The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

Goble, P.  (1978).  The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses.  Bradbury Press.  Unpaged.

What is so special about wild horses?  Can a girl's friendship with horses be enough to help her get over her illness?

A young, Native American girl has a very special kinship with wild horses.  This special bond with the horses takes her through a journey, and at the end of it she becomes one with them.  While looking after the village horses, a thunderstorm takes her away to a place that is unknown to her but is ruled by a mighty spotted stallion that develops a kinship with her over a year’s time.  The young girl, who was lost, is found by her tribe and goes with her tribe, only to become sick.  After a while she returns to the wild horses and gets better.  She later becomes a part of them.  Five- through eight-year-old children would enjoy this book, but reading it with an adult would benefit them because someone would be there to help them understand the story.  The simple but colorful illustrations complement each page of the text.  The book shows children that they could develop a close connection with animals and nature, and they might develop a deeper sense of respect for nature.  The title refers to the main character in the book, the girl who loved wild horses and how it's about her and what happens to her.

This book is a Caldecott Medal winner.  Learn about Paul Goble by visiting http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/authors/Paul-Goble.aspx.  He also wrote and illustrated The Woman Who Lived with Wolves and Other Stories from the Tipi, The Earth Made New:  Plains Indians Stories of Creation, and All Our Relatives:  Traditional Native American Thoughts About Nature.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema

Aardema, V.  (1975).  Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.  A Pied Piper Book.  Unpaged, $6.99.  Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.

Why do mosquitoes buzz in peoples' ears?  This West African folk tale explains why and how this started.  Read it to find out!

This West African folktale explains why mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears.  It all started with a misunderstanding.  The mosquito said something that upset the iguana, so he stuck two sticks in his ears so that he would not have to hear the mosquito.  The misunderstanding continues and escalates between the snake, rabbit, crow, monkey, and owl.  The monkey calls a meeting to figure out why everyone is upset with each other, and they get to the bottom of the problem.  It turns out that it is the mosquito’s fault.  The mosquito has a guilty conscience, so he asks people if the animals are still mad at him.  This annoys people, and they usually swat at him.  Five- and six-year-old children would like this book because of its simple storyline and repetitiveness.  They would be able to remember the story and quickly and easily read it on their own.  The pictures are also bright and colorful and complement the text very well.  The title refers to the explanation in the story as to why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears...it all started because of a little misunderstanding!

This book won the Caldecott Medal, and the  illustrators won the Newbery Medal for the cover of A Wrinkle in Time.  Check out http://history.librarypoint.org/Verna_Aardema to learn about the author and see some of her other books, a few of which have been featured on Reading Rainbow (Borreguita and the Coyote, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, and Who's in Rabbit's House?).  Also visit http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-dillon-leo-diane.asp to learn about the illustrators.  They also illustrated and won the Caldecott Medal for Ashanti to Zulu.

Verna Aardema, the author



Leo & Diane Dillon, the illustrators



In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers

Abiade, Folami; Adedjouma, Davida; Anderson, David; Burgess, Michael; Hru, Dakari; Johnson, Dinah; Miller, E. Ethelbert; Moore, Lenard; Sanchez, Sonia; Weatherford, Carole Boston.  (1997).  In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall:  African Americans Celebrating Fathers.  Lee & Low Books, Inc.  Unpaged.  Illustrated  by Javaka Steptoe.

How can people honor their fathers, grandfathers, and father figures?  How about through a poem to show them how much they are loved and appreciated?

This is a book of poems dedicated to fathers.  In the poems, the poets share their special their relationship with their fathers.  The poems show how they feel safe and happy when they are with their fathers.  Grandfathers are also mentioned.  Some poems rhyme while others are told in prose.  Haikus are also included.  Children ages five through eight would like the fun rhythms of these poems and the stories they tell.  The pictures are very colorful.  They show texture, using everyday items found around the house.  Not all of the pictures are realistic, but they complement the poems very well. Parents and grandparents can share this book with their children and/or grandchildren to show each other how much they care for them.  People of any race and ethnicity would enjoy this book.  The title refers to how the poets feel about their fathers.  It gives the impression that they love their fathers and feel love and protection from them, and just as their fathers are there for them, they will be there for their fathers when their fathers need them, and this is the way it should be.

The poets have unique backgrounds, from teachers, to writers, professors, teaching assistants, actors, and storytellers.  Some have won awards (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, Ezra Jack Keats Award, the PEN American/Norma Klein Award, and awards from the North Carolina Writers’ Network Harperprint Chapbook Competition) and received honors for their work.

In addition to winning the Coretta Scott King Award for illustrations, this book also won  ALA Notable Children’s Book, received Starred Review from Publisher’s Weekly and ALA Booklist, and was on Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books International Reading Association Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

Javaka Steptoe, the illustrator

Javaka Steptoe has also illustrated Rain Play, Jimi Hendrix Sounds Like a Rainbow:  A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, and Amiri and Odette:  A Love Story.

The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews

Crews, N.  (2004).  The Neighborhood Mother Goose.  Greenwillow Books. 

This book has several Mother Goose nursery rhymes illustrated with pictures from actual neighborhoods.

This is a collection of nursery rhymes, both popular and not so well-known.  Some of the nursery rhymes included in this collection are “Hey Diddle Diddle!,”  “Humpty Dumpty,” “Jack and Jill,” “Jack Be Nimble,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Lucy Locket,” “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” and “Peter Piper,” among others.  The pictures are actual photographs of children in a city setting, and they complement the nursery rhymes well.  Each photo corresponds to the nursery rhyme on each page.  Five- and six-year-old children would enjoy these nursery rhymes for their rhythm and rhymes.  The photos are realistic, so they would be able to see themselves doing the activities in the nursery rhymes.  The title refers to Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, but it seems as though the nursery rhymes are happening in a city.  When I think of nursery rhymes, I think of the setting as the countryside or a rural area, but this book shows that nursery rhymes could be set anywhere.

This book reminded me of the nursery rhymes I learned when I was in kindergarten.  It has a unique way of illustrating the rhymes:  realistic pictures of children in an actual city.  This book was an ALA Notable book in 2005.  It was also named a Notable Children's Book by NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), was one of School Library Journal's Best Books in 2004, and was one of Parent Magazine's Best Books of the Year in 2004.  Learn about Nina Crews by visiting http://www.ninacrews.com/.  Nina Crews also wrote The Neighborhood Sing-Along and did a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, both of which feature photographs.

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Pennypacker, S.  (2006).  Clementine.  Hyperion.  136 pages, $4.99

After getting into a lot of trouble in just one week, Clementine overhears her parents talking about getting rid of her.  Will she be able to behave herself enough to get them to change their minds?

Clementine is having a rough week.  She gets sent to the principal’s office twice, Margaret’s mom is mad at her because she cut Margaret’s hair when she was only trying to help, Margaret stops speaking to her, and even her own mother gets upset with her.  Clementine does not understand why she is always getting into so much trouble when all she is doing is paying attention to what is happening around her and trying to help.  When she overhears her parents talking, it sounds like they might be getting rid of her because she is so difficult, so she decides to be extra good by cleaning her room, but instead of getting cleaner, it is just getting wetter.  Clementine’s parents ask her what is wrong, and as tears start coming out of her eyes, she promises that she will be a better daughter, student, sister, and friend and begs them not to get rid of her.  Realizing what Clementine overheard, they surprise her with a cake and a kitten they got for her for helping her dad solve a problem he was having with pigeons around their apartment building.  They were never going to get rid of her after all. 

I really had a blast reading this book.  It made me imagine what I would do if I were in Clementine's situation.  Seven- and eight-year-olds would enjoy this book because it is told from the point of view of Clementine, who is just about their age.  It is a humorous story about a strong-willed girl who stands up for what she believes in and is comfortable with who she is.  Children could relate to getting in trouble when it is not their fault or even when it is their fault.  The story is simple to read and understand, and the black and white pictures are humorous and complement the text.  The title refers to Clementine, the main character of the book.  It seems that Clementine kind of likes to get attention, so I think it fits the book, story, and the character perfectly.

This book is a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book, is the winner of the Bank Street/Josette Frank Award, is a Child Magazine Best Book of the Year, and a New York Times Bestseller.  Other books in the Clementine series include The Talented Clementine, Clementine's Letter, and Clementine:  Friend of the Week.  Learn about Sara Pennypacker by visiting her website at http://www.sarapennypacker.com/index.html.  Marla Frazee illustrated the books in this series.  Watch a video interview with Marla Frazee at http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/frazee. 

the author

the illustrator



Flotsam by David Wiesner

Wiesner, D.  (2006).  Flotsam.  Clarion Books.  Unpaged.

What happens deep in the ocean when no one is around?  This book shows one possibility.

This wordless picture book is about a young boy who has an interest in marine biology.  While at the beach he discovers an underwater camera that appears to be quite old.  He opens the camera and finds that there is film inside.  He develops the film and finds an underwater fantasy world of marine life.  He also finds a picture of a person within a picture of a person within another picture of a person within another picture, etc.  He discovers a black and white picture probably from the early 20^th century of the original person.  He then takes a picture of himself holding the picture he found and then throws the camera back into the ocean to share with someone else to continue what the person in the black and white photo started.  While the book has no words, the pictures do tell a story that is suitable for five- to eight-year-olds.  It also leaves room for imagination of the reader.  I think many people have wondered what really happens underwater when no one is around.  Are there really seahorse villages or turtle town?  This book lets one’s imagination come up for a breath of fresh air.

Before I read this book, I thought that there would be countless stories that could be told from reading this wordless picture book, but upon taking a closer look and actually reading it, I think there's a clear-cut story to this book, although different people will probably tell the story just a little bit differently.  I really enjoyed it, especially the picture within the picture within the picture within the picture, etc.  The pictures are beautifully illustrated and very colorful, making it easy to tell the story and read the book.  Since this is a wordless picture book, I think it's a bit of a mystery to say with certaintly what the title refers to, but the first thing that came to mind when I saw this book was Flotsam and Jetsam, so I think that's what the title refers to since it takes place at the beach and in the ocean.

This book won the Best Illustrated Children's Book Award and the Caldecott Award.  Other books illustrated by Wiesner include Tongues of Jade, Rainbow People, Firebrat, and The Three Little Pigs.

David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

Shannon, D.  (2002).  David Gets in Trouble.  The Blue Sky Press.  Unpaged, $15.95.

David is constantly getting in trouble, and he's always coming up with excuses for why it's not his fault.  Will his excuses work?  Will he learn to take responsibility for his actions and decisions?

David does many things that get him in trouble, but it is usually an accident and not his fault, so he makes every excuse he knows to avoid getting in trouble, but this does not always work.  In the end, he takes responsibility for what he does and apologizes to his parents and tells them that he loves them, and they forgive him and tell him that they love him too. 

I thought this was a really cute book.  It reminded me of when I was a little kid.  The pages on this book have simple sentences written as though a first grader wrote them.  The pictures are brightly colored.  Children would be able to relate to David because they have probably done some of the same mischievous things that he has done.  In the end, they can also learn that they should take responsibility for what they have done.  They can also learn that their parents will be there for them and love them unconditionally.  David Shannon is an award-winning author and illustrator.  His book, The Rain Came Down, won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Golden Kite Award.  The first in the David series, No, David! is a Caldecott Honor Book.  Watch a video interview of the author by visiting the following website:  http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/shannon.  The title refers to what happened in the story...David got in trouble and how the situation was handled.

David Shannon