Spy on History: Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army - a review

Spy on History: Victor Dowd and  the World War II Ghost Army
by Engima Alberti and Scott Wegener
Workman Publishing, 2018

Perhaps you've heard of the "Quaker guns" used in Revolutionary and Civil War battles—wooden logs painted to look like cannons to fool enemy soldiers into thinking that they faced a superior force.  In the 1980s, the little-known history of the 23 Headquarters Special Troops (a.k.a. the Ghost Army) was declassified, and uncovered a WW II deception of epic proportions.

This second book in the Spy on History series is the true story of the Ghost Army's role in defeating the Nazis—how a battalion of artists, set designers, and similarly creative individuals used elaborate sound, visual, radio, and atmospheric effects to fool the German Army.

Persistent readers will find it chock full of coded messages and clues to discover.  An envelope marked "TOP SECRET" and "CONFIDENTIAL" contains the necessary spy craft tools to decode the book's secrets, but it will take a careful eye to find them.  Clues are within text, borders, images, maps—even the copyright page!

In this sample page from Victor Dowd and World War II Ghost Army, the included red acetate sheet would uncover a clue within the illustration.  Other images require use of the included cipher wheel, velum, or informational WW II "poop sheet."

It should be noted that this book may not be an appropriate purchase for public libraries because the spy craft materials included in the book's "Top Secret" folder may not withstand multiple uses.  If funds were available, however, it would make an excellent choice for a middle-grade book club.  Kids could work cooperatively to find all of the clues, crack the code, and decipher the secret letter from Victor Dowd.

Upon purchase, the final pages that reveal the answers are sealed to avoid premature peeking. I confess that although I found almost all of the clues, I did not fully crack the code before peeking.  I do think, it can be done, however, with a little bit of time and perseverance.  The story of the Ghost Army is fascinating and true, and the book is entertaining on many levels.

National Archives Identifier 292565 "Inflatable dummy weapons" Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Note:
My copy of Spy on History: Victor Dowd and the World War II Ghost Army was provided by the publisher.

Huff & Puff - a review

Rueda, Claudia. 2012. Huff & Puff: Can you blow down the houses of the three little pigs? New York: Abrams.

I was going to include this in a picture book roundup, but it's just so cute that it's going to get its own post.

Though traditional folk and fairy tales are part of our shared culture, it's difficult to find a version simple enough to share with toddlers in a meaningful way.  Huff & Puff makes this look easy.  With  sparse and straightforward text (only one line per plain white page),

First pig building a house.

First pig inside the house.

One wolf huffing and puffing,

and delightfully innocent-looking pigs, you'd think that Huff & Puff couldn't get any better.  But wait, there's more.  Each time the wolf comes along, the reader is presented with the wall of the house (straw, stick and brick) and a hole for, you guessed it, huffing and puffing!  The reader is the wolf! All the illustrations are drawn with a wolf's-eye view, including the birthday cake with candles that awaits the wolf on the final page.

Three pigs and one wolf are happy.

Awww.


This book is an offering from Abrams' new imprint, Abrams Appleseed. 

Advance Reader Copy provided by the publisher.

Read the Kirkus review here.

Oh why didn't I look at this one yesterday before I did a pig-themed storytime?

Batter up! Baseball book reviews

Opening day for the 2011 baseball season is March 31. (not that I'm counting or anything) Informed of my fondness for America's Pastime, Sleeping Bear Press sent me their spring baseball offerings.

First up,

Michelson, Richard. 2011. Lipman Pike: America's First Home Run King. Ill. by Zachary Pullen. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear.

Everyone is familiar with Babe Ruth, but Lipman Pike has hardly been a household name.  Nevertheless, he was America's first home run king, and arguably, its first professional ball player.  Born in 1845 to Jewish immigrants from Holland, Lipman Pike joined the amateur National Association of Base Ball Players.  He became a star, playing for teams in New Jersey and New York.  However, more than just the story of his baseball career, Lipman Pike, is also a glimpse into society, politics, and daily life in Civil War era America.  The game of base ball was so popular at the time that even the infamous Boss Tweed was involved,

He joined the New Jersey Irvingtons until a man named Boss Tweed invited him to play closer to home.  Lip was excited because the New York Mutuals were one of the best clubs in the league.

"Of course, we can't pay you, " Boss Tweed explained.  "That would be against Base Ball Association policy, and as New York's Commissioner of Public Works, I would never break the rules."  He waved Lip closer so he could whisper.  "But I can offer you a job in our government office at Tammany Hall.  You would have little work to do and plenty of time to play ball."

Of course, many players were paid, and the league went professional soon after, in 1871.  Throughout his career, Lipman Pike was known as a gentleman as well as a slugger.

Follow-up information on Lipman's career and life, and an author's note complete the book, but no sources are offered.  The illustrations and primarily brown text on sepia-toned pages firmly establish the story in the mid 19th century.  Zachary Pullen's illustrations feature over sized heads with great detail and expression. An interesting picture book biography for older readers and baseball fans in general. How I wish that more teachers would accept picture books for middle grade biography projects.  In any case, this one could easily be shared in school, relating to units on biography or immigration.
Teacher's Guide available here.
On shelves now.

Herzog, Brad. I Spy with my Little Eye: Baseball. Ill. by David Milne. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear.

Each double-spread, mirror (or is it?) illustration features an "I spy" rhyme,

I spy with my little eye, a colorful cardboard collection. Pennants switch places, cards get new faces, and a Tiger changes direction.

along with a baseball-related Photo Fact, and a challenge to spot the differences on the two pages.  A great gift for baseball fans, and a great way to pass the time on trips, doctor visits, etc.  I love "I spy!"

On shelves now.

also by Brad Herzog,

Little Baseball

A small board book with baseball riddles,

Give yourself a great big hand.  It's where a batted ball might land.

Answer: Baseball glove.

This will make a fun and interactive book to share at storytime.  The riddles are difficult enough so that kids won't guess them right away, but not hard enough to be frustrating.

My only frustration is the fact that this will be published in board book format. I wouldn't hand this one to a toddler - too difficult.  This seems to be a trend with many publishers lately. We can no longer count on board books to be simple, concept offerings. Still, this is a fun book with catchy rhymes and upbeat illustrations.
 
Due on shelves in April.
 
Review copies were galley proofs, not final copies.

Today's Nonfiction Monday is at Three Turtles and Their Pet Librarian.

Storytime favorites for Valentine's Day

Better late than never, here are some of my kid-pleasing favorites for Valentine's Day storytime.  Nothing new, just tried and true.

Schaefer, Lola. 2009. Guess Who? A Foldout Valentine's Adventure. New York: Little Simon.

Rhyming, foldout, guessing fun for the littlest listeners.

Weeks, Sarah. 2006. Be Mine, Be Mine, Sweet Valentine. Ill. by Fumi Kosaka. New York: Harper Collins.


More rhyming, guessing, foldout fun.

Modesitt, Jeanne. 2002. 1,2,3 Valentine’s Day: A Counting Book. Ill by Robin Spowart. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills.

Count and rhyme with Mr. Mouse as he delivers his Valentine's Day gifts and greetings.

 

Jackson, Alison. 2002. The Ballad of Valentine. Ill by Tricia Tusa.  New York: Dutton.

Get your drawl on and sing this one to the tune of "My Darling Clementine." Great fun!

And as long as you're singing, don't forget ...

Karas, G. Brian. 2001. Skidamarink: A Silly Love Song to Sing Together. New York: Harper.

Have a happy Valentine's Day. <3

Tillie Lays an Egg

Golson, Terry Blonder. 2009. Tillie lays an egg. New York: Scholastic.

Of course, I live in NJ, so take this with a grain of salt, but my eldest daughter related something to me the other day - Her language arts teacher mentioned that, in one of her classes, not one student knew the sound that a donkey makes. How sad that we've become so far removed from the farms and country that feed us. (Doesn't anyone sing "Old MacDonald" anymore?)

Tillie Lays an Egg may be just the book to inspire a preschooler's interest in farm life.

The stunning photography combined with the fun of look-and-find,

"Where has Tillie laid her egg?"

and the attendant humor (Tillie lays her eggs on the kitchen table and the ironing board, among other unlikely places!)

make this book a winner!! Hee Haw!