So what do you get when you combine parts of several different fairy tales with a case of mistaken identity and the notion that it might be better not to be royalty?
If you’re lucky, you get Jonathan Emmett and Poly Bernatene’s new picture book The Princess and the Pig (Walker Books, 2011). It’s an extremely well-done homage to traditional fairy tales with a few fresh and very unexpected twists.
Today’s guest reviewer has already shown she has an affinity for pigs, so she seemed to be the perfect person to review this book.
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Today’s reviewer: Sonia.
Age: 9.
I like: Pigs, horses, sleeping and using the computer.
This book was about: A princess and a pig. The pig and the princess accidentally switch spots when the queen drops the princess. The princess falls over the edge of the tower into a haycart. When the princess lands in the cart, the pig flies up and lands in the princess’s cradle. The king thinks a bad witch has turned the princess into a pig just like happens all the time in stories. And the farmer thinks a good witch has turned the piglet into a baby.
The best part of the book was when: The farmer first got the pig. I love pigs.
I smiled when: The pig and the princess switched places.
I was worried when: The pig didn’t like being a princess, but the princess liked being a farmer’s daughter. I felt bad for the piggy. She seemed depressed that she was now a princess.
I was suprised when: The farmer returned the princess when she was all grown up and the queen thought the farmer was lying so the girl could get married to a fancy prince. But he wasn’t.
My favorite line or phrase was: “And so, without a second thought, the baby became Pigmella, the farmer’s daughter, and the piglet became Priscilla, the royal princess.
My favorite picture was when: The pig was running away because she didn’t want to wear her fancy dress.
Other people reading this book should watch for: The difference between the princess and the farmer’s daughter. As Pigmella grew older, she was smarter and beautiful and was admired by everyone she met. As Priscilla grew older, she grew not-so smart and not-so beautiful and was avoided by everyone she met.
Three words that describe this book are: “Princess.” “Pig.” “Stories.”
You should read this book because: It’s like five different stories in one. It has a little part of “Sleeping Beauty,” a little part of “Thumbelina,” a little of “The Prince and the Pauper,” a little bit of “Puss and Boots” and a little bit of “The Frog Prince.”
And, it got a positively gushing review from the School Library Journal, which declared, in part:
“My first instinct was to just throw it on the pile with the rest of the princessey fare. Fortunately, I heard some low-key buzz about the book, making it clear that there might be something worthwhile going on here. Thank goodness I did, too. Ladies and gentlemen, two men have come together and somehow produced a book that thumbs its nose at the notion of a little girl wanting to be a princess. In fact, when it comes right down to it, this is a tale about how sometimes it’s difficult to tell the royalty from the swine. Now that’s a lesson I can get behind!”
If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Poly Bernatene, visit his website. He lives in Argentina, so it’s in Spanish, but you can use Google Translate to get a passable English version. And, of course, his artwork is beautiful in any language.
And thanks to Twitter, my writing friends and the Internet, I have a pretty lengthy list of books that I’ve heard a good buzz about requested through interlibrary loan. And, I’m always happy when I sit down to read one of them.
But, I still love browsing through the children’s section of my local library and discovering a gem of a book I haven’t heard of before.
That’s what happened a few weeks ago when I found Earth to Clunk (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011) a picture book written by Pam Smallcomb and illustrated by Joe Berger.
It shares the story of a boy whose teacher tells him to write a letter to a pen pal named Clunk who lives on another planet. The boy doesn’t want a pen pal, so along with his letters he sends odd items from Earth that he hopes will scare Clunk away. But Clunk counters with some unlikely objects of his own, and an unusual friendship is formed.
Allow me to gush for just a moment. This book is hilarious. Hil-ar-i-ous. In a very dry, deadpan way. Pam Smallcomb’s text is funny by itself. My favorite line is, “I’m sending Clunk an electric toothbrush, a toilet plunger, and a string of Christmas lights. He will be so confused he’ll never send me another thing.”
But when illustrator Joe Berger adds in a lot of clever details in the artwork, the story just takes off. This is a picture book that merits multiple readings just to pick up on everything that’s going on.
But enough from me. Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer.
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Our reviewer: Sonia
Age: 9.
I like: Snuggling with my cat, playing with my gerbil and making art.
This book was about: Having a pen pal from another planet.
The best part was when: He sent his big sister to Quazar.
I smiled when: The zoid fell in love with his big sister.
I was worried when: He didn’t get a package from Clunk for a while.
I was surprised when: He didn’t want a pen pal at first and was mean to him.
This book taught me: If you ever send your big sister away, she’ll always come back.
My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “I’m sending Clunk my big sister. THAT will teach him to have a pen pal from Earth.”
My favorite picture was: When his sister comes back to earth with a disgusting glob of something on her head.
Three words that describe this book: “Clunk.” “Zoid.” “Forps.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the packages that go back and forth between Quazar and Earth.
You should read this book because: It’s really funny.
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Sonia has a pen pal in London, England whom she just started writing. She says if she had a pen pal on another planet, she’d send these items:
• An apple. “Because I like them.”
• A cat. “But not my cat — another cat — so my pen pal could see how affectionate kitties can be.”
• My big sister. (I guess no explanation is needed here.)
There are picture books that are funny. Picture books that are reassuring. Picture books that are instructional. Picture books that share a story.
Then, there are picture books that are simply, unequivocally, beautiful.
Such is the case with Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee’s Stars (Beach Lane Books, 2011).
This is a picture book where the text and illustrations carry absolutely equal weight and combine into something greater than either could be alone.
As you might expect, it’s about stars. But not in a National Geographic sort of way. (Not that there would be anything wrong with that, it just would be another sort of book altogether.) Instead, this book is an ode to stars and their many uses — real and imagined.
Underneath all that, it’s reassurance that everyone has star power inside them to draw on when they need it most.
Of course, it received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist and School Library Journal.
It’s lyrical. It’s lovely. It’s life-affirming.
Today’s guest reviewer didn’t use those exact words. But she chose this book from a pile of recent releases and said it was her favorite. And I respect her opinion, because she’s something of a picture book connoisseur.
She’s also an honest critic. There have been many times she’s finished a book, looked at me and said, “Well, that was … odd.”
Not so today.
Let’s hear from Sonia, shown at the upper left, who decided to wrap herself up in her favorite star-spangled blanket in honor of the book. She also took a picture of her favorite star on her favorite blanket, and that’s shown to the right.
Today’s reviewer: Sonia
Age: 9.
I like: To read about animals and sharks and play on my mom’s computer. I also like watching “Scooby-Doo.”
This book was about: Stars. And where you might find a star. And what you should do with one. And how to make your own out of paper.
The best part was when: Everybody was in their pajamas looking for stars on the roof.
This book taught me: Where to find stars. And that you should always look for them.
Three words that describe this book: “Shiny.” “Sparkly.” “Stars.”
My favorite phrase from this book is: “But you can draw a star on shiny paper and cut around it. Then, you can put it in your pocket. Having a star in you pocket is like having your best rock in your pocket, but different. Because a star is different from a rock.” (Here, Sonia pauses to note that although she likes stars, she’d rather have a rock in her pocket. Because she collects rocks. And, “A rock is something you can kick.”)
My favorite picture was: All the kids putting on their pajamas so they’ll have a better chance to see the stars.
You should read this book because: I really liked it. I like stars. They’re shiny and cool. Although they’re actually really hot because stars are like tiny, little suns.
Like most kids this time of year, Sonia is getting ready to go back to school.
Her gym shoes are labeled. (With her first AND last name.)
Her pencils are sharpened. (Thanks to a sparkling, pink, shoe-shaped sharpener.)
And her summer reading list is complete. (See the photo at the lower left.)
So she’s ready to go back to school. But first, she wants to tell you about one of the favorite books she read this summer — Fourth-Grade Fairy (Aladdin, 2011) by Eileen Cook.
Sonia’s starting fourth grade herself this fall, which is one reason she liked the book, but the story also is about a lot of her favorite things — animals, fairies, magic and a main character with an annoying older sister. (OK, so that last part may not be her favorite, but it is something she says she’s experienced in real life.)
The book is about Willow Doyle. She comes from a family of fairies. Willow’s destined to be a fairy godmother, which doesn’t excite her too much. Her older sister, Lucinda, is a tiny fairy with wings, and that seems more thrilling to Willow. But if she had her fondest wish granted, she’d be a human.
That’s not likely to happen, however, as fairies of any kind aren’t encouraged to associate with humans, or “humdrums” as they’re referred to in casual conversation.
For her 10th birthday, Willow gets the chance to live out her wish and attend human school for two weeks. Of course, that ends up being much harder than she anticipated, especially after her fairy gift of being able to talk to animals kicks in and the perfect Lucinda gets captured by a human.
Want to hear more? Take it away, Sonia!
Today’s reviewer: Sonia
Age: 9
I like to: Read, watch TV, play “Go Fish” with my grandpa, play croquet and cook.
This book was about: A girl named Willow Doyle and her sister, Lucinda. Lucinda is a fairy, and in their family, everyone gets their powers when they turn 10. Willow did too, but she kept them a secret, because she wanted to go to a human school. Willow’s talent is talking to animals. She talks to a dog, who’s her best friend. She also meets a bird at a human friend’s house. Willow doesn’t like the bird’s feet, and the bird finds out and is not happy. Willow has done a lot of research on humans, and she’s going to become a fairy godmother. Later, Willow ends up saving her sister, after she’s caught in a jar.
The best part was when: Willow got to keep the dog. Because Willow could talk to animals, she told the dog not to eat her sister.
I smiled when: Willow got pink sparkly hair after she went to the doctor’s office.
I was worried when: The dog almost got run over, and when Willow told the bird it had weird feet.
I was surprised when: Willow still got to go to human school even though she hadn’t told her parents about her powers. She got to go all year because she saved her sister.
This book taught me: Only mythical creatures can talk to animals.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Willow.” “Fairy.” “Godmother.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “If your know-it-all sister is captured in a jar by the neighborhood humdrum kid, you might feel: A — happy, B — excited or C — really scared, and you might throw up.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: The multiple-choice questions that start each chapter. They’re really funny.
You should read this book because: Willow gets to talk to animals, and I like animals. And there are fairies and godmothers and mythical creatures. I like all those things, too.
Thanks, Sonia. Have fun in fourth grade.
If you’d like to see what other reviewers had to say about this book, check out these blogs below. And, may I simply add, these are three of the best-named blogs I have encountered yet:
And, if you’d like to learn more about author Eileen Cook — who’s written several awesome young-adult books, as well — visit her website or read this interview. Eileen also has a blog.
Young readers first met Nellie Sue, and all her glittery glory, in Rebecca Janni’s debut picture book Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse. (Dutton Children’s Books, 2010).
The spunky cowgirl proved to be so popular that’s she’s back for another adventure in Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots (Dutton Children’s Books, 2011).
In this tale, Nellie Sue has mastered riding Beauty, her two-wheeled horse, and is looking for a friend to help her break in her new dancing boots. But the only girl her age in the neighborhood seems more interested in ballet than barn dances. But Nellie Sue doesn’t give up until she and Anna find out just what they have in common.
The story features lots of down-home language, vibrant artwork by illustrator Lynne Avril and a happy ending.
As Kirkus Reviews says, “The glittery stars and hearts on the cover may lure readers into Nellie Sue’s pink cowgirl world, but it’s her hopeful, unbroken spirit that’ll win ‘em over.”
Now, let’s see what today’s guest reviewer, Sonia, has to say. Sonia is, after all, a bit of an expert on cowgirl boots as she owns two pair. You’ll notice she’s wearing one of each in the photo. Sonia also relates to Nellie Sue because she just mastered riding her two-wheeler and because she tries to ride real horses whenever she possibly can.
Take it away, Sonia!
Our reviewer: Sonia
Age: 9
I like:Playing DS fashion stylist games, getting new stuffed animals, watching TV and playing with my friends.
This book was about: A cowgirl named Nellie Sue who wants to play with friends, but the only people her age in her neighborhood are the glitter girls, and Nellie Sue doesn’t think they’ll like the same things she does. So Nellie Sue gets an idea from her dog, Ginger, and throws a barn dance and invites the girls. First, she doesn’t think anyone will come, but they do. And Nellie Sue gets to dance in her dancing boots. And, so do the glitter girls. Nellie shares pink lemonade and even her boots with her new friends.
The best part was when: Anna and Nellie Sue became friends.
I smiled when: Nellie Sue gave her boots to Anna.
I was worried when: I thought the glitter girls might not come to her party.
My favorite line or phrase in the book was: “I’d rather be a cowgirl,” said Anna.
My favorite picture was: When Nellie Sue is looking over at the glitter girls and one of the girls spots her and thinks she is spying.
This book taught me: You should be nice to everyone, because they might turn into a really good friend.
Three words that best describe this book: “Dancing.” “Boots.” “Glitter.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: Lots and lots of pink and bigger words like “Trip. Slip. Slide.”
You should read this book: If you like cowgirls or glitter.
Thanks, Sonia!
If you’d like to learn more about Rebecca Janni, you can visit her website or read this interview on Cynsations.
Judith Viorst’s classic children’s book describes a boy named Alexander who survives a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Julie Sternberg’s debut book describes a girl named Eleanor who makes it through an awful month.
Alexander’s bad day is made up of a series of small slights and insults. He gets gum in his hair, he doesn’t get a seat by the window in the car, and the cat wants to sleep by his brother, and not him. There’s even kissing on TV, and he hates that.
Eleanor’s month is ruined by one momentous event. Bibi, the babysitter she’s had since she was — well — a baby, is moving far, far away.
As Eleanor’s world is turned upside down, she’s forced to cope the best she can. And, she learns that life goes on, even when it’s not the way she always thought it would be.
Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer. Her babysitter moved to Arizona several years ago, so she could relate to the story:
Our reviewer: Sonia
Age: 9
I like: Coloring, playing on the computer, playing with my DS, reading Highlights magazine, and snuggling with my blanket and my cat, Vince.
This book was about: A girl named Eleanor. Her babysitter, Bibi, moves to Florida to help her Dad get better. They have a good-bye party, and all of Bibi’s friends cry. Then, they all go outside to get Bibi a taxi. Now, Eleanor doesn’t like taxis because they took Bibi away. Then, Eleanor gets a new babysitter, Natalie. Eleanor doesn’t like her like she liked Bibi, but then she gets used to her.
The best part of the book was: When Eleanor writes a note to Bibi while her dad is singing with Agnes, a neighbor. Once Agnes leaves, Eleanor wants to put the letter in the mailbox. So she gives it to the mail carrier, Val. Later, Val gives Eleanor a letter from Bibi.
I was surprised when: Bibi’s letter didn’t come sooner.
I was worried when: Eleanor had a big tantrum because she wanted her old babysitter back.
Three words that describe this book are: “Bibi.” “Eleanor.” “Natalie.”
This book taught me: You will always miss your first babysitter. But, you’ll probably get a new one that you like.
Other kids should read this book because: It’s a good book. I liked all the characters. I liked the picture where Val is waving the letter from Bibi.
Sonia has never put pickle juice on a cookie. But she concedes that it probably wouldn’t taste very good. She adds that the worst month she ever had was this very month because there was one day in it where she threw up five times. But she’s feeling much better now.
Thanks, Sonia!
To learn more about author Julie Sternberg, visit her website.
To learn more about illustrator Matthew Cordell, visit his website.
Today’s reviewer is a bit of a blanket expert, as you can see in the photo to the right and the one near the bottom of this post.
That makes her a good choice to review Mary Ann Rodman’s latest picture book Camp K-9 (Peachtree, 2011) about Roxie, a dog with a favorite blanket.
Roxie likes to sniff her blanket. And, sometimes, Sonia does the same thing. She says it makes her feel better.
So cuddle up with something cozy, and hear her take on this warm and fuzzy tale.
Our reviewer: Sonia
Age: 8
Things I like to do: Color, watch TV, listen to my iPod, read books and sleep.
This book was about: A doggy named Roxie. She goes to Camp K-9, and she has a secret in her backpack. She meets a new girl, Pearl, and thinks she would be a good friend. But then she thinks you have to tell friends secrets, and Roxie doesn’t want to tell her secret – that she has a blanket – because Pearl might laugh at her.
The best part was when: Roxie goes in the cabin and sees Lucy, and Lucy has a blanket. Roxie laughs at her, but then she shows Lucy her blanket. No one laughs and everyone pulls out their own blankets that they’ve hidden.
I smiled when: Pearl and Roxie held hands and went to the pool together.
I was worried when: Pearl’s favorite dessert got knocked to the floor. It was pork pudding and liver snacks.
I was surprised when: Lucy was being all mean.
This book taught me: To be nice to your friends and not to laugh at people.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Camp.” “K-9.” “Roxie.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “‘Sorry,’ says Lucy. But I know she’s not.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the different blankets. And when Lucy jumps out from behind a tree and scares the other dogs.
You should read this book because: It’s about cute dogs, and I like dogs.
Thanks, Sonia.
If you’d like to learn more about Mary Ann Rodman (who also wrote the wonderful picture book A Tree for Emmy reviewed here) visit her website. Or, read this interview at Becky’s Book Reviews.
Mary Ann also is one of six authors who blog about writing and teaching writing at Teaching Authors.
To learn more about illustrator Nancy Hayashi, read this biography.
Thanks to Peachtree Publishers for providing a copy of this book for Sonia’s review.
The book is based on a concept called the butterfly effect – that an action as small as a butterfly flapping its wings can influence weather patterns across the world.
But the book doesn’t talk about butterflies.
It looks at the life of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug. He began life as an Iowa farm boy. As he grew up harvesting food, he became concerned about people who didn’t have enough to eat, so he went to school to study how to grow more food. The seeds he ended up developing helped feed hungry people all over the world.
That’s a good story right there, but Andrews shows that Norman couldn’t have made the contribution he did without help from other people who also wanted to make a difference.
People like Vice President Henry Wallace who supported Norman’s efforts to develop those special seeds. People like inventor George Washington Carver who taught a young Henry Wallace to love plants and nature. People like farmer Moses Carver who rescued a small George Washington Carver from outlaws who had kidnapped him.
Each action over several generations led to Norman’s being able to develop his very special seeds.
Let’s see what today’s guest reviewer has to say.
Our reviewer: Sonia
Age: 8
Things I like: My unicorn, reading, jumping rope, telling jokes and playing on the computer.
This book was about: A boy named Norman who changed the world. He wondered what it was like to be hungry all the time, and he wanted to help people who were. So he learned about plants and fed two billion people. But he couldn’t have done it without a lot of other boys before him.
The best part was when: The book says, “Or maybe it was …” Because Norman and Henry and George and Moses ALL changed the world.
I smiled because: I thought Norman’s hair was funny. It was curly in the front and straight in the back.
I was worried when: The Quantrill’s Raiders rode into the farm and burned the barns and kidnapped George.
I was surprised when: I learned about the butterfly effect.
This book taught me: Lots and lots of people can change the world by doing small things.
Words that best describe this book are: “Change.” “World.” “Butterfly Effect.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Every little thing you do matters.” And “That means YOU can be the kid who changes the world.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: The cool picture of Norman and Mr. Wallace in Washington, D.C. There are two butterflies on the window. And then in the back of the book there are more butterflies. In fact, there are butterflies on almost every page.
You should read this book because: I liked the story.
Thanks, Sonia!
Here are some things Sonia thinks she could do to help change the world:
Not litter.
Be kind and nice.
Help people with no food.
Work with animals.
Smile.
This is Andrews’ first children’s book. He’s also written two adult books, The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift, which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List. To learn more about author Andy Andrews, visit his website.
To learn more about illustrator Philip Hurst, visit his website.
With lots of snow in the forecast — at least where I live — it seems like the ideal time to curl up with a bowl of perfect soup.
Not in the mood to cook? That’s OK. All you have to do is open the pages of Lisa Moser’s newest picture book Perfect Soup (Random House, 2010) and you’ll be warm and cozy before you know it.
The book features Murray, a kind little mouse, who wants to ease winter’s chill with his own, homemade perfect soup. There’s just one problem. He doesn’t have a carrot, and the recipe specifically calls for one.
Murray’s search for that elusive carrot involves a farmer, a horse, a snowman, a shopkeeper, a boy and a woman having a bad day. After they all work together, Murray gets his carrot, but how he uses it might surprise you.
Let’s see what today’s reviewer, Sonia, has to say:
Name: Sonia
Age: 8
I like: Riding horses, collecting pigs, playing The Storybook Game with my babysitter, Maria, and reading Perfect Soup and James and the Giant Peach.
This book was about: A mouse named Murray who thought it was a good day to make soup. He needed a carrot to make the soup perfect.
The best part was when: When everyone got what they wanted, but Murray didn’t want the carrot any more.
I laughed when: The horse said, “I’ll caarrry those logs if you give me jingle bells. I want to be faaancy like the town horses.” And, when I saw that Mrs. Wooley’s house looked like a teapot.
I was surprised when: He didn’t want the carrot for his perfect soup.
I was worried when: Murray didn’t notice the snowman when he said, “Hi.”
Three words that describe this book: “Perfect.” “Soup.” “Snowman.”
Other kids reading this book should look for: The message the snowman wrote for Murray in the snow. The house where Murray lives.
My favorite word or phrase in this book was: “Murray was in a hurry.”
This book taught me: To always say “hi” to people and to help people. That things don’t always have to be perfect.
Sonia says her favorite kind of soup is chicken noodle. She’d like to try Murray’s recipe for Perfect Soup.
I'm Pat Zietlow Miller. I live in Madison, Wisconsin, where I try to juggle family, work, reading, writing and revising. Usually, I succeed.
I am represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. I recently sold two picture books to Schwartz & Wade -- SOPHIE'S SQUASH and SHARING THE BREAD.
So what do you get when you combine parts of several different fairy tales with a case of mistaken identity and the notion that it might be better not to be royalty?
