And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Plot Summary: And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson is a book about two “gay” penguins raise a baby penguin and become a family. And Tango Makes Three explains how both male penguins loved each other and became a family of two. Soon, all the other penguins were laying eggs and they too wanted an egg. They used a rock as an egg but nothing ever hatched. Penguins can only take care of one egg at a time and one female penguin actually laid two. To save the other egg, the zoo keeper replaced the rock with a real egg. Eventually, the egg hatched! They became parents of a baby girl penguin. She joins their family, and Tango Makes Three is born.

Impression about the book:

This book is a non-threatening way was to explain homosexuality to children. I was impressed by how the story unfolded without forcing the subject of homosexuality.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

I enjoyed this lovely book. More so when I discovered that this is actually a true story. This book is recommended for those seeking an inventive way to talk about homosexuality.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians can use this book when a patron is inquiring about homosexuality for young children.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Plot Summary:

Karen Hesse’s, Out of the Dust is a remarkable book written in free verse about life during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Billie Jo is a wonderful character that possesses the strength to surpass the death of her mother, brother and the ridicule of the stares because of her charred skin. She deals with the guilt of killing her mother and the isolation of her father. Aside from the Depression, is seems as though Billie Jo is also going through the Great Depression of her life as she blossoms into a beautiful young lady. In the end, she is stronger and proves to herself that she can overcome any obstacle. I would recommend this book for those who have a low self-esteem, have lost a parent, or feel lonely.

Impression about the book

My impression about Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is how accurate the Karen Hesse depicts the life of a young girl during the Great Depression. The book written in free verse allows the reader to experience such a trying time in America’s history.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

This book is highly recommended. The reader is allowed to almost taste the dirt as Billie Jo’s journey evolves throughout the novel. This coming of age is an instant classic. Hesse beautifully captures such as trying time in history.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a glimpse in the lives of people during the Great Depression. The librarian can read aloud the an excerpt and be captivated by Hesse’s genius writing

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jenny Nimmo

Plot Summary:

Jenny Nimmo begins Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by hooking the reader as he states, “They say I'm wired bad, or wired sad, but there's no doubt about it -- I'm wired.” You have to empathize with Joey; his life is not all that great. This insightful book is about a boy with ADHD and a seriously dysfunctional life. Joey gets into trouble continuously throughout the book. After he gets suspended from school, he attempts to get help for his condition. He begins to take medication but begins to think it is not working because of his dysfunctional family. His alcoholic does mother seems to love him in her own way but cannot take care of him. His grandmother is plain cruel to him. Despite his illness, Joey is a good kid, he just can’t seem to help it. Joey’s wired and revved up life enables his to get into trouble without the realization as to the degree of trouble he gets into. The title for this book derives from they what Joey does to his key. Usually, he swallows his key that is tied to a sting and then retrieves it. Until one day, Joey forgets to tie the fey to a string and actually swallows his key. Hence the name, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. As an educator, I can relate to this book. I will always remember a certain student who would ask me to run around the perimeter of the fence during recess because his parents refuse to give him meds. He knew he had a problem just like Joey. Had this book been published then, I would have recommended this book to him because there were times when that student seemed to feel misunderstood.

Impression about the book

My impression about Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jenny Nimmo is how precise the author depicted Joey’s struggle with ADHD. The book is very detailed and may seem inappropriate at times.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

This is a great book. It gives insight to the life of those struggling to figure out what to do or how to cope with ADHD. This book is recommended with reservations.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as an insight to students with similar experiences. The librarian can read aloud the first page and be captivated by Joey’s struggle.

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan

Plot Summary:

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan is a book about canines. This book is filled with 14 free verse poems about dogs. The insight of each poem allows the reader in to the life of the dog telling the poem The book contains poems about dogs that are huge to dog that are small. Along with a poem, a panting of each dog is nicely illustrated. The book contains dogs that are greedy to dogs that do not like other dogs.

Impression about the book:

This great poetry book is very well written to get the perspective of a canine.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

It is a funny yet insightful way for dogs to get their message across to humans. This delightful book is a must read for all dog lovers.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarian can promote this book during National Poetry Month. It can be read poem by poem or simply a recommendation for a dog lover.

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Plot Summary:

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo. This book did remind me of the Harry Potter books but it held its own story line. The extraordinary powers of the Red King were passed down through his descendants and Charlie Bone, being one of them, has the ability to hear photographs speak. He discovers this while looking at a picture of a couple with a baby and a cat. Because Charlie is one of the Red King's chosen, he is forced by his grandmother to attend the school for gifted students, Bloor's Academy. There, he meets others, who like him have special powers. This is a typical good vs. evil novel. Charlie is determined to find the baby in the photograph. Later, Charlie discovers that the infant in the photograph was given away and is at the very school Charlie is attending. Charlie discovers that Dr. Bloor and the wicked head boy Manfred are keeping a girl, Emilia Moon, under hypnosis. Charlie manages to break the hypnotic spell on Emilia by using the stupid box he had all along. As you can tell, I didn’t like this book. The themes are very similar to the ones in Harry Potter. For example, the similarities of not knowing what really happened to his father, and also the notion of other students not liking him, not to mention his terrible relatives and the eerie school. Charlie does indeed have character concepts such as courage, kindness and coming to terms with grief.

Impression about the book:

My impression about Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo is that the similarities between the Harry Potter Series were substantial; it did not take away from this storyline. This book has its potential despite its similarities of the Harry Potter Series

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

Because of the similarities between this book and the Harry Potter Series, I think this book has not been as popular. This book does hold merit, and it has not been given a chance to flourish.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a comparison to the Harry Potter Series or a different style along the same storyline.

Plot Summary:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1964) is a simple books that teaches Max to control his anger by channeling his emotions with his imagination. Max is being defiant towards his mother and in return, he is sent fuming to his room without his supper. His room gets converted into a jungle with many scary, “wild things.” Max’s imagination sails him to a far away land where he becomes the king and ruler of the wild things. After successful embarking in his journey, he begins to feel lonely and decides to travel back home despite his power over his new land. When he returns, he discovers that his dinner is awaiting his arrival. Children will forever remember they way the wild things “roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth!”

Impression about the book:

My impression about Where the Wild Things Are is that the wonderful illustrations make this book a hit with children young and old. The details in the illustrations leads the reader into a world that only Max imagines. This book can help your readers escape with Max to a land where “the wild things” live.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

Maurice Sendak does a fantastic job enticing the reader to find out where Max has ventured to and when he will come home. The story infers Max’s journey to be instantaneous because when he returns home, his supper await his consumption.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a read aloud or as a springboard to discuss different ways to channel anger. Also, the book depicts a vivid approach as to how books can take you away to a far away journey where “the wild things are!”

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Plot Summary:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1964) is a simple books that teaches Max to control his anger by channeling his emotions with his imagination. Max is being defiant towards his mother and in return, he is sent fuming to his room without his supper. His room gets converted into a jungle with many scary, “wild things.” Max’s imagination sails him to a far away land where he becomes the king and ruler of the wild things. After successful embarking in his journey, he begins to feel lonely and decides to travel back home despite his power over his new land. When he returns, he discovers that his dinner is awaiting his arrival. Children will forever remember they way the wild things “roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth!”

Impression about the book:

My impression about Where the Wild Things Are is that the wonderful illustrations make this book a hit with children young and old. The details in the illustrations leads the reader into a world that only Max imagines. This book can help your readers escape with Max to a land where “the wild things” live.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

Maurice Sendak does a fantastic job enticing the reader to find out where Max has ventured to and when he will come home. The story infers Max’s journey to be instantaneous because when he returns home, his supper await his consumption. Maurice Sendak is an extraordinary author and illustrator.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a read aloud or as a springboard to discuss different ways to channel anger. Also, the book depicts a vivid approach as to how books can take you away to a far away journey where “the wild things are!”

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Plot Summary:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick picture book mixed in with a graphic novel producing a masterpiece. The details alone in each picture can create a story on its own. Although this book contains very little to no dialogue, every time I viewed the graphics in the book, the story changed, making this an outstanding book. The story is about an orphan boy who helps his uncle tend to the clocks at the station. Hugo loves to go behind the wall repairing the clocks. He see the world pass by and is intrigued by the toyshop keeper and a girl that is with the toy keeper. He soon finds out that her name is Isabelle, and she is the goddaughter of the toyshop keeper. While looking in the attic, he discovers an automaton that was left by his father before he died in the fire. He also discovers his father’s notes on how to repair the machine. The toyshop keeper catches him stealing and he now has to pay for this theft by working at the shop. There he discovers that his father and the toy keeper had a connection. The toy keeper inquires about the notebook and takes it away from Hugo. Isabelle helps Hugo get it back. This would definitely appeal to all.

Impression about the book:

This book contains rich sensory illustrations. The intricate details of each illustration come to life in the black and white pictures. The soft gray tones complete the graphic novel.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

This is great recommendation for students who are apprehensive to read “thick” books. The storyline is so involving that the reader forgets there is reading involved.

Suggestions for library use:

A Librarian can show one spread of the pages to promote the genre of graphic novels.