Jeremy Draws a Monster
February 18, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Give a boy a book about a monster and, chances are, you’ll capture their interest. Jeremy Draws a Monster
The book kicks off, telling us a little about Jeremy. Jeremy lives on the third-floor in an apartment building and never goes outside. I guess you can call Jeremy a loner. So when Jeremy busts out his crayon and creates a blue monster to keep him company, Jeremy is unaware of what’s to come. The monster demands a sandwich, a checkerboard, a television, and a hot dog. But that’s not all. The monster is very demanding, so when the monster demands a hat because he is “going out,” Jeremy is a bit relieved. However, the monster returns, and Jeremy has to think fast on his feet to rid himself of this monster once and for all. And in the process, Jeremy learns the importance of friendship and ends up playing with the neighborhood kids he used to look down upon from his apartment window.
This book has really grown on me and it’s one that conveys such a simple message. As the School Library Journal writes, “Both story and illustration leave lots of room for speculation and discussion.” That’s what I like most about this book. It takes a little thought to realize Jeremy sees a little bit of himself in that blue monster and when he doesn’t like what he sees, he changes his ways.
Another great thing about this book…the next time your child up and demands a drink, food, etc…, you’ll find yourself reminding them of the monster in this book!
Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0805069348
ISBN-13: 978-0805069341
Source of review copy: personal copy
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
The role of children in the march to freedom
February 17, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Okay, it’s Wednesday. I’m assuming you have the Cybils 2009 winners memorized by now, right? In any case, memorized or not, I’m hoping you get the chance to check out some of the amazing titles that were nominated. I’m always grateful for the Cybils because I’m introduced to books I normally wouldn’t find or discover on my own– that’s just one of the beautiful things about the community of children’s literature blogs! And that’s why I’m celebrating the Cybils all week and highlighting some of the wonderful finalists in the fiction picture book category in which I had the honor to judge.
One book that stood out among the others and had a truly unique voice was The Listeners (Tales of Young Americans) by Gloria Whelan
Gloria Whelan has written a beautiful book in the voice of Ella May, a child born into slavery. In addition to working hard in the fields, Ella and her friends, Bobby and Sue, have another important job–to sit quietly outside the plantation-house windows and eavesdrop on conversations between the owner and his wife. As slaves, they have no control over their lives, but being able to listen in on important news and reporting it to their families, gives the slaves the vital information they need about their future.
Benny’s beautiful watercolor paintings are warm and endearing, shining a light on the harsh reality of segregation, and the injustices of slavery. This book is an excellent choice to teach older elementary students that children had important roles and responsibilities in the march to freedom, and it stresses the importance of hope and family.
Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (September 2009)
ISBN-10: 1585364193
ISBN-13: 978-1585364190
Source of review copy: Publisher
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
We're celebrating the Cybils you Silly Goose
February 16, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
In case you’ve been sleeping under a rock, or are totally wrapped up in the Olympics, the Cybils 2009 winners were announced on Sunday. All week here at Lori Calabrese Writes!, I’m celebrating the Cybils and some of the contenders who fought hard in the fiction picture book category. Liz Garton Scanlon took home the gold with All the World, but one of the big contenders for me was Silly Tilly.
I have to admit, I’m a sucker for fun, rhyming picture books and Silly Tilly is one fun book that brings new meaning to the term, “You silly goose!”!
“Tilly was a silly goose, a daffy-down-and-dilly goose.” I mean really…how great is that first line? It only gets better from there. Her name is Silly Tilly and throughout the book, she does silly things–she wears a pancake as a hat, kicks a pickle to the hogs, sets the farmer’s underwear afloat–things any young reader will find amusing. I don’t know about you, but any underwear humor in our house is a sure fire hit! 
But when the rest of the farm has had it up to here with Silly Tilly’s antics, they ask her to stop her silly ways. But when she does just that, things are a little boring on the farm and they realize how much they miss the old Silly Tilly.
The rhyme scheme makes this a fun read-aloud and the use of language is just so silly, it’s excellent. The illustrations are sure to gather a chuckle and when tied with the text, it’s tops in humor–just goes to show that you can never be too silly!
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0761455256
ISBN-13: 978-0761455257
Source of review copy: Publisher
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
2009 Cybils Award Winner All the World
February 15, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Valentines, Schmalentines! Do you know what February 14th means? The 2009 Cybils awards have been announced. If you haven’t had the chance to check out the winners, head over to the Cybils site right now and gaze at all the awesome books chosen as the cream of the crop by a community of bloggers who write about children’s and young adult literature.
I was honored this year to be a judge in the fiction picture book category and, let me tell you, it was tough. Although All the World came in as a heavy favorite, there were so many contenders and each finalist has something incredibly different to offer. All this week, I’ll be celebrating the Cybils and will highlight some of the amazing picture books that the second round judges had the opportunity to talk about and analyze.
The one everyone’s talking about is the amazing picture book, All the World
Perhaps it’s the lyrical rhyming couplets that speak volumes about the world and the richness of humankind. Perhaps, it’s the amazing illustrations by Marla Frazee that show a family spending a day at the beach.
I have to admit, unlike many, I did not fall in love with this book on my first reading. I know–what’s wrong with me, right? But the more readings I’ve had with it, it’s come to be a picture book I truly adore. The text is simple, but powerfully written as a poem with bits of alliteration, rhyme and rhythm.
As Allyn Johnston, the publisher, pointed out at the NY SCBWI Winter conference, Liz Garton Scanlon left so much room in the text for the illustrator to add her special touch–hence, the magic of a picture book. The pictures, made with black Prismacolor pencil and watercolors, primarily follow a multicultural family from a summer morning on the beach through a busy day and night. But highlight some things we might normally take for granted such as wind, storm, and a simple shell.
It’s a touching read-aloud that celebrates the connection between adults and children and has the whole package for a picture book.
Watch this video of Marla Frazee talking about why she loves drawing pictures for children. . .
Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Beach Lane Books (September 8, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1416985808
ISBN-13: 978-1416985808
Source of review copy: publisher
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
Nominations are open today!
October 1, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Chances are you’ve heard of the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Award. They are all children’s book awards that highlight the best books and create standards that other authors and illustrators should strive for. Many children’s book awards are chosen by librarians, but one special award is chosen by the children’s and YA blogging community–The Cybils.
The Cybils reward children’s and young adult authors/ illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and ‘kid appeal.’ They also foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children’s and YA literature.
The Cybils have announced that nominations are open today! Anyone can nominate any book published in English from October 2008 to October 15, 2009. Only one book allowed per category. Nominations are open from October 1st and close October 15.
When all the nominations are collected, there are panelists in each category who read the books and narrow them down to a shortlist. On January 1st, the finalists are announced and a second group of judges will pick the winners, which are announced on Valentine’s Day.
I’m Involved!
I’m happy to announce that I’m a part of The Cybils for the second year in a row! Last year I was a Round II judge for the Nonfiction Middle Grade/ YA category and I had a fantastic time discovering books that I might not have normally read. This year, I’m a Round II judge for the Fiction Picture Books category and I can’t wait to dive into an amazing bunch of books.
Dates to Remember:
- October 1-15th: Nominations open to the public
- New Year’s Day: Short Lists announced
- St. Valentines Day: Finalists announced
What You Need to Do – Your Checklist:
- Subscribe to the Cybils feed.
- Follow @cybils on Twitter
- Get some Cybils bling for your blog if you have one.
- Buy Cybils bling for your home or office.
- If you are a librarian or a teacher (or not) – spread the word!
- GO NOMINATE your favorite (the best of the best) book published in the last year in nine different categories. You can see titles already nominated with these links:
The Cybils 2008-9
February 25, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
In case you haven’t printed it out yet and shared it with your enthusiastic readers, I’m reminding you that the Cybils flyer has been updated and includes all of the 2008 shortlisted titles (without blurbs), and includes the winners in boldface type at the top of each category list.
The front page of the flyer includes a description of what the Cybils are all about, nomination instructions, important dates, and contact information. And for those of you who still need a little convincing of how important the Cybils are, check out these numbers from the Cybils blog:
Total number of nominated books: 843
Percent read by at least one panelist: 98
Percent read by at least two panelists: 92
Number of winning authors and illustrators: 15
Cost, in dollars, of Lanier Classic Fountain Pen for each winner: 65
Page views on opening day, Oct. 1st, 2008: 4,942
Page views on Jan. 2nd, 2009 (our most-ever): 5,346
Total page views, as of this writing: 301,356
Average page views per day: 350
Technorati ranking, as of this writing: 12,134
There’s been a bunch of Cybils Fanfare since the winners were announced. As a judge in the Middle Grade/ Young Adult Nonfiction Category in which The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir
The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir- Cybils Finalist!
February 6, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir
Authors: Cylin and John Busby
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (August 2008)
Reading Level: YA/ 352 pages
Imagine as a nine-year old, going through everyday with a police officer following you (everywhere!), living inside a fortified house, and a dog trained to kill living in your yard. This is the true story of the Busby family. This was one Cybils Finalist I was really looking forward to reading. When I tracked it down at another library, I powered through it in two days! I couldn’t put it down. I had never heard of this story, but found myself so intrigued by the strength and resilience of this family that was forced to endure so much.
When Cylin Busby was nine years old, she was obsessed with Izod clothing, the Muppets, and her pet box turtle. Then, in the space of a night, everything changed. Her police officer father, John, was driving to work when someone leveled a shotgun at his window. The blasts that followed left John’s jaw on the passenger seat of his car—literally. Busby is taken to Massachusetts General, where he spends the next few months unable to talk or to eat. Overnight, the Busbys went from being the “family next door” to one under 24-hour armed guard, with police escorts to school, and no contact with friends.
Worse, the shooter was still on the loose, and it seemed only a matter of time before he’d come after John—or someone else in the family—again. The shooter has close ties to the police department and the investigation turns out to be very careless.No one is arrested, and the family spends the next year pretty much under house arrest with round-the-clock police guards, a sniper on their roof, and a police dog chained up in their backyard. With their lives unraveling around them, and few choices remaining for a future that could ever be secure, the Busby family left everything and everyone they had ever known…and simply disappeared.
The format of the book makes it a fascinating read. The chapters alternate between John’s recollections and those of his daughter, Cylin, who was nine years old at the time of the events. This way, the reader sees the events through the eyes of an adult and through the eyes of a nine-year old. We often never hear how a child is affected by such a tragedy, so to hear Cylin’s perspective is truly unique.
Some young readers might not be able to take the graphic detail in this book, but those interested in crime stories will find that it lingers with you and gives you a new appreciation for police families.
Be sure to tune in February 14th at 10 p.m. to watch the Busby family story on CBS’s Live to Tell series from the producers of 48 Hours. I know I’ll be watching!
For more info, visit CBS News.
Read another great review…
Carol Wilcox at Carol’s Corner
Ain't Nothing But a Man- Cybils Finalist
February 2, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry
Author: Scott Reynolds Nelson with Marc Aronson
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (December 26, 2007)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
If you dream of being a historian, tracking down sources, looking for new evidence, or just solving mysteries and puzzles then this is the book for you! John Henry, the man in the famous song, has been seen as a hero by many different kinds of people. Scott Reynolds Nelson wanted to know if there was a real John Henry! Did he really compete with a steam drill, and did he die doing so? Nelson carefully lays out for us his search to find the answers to these questions. What’s interesting is that Nelson didn’t start out looking for John Henry. He was looking for historical research on men who had worked on the railroad. He discovered that some 40,000 men, the largest railroad workforce in the South, were hardly mentioned in the history books. But why? The one song he used as his main piece of research was the song about John Henry which would lead him on a mission to discover the real John Henry.
Nelson has said, “I hope other kids will learn from this book that history is something you do, not just something you read.” And Nelson has proved just that. This book makes history a fun scavenger hunt, using clues to find answers, and uncovering secret messages. The more you read, you won’t want to put this book down. As a nonfiction writer, I found this book very interesting! I love research and uncovering new things, so to follow along with Nelson on his journey to put this puzzle together was fascinating. There are more goodies in the back of the book- Nelson suggests “How to Be a Historian” and offers a model of what all historians do.
Read these other great reviews…
Carol Wilcox at Carol’s Corner
Jill Tullo at the Well Read Child
Hop over to Anastasia Suen’s picture book of the day blog for the Nonfiction Monday roundup!
King George: What Was His Problem?- Cybils Finalist
January 30, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Author: Steve Sheinkin
Illustrator: Tim Robinson
Publisher: Roaring Book Press (May 27, 2008)
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 208 pages
“Entire books have been written about the causes of the American Revolution. You’ll be glad to know this isn’t one of them. But you should really understand how the whole thing got started.”
A textbook would never say that! Doesn’t it make you want to read more, saying to yourself, “I guess I really should know what happened.” That’s why I wish all textbooks were written like this. King George: What Was His Problem is straight-forward, presents the facts in a fun way, and explains history how young readers want to hear it. For example, how many times have we heard ‘no taxation without representation?’ Steve Sheinkin explains that it basically means, “We’re not paying!”
Steve Sheinkin spent many years writing American history textbooks and gathered enough amazing stories and surprising quotes that textbook editors wouldn’t let him use. So where did they end up? Right in this book! You’ll learn all about the American Revolution, but in a way that no textbook would ever teach you. The first chapter grabs you immediately, “How to Start a Revolution,” and is followed by 13 steps: Step 1: Kick Out the French; Step 2: Tax the Colonists; Step 3: Hang the Taxman.
Sheinkin fills us in on so many stories from the American Revolution. What I really like best is the look into the characters of the Revolution. “Just how strongly did Ben Franklin feel about independence? He would do almost anything for the cause- even share a tiny bed with John Adams.” When Washington took command of his army, he “found about 20,000 men crowded into a stinky, dirty camp of tents and shacks. These guys were not used to doing laundry (they considered it women’s work), so they just walked around in filthy, rotting clothes.”
Find out more at the end of the book in sections such as “What Ever Happened To…”, a look into how Sheinkin gathered his notes and research, and “Quotation Notes” that includes “daring, clever, foolish, amazing, surprising, funny and gross things.”
If you like this book, you might also want to check out Scheinkin’s other titles:
Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About the Civil War
Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn’t Tell You About Westward Expansion
Don’t take just my word for it:
Carol Wilcox at Carol’s Corner
11 Planets- Cybils Finalist
January 29, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System
Author: David A. Aguilar
Publisher:National Geographic Children’s Books (March 11, 2008)
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Who isn’t amazed by the possibility of life on Jupiter’s moons, the freeze-dried atmosphere of Pluto, and a potential planet the author calls Eggland?
Since the last time I went to science class, astronomers have come up with a new way to think about our planetary system which is why I found this book fascinating. The planets are broken into three groups- terrestrial (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars), gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), and then the dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, and Eris). Aguilar devotes a two-page spread to each of the eleven planets and additional two-page spreads explain other extraterrestrial bodies such as moons, meteorites, and comets. There are great facts such as, “Unlike any other planet in our solar system, Uranus has a 98-degree tilt to its axis. Scientists think that really early in its history, it was hit by something really big that knocked it completely over on its side.” In addition, Aguilar has a skill of making a difficult subject very easy to understand. “You can think of our solar system as neighborhoods in space.”
David A. Aguilar is Director of Science Information at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and in addition to writing and making art about space, he loves building telescopes, leading astronomy expeditions, and telling people about the latest discoveries. Aguilar’s artwork in this book is breathtaking and will have you dreaming of hopping on a spaceship and soaring to outer space.
What I really like about this book are the hidden gems. For instance, a trick to remember the names of the planets in order from the Sun, and “The Solar System in a Grocery Bag.” The size of the solar system is immense to us, so Aguilar provides a way to put it into better perspective with items you can find at a grocery store. What a great lesson to do with young readers!
Read these other great reviews…
Carol Wilcox at Carol’s Corner
Sarah Rettger at Archimedes Forgets
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