THE WHITE NIGHTS OF RAMADAN by Maha Addasi

Addasi, Maha. The White Nights of Ramadan. Illus. Ned Gannon. Honesdale, PA: Boyd's Mills Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59078-523-2.

"Noor was too excited to sleep. She kept checking the candy and the fanouses that would light up their path for Girgian." This undercurrent of energy courses through the whole story, in which little Noor and her littler brothers prepare for a three night celebration during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. It's always a pleasure to read of that exuberance in the child during what is a spiritual and peaceful but also challenging time (fasting from dawn until dusk for a month!).

The familiar and widely known facts are there about Ramadan, but we get to learn a whole new facet of Arab culture in the description of a culturally specific holiday, Girgian (which I personally was unfamiliar with, despite my Muslim heritage). I enjoyed learning about this celebration, and I'm sure a lot of kids will actually relate to it—even if in the most ridiculous way—by equating the action of giving and collecting candy from house to house to that of Halloween. However, here you see children share in the delight of making the traditional candy and adorning their fancy ethnic garb together, while the parents instill the understanding that there is deeper purpose to the holiday and the month itself. There's no discord here; Noor naturally picks up from her grandmother the joy of being with your family and supporting others, an action she fulfills completely by the end of the novel.

This is a well-written story about a multigenerational family in Kuwait who share in the many experiences of Ramadan, and teach us about a jovial new one.

Soft, swirly illustrations in rich jewel tones bring out the bright white moon and brilliant red garb and yellow drums, all the while inviting the reader to experience the excitement of the children. I love illustrations that capture the details in their expressions as well as their cultural background. These are just incredibly warm and evocative. The guide at the back is helpful and informative as well—worth an exploration into something that may be somewhat familiar to the general reader but offers rich insight into the beauty of another culture. I've become a fan of Maha Addasi's work and highly recommend this book.

Alya Hameed

HEY CANADA! by Vivien Bowers

Bowers, Vivien. Hey Canada! Illus. Milan Paviovic. Toronto: Tundra, 2012. ISBN 1-77049-255-4. $19.95.

Nine-year-old Alice is blogging this book on her grandmother’s netbook as she, Gran, and her younger brother drive through all of Canada’s capital cities, camping as they go. Alice is an engaging guide, and the book’s lay-out on each page of blocks of text and dialog, lots of illustrations, cartoons, photographs, and maps, embedded games provide not only information but entertainment. To travel across Canada is ambitious; to travel across from Newfoundland to B.C. and then head north and cross back through the Yukon to Baffin Island is impressive. Alice tells her story of thousands of miles with humor and an eye for things of interest and import. Brother Cal also travels well (as does his hamster), and accolades to Gran. This is a book the whole family will enjoy, whether reading it in the car in Canada or anywhere else.

 Alida Allison

THE UPSIDE DOWN BOY by Juan Felipe Herrera

Herrera, Juan Felipe. The Upside Down Boy/El Niño de Cabeza. Illus. Elizabeth Gomez. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 2000. 0-89239-162-6. 

This book is non-fiction and bilingual in English and Spanish. A slight heavier weight seems to be given to English; in most of the book English text is at the top of the page and Spanish text is a at the bottom. The book has accurate translation by the same author, who is a native Spanish speaker and bilingual and biliterate in both languages. The author writes some words in English on the Spanish text and vice versa, which is interesting because it resembles his initial language experiences and how it feels to learn another language. There is no rhyme, rhythm, alliteration or repetition in the text, nor is a glossary provided.

The book is beautifully illustrated and the paintings enrich it. The topics discussed include immigration, food, music and painting. The book illustrates childhood experiences when moving from a rural to an urban area. The featured character is a child who is supported by his family and his new classmates as he integrates into a new society. The positive interactions can inspire kids to understand a different society even when challenged by alienation.

The Upside Down Boy/El Niño de Cabeza is about courage and the importance of family and community. At the beginning of the book, Juanito is exited about moving with his family from a rural area to an urban community in San Diego. At the turning point of the story, he is nervous, intimidated, and confused due to the school environment that is all new to him. Eventually, he becomes confident, included, and successful thanks to his teacher, peers, and parents, who guide him toward personal growth by emphasizing his courage and talents. The story focuses on the support children need to achieve their goals.

I recommend this book because it gives a great opportunity to native Spanish speakers and newcomers to relate to the main character and overcome difficulties. Also, due to the elaborate and rich text in both languages, the book delivers an opportunity to develop biliterate language skills. Interesting and uncommon vocabulary in both languages is included, which facilitates a connection to the book. A good audience for this book would be second and third graders, or students at an intermediate language development level.

Ariel Castillo Garrido


This review is part of the Special Section: Books in Spanish, featuring a collaboration with Policy and Language Studies students at San Diego State University. Read more about it here.

ABE LINCOLN AT LAST! by Mary Pope Osborne

Osborne, Mary Pope. Illus. Sal Murdoca. Abe Lincoln at Last! Random House Children’s Books, 2011. ISBN-13: 9780375868252. $12.99.

Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.


Abe Lincoln At Last! is part of the Magic Tree House series, in which a tree house time machine takes two kids to different historical eras. I think Abe Lincoln at Last! was really fantastic because it had two stories in one, and it was really interesting! The first half of the book was really about saving Penny the penguin, who was turned into a stone statue, and the other half was about getting a feather from Abraham Lincoln. The Feather of Hope had two important purposes. The first purpose was for writing a letter of hope to Abraham Lincoln to not give up freeing the slaves. The second was for saving Penny. The Feather of Hope, along with the emerald rose and the buttercup from other books in this series, is needed to turn Penny back into a penguin.

The story was interesting because it went back in the past, and you can tell it was hard to live a long time ago. I would have a hard time doing chores like cutting the wood, getting water from a stream, and milking the cows! These were all jobs that kids had to do each day.

I really like this story, and I would like to read the next story in the series to find out about the emerald rose and the buttercup. I like the ideas that the author put in the story, and I would recommend it to my friends.

Review by Finnegan McCool, 5th grade

PLANETS by Penny Arlon and Tony Gordon-Harris

Arlon, Penny and Tony Gordon-Harris. Planets. New York: Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978-0545330282. Ages 7 and up.

Scholastic’s “Discover More” line of books comes with a digital companion book, accessible though a link and a code within the printed book. Planets is chock-full of interesting information, dedicating a full-page spread to each planet, with accompanying pictures and facts. The book gives mind-blowing size comparisons (the sun is 105 times the size of Earth!) and fascinating facts about the environments and day/year cycles for each planet.

This would be an excellent book to share with a child who wants to learn more about our solar system, and it would be a great companion book for an elementary school unit on the planets. The book does a very good job at conveying the enormity of the universe, situating the reader first in earth, then in the solar system, then in the Milky Way galaxy, explaining that ours is just one planetary system in the Milky Way, which is just one galaxy among millions.

The pages on what it’s like to have a career in space exploration feature the International Space Station, with pictures showing what life is like for an astronaut, a section showing the details of a space suit, and a Q&A with a member of the European Space Agency.

Overall a fascinating, informative book!

Jill Coste

THE FLYING BEAVER BROTHERS by Maxwell Eaton III

Eaton III, Maxwell. The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Fishy Business. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-375-96448-3. $6.99 US/$7.99 CAN.


Eaton III, Maxwell. The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin Plan. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-375-86447-6. $6.99 US/$7.99 CAN.


“Nothing weird EVER happens on Beaver Island! But one day…”

Bub & Ace, the flying beaver brothers, spend their days relaxing on Beaver Island, but adventure just seems to find them! In “Fishy Business,” the pair crash land into a tree-eating machine, only to realize that the machine in destroying the forests of their island to make “Fish Stix,” a new “eco-friendly” toy that looks surprisingly like a wooden stick! In “The Evil Penguin Plan,” the penguins of the South Pole have relocated to Beaver Island and plan to use a giant underwater refrigerator to freeze the whole island, turning it into a penguin paradise—“Like home never melted.”

The plots are simple but clever, and Eaton has a cheesy, somewhat dry sense of humor that frequently (and pleasantly) caused me to put my head in my hand and groan. The stories are definitely written with an adventurous child in mind: the beavers get to their house via a zip line and a trampoline. How cool is that? I want a system like that to get into my apartment; I can only imagine the reaction of a nine-year-old boy!

The otherwise black & white graphic art uses only one accent color, which coordinates with some plot element for each book. For example, Fish Stixs markets themselves as producers of “green toys,” and all of the pages are colored with green. In “Fishy Business,” the color of choice is blue, evoking a polar chill as the penguins attempt to freeze out the beavers.

Marisa Behan

ERROL AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY NOSE by David Conway

Conway, David. Illust. Roberta Angaramo. Errol and His Extraordinary Nose. New York: Holiday House, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8234-2262-3. $16.95 US. Ages 7-9.

Errol the Elephant goes to Acacia Tree School with a menagerie of highly talented friends: Abraham the Anaconda can "swallow almost anything," Zachary the Zebra can disappear, and the Chameleon Brothers can change into anything they want. Errol the Elephant, though, doesn't seem to have a special talent. Errol's embarrassment at his lack of talent is made even worse when Mr. Geoffreys, the Giant Tortoise, announces that there will be a talent show. In desperation, Errol decides he is going to find something he is really good at. Unfortunately, his trunk gets in the way of juggling, playing the sousaphone is a failure, and whenever Errol tries to dance, he falls over.

At the end of the day when it's time to go to bed, Errol is in tears. Errol's dad asks what's wrong, and Errol tells him everything. After comforting his son and assuring him that everything will be okay and that he is actually quite talented, Errol's dad gives him a book to read about elephants. As Errol reads the book, he finds out all sorts of things that make elephants, and him, very special. The most exciting thing that Errol finds out is that he is the "owner of quite an extraordinary nose." In fact, Errol's nose is "unlike any other in the animal kingdom." After getting ideas for his talent show presentation, Errol goes to sleep. The day of the talent show arrives: The African Finches sing, Morris the Meerkat conducts the orchestra, Abraham the Anaconda eats two hundred pancakes, Zachary the Zebra hides in the backdrop, and finally it's Errol's turn. Errol proceeds to show the audience what his extraordinary nose can do. He uses it to pick up objects, he "astound[s] everyone as he dance[s] in a tank of water while using his nose as a snorkel," and he finishes by putting on a spectacular water and lights show. Not only does Errol win the talent show, he and his friends go on to find they "share the best talent of all...making friends."

Daniel Conway's text along with Roberta Angaramo's illustrations create a delightful read. Conway's choice of names and the accompanying consonance and assonance allow the words to playfully dance on your tongue. Similarly, there are several fun and most likely unknown words for early readers like: "astounded" and "flabbergasted." While it does feel like the final page where Errol and his friends find out their most important talents are making friends is a last minute tag-on, Conway does well in providing a positive atmosphere. I especially appreciated how Errol's dad not only listens to Errol's feeling and concerns, but also offers a book for Errol to read for himself. I heartily approve of this quiet, and early message about how books can be used.

When it comes to illustrations, one of the most memorable images is Errol—decked out in a swim cap, goggles, and fins—dancing in a tank of water. The drawings of Errol's attempts to find his talents are also engaging, and Errol's enthusiasm as he completes his final performance of singing and dancing in his own created water and lights show made me smile. Errol and His Extraordinary Nose is a solid children's book that reminds readers to not underestimate themselves and others


Stephanie Ashley

TRAPPED ON THE D.C. TRAIN by Ron Roy

Roy, Ron. Trapped on the D.C. Train. New York: Random House, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-375-85926-7. $4.99 US/$5.99 CAN. Ages 7-12

Ron Roy’s Capital Mystery series contains thirteen beginning reader chapter books, all set in the nation’s capital, starring K.C. Corcoran, the President’s stepdaughter, and her friend Marshall Li. Their adventures land them in various scrapes, requiring them to figure out the clues to the mystery.

The stories are written in typical Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys style, but with simplistic language and texts for young chapter book readers. The clues unfold throughout the first 2/3 of the story, reach a suspenseful climax in which the two kids are in “danger,” then resolve, with a full explanation of how all the clues fit together. The context clues all seemed very obvious to me, but for an elementary reader, would probably be appropriately suspenseful.

The book also has full-page pencil illustrations every chapter to help young readers visualize the action. Online resources include a trivia game and printable coloring pages from the in-text illustrations.

All in all, Roy has created a kid-friendly presidential intrigue: I’d pick this for “silent reading time”!

Marisa Behan

THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN by Shutta Crum

Crum, Shutta. Thomas and the Dragon Queen. New York: Knopf, 2010. ISBN 9780375857034. $15.99. Ages 7-11. 266 pp.

Despite being the oldest of nine children, twelve-year-old Thomas is a comparatively small boy. Yet he dreams of training to be a knight and serving the kingdom. One day, a chance encounter with Sir Gerald, a knight of the realm, brings Thomas the opportunity to go to the castle and train. The kingdom is experiencing hard times and needs the help of any who are willing and able bodied, even a boy who is extremely short. Sir Gerald sees that Thomas possesses the knightly qualities of being smart and hard working and decides to gives him a chance. Thomas perseveres through his training, working past the ridicules of his peers, eventually gaining the privilege of becoming squire to Sir Gerald. Then one day, a dragon queen kidnaps the princess. There are no knights available to send to her rescue due to the war. Thomas valiantly volunteers and the king agrees to send him and so Sir Thomas heads out on his first quest armed only with a sword just barely longer than a dagger, and a donkey, outfitted only with a leather vest. It is the adventure of a lifetime and Thomas proves that size that nothing to do with what it truly means to be knightly.

Although the basic premise of the story sounds like a generic fairytale, with a knight on a quest to rescue a princess guarded by a dragon, it is anything but typical. The hero is not tall and handsome; he is not even grown up. And when he reaches the dragon’s lair, it is not the standard evil, ferocious, treasure-guarding dragon he meets, and it is not a knight’s strength that is needed to rescue the princess and defeat the dragon. Accompanied by black and white illustrations, some small drawings, others full page or double spreads depicting scenes from the book, for example Thomas among his younger brothers and sisters, several of whom are much bigger than him, or Thomas riding on his little donkey, this book is great for young readers transitioning from picture books to longer chapter books. The story keeps readers surprised and enthralled and emphasizes the importance of qualities such as courage, loyalty and honesty over that of physical appearance and prowess.

Joyce Myers

Review: MARCEL MARCEAU by Gloria Spielman

Spielman, Gloria. Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime. Illus. Manon Gauthier. MN: Kar-Ben (Lerner), 2011. ISBN 0-7613-3961-8. $7.95 PB.

Spielman’s excellent biography of the Master of Mime engages one from the outset by introducing young Marcel as he is raiding his father’s wardrobe to dress up as Charlie Chaplin and entertain neighbors on the streets of pre-World War II France. We see that Marceau was, from his own outset, a performer and much in demand.

He was also a Jew, and this fact altered his life, which is an understatement. His father died in Auschwitz. At the age of 16, he and his older brother worked for the French Resistance in Limoges. The artistic young Marceau forged documents and dangerously led groups of Jewish children secretly to the Swiss border. At 20, Marceau was in Paris studying mime and later performed for Patton’s troops in Germany. Once the war was over, Marceau concentrated on his art, honing his clown character Bip. His fame spread worldwide, and many of us have been privileged to see him on one medium or another. His legacy, through his school for mime and also through the lives of the children he saved during WWII, is assured. His mime communicated beyond language. (Oh, and BTW, he spoke excellent English.)

Speilman’s language in this book soars, even poetic when describing what Marceau could do through mime. And the art is outstanding, very expressive and using the page space gorgeously through color, placement, and design. Gauthier fits the palette to the prose, making for a very successful collaboration.

Alida Allison