The Children's Literature Choice List 1996

Books for Children 3 and Under

Baa! Who’s on the Farm?
Grr! Who’s in the Jungle?
Richard Powell
Illustrated by Steve Cox
Lift the flaps and figure out which animal is making the sounds 1995, Little Simon, Ages 6 months to 3, $4.50ea. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Plane
Ship
Written and illustrated by Chris L. Demarest
Bold, woodcut illustrations are paired with simple rhyming text in these charming board books. 1995, Red Wagon Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 1 to 4, $4.95 each. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Happy Moose, Grumpy Goose
Red Strawberry
Spots on My Shoes
The Sun Rises, The Star Shines
Written and illustrated by John Clementson
New board books for the very young with bright bold collage pictures conveying simple concepts. 1995, Red Wagon Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 6mo to 2, $4.00 ea. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Color Fun
Let’s Count
Shapes Galore
Happy Times
Tab Board books showing favorite animals and objects plus teaching concepts. 1995, Dorling Kindersley, Ages 6 months to 3, $3.95ea. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

When It’s Time for Bed
When There’s Work to Do
When We Go Shopping
When We Play Together
Written and illustrated by Nick Butterworth
Four enchanting board books follow the daily activities of a child and six friendly stuffed animals. 1994, HarperCollins, Ages 1 to 4, $4.95 each. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Wibbly Pig Opens His Presents
Wibbly Pig Likes Bananas
Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent
Wibbly Pig is Upset
Wibbly Pig Makes Pictures
Wibbly Pig Can Dance
Written and illustrated by Mick Inkpen
With just a few strokes Mick Inkpen manages to create a delightful character in lots of familiar situations. 1995, Artists & Writers, Ages 2 to 4, $3.95 ea. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Picture Books Generally For Children Ages 4 To 8

The Biggest Boy
Kevin Henkes
Illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
Two master storytellers work their magic in this fanciful tale aimed at taking the potential “sting” out of growing up. 1995, Greenwillow Books (William Morrow), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest
Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Animal trivia. 1995, Ticknor & Fields (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

A Bold Carnivore: An Alphabet of Predators
Written and illustrated by Consie Powell
Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an intricate, full-color illustration of a North American predator. 1995, Roberts Rinehart, Ages 3 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Brer Tiger and the Big Wind
William J. Faulkner
Illustrated by Roberta Wilson
The author, a Southern folklorist, recounts the story first told to him by Simon Brown, a former slave. 1995, Ages 5 up, Morrow Junior Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), $15.00. Reviewer: Barbara Disckind

The Butterfly Seeds
Written and illustrated by Mary Watson
How hard it is to leave someone you love behind. 1995, Tambourine Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 4 to 8, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Do You See a Mouse?
Written and illustrated by Bernard Waber
Humor at the Park Snoot Hotel. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 3 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

Feliciana Feydra LeRoux
Tynia Thomassie
Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith
This “Cajun tall tale” stars a delightful, spunky heroine. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Gluskabe and the Four Wishes
Retold by Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by Christine Nyburg Shrader
Mative American legend. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages, $14.99. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
Endearing pen and ink/watercolor illustrations complete this sweet tale of familial devotion. 1994, Candlewick Press, Ages 2 to 7, $13.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Have You Seen Trees?
Joanne Oppenheim
Illustrated by Jean Tseng and Mou-sien Tseng
The full page pen and watercolor illustrations jump from the pages of this poetic dissertation on trees. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

Hey, Pipsqueak!
Kate McMullan
Pictures by Jim McMullan
It does not matter how big and strong you are. It’s your mind that counts. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Samita Arora

Hilda Hen’s Happy Birthday
Written and Illustrated by Mary Wormell
Have her farmyard friends remembered her birthday? 1995, Ages 3 to 5, Harcourt Brace & Company, $14.00. Reviewer: Barbara Disckind

Hog-Eye
Written and illustrated by Susan Meddaugh
This humorous tale of woe begins with boarding the wrong school bus, getting off at an unfamiliar intersection, reading road signs and opting for the path through the forest. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 7 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

The House Gobbaleen
Lloyd Alexander
Illustrated by Diane Goode
Alexander’s original tale and Goode’s expressive illustrations are sure to make this book a hit with all ages. 1995, Dutton Children’s Books, Ages 7 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet: Native American Animal Origin Stories
Collected and retold by Gerald Hausman
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Besides learning why chipmunk has tiny feet, these seven origin or pourquoi tales also explain facts of nature. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

I Love Guinea Pigs
Dick King-Smith
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
Long hair, short hair, brown and white, tan and black, striped or not these endearing creatures come in thousands of combinations. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

If You Should Hear A Honey Guide
April Pulley Sayre
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler
The honey guide bird leads readers on a gentle journey through the wild bush lands of western Africa. 1995, Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

The Iguana Brothers
Tony Johnston
Illustrated by Mark Teague
The illustrations evoke the torpor of a tropical afternoon, and imbue the accurately drawn iguanas with unique personalities. 1995, Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

In the Woods: Who’s Been Here?
Written and illustrated by Lindsay Barrett George
Take a walk in the autumn woods with a boy and his younger sister as they discover clues to animals who have been there. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Carol A. Flowers.

It’s a Spoon, Not a Shovel
Caralyn Buehner
Pictures by Mark Buehner
Your kids will laugh, and just might learn some manners in the process! 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 10, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

The Library
Sarah Stewart
Illustrated by David Small
Elizabeth Brown loves books‹reading and collecting them, and ultimately sharing them. 1995, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz

Like Butter on Pancakes
Jonathan London
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
A smooth and sweet offering set on a farm. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 3 to 6, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Lion’s Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale
Nancy Raines Day
Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi
Ethiopian folktale about building a stepfamily. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith Campbell

Lucy’s Summer
Donald Hall
Illustrated by Michael McCurdy
A wonderful historical trip to New England. 1995, Browndeer Press (Harcourt Brace & Company), Ages 4 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Mary Had a Little Lamb
Sarah Josepha Hale
Pictures by Salley Mavor
The familiar song is brought lovingly to life by Mavor’s stunning fabric relief art. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 1 to 5, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

More Than Anything Else
Marie Bradby
Pictures by Chris K. Soentpiet
When Booker jumps for joy, you know that nothing will stop him from being “the one children will crowd around,” so he can teach them to read. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 4 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The New King
Doreen Rappaport
Pictures by E. B. Lewis
Young Prince Rakoto is devastated to learn of his father’s untimely death while on a hunt. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 5 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Nights of the Pufflings
Written and illustrated by Bruce McMillan
This beautifully photographed book manages to teach some natural history, expose children to an unfamiliar culture, and convey the sense that children can make a difference in our world. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 4 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Oliver’s Vegetables
Vivian French
Illustrated by Alison Bartlett
A gently humorous tale brought to life by full color paintings. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 3 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

The Rabbit’ s Escape
Suzanne Crowder Han
Illustrated by Yumi Heo
This folktale about a tricky rabbit came to Korea from India in the Fourth Century. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 5 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Rae Valabek

Rhymes for Annie Rose
Shirley Hughes
This beautiful collection of nursery rhymes clearly shows the author’s strong affection for young children. 1995, Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), All Ages, $16.00. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci

Sail Away
Written and illustrated by Donald Crews
A family outing on a sailboat runs into rough seas, but is landed adeptly through the use of clever vocabulary. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 3 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer Meredith E. Kiger

Snow Day!
Barbara M. Joosse
Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas
Family fun on the first big snow day. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Something Is Growing
Written and illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop
A planted seed quickly gets out of control in this humorous story. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 5 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Three Cool Kids
Written and illustrated by Rebecca Emberley
This is a variant of the ŒThree Billygoats Gruff’ tale set in the inner city, with a nasty rat replacing the usual troll. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Tops and Bottoms
Janet Stevens
A clever reworking of several childhood fables puts them into the language of the modern business world. 1995, Harcourt, Brace & Company, Ages 6 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer: Meredith E. Kiger

The Tortilla Factory
Gary Paulsen
Illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen
In a simple but graceful text, the author follows the corn cycle. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 3 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Whistling Dixie
Marcia Vaughan
Illustrated by Barry Moser
The superstitions and promises of childhood are amusingly shared by spirited Dixie Lee. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz

Short Books Or Picture Books With More Text Than Usual For Young Readers (Children 5 To 10)

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens
Jane Yolen
Illustrated by David Shannon
Exquisitely dramatic-and sometimes a little scary-images in the style of N.C. Wyeth illustrate this poem of the capture and freeing of the famous women pirates Anne Bonney and Mary Reade. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 5 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Boy Who Lived with the Bears and Other Iroquois Stories
Told by Joseph Bruchac
Murv Jacob
Once again Bruchac has masterfully recorded the tales of his ancestors for all to enjoy. 1995, HarperCollins. Ages 5 and up, $15.95. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

Call Me Ahnighito
Pam Conrad
Illustrated by Richard Egielski
Factual information is told in a most unusual way. The meteorite has feelings and thoughts as well as a point of view. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Cat and the Cook and Other Fables of Krylov
Retold by Ethel Heins
Pictures by Anita Lobel
The twelve classic fables retold in this edition highlight the importance of hard work, the foolishness of greed and vanity, and the need to respect other’ individuality. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 6 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Carol A. Flowers

Dinner at Magritte’s
Written and illustrated by Michael Garland
Here’s some good fun with the concept of surrealism. 1995, Dutton Children’s Books, Ages 5 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Emily and Alice Again
Joyce Champion
Illustrated by Suçie Stevenson
A collection of three entertaining stories about two best friends that also show how the two girls manage to get through, and get along in, varying situations. 1995, Gulliver Books (Harcourt Brace), Ages 5 to 9, $14.00. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels.

The Faithful Friend
Robert D. San Souci
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This magical tale from the island of Martinique in the French West Indies tells of two devoted friends, Clement and Hippolyte, who “were so close that the happiness of one was the happiness of both.” 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 10, $16.00. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson

Folks Call Me Appleseed John
Andrew Glass
Although Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman, was a historical person, many legends and tall tales have grown up about his life and deeds. 1995, Doubleday (Bantam Doubleday Dell), Ages 5 to 11, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan.

Grandaddy’s Stars
Helen V. Griffith
Pictures by James Stevenson
A delightful story about Janetta and her Grandaddy who travels by train from his farm in Georgia to her home in Baltimore. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 5 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Hayloft
Lisa Westberg Peters
Illustrated by K. D. Plum
A day and night on the farm. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 6 to 9, $12.99. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All
Cynthia Rylant
Pictures by Suçie Stevenson
The adventures never seem to end for redheaded Henry and his big dog Mudge. 1995, Macmillan, Ages 6 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Math Curse
Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by Lane Smith
An irreverent look at math and the way we teach it in school. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 6 and up, $16.99. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

The Night the Grandfathers Danced
Linda Theresa Raczek
Illustrated by Katalin Olah Ehling
The Bear Dance of the Ute Mountain Indians is an annual springtime event. T 1995, Northland Publishing, Ages 7 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Gina Sides

Older Brother, Younger Brother
Nina Jaffe
Illustrated by Wenhai Ma
This is a Korean legend retold, of two brothers “as different as day and night.” 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 5 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

One Night: A Story From the Desert
Cristina Kessler
Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr
Muhamad an eight-year-old Tuareg, describes his happy life. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 6 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale
Ruth Sanderson
Papa Gatto is a very clever cat who serves as advisor to the prince. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 4 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Pinky and Rex and the Double-Dad Weekend
James Howe
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
It is time for the big weekend camping adventure with their Dads, and Pinky and Rex are really excited. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 5 to 8, $14.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

She’s Wearing A Dead Bird On Her Head!
Kathryn Lasky
Illustrated by David Catrow
In order to save endangered and potentially endangered birds, the two women urged other concerned women and men to educate the public and pass protective legislation by forming the Massachusetts Audubon Society. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 7 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan.

The Story of the Three Kingdoms
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Ashley Bryan
The power of a shared story, intelligence and cooperation are the messages in Myers original fable.. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Tchaikovsky Discovers America
Esther Kalman
Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
The daughter of Russian immigrants, eleven year old Jenny is thrilled to see Tchaikovsky conduct a symphony in the newly constructed Carnegie Hall, and is even more excited to meet him in person during a train trip to Niagara Falls. 1994, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Theodoric’s Rainbow
Stephen Kramer
Illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy
Theodoric was a fascinating scientist who was much ahead of his time. 1995, W. H. Freeman and Company, All Ages, $17.95. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci

Too Far Away to Touch
Lesléa Newman
Illustrated by Catherine Stock
We gradually come to understand that Uncle Leonard has AIDS. This is a sensitive, touching treatment of a difficult subject. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

What Do Authors Do?
Eileen Christelow
How a book comes about. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 7 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami

When the Whippoorwill Calls
Candice F. Ransom
Kimberly Bulcken Root
In 1924, the Blue Ridge Mountains became the site of a new national park. Polly and her father venture back to their former home, discovering new treasures in nature. 1995, Tambourine Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), All Ages, $16.00. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

Nonfiction

All About Owls
Written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky
Noted naturalist, author, and painter, Jim Arnosky has created another fine addition to the All About series of books. 1995, Scholastic, Ages 3 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

Angel Falls: A South American Journey
Martin Jordan and Tanis Jordan
This book was inspired by five months travel down Venezuela’s Carrao River to Auyantepui, the mountain which is home to the highest waterfall in the world. 1995, Kingfisher, Ages 4 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Buffalo Gals: Women of the Old West
Brandon Marie Miller
Fascinating black and white photographs and excerpts from journals and letters of the period, help to enliven this history of women exploring and settling the western United States. 1995, Lerner, Ages 9 to 14, $18.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

From Pictures to Words:A Book About Making a Book
Written and illustrated by Janet Stevens
The perfect book to encourage the young would-be author without being too serious. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer; Meredith E. Kiger

Katie Henio, Navajo Sheepherder
Peggy Thomson
Illustrated by Paul Conklin
Katie Henio is a vital great grandmother, sheepherder, weaver, plant expert and storyteller.. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 7 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Launch Day
Written and Illustrated by Peter A. Campbell
Take a journey on the space shuttle Atlantis with NASA artist Peter Campbell, and it may be a trip you won’t soon forget! 1995, Millbrook Press, Ages 7 and up, $15.40 and $7.95. Reviewer: Wendy Ricci

The Red Poppy
Irmgard Lucht
Large, detailed, close-up acrylic paintings take us through every stage of the poppy flower. 1995 (first published in Germany, 1994), Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 4 to 8, $13.95. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels.

A Remainder Of One
Elinor J. Pinczes
Illustrated by Bonnie Mackain
A charming introduction to division and remainders, A Remainder Of One uses poetry and vibrant illustrations to teach children a sometimes confusing concept. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 7 and up, $14.95. Reviewer: Pat Simon

Sod Houses on the Great Plains
Glen Rounds
This nonfiction picture book describes why and how sod houses and their cousins, dugouts, were built, and touches on some of their advantages and disadvantages. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats
Ann Earle
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Bats, the only flying mammals, are fascinating, gentle creatures. 1995, HarperTrophy, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95 and $4.95, Reviewer: Dia L. Michels

Longer Books With More Sophisticated Themes For Middle Readers (Children 8 To 12)

Arabian Nights: Three Tales
Retold and illustrated by Deborah Nourse Lattimore
Retelling three ancient tales, Lattimore has combined a challenging yet accessible text with rich illustrations for “Aladdin,” “Queen of the Serpents” and “Ubar, the Lost City of Brass.” 1995, Joanna Colter Books (HarperCollins), Ages 9 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin

Atalanta’s Race: An Ancient Greek Myth
Told by Shirley Climo
Illustrated by Alexander Koshkin
An ancient Greek Myth that tells of the young woman abandoned by her royal father, rescued by a bear, and raised by a woodsman. 1994, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 5 to 9,$15.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Binya’s Blue Umbrella
Ruskin Bond
Illustrated by Vera Rosenberry
Binya meets some urban picnickers, trades her leopard-claw necklace for a lacy blue umbrella, and we are launched on an engaging, moving, joyful journey. 1995, Caroline House (Boyds Mills Press), Ages 8 to 12, $12.95. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami

The Bones in the Cliff
James Stevenson
This is a lively, interesting, mystery just spooky enough for the middle grades.. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 to 12,$14.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

The Burnt Stick
Anthony Hill
Illustrated by Mark Sofilas
This heart rending story is of one boy, John Jagamarra, who at age five was taken from his mother and educated at a mission school. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 10 up, $12.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Coast to Coast With Alice
Patricia Rusch Hyatt
The reader of this book is privileged to join sixteen year old Minna Jahns as she rides across the United States with Alice Ramsey, the first woman driver and only the third person to ever make the trip. 1995, Carolrhoda Books (Lerner Group), Ages 10 up, $13.13. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

Jason and the Losers
Gina Willner-Pardo
Surely life can’t get any worse for Jason. His parents are divorcing and he has to move in with his aunt and uncle and cousin Everett. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Mennyms in the Wilderness
Sylvia Waugh
Waugh gently pokes fun at human behavior through the actions and words of the Mennyms‹living dolls who never age. 1994, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 and up, $15.00. Reviewer: Judith Gravitz

The Mona Lisa of Salem Street
Jan Marino
Nettie and John Peter have been shuttled between various relatives ever since their parents died in an accident.. 1995, Little, Brown and Company, Ages 12 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Moriah’s Pond
Ethel Footman Smothers
The uneasiness of race relations in the South in the 1950’s is an undercurrent of the story. 1995, Knopf (Random House), Ages 12 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

The New Nick Kramer, or My Life as a Baby-sitter
James Howe
Fast paced and lots of laughs. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 9 to 13, $13.95. Reviewer: Mary Clayton Rowen

Nick’s Mission
Claire H. Blatchford
It’s the last day of school, and Nick is heading out the door for the lake with his snorkeling gear and his dog Wags when mom breaks the bad news. 1995, Lerner, Ages 10 up, $17.50. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Ozzie On His Own
Johanna Hurwitz
Illustrated by Eileen McKeating
Ozzie On His Own is a well-written story that portrays a modern family in a realistic, positive way. 1995, Morrow Junior Books, Ages 8 to 13, $15.00. Reviewer: Karen White

Pinocchio’s Sister
Jan Slepian
Set in the days of vaudeville, this haunting novel of love and jealousy will keep readers turning the pages. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Pomegranate Seeds: A Classic Greek Myth
Laura Geringer
Illustrated by Leonid Gore
Basing this story on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Pomegranate Seeds” from his 1853 Tanglewood Tales, Geringer skillfully retells the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone with a distinctly modern touch. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer; Michelle H. Martin

The Private Notebook of Katie Roberts, Age 11
Amy Hest
Illustrated by Sonja Lamut
Alternately sweet, feisty, funny and wry, Katie’s notes and the squiggled margin pictures portray with intelligence and humor the problems of growing up and adjusting to new realities. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Utterly Yours, Booker Jones
Betsy Duffey
Booker Jones’ life used to be perfect; he had a typewriter on which to write his science-fiction novels, and a desk to study at, and a room to work in. Now he has none of those. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 10 and up, $13.99. Reviewer: Jyotsna Sreenivasan

The Van Gogh Cafe
Cynthia Rylant
Each chapter of the book is a brief vignette about the people who frequent the cafe, and the magic that happens in their lives as a result. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 12 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Adventure In Space: The Flight to Fix the Hubble
Elaine Scott and Margaret Miller
This exquisite photo-essay tells about the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s mission to repair the orbiting Hubble Telescope. 1995, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

The Book of North American Owls
Helen Roney Sattler
Illustrated by Jean Day Zallinger
This is a fairly encyclopedic look at the natural history of owls. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Coral Reefs: Earth’s Undersea Treasures
Lawrence Pringle
Stunning photographs and a lively and informative text take readers on a tour of the endangered reefs of the world. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 10 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Earth Daughter: Alicia of Ácoma Pueblo
George Ancona
The fascinating story of Alicia Histia, a young girl from Ácoma Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Great Fire
Jim Murphy
The terrible fire of 1871 turned the bustling city of Chicago into one of the country’s worst disaster areas, practically overnight. 1995. Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

I Was Dreaming to Come to America: Memories from the Ellis Island Oral History Project
Selected and illustrated by Veronica Lawlor
Hand-painted collages grace these short, moving glimpses into the lives of immigrants who braved the voyage to America around the turn-of-the-century. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), All Ages, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

In Search of the Grand Canyon: Down the Colorado with John Wesley Powell
Mary Ann Fraser
On May 24, 1869, Major Powell set out from Green River Station with four wooden boats, ten men and supplies for ten months. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 9 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson

Isaac Johnson: From Slave to Stonecutter
Hope Irvin Marston
Illustrated by Maria Magdalena Brown
This harrowing but inspirational biography is based on Isaac Johnson’s own work, Slavery Days In Old Kentucky. 1995, Cobblehill Books (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 8 to 14, $14.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend
Robert D. San Souci
Paintings by Max Ginsburg
This heartwarming true story of bravery is graced with evocative illustrations. 1995, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 6 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Mother Jones: One Woman’s Fight for Labor
Betsy Harvey Kraft
A controversial figure from America’s period of industrialization is brought to light in this evenhanded account of the small, but feisty Mother Jones. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 9 and up, $16.95. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

Portrait of a Farm Family
Raymond Bial
This photographic essay follows the Steidinger family during their days working on their dairy farm. 1995, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 9 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

The Real Johnny Appleseed
Laurie Lawlor
Wood engravings by Mary Thompson
The woodcuts and wood engravings add much to this account of the life of John Chapman, otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed. 1995, Whitman, Ages 7 to 10, $13.95. Reviewer: Rae Valabek

Rocket! How a Toy Launched the Space Age
Richard Maurer
Here is a history of rockets: their invention and increasing sophistication as well as their military and peacetime applications. 1995, Crown Publishers Inc., Ages 10 and up, $17.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh

Taking Flight: My Story by Vicki Van Meter
Vicki Van Meter and Dan Gutman
Vicki became the youngest girl to fly across the country. 1995, Viking Children’s Books (Penguin), Ages 10 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Talking with Artists Volume II
Pat Cummings
As she did in the first volume Cummings has compiled another series of entertaining and informative visits with contemporary illustrators of children’s books. 1995, Simon & Schuster, Ages 9 and up, $19.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and His Times
Albert Marrin
Marrin’s biography of the man the Spaniards knew as El Draque, the Dragon, traces Drake’s life from his early years on the edge of the North Sea, to his death as a disillusioned old man. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 12 up, $18.00. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

Walt Whitman
Catherine Reef
Reef has crafted an intelligent, interesting, eminently readable book about one of America’s greatest poets and eccentrics. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewed by Kathleen Karr

Yanomami: People of the Amazon
David M. Schwartz
Photographs by Victor Englebert
This large-format, beautifully photographed nonfiction books take us to a typical, untouched yano, or village, to show us how a group of 20 families still live in the old way in harmony with their jungle environment. 1995, Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 8 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jerniga

Young Adult (Generally Children 12 And Up)

Alien Game
Catherine Dexter
Zoe Brook and all the kids at Oak Hill are playing Elimination, but this game and the eerie expertise of the new girl Christina have made this year’s game terrifying. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 11 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Angel’s Gate
Gary Crew
Two “wild” children have witnessed a murder, and they must be found and protected.. 1995 (orig. 1993), Simon & Schuster, Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Canto Familiar
Gary Soto
Illustrated by Annika Nelson
This book of “familiar songs” is a delightful collection of poems that touch on the universal aspects of childhood. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 10 up, 17.00. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye

Eclipse
Kristine L. Franklin
Eclipse explores the effect of a parent’s depression and suicide on the family left behind. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 12 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele

A Fate Totally Worse Than Death
Paul Fleischman
In this sarcastic spoof on young adult horror novels, Fleischman presents a group of teenage girls from Cliffside High who are so vane, cruel, and totally popular that the reader almost enjoys watching them grow old prematurely. 1995, Candlewick Press, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye

How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn’t Called You Back?
Valerie Hobbs
Bron Lewis resents her parents for their decisions that mess up her life. 1995, Orchard Books (Franklin Watts), 14 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Gina Sides

I Am An Artichoke
Lucy Frank
Fifteen-year old Sarah takes a summer job as companion to twelve-year-old Emily. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Ironman
Chris Crutcher
Ironman is a five-star book that leads readers to realize that physical bravery is hollow without the will to live first with emotional courage. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 12 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele

Kokopelli’s Flute
Will Hobbs
Will Hobbs has created a marvelous, mystical world that is intimately connected to our own. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Like Sisters on the Homefront
Rita Williams-Garcia
Unable to raise her headstrong 14-year-old daughter in New York, Mama sends Gayle and her infant son on a one-way trip down South, to the family home. 1995, Lodestar Books, $15.99, ages 13 up. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

Liza’s Blue Moon
Diane Stevens
Liza is a precocious thirteen, living in a dysfunctional family. 1995, Greenwillow Books (Wm. Morrow & Co.), Ages 12 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Missing Pieces
Norma Fox Mazer
How Jessie manages to find her father and come to terms with her own identity is skillfully interwoven with the story of her growing relationships with her mother, great great aunt, two girlfriends and first boyfriend. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Moon Dancer
Margaret Rostkowski
As a refreshing twist, this teenage love story takes place during an expedition into the canyons below Bear Mountain in Utah. 1995, Browndeer Press (Harcourt Brace & Company), Ages 12 up, $5.00. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa
Shonto Begay
By pairing his striking oil paintings with powerful and graceful poetry, Navajo artist, Shonto Begay, shares many aspects of his life and culture in a very personal way. 1995, Scholastic, All Ages, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

New World
Gillian Cross
This British import is an exciting read about the frightening potentials of virtual reality games. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 11 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

Slot Machine
Chris Lynch
Told from Elvin’s point of view, this book presents a hysterically funny look at the lives of teenagers forced to fit into slots. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 11 and up, $14. 95. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph

Somewhere Around the Corner
Jackie French
French has brought us a time fantasy from Australia that teaches a bit of world history as well as giving us a romp in a land very different from our own. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 11 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Spying on Miss Müller
Eve Bunting
Inspired by Bunting’s own school experiences, Spying is a readable and humorous‹at times moving‹account of adolescents trying to deal with each other, their own secrets, and the unaccountable hate war inspires. 1995, Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin), Ages 10 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr

The Tinker’s Daughter
Sheila Hayes
This realistic novel- explores issues of true friendship and the mother/daughter relationship, as well as trying to reconcile somewhat unconventional life-styles with the constraints of a small, conservative Vermont town. 1995, Lodestar (Dutton Children’s Books), Ages 11 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Tomorrow, When The War Began
John Marsden
What would you do if you came home from a camping trip in the desert to find the houses in your neighborhood abandoned, food rotting, your pets dead, and the electric power cut off? 1995, Houghton Mifflin Co., Ages 12 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele

The War of Jenkins’ Ear
Michael Morpurgo
Toby Jenkins is not looking forward to the start of a new year at Redlands, the traditional, all-boy boarding school that the attended last year. 1995, Philomel (Putnam Publishing Group), Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

The Watsons Go to Birmingham‹1963
Christopher Paul Curtis
The story of the Weird Watson family of Flint, Michigan as told by ten-year-old Kenny Watson is achingly funny. Kenny’s story is also a heartbreaking look at one child’s attempt to cope with a crisis of spirit after a shattering event in Birmingham. 1995, Delacorte (Bantam Doubleday Dell), Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson

Wren’s War
Sherwood Smith
For fantasy readers, there is plenty of intrigue, enchantments, and transformations‹all of which have a profound impact on Wren and her friends Tyron, Connor and Tess as they struggle to save the kingdom of Meldrith. 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 12 up, $17.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

The Day Sky Split Apart
Roy A. Gallant
What would happen if a large object from space hit the earth or exploded in the atmosphere?. I 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Extraordinary Women Scientists
Darlene R. Stille
The lives and contributions of 49 women scientists are encapsulated in short (2 to 4 page) biographies, accompanied by black and white photos. 1995, Childrens Press, Ages 10 up, $32.80. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen

Keeping Secrets: The Girlhood Diaries of Seven Women Writers
Mary E. Lyons
The author skillfully brings together excerpts from the journals of seven, special 19th century American women. 1995, Henry Holt & Co., Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan

Rhythm of the Reef: A Day in the Life of the Coral Reef
Rick Sammon
Travel around the world stopping to visit the world’s coral reefs depicted in stunning full color underwater photographs by author/photographer/explorer Rick Sammon. 1995, Voyageur Press, Ages 12 up, $29.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II
Penny Colman
In 1943 while America’s fighting men were on the front lines in World War II, millions of the nation’s women valiantly filled vital defense and civilian jobs, from riveting airplane parts and reconditioning machine gears to driving buses and becoming police officers. 1995, Crown Publishers Inc., Ages 12 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Bagel.

Science on the Ice: An Antarctic Journal
Rebecca L. Johnson
Join the author on one of her remarkable journeys, visiting the scientists working in the Antarctic. 1995, Lerner, Ages 11 up, $29.95 Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by David Frampton
A book about plagues? How macabre, one might think. But this page-turner is not just about people dying in droves. It is also about attempts to solve medical mysteries. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Jyotsna Sreenivasan
Poetry

Black Swan/White Crow
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Chris Manson
If you’re the kind of person known to take a snobbish attitude toward haiku, this is the book that will put you in your place. 1995, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster) Books for Young Readers, Ages 7 to 9, $15.00. Reviewer: Andrea Brott

The Night Is Like An Animal
Candace Whitman
Beginning readers will be enchanted with this bedtime poem about the night. 1995, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Ages 2 to 6, $13.00. Reviewer: Debby Buchanan

The Pelican Chorus: and Other Nonsense
Edward Lear
Fred Marcellino
A new edition brings us three of Lear’s totally nonsensical poems, two of which are, sadly, not much recited in modern times. 1995, Michael di Capua Books (HarperCollins), Ages 5 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems
Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrated by Susan Gaber
The perfect first book of poems! 1995, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 4 up, $14.00. Reviewer: Meredith E. Kiger

Street Music
Arnold Adoff
Illustrated by Karen Barbour
Like tiny light bulbs flashing on and off across the cityscape, each poem tries on a different vantage point, a new apartment window or a shifted time of day, and street music requires that you move fast to keep the beat. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $16.00. Reviewer: Jessy Deutsch

Sweet Corn
James Stevenson
The jacket flap for this book of original poetry says that “this book will turn you head over heels with delight”‹and so it will. 1995, Wm. Morrow & Co., Ages 8 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Paula DeMichele

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