational tone, and educational content. (I grew up with Ms. Frizzle and her crazy field trips–I still love them!) That said, Wells’ book is more basic and has less of a story and less information overall, so it would probably sit better with a slightly younger audience with a shorter attention span.

With advice like, “If you like trees, Mars is not for you,” Wells keeps the writing accessible, and I think that for kids who are interested in outer space, this is a good book to start on. While Wells assumes a modest understanding of outer space (he mentions meteors and planet days without definitions), he includes basic introductions to the greenhouse effect, water cycle, and aquifers. The last page discusses planetary orbits in more detail as well as information on the search for other Earth-like planets. It would be a fun book to read alongside a kid, and it will certainly open the door to more questions and, hopefully, more reading. Overall, it’s a good book, though I can’t help but wish for a glossary or index at the back, no matter how small. That said, any author who includes notes such as “not to scale” with his illustrations is fine by me! (I’m a sucker for that kind of thing.)

Ages 7-10

Copyright September 2010

ISBN: 9780807588161

Image from www.barnesandnoble.com

XVI by Julia Karr (Book 1 XVI Series)

Every girl gets one. An XVI tattoo on the wrist—sixteen. They say they’re there for protection. Some girls can’t wait to be sixteen, to be legal. Nina is not one of them. Even though she has no choice in the matter, she knows that so long as her life continues as normal, everything will be okay. Then, with one brutal strike, Nina’s normal is shattered; and she discovers that nothing that she believed about her life is true. But there’s one boy who can help—and he just may hold the key to her past. But with the line between attraction and danger as thin as a whisper, one thing is for sure…for Nina, turning sixteen promises to be anything but sweet.

The year is 2150 and women’s rights and the freedoms we enjoy today (at the moment) are just a memory. The world that 15-year-old Nina Oberon lives in is frightening to me. Frightening because it’s all too plausible. The Governing Council controls the populace through the Media. Through the Media girls are “trained” to become a sex-teen when they turn sixteen. There’s even a guide for this transition. How to dress and act to attract guys. Girls become adults at sixteen, identified by a tattoo on the wrist – XVI. This becomes an invitation (unwanted or not) that girls are ready for sex. Girls don’t have many choices, they either marry above them or get accepted into the FeLS (Female Liaison Specialists) program.

Nina is typical teenager by my standards in a world where teen girls are supposed to be obsessed with what comes with turning sixteen. Her best friend Sandy is your stereotypical boy obsessed teenager who’s a little too eager for being sex-teen. When a personal tragedy hits close to home, Nina’s whole world is turned upside down and what she thought she knew may not be the truth at all. She just has to be brave and strong enough to find it.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel, Truth. Karr’s writing moves the story along very well and Nina is definitely a character to admire and someone teens can relate to, which makes for very enjoyable reading. This book will definitely garner further discussion, whether in school or if chosen for a book club pick.

Age 13+ (mature content)

Publisher: Speak (January 2011)

ISBN: 9780142417713

Available as an eBook

Image from www.goodreads.com

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my review copy from the local library.

Never mind, March, we know

When you blow

You’re not really mad

Or angry, or bad;

You’re only blowing the winter

away

To get the world ready for April

and May.

AUTHOR EVENTS

Friday, March 1st @7pm Secret Garden Books

• Kirby Larsen, Hattie Ever After, Hattie Big Sky

Saturday, March 2nd @11am University Bookstore Mill Creek

Teen Book Brunch

• Marissa Meyer, CInder, Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles Book 1 & 2)

Wednesday, March 6th @7pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Patrick Carman, Pulse

Thursday, March 7th @6:30pm Barnes & Noble Woodinville

• Kazu Kibuishi, Amulet Series, Flight Series

Thursday, March 7th @6:30pm University Bookstore

Dark Days Tour

• Kiersten White, Mind Games, Paranormalcy Trilogy
• Dan Wells, Fragments
• Caludia Gray, Spellcaster, Evernight Series
• Lauren Oliver, Requiem (Delirium Trilogy Book 3)
• Debra Driza, Mila 2.0

Thursday, March 7th @7pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Jessica Brody, Umremembered

Saturday, March 9th @6:30pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines Book 2), Vampire Academy Series

Sunday, March 10th @2pm Barnes & Noble Alderwood

• Peter Lerangis, Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises, 39 Clues Series

Monday, March 11th @7pm Secret Garden Books

Fantasy Adventure Author Confluence!

• Peter Lerangis, Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises, 39 Clues Series
• Lisa McMann, Trap Door (Infinity Ring Book 3), Wake Trilogy
• Jennifer Nielsen, The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy Book 2)

Tuesday, March 12th @ 6pm Barnes & Noble Alderwood

• Lisa McMann, Trap Door (Infinity Ring Book 3), Wake Trilogy
• Jennifer Nielsen, The Runaway King (Ascendance Trilogy Book 2)

Saturday, March 23rd @6:30pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Christi Zellerhoff & Amy Davis, Princesses Can Be Pirates Too!

Monday, March 25th @7pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Cassandra Clare, The Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices Series), Mortal Instruments Series
• **Please click here for details regarding the event.**

STORY TIMES…

Friday, March 1st @6pm Barnes & Noble Northgate

• Reading with Rover Story Time! – Come and enjoy a live story time with our special guests from Reading with Rover!

Saturday, March 2nd @11am Barnes & Noble Northgate

• Special Story Time with Arthur – Be sure to save the date and bring your friends to this special story time with costume character Arthur!

Saturday, March 2nd @11am Barnes & Noble Woodinville

• Dr. Seuss Birthday Month Celebration with Costume Character Story Time – Join us for a very special costume character story time featuring Cat in the Hat, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday month!

Saturday, March 2nd @11am Barnes & Noble Alderwood

• Read Across America – Come in for stories, crafts, special events and costume characters!

Saturday, March 9th @2pm Barnes & Noble Downtown

• Read Across America: Cat in the Hat – Join us for Read Across America events in March! Featuring Cat in the Hat story time, fun Cat-tivities and treats! This story time will take place at the nook counter on the big screen! Get a free cookie and activity coloring pages!

Saturday, March 9th @11am Barnes & Noble South Center

• Story time with Special Guest Skippyjon Jones

Saturday, March 9th @3:30pm Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

• Annual Dr. Seuss Celebration! – Join us for our annual Dr. Seuss celebration! We will have crafts, story time, and a visit from the Cat in the Hat!

Saturday, March 16th @2pm Barnes & Noble Downtown

• St. Patrick’s Day – Enjoy two wonderful books, The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day and Fiona’s Luck! Luck and trickery make for a fun story time! Join us and each child will receive an activity sheet and a cookie snack! *Wear something green and don’t forget your pot of gold!*

Saturday, March 16th @11am Barnes & Noble South Center

• Reading with Rover – Reading with Rover is a community-based literacy program where therapy dogs are brought into the store and children have the opportunity to read aloud to the dogs — and the dogs love listening!

Saturday, March 16th @11am Barnes & Noble Alderwood

• Special Guest: Curious George

Saturday, March 23rd @11am Barnes & Noble Westwood Village

• Story Time and Visit with Arthur!

Saturday, March 23rd @11am Barnes & Noble South Center

• Special Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Story Time Celebration – March kicks off a year of Dr. Seuss at Barnes & Noble centered on the theme, Hats Off to Reading. What better way to celebrate reading than by honoring Dr. Seuss’s birthday with Cat in the Hat story time, fun Cat-tivities and treats! 

Saturday, March 30th @2pm Barnes & Noble Downtown

• Women’s History Month Special Story Time: Not One Damsel in Distress -  Recommended by the National Women’s History Project, these 13 folktales have one thing in common: brainy, brawny, brave heroines — and not one damsel in distress!

OTHER FUN GOINGS ON…

Tuesday, March 12th @7pm Barnes & Noble Alderwood

• American Girl Club – Bring your favorite doll and join your friends for American Girl Club with Amber! Each month features a new activity and “American Girl” theme.

Saturday, March 16th @11am Barnes & Noble Bellevue

• American Girl Club – Calling all American Girl fans! Bring your favorite book and your favorite doll! We will have a special reading and fun activities. Come join your friends every month!

Saturday, March 23rd @2pm Barnes & Noble Downtown

• American Girl Mom and Daughter Event – Come meet Saige, Girl of the Year 2013 and receive a free poster, mini canvas and easel, desert scene with character pieces, activity packet and color wheel for your own creativity!

Saturday, March 23rd @1pm Barnes & Noble Woodinville

• American Girl Celebration Event – Share your love of American Girl with fellow fans! Join us for a day of giveaways and fun trivia games!

Saturday, March 30th @1pm Barnes & Noble South Center

• Special Parent-Daughter Care and Keeping of You Workshop – We’re proud to join American Girl with a fun workshop, Just Between Us: A Parent and Daughter Event. This event is based on The Care and Keeping of You for girls age 8+.

Fracture by Megan Miranda (Book 1 Fracture Series)

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening….

The plot of this novel is very similar to The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting, but has thrilling psychological aspects that make it unique. The story is told from Delaney Maxwell’s POV as she tries to navigate the ups and downs of life after death, literally. Fracture is an apt title in many respects. Throughout the story we see the fracturing of Delaney’s home life, friendships, and her own sanity.

There’s a really nice plot twist that I did not see coming, which is rare for me and young adult books in general. There is the usual romance: guy best friend – she’s in love with him, he’s in love with her – will they or won’t they? – and the requisite, but not typical, love triangle. Definitely a good read and I look forward to the companion novel, Vengeance, which will be published in 2014.

Age 12+

Publisher: Walker Childrens (January 2012)

ISBN: 9780802723093

Available as an eBook

Image from www.goodreads.com

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my review copy from the local library.

you be my jelly,

 

i’ll be your peanut butter–

 

let’s stick together!

This, as you might expect, is a very sweet book. Readers will find a fun and poignant haiku on each page paired with cute illustrations of bold lines, smooth watercolors, and characters reminiscent of illustrator Gyo Fujikawa (one of our favorites). The characters express their love for everything from bikes and lemonade to parents, friends, and pets. Children and adults will both love the silly but apt comparisons in each poem. Snyder finds a way to boil down sentiment to basic ideas, and she does so very effectively without being condescending.

The book jacket says that “both the young and the young at heart will enjoy sharing these simple poems of affection and appreciation,” and I think that is absolutely true. That being said, this book has a very specific audience type: it is a hardcover the size of a board book, making it impractical for sharing in large groups like classroom story times. It also isn’t necessarily a good “lesson” book for what a haiku is and how to write one on your own; there are no notes in the back about poetry or syllable count. Snyder presents it as a story of relationships told in verse, and though it’s very loose, a storyline can be discerned in the form of progressing time.

Now here’s the good news: as a one-on-one, this book is great, and I can easily picture a parent and kid snuggled in bed together, reading each page back and forth. It is the perfect gift book, whether for birthdays, Valentine’s, or just because. In fact, if you’re looking for a gift for that special someone this Valentine’s Day, skip the chocolates (gasp!) and pick up a copy of I Haiku You at your local bookstore. Anyone with a playful personality between the ages of 4 and 104 will love it.

Age 4-104

Copyright December 2012

ISBN: 9780375867507

Images from www.nytimes.com and www.amazon.com

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is a prisoner in the salt mines of Endovier, living out a life sentence for her life as a notorious assassin. After surviving a year as a slave in the harsh mines, she is suddenly given a way to freedom: the king is hosting a competition for a position as his personal assassin, and Prince Dorian, crown prince of Endovier, wants to champion Celaena. Despite her loathing for the war-faring king, Celaena agrees, and her new journey–emotional and physical–begins. Once she arrives at the palace, she finds her competition to be fierce, full of other criminals and soldiers. Over the weeks of elimination challenges, Celaena finds herself involved with many of the big names at court. She also finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery as other potential assassins are found dead, one by one. Is she next? How can she stop what seems to be a malevolent, magical force? A destiny awaits her beyond any she could have imagined. Oh, and don’t forget love interests! (I’ll just say “love triangle with swoon-worthy guys” and leave it at that.)

Maas started her story on the premise that Cinderella was actually a deadly assassin. You can still see remnants of the Cinderella fable, and it works well to give the plot a sense of the familiar. Luckily, though, Maas’ story also grew beyond that common mold, becoming a spicier story in its own right with echoes of the tale we all grew up with. Though it doesn’t pack as much punch as some of my favorites (Graceling, The Hunger Games, East), I enjoyed it. I didn’t get to know the characters as well as I wanted, and in the obligatory love triangle, the romance was too obvious on one side and too subtle on the other. Celaena also wasn’t my favorite of the characters, perhaps because we don’t see enough raw emotion (there is some, but I wanted a little more depth). Despite all that, it was a fun story with thrills that kept me guessing until the end, and, for my interests, it was worth the read. Besides, I enjoy a kick-butt female protagonist who can hold her own. In conclusion, as they say, it’s a safe bet for readers who enjoy light fantasy with strong women and dreamy guys. While I don’t expect to ever own a copy myself–I borrowed mine from my awesome local library–I am glad I read it and am looking forward to the sequel.

Speaking of a sequel, it’s called Crown of Midnight and promises a darker, more emotional journey than the first book with “new, overarching” plot lines. Sounds good to me! Crown of Midnight is expected to be published on August 27, 2013. For those who can’t wait that long, Maas also has four “prequel” stories available in eBook format.

Ages 12+

Copyright August 2012

ISBN: 9781599906959

Image from www.goodreads.com

As always, there are more reviews and interviews to come, so we’ll see you soon. Happy reading!

(Image from monogramchick.blogspot.com)