A Chair for Always/Un Sillon Para Siempre, by Vera B. Williams

Note: This review covers both the English language original and the Spanish translation by Liliana Valenzuela.

Rating: Very Good

Greenwillow, 2009, $17.99

English: 9780061722806

Spanish: 9780061722837

Age/Grade level: Grades 2-4

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In this fourth book about Rosa, Vera Williams again shows the warmth and vitality of family life. Central to the story, though, is Rosa's steadfast love for the now old velvet-rose-covered chair so beautifully described in A Chair for My Mother. Now that a new baby is about to be born in the family, Grandma suggests that the worn fabric could be replaced. Her mother even mentions buying a new chair, causing Rosa's offended outburst: "Don't you even care about history?" She reminds them how long it took to get the chair and all the memories associated with it. She already looks forward to telling it all to little Benji and asserts that no matter where she goes in the future, this chair will go too! The lovely gouache illustrations wonderfully enrich and enhance the text.

In the Spanish version, lovingly translated by Liliana Valenzuela, the text perfectly conveys the spirit of the original. The soft, sunny gouache illustrations which capture the atmosphere of the story will make this book an appealing choice for many Hispanic families.

Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove

The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap, by H.M. Bouwman

Rating: Recommended
Marshall Cavendish, 2008, $16.99
ISBN: 978-0761454410
Age/Grade Level: Ages 10 and up

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What's better than a great book with an inspiring female protagonist ? A great book with two! Move over heroines and make room for Lucy and Snowcap, from the pages of The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap. This "Thelma and Louise" like tale for children takes place in Tathenland, a thirteen-island chain imbued with magical properties. The indigenous islanders, the "Colay" are forced to share their land with shipwrecked penal colony convicts. Every thing is not well and good, resulting in the journey of the heroine, or in this case, heroines. Bouwman's prose works nicely, melding fantasy and history. Likeable and strong girls debut in this well written, interesting book. Make this a recommended read!

Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Beach Branch

Barack, by Jonah Winter

Illustrated by AG Ford

Rating: Additional

HarperCollins, 2008, $17.99

ISBN: 978-0061703928

Age/Grade Level: Ages 4-8

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Hagiography? A biography with messianic overtones? Passionate examination of a historical man in a historical time? Is Barack by Jonah Winter a hit or a miss? Reader's choice. Published before the presidential election, Obama's life is chronicled from Honolulu to the Illionois State Senate, touching upon his historic ascent to the White House. The complexity of his life and the magnitude of his heritage are examined. Children will find the words and illustrations accessible. Older, and perhaps politically wary readers, may be off put by more than one overdone passage, more than one cliche. The "one moonlit night, the night Barack was born," shows a swaddled babe, cradled by mama, on the beach under a full moon, though on August 4, 1961, the moon was less than half full. AG Ford's illustrations work well with the story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Beach Branch

Stolen, by Vivian Vande Velde

Rating: Marginal

Marshall Cavendish, 2008, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0761455158

Age/Grade Level: Ages 9-12

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Vivian Vande Velde used pictures of unknown people for an exercise when she led writing workshops. She was fascinated by a girl's photo one day and that's how the heroine of this book was born.

The story starts when an old witch, who had just stolen another baby from the village, was hunted down by the blood-thirsty villagers, crying for revenge. Scurrying to spare her life, the witch cast her spells…

A girl was running through the woods, panic stricken, being chased by vicious dogs. She lost consciousness to pure terror, only to wake to face an even bigger one. She does not know who she is or where she came from. When Mady and Frayne show up to claim her as their long lost daughter, Isabelle, she is skeptical.

Isabelle, it turns out, was six when she was taken by the witch six years ago. The little baby, the newly stolen child, was Isabelle's sister. Honey, Isabelle’s elder sister, does not seem too keen on warming up to her. The story goes on slowly as Isabelle tries to find out her true identity; a surprise ending is revealed.

Vivian Vande Velde’s book Heir Apparent made a great impression on me. However, this book, although full of suspense leading to a shocking revelation, is slow-paced and never has enough excitement for young readers who enjoy substantial adventure and horror stories.

Reviewer: Zhen Li, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Niguel Branch

Marco Polo, by Demi

Rating: Recommended
Marshall Cavendish, 2008, $19.99
ISBN: 978-0761454335
Age/Grade Level: Grades 3-5

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This is another delightful tale from Demi. Marco Polo is a compact biography that covers the great explorer’s adventures on the route from Venice to China through Jerusalem, Turkey, the Silk Route, and Taklimakan Desert. Once Marco, his father, and his uncle arrived in China, he served as the ambassador for the mighty Emperor Kublai Khan. The Polos made it home safe and sound after the Emperor passed away twenty-four-years later. However, the domestic life was not all quiet and serene for Marco. He ended up imprisoned and met an experienced writer who was willing to record his fascinating journey.

It is not important to know for sure whether Marco Polo’s adventure is reality or fantasy. Readers will be satisfied in knowing that Marco Polo’s explorations inspires mapmakers, historians, explorers, and scholars to follow suit, among them, Christopher Columbus.
Demi’s gorgeous illustration accompanies the historical details in text. A stunning map featuring the route of Marco Polo can be found at the end of this book. Sophisticated young readers who enjoy this book will like Val Ross’ The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories.

Reviewer: Zhen Li, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Niguel Branch

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson

Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant
Rating: Recommended
Marshall Cavendish, 2008, $14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5438-0
Age/Grade Level: Preschool-1st grade

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Kitty Cat is waking up and getting ready for school, but is certainly taking her time. Each two page spread shows the off-screen mother cat's questions, all beginning with "Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat…," about whether she is waking up, getting dressed, eating breakfast and ready to leave. Kitty's answers finish the rhyming couplet with excuses as to why she is taking so long. The illustrations show the small cat snuggling in bed, throwing clothing, chasing a mouse and so on. The pictures are large, easy to see and very sweet, while the text invites children to say the repeated phrase together and guess the concluding rhyme. A wonderful book for general cat storytimes or for discussing how to get ready in the morning.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Barry, Orange County Public Library/Villa Park Branch

Elephants Never Forget! by Anushka Ravishankar

Illustrated by Christine Piepe

Rating: Additional

Houghton Mifflin, 2008, $16.00

ISBN: 978-0-618-99784-8

Age/Grade Level: Preschool-1st grade

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After a rainstorm, Elephant finds he is all alone in the jungle. After escaping some mean monkeys, Elephant joins a herd of buffalo and is fitting in just fine, even though he doesn’t look or sound like a buffalo. When Elephant is reunited with an elephant herd, he decides to stay with the buffalo where he belongs. Blue, black and white pen-drawn illsutrations tell the story with creativly placed text (sideways during a loud thunderstrom, wavy in the water, mixed text sizes in single words). Though a sweet story of finding where one belongs, the theme and plot don't really match the text. The story is told in short rhyming sentences so there is not much room for development as to why the elephant was left behind, why the monkeys are mean to him, why the buffalo take him in or why he choses to stay. The end almost comes too soon. The jungle placement and illsutration style seem to make the book look like a folktale but there is no author's note that this is the case. Perhaps I am thinking it out too hard, but I think it would have done better as an older child's book, with less white space and no rhyme. As a side note: the title doesn’t seem to really match, there is no mention of remembering or forgetting anything (perhaps it is because he "remembers" that he likes being with the buffalo?). Applicable for patient children at storytime or one-on-one sharing.

Reviewer: Jacqueline Barry, Orange County Public Library/Villa Park Branch

1968, by Michael T. Kaufman

Rating: Very Good

Roaring Brook, 2009, $22.95
ISBN: 1596434287
Age/Grade Level: grade 6 and up

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Michael Kaufman, a reporter for the New York Times for four decades, draws on that newspaper's archives and his personal experiences to introduce readers to the people and events that defined an important year in history; worldwide change came that pivotal year through the power of the people (civil rights movements, antiwar protests, marches and teach-ins from Memphis, Chicago and New York to Paris, Prague and Mexico City). Each chapter chronologically focuses on a different hotspot around the globe and puts the event in context, ending in December with the Apollo flight to the moon which revealed to the world the fragility and connectedness of all people.

Black and white photos and reproductions of newspaper articles add immediacy to the text. Certainly a valuable resource for any older student or adult with an interest in history.

Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove Branch

Auntie Tiger, by Laurence Yep

Rating: Additional
HarperCollins, 2009, $17.99

ISBN: 9780060295516

Age/Grade Level: ages 5-8

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In this version of Little Red Riding Hood, set in China, Big Sister puts aside her differences with Little Sister to rescue her from a wolf in disguise. Sibling rivalry is humorously entwined in the tale which shows that although they may quarrel, the two sisters will always protect each other. Big sister cleverly outwits the wolf and, on their best behavior, the two girls are happily reunited with their mother. Charmingly illustrated in vibrant colors, this tale will delight many young readers.

Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove Branch

Danny Diamondback, by Barry E. Jackson

Rating: Additional

HarperCollins, 2008, $17.89
ISBN: 9780061131851

Age/Grade Level: Preschool to Grade 2

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Danny the Diamondback's parents neglected to tell him that he is a poisonous snake. So he is very surprised when other creatures run in fear. He finally finds a friend in an extremely nearsighted prairie dog. This is the first children's picture book by Barry E. Jackson, who has worked on several notable animated movies including Shrek. I hope he tries again, because the illustrations are wonderful; scenic vistas with marvelous depth and characters with very expressive faces. The text, however, is so "folksy" that it seems forced rather than natural. Example: "Out popped Danny, hissin' and a-rattlin' like no tomorrow!" Maybe the author will get a more rigorous editor next time.

Reviewer: Mary Smith, Orange County Public Library/El Toro Branch