WORDS SET ME FREE: THE STORY OF YOUNG FREDERICK DOUGLASS by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9781416959038. $16.99. Ages 5-9.

It is never too early for a child to start learning history and about the past that has helped to shape our nation and make it what it is today. Words Set Me Free is a picture book adaptation of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an influential book everybody should read at some point in their life. This picture book is a great way to educate and inspire an early interest in reading the full book.

As far as picture books go, Words Set Me Free is rather wordy and lengthy, and is a book that beginning readers should probably read alongside an adult, so that they can be sure to be able to understand all of the text, and be able to discuss the issues the book addresses. This book could never be taken as light reading. The author is not overly graphic when discussing the hardships of being a slave, but she also does not mince words, nor hide the fact that life was cruel for Frederick.

The illustrations, done as very realistic paintings, also portray the truth of the subject matter without being too explicit or scary. For example, in one part of the book, Frederick’s master finds out that his wife is teaching Frederick his letters and becomes very angry. Instead of depicting Frederick being punished by his master, the illustrator painted a silhouette of the master in an angry pose, with a scared young Frederick cowering below. This way, the master’s disapproval and Frederick’s fear are portrayed, but with subtlety.

One thing I find interesting is how the author chooses to end the book. Obviously, this picture book only portrays a snippet of the actual events detailed in the full Narrative, but the book ends with an epilogue where Frederick forges a letter in his master’s name that seemingly will win him his freedom. But when you read the author’s note on the next page, you realize that it is much later on in his life that Frederick actually becomes free. I suppose it could just be that the author simply did not wish to prolong the story, but still wanted to end the book optimistically.

Other than introducing American history, I think that the best themes of this book are about perseverance and the power of words and reading and how they can change your life. For children who do not really enjoy books, that is a powerful lesson in the importance of reading and of not giving up.

Joyce Myers

NO GO SLEEP! by Kate Feiffer

Feiffer, Kate. No Go Sleep! Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2012. $16.99. ISBN 9781442416833. Ages 3-7. Picture book—fiction.


What child ever wants to go to sleep when mommy and daddy say to? Every child and parent will be able to relate to this book about the process it takes for one stubborn baby to finally fall asleep.

This book is a little reminiscent of the timeless book Good Night Moon, in how various nearby objects and animals, like the sun and moon, stars, nearby cars, bunnies, frogs and the baby’s toys talk to the baby and take part in trying to soothe the baby to sleep.

The illustrations are done by Jules Feiffer, of The Phantom Tollbooth fame, each illustration recalling that classic book. The illustrations are striking and colorful and feature corresponding text to sounds objects and animals make, such as the “beep, beep” of a car, or the “baa, baa” of sheep, which are good associations for children when reading books, and add a little something eye catching to the illustrations.

All in all, this is fun book that I can easily see parents and children reading together over and over at bedtime.

Joyce Myers

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY by Tony Diterlizzi

Diterlizzi, Tony. The Spider and the Fly. Based on the tale by Mary Howitt. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002. ISBN: 978-0-689-85289-3.

The Spider and the Fly revamps Mary Howitt’s cautionary tale about a soothsaying spider and a sweet, naïve fly by pairing the verse with Tony Diterlizzi’s Caldecott-honored illustrations. At first glance, contemporary book browsers might wonder how a poem written in 1829 (complete with Victorian vernacular) could hold the attention of today’s child reader. However, all dusted off and with a fresh coat of paint, this story proves that some scares are timeless. Diterlizzi’s drawings toe the line between charming and creepy, with an aesthetic nod to old film noir and Edward Gorey. The story itself plays out the melodrama of an unsuspecting damselfly who meets an unfortunate end at the many hands of a scheming spider.

The text rings with the moralizing overtones common to the children’s literature of its era. This is a story with a lesson, particularly for little girls, about the big bad world. Some parents may bristle at the basic plot trajectory – a wide-eyed babe in the woods is taken in, seduced, and murdered by an unctuous older man – but hey, they’re only insects! And as the afterword reminds any disgruntled readers, “What did you expect from a story about a spider and a fly? Happily ever after?” That being said, this book would best be reserved for an elementary school aged reader (the jacket advises 6 and up).

Diterlizzi’s illustrations really do balance out the spookiness and slime with sophisticated fun. The little Fly is all rouged up like a flapper while the Spider smolders like a portly Gomez Addams. The backgrounds of each scene are not to be missed; these pages were designed for lingering. The Spider’s lair is dripping with beautifully gory detail, decorated by a dead ladybug footrest and a coffee table copy of The Joy of Cooking Bugs. Diterlizzi also accomplishes a haunting range of light and shadow using only black, white, and shades of gray.

All in all, this is a lovely book with some serious style. There’s an applicable message about the dangers of sweet-talking strangers, but the illustrations are worth the price of admission alone.

Emily Lohorn

BUZZ by Eileen Spinelli

Spinelli, Eileen. Illus. Vincent Nguyen. BUZZ. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4169-4925-1, $15.99 

BUZZ. I can probably recite every word of BUZZ. The reason? My niece loves it. Fortunately, it's a cute book and I rather like it myself. Eileen Spinelli has set the story in response to the scientific statement that "aerodynamically speaking, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble doesn't know it, so it goes on flying anyway." She switches it around a bit, though, and the story explores what might happen if a bumblebee did find out that she couldn't fly.

BUZZ centers around three main characters: Buzz, Snail, and Old Owl. All three live a happy existence and Buzz especially loves being able to fly over fields of clover, trees, and Snail's briar. Old Owl is lovable in his stereotypical aloofness and Snail is kind—especially when Buzz, devastated upon seeing a news article reporting the scientific findings, can no longer fly. Unfortunately, this happens right when Buzz needs to fly the most. Old Owl is in great danger and only Buzz can save him—if she could fly. Alas, she can't, and Buzz has to come up with another way to save Old Owl.

This book is more than just a sweet little story and pretty pictures; it poses the question: "What will you do when someone says you can't succeed?"

As a side note: I tried out a fun reading development technique (which is appropriate for any illustrated book a child knows well) that was a great success. I asked my niece if she wanted to write the story of Buzz. She excitedly said yes, so I pulled out a piece of paper. I asked her to look at the pictures and tell me a story of what happened. There was a lot of "Buzzy, buzzy, buzzy Buzz!" but it was worth every single reading to watch a three year-old, clutching a few pages to her chest, proudly proclaim: "I'm an author! I writed a book!" Did she put pen to paper? No. But she is beginning to associate the act of writing and words and the creation of written narrative. Who knows, one day she might write her very own book for someone else to review!

Reviewed by Stephanie Ashley

EDDIE: THE LOST YOUTH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE by Scott Gustafson

Gustafson, Scott. Eddie: the Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. ISBN: 978-1416997641.

Young Eddie wakes up one morning in the middle of his neighbor's yard, but the fact that he was sleepwalking is the least of his problems. He's been accused of playing a wild practical joke on his neighbor's prized rooster, who's been caught in a pillowcase with Eddie's cat and suspended up high from the barn! His foster parents don't believe in his innocence, but Eddie is granted a single day to solve this mystery and exonerate himself, or else suffer the consequences of punishment.

The first major appeal is the subject itself: Edgar Allan Poe, or specifically his youth and the mythical origins of his legendary status as the "Master of the Macabre." The basics of Poe's background are all introduced here. Gustafson manages to introduce the adult Poe as a haunted but sympathetic soul, animating the ghosts that swirl around his consciousness and give rise to his epic tales. He then moves into Poe's childhood, and in a stroke of superb creativity, tells us that the father who abandoned him and his siblings as children did leave his troubling legacy with Eddie, in the form of an mischievous imp aptly named "McCobber." McCobber and a friendly Raven become Eddie's two only friends in his youth, and help him solve the immediate puzzle that the book revolves around.

Gustafson's first book, Eddie is written with a distinct precision to highlight the time period these characters live in but remains accessible and enjoyable, with an overarching kind narrative voice that carries the story along. I think Gustafson uses enough historical fact woven with imaginative flair to create this charming mystery and possibly whet a child's appetite to know more about Poe. An observant reader will also pick up on the subtle portrayals of class difference, between wealth and race.

The story itself is enough to captivate a young reader (a true mystery of strange proportions) but the illustrations are what ensnared me. Gustafson's exquisite illustrations are imbued with detail and emotion, capturing the dark undertones of Edgar Allan Poe's life and paranormal proclivity. The use of pencil alone to create these striking black and white drawings allows the shadows to stand out and truly haunt the reader throughout the story. Yet Gustafson makes sure to portray kindness wherever it exists as well, so a young reader should never feel too anxious. Overall, it's a well crafted tale about a logical, mature, and sensitive young protagonist instilled with a generous dose of the mystical imagination.

Reviewed by Alya Hameed

SHOOTING KABUL by N.H. Senzai

Senzai, N.H. Shooting Kabul. Simon and Schuster, 2011. ISBN-13: 9781442401952. $6.99.

Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.

N.H. Senzai’s amazing talent is clearly shown in Shooting Kabul, her first novel. In her fictionalized account of her husband’s escape from Afghanistan, a bittersweet and terrifying world comes to life.

In the book, the main character, eleven-year-old Fadi, tries to cope (along with his family) with his move to Little Kabul in Fremont, CA, a lifetime away from the real city in Afghanistan, dominated at the time by the Taliban. Adding to the pressures of being Muslim asylum-seekers in a Christian country, Fadi is carrying the burden of guilt, as he feels it was his fault his six-year-old sister Mariam was accidentally left behind. Once the 9/11 attacks happen, the chances of finding Mariam practically disappear.

Suddenly, Fadi finds new hope. At his new middle school, he joins the photography club, paying for it with money he borrows from his older sister Noor. Through the club he finds out about a photography contest sponsored by the Societe Geographique. The grand prize is a trip to Kenya, China or India. Remembering how close India is to Afghanistan, Fadi figures this could be a way to find his beloved sister and restore his father’s honor. As he strives to win the contest, Fadi learns many important lessons about life.

I read this book on the recommendation of my mother, who heard about it on National Public Radio. It was one of the books chosen for their kids’ Backseat Book Club in early 2012. I am glad I decided to read it because it truly is a great book. I would especially recommend it for readers ten years old (my age) and up.

Review by Raquel Rivera, 5th grade

POP! THE INVENTION OF BUBBLE GUM by Meghan McCarthy

McCarthy, Meghan. Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. ISBN:978-1-4169-7970-8. $15.99 US. Ages 4-8. 

Bubblegum really doesn't take up much thought, unless you're trying to decide what flavor to grab at the check-out line. There is, however, a lot more to bubblegum than a person might think, and author and illustrator Meghan McCarthey uses Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum to describe gum's development through the centuries and how it became the multi-hued, bubble-blowing, sticky-sweet thing we chew today.

The story begins in the 1920s with the true-life, central figure Walter Diemer who works as an accountant in the Fleer family's factory. The factory produces lots of gum and candy, but the gum isn't like it is today. The Fleer family decides they want to make their product different from any other type of gum: They wanted it to make bubbles. This though, is no easy process, and Walter watches as scientist after scientist goes by his office to work on the secret project. Walter isn't a scientist, but he is very curious. One day, when Walter's boss asks him to mind a kettle containing a gum experiment, Walter can’t just watch. Soon he starts adding ingredients but nothing really changes.

Eventually, Walter's boss gives up on making bubble gum, but Walter doesn’t stop. Months after everyone else has given up, one of Walter's experiments starts bubbling. There is only one problem, the gum quickly turns hard and is a less than appealing, oozy brown color. Even more months go by until Walter can figure out a recipe that stays soft, but he succeeds, but the gum is still an unappetizing brown. Walter grabs the nearest dye and pours it in—it’s pink.

The first batch produced is cut into five pieces and delivered to a small store nearby. And, before long, gum is sold in stores across the country; according to Walter Diemer, the little pink cubes of gum, named Dubble Bubble, are what saves the company. While Walter never makes a lot of money off of his invention, he is promoted to vice president of the Fleer family business, a position he keeps until he retires.

Not only does McCarthy tell the recent history of bubblegum, she also works in the historical aspects of bubblegum, or, up until that point, plain old gum. While Walter wonders what is going on with the experiments, McCarthy takes the opportunity to tell how ancient Greeks chewed sap from the mastic tree (think “to masticate”) and American Indians introduced spruce tree resin. Also of interest are the facts about Walter Diemer and gum that fill the last two pages of the book. For instance, I never knew that college-educated women in their thirties, not children, chew the most gum! Or that chewing gum non-stop for a full year will make you lose eleven pounds!

Related Links:
Author's Web Page
Activities for Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum

Stephanie Ashley

DOGS DON'T DO BALLET by Anna Kemp

Kemp, Anna. Illus. Sara Ogilvie. Dogs Don’t Do Ballet. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4169-9839-6. $15.99 US.

Biff, an adorable pug who “is not like other dogs,” has one mission—he wants to do ballet. He is not interested in normal doggy stuff. In fact, he has no interest in characteristic canine behaviors like weeing on fire hydrants, scratching his fleas, or playing fetch. He’d rather watch ballet. Not only does Biff want to watch ballet, he wants to be a ballet dancer. This desire sends him on a journey. He follows his owner and sneaks down the street, aboard a bus, and then finally peeks through the window of a dance studio. Unfortunately, the ballet teacher, Miss Polly, sees Biff and he is thrown out. Biff, though, doesn’t give up. When the Royal Ballet comes to town, he again follows his owner and her father all the way to the symphony hall. It’s a beautiful evening, but suddenly there is a terrible accident and the prima ballerina trips, falls off the stage, into a tuba, and can’t go on. Biff though, comes to the rescue in pink tutu-ed glory and saves the performance to great applause and yells of bravo. This delightful story ends with, “Dogs DO do ballet. Bravo, Biff!

I had more fun reading this book than I have had in a long time. After all, there is a pug who wears a pink tutu and takes theatrical ballet poses at any opportunity: “Plie! Jete! Arabesque! Pirouette!” Angela Kemp’s smartest move, though, is that Biff’s owner is not named. This allows another reality to take place where the reader (or listener) imagines what it would be like to have a dog who wants to do ballet. It personalizes the book.

Testifying to the success of Dogs Don’t Do Ballet is the way readers consistently try to see the next page before it is turned. Most words are easy to recognize but there are a few that pose an enjoyable challenge to the early reader. Dogs Don’t Do Ballet is a success—a book I haven’t minded hearing more than once!

As much as Kemp’s storyline is enjoyable, it’s possible that Sara Ogilvie’s illustrations are what make the book. They are painted with beautiful hues in a loose, sketchy style that adds greatly to the movement throughout the book. Biff and his owner’s personalities bubble off the page in their large imploring eyes and lively postures. One of Ogilvie’s greatest strengths is her ability to portray believable expressions throughout. I found myself reacting to Biff’s hopefulness, the father’s disinterest, and the orchestra, audience, and father's shock at seeing Biff dance away on the stage. Other delightful details are Ogilvie’s attention to fashion, which I started to notice on my third reading. Biff’s owner is often wearing red galoshes and a red knit cap with a little bit of a dress peeking out beneath a brilliant blue coat. Also, keep an eye out for details such as little purses, buttons on boots, the father’s comfy slippers, and, of course, tutus throughout the pages. This is a book I look forward to guiding future students through.

Stephanie Ashley

Review: I GOT TWO DOGS by John Lithgow

Lithgow, John. I Got Two Dogs. Illus. Robert Neubecker. NY: Simon and Schuster, 2008. ISBN 1-4169-5881-9. $17.99. Includes CD of Lithgow reading (and howling) the story.

John Lithgow is one of the few celebrity authors whose books are truly exceptional; he’d be a children’s author even if he weren’t a star of stage, screen, and TV. With this carefree, yodeling ode to two dogs, Lithgow lauds his tried and true dogs, true friends who’ve indeed tried everything and, though very different, have found the perfect balance between them. Fanny is little, old, and slow, and Blue is mid-size, young, and quick. Nevertheless, they have things in common, for example, “Neither of ‘em ever learned a single trick.” Their owner loves ‘em, that’s clear—and audible-- on the attached CD. I bet Lithgow’s own dogs yodel along when the CD is played in their house.

Neubecker’s exuberant, very funny illustrations pair perfectly with Lithgow’s humor. Double-truck, pastel pages portray the dog duo giving and getting affection, “happy… huggy,” their pink tongues lolling, their endearing doggy eyes usually utterly focused on something like… a sock or a squirrel. Fanny and Blue are the quintessential dogs, “loyal and true ooo ooo ooo,” and readers will love them too ooo ooo.

Alida Allison