Mars Is - a review

Mars Is: Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises
By Suzanne Slade 

Peachtree Publishing, 2021

With stunning NASA images, Mars Is ...is beautiful enough to be a coffee table book! 

It's much more than that, however. Each image is accompanied by a simple explanation in huge font (no more than a few words per page), as well as a detailed description, making it perfect for sharing with the suggested age range of 6-10, as well as with a younger audience. Many times we are awed by the beauty of photos from space, but have no frame of reference for what we see. Slade's text helps the reader put the photos into context through explanation and comparison.

One double-spread photo might otherwise be mistaken for an Earthly shoreline or volcanic ridge.  Large font text announces, "Mars is steep cliffs," while the smaller text explains that this is an image of the Krupac Crater—highlighting the huge gullies running down its inner slope, and noting that it is a young crater, as evidenced by the exposed Martian bedrock. 

The final pages include information (and photos) about Mars missions, the HiRISE camera used to photograph Mars, and a timeline of Mars exploration.

With the recent landing of NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars, there is no better time for a book like this. Leave it lying around and it will attract readers of all ages.

 Read an excerpt of Mars Is here.

 

My copy of Mars Is was provided by the publisher.

Dark was the Night - a review

Dark was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars

By Gary Golio

Illustrations by E.B. Lewis

Nancy Paulsen, 2020

 

Little is known about musician, Blind Willie Johnson, but his unique style of blues and slide guitar made him a popular musician—at first in church, and then on street corners throughout Texas, and finally, with the advent of the phonograph, on records. His song, "Dark was the Night," was selected for inclusion on The Golden Record, sent into space on September 5, 1977.* 

He was not born blind in 1897, but lost his sight and his mother as a young boy. 

Gary Golio answers the questions he poses in the book, 

So how does a blind boy get along? 

How does he make his way in the world?

Willie Johnson's is a story of perseverance and the blues, and it offers a tiny glimpse of the African American experience at the turn of the turn of the 20th century. The inclusion of his music on The Golden Record is a metaphor for our humble beginnings, how far we've come, and how far we've yet to go.

Fitting with the vague details of Willie Johnson's life, E.B. Lewis' watercolor art is indistinct, allowing the reader to gather the feel and mood of the era, the place, the people, and the music—rather than a concrete rendering. The palette is dark, but sun and starlight signify the light of music that reaches all of humanity, even the blind.  

Dark was the Night is an ode with a musicality to it that evokes a bluesy mood. I defy any reader to read this book without seeking out Willie Johnson's music. It will call to you and you won't be able to resist.

 

* You can track the current location of  The Golden Record's copy of "Dark was the Night" on the Voyager spacecraft's website. [https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/]

My copy of Dark was the Night was a digital copy provided by the author.

To the Moon and Back - a review

To the Moon and Back: My Apollo 11 Adventure

By Buzz Aldrin and Marianne Dyson

Illustrated by Bruce Foster

National Geographic, 2018

In this gift-worthy, sturdy, pop-up book, middle-grade space enthusiasts will find a wealth of little-known details, personal remembrances, and photos from the quest to land men on the surface of the moon. In addition, the science and engineering is explained clearly and simply.

Buzz Aldrin begins with the start of his NASA career as an astronaut in the year 1963.  He then chronicles the successes and failures of the many Gemini, Soyuz, and Apollo missions that preceded the famous voyage of Apollo 11.

Tucked within the pages and pop-ups, are pull-out sections titled Space Race and Aldrin Family Reflections.  The pop-ups, created by paper engineer, Bruce Foster, include (among others) the Saturn V rocket which pops out to a height of over one foot, a lunar module, and the deploying parachutes of the lunar capsule's splash landing.

One section titled, "Saved by the Pen," includes this recollection:

     "After 21 hours on the moon, it was time to go. But the ascent engine's arming circuit breaker was broken off!  If we didn't find something to replace the pin, the engine wouldn't start.  We'd be stuck on the moon.

     Armstrong and I looked around.  We found a felt-tipped pen that fit into the slot. Problem solved!"

After reading To the Moon and Back, you will have a greater appreciation of what is often described as one of humanity's greatest feats of engineering.  The beautiful photos, pop-ups and a build-your-own lunar module are just icing on the cake.

Buzz Aldrin finishes his account with a query,

"Will we celebrate Apollo 11's 100th anniversary under the pink skies of Mars?"

He hopes so.  And perhaps it will be a woman who first steps on the red planet. I hope so.

Note:

In 2013, I was lucky enough to meet Buzz Aldrin.  He was very friendly, and let me touch him—the closest that I will ever come to outer space. 

© L Taylor

   My copy of To the Moon and Back was provided by the book's publicist.

Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon - a review

Countdown : 2979 Days to the Moon
By Suzanne Slade
Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
Peachtree Publishers

2,979 days after President Kennedy announced,

"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth,"

this nation did just that. Not only did we achieve the goal, we did it all in the days before personal computers, cell phones, ATMs, and video games were invented. If you visit the historic Mission Control room in Johnson Space Center, you will be amazed at what was accomplished with the technology of the time.

In free verse poetry, Suzanne Slade recounts the extraordinary journey, both daring and dangerous, that culminated in the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.

"The men steal a last glance at their beautiful home,
then Borman begins the TLI countdown: "9,8,7,..."
With each passing second,
excitement builds at Mission Control.
No astronaut—American or Soviet—
has ridden a rocket beyond Earth orbit.
"3,2, light On. Ignition," Borman announces.
"Ignition," Lovell confirms.
The third-stage engine reignites,
sending the craft on its long trek to the Moon.

As Apollo 8 screams into space,
Borman, Lovell, and Anders
become the first humans
to fly above Earth orbit."

The text is presented against a backdrop of illustrations in pastel, colored pencil, and airbrush.  Gonzalez has created a delicate balance of realism and magic. The artwork is recognizable as images seen in news media of the era, and yet, it is elevated with a patina of enchantment. The resulting combination is stunning.

Between chapters, there are two pages detailing each Apollo mission, which include photos,  astronaut bios, and mission statistics, e.g., dates, duration.

Extensive back matter includes more information on Apollo 11, and Author's Note, Illustrator's Note, Selected Bibliography, Sources for Quotations, and Photo Credits.

As the nation contemplates manned missions to Mars, it is fitting to look back on the sacrifices and triumphs of an earlier space-traveling generation.


Notes:

•  Countdown will be on a shelf near you in September.  You can pre-order now.
• Thomas Gonzalez is also the illustrator of the stunning and moving book, 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy.
• My copy of Countdown was supplied by the publisher.
• Johnson Space Center is currently seeking donations to support the restoration of the Historic Mission Control room. 
•  Teacher's Guide for Countdown 2979 Days to the Moon
• A collection of posts on nonfiction books for kids and teens can be found on the STEM Friday blog. 

Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! A Space-Age Version of "The Farmer in the Dell"
by Susan Lendroth
Illustrated by Bob Kolar
Charlesbridge, 2018

Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! is one of an increasing number of nonfiction books with several different uses or target audiences. The book's primary, large font text, is written for singing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell." The singing factor, combined with large, computer-created, colorful cartoon art, makes this a perfect choice for storytime crowds. Older folks (teachers, caregivers, elder siblings, and the like) will appreciate the smaller text insets that elaborate on the verse,

"Can you catch my sock?
Can you catch my sock?
Hey-ho, to Mars we'll go—
Can you catch my sock?"

"Imagine what a mess you could make without gravity. At home, if you leave your toys on the floor, they stay where you've dropped them. But in space, anything you don't put in a cupboard or fasten in place will drift like dandelion fluff, bouncing off walls and your crewmates."

The book begins with the launch, follows the crew during the journey, and ends with exploration of Mars. To give a sense of the journey outside the Earth's gravitational pull, the text and the pages have varying orientations—several pages are designed to be read upside-down.

Anything that introduces and interest in science and space exploration is a welcome addition to any library collection.

Discussion and Activity Guide for Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go!



Notes:
Bob Kolar is also the illustrator for one of my favorites, The Boy & the Book.
My copy of Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! was provided by the publisher.

Ultimate Space Atlas - a review

Just in time for World Space Week (October 4-10), 

 here's a review of Nat Geo's Ultimate Space Atlas.

Ultimate Space Atlas
by Carolyn DeCristofano
National Geographic Kids, 2017


Let me begin by saying that a space atlas inspired my eldest daughter to become a rocket scientist by the age of 20 (see note below).  It doesn't matter what your child's age may be.  If you have a space enthusiast (or any kind of enthusiast), nurture and feed that enthusiasm. Follow it wherever it leads.

National Geographic Kids Ultimate Space Atlas is a picture book-sized, softcover atlas.  It's small and light enough to take with you on car trips, vacations, etc.  That's the beauty of an atlas.  The reader can invest as much or as little time as she wants—scan the Cool Facts, enjoy the images, or read more in-depth passages about constellations, lunar phases, favorite planets, or the possibility of life in space.

Immediately following the Table of Contents is the very helpful section "How to Use This Atlas." Despite this being the digital age, using an atlas is a useful exercise in learning how to group, classify, and present information.  The same skills that are used in creating an atlas, are those used in creating research papers, PowerPoint presentations, essays, and more. An atlas helps a child to process the questions:

• What information do I have?
• What portion of that information do I want to share?
• What is my purpose in sharing it?
• What is the best way for me to present it? 

But enough of librarian geekery, the point is that the atlas is organized into tabbed sections, Sky-High, Observing Space, Inner Solar System, Outer Solar System, Our Galaxy and Beyond, and Mapping Space.  Each section contains similar insets against a background of images - natural photographs, colorized images, and artistic impressions. The lack of glossy pages takes away a bit of space's luster, but space is magnificent even in matte finish. A few pages of fun activities round out the atlas and will suffice to keep a child occupied while waiting for dinner at a restaurant.

Ultimate Space Atlas includes:

• Table of contents
• How to Use section
• Glossary
• Index
• Seven tabbed chapters 
• Credits

You can download a National Geographic Kids fun pack here.


Note:
If you'd be interested in learning how an old space atlas inspired my daughter to become a rocket scientist by the age of 20, please jump over to this post I wrote back in 2013. [http://kidlitwhm.blogspot.com/2013/03/yes-you-can.html]

See more STEM-related book reviews at the STEM Friday Blog 

My review copy of Ultimate Space Atlas was provided by the publisher's publicity agent.

The Astronaut Instruction Manual - an audiobook review

The Astronaut Instruction Manual: Practical Skills for Future Space Explorers
by Mike Mongo, read by Mike Mongo with foreword by Alyssa Carson
Listening Library, 2017
47 minutes

If you'd read my blog for any length of time, you will know that I'm an avid fan of several things - two of them are nonfiction and outer space.  I was happy for the opportunity to review the audiobook version of The Astronaut Instruction Manual.

Mike Mongo narrates his own book with an infectious enthusiasm for his topic guaranteed to draw you in to this practical and inspirational look at the future of space travel.

The Astronaut Instruction Manual began as a book on Inkshares, basically a "Kickstarter" for self-published books.  Largely do to its author's subject knowledge and enthusiasm, it became a popular seller, hence the recent release of the audiobook version.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, there is also a television series in the works.

My complete review of The Astronaut Instruction Manual may be found in AudioFile Magazine, in print and online at this link [http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/121233/the-astronaut-instruction-manual-by-mike-mongo/].

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos - a review

Sisson, Stephanie Roth. 2014. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the mysteries of the cosmos. New York: Roaring Brook.

In simple text augmented by word bubbles, thought bubbles, and sketches, Stephanie Roth Sisson gives us the highlights of Carl Sagan's life—but more importantly, she offers a sense of his wondrous enthusiasm for the cosmos,

It gave Carl goose bumps to think about what he had learned about the stars, planets, and the beginnings of life.  He wanted everyone to understand so that they could feel like a part of the stars as he did.
So he went on television.

This is the first book that Stephanie Roth Sisson has both written and illustrated.  The fact that she is enthralled with her subject is apparent in the artwork. Painted cartoon images (often in panels with word bubbles), depict a happy Sagan, wide-eyed and curious.  While some pages are like panel comics, others are full-bleed, double spreads depicting the vastness of the darkened skies, dotted by planets or stars.  One foldout opens vertically, reminding us of our infinitesimal existence in the cosmos.  We are so small, yet we are reminded,

The Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff.

Star Stuff is a 2015 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Honor book for "outstanding nonfiction for children."

Substantial back matter includes Author's Note, Notes, Bibliography and Sources, Special Thanks, and Source Notes.

Preview the first eight pages of Star Stuff on the publisher's website.

Note: 
Carl Sagan graduated from Rahway High School in Rahway, NJ.  As far as I can tell, he's not mentioned anywhere on the school's website. Pity.

It's STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

See all of today's STEM-related posts at the STEM Friday blog.

Space Case - an audiobook review

Below is my review of the audiobook Space Case by Stuart Gibbs, read by Gibson Frazier, as it appeared in the December 2014, issue of School Library Journal.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

GIBBS, Stuart. Space Case. 6 CDs. 6:28 hrs. S. & S. Audio.
2014. $29.99. ISBN 9781442376397. digital download.

Gr 3–7— The year is 2040. Dash, his sister, and their scientist parents are inaugural inhabitants of Moon Base Alpha (MBA), Earth's extraterrestrial colony. Housing only a few dozen people and governed by a strict commander, MBA is not exactly a barrel of laughs for a 12-year-old boy. However, when one of MBA's scientists dies suspiciously and a supply ship brings new residents (including a girl his age), life in space becomes much more intriguing. Though the story has many humorous moments—especially involving the insufferable wealthy space tourists—it also has some plausible science. Each chapter is preceded by a reading from "The Official Residents' Guide to Moon Base Alpha," NASA's part propaganda/part instruction manual, containing such riveting topics as "Exercise" and "Food." Narrator Gibson Frazier keeps the story moving at a good pace, conveying suspense without melodrama. Rather than create pitched character voices, he relies on intonation to differentiate among the large cast. His own voice is deep and clear but boyish enough to suit Dash. The narration flows smoothly, broken only by the humorously intended commercial quality of the "Official Resident's Guide." Space Case should appeal to a broad range of listeners but especially space enthusiasts.

Copyright © 2014 Library Journals, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
Reprinted with permission.

Pi in the Sky - a review

Pi in the Sky free preview

I requested this Advance Reader Copy of Pi in the Sky for 3 reasons:

1. My girls are math nerds and I was intrigued by the title
2. I need something to read  from Wendy Mass while I wait for the final book in the Willow Falls series  
3. It's a Wendy Mass book

My review will be short. Most of my Advance Review Copy books go home in the hands of young library patrons, especially book club members. My book club meets this week, and I know that one of the kids will be wanting to take this book home! 

Mass, Wendy. 2013. Pi in the Sky. New York: Little Brown.

Straight-up sci-fi, Pi in the Sky is the first-person account of Joss, seventh son of the Supreme Overlord, head of the Powers that Be (PTB), and ruler of the universe.  Joss, his family, and his best friend, Kal, inhabit an area called The Realms, hidden away in a vast area of dark matter that even the dwellers of The Realms have not fully explored. Kal's parents, OnWorlders, are stationed temporarily on Earth.

Although they know of all the planets in all the galaxies, the slow-aging inhabitants of The Realms have a particular fondness for Earth (despite our primitive nature).   But The Realms must stay hidden and unknown to outsiders.  When Annika, a young girl from Earth, looks through her telescope and spies Joss' Aunt Rae baking the "pies" that secure the fabric of the universe, the universe as we know it, is about to change.

"Seriously?" the girl says, looking around the room in annoyance. "First I dream about some old lady baking a pie and now this? I totally shouldn't have watched that Star Trek marathon last weekend."  ...

 The PTB stare at each other in amazement, and it takes a lot to amaze these guys.

"Fascinating!" Dad repeats, beaming. He loves the mysterious and unexplainable. That's why he's so good at his job.

 I just gape.

Annika is in The Realms; the Earth is gone, but where (or when) are Kal and his parents?  It's up to Joss to find a way to bring them back and right the universe.

Each chapter opens with a quote from a famous writer, scientist, or mathematician and hints at the real science behind this funny science fiction romp. Readers will enjoy this light-hearted novel that will hopefully send their thoughts skyward to ponder the depths of the universe in even the most mundane of everyday tasks.

As Carl Sagan is quoted in Chapter One, "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."

• Have a Nook? Get a free preview (7 chapters!) of Pi in the Sky!
• Have a Kindle?  Get yours here.

For a contemporary realistic fiction book that delves into the secrets of the universe for slightly older readers, try Every Soul a Star, another "stellar" book by Wendy Mass.

In other Wendy Mass news, Candymakers will be a movie! Follow Wendy Mass' blog for the latest details.

Pluto's Secret - a review

Weitekamp, Margaret and DeVorkin, David. 2013. Pluto's Secret. New York: Abrams.


Written by experts from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and humorously illustrated in watercolors, colored pencils and pen and ink by Diane Kidd, Pluto's Secret gives Pluto a chance to speak for itself about its discovery, its addition as the 9th planet in the solar system, and its eventual reclassification as an icy world in the Kuiper belt.

The astronomers soon learned that Pluto did not always stay in its place.  Sometimes it even switched places with Neptune, coming closer to the sun that Neptune did.

"Hey!" yelled the astronomers.  "Planets cannot do that!"

"Well, I can and I do!" Pluto giggled.

Remember, the icy world Pluto had a secret - a clue about what exists at the outer edges of the solar system and across the universe.

"You still have not figured me out!" sang Pluto.  "Keep trying!"

Balancing information and entertainment, kids will enjoy learning that Pluto was named by 11-year-old, Venetia Burney of England, and that its orbit is tilted, tipped "up like a slide in the playground." The text is similar to Comic Sans Serif and is presented on white background punctuated with occasional illustrated or colored text, and surrounded by anthropomorphic illustrations of the celestial bodies.

As one would expect from the Smithsonian, the book contains photographs of Pluto's discovery, discoverers and young Venetia Burns, a Who's Who of planets, Glossary, Notes, Suggested Reading, Bibliography and Index.

A final note that shouldn't need to be mentioned, but I will mention it anyway:
Pluto was deemed to be something other than a planet in 2006.  Whether you are a teacher, a librarian, a mother, or anyone who is connected with the education of young people, if you still have books that declare Pluto to be a planet, you need to throw those books away - now.

 Today's collection of Nonfiction Monday posts may be found at Instantly Interruptible.

Eight Days Gone - a review

McReynolds, Linda. 2012. Eight Days Gone. Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

In simple, four-line rhymes, Linda McReynolds has captured for a new generation the eight breathtaking, breath-holding days of the Apollo 11 mission.  Eight Days Gone recounts the July 1969, launch, orbit, landing and return of the spaceship Columbia and the lunar module Eagle.

It begins on a cheerful, sunny, colorful day in Florida,

Hundreds gather.
Hot July.
Spaceship ready -
set to fly.

McReynolds skillfully distills this immense project, this watershed accomplishment into its most basic elements, yet she disregards no aspect of the mission, giving recognition to Aldrin and Armstrong,  the nation, the command center, Collins (who stayed aboard the Columbia), even the Navy - remember the days of "splashdowns?"

The words are not always simple, but O'Rourke's stunning oil paintings fill in the necessary details. The font is either black or white and appears in a corner, never obscuring the double-spread, full-bleed illustrations.  Because of the subject matter, much of the artwork is in the creamy colors of the lunar surface, the spacecraft, and the astronauts' clothing.  Against the black of the universe, the colors of the American flag, the striped parachutes, the faces of the astronauts, and the dazzling blue and green of the earth, demand the reader's attention. 


Most striking is the painting of the "earthrise" on the black lunar horizon, a small astronaut placed in the lower left corner,

Desolation.
Silent. Dark.
Tranquil sea.
Barren. Stark.

Our tiny place within the cosmos is illustrated, but is boldly followed by the illustration on the following page where the astronaut fills a third of the page, confidently setting forth across the lunar landscape,

Haul equipment.
Careful test.
Exploration.
Lunar quest.

May we always be reminded of both our infinetesimal status and our immense capacity to overcome it.  A stunning book. Highly recommended.

See more illustrations from Eight Days Gone

at Ryan O'Rourke's site.

A photo, bilbiography, author's note and websites are included.

This is Linda McReynolds' first children's book.

Other Eight Days Gone reviews @

• NC Teacher Stuff
• Kirkus

NASA offers a K-4 student website as well as a NASA Kids' Club.

Did you know that China has its own space station and in June, they sent a manned (or should I say "wo"manned) mission to live aboard the station for two weeks?  Details available from NASA or The New York Times. China plans a moon landing for 2016.

Today's Nonfiction Monday roundup is at Pierogies & Gyoza.  Please stop by.

Cosmic

I’m a bit late to the Cosmic love fest, but am finally ready to chime in.

Cottrell Boyce, Frank. 2010. Cosmic. Walden Pond Press.

An improbable premise powers this first-person, space-age novel.  Twelve-year-old Liam Digby is tall for his age - so tall, in fact, that he's often mistaken for an adult - great fun at the amusement park or car dealership, but a very different story when he finds himself in China's Gobi desert, playing "dad" to his friend, Florida, as they train for a secret mission to outer space.  He does his best to appear "dadly," even referring to a copy of "Talk to Your Teen," hijacked from his own dad, who believes Liam and Florida to be attending a multi-day Gifted and Talented symposium for school!

The laughs are plentiful in this cosmic romp, but Liam and Florida also manage to learn a few things about space, human nature, themselves, and of course, "dadliness."

One person has just left the crowd and is heading over to me.  It's Dad.  He's walking toward me like there's some special gravity pulling him toward me.  And maybe there is.  Maybe everyone's got their own special gravity that lets you go far away, really far away sometimes, but which always brings you back in the end.  Because here's the thing.  Gravity is variable.  Sometimes you float like a feather.  Sometimes you're too heavy to move.  Sometimes one boy can weigh more than the whole universe.  The universe goes on forever, but that doesn't make you small. Everyone is massive.  Everyone is King Kong.

Well said.

Enjoy the trailer.


The publisher offers a Cosmic Reading Group Guide.

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Early chapter books - the audio versions

Elizabeth Bird of Fuse #8 recently posted about the lack of great early chapter books. To quote, the quality chapter book is

 Rarer than quality board books. More elusive than good picture books for older readers. The goal, the gem, the one kind of book all children’s librarians seek but know are so difficult to find . . . . the really well written early chapter book.

I agree, and would like to add that rarer still is the great audio version of an early chapter book.

Perhaps there are focus groups of giggling seven and eight-year-olds that choose the character voices for kids' audiobooks, and it's only my older ears that are affronted; but I find the vocal adaptations in most of the short chapter audiobooks to be overstated, over-the-top, exaggerated.  Maybe I just don't watch enough cartoons these days to appreciate the style, but the audio characterizations are more caricature than reality.  Is that what children like in an audiobook?  I don't know, but I'd love to hear other opinions.

In the meantime, here are a few excerpts and comments about audiobook titles that I've recently downloaded.

McDonald, Megan. 2010. Stink: Solar System Superhero. Read by Nancy Cartwright. Listening Library

Most recently, I listened to Stink: Solar System Superhero, in which Stink is distressed that Pluto has been downsized to a dwarf planet and, with the help of his classmates, organizes a campaign to reinstate Pluto into the solar system. The voice for this book is none other than Nancy Cartwright, famous voice of Bart Simpson!  Cartwright does a great job of creating individual voices for the many characters in the book. Understandably, however, they all sound like cartoon characters - particularly the teacher - imagine a long face, pinched nose, and pursed lips and you'll have the voice.  Kids will probably like this one, though, and may even recognize the famous voice.


Gifford, Peggy. 2009. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing Piano: But She Does Love Being in Recitals. Read by Clea Lewis. Listening Library.

Truthfully, I couldn't finish this one.  I think I'll have to try the printed version.


Feiffer, Kate. 2009. The Problem with the Puddles. Read by Halley Feiffer. Listening Library.

This is a title  I reviewed last year, but I enjoyed the quirky premise. Halley Feiffer's drier style of delivery suited the story, which is madcap enough on its own!

If you have a suggestion for a great early chapter audiobook, I'm all ears!


Finally, oops! My apologies. Today is the first time that I accidentally published a post before it was finished (actually it was barely started!)  I deleted the post and apologize in advance if you receive a blank email or corrupted RSS feed.

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Older than the Stars

Fox, Karen C. 2010. Older than the stars. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Wow! Who would think that one could create a picture book explaining the Big Bang Theory? A good picture book. An accurate picture book. A rhyming, cumulative picture book. Karen C. Fox and illustrator Nancy Davis have done just that! Kudos!

A simple, cumulative rhyme follows the creation of the universe,

... this is the star of red-hot stuff, that burst from the gas in a giant puff, that spun from the blocks, that formed from the bits that were born in the bang, when the world began.

Smaller text insets explain the concept in greater detail for older readers. A Time Line of the Universe and a Glossary are included.

Large text in a "printing" font is artfully placed on colorful, double-spread illustrations, created with "pencil, cut paper, and potato and eraser prints, then digitally composed."

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Green Wilma

Arnold, Tedd. 2009. Green Wilma: Frog in Space. New York: Dial.

I am a big fan of the original Green Wilma, so I was predisposed to like this one, and I did.

It's a silly bit of fluff - a frog that is accidentally whisked into outer space in a case of mistaken identity; but it's funny and cheery.

The rhymes flow effortlessly in the same cadence as the original Green Wilma story,

Suddenly the spaceship plucked her up into the air.
It pulled her in, and then it rose and flew away from there.

The artwork, bright colored pencils and watercolors, takes center stage, and Green Wilma herself, is irresistibly cheerful and expressive. I love it when an author illustrates his own work - it really shows in the connection between the written word and illustrated actions! Once again, Green Wilma is great fun!

Every Soul a Star

Mass, Wendy. 2008. Every Soul a Star. New York: Little Brown.

Ally is bright, home-schooled, self-assured, and fascinated with astronomy. She lives with her family in a remote campground called Moon Shadow.

Bree is popular and beautiful. She’s definitely “A” list at her suburban school; and she knows exactly what she wants out of life.

Jack is artistic, a dreamer and a bit of loner. He attends the same school as Bree, but is definitely not on the “A” list. In fact, he just failed science.

Bree’s parents are scientists, Jack’s science teacher is a veteran eclipse chaser and tour director, and Ally’s family’s campground lies directly in the path of the upcoming total solar eclipse. The lives of Ally, Bree, and Jack are about to align as sure as surely as the moon and sun.

Written in the alternating first-person accounts of Ally, Jack, and Bree, Every Soul a Star recounts the confluence of life-changing events which bring the three teens together at Moon Shadow to view the total eclipse of the sun. While searching the skies for exoplanets and signs of life on other galaxies, the teens learn as much about themselves as they learn about the heavens.

Readers are lucky to occasionally find a book that truly ‘speaks’ to them. Wendy Mass’ book will speak to many teens – the popular, the artistic, the intelligent, the extroverted, the introverted, the analytic, and their many combinations. Every Soul a Star is a celebration of what makes each of us unique - and if we learn something about the cosmos in the process, so much the better!