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32 pp.
| Dial
| February, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8037-2972-8$16.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Sachiko Yoshikawa.
This exclamation-point-heavy collection includes twenty-one silly poems loosely centered on school. Individual poems are great to read aloud, but not all in one sitting--you'd get a headache. Bright, colorful cartoony illustrations of deliriously happy kids and critters fit well with the energetic poems, although the frenetic design and multitude of typefaces make it difficult to focus on the text.
32 pp.
| Scholastic/Cartwheel
| January, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-439-91654-7$14.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Daniel Howarth.
As young mouse Littletail and her father, Longtail, play together in the woods, Longtail delivers a message about growing up and how things change ("One day you will be too fast for me to catch"). There's nothing new about the clichéd sentiment, but Howarth's warm illustrations convey the loving father-daughter relationship.
32 pp.
| Scholastic
| February, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-439-87992-7$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Rebecca Harry.
Ruby the duckling is always lagging behind her four bigger siblings. But because Ruby notices things that the others miss (like a dark storm cloud), she's able to save the day. This sweet story will be enjoyed by habitual dawdlers. The bright, soft-edged, and friendly illustrations are full of clever details for Ruby--and the reader--to linger over.
(4)
4-6
The history of Vikings reaching North America comes to life in this well-researched tale. Young Hekja rescues the eponymous dog. Rover and Hekja are then enslaved by Vikings and end up on a ship with Freydis Eriksdöttir--sister of Leif Eriksson. This is really Freydis's story, so the pup--and Hekja--seem almost incidental at times. Occasional footnotes are informative but distracting.
306 pp.
| Knopf
| April, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-83908-5$15.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-93908-2$17.99
(4)
YA
When teenage Salome's power-hungry mother marries King Antipas, Salome must give up her calling (to serve the goddess Diana). Instead, she is ultimately manipulated into performing the notorious dance of the seven veils. The multitude of characters and political intrigues are dizzying, especially to those unfamiliar with the Bible story. But in Salome herself, the book builds a multidimensional, sympathetic character.
32 pp.
| Front
| March, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-932425-87-1$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Guido Pigni.
Noah tells Giraffe that he must find a mate to bring on the ark: "We need a pair. That's how it must be." Giraffe fails in his quest but, in an illogical twist, finds a female giraffe already on the ark. The book's simple, pleasing illustrations are deep with somber colors but also include humorous details and unusual visual angles.
(3)
K-3
The three bunnies in this book make Peter Rabbit look like a paragon of virtue. After they've been tucked in, they do everything from playing with trains to forming a marching band. The bunnies finally settle down after their parents are asleep. The lively gouache illustrations and cheerful sound effects make for an entertaining whole.