White House Kids, by Joe Rhatigan

Illustrated by Jay Shinn
Rating: Very Good
Charlesbridge, 2012, $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-936140-80-0
Age/Grade Level: 4th-7th grade

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An "encyclopedia" of information about the children who lived in the White House, from Washington to Obama.  The narrative is not easy to follow because it moves back and forth among the presidential tenures.  Nevertheless, it is filled with fascinating facts and impressions about the presidents' children.  The reader is left with the impression that life in the White House had its pros and cons for the children, but few seem to regret having lived there.  The book is not for quick page-turners; it requires lingering awhile.

Reviewers:  Jane Yarbrough, Library Consultant

The Next Door Bear, by Mary Kuryla

Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
Rating: Very Good
HarperCollins, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-170874-9
Age/Grade Range: 4-8 years

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Emma is new to the city.  She has no friends and doesn't feel welcome.  Even riding the elevator was a problem, until she found the door opened on both sides.  A honeybee leads her to a garden where she meets Mr. Bear, dripping with honey.  An invitation to tea, by Mr. Bear, begins a new friendship.  This fanciful experience helps Emma find a way to feel welcome, and to make friends with the neighborhood kids.

Reviewer:  Jane Yarbrough, Library Consultant

Charlie the Ranch Dog, by Ree Drummond

Illustrated by Diane de Groat
Rating: Very Good
HarperCollins, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-199655-9
Age/Grade level: 4-8 years

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Charlie the Ranch Dog loves living on the ranch.  His daily chores are many: eating comes first, and keeping track of his friend Daisy.  That is a lot of work, espeically between naps.  The illustrations will make you smile.  Note the back pages:  The Pioneer Woman's (and Charlie's) Favorite Lasagna recipe.

Reviewer:  Jane Yarbrough, Library consultant

Snowy Valentine, by David Peterson

Rating:  Very Good
Harper, 2011
ISBN:  978-0-06-164380-8 (lib bdg)
Age/Grade level: 3-8 years

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On a snowy Valentine's Day, Jasper the bunny still could not find a gift for his lovely wife, Lilly.  Venturing through the entire valley, getting suggestions from Mr. Porcupine, Mr. Frog, the raccoon and the scary wolf was of little help.  But when Lilly slipped out into the snow to wait for Jasper, the steps in his journey proved to be the best gift of all. Save this one for Valentine's Day.

Reviewer:  Jane Yarbrough, Library Consultant

If You're Hoppy, by April Pulley Sayre

Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Rating: Very Good
Greenwillow, 2011
ISBN:  978-0-06-156634-9
Age/Grade Level:  2-5 years

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The "Hoppy Animals" help the young reader hop from page to page.  Frogs, rabbits, and kangaroos are seen jumping around while bears and dogs are the "growlie" guys.  Provides a good opportunity for naming and identifying the characteristicsof a variety of animals.  Vocabulary supports the action.

Reviewer:  Jane Yarbrough, Consultant

The Invisible Man, by Arthur Yorinks

Illustrated by Doug Cushman
Rating: Very Good
Harper, 2011
ISBN: 978-0061561481
Age/Grade Level: 4-8 years

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Sy sold all kind of fruit at his stand on Pitkin Avenue.  Folks came from all over as Sy prescribed his fruit for all kinds of ahes and pains.  What kind of world is it that one day, this nice fellow, without warning becomes invisible?  A series of events follow as Sy, the invisitible man, turns up, usually in trouble, all around the world.  Only a barrage of fruit thrown from an angry audience changes things, and Sy finds his way back to his fruit stand and his happy patrons.  It will take an imaginative reader to sort through the actions.

Reviewer:  Jane Yarbrough, Consultant

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, by Gloria Huston

Illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb
Rating: Very Good
HarperCollins, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-029156-3
Age/Grade Level: 6-9 years

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When Dorothy was a young girl, she loved books and decided she would become a librarian.  Her dream came true, but not in the big library in her hometown in Massachusetts.  The author brings to life her memories of Dorothy Thomas, the rural library lady, who traveled about the rural south in her Bookmobile bringing wonderful books to young and old.  Years later, adults recall the bright spot in their lives was the love for reading that she brought to them.  A lovely memory of Dorothy Thomas.
A delightful reading experience.
Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Consultant

Hothouse, by Chris Lynch

Rating: Very Good

HarperTeen, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-167379-5

Age/Grade Level: Younger teen

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Life is not so straightforward in Chris Lynch's Hothouse. Russ and DJ, friends since boyhood, are bonded by the fact that both of their fathers are firefighters. Both fathers die together in what the town extols as heroism. Russ copes with a flood of memories and a tangled, twisted heap of smoldering emotion. Characters are all too real. Lynch knows the nuances of coping with tragedy and portrays the unfolding events with skill. The town that once heralded the boys' fathers as fallen heroes begins to learn trughts that knock the dead men off their pedestals. Recommended for the right reader, who has an interest in real, gritty, teenage boy bildungsroman.

Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, OCPL/Laguna Beach

The Life and Times of Corn, by Charles Micucci

Rating: Very Good
Houghton Mifflin, 2009, $16.00
ISBN: 9780618507511
Age/Grade Level: ages 5-8

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In this extensively researched book, Micucci's bright eye-popping colors will have even the reluctant learner busy reading about corn. In fourteen informational chapters with such clever titles as "An A-Maize-ing Grain", Micucci presents corn's history in small kernels of information. Chapters are two pages in length; each page beginning with a seven-sentence introduction; with four bright pictures identified with a one-sentence explanation/definition. In short: at no time in this book will a beginning reader become overwhelmed. Even if they might, the corn yellows and vibrant greens will certainly hold their attention. Moreover, The Life and Time of Corn does not make the mistake of rendering itself potentially obsolete by dating itself--"corn of today"--which in ten years will no longer be pertinent, but rather informs the reader from an historical/informational perspective. Well written and charming; a must for your reference section.

Reviewer: Marie L. Twombly, OCPL/Aliso Viejo Library

Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas, by Julia Rawlinson

Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

Rating: Very Good

Greenwillow, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061990335

Age/Grade level: 3-7 years

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Fletcher the fox is worried Santa won't be able to find the new rabbit burrow. The animals and birds all help him make arrows to point the way so Santa can find the new location. While the animals party, the snow covers the arrows, and the animals all vow to stay awake to tell Santa the location of the new burrow. They are all so tired they fall asleep. The next morning they all arrive at the burrow with gifts because they are afraid Santa wouldn't bring any. The happy ending and the convincing characters make this a satisfying storytime choice. This author and illustrator team worked together on two previous Fletcher stories, which are both definitely picks for your Children's collection.

Reviewer: Anne Williams, OCPL/Fountain Valley

Magnus Maximus, A Marvelous Measurer, by Kathleen T. Pelley

Rating: Very Good

Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 9780374347253

Age/Grade Level: Ages 4-8

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This unique picture book tells the tale of Magnus Maximus, an old man who likes to measure things. But he doesn't just measure normal things, he likes to measure all kinds of crazy things like the wobbliness of a jellyfish or the itchiness of an itch. The book is nicely illustrated and it's enough unlike a typical picture book that it might be an interesting choice for an older storytime crowd. The story concludes with Magnus realizing that his obsession with measuring things has made him unappreciative of many things around him, such as his friends at a dinner party or the beauty of the ocean. This lesson seemed a little abrupt, especially since his measurements seemed really cool and fun up until practically the end of the book. However, the story is well written and the alliterative sentences and vocabulary make it enjoyable to read aloud.

Reviewer: Sarah Stimson, OCPL/Irvine University Park

The Naming of Tishkin Silk, by Glenda Millard

Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Rating: Very Good
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, $15.99
ISBN: 99780374354817
Age/Grade Level: Grades 3-5

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Griffin Silk is the youngest member of the Silk family, an almost ethereal family in a small town. He is attending real school for the first time because his mother has "gone away," and though he draws quite a bit of attention because of his rather eccentric family, he makes a friend in Layla, a sweet classmate who wears a daisy-chain crown. As the two become friends, Layla breaks Griffin's fragile shell and learns the details of his family's silence as to why their mom lives somewhere else and why there was once a baby sister whose crib lays empty. At only 100 pages with large margins and pictures, this is a quiet and sweet story of grief, forgiveness and family. A great pick for parent and child to read together and discuss.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Overlid, OCPL/Villa Park

My Garden, by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow, 2010, $17.99
ISBN: 978-0-06-171518-1
Age/Grade Level: Preschool/Kindergarten
Rating: Very Good

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Mother has a garden, but this unique garden is the product of a young girl's imagination. This one would have no weeds and the flowers would never die. There would be chocolate rabbits, birds and sea shells. "What are you doing?" asks mother. "Oh, nothing," I say. "Just working in my garden." Simple text is a strong match to the corresponding illustrations.

I read this to a preschooler the other day, and she was animated and all smiles.

Reviewer: Jane Yarborough, Library consultant

Higgledy-Piggledy Chicks, by Barbara Joose

Illustrated by Rick Chrustowski
Greenwillow, 2010, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-075043-5

Age/Grade Level: 2-5 years

Rating: Very Good

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Mama stays very busy keeping her seven new chicks from getting into trouble in a very busy barnyard. The reader will delight in all the "animal sounds" that punctuate this delightful tale. In the end pages, the illustrator shares her experiences raising young chicks, and the inspiration for trying a new art form -- collage. It also provides a great model for a fun art activity.

Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Library consultant

The Inside Tree, by Linda Smith

Illustrated by David Parkins

HarperCollins, 2010, $16.99

ISBN 98-0-06-029818-0

Grade/Age: 4-8 years
Rating: Very Good

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A fanciful tale about Mr. Potter, his dog, and what happens when he brings the lone tree from his yard into his house. when it grows and grows, Mr. Potter decides to make some changes in his living quarters. The colorful and "busy" illustrations give the reader many opportunities to identify the numerous happy "winged visitors" that find a home in Mr. Potter's house.

Reviewer: Jane Yarbrough, Educational Consultant

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps, by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole

Rating: Very Good

Harper, 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061252198

Age/Grade Level: 4th Grade and up

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A fun, old-fashioned story about four chidlren in a new combined family becoming a family, as they deal with relocation from London to a small English village and they find a magical book. In that book is an enchanted bookworm, who guides them through the steps and rules of being a real genie. While the children show real aptitude, they have to deal with the moral and ethical aspects about granting worthy wishes and how to select the best way to do it. No Harry Potter, but a good read with a satisfactory conclusion that gives the reader something to think about!

Reviewer: Cathy Gillette, OCPL/La Habra

Built by Angels: The story of the old-new synagogue, by Mark Podwal

Rating: Very Good

Harcourt, 2009, $16.00

ISBN: 978-0-15-2066789

Age/Grade Level: Grades 1-3

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The old-new synagogue in Prague is the oldest standing synagogue in Europe. Author Podwal has spun together some of the legends that have sprung up about this historic building: that angels built it from stones originally from the destroyed temple in Jerusalem, that a golem is locked in the attic. The brightly painted illustrations in the manner of Chagall evoke the dreamlike mood. Some of the elements (like the golem) are glossed over so quickly that a reader not already familiar with Jewish folklkore might be confused. But overall, this is an evocative, poetic tribute to a special place.

Reviewer: Mary Smith, OCPL/El Toro

Duck for Turkey Day, by Jacqueline Jules

Illustrated by Kathryn Mitter

Rating: Very Good

Albert Whitman, 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-8075-1734-5

Age/Grade Level: Ages 5-8

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This is a story of the traditional American holiday, Thanksgiving, through the eyes of a young Vietnamese girl whose family traditions vary from those of some of her classmates. It tells of her desire to have turkey on Turkey Day rather than her well-loved family tradition, duck. The heartwarming conclusion gives insight into the many other traditional meals had by American children at Thanksgiving other than turkey. It is cultural understanding delivered to an early school-age audience. The illustrations are bright and soft. This is a story children can relate to and will follow easily.

Reviewer: Elisabeth Ellis, OCPL/Stanton

Just Grace Goes Green, by Charise Mericle Harper

Rating: Very Good

Houghton Mifflin, 2009, $16.00

ISBN: 9780618959570

Age/Grade Level: Grades 2-5

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Like the prior books in the "Just Grace" series, Just Grace Goes Green presents a fun and spunky narrator, "Just" Grace, who encounters small, child-friendly conflicts (like a favorite stuffed animal being "borrowed" for too long) and quickly solves them with the help of her supportive friends and family. In this installment, Grace's class is learning about "going green", so the story contains tips and ideas for how children can help the environment. The ideas are well placed and match the plot without seeming didactic. The subplot of a visit from her best friend's cousin is also sweet and of course ends well. Interspersed with lists and drawings, this is an excellent choice for readers who are new to chapter books. The format is easy to follow and fun, even if you haven't read the previous titles. Though Grace gets in less trouble than her spunky-girl-character cohorts, this is also recommended for fans of Ivy and Bean, Clementine, and Junie B. Jones.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Overlid, OCPL/Villa Park Branch

Erika-San, by Allen Say

Rating: Very Good

Houghton Mifflin, 2009, $17.00

ISBN: 9780618889334

Age/Grade Level: Grades 1-3

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Allen Say once again tells a touching story of Japan, with stunning illustrations to match. When Erika was a child she looked at a painting of a tea house in Japan and fell in love. Though she is not Japanese, she was inspired and set her life to learning Japanese language and culture. Fast forward through colege and Erika is off to Japan where she finds a teaching position in a small village and makes a home in the very tea house from the painting. This is an interesting story about respecting cultures and what it means to belong to a group of people. Cataloging describes this book as a 'love story,' which is true both between Erika and her fellow Japanese teacher, Aki, and between Erika and Japanese culture.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Overlid, Orange County Public Library/Villa Park