Picking the first read-aloud is an agonizing dilemma; not too long, not too short, not too silly, not too sad… it has to be just right.  And Jerry Pinkney’s version of “The Little Red Hen” was it! 

Pinkney was a featured speaker at the Illinois Reading Conference in 2007.  I enjoyed his presentation immensely, and felt privileged that he allowed me to contact him for an interview related to his book “Sam and the Tigers:  A retelling of Little Black Sambo”.  I was working on my MS at the time, researching the story “Little Black Sambo”.  Mr. Pinkney was incredibly gracious, allowing me to call him at home since he was rushing to catch a plane after his conference presentation.  What a VERY nice man!

Jerry Pinkney, illustrator

"The Miller" Pinkney self-portrait

But back to “The Little Red Hen”…. because I had met Mr. Pinkney I recognized his self-portrait as the miller in the story. 

If the resemblance wasn’t enough, Pinkney leaves the reader a hint in the corner of the page where he appears as the character of the miller – hidden between the grindstone and a barrel are paint supplies and a little red hen painting in progress!

Before we began reading I shared with the students how I met Mr. Pinkney and subsequently recognized him in the book.  I showed them Pinkney’s photo and let them search for the clue in the illustrations.

Pinkney’s work is distinctive, so I pulled the dozen or so titles we had in our collection and began showing them to the students.  Just as family members share a resemblance and can often be recognized, so can the work of illustrators.  Pinkney’s realistic people and animals, the details of the pictures, and the muted colors are all hallmarks that the students can begin to identify.  Included in the stack of Pinkney books was an obviously non-Pinkney illustrated work.  A couple of books before this decoy surfaced I would tell the students to raise their hand if they recognized a book that didn’t look like Pinkney’s work.  They got it every time!

“The Little Red Hen” needs some explanations in the post-agricultural society.  The word harvesting is familiar, but the concept of threshing wheat is not.  I explained how the wheat is actually the seed heads at the top of the dry stalk and threshing is removing the seeds from the stalk.  (A lot of work by hand!)  Flour and milling also require some explanation.  And after the bread is baked, I always made sure the students knew the meaning of the word aroma. 

The repetition in this book makes it a favorite.  It doesn’t take long for the students to chant “not I” along with you or, with an inviting pause, they will finish the phrase “then I’ll do it myself”.  What surprised and saddened me was the student reactions to the ending of the book.  Pinkney kept the traditional “I’ll eat it myself” ending and initially the students were unhappy with it.  They expected the little red hen to share.  So as the day went along I introduced the word ‘lazy’ into their vocabularies.  The other animals were lazy and did not want to work.  No work – no food.  Do nothing – get nothing.  When did we lose sight of those values?  I’m sure we have, because this new generation thought the little red hen should share anyway.  I have two words for that – Bah humbug!

Book cover

Sniff.  Sniff, sniff, sniff….  [sound of nose gently blowing]  Sigh!

“The Naming of Tishkin Silk” is one of the most sweetly sad novelettes I have read since “Sarah, Plain and Tall”.  Griffin Silk must go to public school rather than be home schooled since his mother and baby sister have gone away.  Where mother and the baby (which Griffin has privately named Tishkin) have gone is a mystery that beckons the reader gently through the book’s 102 pages.

“The Naming of Tishkin Silk” by Australian writer Glenda Millard with wonderful black and white illustrations by Texan Patrice Barton is a lovely, gentle story accessible to younger readers but with enough sentiment to capture middle-schoolers.  And my wish for each child is to have a friend like Layla.

Read it and sniffle!

Scarlett cover

Anyone who works closely with children knows that they are impacted by divorce.  How the parents handle the break up and subsequent relationship can make it either easier or downright impossible for the kids.  “Scarlett” is a very realistic look at a young British girl who reflects her mother’s anger after the divorce.  With ketchup red hair and a pierced tongue Scarlett is looking for trouble at school.  She finds it.  Packed off to live with grandma and then an uncle she blows her last chance and is kicked out of yet another school.  At the end of her rope, Scarlett’s mother packs her off to live with her Dad whom Scarlett has deliberately not communicated with since early in the divorce.

Dad is remarried and living in Ireland.  Scarlett tries to rebel, but her genuinely caring stepmother and 9 year old stepsister begin to crack Scarlett’s hard boiled shell.  When the local school doesn’t work for Scarlett, home schooling does; but it is meeting Kian, a mysterious dark haired boy, who helps Scarlett begin to let go of her anger and find peace within herself.

A lovely story and a very engaging read.  Young female readers, especially, will appreciate the minor romance with Kian.  British author Cathy Cassidy has written a winner.

Silverfin cover

A new series about the young James Bond, with the approval of the Ian Fleming estate, could be expected to be spot-on fantastic.  But instead of being swimmingly riveting it was a fishy flop.  Young readers will never get through the first section of the book it is so dull.  Perhaps dedicated fans of the Bond books will appreciate “Silverfin” by Charlie Higson but most 4-8 readers will not, I fear. 

Hunger Games cover

Conversely, “Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins is a feast of intensity and action.   This is “Lost” and “Survivor” meets “Logan’s Run”.  A post-apocolyptic United States is now 12 districts controlled by what is simply known as “The Capitol”.  Once there were 13 districts, but in a historic uprising District 13 was destroyed by the Capitol.  To remind all and to quell any future rebellion the Capitol holds annual Hunger Games where 24 young adults, a boy and a girl from each district, are pitted against one another in a televised contest.  It is a battle to the death where only one will survive. 

I detest reality TV (except Dancing with the Stars which barely counts).  I also detest the talk shows where people find dysfunction entertaining.  Perhaps author Suzanne Collins also dislikes this entertainment as the Hunger Games are portrayed as depraved, inhuman. and mindless.

This book was impossible to put down.  I started reading about 1:00 in the afternoon, barely took time to make supper for my family, and finished about 7:30.  Describing this Science Fiction novel as compelling is a gross understatement.

Reading “Silverfin” and “Hunger Games” in that order was such a contrast that I was left wondering exactly what is it that makes a book impossible to put down?  And what made me devour the sequel, “Catching Fire” in even less time? 

The last books I found this compelling were the “Twilight” series (in spite of how badly written the sequels were).  Collins’ first two offerings in this trilogy, in contrast, are extremely well written – not a useless scene or word in them – much better than “Twilight”!

Maybe the key to ‘can’t-put-it-down’ fiction is not just the constant action,  but the addition of the very realistic romantic conflict as Katniss finds herself torn between Gale and Peeta.  Like “Twilight”, “Hunger Games” has young love – although Katniss is more innocent and less obsessed than Bella making this appropriate for a younger audience.  Or perhaps I just like both Gale and Peeta more than I liked the characters Edward or Jacob.

I certainly find Katniss, despite her flaws and confusion, to be more admirable than Bella.  Bella was always a self-absorbed victim.  Katniss is a fighter with more concern for others than for herself! 

Regardless, this is the best read since “Twilight”.  The third book cannot come too soon!  http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6709728.html?nid=2788&source=title&rid=16789202

This is a book for mature young adult readers due to its intensity.  The reader knows from the beginning that Helmuth is in prison and waiting for execution.  The story is told in flashbacks; the prison sections are agonizing and the suspense is painful. 

One of the book’s strengths, I think, is in bringing to life how a dictator such as Hitler could rise to power and gain the backing of a nation.  Too often people, young people especially, like to look back and believe that we would have done it differently.  “Hitler would never rise to power here in America.!” But Bartoletti’s book gives the necessary background to provide insight into how and why it did happen…and painfully, what happened to those who dared to take a stand.

A powerful book – not for every reader.  For young adult readers only, or mature readers very well versed in World War II history.

Vive la Paris - cover

This 210 page novel (if it were a person) is a real mensch but I think less experienced readers will be left meshuga. Paris (a 5th grader from Chicago) takes piano lessons from Mrs. Rosen (jazz lover and holocaust survivor).  Woven throughout the narrative are song titles and occasionally some lyrics.  Actually, a sound track to go with this novel would be valuable!  I’m left humming… but young readers are going to be left fahklumpt (look it up yourself – it’s Yiddish).

Strengths of the novel include a struggling but strong family, a main character with a strong and unique voice, wonderful character development in terms of beginning to view others empathetically, and a friendly culture clash of Chicago black and white.  I absolutely adored Miss Pointy, especially in Chapter 9!  Esme named her appropriately ’cause she is one sharp teacher!

If you want a novel focused on an individual topic, this is not it!  Esme Codell has included race, the Holocaust, bullying, peaceful protest, friendship, enemies, piano lessons, brothers, teenage pregnancy, death, God, fifth grade, and more all through the eyes of Paris McCray.  Paris is a unique character, with a unique voice, and while Codell manages to make it all come together in the end, it felt a little A.D.D. along the way.  That probably makes it perfect for many young readers.

I would recommend this narrative for better fifth and sixth grade readers through eighth graders.

The Lemonade War, cover

I always thought the worst part of school was math.  OK, it was PE.  But despite my ineptitude I understood PE and did NOT understand math… so math was the most dreaded class for me when I was a student.  This novel’s many detailed math portions felt obviously planted for the reader’s mathematical enlightenment.  I just skipped over them in annoyance.  I’m sure there will be young readers who feel the same.  Given a reader who enjoys math I’m not sure the mathematical sections of the narrative will be entertaining.  But face it, since I will never be entertained by numbers I am not the best judge.

I did appreciate the very realistic sibling conflict in this book.  Jacqueline Davies has created two very rich and believable characters in Evan and his younger sister Jessie.  Jessie is academically talented but socially inept.  Evan cannot compete with Jessie academically and fails in his own mind, especially, to measure up.  The catalyst for conflict is the impending school year where Jessie will be skipping a grade and will be, not only in the same grade as her brother Evan, but in the same class.  Evan’s unexpressed angst over the situation and Jessie’s inability to read social cues spark a competition between the two of them to sell the most lemonade.  It is war and it isn’t pretty.

Told in alternating voices, Evan and Jessie’s individual viewpoints richly illustrate the difficulties in communication within a family.  If this novel provides young readers with insight into the fact that another person views a given situation completely differently and that not everyone thinks exactly like they do, it would be worth plowing past the didactic math portions.  I especially appreciate the fact that both Evan and Jessie, while in conflict and confusion, are never totally uncaring about the other.  They have a solid, loving relationship beneath the communication issues and immature decision making ; that is what ultimately sees them through.

At 173 pages, plus illustrations, this is a very accessible novel for young middler readers… if they skip the math!

The Alchemyst cover

When I first noticed the subtitle of this novel I immediately dismissed this book as a Harry Potter spin-off.  Forced to read it for an assignment, recently, I was surprised to see no nod to J.K. Rowling in the credits anywhere.  After all, Nicholas Flamel is in “The Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone”, Book 1.  But in poking around before reading the work, I noticed the author’s note at the end and learned that Nicholas Flamel (and other characters in the book) were real people.  They were somewhat legendary, by nevertheless, several of the main characters actually lived long ago.  And apparently The Philosopher’s Stone was not something Rowling made up, either.  (Hmmm – do I give her more credit or less?)

Also in my preliminary reading I learned that the author Michael Scott is “an authority on mythology and folklore” and is Irish to boot!  So I began reading “The Alchemyst” with interest instead of cynicism. 

I completely enjoyed the many mythological and legendary facets woven into the book.  Like Riordan’s Percy Jackson books which make it almost plausible that the Greek Gods still live above and among us, Scott’s “The Alchemyst” makes the world of myth and legend weave in and around reality.  The way the narrative wove mythological characters into the work also put me in mind of fellow Irishman, Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl books with their nod to mythology and legend.

I loved the explanations for world catastrophes such as the Great London Fire of 1666.  And I loved how Scott set up his twin hero and heroine to be more knowledgeable than the average kids by having their parents as archaeologists. 

Side note:  You DO become at least a bit knowledgeable about your parent’s work…  my husband is a radio announcer for a Greatest Hits station so our girls know more songs from the past than their peers.  AND they know not to blow into or tap a microphone to see if it is on.  (If you must know – just speak into it!)  My girls were lucky… my father was a hog farmer so rather than radio station remotes, when I helped my father I had to handle livestock.  Far less glamorous, I’m afraid.

My initial enthusiasm for the narrative waned a bit by the middle.  I felt the book bogged down a bit, but I kept with it to the end.  I know I’ll have to buy the sequels, of which there are already several, for our school’s collection. 

This novel is for committed readers of fantasy.   It goes without saying that committed readers of fantasy will be the above average readers as there are very few fantasy novels accessible to poor readers!

I recommend you visit Scott’s website for further reading on the series AND on the truth behind the characters.  Wikipedia also provides some interesting reading on Nicholas and his wife Perenelle.

Definitely NOT a Harry Potter spin-off!  I apologize to Michael Scott for my initial uninformed prejudice and, without apology, I recommend you read “The Alchemyst” for yourself.

Near Hit:  Here Today by Ann M. Martin

Realistic Fiction and Historical Fiction (sort of) rolled into one.  It is 1963 and Ellie has a dysfunctional family due to a self-absorbed beautiful mother who splits before the novel is over.  Well told story of the situation where the child has to be the parent.  The Dad does step up before the novel ends.  Also interesting is the neighborhood of Witch Tree Lane – a diverse community which cares about one another, but suffers derision from the wider world.  (Especially the “two elderly ladies…who lived together for years and were not related” as Ellie explains.) Well told story.  Limited audience.

Near Miss:  White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

Sequel to The Green Glass Sea which I loved, this novel tries to hard.  Dewey is still living with the Gordons.  The big plot line is Dewey’s mother’s appearance on the scene.  The book details the early opposition to nuclear weapons.  Klages obviously did a lot of research for the book and I painfully felt every bit of that research as I read the narrative.  I also found it hard to care about the characters in this sequel.  Not particularly recommended – even for fans of Green Glass Sea.

Hit! : The Hero by Ron Woods

This narrative surprised me – and after all the novels all these years that is not easy to do.  Not as strong as Cummings’ Red Kayak, never less this is a excellent look at a main character exhibiting character under tough circumstances.  Good hearted narrator Jamie, bossy cousin Jerry, and misfit neighbor Dennis make up the threesome of boys building a raft.  There is disaster coming – you can feel it through the entire novel.  But The Hero will surprise you.  He isn’t who or what you think.  Highly recommended!

Miss:  All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall

Great premise to this novel – Dad is an Elvis impersonator.  Unfortunately there is no interesting plot nor any character development in evidence.  Not recommended.

Near Hit:  Sparks fly Upward by Carol Matas

Set in turn of the century Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, this is the story of a Russian immigrant family and their struggles and disasters.  The author’s family history provides the inspiration for the story, and it is rich with details of life in a Kosher household with a huge extended family.  Insight into the cultural challenges and prejudices from within and without the family, this book is interesting reading.  This narrative is unique.  For better readers who enjoy historical fiction.

Waiting for Normal

But “Waiting for Normal” by Leslie Connor is a standout among the above mentioned ‘normal’ books.  (Although I did love the Creech book!)  Obviously the main character, 12 year old Addie, is not from a ‘normal home”.  Her “all or nothing” mother alternately smothers her or neglects her.   As her ex-stepfather Dwight tells her, Addie is indeed resilient; she makes the best of her less than normal life.  But as the plot develops, so does Addie’s character.  By the end Addie stands up for what she wants and needs… with a little help from her neighbor Soula and a cast of truly supporting characters.  Characters which truly support Addie, that is…

This is a novel I will only recommend to female readers, however, as there are several moments in the narrative that revolve around developing “boobs” and the start of menstruation; my 4th thru 8th grade male readers may find it uncomfortable reading.  But it is wonderful read!  Booklist said it best:  “Connor takes a familiar plot and elevates it with smartly written characters and unexpected moments.”  This book is above average.  Or should I say, “above normal”?