Booktalks for YA and Children

Kojima, Naomi. Singing Shimoji Clams. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2006.

A poor old witch and her cat, Toraji, just want to make some yummy miso soup for their meager supper. The bonito flakes are boiling to make stock. But, wait the cranky pair have a change of heart when they look at the peacefully sleeping clams they have bought for the soup. An unexpected tale of friendship and happy, mundane magic. We like it. The Librarians Sisters, Karen and CJ

Chen, Chih-Yuan. Guji Guji. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2004.

Guji Guji by Chinese author Chih-Yuan Chen tells of a crocodile being raised by a mother duck along with her brood. They have great fun together until one day crocodiles spot Guji-Guji and try to tempt him to his true nature. In this nature vs. nurture tale, nurture wins! Chen's illustrations are quirky and muted. Fans of Guji Guji might also like Chen's fabulous On My Way to Buy Eggs. Guji Guji is also available in Spanish.

Lee, Suzy. The Zoo. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2007. 1933605286. Ages 2-6.

A little girl and her parents visit the zoo. She has a wonderful adventure with the animals while her parents frantically search for her. The human world is dull and gray, but the animal world is a rainbow of colors.

Bae, Hyun-Joo. New Clothes for New Year's Day. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2007. 1933605294. Ages 2-6.

Young Korean girl excitedly dons her new year's clothing. Illustrations are bright, detailed, and cheerful. Notes at the back of the book describe customs and a labeled drawing tells the Korean name for the various items of clothing.

Yamada, Utako. The Story of Cherry the Pig. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2007. 1933605251. Ages 4-8.

Cherry the Pig likes to bake desserts. She bakes an incredible apple cake and wins a contest. She finds joy in sharing her creations and opens a bakery.

Kwon, Yoon-duck. My Cat Copies Me. La Jolla, CA.: Kane/Miller, 2007. 193360526X. Ages 4-8.

Yoon-duck Kwon's My Cat Copies Me tells of a little girl and her cat. The independent cat doesn't like to be held, but the cat will follow the girl around. Later the girl expands her horizons and copies the cat's activities. (Thus the climbing on top of the bookcase seen on the book cover.) This leads the girl to face her fears and make friends with the outside world. The illustrations are bright and imaginative. They also give us a glimpse into a Korean home and neighborhood. Really a charming tale for any cat lover.

Priddy, Roger. My Bedtime Book of Favorite Princess Stories / Roger Priddy. New York : St. Marin's Press, c2005. 0312494335. Ages 3-9.

A beautiful book of princess tales. Includes: Cinderella, the Little Mermaid, The Frog Prince, and Sleeping Beauty. This is not the best telling of the tales, but the style of the visual presentation is very inviting. Many words are replaced with pictures (and the suggested word bellow). The background of the pages looks like cross stitch canvass and the creative and artistic illustrations are made of felt, ornaments, and stitches. I loved this type of storybook as a child.

Priddy, Roger. Lift the flap colors / Roger Priddy. New York : St. Martin's Press, c2005. 031249436X. Ages 1-early reader.

This is an interesting and colorful book with excellent photos. Each two page spread has five items of the color and a cut out circle showing part of an item with a question. For example, the red page shows cherries, dress, car, fish, drum, and the question by the cutout is "This helps to put out fires. What is it?" Lifting the flap shows a fire truck. The photos are excellent and the book design adds interest. The 2005 edition is an improved redesign of an earlier edition.

Jenkins, Steve. Actual size / by Steve Jenkins. Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2004. 0618375945.

Steve Jenkins' Actual Size can be enjoyed as a work of art. The animals or, if a large animal, part of an animal is illustrated using handmade paper collage. What may sound like just a clever concept, when skillfully executed, resulted in an awesome book. Some of the animals shown are the pigmy shrew, atlas moth, dwarf goby, Goliath frog, and giant squid. The dimensions of the animal is noted and as well as a paragraph about such things as habitat and diet which makes this a very interesting book. Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children's Science Book Review

Willems, Mo. Pigeon finds a hot dog! / words and pictures by Mo Willems. New York : Hyperion Books for Children, c2004. 0786818697

Poor Pigeon. He has the good fortune of finding a hotdog. It's just sitting there. So what's the problem? (Special guest star) Little Duckling won't give pigeon a moment's peace to eat the hotdog. "Does it taste like chicken?" Duckling asks. The discussion escalates until it is finally resolved with a happy ending and a fairly understated lesson. Mo Willems lively pastel colored drawings are simple but still expressive. A thoroughly enjoyable, excellent book.

Schoch, Irene. The Cat’s Vacation / Irene Schoch. Editions Du Seuil, 2004. 2020618842

You may THINK your cat is sad to see you go on vacation, but this story tells what may really be going on. Cat has invited the crocodiles, the penguins, and a moose to a bang up good time AT YOUR HOUSE. Schoch’s story is clever and entertaining. Her illustrations are quirkily reminiscent of something I can’t quite pin down….Maybe a 1950’s or is it a 70’s feeling? (Translated from French.)

Ernst, Lisa Campbell. Wake up, it's spring! / by Lisa Campbell Ernst. [New York] : HarperCollins, c2004. 0060089865 (lib. bdg.) Ages 3-8

Even winter-loving people feel an excitement as spring draws near. This story looks at nature coming to life in the spring. As the sun warms the earth, each participant from the worm to the baby wakes up the next until the whole family is awake and enjoying the day. The illustrations are wonderfully bursting with playfulness and joy. Though fun to read anytime, this would be a mood-lifting book in the doldrums of winter. (As a winter-hater, I really enjoyed this book’s look at the happiness spring brings.)

Polacco, Patricia. Oh, look! / Patricia Polacco. New York : Philomel Books, 2004. 0399242236

A tale of three escaped goats on an adventure. Though it follows the style of going on a bear hunt, the goats are not hunting anything. Nonetheless, they find an ogre who scares them back home. The text has a comfortably repetitious style that will invite listener participation.

Pedersen, Janet. Millie in the Meadow / Janet Pedersen. Candlewick Press, 2003. 0763617253

A young artist comes to the meadow to paint. Millie the cow watches and the readers can guess who the artist is drawing by the description. The illustrations are cheery and whimsical.

Beaumont, Karen. I like myself! / Karen Beaumont ; illustrated by David Catrow. Orlando : Harcourt, c2004. 0152020136. Ages 4-8.

An ode to self-acceptance told in simple rhyme. Story tells reader that what matters is deep inside. For example, “No matter if they stop and stare, no person ever anywhere can make me feel that what they see is all there really is to me.” Catrow’s illustrations are lively and loving.

Cooper, Elisha. Magic thinks big / Elisha Cooper. [New York] : Greenwillow Books, c2004. 0060581654. Ages 3+

Subtly humorous story of Magic, the cat, who sits and contemplates his next move. The possibilities for adventures with bears, blueberries, loons, and moose are endless. What will he do? Illustrations are fun and realistic. The cat epitomizes cat-ness.

Wilson, Karma. Never ever shout in a zoo / by Karma Wilson ; pictures by Doug Cushman. New York : Little, Brown, 2004. 0316985643

The title warns us to never, ever shout in a zoo. Wouldn’t you shout if you dropped YOUR ice cream cone? The heroes innocent shout sets off an animal rampage. Cushman’s illustrations are charming.

Seuling, Barbara. Whose House? / Barbara Seuling, Illustrated by Kay Chorao. Ages 4-8

A young boy sits by a tree and reads about animal habitats. The text is told in simple rhyme and the boy envisions himself in each of the animal homes. Chorao’s illustrations are soft and cozy, but also subtly humorous.

The Dog from Arf! Arf! to Zzzzzz / The Dog Artlist Collection. HarperCollins, 2004. 0060598573 Ages 4-8.

Dog lovers will love this alphabet book. Each page has a close up of some breed of puppy and a dog related word. For example, F shows a beagle pup with a stick in his mouth and the word "Fetch!" and W has a Cavalier King Charles spaniel showing off his tail and the words "Wag, wag, wag". The puppies are all beautifully photographed with a white background and many are shown from interesting or funny angles. At the end of the book is a page that tells what breed of dog is shown with each letter.

Walvoord, Linda. Razzamadaddy / Linda Walvoord Marshall , illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. Cavendish Corp/Ccb, 2004. 0761451587 Ages 4-8.

This is a simple story of a dad taking his son to the beach and having a great day. The words are fun, easy to read, rhyming sentences. For example, "One Daddy, two Daddy, Three Daddy, four. Come, Daddy, go Daddy, Open the door!" and "Race me and chase me, I'll run away! Tackle me, tickle me, Ho Daddy, hey." This story shows a great father and son relationship. Yoshikawa's innocent illustrations are vibrant and lively.

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten's first full moon / Kevin Henkes. New York : Greenwillow Books, c2004. 0060588292 (lib. bdg.) Ages 2-6

The cover shows Kitten in a dazzling night garden. The lettering is silvery and the colors of the entire book are grays, black, and white. Kitten sees the moon and thinks it is a bowl of milk. The story shows Kitten (in very clever illustrations) trying and trying to get at the "bowl of milk". Kitten chases after an impossible goal and in the end finds what it was searching for was waiting for it all along at home. Fun for everyone, but cat lovers will really enjoy this book.

Pilkey, Dav. The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Children's Books, 2003. 0152047085 Ages 1-4.

The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog is 5 books in one! Simpler stories (think no Pilkey puns) than other Dav P. books, but just as much fun. Big Dog and Little Dog go for a muddy walk, are sprayed by a skunk, and rip up the sofa. The acrylic and India ink illustrations are straight forward, but clever. I especially like the font that Pilkey created for this book, which is appropriately called "Big Dog."

Pilkey. Dav. Dog breath! : the horrible terrible trouble with Hally Tosis / Dav Pilkey. New York : Blue Sky Press, c1994. 0590474669 Ages 4-8.

King of the Stinky Dogs--Dav Pilkey's Dog Breath! has a witty story, amusing puns, and indispensable artwork that makes this book both comic and clever.

Park, Frances and Ginger Park. Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong / Frances and Ginger Park ; illustrated by Yangsook Choi. Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 2002. 0792279859 Ages 4-8

The Park sisters' story begins in Korea as Jangmi and her family pack-up and say good-bye to relatives and friends. Jangmi feels a sense of loss over leaving her culture, language, and homeland behind. The story ends optimistically as Jangmi and her family are warmly welcomed into American culture with an impromptu party of neighbors bringing food and friendship to their new home in the US. Choi's muted and detailed illustrations are superb.

Schachner, Judy. Skippyjon Jones / Judy Schachner. New York : Dutton Children's Books, c2003. 0525471340 Ages 4-8.

Another humorous and imaginative Schachner book! Skippyjon Jones is a young Siamese cat who imagines himself to be Chihuahua and a great bandit fighter. The text is sprinkled with Spanish words and sing along songs. The illustrations are soft, bright pastel drawings. It is fun to look at the small details in the artwork. This is a great story to read aloud.

Leno, Jay. If roast beef could fly / Jay Leno ; illustrated by S. B. Whitehead. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2004. 0689867670 Ages 6+

Leno fans should buy this book. This is a story from Jay's childhood that reads like a monolog on the Tonight Show. Jay's dad is larger than life, but the characters feel like caricatures. The colorful and detailed drawings also remind me of caricatures. While this is a loving family story, it contains some stereotypes about national origin. Also contains a CD of Jay reading the story.

Kenah, Katharine. Destruction Earth / Katharine Kenah. New York : McGraw Hill Children's Publishing, 2004. [Level 2 Reader] Grade: A

Awesome photos (gushing volcanic lava, destroyed highway, etc.) and a colorful book design. Covers standard natural disaster topics such as earthquakes, tsunami, wildfire, landslides, and avalanches. Also, looks at man-made devastation like habitat destruction. KWR

Kenah, Katherine. Space Mysteries / Katharine Kenah. New York : McGraw Hill Children's Publishing, 2004. 0769631878.

Covers topics like black holes and commits (which are compared to "dirty snowballs"). Presents lots of interesting facts like, did you know that Saturn has "Shepherd" moons that shepherd chunks of rock and ice in Saturn's rings and prevents them from straying out of place? Space Mysteries has a bright book design and great color photos.

Balgassi, Haemi. Tae's sonata / by Haemi Balgassi. New York : Clarion Books, c1997. 0395843146 Ages 10-14.

Tae is struggling at school, but it is not her grades. She is struggling to find her place in the rigid social structure of Jr. High. It bothers her that she stands out as one of two Korean Americans at school. She is at that age where she knows what she should do or say to her parents, but she also knows how to hurt them. She is starting to grow up and not only think of her own feelings. She is also noticing boys and they are noticing her.

This is a story about assimilation, growing up, first love, and friendship. I finished this book in one sitting. It was interesting to read about the feelings of a recent Korean immigrant girl. Tae is realistically not perfect, but she is growing as she experiences the joys and tribulations of Jr. High.

Crystal, Billy. I already know I love you / by Billy Crystal ; illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. New York : HarperCollins, c2004. 006059392X (lib. bdg.)

Billy's heart is wide open. Like every good first time grandpa, he eagerly anticipates his grandchild and imagines all the things they will do together. "On the inside cover Billy writes, "I can't believe I'm writing this 'cause I don't know who you are." However, the title says it all, "I already know I love you." Crystal has written a really enjoyable, touching, and sentimental story. The illustrations are soft and dreamy. This storybook is a keeper.

Say, Allen. Music for Alice / Allen Say. Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2004. 0618311181. Ages 7+.

With Alice, Say puts a face on the experience of the Japanese American's who were relocated during WWII. Alice and her husband, Mark Sumida's, first "relocation" was to a cow stall at the stockyards. From there they "volunteered" to be farmhands. They were sent to the deserts of eastern Oregon were they were encouraged to grow crops as part of the war effort. Mark studied agronomy and tried to improve the soil by growing alfalfa in the off-season. Through hard work, they became the largest gladiola bulb growers in the US after the war. This is a subtle and delicate family story the reminds all Americans of the injustices that Japanese Americans faced during WWII.

Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a worm / by Doreen Cronin ; pictures by Harry Bliss. New York : Joanna Cotler Books, c2003. 0060001518 (lib. bdg.)

I have a new favorite. This worm's diary is laugh out loud funny from cover to end page. Bliss' illustrations add more humor on top of Cronin's entertaining story. For example, the dentist in the story is wearing a nametag that says Dr. D. Kay and our hero gets a note in his lunch to "eat all your trash". There's even a little ecology lesson about the benefits of worms. Who knew worms could be so appealing. Highly recommended.

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True / Lenore Look ; illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004. 0689849079 Ages 5-8.

Look out! Ruby Lu is on the loose. Deals with the trials and tribulations of an eight year old Chinese American girl in Seattle. Ruby is a child with a vivid imagination who enjoys being the center of attention. She goes to Chinese school on Saturdays and she is nervously awaiting the arrival of relatives who are coming over from China. This is the first in what is sure to be a series.

Tolan, Stephanie. Surviving the Applewhites / by Stephanie S. Tolan. New York : HarperCollins, 2002. 0066236037 (lib. bdg.) Ages 8-12.

A troubled teen forgets his problems as he is engulfed by the eccentric (and extended) Applewhite clan who all live on a small farm in North Carolina.

Park, Linda Sue. The firekeeper's son / Linda Sue Park ; illustrations by Julie Downing. New York : Clarion, 2004. ISBN 0618133372. Ages 4-8.

Set in the early 1800's, tells of the signal fires lit in Korea to show that all was well. Sang-hee, a young boy, wants nothing more than some excitement. He longs to see the soldiers that would come if the fire was not lit. One evening, he notices that his father did not light the fire. He discovers that his father is injured and Sang-hee is given the responsibility of lighting the fire. Read The Firekeeper's Son to see what Sang-hee does. Illustrations really bring the past alive.

Chemistry / writers, Stephen Currie ... [et al.] ; editor, Anne Wright. Milwaukee, WI : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2003. 0836833554 (lib. bdg.) [Discovery Channel school science. Physical science]

Reading this book is almost like watching television. The pages are are colorful and for the most part broken up into little easy to digest info bytes. It starts out by discussing the difference between physical and chemical changes. Some other topics include rust, explosions, cooking, acid test, chemical discovery timeline/map, and inventions. Several pages introduce chemistry in nature, clean water, film development, and pollution. There are activities suggested throughout.

Pentland, Peter. Kitchen science / Peter Pentland and Pennie Stoyles. Philadelphia : Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. 079107014X [Science and Scientists series]

This book covers just about all the scientific aspects of food. Because food is something that kids already understand, it may make the connection to science and its importance easier. Some topics covered are heating food, chemical names for common foods, nutrition, chemical reactions (baking), taste and smell, and microorganisms. Explains how such equipment as microwave ovens and refrigerators work. I found the explanation of how soap dissolves grease from dishes very interesting. Also, teaches about levers, gears, and wedges. Ends with a discussion of kitchen safety and how to put out oil and electrical fires. Some terms are explained in boxes outside the main text. There is also a timeline, glossary, and index. KWR (05-04)

Stickler, John. Land of the morning calm / John Stickler ; illustrated by Soma Han. Shen's Books & Supplies, 2003. 1885008228 Ages 8-12.

Colorful and more up-to-date looking than similar books. Brief introduction to major aspects of Korean culture. Covers such topics as clothing, language, religion, dance, music, and food. The book also includes a map of Korea and wonderful illustrations. Each page has the Korean word for the topic discussed written in hangul.

Peterson, Tiffany. Korean Americans / Tiffany Peterson. Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library, c2003. 1403407355 (lib. bdg.) [We are America series] Ages 10+

Interesting look at reasons why some Koreans chose to immigrate. Introduces the history of Korean immigration as well as current immigration. Fabulous historical photos.

Balgassi, Haemi. Peacebound trains / by Haemi Balgassi ; illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. New York : Clarion Books, c1996. 0395720931 Ages 6-10.

Sumi lives with her Korean grandmother. Her mother is away in the Army. One lonely day, as Sumi waits to watch a train pass, her grandmother tells her of her escape by train from war torn Seoul during the Korean war.

What I'm reading now.