Brian Selznick does it again in this gorgeously illustrated story of two children, fifty years apart (1927 and 1977) whose lives intersect. Museums, wBrian Selznick does it again in this gorgeously illustrated story of two children, fifty years apart (1927 and 1977) whose lives intersect. Museums, wolves, lightning, the American Museum of Natural History, sign language, missing parents, and a turtle made of sseahells are some of the things that connect the two. References to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler abound as young Ben finds himself running from Minnesota to New York in search of his father at the Kincaid Book Store, only to take refuge at the AMNH under the watchful eye of a boy named Jamie.
I love the sensitivity of Selznick's Illustrations, particularly his portraits of children and hands holding precious items. He doesn't shy away from the side of bravery that someties leads to hurt. His love for his characters and their fascinations is obvious. ...more
Adam Gidwitz imagines the further adventures of the familiar Hansel and Gretel, but returns them to the dark, bloody Grimm source instead of the saferAdam Gidwitz imagines the further adventures of the familiar Hansel and Gretel, but returns them to the dark, bloody Grimm source instead of the safer, prettier versions most of us grew up with. Gidwitz advocates for exposing children to this darker side of life and literature, and I have to agree with him, but what makes these stories compelling is the vibrancy and compelling action with which he tells them, plus a little philosophizing about bravery and the benefits of fear. The stories are told with knowing, cynical authorial asides that are extremely reminiscent of Lemony Snicket and a little too cute for my taste but my resident 9 year old was quite taken with it....more
Pretty terrific first novel in a series, sort of an action-packed Margaret Atwood-like dystopia for the YA set. The suspense is somewhat diminished byPretty terrific first novel in a series, sort of an action-packed Margaret Atwood-like dystopia for the YA set. The suspense is somewhat diminished by the fact it's told by a first-person narrator, but her voice is so honest and unlikely to sugar-coat, that it's easy to imagine things not turning out entirely rosy for her....more
Investigating the truth behind claims that short people are more unhappy than their taller counterparts, journalist (and short guy) John Schwartz discInvestigating the truth behind claims that short people are more unhappy than their taller counterparts, journalist (and short guy) John Schwartz discovered that the supporting studies did not reliably support this assertion and in many cases were simply misreported. Schwartz directs this book, which lucidly explains what the studies actually say, how to read the underlying statistics, and how to evaluate scientific claims, at children, in particular short children, giving them the tools they need to feel confident at whatever height they happen to be, while also equipping them to critically approach all kinds of media and scientific claims....more
An excellent story of the Holocaust, told from the perspective of a 10 year old Danish girl whose family risks their lives to help transport their JewAn excellent story of the Holocaust, told from the perspective of a 10 year old Danish girl whose family risks their lives to help transport their Jewish friends to safety in Sweden. The fear and deprivation of the setting in occupied Copenhagen is well established, while little details of people getting by as best they can both fleshes it out and adds a sense of humanity doing its best in difficult circumstances. Early on, it is reported that the main character's older sister died under somewhat mysterious circumstances, and this dose of tragedy makes it feel entirely possible there won't be a happy ending, adding important tension.
I'm guessing the book has been criticized for offering a view of the Holocaust in which the Gentiles who worked with the Resistance to save Jews take center stage, rather than the persecuted people themselves, but I think it's important for children reading the book (most of whom are not Jewish) to understand that occupation was horrible for everyone, and that righteous people must stand up to defend the persecuted who live alongside them....more
This book was a gateway drug to my son, who now spends half his time poring over (and creating) detailed cross-sections and schematics. And Lowly WormThis book was a gateway drug to my son, who now spends half his time poring over (and creating) detailed cross-sections and schematics. And Lowly Worm, too!...more
I get the sense that Lois Lowry wanted to write this parody of "old fashioned children's books" to do something in the vein of the Lemony Snicket bookI get the sense that Lois Lowry wanted to write this parody of "old fashioned children's books" to do something in the vein of the Lemony Snicket books -- it has the same kind of arch tone, and even includes a glossary at the back with the same sort of definitions that are thrown into the text in the Lemony Snicket books. But this story doesn't have anywhere near the appeal of the Snicket characters -- they are underdeveloped, for one thing -- who are mostly odious and selfish, including the children. The plot isn't all that clever, and because the characters are mostly not very nice (or very interesting) it's hard to find anyone to root for, or hiss against. There is some enjoyment in trying to figure out which stories she's parodying -- Mary Poppins and the Bobbsey Twins come to mind -- but it's been done better....more
Exquisitely creepy story of a girl who moves to a new home in an old Victorian house with her somewhat detached parents, and in exploring the place fiExquisitely creepy story of a girl who moves to a new home in an old Victorian house with her somewhat detached parents, and in exploring the place finds an alternate world in which a doting but menacing "other mother" tries to keep her captive. Coraline's actual quest -- to free other captive children's souls and her real parents -- is less interesting than the way her surroundings and the strange characters who inhabit them are described. ...more
Where on earth has our copy of The Snowy Day gone to? A favorite of my childhood, my kids also are captivated by this gorgeously illustrated story of Where on earth has our copy of The Snowy Day gone to? A favorite of my childhood, my kids also are captivated by this gorgeously illustrated story of an urban winter wonderland....more
I read this later in life than my beloved Ballet Shoes and so it didn't have the same magic for me, but still loved reading about the behind the sceneI read this later in life than my beloved Ballet Shoes and so it didn't have the same magic for me, but still loved reading about the behind the scenes life....more
I loved this book as a child, loved the pluckiness of the three sisters and their eccentric family, loved the inside view of the conservatory, loved tI loved this book as a child, loved the pluckiness of the three sisters and their eccentric family, loved the inside view of the conservatory, loved that the girls each found their strengths, yet even the ones not cut out to be dancers got something positive from dancing....more
I'm reading this now, having read the two follow-up books first. While I really admire Balliett's interest in constructing smart, creative stories forI'm reading this now, having read the two follow-up books first. While I really admire Balliett's interest in constructing smart, creative stories for children that don't condescend to them (and that have multicultural characters and smart girls in them), I think she's writing what she thinks should be good, enjoyable children's books, not necessarily books that really come out to be all that enjoyable. There is something whole-grain and carob-like in the writing. It's good for you, but it isn't all that tasty. The kids in these books run deep and cerebral (in different but complementary ways), and they confront various challenges with poise, but they never seem to be having much fun.
**********
Having finished it, I was very disappointed. Balliett wants to create a puzzle mystery for smart, creative kids (and I get the feeling she was a very good teacher, like the beloved Ms. Hussey), but too much of this story and her overall theme is about a mind-meld kind of mysticism that results in the kids solving the mystery (when grown-ups can't) not because they're more creative or smart or brave but because some supernatural force pointed them to the answer. So Calder's constant "reading" of his pentominoes feels more like a plot crutch than something organic to the story....more
A top-notch, sophisticated puzzle-mystery for tweens, from a series about three bright Chicago kids who stumble across -- and solve -- art-related mysA top-notch, sophisticated puzzle-mystery for tweens, from a series about three bright Chicago kids who stumble across -- and solve -- art-related mysteries with a metaphysical twist. One review called the first book "The Da Vinci Code for tweens," but Dan Brown would be very fortunate to write half as well as Blue Balliett. Very enjoyable, even for adults....more
My 6 year old son loves to read, especially mysteries and adventure stories, but he has somehow resisted "chapter books" preferring his Tintin comics My 6 year old son loves to read, especially mysteries and adventure stories, but he has somehow resisted "chapter books" preferring his Tintin comics and non-fiction about ships, trains, and airplanes. Until a smart librarian introduced him to Nate the Great this weekend, that is. He read all of this particular adventure aloud to me in one sitting, which takes Nate and his dog Sludge to San Francisco, where they solve a mystery that was being handled by Nate's detective cousin Olivia.
It's not all that clever, and there isn't much for grownups here (no Mo Willems/Dav Pilkey-esque ironic wordplay, for example), but there is plenty of spunk and independent kid stuff going on. Hopefully, these will be a good gateway for him in terms of chapter books, and then we can go on to things that are a little more challenging for him from a techinical skills perspective, as well as opening up into richer fictional worlds....more
This was one of my top favorite books as a child -- there was the romantic setting (India! boarding school! a garret!) and the wonderful upstairs-downThis was one of my top favorite books as a child -- there was the romantic setting (India! boarding school! a garret!) and the wonderful upstairs-downstairs worlds explored, but more than anything, I think Burnett masterfully showed us Sara's fall from grace and its many facets. It could have been entirely depressing, or entirely whitewashed, but instead we see Sara having good times and bad, having moments where she harnesses her inner strength and moments where she thinks she will crumble. Most deliciously, Burnett writes about the power of imagination. More than anything, more than it's a book about a girl who is good and kind and has inner strength, it's a book about a storyteller and writer and how she remakes her world through the power of stories....more
I was very much looking forward to reading this, as it had very good word-of-mouth as a high-quality children's/YA fantasy that adults will also enjoyI was very much looking forward to reading this, as it had very good word-of-mouth as a high-quality children's/YA fantasy that adults will also enjoy. And the premise, that characters can exist in the "real world" outside of books, or that real people can enter the world inside a book, is endlessly appealing. However, my local library is on the verge of opening a new wing with my overdue book fines on this, because I keep hanging onto it in the hope that eventually I will be able to finish reading it.
I think it's just not going to happen. First of all, there is something very stilted and anachronistic in the writing, and I can't tell whether that's just Cornelia Funke, or a result of the translation work. Also, the book is simply too long. It takes 150 pages for anything to begin to happen, and that's much too long, even for an adult book. I blame J.K. Rowling for this kind of bloating.
Finally, I'm extremely annoyed by people, whether real or fictional, who pat themselves on the back for loving books. People have loved books for as long as there have been books, and even before books, people loved storytelling and drama. You're not a special kind of intellect for loving books and wordplay. The people in Inkheart are paraded before us as people with an extra special super duper love of books that is so powerful that they can cause the boundary between books and reality to melt. But just carrying around favorite books in a little trunk and bragging you've loved books since you were a baby and could read before you could talk and so forth isn't particularly magical or distinctive or worthy of praise, and I got tired pretty quickly of Meggie and her father and aunt and their extreme reverence for books. Capping it off is Funke's annoying habit of using an epigram from other (mostly fantasy) books for each chapter. If she found those inspiring, fine, stick them on your bulletin board while writing. But they were yet more reason to jump out of the story, rather than having it propel along....more
I always found something very soothing about this book, the big nearly empty house and the secret garden hidden away. But much of the book always feltI always found something very soothing about this book, the big nearly empty house and the secret garden hidden away. But much of the book always felt like a slog to me, maybe the way the Yorkshire accents are transcribed felt like work. Or maybe it was all a bit too soothing. By contrast, A Little Princess was the kind of book I went back to over and over again, so it's not that Burnett didn't write the kind of books I like....more
This charmingly illustrated book concerns the efforts of Leah and her little brother to save their Mama's annual live carp purchase from its inevitablThis charmingly illustrated book concerns the efforts of Leah and her little brother to save their Mama's annual live carp purchase from its inevitable fate -- it will end up as the family's Passover gefilte fish that the children vow never to eat. Living in Brooklyn in what appears to be the 1930s, Leah's family is lucky because they and their downstairs neighbor have their own bathrooms with a tub -- everyone else has to share. Thus, the carp can live comfortably for a week in the bathtub until it is time for Mama to start cooking. When this year's carp seems particularly charming and friendly, they name it Joe and hatch a plan to hide it downstairs.
My sister and I loved this book, and my six year old son loves it too. I suppose it might be a tad upsetting for a child that doesn't know or is upset by the fact that if you eat animals they have to be killed first. The inevitable death of Joe happens offstage, but the book does frankly state that the fish is killed with a club and then skinned and filleted....more
Loading...
